Maiden Hurdle, Division 1: Last fence (l-r) He’ll Do (Parker Hendriks up), 2nd; You’re No Better (Archie Macauley up), 1st. / Douglas Lees photo
With the 2020 events calendar at sixes and sevens for sporting events worldwide, Old Dominion Hounds’ annual Point-to-Point Races at Ben Venue came off on September 12th in the fall of the year rather than in the spring. The good news that some point-to-points are coming off at all is testament to the fact that we are trying to learn how to co-exist with a new reality. Not ideally, to be sure, but we are testing boundaries and, hopefully, learning what works and not what doesn’t.
The fact that most of the ten races on the day’s card were well-filled with entries demonstrates a heartfelt desire for a return to normalcy, but the many horses pulled up during the course of so many of the jump races also demonstrates the training difficulties encountered this year.
Ricky Hendriks was trainer-of-the day, notching three wins: Maiden Hurdle, Open Hurdle, and Novice Rider Flat. The First Division of the Maiden Hurdle was won by Armata Stables’ You’re No Better. The five-year-old British-bred gelding with Archie MacCaulay aboard led most of the way, holding off He’ll Do (second) and Lap of Gods (third) in the stretch.
Open Hurdle: Last fence (l-r) Surprising Soul (McLane Hendriks up), 1st; Big Bend (Barry Foley up), 2nd; Orchestra Leader (Mell Boucher, up) / Douglas Lees photo
In the Open Hurdle Race, Hendrix-trained Surprising Soul with McLane Hendriks in the irons was challenged by Big Ben (second) and Orchestra Leader (pulled up) in the final quarter-mile, but pulled away, winning by two lengths.
Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle: Paddy’s Crown (Mell Boucher up), 1st / Douglas Lees photo
The family team of trainer Lilith Boucher and rider Mell Boucher came up from Camden, North Carolina, and finished first at the wire in two races: Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle and Restricted Young Adult Flat. Over hurdles, their Paddy’s Crown took the lead after a quarter mile then led the rest of the six-horse field to the finish. In the flat race their True Calling raced with the pace in the eleven-horse field and won by three lengths going away.
Amateur and Novice Rider Timber: (l-r) First Friday (Sophie Henelius up); Withoutmoreado (Skylar McKenna up) 1st; Lawn Ranger (Parker Hendriks up) / Douglas Lees photo
The day’s card offered two timber races, and Irish-bred geldings won both. Trainer Katherine Neilson saddled Irvin Naylor’s Withoutmoreado for the Amateur and Novice Rider Timber Race and put Skylar McKenna up. Naylor is last year’s Leading Owner and Withoutmoreado shares 2019 Leading Timber Horse honors in Virginia with Just Wait and See (following paragraph). McKenna and his mount got off to the start in a field of nine horses, five of which pulled up after two miles. Of the four remaining horses, Withoutmoreado sailed home in a romp, a quarter mile ahead of what remained of the field.
Open Timber: Just Wait and See (Chris Gracie up), 1st / Douglas Lees photo
In the Open Timber Race, Just Wait and See ridden by Chris Gracie and trained by Richard Valentine went off against two Jack Fisher-trained entries. It was the smallest field on the day’s card, the rest of the races starting at least five and most often substantially more horses. With three furlongs to go, Just Wait and See, who’d been stalking the leader, turned on the afterburners and finished alone. Owned by Kinross Farm, the winner is last year’s co-Leading Timber Horse in Virginia.
Click for complete results of all races.
Posted September 18, 2020