VOLUME XXVI / NUMBER 6 • THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION • HOLIDAY 2014

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY, 60 ALEXANDRIA PIKE, WARRENTON, VA 20186

Photo: Robert McClanahan ©2014

Green Mountain Hounds Opening Meet at Lilac Ridge Farm, Charlotte, Vermont, September 28, 2014

The Blessing of the Hounds was conducted by Field Master Marten van Heuven. Eric Schneider photo

Green Mountain Hounds Opening Meet Field Master Meghan Welch. Eric Schneider photo

Green Mountain Hounds Opening Meet Huntsman Kate Selby cooling the hounds in a

convenient pond. Eric Schneider photo

Wentworth Hunt Opening Meet at Yorkfield Farm, Kensington, New Hampshire, October 4, 2014.

Joint-MFH and Huntsman Kami Wolk. Eric Schneider photo

OPENING MEETS

Casanova Hunt, Opening Meet, October 18, 2014, Casanova GreenReverend James Cirillo attends the Blessing of the Hounds.

Robert McClanahan photo

Casanova Opening MeetAmanda Fendley Choby and Joyce Fendley, MFH.

Robert McClanahan photo

Blue Ridge Hunt’s hounds ready for Opening Day. Janet Hitchen photo

Wentworth Hunt Opening MeetJoint-MFH Sue Levy taking the hedge jump at Yorkfield Farm.

Eric Schneider photo

Ashland Bassets Opening Meet, October 12, 2014

Mr. and Mrs. R. James Yarbrough's Leeds Manor, Hume, Va.Rev. Benjamin Mass and

Col. David Rowe.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 1

OPENING MEETS

Casanova Hunt Opening Meet, Huntsman Tommy Lee Jones.Robert McClanahan photo

Ashland Bassets Opening Meet, October 12, 2014Mr. and Mrs. R. James Yarbrough's Leeds Manor, Hume, Va.

Mary Reed, MBH; Miriam Anver; Frank Etherington; Sherrod Johnson, MBH.

Blue Ridge Hunt Opening MeetOctober 25, 2014, Long Branch Plantation, Boyce, Virginia

Blue Ridge Huntsman Guy Allman and hounds ready for Opening Day action. Janet Hitchen photo

Potomac Hunt’s Professional Huntsman Larry Pitts and Honorary Whipper-in Allen Forney, Opening Meet,October 25, 2014, Dickerson, Maryland. Karen Kandra Wenzel photo

Blue Ridge Huntsman Guy Allman moves off with hounds from Long Branch Plantation, Boyce, Virginia on Opening Day. Janet Hitchen photo

Middleburg Hunt Opening Meet, Groveton, November 1, 2014Whipper-in Charlie Carroll, Huntsman Hugh Robards, Whipper-in Carey Shefte. Middleburg Photo

Maureen Britell elegantly turned out for Middle-burg’s Opening Meet. Middleburg Photo

Middleburg Hunt Opening Meet,Groveton, Nov. 1, 2014George Kingsley in good form.

Middleburg Photo

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PHOTOGRAPHERS: George BarkleyS. ButtrickLiz Callar www.lizcallar.com

John J. Carle II, ex-MFHK. ChapmanRichard Clay www.richardclayphotography.com

Adam CoglianeseCatherine French www.catherinefrench.photoshelter.com

Janet Hitchen 540-837-9846 www.janethitchenphotography.com

Douglas LeesRobert McClanahan www.maccamera.com

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Erik Olsen www.erikolsenphotography.com

Eric SchneiderMichael StevensKaren Kandra Wenzel

is published 5 times a year.Editorial and Advertising Address: 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186For information and advertising rates, please call (540) 347-3141, fax (540) 347-7141Space Deadline for the Winter issue is Jan. 15. Payment in full due with copy.Publisher: Marion Maggiolo Managing Editor: J. Harris AndersonAdvertising: Mary Cox (540) 636-7688 Email: hcmaryads@embarqmail.comContributors: Aga; Martha Drum; J. Harris Anderson; Jackie Burke; W. Patrick Butterfield, MFH; John J. Carle II, ex-MFH; Lauren R. Giannini; Tommy Lee Jones; Will O’Keefe; Virginia Thoroughbred Association; Jenny YoungLAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate HouchinCopyright © 2014 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXVI, No.6POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

ON THE COVER:Joyce Fendley, MFH, leads theCasanova Hunt's field, OpeningMeet, October 18, 2014.COVER PHOTOGRAPHER:Robert McClanahan

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 20142

SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS Upcoming Events In & Around Horse CountryIt’s a busy time in Horse Country. Here’s a list of some upcoming events.

Nov. 11 Author Talk & Book Signing: Rita Mae Brown’s latest Sister Jane mystery: Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. 6:30 p.m. Horse Country, Warrenton, VA.540-347-3141, huntbooks@aol.com.

Dec. 6 Christmas in Middleburg www.christmasinmiddleburg.com

Dec. 7 Juan Tomas Hounds (NM) Guest Day. www.juantomashounds.com

Jan. 15-18 Low Country Hunt (SC) Weekend. Information: 843-571-1934,melinda@shambleyequine.com

Jan. 23-25 & Feb. 13-16 Casa Ladron (NM) Ski/Hunt. Information: Richard Patton, 505-466-4200, rspatton@aol.com

Jan. 18-24 Belle Meade (GA) Hunt Week. www.bellemeadehounds.com

Jan. 18-Feb. 28 Belle Meade (GA) Hunt Month. www.bellemeadehounds.com

Jan. 30 MFHA Masters Ball, NYC, www.mfha.org

Feb. 4-12 Whiskey Road Foxhounds (SC) Hunt Week. www.whiskeyroadfoxhounds.com

Feb. 20-22 Juan Tomás Hounds (NM) Hunt Ball and Sunday Hunt.Information: Jackie Cronenberg at cronenberg88@q.com

Feb. 26-28 Belle Meade (GA) Performance Trials.Information: www.bellemeadehounds.com

March 13-15 Juan Tomás Hounds (NM) Closing Hunt Weekend: Hunting, shooting, poker, and polo. Information: www.juantomashounds.com

Myopia Hunt hosted the 114th annual Myopia Horse Show at the Myopia Schooling Field inHamilton, Massachusetts, August 30 and 31, 2014. Molly Kenney on Retrospect won the $2500

Myopia Hunter Derby. Eric Schneider photo

The Blessing of the Myopia Hunt on Columbus Day, October 13, 2014, at the home of Mrs. Francis P. Sears, Hamilton, Massachusetts. Huntsman Brian Kiely moves off with hounds.

Eric Schneider photo

Wentworth Hunt Opening Meet at Yorkfield Farm, Kensington, New Hampshire, October 4, 2014.Reverend Shipley Allinson blessing the hounds from atop Leisel while Andrea Anderson provides

a unique form of acolyte assistance. Eric Schneider photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 3

P.O. Box 2220 • Middleburg, Virginia 20118540.687-0017

julie@huntescapes.comwww.HuntCountryAccommodations.com

GUEST SUITES & HUNT BOXESNightly • Weekly

Welcoming Traveling Foxhunters to Virginia Hunt Country

Warrenton • Piedmont • Middleburg • Orange County

HUNT COUNTRY ACCOMMODATIONS LLCTM

The Masters of the Shakerag Hounds invite you to Join us for a dose of Southern hospitality and great

foxhunting in the woods and fields of northeast Georgia

• Hunt fixtures convenient to major interstates• Outstanding pack of hounds• Three flights for foxhunters• Stabling and Hotels nearby, Lease horses available• Hunt Week, Hunt Ball and Silent Auction

Feb. 19, 20, 21 -- guests welcome• Outstanding Hospitality and Friendly Folks!

Contact Sandra Carnet, Hon. Secretary at770-654-3934, sandra@shakerag.com

Come Hunt With Us Anytime!

This Winter Head South - Hunt with Shakerag

Memories of MelvinBy Tommy Lee Jones

My memories span a lifetime.My great uncle Ray Pearsonwhipped-in to Melvin at Old Do-minion and lived there in what hasbecome the huntsman’s house. Atfamily gatherings, my cousins and Iwould play in and around the ken-nel yard. I learned to crack a huntwhip straddling the board fence thatran from the barn to my uncle’shouse, often using Melvin’s houndwhip and blowing his cow horn tomake the hounds bark.

One day as we played in thebarnyard, Melvin drove in, openedall the gates to the kennel runs,hounds poured out into the yard gal-loping, barking, and playing all thewhile keeping an eye on Melvin. Hestrode around opening the gates,speaking in some strange languageand every once in awhile giving outthis weird half-cackle/half-yell.Then like the Pied Piper he got inhis truck and drove down the drive-way, hounds and kids all following.We were in a sea of tongues and tails whipping us in their joy. The kids stoppedbut the hounds followed Melvin on to the road, disappearing toward the ThumbRun Bridge.

This was hound walking, Melvin style. He did this throughout his life. AtOrange County, he drove up and down the dirt road that runs behind the ken-nel. His Bath County hounds were often exercised from his tractor.

He walked young hounds on couples with horses. He had his own stylewith this, too. Most huntsmen when walking out carry a pocket or pouch fullof kibble. Melvin had a pocket full of rocks, walnuts, hickory nuts, or someother throwing material.

As he walked, he would call a hound’s name and if the hound did not re-spond—bop!—a walnut zipped from nowhere, found its target, and the stunnedhound would look back and wonder how he had touched him. Melvin believedthe huntsman was the lead hound and if the hounds believed the same, then hecould do anything he wanted with them.

He was an avid baseball player, pitching for his hometown team, Hume,when nearly every little town had an organized ball team. He continued play-ing throughout his army hitch, the only amateur on a team of professionals.

Though we lived in Loudoun County, we went to many of Hume’s homegames. We deer hunted with him on Red Oak and up Moss Hollow, but missedhim jousting as “The Knight of Ozark.” He was an all-around athlete.

He was a man who knew exactly who he was. He traveled easily amongall men, grooms to kings, and conversed easily with barons of the businessworld. Forrest Mars consulted him on the formula of his new dog-feed com-pany, Pedigree, and he got Elizabeth Taylor tipsy on his homemade wine andlocal “shine” at a hunt party at his house.

He felt that as a huntsman you were in the entertainment business. He oftensaid that Bob Hope did not like playing to an empty theater and neither did he.He wanted his field master to keep close so that the field could see the houndswork. He was the emcee and the hounds were his troupe.

The last few years he helped Gus Forbush and me with the terrier races atthe two Gold Cup races. We usually recruit a youngster to run the tail back tothe starting box after each heat. Melvin assumed this role. He would walk backslowly, grinning and smiling, as people would call his name from the rail. Hewas late this year at the spring meet and several people called me over to askwhere Melvin was. I told them I hope he is tied up in the traffic problems thatoccurred that day, and that was the case. This fall the answer will not be as easy.

REMEMBRANCE

Melvin Morrison Poe. August 24, 1920 – September 13, 2014.

Deni McIntyre photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 20144

The Blue Ridge hounds hunted the Farmington country well for visiting huntsman Guy Allman. S. Buttrick photo

Many generations of foxhunters were present: Miss Pippa Cook, 5, whose father Matthew is in his second season ashuntsman at Farmington (accompanied by her mother, Julie), enjoyed the joint meet alongside Mrs. Ellie Wood

Baxter, 93, and Ms. Eleanor Barnes. K. Chapman photo

Also bringing along a young charge was Mrs. Iona Pillion, visiting with the BlueRidge riders. Past, present and future! S. Buttrick photo

Farmington Hunt Club and Blue Ridge Hunt Hold a Joint Meet Weekend

Submitted by Martha Drum

Farmington Hunt Club hosted the Blue Ridge Hunt for two fun days, October 18-19,2014. On Saturday of that weekend, the Blue Ridge hounds gave excellent sport, chas-ing no fewer than four foxes! That evening, Farmington hosted a festive Hound Ben-efit dinner at the beautifully decorated Clubhouse, with two retired hounds as guestsof honor. On Sunday, the Farmington hounds pressured a brace and gave nearly thewhole field a terrific view—with perfect weather, an outstanding sporting weekend.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 5

Season’s Greetings

FromThe Hounds and Humans of

Oak Ridge Fox Hunt Club

Justin Haeffner with Loudoun Fairfax.

Bethany Visokay with Loudoun Fairfax.

Keely Cooley with Bull Run.

Riley Hogan with Warrenton Hunt.

Huntsman Matt van der Woude, Clydetta Poe, Whipper-In.

Ashby Hatcher shows himself a true gentleman as he opens the gate for StephanieJones. Both riders were representing Loudoun Fairfax Hunt.

Junior North American Field Hunter Championship Meet with Warrenton Hunt, October 18, 2014, Alanthus Gate

Michael Stevens photos

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 20146

PERSONALITIES

Magalen O. Bryant: Goals Achieved, Goals Ahead

By Lauren R. Giannini

In August, at Saratoga, when V.E. Day scored an exciting upset in the Travers Stakes (1¼-milegrade 1) worth $1.25 million in purse money, the media buzzed with stories. The winner, a longshot at odds of 19-1, made a late bid to win by a nose on the nod over the favorite, his own sta-blemate Wicked Strong. The Travers was V.E. Day’s fourth consecutive win, his biggest careervictory to date and his first Grade 1. It was only the second time in the history of the Travers thatthe winner and second-placed horses had the same trainer.

It was a huge day for Jimmy Jerkens, son of trainer Allen Jerkens. The Travers was an emo-tional win for all concerned, especially for V.E. Day’s owner, Magalen O. Bryant, who attendedthe race, accompanied by her US racing manager, Cynthia Tucker Curtis.

Steve Haskin, award-winning horse racing journalist and author, caught up with Bryant inthe Trustees Room at Saratoga, after the press conference, where he observed her watching thereplay, tears streaming down her cheeks. She talked about growing up with horses and racing be-cause of her family’s involvement, especially her father and brother, George L. Ohrstrom andGeorge L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Her brother ran his American horses under the name Whitewood Sta-ble (after the family farm) and in 1974 owned Comtesse de Loir, the highest rated 3-year-old fillyin France.

Twenty years later, Bryant went into the record books as the breeder of the 1994 Europeantwo-year-old Champion: Pennekamp, by Bering – Coral Dance, by Green Dancer, foaled in Ken-tucky in 1992. Acquired by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the colt raced in France, win-ning the Prix de la Salamande at Longchamp and finishing his 2-year-old season in Newmarket,England, with a one-length win in the Dewhurst Stakes, thereby winning the European title forhis age group. Pennekamp started seven times and won six, including the 1995 2000 Guineas.Bryant maintains a string of racehorses based in France and has a residence in Deauville, whichhas two racecourses as well as the full gamut of equestrian sports and disciplines.

Generating an owner report for Bryant on CentralEntryOffice.com, Will O’Keefe’s in-formative website, produced a document of 17 pages, listing 697 starts in sanctioned and un-sanctioned races for 105 wins, 100 places, and 95 shows from March 21, 1981 and finished (asof deadline) with the Virginia Fall Races on October 4 in Middleburg. At the historic GlenwoodPark, four horses carried Bryant’s distinctive light and dark blue colors with good results forthree. Dakota Slew, piloted by Darren Nagle, trained by Richard Valentine, won the NationalSporting Library and Museum Cup timber stakes. In the Maiden Timber, Adios Diablo, trainedby Doug Fout, ridden by Kieran Norris, was second, and Casual Creeper (IRE), trained by JimmyDay, ridden by Paddy Young, finished third of 11 starters in the Optional Allowance/ClaimingHurdle.

“Mrs. Bryant has about 100 horses, probably 45 in training,” said Tucker Curtis. “Her UStrainers include Jimmy Day, Doug Fout, Richard Valentine, Neil Morris, Jimmy Jerkens, ChadBrown, Jonathan Sheppard, Leslie and Paddy Young, Tres Abbott, Linda Rice, Kelly Breen, andMichael Matz. You can’t have one or two horses and expect to win at that level. We have a lotof good horses.”

That’s probably an understatement. The Travers win alone propelled Bryant into the upperechelon of flat racing owners for the current year. V.E. Day, purchased for $135,000 by TuckerCurtis for Bryant at the 2-year-olds in training sale held by the Ocala Breeders Sales Company,is by English Channel, out of California Sunset, by Deputy Minister (CAN). English Channel,in his career finale in the 2007 Breeders Cup Turf, won the 1½ mile race by a record-settingseven lengths. He was Champion Turf Horse of the year and retired to stud with career earningsof $5,289,028. His get can go a good distance, as proven by V.E. Day.

’ChasersAs for the jump side of her racing interests, Bryant has finished well up in the top 10 of the

owner standings (National Steeplechase Association) for a number of years, including third lastyear and fourth in 2012, and second in 2011. But it isn’t about titles for Bryant although year-end awards are great accolades. It was very pleasing when Ptarmigan (by Unbridled Jet out ofFlaine, by Chenin Blanc) earned the NSA Filly and Mare Championship in 2010.

Eve Fout had raised the mare, but after her death in 2007 Bryant bought the horse and kepther in training with Doug Fout. “Maggie and my mom were really good friends and they bothloved the outdoors, riding, foxhunting, racing,” recalled Fout. “We grew up with her kids andcalled her Aunt Maggie. When she’s in town, she likes to come over and watch her horses school.She goes to France, to Florida, and stays really busy. She does things like supporting theWounded Warriors and makes it possible for children to experience music. She’s really kindabout doing things for people.”

Bryant loves her horses and, whenever possible, retires them to her farm after they finishracing. She’s particularly fond of homebreds descended from Second Bar, a horse she raced andthen stood at her Middleburg farm. Fout trained G’Day G’Day, who retired in 2012 after fiveyears and 42 lifetime starts: 5-11-6. The homebred gelding (Eastern Echo – Say Farewell, by Sec-ond Bar) started over hurdles and transitioned to timber, topping his 2010 triumph in the Al-lowance Timber at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup Races by returning in 2011 to win going awayby nearly seven lengths in the feature, the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, a four-mile timber stake.

Magalen O. Bryant’s V.E. Day scored an upset in the 2014 Travers (Gr 1) at Saratoga,relegating stablemate Wicked Strong, the favorite, to second place by a nose.

Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo

Magalen O. Bryant in the paddock at the Virginia Gold Cup, May, 2014.Liz Callar photo

Turnadieu, one of Magalen O. Bryant’s homebreds, excels as a field hunter and, withKaren Russell, earned the reserve championship in the 2013 Theodora Randolph NorthAmerican Field Hunter Championship of America at Glenwood Park. Richard Clay photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 7

Because so many steeple-chase trainers use hunting to con-dition and prepare their timberhorses, G’Day G’Day made a rel-atively easy transition to earninghis keep as a field hunter. BothDoug and his wife Beth Fouthunted the horse, reputed to be acoveted ride to hounds. “Mrs.Bryant adores him—she loves allher horses, but especially him,”said Karen Russell who hasworked for Bryant for 19 yearsand manages her horse farm op-eration in Middleburg. “He’s agood boy. He’s a brilliantjumper.”

G’Day G’Day has severalsiblings, out of Bryant’s home-bred mare, Say Farewell (by Sec-ond Bar). Two younger brothersare racing: Adios Diablo (timber)and Last Farewell, trained byLarry Curtis, is running on theflat. “Turnadieu is G’Day’s halfsister, and I taught her to hunt,” said Russell. “Last year she was second in the fi-nals of the [North American Theo A. Randolph] Field Hunter Championships atGlenwood Park. She was very keen, stood way off her jumps—very impressive.”

Russell should know: she was riding Turnadieu. Russell and Natalie Walesbring along the youngsters, exercise and school the riding horses at Bryant’s farmin Middleburg. They are also honorary whippers-in with Orange County Hounds.A few years ago, John Coles, jt-MFH OCH, called and asked if Russell could helpout and whip-in. “I said they’re Mrs. Bryant’s horses, you have to check with her,”recalled Russell. “He called Mrs. Bryant and she said it was fine. So, Natalie andI hunt fairly often and help whip-in. I’m very lucky. Mrs. Bryant is such a great per-son to work for and she’s so generous about letting me ride and hunt and enjoy herwonderful horses.”

PoniesThoroughbreds are definitely Bryant’s major interest, but she’s also a pony

breeder. Catherine P. Mack (The Plains, VA) first met Bryant because their childrenattended the same school. “When Maggie was very young, she and her fatherbrought the first Connemaras to the US, a couple of stallions and a couple of brood-mares,” recalled Mack, who stood Aladdin, an imported purebred stallion, long be-fore the breed got really popular here. “They named the first ponies they bred andfoaled in the US Whitewood Irish Adam and Whitewood Irish Eve. I ended up withEve, and she was a wonderful pony. Maggie just wanted to breed these horses forher children.”

Bryant’s children are grown, but there are new generations of riders to en-courage. She keeps a Welsh Section B pony stallion and one pony broodmare at herMiddleburg farm. Lemontree True Blue (by Rowfantina Truly Scrumptious out ofTop Blue Magic, by Gayfields Rambeau) is quiet enough to use for pony rides forher grandchildren. Purchased originally as a teaser, he gets occasional bookingsfor his own mares. Ten years ago, on a Chronicle of the Horse forum, a ponybreeder stated that Lemontree True Blue “is undoubtedly the best kept secret on theeast coast.”

GoalsHarking back to the Travers, Haskin wrote that, when he reminded Bryant that

“you’re never too old to achieve great things in this sport and that CaliforniaChrome’s trainer, Art Sherman, was 77 before he had a horse like this, Mrs. Bryantsaid, ‘Heck, that’s a baby. I’m 85 and I don’t give a damn anymore what anybodythinks. I still have lots to do. And today was the first goal.’”

Bryant has the right spirit. She also has the means to fulfill her own bucket listand to continue her good works, serving (in the past and currently) on variousboards and supporting many organizations and causes. Bryant is passionate aboutland conservation and in 2011 earned the Land Conservation Trust of Virginia’sConservationist of the Year Award. A resident of northern Fauquier County formore than 50 years, she was one of the first to put her land, more than 1,000 acresjust outside Middleburg, under permanent conservation easement. She foundedTara Wildlife with 9,000 acres (as stated on the website) of hardwood forests andoxbow lakes in easement along the Mississippi River. She served two terms (sixyears) as chair of the board of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and hasearned the reputation of leading by doing.

“I have trained a handful of Mrs. Bryant’s horses over the years and a few she

has in partnership with hernephew, Clarke Ohrstrom, and Isee her maybe once or twice ayear,” said Richard Valentinewhose training stables are basedat Whitewood. “Mrs. Bryant isvery knowledgeable, she knowsher horses’ bloodlines, she’svery to the point, and she has agood sense of humor. She’s avery nice person and a greatowner. It’s an honor to train forher and to have her horses hereat Whitewood, her family homeand the farm where she grewup.”

Valentine thinks thatDakota Slew, Bryant’s winner atthe Virginia Fall Races, has a lotof potential. “He’s a horseman’sride—we don’t do speed workswith him, because he gets a littletoo buzzed,” said Valentine. “Hedoesn’t take a lot of training.We’ve always liked this horse

and thought a lot of him. He has more maturing to do. He’s by Slew City Slew,bred by Larry Curtis in Kentucky. He ran in the three-year-old hurdles—he’s plentyfast enough—and started over timber in 2012. Mentally and physically, he preferslonger distance races.”

Just like his owner, really: Bryant is still going strong, full of spirit, passion,and life. Best of all, she holds a special place in her heart for all of her horses andponies, but especially for her beloved homebreds like G’Day G’Day and the otherhorses with Second Bar in their pedigrees. Right now, you can bet that she feelsgreat affection for V.E. Day after his impressive performance in the Travers. If shehas any regrets, it may be that she doesn’t ride anymore, because V.E. Day is re-puted to be a wonderful horse to gallop.

“Mrs. Bryant used to hunt, she grew up racing and riding and she’s very goodabout bloodlines and she understands the horse business, understands the ups anddowns,” said Tucker Curtis. “Mrs. Bryant is a horsewoman. She always says ‘youhave to have more heart than the horse.’”

[Special thanks go to Steve Haskin, who granted permission to harvest from hisBlood-Horse post, “A Victory For The Family” (Aug. 25, Hangin’ With Haskin).LRG]

Virginia Fall Races National Sporting Library and Museum CupDakota Slew (Jacob Roberts, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

Magalen O. Bryant’s US racing manager Cynthia Tucker Curtis with Travers winner V.E. Day, ridden by Javier Castellano, in the winner’s circle at Saratoga Racetrack in August.

Robert McClanahan photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 20148

FOXHUNTING

Try Back: A Stroll With RobardsBy John J. Carle, II, ex-MFH

“As times run the river, we purchase with memory the pieces of itthat were better, purer, happier. The ways that are no longer avail-able in the emporiums of the present we seek in the only place theyremain: the small, quaint shops of the past.” Mike Gaddis

It was August, 1973 and I was in Adair, Ireland, with my family, staying at theDunraven Arms. At the moment I was on the phone having a most difficult con-versation with Lord Daresbury, Joint Master of the Limerick Foxhounds, whomI had met the previous spring when he had stayed with my aunt and uncle, Jeanand John Carter, during the Bryn Mawr Hound Show. I wanted to visit the ken-nels and meet their young Huntsman, an Englishman named Hugh Robards who,in his brief tenure, had shown such extraordinary sport that he was the talk of thefoxhunting world. His reputation had leapt the Atlantic, and hordes of Americansporting folk clamored for the chance to bask in the glow of his genius. But fora while on this rainy evening, it seemed I’d be disappointed.

Hounds were going cubhunting the following morning at a distant fixture;and no, it wasn’t convenient that I follow. Lord Daresbury was about to go earth-stopping, which made him rather snappish. When I asked if I could accompanyhim—having never stopped earths—his reply left no margin for error: “Hell, no!I go alone!” But he said I could go on hound exercise in two days. “Call You,”he said.

“You?” I asked.“Yes, You.”“Why me?”“What? Are you daft? You, You… Robards!”“Oh, Hugh! Yes, I will; and thank you.”“Must be deaf!” he muttered as he abruptly hung up. Not quite the affable

“Toby” from the Hound Show!The Limerick’s lovely stone kennel complex was easy to find, although a

bit farther away than I remembered from my 1967 visit. I’d never seen so manyhounds in kennel as there were here, well on the far side of fifty couple. How-ever, the numbers seemed down a bit from the “87 or so couple” kept in ’67, ac-cording to Paddy O’Reagan, kennel huntsman at the time. All Belvoir-tan, andalmost as confusingly alike to the untrained eye as were Melvin Poe’s red ring-necked hounds at Orange County, they made a lovely sight. And silent. When Iparked near the kennel and walked past, not a hound spoke. My Keswick houndswould have been ecstatic in greeting a visitor, but the Limerick lovelies barelyglanced my way, eyes glued on a nearby building, from whence suddenlyemerged a smiling Hugh Robards.

Hugh’s greeting was warm and genuine, and soon we were chattering awaylike life-long friends. When I told him I was going to carry the horn at Keswickfor the first time that season, he was very encouraging and offered some helpfulsuggestions. Then: “Let’s be at it!” and he opened the kennel doors. Out flowed“40 or so” couple, silently purposeful, and down the driveway we marched. Weturned up the narrow country lane, hounds filling the road ditch-to-ditch andstretching away in front of Hugh for twenty yards. Accompanying us was anewly-arrived (last night) whipper-in, who tagged along behind, and some cou-pled-up beagle-terrier crosses (used to bolt foxes from briar-tangles too tight for

hounds to get into). I wondered what would happen should we encounter riot,for both the new boy and I would be useless. But I needn’t have worried, forthese hounds were far too dignified to stoop to folly.

As we marched along, talking hunting, Hugh and I were like tiny, floatingislands in a fast-flowing river, red with runoff. Hounds were acutely attuned toHugh, with a concentration I’d never experienced and, at first, could scarcely be-lieve. They totally ignored me, except for one beautiful young bitch who thrusther nose into my hand and licked my palm. Immediately hounds all around hergrowled, and she cringed with shame. She never came near me again. Then thefirst of a small number of cars appeared ahead, and at so quiet a word from Hughthat I could barely hear it, the entire pack drifted to the far ditch and, like a break-ing wave, flowed partway up the roadside bank. In the wake of the car, back theyflowed. After that they only needed a word when a car approached from the rear.

After an hour or so there appeared over a rise an old woman on a bicycle,zipping along with skirts and hair flying. “Now we’ll have some fun,” thought I.But no: the pack parted like the Red Sea, and she raced past, dropping a flirta-tious quip on Hugh as she went.

A couple of miles farther we finally had a bit of excitement. Atop a smallhill, from a blind farm-lane, out popped a herd of Holstein heifers. Upon suddenlyencountering a sea of hounds, they whirled like polo ponies and, tails aloft, stam-peded back from whence they’d come. Their departure was accompanied by atirade of what was definitely not Sunday School language. Then, still mutteringsome colorfully imaginative phrases and scraping mud and manure off with astick, the somewhat battered farmer appeared.

“Oh, hell, it’s only you!” he said, upon spying Hugh and his pack, and beganto laugh. To Hugh’s offer of help he replied cheerfully, “Not likely. They’ll qui-eten.” And so away we went.

The rest of the walk was uneventful. Upon our arrival at the kennels, I askedHugh how far we’d walked. With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, “Oh, maybe tenmiles!” Probably not; but close. After putting his hounds away, Hugh turned tome and said, “If you’ve a minute, I could use some help.” One of his better, olderbitches had a toe badly infected from a poisonous whitethorn puncture. The localvet was coming to amputate, and they needed help holding her. The old girl, a realdemon for hunting, was already missing two toes, and she wasn’t real keen on theprocedure. But, with me at her head and the new lad at t’other end, we kept herstill; and the operation was over in a trice.

Then, after a welcome cup of tea, I had to say my good-byes, for my fam-ily and I had many more adventures planned all about the Emerald Isle.

Hugh Robards, Huntsman, Limerick Foxhounds, Ireland. circa 1975. Jim Meads photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 9

A Frosty

Middleburg MorningStory and photos by John J. Carle, II, ex-MFH

The lovely lake at “Mt. Pleasant Farm” near Aldie,Virginia, steamed like a witch’s cauldron on this, thefirst really cold morning of autumn. It was 33 degreesin distant Rappahannock and 39 degrees at the Mon-day meet, but a field of eleven keen foxhunters hadscraped the ice off their windshields to experience andmarvel at the magic of Huntsman Hugh Robards andhis superb pack of Middleburg hounds.

What a lovely sight the pack made when Hughunboxed them: lean and fit, in good flesh without anysummer excess. “Economical” could describe them: aperfect size for a foxhound for this or any other coun-try, long of leg and deep of chest, they can fly theirfences and cross country effortlessly all day. The pic-ture they made clustered around Hugh’s rangy chest-nut horse was one of mutual admiration and trust;hounds were where they wanted to be, which is as itshould be.

At the appointed hour, with barely a murmur fromHugh, hounds quietly moved off. Field Master GeorgeKuk, on a flashy paint, had his charges in close atten-dance. Behind George came his lovely and vivaciouswife, Devon Zebrovious, aboard her versatile hunter,“Quest,” who the day before had been named ReserveChampion Virginia Field Hunter and Best Turned Out(immaculate today as well!), and also won sidesaddlehonors at Harrisburg recently. Today, however,“Quest” carried his owner/rider astride. It was obvi-ous that the members of this field were serious abouttheir hunting, for there was a wonderful and most wel-come lack of the deafening chatter that all too oftencharacterizes the lack of appreciation for, and atten-tion to, the pack of hounds that fields elsewhere show,even though they expect—yea, demand—to be shownsport. What a blessing for a Huntsman to have silenceattend his young entry as they draw first covert! Allheads down, with no cacophonous vocal distractionsas they go about learning their trade. Encouraged byHugh’s softly melodious voice, hounds entered covertimmediately, and quietly went to work.

Well, young “Beamish” proved he was ready forhis “A-Levels” in this first covert, the part-swamp,part-briarpatch below the lake’s dam. Along the bluffon the south side he opened with great excitement, justas a deer was viewed away. A caution from his Hunts-man was unnecessary, for a fox closely followed thedeer away and was viewed by Whippers-In Julie Ro-bards and Libby Gilbert. As Libby closely watchedhim, Charlie ran under a coop, thinking, I’m sure, he’dwatch hounds away on riot. But to his chagrin, herecame the pack with an absolute thunder-clap of crythat sent young Charles rocketing into “White StoneFarm.” Turning in a large, left-handed circle, the packwas flying, pressing their fox hard and announcingtheir every intention with music that mixed the beautyof a heavenly choir with the exuberance of a marchingband. And it seemed the harder they ran, the higherthey cranked the amplifiers. As that old rogue hero androle-model from the antiquity of my youth, formerKeswick Huntsman Andrew Branham, so often said

to me, “Brings tears to your eyes, don’t it, Boy?”Brought ’em to mine—unashamedly. How this youngpack (6½ couple of young entry out of 17½ out) keptthe pressure on: with scent apparently breast-high de-spite a southeast wind, they never checked (“adjusted”occasionally), and drove their pilot back to his homecovert. Here Libby Gilbert viewed him as he crossedthe “Mt. Pleasant” dam. Soaked from the wet grass,stained to the shade of Brazilian mahogany, he waswasting no time; yet the pace had taken its toll, and heveered back into the thickets, where he went toground.

After making good the ground, Hugh lifted hispack across Oatlands Road and threw-in at “The In-stitute” (where Wednesday of that week saw the Bas-sets return for their Fall Trials). At this point I waswhat Mr. Hardaway calls “a throwed-out dog.” Myquest around the perimeter of the beagling groundsproved fruitless; and then, once atop the far westernhillside, I heard hounds open and go away on a foxfrom almost opposite the Meet. By the time I got backto Oatlands Road, they were gone. A lady driving pastsaid they’d run a fox through her yard, to the greatamusement of her beagles. Beyond that, I had to get apartial report from Devon Zebrovious, who had re-turned to the Meet, having given her wonder horse toa friend whose horse had lost a shoe.

When Hugh, hounds, and First Flight returned, Igot the whole story. The “Institute” fox, unfortu-nately—but probably purposely—had run through im-possible country to the immediate east, unpaneled andunlikely to ever be (when city moves to the country!).Hounds were gently stopped, and then drew east-southeast. Finding an apparent visitor almost imme-diately, they were away like Scud missiles, slicingdiagonally through extensive woodland to cross for-mer Master Mrs. Rodion Cantacuzene’s “Land FallFarm,” and race to Tail Race Road beyond Aldie. Run-ning with fierce purpose, this superb pack drove theirpilot relentlessly all the way to historic “Oak Hill,”which borders Route 15 on the last lap to Leesburg.Their anxious Huntsman caught up with his darlingsat a brief check along a dense hedgerow, where theirred racer had successfully sought refuge. With themenacing growl of nonstop traffic echoing fromnearby, Hugh blew for home.

Back at the Meet, Whippers-In Libby Gilbert (alifelong foxhunter/basseter with her father, JohnGilbert, at Essex) and Cary Shefte, a Middleburg stal-wart, were effusive in praise of their Huntsman. Libbytalked of the joy of working under Hugh, the laughterand the learning, the trust and confidence she feels forhim. Cary, wide-eyed, said that the way he brings onyoung hounds is “absolutely awesome.” His quiet,loving, kind way with hounds inspires an unbreach-able bond. And, she added, his ability to stay withhounds in a difficult country he hasn’t had time tolearn thoroughly (one year as Kennel Huntsman andFirst Whipper-In under his former protégé, BarryMagner) is amazing. Born of instinct and a lifetime of“doing it,” this is a rare gift. It’s “Hunting Sense,” andall too few have it anymore. Hugh talked briefly aboutthe difference between these Bywaters Americans andhis beloved Old English, Belvoir-bred hounds. He satquietly, a slightly sad look on his face, nostalgic ofcourse, then he said, “It’s taken a while to learn toleave these hounds alone. They work so much betterthat way.” After reflecting a moment, he said, “I lovethe nose and cry. They’re the best for this country.”Amen, brother!

Helluva cubhunting morning, Hugh! So whatchagonna do for an encore?

FOXHUNTING

Professional Whipper-in Libby Gilbert.

Whipper-in Julie Robards.

Hugh Robards.

Hugh Robards.

Honorary Whipper-in Carey Shefte.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201410

The new Tryon International Equestrian Center in PolkCounty, North Carolina, paid homage to five stars whobrought fame and glory to the area in a former age bynaming the five—yes, five—arenas in their honor. Threeof these luminaries are deceased: Gordon Wright, JarrettSchmid, and Carter P. Brown. But Betty Reynolds Oareand the legendary George Morris were on hand as hon-orees at the facility’s opening ceremonies on October 5.Appropriately, Morris’s name was allotted to the grandprix arena, which was used for the first time that day,featuring a $100,000 class, won by Chester VDL, riddenby Amanda Flint for the Coverboy Group.

Tryon Equestrian group’s managing partner MarkBellissimo and Roger Smith were the pair who pin-pointed the south central site, midway between Floridaand the Northeast, where the new center staged threeshows this summer, and several this fall, in a “soft open-ing” before the big October 5 launch. The two, alongwith other partners, are also part of the team that ownsthe Wellington winter show grounds (WEF) and in Sep-tember staged the first ever horse show in NYC’s Cen-tral Park.

Carter Brown got Tryon’s equestrian scene rollingin 1918 when he opened the Pine Crest as winter quar-ters to compliment his popular summer resort on LakeMichigan. Visitors, who included major industrialistsand businessmen, liked what they saw in the mountaincommunity just south of Asheville, and stayed.

The genial hotelier also founded the Tryon Ridingand Hunt Club in 1925, The Tryon Hounds and theTryon Horse Show in 1926, as well as the Block HouseSteeplechase in 1947. Too, Brown and neighbors cre-ated a unique—now oft copied—public-private trailsystem linking and protecting equestrian “greenways”around the horsey neighborhoods.

The steeplechase, now held at Foothills Equestrianand Nature Center, still bears the Block House nameafter a frontier fortress established in 1756. Brown re-located and preserved the old structure, which over-looked the original course, which crossed boundaries oftwo states and three counties.

The Reynolds clan moved to Tryon in 1939 whenpatriarch J. Arthur Reynolds responded to Brown’snewspaper ad for a position as huntsman for the TryonHounds and manager of the tony Pine Crest Inn’s hack

barn.Daughter Betty and son Bucky were born in Tryon

and learned to ride following the Tryon Hounds. Thesiblings topped junior hunter and horsemanship classesin those days.

Betty Reynolds Oare continues to dominate ama-teur-owner competition. Bucky, who like his sister nowlives in northern Virginia’s hunt country, trains showhorses—including Betty’s—and is among leaders in thehunter breeding handler division.

Bucky, Betty, her husband Ernie Oare, and sister-in-law Linda Reynolds are all A-rated judges and USEFand Virginia Horse Shows Association committee mem-bers.

Gordon Wright’s first trip to Tryon was the stuff oflegend in the 1950s. Wright and several New York-based clients decided to head south one winter to fox-hunt. The religiously diverse group, turned away byanother North Carolina hunt, called Brown to see if hewould have them. Brown said, “Come on. We’ll have ahot dinner waiting and stalls bedded,” the story goes.

With good hunting and the warm welcome, Wrightis said to have declared, “I’ll just start my own hunthere.” True to his word, Wright organized the GreenvilleCounty Hounds, which later merged with the GreenCreek Hounds.

Wright and one of his major NY clients, JarrettSchmid, went partners to purchase the Reynolds’ homeplace and named their farm for the trail riding areaacross from Wright’s Secor Farms. The pair also jointlyowned Naute Mia, who won 43 championships, 222blue ribbons, all in top rated shows.

Like Schmid, Wright eventually retired to the area,spending his final years on a farm he built in nearbyGowensville.

George Morris, Wright’s star pupil and disciple,came to Tryon as a teen in 1956 to train with the USEquestrian Team, which had winter quarters in Tryon in1956, 1958, and 1960. Nineteen-year-old Morris wasn’tselected for the team in 1956, but won team gold at the1959 Pan Am games, and in Rome took the team silverin 1960.

“Back then, the USET didn’t have a permanentbase,” Morris explained. “The town [of Tryon] more orless adopted us.”

Horses were stabled at Harmon Field, the town’spublic park, while riders were billeted by local families,who all but spoon-fed them gourmet lunches at noontime. At the direction of Tryon Hounds’ MFH andUSET Director Ernst Mahler, everything was absolutelyfree for the team from nuts and bolts to bales of hay toa European style grand prix course built by the Kuhnsfamily at their Cotton Patch Farm. Other training arenasalso were built to the specifications of Bertalan deNémethy, the team’s newly hired coach

The USET shifted to Gladstone, NJ, the Reynoldsfamily relocated to Virginia, and the older generationpassed away. Yet Tryon remained largely unchanged—leafy, sleepy, and uncrowded. Tryon fell into what Mor-ris described as a “time warp, and isn’t it lucky.”

A New GenerationIt was this unchanged tapestry with its staid tradi-

tion for equestrian sports that became an open canvasfor the new Tryon International Equestrian Center.“What Mark Bellissimo and Roger Smith have donehere is positively brilliant,” Morris said. “I’ve lived longenough to have seen all the great venues, in Europe andin Calgary, and [TIEC] measures up. It’s world class.”

SHOWING

Artist’s rendering.

Tryon Equestrian Center Looks Back, Plans FutureBy Jackie Burke

Ernst Mahler and his son Pete en route to winning the family classat Harmon Field, where Olympic team horses were stabled for

winter training. Mahler, director of the USET, brought the team toTryon in 1956, ’58, and ’60. Photo courtesy of Ernst Mahler, Jr.

Erik Olsen photo.

11

Roger Smith and his wife Jennifer left Atlanta congestion for the Tryon areamore than a decade earlier. The Smiths built a Kentucky style showcase and expandedthe Green Greek Hound’s hunt territory with the purchase of thousands of more acres.Smith said he was drawn to Polk County’s interesting culture, as well as equestriansport.

Bellissimo and wife Katharine had often visited their friends the Smiths in NorthCarolina. Later research revealed the Smiths had settled at a midpoint roughly half-way between the major Mid-Atlantic/Northeast show venues and the Florida wintershow facilities. Polk County, North Carolina is, literally, the epicenter of good 12-month-a-year weather—the fewest heating and cooling days in the Eastern US, pro-tected by high surrounding maintains from major storms and no threats from thehurricanes that can threaten the Florida show grounds, which Bellissimo purchasedin 2006.

Things began to gel for Smith and Bellissimo, already partners in WEF, last yearwhen they purchased White Oak, a partially-built golf course and equestrian com-munity, in a bankruptcy auction.

When plans were announced for a major new hunter-jumper horse show center,local residents were astounded and the greater equestrian world incredulous that sucha remote site had been selected. But the 1,400 mostly wooded, undeveloped acresthat back up to the White Oak tract fronts an existing Pea Ridge exit off a four-lanelimited access federal highway within a few minutes of I-26 and is located a halfhour’s drive from Charlotte’s major international hub. In short, Pea Ridge was per-fect, just what the creators imagined as a dream horse show destination.

Dream TeamWhen entertainment magnate Sheila Johnson signed on to build a glitzy hotel on

the show grounds, the final part of the puzzle dropped into place. Her new 150-roomhotel is projected to open in 2016, with a 200-room spa in 2017. It comes not a mo-ment too soon to a growing area currently lacking in nearby accommodations, sayTIEC officials. The hotel follows an equestrian theme Johnson established at herSalamander Resort and Spa, opened in 2013 in Middleburg, Virginia.

Some on-grounds accommodations are already available, including six fully-fit-ted 2,800 square foot deluxe rental log cabins, with others almost ready. The justopened RV park on the show grounds has proved wildly popular with road-wearyhorse show horsemen.

Johnson, on hand for TIEC’s grand opening, said she, like Bellissimo, sort of“backed” into the horse business. “I absolutely got into all this when [daughter] Paigewanted to take riding lessons.” The Johnson family’s access to riding expertise foundin Middleburg launched then-teenaged Paige from success on junior hunters to, atage 29, prizes in grand prix.

Johnson bought and renovated the stately Salamander Farm just south of town,and opened the gourmet Salamander Market in the village before creating her resortjust north of town. She compares Middleburg and Tryon, saying both hotels “fill avoid. Middleburg had its cute B & Bs, [providing not many rooms,] but no destina-tion resort.”

Johnson, who stood with Morris to present prizes for Tryon’s first $100,000grand prix on opening weekend, laughed when asked if her daughter’s first ridinglessons had led her to this point. “ You just never know where life is going to takeyou,” she said.

RenaissanceHe’s an unlikely, though not unwilling, equestrian mogul.It was his daughters’ summer camp riding lessons that brought Bellissimo out of

early retirement to an all new career as hunter-jumper developer. He purchased the financially stressed Wellington Equestrian Festival in 2003.

Bellissimo bought the Middleburg-based Chronicle of the Horse magazine in 2013.In what most consider his boldest move yet, Bellissimo convinced the city of

New York to permit him to use Central Park for its first-ever horse show this Sep-tember. He signed on NBC television to broadcast live the show’s highlight, a$200,000 grand prix, during prime time.

Bellissimo envisions TIEC as a total resort for the family—sports bar to bringsparkle back to dad’s eyes after too many hunter rounds, tennis courts, a pool andclimbing wall to keep Junior from the “not another horse show” eye roll.

And as for competition, Bellissimo is not just going for USEF Premier but worldranked FEI-rated events. The giant indoor arena (240’ by 400’), already being bookedby other horse disciplines, opens this winter. Four new grass arenas should take holdfor summer competition, where the layout can be reconfigured for polo, hunter der-bies, and grand prix courses with European-style banks and other obstacles.

A Personal View of Tryon International Equestrian Center: Insider’s InsightWhen the first grand prix competitor entered the arena July 4, 2014, at Tryon In-

ternational Equestrian Center’s newly opened facility, a band might have broken into“This Could be the Start of Something Big.”

The sweet mountain air wafting down the nearby Blue Ridge seemed to whis-per that the kickoff event at TIEC was just the beginning of something special.

So quickly has TIEC risen from the eastern edge of North Carolina’s Piedmontregion that it would make for an interesting time-lapse video. Over 1½ million cubicyards of dirt have been shifted, 6.7 miles of underground cable laid, 300,000 poundsof specially formulated, all-weather geotextile footing have been put down. But sitediagrams and numbers can’t possibly describe the activity that’s been required tobring the $100 million facility so far so fast since breaking ground just this past win-ter.

The hilltop parking area just off the interstate provides the best perspective. Fromthere, you can watch a half-dozen giant mining trucks shuffle back and forth. Giant

cranes and highway-sized graders that munch and put in place materials render ordi-nary vehicles to the size of matchbox toys by comparison.

While life here in Tryon is typically quite slow and sedate, buildings at TIEChave sprung up like spring mushrooms—what was bare ground during the first weekof showing this fall became a comfortable inside cafe by week two. A crew puttingthe finishing touches on the Venetian carousel centerpiece to the family play area saidthey had seating for the grand prix arena set up in three short days, the ring itself, frombare dirt to opening day in seven.

Bellissimo said that the team he assembled both understands how to get the jobdone and is committed to the mission, which promised long term employment in apart of the country which has seen its once thriving cotton mills go overseas. Sub-con-tractors include 67 local companies hiring a majority of local workers for the 600-plus-man force.

Five hundred permanent show stalls have been completed, built with the safetyand comfort of horses in mind. Each stall is fitted with overhead barrel fans, rubbermatting, and full-length sliding doors. There is a locking tack room on each row ofthe center-aisle barns, with covered wash racks between each stable block.

Everything is designed for a thorough hosing down between events.Arenas were built just steps from the L-shaped stable complex. There are two

large schooling areas on the grounds, but each arena also offers a smaller schoolingarea for competitors’ final preparations.

Human niceties include raised walks with shaded viewing areas between are-nas, wi-fi throughout, and picnic tables with bright umbrellas have been placed out-side each barn.

I talked to Florida show rider Jessie Smith at one of the picnic tables after the lastclass on October 5. She explained that her barn came “on the spur of the moment”with trainer Allison Firestone Robitaille. “We had heard all about the new showgrounds from Betty Oare, who saw it in June. We thought, why not take a look.”

Smith said they will definitely be back next season, but not only for the obviousreasons. In addition to the quality of competition arenas, Smith factors another draw.“They just have so many darn nice indoor restrooms.”

Show secretary Jen Hicks predicts that as word spreads, TIEC will easily needthe additional 500 stalls in the works for the six-month season in 2015.

She says articles in horse magazines have started the ball rolling, and local news-paper stories have drawn spectators, but Hicks credits social media for the wildfirespread of the word about TIEC. Those who come like what they see and send reportsto their Facebook friends.

Thanks to the buzz about TIEC, friends who asked me “Where is Tryon?” whenI moved here three years ago are now jostling in line to come visit.

TIEC’s jumper vision has been strong since the start. Each ring has its own small schooling area,plus shaded area for final prep. Spectators view from raised decks, with plenty of comfortable seating available. Shown in the background are a few of the stable blocks, with views of the

Blue Ridge Mountains beyond. Erik Olsen photo.

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201412

Two Additions to Popular Series and a Hunting Diary

By Lauren R. Giannini

Dick Francis’s Damage by Felix FrancisThis is a well-crafted mystery about attacks onBritish racing via the horses, jockeys, stewards, andeven a racecourse (no spoilers, sorry). ProtagonistJeff Hinkley works as an investigator for the BritishHorseracing Authority (BHA) and his efforts are en-hanced by an unusual skill set that includes disguise,subterfuge, and surveillance techniques, thanks toyears in the British Army Intelligence Corps.

Damage starts at the Cheltenham Racing Festi-val with Hinkley tailing a trainer, banned from allracecourses for horses testing positive for prohib-ited drugs. Jeff, working undercover for the BHA,follows at a discreet distance, but isn’t close enoughto prevent the trainer from slashing a bookmaker’sthroat. The murder leads to several story threads, which Francis weaves into anengrossing tapestry of sabotage, doping, race-fixing, and extortion, spiced by de-tours into compelling dramas involving people within Hinkley’s own life.

With everyone’s racing-related livelihoods at the BHA threatened by“Leonardo’s” clever attacks, Hinkley sticks out his neck to be scapegoated and“dismissed” in order to continue his covert investigations. As the BHA loses con-fidence in his ability to identify the diabolical mastermind, let alone sort out theensuing mess, the suspense finds a new gear about the same time that Hinkley de-cides that the attacks on racing have to be a BHA inside job. He also learns thehard way that his life is in danger.

While his late parents’ influence and legacy live on in their son’s novels,Felix Francis has been growing into his own as a writer and developing his ownvery distinctive voice. Felix’s protagonist in Damage verbalizes thoughtfully tothe point of introspection, more human and emotional than most of the protago-nists in mysteries authored by his father. The partnership between Dick and Mary,his wife of 54 years, came to light after her passing in 2000: they had collaboratedon his mysteries, both contributing vitally to the success of each masterfully toldtale. Their prose was sparse, lean, full of action and drama, drawing the readerinto the web of suspense from the first sentence.

Now, however, enthusiasts are being treated to the heir apparent of the Mas-ter of Mystery as he comes of age and follows his own destiny. Francis fils setsa pace uniquely his own, and his writing is like a good horse that needs the dis-tance of the Grand National to hit top gear and finish well. Hinkley’s interac-tions with other people make him an interesting puzzle of a man. He’s committedto his work, not quite sure about Lydia (the woman he thinks he loves), veryclose to his sister Faye (having a horrific health crisis), helpful albeit not chummywith his brother-in-law (asks a huge favor), and totally committed to going overthe top to do his job. It will be interesting to see where Francis goes with this char-acter as he has already promised to feature Jeff Hinkley in another mystery. Bringit on!

Hardcover, 400 pages, $26.95. Signed copies available at Horse Country.Call 800-882-4868 to order.

Let Sleeping Dogs Lie by Rita Mae BrownRita Mae Brown dishes up another Jefferson Hunt mystery, featuring “Sister”Jane Arnold, in Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. The action gets underway when Jane and

her troupe of enthusiasts travel to Kentucky for a jointmeet with the Woodford Hounds. A nasty pogonip (sleetand fog storm) ruins the day’s sport and thoroughly chillsSister Jane, who accompanies her whipper-in friend O.J.(Other Jane), herself a Master of Foxhounds. The uneasyfeeling caused by the pogonip’s bone-penetrating chilldoesn’t really go away, and the evening’s social festivitiesare somewhat subdued by the discovery of human andcanine skeletons in the grave of a horse called BennyGlitters.

The Jefferson Hunt cast of characters is back, in-cluding Walter Lungren, Gray Lorillard, huntsmanShaker Crown, whipper-in Betty Franklin, Tootie Harris(who fled Princeton to return to the hunt), and whipper-in Sybil, to name but afew humans. The fauna have their voice and place of importance: strike houndCora, steady hound Asa, Diana, Dragon, Dasher et al, the horses, foxes, birds, andSister Jane’s trio: canines Raleigh and Rooster, and Golliwog the grumpy cat.

Brown’s plot thickens as Mercer Laprade, bloodstock agent, becomesdoggedly determined to prove he’s right, that the skeletal remains in that horsegrave in Kentucky belong to his grandfather, who disappeared back in 1921. Ofcourse, as things turn out, someone is willing to kill to keep the truth from beingknown. Subplots include Tootie, who helps move the story with her computerskills while garnering support for her independence and desire to become a vet;an outlaw pack of hounds and Crawford Howard create their own havoc; UncleYancey (fox) moves into great winter quarters; and wealthy widower KasmirBarbhaiya receives a sign of romantic approval from his late wife.

The Sister Jane series is more focused on the foxhunting world than isBrown’s other current line, her Mrs. Murphy mysteries. But whether you’re afox chaser or not, Brown’s storytelling skills will keep you entertained through-out.

Hardcover, illustrations, 304 pages. $26.00. Signed copies available at HorseCountry. Call 800-882-4868 to order.

See You At Second Horses by Barclay RivesReviewed by J. Harris Anderson

In See You At Second Horses, Barclay Rives recounts his 1999 hunting trip toEngland, accompanied by his good friends Grosvenor and Rosemarie Merle-Smith. Grosvenor was then MFH and Huntsman at Virginia’s Bull Run Huntwhere Barclay whipped-in (in addition to his staff duties atthe Keswick Hunt Club). Grosvenor is a former MFH at Ire-land’s Golden Vale and he and Rosie are now joint-mastersat the Tennessee Valley Hunt.

The Americans saw beautiful scenery between horses’ears: green pastures, villages clustered around stonechurches, hedges, and board fences. Barclay learned to jumpfences at unaccustomed speed, heeding advice he had re-ceived in America to crouch forward and trust a good horse.(Some of his assigned mounts met that criterion, others notso much.) The trio enjoyed extraordinary hospitality andlearned the origin of the expression “paint the town red.”

Four years later Barclay made a solo trip to Ireland where he discovered thatfoxhunting on “The Ould Sod” demands even greater fortitude. He experienceda cordial welcome and much Irish charm, as well as hunting moments he doubtedhe would survive.

Always entertaining and at many times hair-raising, these well-told talestake the reader on wild rides across open country and over ditches, hedges, stonewalls, and anything else that got between hunters and hounds… and made surethey eventually got back to the pub.

Softcover, 198 pp, $29.95. Signed copies available at Horse Country. Call800-882-4868 to order.

BOOK REVIEWS

Felix Francis at booksigning for Damage at Horse Country.From back in the day: Virginia Gold Cup, 1980s: Jeannie Waldron; author

Dick Francis; Joan Jones, MFH; James L. Young, MFH. Barclay Rives at author booksigning at Horse Country.

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ENAMEL BIT BRACELET Black #250-HEB01 $24.95Orange #250-HEB02 $24.95White #250-HEB03 $24.95

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WOOL RUCHED CROWN HAT Navy #2063-W399NY   $24.95Rust #2063-W399RT    $24.95Other Colors Available: Brown, Teal, Black, Plum, Wine, Grey and Sage 

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MEN'S BARBOUR® RIBER JACKET Quilted wool outer. Snazzy. Sizes: SM, MD, LG #4-MQ0594BR $379.00 GIFFORD TWEED CAP Sizes 6 ⅞ - 7 ⅝ #1170-sax6004 $79.00VIYELLA SHIRT 80% wool 20% cotton, washable. Sizes: MD, LG, XL #v14 $115.00

MEN'S BARBOUR® KERSAL SWEATER Sizes: SM, MD, LG, XL #-4-MK0743GN $149.00

MEN'S BARBOUR® BEDALE Our best selling waxed jacket, suitable for riding. Sage. Sizes: 32-54 #4-a320-SGE $379.00

MEN'S BARBOUR® TATTERSAL SHIRT MALCOLM Sizes: SM-XXL #4-MS3295TN $119.00

MEN'S MERINO POLO SWEATERwith natural elbow patch. Sizes MD-XLBlue #3022-INHTHR $225.00Port #3022-PORTXX $225.00Olive #3022-OLHTHR $225.00

MEN'S ASCOT Huntsman & Fox. Olive #77295D-OLV $98.95Also available in Burgundy, Yellow, Navy and Red

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BARBOUR® COUNTRY PLAID MUFFLER 4-US0105OL $59.00

CASUAL ITALIAN DESIGNED SWEATER Sizes: MD-XL #1663-S115 $139.95

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MEN'S CHRYSALIS JACKET Made in England. Warm and waterproof. #559-CBEL1A Sizes: SM, MD, LG $1150.00

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OVAL STERLING TRAY with hunting scenes , 1920s American, 21" oval. #4701-0713-001 $3495.00

POCKET WATCH STAND, ENGLISH, BRASS. #347-8015 $495.00

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17

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To SPERRYVILLE& I-81

WATERLOO St.

WINCHESTER St.

BROADVIEW Ave.

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ALEX

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ypass

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Store Hours: Monday–Friday 9AM - 6PM, Saturday 9AM - 5PM (ET)OPEN SUNDAY 12-4 FROM THANKSGIVING UNTIL CHRISTMAS

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PRANCING HORSE PIN 18K AND DIAMONDS #4701-0414 $2100.00

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Horsehead on Chain #3635-N1580 $98.00Belgian Jumper Medal with Turquoise #1009-013X $410.00Dutch Disc Horse Medal with White Pearl #1009-006X $410.00Horse Head Gold patina #1511-C4HH $176.00Belgian Rectangular Jumping Medal w/Turquoise #1009-022X $370.00

Dutch Canine Medal, Red Coral #1009-019X $420.00Ivory Horse Head on Gold Chain #1025-008 $1695.00Necklace Horse Head on Chain #3635-N1571 $145.00Belgian Enamel Canine Medal#1009-016X $350.00

VINTAGE NECKLACE COLLECTION TWO

STERLING HORSEHEAD, HORSE SHOE AND BIT PIN #333-004 $295.00

14K AND CRYSTAL GENTLEMAN HUNTER PIN #1245-022 $4900.00

14K AND CRYSTAL FOX MASK PENDANT #1025-001 $2900.00

BUCKING BRONCO EIGHT SQUARE 14K CRYSTAL BRACELET #5100-0213-003 $3400.00

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Foxhunter on Silver Chain with White Pearl. #1177-HRSSW $198.00Belgian Hound Medal with Bronze Pearls #1009-019X $290.00Belgian Horse with Aquamarine #1009-011X $430.00Dutch Bunny with Turquoise#1009-021X $370.00Gold Patina Fox Mask 18" #1511-FOXN $187.00

VINTAGE NECKLACE COLLECTION FOUR

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 13

Coyote Specialist to Talk at Belle Meade Hunt WeekGeorgia’s Belle Meade Hounds announced a specialevent for the 2015 “Gone Away With The Wind” HuntWeek, Jan. 18 to 24: Renowned coyote expert StanleyD. Gehrt, PhD—one of the most popular speakers toaddress MFHA Staff seminars—will share knowledgeand insights harvested from 14 years of intense studyof this elusive “wild dog” species. Dr. Gehrt’s talk onThursday morning, Jan. 22, will be followed by aluncheon.

Gehrt, Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecologyand Wildlife Extension Specialist at the Ohio StateUniversity, has been the principal investigator in thelargest study of urban coyotes ever conducted. He hastracked hundreds of coyotes and observed their ongo-ing quest to colonize urban environments in Chicagoand via projects in Ohio and Nova Scotia’s Cape Bre-ton Island.

At Belle Meade, Gehrt’s talk will cover reproduc-tion, behavior, habitat preferences, population dynam-ics, including survival and mortality, their ecology, andrelationships with other wildlife species. He has greatunderstanding of how coyotes function, what makesthem successful, and the challenges of humans living inincreasing proximity to them.

“On a professional level, coyotes are fascinating, because they are one of the fewspecies that seem to be immune to our efforts to control them,” said Gehrt. “I have apersonal fascination with them because they humble me daily. Once you think youhave them figured out, they remind you how little you really know.”

This is a rare opportunity to listen to an expert speak about the quarry that hastaken over the country surrounding many packs of foxhounds. The presentation is in-cluded for guests who registered for “Gone Away With The Wind” Hunt Week as rid-ers and non-riders. Everyone is welcome; if you are not registered for Hunt Week,tickets must be purchased in advance for the talk and luncheon.

Belle Meade’s “Gone Away With The Wind” Hunt Week is a fun-filled, total im-mersion sporting and social experience steeped in Southern hospitality that takes placein 35,000 acres of country. Four flights (two jumping, two non-jumping) led by ex-perienced field masters cater to every enthusiast. Families and children are very wel-come.

Please visit: www.bellemeadehounds.com—all forms and information can befound on the home page. For questions, contact: Epp Wilson, MFH: 706-449-1771 orEppWilson@foxborocompany.com or Angela Smith, Hon. Sec’y, C: 706-833-3104or ke4nnr@classicsouth.net.

Dr. Stanley Gehrt, PhD, notedcoyote expert, will share hisknowledge and insights on January 22, 2015, as part of

Belle Meade Hunt’s “Gone AwayWith The Wind” Hunt Week.

• Lots of Hunting, Social Events and Southern Hospitality• Family Friendly Environment - Children Welcome• Four Flights for Foxhunters of all Levels• Hunt Breakfasts and Stirrup Cups• Tally Ho Wagons for Non-Riders• Hunt Ball with Silent Auction and The Root Doctors• Annual Performance Trials February 26-28

Epp Wilson, MFH 706-449-1771 eppwilson@foxborocompany.com

www.bellemeadehounds.com

Special Presentation by The Coyote Guy

Dr. Stanley Gehrt

One of the most popular speakers ever at MFHA Staff Seminars!

Hunt Week2015

January 18 - 24Thomson, GA

Hunt Month2015

Jan. 18 - Feb. 28

Gone Away with the Wind

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201414

A Fall Full of Field HuntersBy J. Harris Anderson

The first human to climb onto the back of a horse created a revolution in transportation. The sec-ond person to do so created competition. There’s been no shortage of that spirit this autumn.

Piedmont Fox Hounds Field Hunter TrialThe fall fun got underway on September 28when the Piedmont Fox Hounds (PFH) hosted aField Hunter Trial at MFH Shelby Bonnie’sSalem Farm in Upperville, Virginia. A fundraiserfor the club’s new kennels construction project,this open event saw 86 horses and riders com-pete over a course of 10-12 jumps all simulatingnatural hunt country, such as coops, post andrails, stone walls, gates, brush, and logs.

Divisions were offered for horses and rid-ers of all levels. The winners were:Children’s Hunter: Beverly Alcock,

“Martigraw” (Piedmont)Junior Hunter: Hayley Alcock, “Long Johns”

(Piedmont)Hilltopper: Olivia Johnson, “Lollipop”

(Piedmont)Low Hunter: Jeanne Clark, “Boardwalk Empire” (Casanova)Adult Amateur Hunter: Carol Farnow, “Seguro Que Si” (Piedmont)Open Hunter: Frankly My Dear, Katie GardnerHunt Teams: “Positively Piedmont” Hayley, Beverly, and

Nancy AlcockHuntland Derby: Jill Wilson, “Apple” (Keswick)Best Turned Out Hilltopper: Christie FitzsimmonsBest Turned Out First Flight: Eduardo Coria (Casanova)Leading Junior Rider: Hayley Alcock (Piedmont)Leading Adult Amateur Rider: Carol Farnow (Piedmont)Leading Professional Rider: Jill Wilson (Keswick)High Point Hunt Challenge: Piedmont Fox Hounds

North American Field Hunter ChampionshipThe North American Field Hunter Championship

(NAFHC) is, as the name implies, open to all across theUS and Canada. In reality, the fixed location for the championship finals in Virginia at Middle-burg’s Glenwood Park results in a heavy concentration of participants from the Mid-Atlantic re-gion, although some enthusiasts do haul in from more distant locales.

Entrants pay to ride with four Virginia hunts during the week before the championship finals.Mounted judges ride along and select those deemed worthy of competing in the championship fi-nals on Saturday. Riders selected early in the week have the option to continue hunting for the re-mainder of the week but are not required to do so.

The finalists then compete in a hack class, mock hunt, and, after the field is narrowed downto the final contestants, over a hunter course designed to test the horses’ manners and hunting abil-ities. (Technically, the horse is the “field hunter” and while the rider’s skills certainly play a sig-nificant role, the winning nod goes to the horse.) Trophies are awarded for Field Hunter Champion,Reserve Champion, Best Turned Out, Most Suitable, and Sportsmanship.

This competition was created in 1989 tohonor the memory of Mrs. Theodora A. Randolph,Master of the Piedmont Fox Hounds for over 40years. This year’s winners were:Grand Champion: Stretch, ridden by

Laurie Ambrose, Piedmont Fox HoundsReserve Champion: Denali, ridden by

Eduardo Coria, Casanova HuntMost Suitable Pair: Butterfly Painting and

Rita Kaseman, Loudoun Fairfax HuntBest Turned Out: Denali and Eduardo Coria,

Casanova HuntBest Turned Out Reserve: Quest and Devon

Zebrovious, Middleburg HuntSportsmanship Award: Schiller and Allie Lawaetz,

Palm Beach Hounds

FIELD HUNTER TRIALS

NAFHC: Schiller and Allie Lawaetz, Palm BeachHounds, were cited for the Sportsmanship Award.

Richard Clay photo

NAFHC: Laurie Ambrose, Piedmont Fox Hounds, and Grand ChampionStretch, flanked by Laurie’s husband, a proud Chris Ambrose.

Richard Clay photo

NAFHC: (l-r) Denali, ridden by Eduardo Coria, Casanova Hunt, ReserveChampion and Best Turned Out; Quest and Devon Zebrovious, Middleburg

Hunt, Best Turned Out Reserve. Middleburg Photo

PFH Hunter Trial: Jill Wilson of Keswick HuntClub riding Catherine Wheeler’s Apple, Hunt-

land Derby winner. Middleburg Photo

PFH Hunter Trial: Jeanne Clark, MFH-Casanova Hunt, Low Hunter Champion on Boardwalk Empire. Middleburg Photo

PFH Hunter Trial: Carol Farnow, Piedmont Fox Hounds, Adult AmateurChampion on Sequro Que Si. Middleburg Photo

PFH Hunter Trial: Hayley, Beverly, and Nancy Alcock,Piedmont Fox Hounds, winners of the Hunt Team Class.

Middleburg Photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 15

Virginia Field Hunter ChampionshipThe Virginia version of a field hunter championship(VFHC) differs from its North American cousin in twoways. First, it’s an invitational event. The masters of Vir-ginia hunts are invited to nominate two members to com-pete. There are no trials to qualify, but no open registrationeither. Second, the hosting duties rotate yearly based on theresults. The hunt whose rider won is accorded the privilegeof hosting the following year.

Other elements of the competition are similar to thebroader field hunter championships. The day begins withthe judging of Best Turned Out and a hack on the flat, fol-lowed by a mock hunt. Finalists are announced who thenmust negotiate a handy hunter course. Spectators gather towatch and cheer on their favorites. 2014 winners:

Champion: Sur La Tete, ridden by Neil Morris, MFH,Orange County Hounds

Reserve Champion: Quest and Devon Zebrovious,Middleburg Hunt

(Quest and Devon also won Best Turned Out)

Orange County Hounds Team ChaseThe Orange County Hounds (OCH) variation is an adapta-tion of the English team chase. It’s akin to a HunterPace/Pair, with some elements of Handy Hunter, and a feworiginal twists. Competitors must belong to an organizedhunt (recognized, registered, farmers pack, etc.) and whilea team can be made up of riders from different clubs, theymust ride under a single team name. (Some catchy monikershave been created to meet that requirement.)

The day begins with Hilltopper Pairs, suitable for chil-dren or hilltopper adults, who compete over an infieldcourse of 13 fences, 2’4” to 2’6”. Next comes LimitedHunters, teams of three to four riders who ride out over a1½-mile course featuring 15 fences at 3’. The program de-scribes this class as suitable “For junior riders (age 16 oryounger), first year hunters, young horses, and/or riders ofany age who desire a shorter course.” The day concludeswith Genuine Hunters, also teams of three or four, ridinghorses that have been fairly hunted, over a 2½-mile coursewith 22 fences from 3’to 3’6”.

After all LimitedHunter teams are in, sixto eight junior ridersare called back to hackand perform a handyhunter test individually.Similarly, six to eightGenuine Hunters areinvited back for a simi-lar individual test.

VFHC: Neil Morris, MFH, Orange County Hounds, and Grand Champion Field Hunter Sur La Tete receive the trophy platterfrom last year’s winner, Middleburg Hunt’s Tracey Cover, as Middlburg’s joint masters Jeff Blue and Penny Denegre hold up

the trophy cooler sheet. Middleburg Photo

VFHC: Middleburg Hunt designed a Handy Hunter course complete with some unique challenges. Here Middleburg member

Karen Nutt-Kingsley and Bijoux negotiate the hound rolltop. Middleburg Photo

NAFHC: Stretch, ridden by Laurie Ambrose, Piedmont Fox Hounds,shows his Grand Champion winning form. Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase, Old Whitewood Farm, The Plains, Virginia, Sunday, October 26, 2014

Junior Champion Hayley Alcock on Joey: Piedmont Fox Hounds. Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase: Adult ChampionKristin Dillon on Smooth Jazz, Piedmont Fox Hounds.

Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase: Optimum Time(l-r) Middleburg Hunt’s George Kuk (Kalliopy), Holly RachelSmith (The Count), and Devon Zebrovious (Quest) receive the

award from Jackie Mars of Orange County Hounds. (Nick Green-well, riding Money, was also on the team but had to leave before

the award presentation.) Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase: Best Hunt Team(l-r) Eliza van der Woude on Secret Adios, Sophia Vella on Curious

George, Carmen Cantrel on Idle Hour Grace: Warrenton Hunt.Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase: Hilltopper Best Turned Out

Kathleen O’Keefe (rear) on Lefty Rosen-thal, and Hilary Gerhardt on Oakfields

Jensen: Casanova Hunt. Richard Clay photo

OCH Team Chase: First Flight Best Turned OutKolby Noe on Pepper, Camila Coria on Shanti, Ed-uardo Coria on Denali, Jeanne Clark on Boardwalk

Empire: Casanova Hunt. Richard Clay photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201416

Bobbie Wells: A Permanent FixtureBy W. Patrick Butterfield, MFH

I first met Bobbie Wells (née Roberta Mount) in the hunt field in the mid-sixties.While we were at a check I noticed a very attractive, well turned out, petitewoman riding a nice looking chestnut mare named April Spirits. The mare wasa witch in the show ring, but like many horses she loved the hunt field. Bobbie,who is just shy of five feet tall, told me she couldn’t hold a lick of her, but for-tunately the mare wasn’t going anywhere—just following along with the others.Bobbie had that classical forward seat that one learned in the 1940s and ’50s.

Bobbie grew up in the Chicago suburbs and northern New Jersey. She beganriding at an early age, and like many young girls she developed a lifelong lovefor horses. In her late teens she became a camp counselor and riding instructorat Camp Robin Hood in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where she developed somelasting friendships. Bobbie matriculated to Bradford Junior College (Haverhill,MA), where she concentrated on horses and boys. I once asked her if Bradfordwas a finishing school like neighboring Pine Manor. She said that if it were theyfailed with her. Her fondest college memories were the great beach parties theyhad down on the Cape. I think that she majored in Massachusetts’ geographywith stress placed on sand dunes!

After completing her two years of study, Miss Mount secured a positionteaching riding at Fairfax Hall in Waynesboro, Virginia. While there she escortedher students to horseshows in the surrounding counties. It soon became knownamong the young men in Charlottesville that there was “one hot little number”working across the mountain in Waynesboro. Several of them courted Bobbieand she eventually accepted a marriage proposal from Samuel B. Wells, a localrealtor and native of Albemarle County. The newly weds first resided in a smallapartment in Charlottesville. With the birth of son “Sambo” and, two years later,daughter Logan, the Wells family needed a bigger place. Sam had purchased acouple of acres on Free Union Road not far from Fox Fields. There they con-structed a home designed by Sam’s father, Marshall Wells, a well-known classi-cal architect, in which the Wells have resided for over 50 years.

Before their move to the “country,” Bobbie had already developed a work-ing relationship with Grover Vandevender, the longtime charismatic huntsmanfor Farmington Hunt Club. She returned to teaching youngsters to walk, trot, andcanter in the rings of Grover’s Fox Fields Riding Academy, often with Sambo intow. Like many newly marrieds with young children, Bobbie didn’t have muchtime for foxhunting. Occasionally when Sam was not showing real estate andcould watch the children, Bobbie was able to take one of Grover’s horses hunt-ing. Logan, like her mother, had the horse “bug.” Bobbie and Sam purchased a

medium pony named Fancy for her. While Sam worked with Sambo in footballand little league baseball, many of Bobbie’s weekends were spent campaigningLogan and her pony at area horse shows.

In the mid-1970s, following the retirement of Grover and then Everett San-ner, Farmington Hunt hired a new huntsman, Jack Eicher. He and wife Donna andson Johnny had returned to Virginia after leaving the Litchfield Hunt in Con-necticut. The Farmington Hunt Club was a constant hub of activity in the seven-ties and at this time Bobbie and Sam were very active in its social aspects,swimming at the pool in the summers and playing paddle tennis in the winter. TheEichers lived on the club property, and soon a lasting friendship developed be-tween the Eicher family and Bobbie. Bobbie often babysat Johnny when Jackand Donna were away on joint meets or horse shows. Jack was an accomplishedrider and he was adept at taking “difficult” horses and turning them into “goodcitizens.” Jack was also a real horse trader. He had a good eye and was very quickto assess the value of a piece of “horseflesh.” One of the horses that he found wasa small buckskin mare that they named Sophie. Jack started Sophie but soonturned her over to Donna. Sophie was a bit small for Donna but she was veryuseful as a whipper-in’s mount. She was equally good in the field. Jack believedthat Sophie would be the ideal horse for Bobbie and he persuaded Sam Wells topurchase the mare as a gift for Bobbie. It was a perfect fit, and Bobbie became aconstant presence in the hunt field. She rode right up front with the field master,and Sophie sailed effortlessly over the coops and barways of the FarmingtonHunt territory.

PERSONALITIES

Bobbie Wells at a recent meet, still enjoying great sport, always setting an outstanding example.Photo courtesy Farmington Hunt

Very few people can say they hunted regularly with a Nobel laureate, two-time winner of thePulitzer Prize for fiction, and a man widely considered a giant of American literature. Bobbie

Wells is one of those few. In this undated photo are (l-r) William Faulkner, Bobbie Wells, Hunts-man Grover Vandevender, and Mary Jordan. They are seated on a fence at what was then Grover’s

Fox Fields Riding Academy, now home of the Foxfields Race Track. George Barkley photo

Bobbie Wells and Sophie, her best-ever hunting horse. Wells Family photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 17

Sophie proved her hunting prowess and Bobbie her mettle one day at Bai-ley’s Sawmill, a new fixture in the Free Union area. I was whipping-in at thetime. Hounds found a fast running fox. He quickly circled the fixture and took astraight line into unopened country. Jack and I galloped across Catterton Roadand jumped a fallen down fence line into the deserted Catterton farm bottom-land. The low area was totally overgrown with tall lush weeds and clusters ofmultiflora rose…nasty stuff. Jack’s horse breasted a hidden barbed wire fence.Fortunately the horse was not cut up. Jack dismounted, tore at the weeds, andcovered the wire fence with his coat. Remounting, he backed his horse up andpopped over the wire. I was next and was unsure what my horse would do…noproblems. Robert Ashcom, the field Master, soon followed. Bobbie was right be-hind. I heard her ask, “What are we doing?” “Just jump the coat!” Bobby Ash-com snapped. Bobbie Wells always followed instructions. Bobbie and Sophiewere a lasting combination. I have always heard it said that one is lucky to haveone great hunting horse in one’s lifetime. Sophie was Bobbie’s.

When Grover died in1976, his close friend Marion de Tejeda purchasedFox Fields, Grover’s riding academy, to create the Foxfield Steeplechase Course,dedicated to his memory. At that time, Mrs. Wells wanted a part-time job and shebecame one of the local ladies who “manned” the Foxfield office. Those firstfew years were turbulent. Bobbie, having a thick skin and the ability to “get alongwith others,” managed to stay the course. Bobbie worked for Foxfield from 1978to 2013. She is a master of organization. I came on board as the Race Director in1990. Bobbie managed the office and ticket sales and I dealt with the rest. Thosefirst few years were filled with drama but we all hung in there. We worked to-gether for 23 years…there was no subject or person that was not discussed inthat office. Fortunately Bobbie and I love to laugh a lot…and we did. There wasalways a lot of excitement and with every race we felt we had earned a new stripeon our uniform!

Today the Foxfield operation is much more modernized—you know, fancycomputers, and all the works. I have no complaints. Despite the modernization,Bobbie’s system for the sale of reserved parking spaces is still in place. Our of-fice staff is intelligent enough to keep a good thing when it works!

At the age of 80 Bobbie retired from Foxfield; fortunately she has not re-tired from the hunt field. At least two times a week you can see her, beautifullyturned out on her mare Summer, helping Liz King lead the third flight. Bobbieis one of Farmington’s permanent fixtures.

Friday, December 12, 2014

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201418

Blue Ridge Fall Races 9-20-2014Steeplechase racing in Virginia resumed after a four month break at the Blue Ridge FallRaces on September 20 at Woodley Farm near Berryville, Virginia. This day of racing pro-vides trainers an opportunity to prep their horses for the upcoming season, and no one tooka greater advantage of this opportunity than Middleburg trainer, Doug Fout. He sent horsesto the post in five of the six races and took home trophies after three races—the maiden andopen hurdle races and the open timber race.

Stable rider Gerard Galligan was up on Fout’s first two winners. In the maiden hurdlerace Beverly Steinman’s three-year-old, Perfect Union, won at first asking. He was reservedwithin striking distance while Gordonsdale Farm’s Storm Task (Willie McCarthy) set thepace. Perfect Union moved alongside Storm Task at the last fence and pulled away in thestretch to win by 1 length. Beverly Steinman’s Master of Markets (Kieran Norris) finishedthird just ahead of Betsy Mead’s Storyville (Jeff Murphy). The third and fourth placed fin-ishers were also Fout trainees.

When the field turned for home in the open hurdle, there was little doubt that a horseowned by Margaret R. White and trained by Fout was going to win the race. The only ques-tion was would it be her maiden, Blazing Beryl (Gerard Galligan), or her winner, MysteryMaeve (Willie McCarthy). Blazing Beryl answered that question when she raced close toMystery Maeve’s pace and pulled away in the stretch to a handy 3 length score.

The three-horse maiden timber race was the most exciting race on the card. Hunter’sTrap Farm’s Senior Senator (Eric Poretz) set most of the pace while opening a command-ing lead. Only two remained when Zoe Valvo pulled up Triton Light, and it was left to Ma-galen O. Bryant’s Lea Von (ridden by Woods Winants and trained by Doug Fout) to make arace of it. Lea Von took up the chase and rallied to draw abreast of Senior Senator with aquarter mile to run. The race was on as these two dueled to the finish where Senior Senatorproved best by a neck.

Fout greeted Magalen O. Bryant’s Adios Diablo (Kieran Norris) in the winners’ circlefollowing the open timber race. In the early going Indian Run Farm’s Whodoyoucallit(Woods Winants) made most of the running in the three-horse field. Conrad Somers’ owner-ridden Illustration ran in his shadow with Adios Diablo close up. With one more time to goaround Whodoyoucallit was pulled up leaving Illustration with the lead; but Adios Diabloquickly joined him. In an instant he proved his superiority and romped home to win by 30lengths. Doug Fout’s final line was three wins, three seconds, two thirds and a fourth. Nottoo bad of a day.

There is no special way to win a race. Sometimes the winner leads all the way, some-times he comes from just off the pace and at other times the race is won with a late chargefrom way back. Two of these winning styles were exhibited in the two flat races. In themaiden race Zoe Valvo sent Jean L. Rofe’s Tutuola to the lead at once and was never seri-ously challenged winning by 8 lengths over Mason Lampton’s Carobelle (Kieran Norris). Inthe open race David Byrne rated Rosbrian Farm’s Argentine bred Wantan off the pace. Herallied in the last quarter mile and proved best by 1 length over Betsy B. Mead’s So FarAway (Willie McCarthy).

The junior and senior field masters chases were combined with Chris Harting winningthe senior division on Two Is A Crowd, Ellen Brophy up on Modernly Millie to win the largepony division, and John Brophy winning the junior horse division on Royal Garden Blues.

Foxfield Fall Races 9-28-2014After dominating the Blue Ridge Fall Races, the Virginia Steeplechase Association’s lead-ing trainer, Doug Fout, and jockey Gerard Galligan continued to hold a hot hand at the Fox-field Fall Races on Sunday, September 28. These two got off to a quick start winning the firsttwo races on the card.

In the maiden claiming hurdle race Sharon E. Sheppard’s Wicklow raced within strik-ing distance, went to the lead on the last turn and held off Thomas E. Nugent’s Murphy’sCovert, who had forced the pace throughout and finished well. The final margin was ¾ of alength. Wicklow had prepped at Blue Ridge and was set up well to break his maiden.

Beverly Steinman’s Beamer (Galligan) had a hard earned ½ length win in the trainingflat race. He raced in third place down the backside, joined Noble Stables’ Kingofalldia-monds (Jacob Roberts) for a share of the lead at the head of the stretch and proved best inthe final sixteenth in a driving finish.

Fout and Galligan may have gotten off to a quick start, but National Steeplechase As-sociation leading rider, Willie McCarthy, and trainer Lilith Boucher matched their win total.In the Virginia-bred or sired flat race Why Not Racing LLC’s Complete Dyno immergedfrom a tightly packed field to score a 1¼ length win. In the early going Celtic Venture’sPrima Facie (Ross Geraghty), who had won this race a year ago, took the lead. Daybreak Sta-bles’ Wolverton (Jeff Murphy) was the first to make a move at the leader. He put PrimaFacie away at the head of the stretch, but that set the stage for Complete Dyno to win in thestretch. Complete Dyno moved to contest the lead after the field turned for home and provedbest over a determined but second best Wolverton.

Continued

RACING Fall RacesBy Will O’Keefe

Blue Ridge Fall Races Maiden HurdlePerfect Union (Gerald Galligan, up) – 1st. Liz Callar photo

Blue Ridge Fall Races Open HurdleBlazing Beryl (Gerald Galligan, up) – 1st. Liz Callar photo

Blue Ridge Fall Races Maiden FlatTutuolo (Zoe Valvo, up) – 1st. Liz Callar photo

Blue Ridge Fall Races Maiden TimberSenior Senator (Eric Poretz, up) – 1st. Liz Callar photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 19

Foxfield Fall Races The Barrack’s Filly and Mare Maiden HurdleBau Bai Gold (Ross Geraghty, up) – 1st. Catherine French photo

Foxfield Fall Races Chef’s Plate Training Flat Beamer (#4, Gerald Galligan, up) – 1st. Catherine French photo

Foxfield Fall Races Old Dominion Virginia Bred or Sired Training Flat Complete Dyno (#4, Willie McCarthy, up) – 1st. Catherine French photo

Foxfield Fall Races Blue Ridge Maiden HurdleMarq Your Bible (Willie McCarthy, up) – 1st. Catherine French photo

JENNY’S PICKSOur booksignings are now in full swing; ifyou missed Felix Francis’s, we still havesome signed copies of Dick Francis’s Dam-age available. We will also plan on havingsome signed copies by the other authors,and definitely Rita Mae Brown’s books.

Read-and-Play Sticker Books. Thesemake a great birthday or Christmas gift,as well as being something to occupyyoungsters on a long trip. All threesticker books have a middle section ofstickers that can be reaffixed to sceneson the front and back inside fold-outcovers for hours of play. If your childreads, there are a few explanatory pagesof text as well as the stickers. Makes mewant to be a child again! We have threeversions in stock: The Horse Farm, TheHorse Show, and the Barnyard. Each is$7.95.

Abbott, Gareth; and Catherine Britton,eds. Hollywood Dogs. From the archivesof the John Kobal Foundation comes thisbeautiful book of beautiful people—anddogs. Some dogs belong to the stars, oth-ers are their companions in films.There’s the original “Lassie” with a veryyoung Elizabeth Taylor, and there’s Lizbathing her own cocker spaniel. RockHudson pairs with a Schnauzer, CharlieChaplin with a stage Mutt, BusterKeaton with a Saint Bernard—just abouteveryone who was anyone in 20th cen-tury Hollywood. These are all high-qual-ity publicity shots, not casual snaps, soeach is clear and masterfully composed.Makes a great gift—but you’ll probablywant one yourself if you’re a moviebuff! Hardcover, 168pp. $45.00

Baxter, Nicola. My Book of MagicalPony Tales. Beautifully illustrated byCathie Shuttleworth, this selection of 12

short children’s stories is sure to delightyour youngest children, whether youread the stories to them or they are ableto read themselves. Softcover, 80pp.$9.99

Groux, Rosemary. Finding Secrets. Thesecond book in the Brenwyd Legacy tril-ogy by teenage novelist RosemaryGroux is now in print! The first book leftheroine Cassie Pennington and herfriends having escaped from captivity bythe evil Brotherhood in England, but herparents are still held captive. In this vol-ume the teenagers find themselves goingback in time to the Arthurian age to ful-fill a prophesy. But there is no end to thedanger: the Brotherhood was founded bynone other than Mordred! And he is outto eliminate all Brenwyds. Join Cassieand her friends at Camelot! Softcover,400pp. $14.99

Kellon, Dr. Eleanor. Dr. Kellon’s Guideto First Aid for Horses. Now packagedwith two DVDs as well as the 338-pagebook. Dr. Kellon & Dr. Teresa Conwayshow you how they diagnose and treatmany common and uncommon equineailments and demonstrate such proce-dures as drug selections and dosages.Great value for any horse owner at only$69.95 for the package.

King, Rosa DeBerry. House Key. An-other tale with peripatetic time periods is

this one written by a local author, and itis set in the Fauquier County locale. Thebasic characters start out with the pro-tagonist, Jordan DuBois, a teacher whorents a house on an old plantation, andSantiago MacRae, the teenage heir to theestate. But other characters from the pastbegin entwining themselves among thepages; the novel shifts from first personto third and back again. This isn’t a novelone can skim through easily to assess theplot; I haven’t had time to read it beyondsnippets myself, so I can’t tell you a lotabout it other than it looks like a goodread. Hardcover, 533pp. $29.95

Rives, Barclay. See You at SecondHorses. Barclay Rives has written manyarticles that have appeared in such mag-azines as In & Around Horse Country,Virginia Sportsman, and AlbemarleMagazine as well as penning The 100Year History of the Keswick Hunt Club.Here he delightfully recounts his adven-tures hunting in England and Ireland,with a few photographs to illustrate theaction. I thoroughly enjoyed the advancecopy, and I’m sure all you foxhunters outthere will as well. Softcover, 198pp.$29.95

Rives, Barclay. William Cabell Rives/ACountry to Serve. Barclay Rives is bet-ter known to foxhunters for his foxhunt-ing writing, but here he takes up the pen

to set forth the life of an ancestor wholived in the 19th century, a protégé ofThomas Jefferson and James Madison.Like so many Virginians, when the Southseceded he followed his state, but thatservice is not a primary focus of thisbook. Rather, it is the first part of the 19th

century when he was active in the Amer-ican political scene that Barclay choosesto dwell upon. See a more complete re-view by our editor in the previous issueof IAHC. Softcover, 373pp. $19.95

Thelwell, Norman. The Cat’s Pyjamas.This is the only Thelwell I’ve been ableto obtain recently. This one’s for catlovers—a whole book of puns on catphrases and words having “cat” or somevariation thereof—and a few that, I con-fess, I don’t “get.” Maybe you have to beEnglish to understand those. But what-ever the topic, Thelwell can wring humorout of it, and his kitties are as cute as hisponies. Paperback, 96pp. $12.95

Wilson, Alison. Drawing and PaintingHorses. For the adult artist, this is possi-bly the most informative book I haveseen yet on equine art. First and most im-portant to me, the author is an excellentpainter of horses. Second, she is awarethat not every aspiring equine artist isalso an equestrian, so she gives plenty ofcautionary advice about how to act andposition oneself when working from lifemodels, and what to expect in horse be-havior. The emphasis in the first half isheavily on drawing, including materials,anatomy, and movement. The secondpart deals with painting theory, practi-calities, composition, and developmentof a painting. Finally is a short chapteron the professional side of art. Veryhighly recommended! Softcover, 192pp.$34.95

HORSE COUNTRYBOOKSELLERS

Specialists in New, Old & Rare Books on Horses, Foxhunting, Eventing, Polo, Racing, Steeplechasing & Sporting Art

60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 • 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201420

The filly and mare maiden hurdle race followed, and this time Ross Geraghty had bet-ter luck with a front running score on Jennifer H. Pitts’ Bau Bai Gold. Trainer JazzNapravnik had Bau Bai Gold ready for a winning effort at first asking. Under McCarthy sheexploded to the lead at once and was never threatened winning by 13¼ lengths over BetsyB. Mead’s So Far Away (Willie McCarthy).

When last seen in Virginia, Perfect Peace Racing Stable LLC’s Marq Your Bible ranan impressive second place in the Virginia-bred flat race at the Virginia Gold Cup Races.Lilith Boucher had him sitting on go at Foxfield as he found a field very much to his lik-ing. He opened a clear lead at the drop of Graham Alcock’s flag, continued to widen, andromped home alone by 34½ lengths over William G. Wofford’s Albus (Bernard Dalton),who rallied for second.

Virginia Fall Races 10-4-2014The feature race at the Virginia Fall Races on Saturday, October 4, at Glenwood Park nearMiddleburg was the W. Gary Baker Memorial Hurdle Stakes. This race was run in memoryof the man who for many decades was the driving force behind this race meet. The gen-erosity of his many friends made possible a $40,000 purse that attracted a strong ten-horsefield.

The race was limited to horses that had never won an open stakes, and these conditionssuited Andre W. Brewster and Sheila Williams’ All Together perfectly. He was a novicestakes winner earlier in his career but had often been running against the best horses intraining since losing the novice condition. Two fourth place finishes in the New York TurfWriters and Lonesome Glory stakes at Saratoga and Belmont Park made him the favoritehere, and he did not disappoint his supporters. Sam Jones rated him off the pace and askedhim to quicken his pace with three furlongs to run. He took the lead approaching the lastfence and won easily by 7¼ lengths. The Field Stable’s Bob Le Beau (Gus Dahl) rallied be-latedly to be second and Woodslane Farm’s Sharp Numbers (Bernie Dalton) finished third.The first and third place finishers were trained by Jack Fisher, who is currently the NationalSteeplechase Association’s leading trainer in races and money won.

Magalen O. Bryant’s Dakota Slew (Darren Nagle) won the co-featured National Sport-ing Library & Museum Cup Timber Stakes. The Bryant horses have been hot recently, andtrainer Richard Valentine was more than pleased to be part of this streak. Nagle rated DakotaSlew off the pace, took the lead racing down the backside the final time around, and openeda clear lead entering the stretch. Armata Stables’ Brother Sy (Paddy Young) came again inthe stretch but was held safe by 1¼ lengths.

This was part of a great day for Virginia owners and trainers. The leading trainer wasNeil Morris, who won three races with the meet’s leading rider Jacob Roberts up in each in-stance. Their day started with a bang in the optional allowance/claiming hurdle race whenKinross Farm’s Schoolhouse Woods rallied from far back to win going away by 2¾ lengthsover Michael A. Smith’s Arrow’s Conquest (Willie McCarthy), another horse trained byMorris. Magalen O. Bryant’s Irish-bred Casual Creeper (Paddy Young) ran a strong third.

The Morris-Roberts team also won a division of the three- and four-year-old maidenhurdle race with Noble Stables’ Kingofalldiamonds. In the race he rallied from off the pacegoing down the backside the final time to take the lead with three furlongs to run. Wood-slane Farm’s Overwhelming (Sean McDermott) posed a threat in the stretch but could notreach the winner, who won by 1¼ lengths. The hat trick was completed when Sara Col-lette’s Wahoo won the Virginia-bred or sired flat race. Wahoo was rated within striking dis-tance, took the lead with a quarter mile to run and held off Daybreak Stables’Wolverton (JeffMurphy) to win by 2¼ lengths.

Local connections took home the trophy in the James P. McCormick maiden timberrace. Under Mark Beecher, Oakwood Stable’s Country Cousin was impressive winning by2½ lengths over Magalen O. Bryant’s Adios Diablo (Kieran Norris). Going down the back-side the last time around, it appeared that Country Cousin could have taken the lead any-time Beecher wanted. When asked, he responded immediately, took command approachingthe last fence and won easily for trainer Julie Gomena. Country Cousin was a stakes win-ner over hurdles and appears to have a future running over timber.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard had two horses in the entries, and they bothwon maiden hurdle races with NSA leading rider Willie McCarthy up. In the maiden hur-dle race for five-year-olds and up Lewis Schaffel’s Sal the Barber went to the lead at once,was never headed and won easily by 7½ lengths over Rose Marie Bogley’s Jake’s Man-date. The other Sheppard entry Radical Chic won by the slimmest of margins over AugustinStables’ Hallam (Robbie Walsh) in the second division of the maiden claiming hurdle race.This was the day’s most exciting race as Radical Chic and Hallam dueled for nearly a halfmile. Without the help of the photo finish camera, the result would have probably been de-clared a dead heat, but the camera told the tale and the margin was about ½ inch.

The other division of the maiden claiming hurdle race went to Armata Stables’ Ten-timesthetrouble, who was ridden by Bernie Dalton and trained by Katherine Neilson. Ten-timesthetrouble raced close to the pace that was set by Elizabeth B. Barr’s Brief Holliday(Robbie Walsh). The winner jumped the last fence in second but had dead aim on BriefHoliday and took the lead on the turn. Brief Holiday fought back, but Tentimesthetroubleheld him off to win by ¾ length.

Virginia Fall Races Bon Nouvel Optional Allowance/Claiming Hurdle Race(l-r) G G Gal (Bernie Dalton, up); Schoolhouse Woods (Jacob Roberts, up) – 1st.

Douglas Lees photo

Virginia Fall Races Theodora A. Randolph Memorial Cup Maiden HurdleSal The Barber (Willie McCarthy, up) – 1st; Tahoe Lake (Robbie Walsh, up) – 2nd.

Douglas Lees photo

Virginia Fall Races Daniel C. Sands Cup Maiden Claiming Hurdle (l-r) Tentimesthetrouble (Bernie Dalton, up) – 1st;

Brief Holiday (Robbie Walsh, up) – 2nd. Douglas Lees photo

Virginia Fall Races James P. McCormick Maiden TimberCountry Cousin (Mark Beecher, up) –1st. Douglas Lees photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 21

International Gold Cup Races 10-25-2014The International Gold Cup Races on Saturday, Oc-tober 25, at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia,was a headline event, but I had to decide which ofthe multiple headlines should lead this article. Was itthe $60,000 International Gold Cup Timber Stake,the $50,000 David L. “Zeke” Ferguson MemorialGrade III Hurdle Stake presented by the VirginiaHorsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association,or the fact that five of the nine races on the card were$25,000 flat races also underwritten by the VHBPA?The demise of Colonial Downs has headlined nu-merous stories in recent weeks, but how that will af-fect steeplechase and flat racing in Virginia is a storyin itself. Is this a new beginning for the sport or atransition into the future? I am going with tradition,and that makes Grinding Speed and rider MarkBeecher winning their second International Gold Cupin the last three years the lead.

Only four horses went to the start for the Inter-national Gold Cup, but they were competitive all theway and each had a chance in the final half mile. Kin-ross Farm’s Schoolhouse Woods (Jacob Roberts)made most of the running with the remainder of thefield very content to be rated in his shadow. Withabout three furlongs to run Mark Beecher made hismove with Grinding Speed. They appeared to be in aperfect position to win as the field approached thethird fence from home. At that fence Grinding Speedmade a mistake that shuffled him back to last beforethe field turned for home. Beecher recovered, gath-ered Grinding Speed and asked him to come again.His response was dramatic, and by the last fence hehad rallied to be second. He kept coming and provedbest in a driving finish by ¾ of a length over Maga-len O. Bryant’s game Dakota Slew (winner of theNational Sporting Library & Museum Cup – DarrenNagle), who gave way begrudgingly. Grinding Speedregained his winning form over a race course that heobviously loves.

Irvin S. Naylor has imported many top classhorses from England and Ireland in recent years thathave excelled racing in the United States. This pastsummer he imported Able Deputy from England. Asa seven-year-old he had found his best form winningfour races in England this year. He made his debut inVirginia in the W. Gary Baker Memorial at the Vir-ginia Fall Races, but poor racing luck compromisedhis chances, and this resulted in what appeared as abad effort. The bettors at the Gold Cup jumped onSheila Williams and Andre Brewster’s All Together,who had won the Baker Memorial easily, establish-ing him as the favorite. In the race All Together (SeanMcDermott) had another winning effort, but he fin-ished a well-beaten second. Able Deputy (Ross Ger-aghty) had a trouble free trip and won easily by 11lengths. Magalen O. Bryant’s Casual Creeper (Dar-ren Nagle) was third.

The opening race on the card was a $25,000Sport of Kings maiden hurdle race, which resulted ina popular local victory for Magalen O. Bryant’sPlated, who is trained by Jimmy Day and was riddento victory by Jeff Murphy. Woodslane Farm’s Over-whelming (Sean McDermott) ran second, and RoseMarie Bogley’s Jake’s Mandate (Kieran Norris) wasthird. Plated rallied down the backside the final time.He moved to third with two fences to jump, led overthe last fence, and held off Overwhelming to win by3¾ length.

Sean McDermott and trainer Jack Fisher hadbetter luck in the non-winners of two allowance raceover timber. In the race McDermott was content tolet the other four starters make the running as he kept

Jeremy Batoff’s Certain Swagger, who was makinghis first timber start, trailing the field but well withinstriking distance. Racing around the last turn he wasstill last but was starting to make his move. He wassecond over the last fence, drew away in the stretchand won handily by 3¾ lengths. Irvin S. Naylor’s Al-marmooq (Jacob Roberts) raced close to the pace butwas second best.

When entries closed on the Tuesday prior to theraces there were not sufficient entries in thesteeplethon, and that popular race had to be dropped.However, the entry box was overflowing with entriesfor the three flat races, and this turn of events resultedin splitting the two open flat races.

The first two flat races were run at the sprintersdistance of seven furlongs. In the first of these tworaces Rebecca Shepherd’s long shot Pride of the Fleet(Gerard Galligan) was sent to the lead at the break,held that position throughout and won by 1¼ lengthover Shamrock Farm’s Monument Hill (Tom Foley).Monument Hill got away poorly from the start andclosed with a rush but had to settle for second.

The second seven furlong race was a thriller asR. Larry Johnson’s Grand Old Game (James Slater)and Magalen O. Bryant’s Slews Best Quality (JacobRoberts) waged a battle through much of the lastquarter mile. Grand Old Game proved best by a veryshort nose. This was trainer Gerald E. Brooks’ debutat a hunt meet, and he appeared to be very happy inthese unfamiliar surroundings.

The other two open flat races were run over onemile and a furlong, and were won by trainers whocome from long pedigrees of racing at hunt meets. Inthe first division the late Tom Voss’ daughter Eliza-beth saddled the winner, Trillium Stable’s Atherton(Gus Dahl). In the race Atherton moved into con-tention going into the last turn, took the lead in thefinal furlong and proved best by a neck over Alexan-der R. Levengood’s Aridus, who finished stronglybut had to settle for second.

In the second division Eva Smithwick’s Co-turnix was in the entries with Eva’s husband D.Michael “Speedy” Smithwick, Jr. training. Coturnixwon three races at Colonial Downs last year andcame into this race with wins in his last two races atLaurel and Kentucky Downs. In the race Coturnix(David Byrne) raced within striking distance, tooksole possession of the lead at the head of the stretchand drew away to win by 3¼ lengths over JimmyDay’s multiple hurdle winner, the Irish-bred Manacor(Ross Geraghty).

Anyone including myself who saw PerfectPeace Racing Stable, LLC’s Marq Your Bible win themaiden hurdle race at Foxfield by more than thirtylengths and didn’t have something riding on him inthe Old Dominion Turf Championship for Virginia-bred horses going one mile and a quarter should tryanother pastime. To make it even worse most of ussaw him run an impressive second in this race at theVirginia Gold Cup in May.

In the race Marq Your Bible (Kieran Norris)moved to challenge on the backside of the course,went to the front entering the final turn and won by1¼ lengths over R. Larry Johnson’s Hard Enough,who had gone off as the short priced favorite. HardEnough was subsequently disqualified for going offcourse, and Quest Realty’s Gumper (Tom Foley) wasplaced second. Marq Your Bible paid $19.20 for a$2.00 wager.

It was a great day of racing with the nine racesbeing won by nine different owners, trainers, and rid-ers. We’ll all have to stay tuned to find out what thefuture might bring.

International Gold Cup Race(l-r) Dakota Slew (Darren Nagle, up) – 2nd; Schoolhouse Woods(Jacob Roberts, up) – 4th; Straight To It (Sean McDermott, up);

Grinding Speed (Mark Beecher, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Maiden HurdlePlated (third from left, light blue colors, Jeff Murphy, up) – 1st.

Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Old Dominion Turf Championship(l-r) Marq Your Bible (front left, blue colors, Kieran Norris, up)

– 1st; Hard Enough (front, far right, James Slater, up).Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Maiden HurdlePlated (Jeff Murphy, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Allowance Timber(l-r) Wildcatter (Bethany Baumgardner, up) – 3rd; Almarmooq

(Jacob Roberts, up) – 2nd; Certain Swagger (Sean McDermott, up) – 1st; Country Cousin (Mark Beecher, up).

Douglas Lees photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201422

AGA’S SAGAS Sing A Song, Dream A DreamAs I set paw to keyboard, it’s hard to believe thatChristmas is just a handful of Fridays away. Thecountryside has been full of autumnal splendor andthe crisp smell of leaves is in the air. Bunsen and Ihave been very busy with annual fall events; huntraces, field hunter trials and hunter paces, tailgates,the International Gold Cup. Lovely to see so manyof our hats, tweeds, and country clothing being wornby our good friends wherever we go.

We’ve been taking long walks in the fall air tomaintain our figures. Sometimes we pretend we areAshland Bassets and flush rabbits. Marion indulgesus in our fantasy. She uses her voice to encourage usand always praises our work saying, “Good hounds,good hounds.” [Editor’s note: This is a clear case ofwhat Aga hears vs. what Marion says. “Aga! Bun-sen! Come back here RIGHT NOW!” is not the sameas “Tally Ho!” Nor is the high-pitched terrier yap,yap, yapping in any way similar to the beautiful deephound music of the Ashland Bassets.]

We may be no match for true hunting dogswhen it comes to rousting up real game, but HorseCountry has become a popular covert of sorts.Horses, foxes, rabbits, foxhounds, Corgies, andJRs—of one fabrication or another—are marchinginto the store and finding particular places in our falland holiday displays. Happy visitors—of the flesh-and-blood type—are arriving from England, Wales,and Ireland. Many Canadians are in Virginia on hunt-ing trips while others, old friends included, are stop-ping in from around the country. I love it when thefront door jingles open and a voice calls out “Whereare the dogs that write?” Now that’s my kind of vis-itor!

Aye, and I like it especially when the door opens anda familiar voice calls out “I’ve got biscuits!”

Yes, Bunsen, even better when it’s a delicious buf-falo treat, my new favorite. And we must rememberto write Nardeen and thank her for the gourmetcookie basket she sent us, her two most favorite Scot-ties.

And Marion tells me she sprinkles pumpkin spice onour food at holiday time. She is so wonderful to us!

She is that, Bunsen. But you might have to extendyour walks to work off all those extra goodies.

Ach, lassie, I’ll be so busy keeping the store in shapefor all our holiday shoppers, I’ll nae likely see a peb-ble’s worth o’ extra weight on my manly physique.

You and me both! Marion’s already kicked off theholiday spirit with the special book events she’s beenhosting. What could make a better stocking stufferfor a fan of horse sports than a great new book? Itwas an especially exciting time when Felix Francisarrived with his new book Damage and treated us allto an evening of good stories, including how his fa-mous father, late author Dick Francis, eased Felixinto helping with household management and theninto writing a chapter here and there. Felix has writ-ten the last six Dick Francis books to great reviewsand we give him the Sigh-of-Relief Award for carry-ing the flame for all us Dick Francis fans. How won-derful that the Dick Francis franchise continues! Ifyou didn’t drop by or order your copy yet, we mighthave a few signed copies left. Contact Jenny right

away if you need one. Email her at hunt-books@aol.com or call 540-347-3141.

Also getting an award from us is another ofHorse Country’s favorite authors, Rita Mae Brown,for her latest Sister Jane mystery Let Sleeping DogsLie. With a cast of characters we’ve come to knowand love, this book is eagerly anticipated by manydevoted followers. Some of Rita Mae’s readers maynever throw a leg over a horse, but thanks to the au-thor’s skillful descriptions, they certainly feel likethey’ve ridden in the hunt field.

Barclay Rives receives the It’s-About-TimeAward for finally getting his hunting diary See You atSecond Horses, tales of his adventures in Englandand Ireland, to press. Angie Cooney and Maury Oareeach receive kudos for bringing their children to theRosemary Groux author talk and book signing, thesecond installment of her trilogy, The BrenwynLegacy: Finding Secrets. This teenage author is off toa great start in what we hope will be a long literarycareer. Let’s get books in children’s hands this Christ-mas.

As ye know, Scotland has a long, proud history ofproducing great literature. It truly warms me weeheart to see Horse Country serve as the launchingpad for so many wonderful new publications. And—faith an’ bejabbers!—such a range of talent… fromyoung Rosemary to—Ach! How shall ah put it?—the

mature Rita Mae.

I totally agree, Bunsen. But our Marion is well-known for upholding long-standing traditions whilealso working hard to keep a fresh voice about whatwe offer. Take our Country Clothing department, forexample. While folks will keep their Barbour Be-dales for years, they love to change their look withthe different styles of quilted vests and jackets thatare new each year. With stylish waterproof hats tokeep the rain off their heads, our customers are per-fectly prepared for whatever weather comes theirway. This year Marion has expanded the Hat De-partment and brought in many new stylish hats, newtweed flat caps, and waxed hats to go with yourwaxed jackets. Hurry in and get yours while the se-lection is the best.

Another group of items we have in copious col-ors and styles are scarves.

Ye mean mufflers, dontcha lassie?

No, I mean scarves… ladies’ scarves.

Aga, when they are made of luxurious cashmere andfine wool, they are properly called mufflers. Whenthey have decorative fringe, they are mufflers. HorseCountry is overflowing with mufflers.

Bunsen, while “muffler” might be the more commonparlance in Scotland, where people need a heavywrap against the Highland chill, in the States mostpeople think of a “muffler” as something that belongson a car to reduce the engine noise. Although nowthat I think about it, Marion has wrapped one of ourlovely scarves around your neck and muzzle in a vainattempt to muffle your intense vocalizations while weare driving.

My dear, my vocalizations, as you call them, are thetraditional Scottish sing-a-long with the radio! I lovesinging along with the greats: Frank Sinatra, TonyBennett, and Tom Jones. I happen to know Marionenjoys my covers of the classics.

Actually, Bunsen, I think it was your attempt at“What’s New, Pussycat?” that finally drove Marionto reach for the scarf.

Well, whether you prefer to call them mufflersor scarves, we have LOTS in cashmere, wool, silkfor outerwear, or to accent a dress or sweater. We alsohave shawls and ruanas from England.

And just like our range of book offerings, HorseCountry continues to be popular among folks of allages. Children have been bringing their parents inwith wish lists in hand. In addition to books and toys,children’s clothing has taken on a larger role at HorseCountry. We have lots of tee shirts and sweatshirtswith pony appliqués and embellishments. Manyyoung riders will be overjoyed to find new paddockboots and helmets under their tree as well as groovysocks, plush toys, games, and books. Parents andgrandparents will find it easy to call and order theperfect gift keeping the recipients completely sur-prised.

Barking of Christmas, I have to tell you whathappened a few weeks ago. Once again we were pa-tiently waiting for Marion to come back from herdinner. She hadn’t been gone long when suddenly,what to our wondrous ears should appear, but thesound of the hooves of little reindeer. Well, that’swhat Bunsen thought it was anyway.

Bunsen hears reindeer on the roof.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 2014 23

It was, lassie, it was! I know reindeer hooves when Ihear them. Santa came for an early visit. I SAW HIM.

Did you now?

Well, I couldn’t get you to follow me, but I leapt offm’chair, ran to the back of the store, and who poppedout of the dressing room but Santa himself. I was kip-persmacked! I asked if he was here to get my list, orMarion’s which is way longer. But he just said, “Ho,Ho, No! I’m here to fill up my sack with things I canonly get at Horse Country.”

But Santa, I said, you’re so early. You’re noteven really that fa-, um, plump yet.

“Well my good little Bunsen, so many ridersand foxhunters have been very good this year, I can’tget everything they want in one trip. Horse Countryis the one store with all the tack, clothes, and giftsour good riders are wanting. Now, why don’t you goback to your bed and dream of steak bones while Ifill up my pack?”

That’s when I came back to the front andhopped back up in my zebra-striped chair.

(Just between us, dear reader, I didn’t have the heartto tell Bunsen that he never actually left his chair. Hislittle legs were churning and he was making chirp-ing sounds like he was talking to someone… Santa in

his dream, no doubt.) But, still, we both did hear something on the

roof. I was pondering this when Marion and a mancame in the front door. As we rushed to greet ourbeloved Marion, she said, “Dogs, I want you to meetthe man who is going to solve all my problems.” ButBunsen was all “Marion, Marion, Santa was here, Isaw him.”

However, Marion just shushed us and unrolleda set of blueprints. While Bunsen walked off in de-jection, I listened while the man explained about theroof repair. Remember the tree that fell on the HorseCountry roof in June during a huge downpour,flooded the store, and I saved the day? (Well, Bunsendid help a bit). Finishing up the repair work was theproblem Marion was talking about.

Later, at home with Bunsen in snoozeland, as Icurled up next to Marion, she asked, ”You two wereso chatty tonight. Whatever was Bunsen going onabout when we got home?”

I gave her a long look. She was the picture ofinnocence. “That was you on the roof, wasn’t it?” Ithought.

She patted my head and said, “Good nightAga.”

She needn’t worry, I’ll never tell. I wouldn’t

want to be the one to burst a Bunsen bubble. Besides,I’m still hoping for lamb chops under the tree.

Since we didn’t get anything that night fromSanta, we are eagerly awaiting his next visit.

And to help him out—along with all the otherlittle Santa’s helpers out there—as we have in thepast, we will be open on Sundays from 12:00 - 4:00from Thanksgiving to Christmas to make your holi-day shopping easier. We hope you’ll come in so wecan wish you an appropriate seasonal greeting in per-son.

At this time of year, Bunsen and I ask that youthink of the dogs and cats who are still looking fortheir furever homes. If you are not in a position toadopt, please consider making a generous donationdirectly to your local shelter. They do not benefitfrom donations to the Humane Society of the UnitedStates no matter how warm and heartrending theircommercials seem. Our Howliday Greetings go outto all our special dog friends and one very specialtuna-loving cat. We hope you all have the best ofdays with your companions and Santa Paws leaveslots of yummy things under your tree.

Happy Howlidays!Aga and Bunsen

International Gold Cup VHBPA 11/8 Mile Open Flat – 2nd Division

Coturnix (David Byrne, up) – 1st.Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Zeke Ferguson Memorial Hurdle

Able Deputy (Ross Geraghty, up) – 1st.Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup VHBPA 11/8 Mile Open Flat –1st Division (l-r) Aridus (James Slater, up) – 2nd;Atherton (Gus Dahl, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup RaceMark Beecher and Grinding Speed won the Interna-

tional Gold Cup. Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Race(l-r) Grinding Speed (Mark Beecher, up) – 1st; Straight To It

(Sean McDermott, up) – 3rd; Dakota Slew (Darren Nagle, up) – 2nd; Schoolhouse Woods (Jacob Roberts, up) – 4th. Douglas Lees photo

International GoldCup Terrier Races(l-r) Angel (CarolStadfield’s) – 3rd;Keagan (Mary E.

Musheno’s) – 1st;Ghost (Moira

Kelly’s) – 2nd.

Douglas Lees photo

International Gold Cup Maiden Hurdle(l-r) Jake’s Mandate (Kieran Norris, up) – 3rd; Tiz Relevant (Mark Beecher, up); Plated(Jeff Murphy, up) – 1st; Canyon Road (David Byrne, up); Zanclus (Jacob Roberts, up).

Douglas Lees photo

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • HOLIDAY 201424

Horses and People to WatchOver Fences or On the flat, Virginia is Still the Place to Find Grade I Winners

Virginia Thoroughbred Association

All summer and into the fall, Virginia-connected horses have excelled at the elitelevel across the country. Horses bred, raised, and trained in the Old Dominion havewon Grade I races from Saratoga to Arlington. The VTA caught up with the localconnections of these performers to find out what’s next.

V.E. Day, Winner Grade I TraversVirginians had reason to crow in the Midsummer Derby, with Virginia horses

coming in 1-2-3. Local owner Magalen O. “Maggie” Bryant went to the winner’s cir-cle with V.E. Day. Wicked Strong and Tonalist, the two posterboys for raising a horsein the Old Dominion, both turned in great performances to be second and third.

The lightly-raced V.E. Day put together a 4-for-4 win-streak with the Grade ITravers. The chestnut colt broke his maiden on his third try going a mile on May 10,in an off-the-turf maiden special weight. He got the weeds he wanted in a 1 1/8-milenon-winners-of-one at Belmont in July and went off the chalk. Sitting in third formost of the running, the chestnut colt took the lead at the sixteenth pole and won by2 lengths.

He returned to the dirt to be the victor by a head in the Curlin Stakes at Saratogaon July 25. He went off at long odds in the Travers, paying $41 to win—but he wonwith a decisive rally, a head over Grade I Wood winner and stablemate WickedStrong.

“I got to watch him train all winter, really liked him and liked him at the sales,”recalled Bryant’s bloodstock agent Cindy Tucker. “Mrs. Bryant in particular likedEnglish Channel and we bought him at the OBS March sale.”

Out of the Deputy Minister mare California Sunset, V. E. Day is trained byJimmy Jerkens.

Meanwhile, Wicked Strong, also trained by Jerkens, put in a strong bid to turnthe stretch run of the Travers into a thrilling match race. The winner of the Grade IIJim Dandy and the Grade I Wood Memorial was raised at Centennial Farm’s facilityin Middleburg, and is owned by a partnership that Bryant is involved in.

Centennial Farms syndicate’s Don Little, Jr. purchased the colt for $375,000 lastyear under the moniker MoyneSpun, and renamed him WickedStrong in memory of the BostonMarathon bombing victims. Mrs.Bryant became involved with thegroup shortly thereafter, one ofseveral Centennial syndicatesthat Tucker has guided her into.The horse went on to be a Ken-tucky Derby contender after win-ning the Wood.

“We were fortunate to gethim,” Little told the Boston Herald before the Kentucky Derby. “We had to stretch ourbudget, but he stood out. He’s very keen-eyed, he didn’t miss a beat. And when wegot to our farm in Middleburg, Virginia, he was a dominant horse of the group. Heimpressed me from Day One.”

Trainer Jimmy Jerkens has been similarly bullish on the horse, remarking afterthe Jim Dandy, “The way he works in the morning, I don’t think Secretariat workedany better than this horse does in the morning.”

Meanwhile, the third-placed horse was also Virginia-raised Tonalist, who re-turned to win the Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Tonalist, Winner Grade I Jockey Club Gold CupVirginia-raised Tonalist was back in the winner’s circle again in the Grade I

Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park in September. Foaled in Kentucky but raisedby breeders Rene and Lauren Woolcott at their Woodslane Farm in The Plains, the 3-year-old has earned an automatic berth in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Classic, andtrainer Christophe Clement said he is likely a go.

“From the three-eighths on, he looked really good,” said Clement. “He wascloser and closer, and you could see the horse was going really well.”

Winner of the Grade I Belmont and second in the Grade II Jim Dandy, the lightly-raced son of Tapit was sold by Timber Town Stables and is now owned by Shel Evans.The colt debuted at Aqueduct in the fall of his 2-year-old year, finishing fourth, andwent on to break his maiden by 4 lengths at Gulfstream in January. He was secondin an allowance at that same oval the next month, then returned on May 10 to domi-nate the Grade II Peter Pan by 4 lengths, beating Belmont second Commissioner inthe process.

The rest, of course, is in the Classic record books. Tonalist broke from the out-side post position, settling in sixth place not 2 lengths off the leaders. Rounding thefirst turn, the colt was trapped almost five wide on the Belmont loam, but he kepttight with the front-runners and by the quarter pole was grinding away at the lead. De-spite lugging in under the shadow of the wire, he wore down front-runner Commis-sioner to prevail by a neck—giving Evans “the win Pleasant Colony didn’t get.”

When asked about Tonalist as a young horse, Rene Woolcott calls Tonalist “light-

ning in a jar.”“He was very laid back, re-

ally super conformation thewhole way,” Woolcott said.“Very easy, pleasant horse. Easykeeper.”

Hardest Core, Winner Grade I Arlington Million

The Grade I Arlington Mil-lion might have looked like astretch for a horse that had onlywon one overnight stake before(even if he was three-for-threegoing into the race), but Virgin-ian Rusty Carrier knew it wasn’t as big of a jump as it looked like for Hardest Core.

Carrier first noticed the 4-year-old son of Hard Spun when he was coming fromthe back of the pack to win a Saratoga allowance last summer.

“I said, ‘Oh, my God, what is that?’” Carrier recalled “He had the big long stridethat I like.”

Carrier called regular partner Greg Bentley about buying the horse. Bentley wasgame, but the current connections weren’t interested in selling. It was trainer EddieGraham who noticed that the horse had been entered in Keeneland November lastyear.

“We went down to where he was being showed and he turned and looked at us,and he just had that look: ‘What are you looking at?’” Carrier said. They bought thehorse for $210,000—and they were underbid by Kiaran McLaughlin, the colt’s trainerup until that point, Carrier said.

“When I went to sign the ticket,” Carrier said, “my hands were shaking. I’vepicked out a few good ones over the years and this is the one I liked more than anyof them.”

And thus “Team Hardest Core” was formed. Bentley and Carrier put the horsein the name of Bentley’s oldest son, Andrew, a racing enthusiast who has Down Syn-drome. They shipped Hardest Core to Graham in Unionville, Pennsylvania, cut him—and promptly almost lost the horse. A high hernia, totally unforeseeable, felled himin the paddock after he was gelded. Graham found Hardest Core in the field and racedhim to New Bolton.

The horse recovered, but Graham, Bentley, and Carrier decided not to challengehim too much in the spring. Carrier had originally purchased the 17-hand horse to bea steeplechase prospect—after all, it’s horseman Jody Petty who gets on him everyafternoon—but Graham called him and suggested that he see what else the horsecould do on the flat.

They ran him twice before the Million—an allowance at Parx where he domi-nated by 3 lengths, and in the Cape Henlopen at Delaware, where he won by the samemargin in July.

“We didn’t want to overface him [in the spring], but we thought we knew whatwe had,” Carrier said.

Demonstrative, Winner Grade I Lonesome Glory, Grade I Turf WritersVirginia-trained Demonstrative strung together his second grade I in a row in Sep-tember, dominating in the Grade I Lonesome Glory at Belmont. The son of ElusiveQuality, trained by Richard Valentine and owned by Jacqueline Ohrstrom, became justthe ninth steeplechase horse to surpass the $600,000 mark with this win. The veterancampaigner won his fifth grade I here, adding to the New York Turf Writers, the Iro-quois Hurdle, the Colonial Cup, and the Grand National.

“We’re pretty lucky, pretty damn lucky to have a horse this good,” said trainerRichard Valentine.

At Saratoga on August 25, venerable campaigner Demonstrative brought homethe win in the New York Turf Writers. Demonstrative had been a nose second in theGrade I A.P. Smithwick a month prior, losing on the bob to Elizabeth Voss’ Makari(who sadly fell at the last fence in the Turf Writers).

Demonstrative won the Turf Writers in 2012, and seemed to be back to that formin August, jumping well and turning back challengers to win by half a length. The sonof Elusive Quality was an Eclipse finalist that year for his two 2012 Grade I wins. Hehas been winless—if close—since the Grade I Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle in2013, but “announced his return” in the Smithwick (per steeplechase writer JoeClancy).

“I’m incredibly proud of my horse and my crew,” said Valentine, who trains the7-year-old on his farm in Virginia.

“This is the best horse I’ve worked with by far in my life,” Valentine’s assistantGeorge Laird told the Saratoga Special. “It’s great fun to work with a horse like thatand in an environment like we do—the farm, with Richard, coming up [to Saratoga]and doing well. It means something.”

Tonalist in the Travers. Adam Coglianese photo

V.E. Day winning the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga.Adam Coglianese photo

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The New England Hunter Trials Hosted by Wentworth Hunt on October 26, 2014,

at the Norfolk Hunt Steeplechase Course in Medfield, Massachusetts.

Eric Schneider photos

Crista Kemp of Green Mountain Hounds, winner of the Quali-fied 2’9” Division.

Michael Paparo of Norfolk Hunt, winner of the Heard Cup.

Fanny Lee of Norfolk Hunt, winner of the Open 4’ Division.

Richard Clay Photography

www.richardclayphotography.com

rclay@hughes.net

www.lizcallar.com

FOXHUNTING PHOTOGRAPHER

lizcallar@aol.com

Lionshare AntiquesJ. Patrick Newell

Proprietor7 Horner StreetWarrenton, VA540-219-1952

Corrner of Horner Streetand Alexandria Pikewww.lionsharantiques.com

pnewell@lionshareantiques.com

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