(l-r) Jeb’s Crowner (Bart Poole up) in the Foxhunter Timber Division catches Incaseyouraminer (Ben Swope) riding in the Owner Rider Division. Both were winners of this timber race in their respective divisions.
Considering the superb weather we have been enjoying this season, Piedmont Fox Hounds drew the short straw for their point-to-point races as Douglas Lees’s great photos clearly illustrate. It was a wet day!
As a result of numerous scratches, three of the seven races were won by walkovers. (A walkover occurs when there is only one entry ready to race. To be declared a winner, the horse and rider must cross the finish line with its rider.)
The Lady Rider Timber, Open Timber, and Maiden Flat races were all won in walkovers: Cat Walkin (no pun intended), He’s A Conniver, and Labonte respectively.
Jeff Murphy, Virginia’s Leading Jockey in 2011, rode Labonte in the walkover and also won the Open Flat Race aboard Duc de Savoie for trainer Jimmy Day and owner Randleston Farm.
Owner Rider Ben Swope entered his Incaseyouraminer in the Owner Rider Timber Race, but ran with the foxhunters in their Foxhunter Timber Race. He captured the lead with a half-mile to run, but the pacesetter, Jeb’s Crowner with Bart Poole up, caught him near the wire. Both finished winners in their division.
Neil Morris, Virginia’s Leading Trainer in 2011, saddled the winner of the Maiden Timber Race—Just Say Boo with Chris Read up—for Kinross Farm, Virginia’s Leading Owner in 2011.
The final race of the day—VHBPA Flat for Virginia-bred/sired horses—was won by Colleen’s Charm with a late rush in the final furlong to overtake Forest Bell. Colleen’s Charm was ridden by John Delaney, trained by A. Timothy White, and is owned by Colleen Mahoney. The second place horse, Forest Bell, ridden by Eilidh Grant and owned and trained by Simon Hobson, had won this race in its last two outings—Warrenton and Blue Ridge.
Click for complete results.
Posted March 28, 2012
Just Say Boo (Chris Read up) wins Maiden Timber.