Photos by Douglas Lees
Open Hurdle race, Second Division: (l-r) Orchestra Leader, 15, (Keri Brion up) wins in the fastest time of both divisions. Storm Team is 4th and Special Skills finishes 3rd.
Hunt racing in Virginia opened on a beautiful spring day with the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point at Airlie on Saturday, March 16, 2019. Ten races were carded with the Open Hurdle and Maiden Hurdle races split into two well-filled divisions each.
In the second division of the Open Hurdle Race, Orchestra Leader ridden by Keri Brion stayed close to the front, took the lead from the field of seven with a half mile to run, and won easily. Now owned by Team Ollie and trained by Jonathan Sheppard, Orchestra Leader had been a standout in a lovely string campaigned by the late Bruce Smart, a much respected horseman of many accomplishments—business executive, Reagan appointee, conservationist, author—sadly lost to the Virginia horse world last winter.
Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle race, last fence: (l-r) Magical Lemon (Brett Owings up) holds off L’Aigle Royal (Alex Leventhal) to win in a dual down the stretch.
The Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle Race was won by Magical Lemon, ridden by novice rider Brett Owings. It was their race from the start. German-bred L’aigle Royal, with Alex Leventhal aboard, challenged in the stretch but had to settle for second place.
Viola T. Winmill Sidesaddle race: (l-r) Gun Lobby (Julie Nafe up) maintains the lead to the wire; King Of Hearts (Devon Zebrovious) places 2nd.
There were six entries in the Side Saddle Race vying for the Viola Winmill Cup. Gun Lobby—owned, trained, and ridden by Julie Nafe—held off hard-riding Devon Zebrovious on her popular King of Hearts for the win. Zebrovious and King of Hearts placed second in this race last year at Warrenton as well.
Virginia Bred or Sired flat race: Dapper Dan (Jacob Roberts up) winning by three lengths at the finish.
In the Virginia Bred or Sired Flat Race, Donna Rogers’ Dapper Dan led the six-horse field from the start, easily holding off a late charge by second-placed Curve of Stones. Dapper Dan was ridden by Jacob Roberts and trained by Neil Morris.
Novice Timber Race: (l-r) Appoggiatura (Barry Foley up)–5th; Last Farewell (Bryan Cullinane)–6th; Jump To Juneau (Jacob Roberts) is the winner.
Two races later, Morris notched his third win of the day in the Novice Timber Race. Once again Jacob Roberts was in the irons and piloted Jump to Juneau first to the wire. Although the winner led from the start, he was challenged first by Appogiatura, a Doug Fout entry, then by Royal Ruse trained by Sanna Neilson with Gerard Galligan up. It was a battle all the way to the wire but Jump to Juneau prevailed by half a length.
Click for complete results of all races.
March 19, 2019