Potomac MFHs Irvin “Skip” Crawford, owner of Maryland Hunt Cup winner Senior Senator (left) and Vicki Crawford, cradling the hunt cup, with John Coles, MFH, Orange County Hounds (a three-time rider over the Maryland Hunt Cup course in the 1980s). / Douglas Lees photo
Skip Crawford, MFH, Potomac Hunt (MD) left his golfing buddies and flew home to watch his horse run in the Maryland Hunt Cup. A good decision, as it turned out. With young Eric Poretz in the irons, Senior Senator won the stiffest timber race in the world by half a neck in an exciting finish. The date was April 30, 2016 at Worthington Farms, Glyndon, Maryland.
From the start, Poretz allowed his horse to go to the front and set his own pace, a pace which gave him a lead of as much as twenty-five lengths over much of the four-mile course. “That’s the way Senior Senator likes to run,” said Skip’s better half, Vicki Crawford, MFH. “He likes to be in front.”
The horse sure looked like he makes a lot of his own decisions. On the course, at whatever speed he was running, he seemed to judge distances on his own, meeting every fence well, jumping cleanly, and going away without a hiccup. Maybe Poretz was helping, but if so, it was so quietly and sympathetically, that this scribe couldn’t see it.
(L–R) Foyle (James Slater) and Senior Senator at Fence 3, with jockey Eric Poretz showing his trademark soft hands. / Douglas Lees photo
“Last week at the Grand National Steeplechase, as he and Eric were coming at a fence I saw him lift his head a fraction, three or four strides out, and adjust his stride,” recalled Vicki. “He met the fence perfectly, and I didn’t see Eric check him. Eric sits there, forward and soft. He doesn’t make the horse haul him over like he’s water skiing.”
With less than a mile to go, the challengers had closed the gap and it became anyone’s race. In the hunt were Raven’s Choice, last year’s winner; Guts for Garters with Jody Petty aboard, winner of the 2014 Maryland Hunt Cup; Imperial Way, who was second in 2014 by just a nose and first at the wire last year then disqualified; Drift Society with Connor Hankin; and Serene harbor, Annie Yeager aboard and making a strong bid.
Maryland Hunt Cup winner Senior Senator with Eric Poretz in the irons clears Fence 13 at 4 feet, 9 inches. / Douglas lees photo
Raven’s Choice fell at the sixteenth fence, At the second from last fence, Guts for Garters passed Senior Senator. Serene Harbor fell back, and in the stretch it was a three-horse race: Guts for Garters, Senior Senator, and Drift Society locked almost abreast and driving for the wire. Guts for Garters held his lead and looked like a come-from-behind winner. At the last moment, Poretz asked and Senior Senator responded like a warrior. He passed Guts for Garters, reclaimed the race he had owned for most of the course, and won by a half neck. As thrilling a finish as one will see.
(L–R) Drift Society, Senior Senator, and Guts For Garters (Jody Petty), ahead by a neck, battle in the stretch. / Douglas Lees photo
Order of finish: first, Senior Senator, owned by Skip Crawford, trained by Joe Davies, ridden by Eric Poretz; second, Guts for Garters ridden by Jody Petty; third, Drift Society ridden by Connor Hankin.The finishers survived a test of twenty-two imposing fences over a four-mile course under amateur jockeys for a $100,000 purse. It was the 120th running of the Maryland Hunt Cup. See James Curtis’ excellent video of the race, with the call by Will O’Keefe.
Posted May 4, 2016
At the wire, it’s Senior Senator by a half neck with an exultant Eric Poretz rising in the irons. At the right is Guts for Garters, winner of the 2014 Maryland Hunt Cup, with Jody Petty still fighting in a close second. / Douglas Lees photo