In & Around Horse Country Summer 2018

VOLUME XXX / NUMBER 3 • THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE VIRGINIA STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION • SUMMER 2018

HOUND SHOWS

2018 Bryn Mawr Hound Show

By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH

Grand Champion Foxhound Orange County “Kermit” ’15 with huntsman Reg Spreadborough and Show Chairman Lance Taylor and Judge C. Martin Wood, III, Live Oak Hounds.

Grand Champion Foxhound Class PMD Champion Golden’s Bridge “Chanel” is overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

Orange County “Junior” 1st, Unentered Doghound, Reserve Champion Doghound.

American Pack Class winner Somerset Hounds with Lance Taylor, BMHS president; John Gilbert, MFH/huntsman; Richard Fox, whipper-in.

For the second week in a row, the weather gods begrudgingly cooperated by sending rain elsewhere and sparing exhibitors, officials, and spectators the indignity of a drenching. Saturday, June 2, was cloudy most of the day, but hot and with humidity that was, in the words of “Garden & Gun’s” Nick White, “so thick that it had texture and personality.” Intense it was, but the rain held off, and hounds showed well all day.

Friday night’s festivities were highlighted by the hornblowing and the presentation of the Julian Marshall Award.

Sewickley’s John Tabachka’s virtuoso performance earned top honors with the horn. Potomac masters Vicki and Skip Crawford, giants in the sporting world of horse and hound, epitomize the ideals recognized by the Marshall trophy. This festive evening was a fitting prelude to the show itself.

The Bryn Mawr program always has listed the English division first, mainly because in 1914 English hounds were in fashion and regarded as the only “proper” breed for mounted packs. How enlightenment has changed things! The dominant packs from the Virginia show—Hillsboro, Live Oak, and Iroquois—were absent, leaving four packs—stalwart regulars Amwell Valley, Blue Ridge, Loudoun Fairfax, and Princess Anne—to compete; and fiercely they did. Judging the melee was Terrell E. Paine, MFH, from California’s Santa Fe Hunt. In years past, you’d never see Terry Paine at a hound show without his proper bowler; but surprisingly, perhaps having spent too many hours in Temecula’s noonday sun, he judged in a fire engine red baseball cap—to the horror of “the Old Guard”! However, his choice of chapeau didn’t affect the sharpness of his eye. As he had caught the eye of Tessa Jackson, MFH, at Virginia, Blue Ridge’s stunning unentered dog “Rambler” (son of 2015 BMHS doghound champion, Green Spring Valley “Fanshaw” ’14 x Heythrop “Rattle” ’11), beguiled the gentleman from California. With a performance reminiscent of that of the late Midland “Striker” ’15 at the 2015 Southern Hound Show, “Ranger” crushed the opposition and snatched the English Champion doghound tricolor Blue Ridge “Rambler.” ahead of Stallion Hound winner Hillsboro “Moreton” ’12, who had accompanied Huntsman Martyn Blackmore from Lowcountry to Princess Anne.

“Ranger’s” littermate “Rainbow” topped Unentered Bitch but bowed to Blue Ridge “Lacework” ’16, a fortuitous substitute, and BRH “Jailbird” ’17 in the Bitch Championship. With his huge stride devouring the ring, “Ranger” dominated the contest for the breed championship, taking the Frontenac Hunt Trophy and leaving “Lacework” with the Reserve ribbon. Blue Ridge also won the Old English championship with unentered bitch “Guinea” over best doghound, Loudoun Fairfax “Speaker” ’12. Ageless Holderness “Tealeaf” ’11, representing Princess Anne, took Veteran Hound honors. Huntsman Martyn Blackmore was all smiles when Princess Anne’s five-couple won the English Pack Class, redeeming last year’s debacle when, under the Lowcountry banner, they went socializing with the crowd.

Genesee Valley Joint Master and Huntsman Marion Thorne returned to judge the American ring, where she feasted on a buffet of quality hounds. Repeating his Virginia win, Orange County “Junior” took Unentered honors. In Entered Dog, Millbrook’s handsome “Brock” ’16 did proud the legacy of his late sire, Potomac “Jefferson” ’05, while his kennelmate, Millbrook “Hermit” ’15, topped the Stallion Hounds. Virginia champion OCH “Kermit” ’15 (Potomac “Kadillac” ’12 x OCH “Pernod” ’11) took his son, OCH “Junior” to school in the doghound championship, with an un-

beatable display of power, grace, and balance. He is a true champion: no ring is big enough to hold him.

Orange County continued to impress when their elegant unentered bitch, “Juicy,” (Junior’s sister), flashed across the ring in as fluent flight as a swallow skimming over new-cut grass. Her win was as emphatic here as it had been at Morven Park. Potomac bounced back to win Entered Bitch with “Tony” ’17, while OCH “Royalty” ’12 was her regal and ageless self in the Brood Bitch class. Then youth was rightfully served, as OCH “Juicy,” coasting to the bitch title, gently delegated Potomac “Tony” ’12 to Reserve.

There was not a foot of spare space at ringside as OCH”s “Kermit” and “Juicy” floated onto the Championship pitch.

No seagull ever more gracefully rode an offshore breeze than “Juicy” rode the breezes at Bryn Mawr. Her grace and balance are ethereal; and yet, when “Kermit” went into action, her youth showed. Not yet completely developed, “Juicy” is not the phenomenon she promises to be next year; but “Kermit” is already there. His performance was as powerful and polished as that of Baryshnikov, and unarguably he deserved the title of Orange County “Juicy” with Champion American Foxhound. whipper-in Fiona Anderson.

Later, the pack class was a walkover for former Essex Huntsman John Gilbert’s brand new Somerset Hounds. He put on a vintage performance with his level five couple of happy hounds. Had Potomac not scratched, they’d likely have settled for the red ribbon. Welcome back, John.

Julian Marshall Award co-winner, Irvin L. “Skip” Crawford, MFH, the Potomac Hunt, survived the Friday night celebrations in good enough health to preside over the Crossbred ring. Throughout the day, this year’s Maryland Hunt Cup-winning owner unabashedly flaunted a love affair with the Green Spring Valley Hunt’s entries. GSV cruised, winning every doghound class: Unentered with “Niko”; Entered with “Nailer” ’17; and “Potter” ’16 garnered the George C. Clement, MFH Bowl for Best Stallion Hound. The late Sherman Haight once said, “I want masculinity above all else in a stallion hound.” He would have liked “Potter.”

“Nailer” was awarded the Reserve Champion rosette, bowing to kennelmate “Potter.”

Traditionally, Elkridge-Harford Huntsman Geoff Hyde produces lovely bitches: lithe, leggy and elegant movers; and this year’s Unentered winner “Dazzle” fit the mold perfectly.

But Skip Crawford was only momentarily distracted, and awarded the Entered Bitch blue to GSV “Notice” ’14, followed by GSV “Nina” ’12, who had her name engraved on the Hardaway Bowl as Best Brood Bitch. “Nina” ’12 (Eglinton & Caledon “Nimble” ’08 x GSV “Nimble” ’07) then proved age was no obstacle by romping to the Bitch Championship ahead of Elkridge-Harford “Dazzle” UE. Mr. Crawford must adhere to the old but now outdated adage that “a dog always beats a bitch,” because, when the scrutiny was done and the last biscuit thrown, “Potter” ’16 stood atop the podium as Champion, with “Nina” ’12 gazing up in disbelief.

Howard County-Iron Bridge “Zag” ’11 put the years behind her, romping to a Veteran Hound win. GSV Huntsman Ashley Hubbard captured the Robert M. Six Memorial Trophy of top handler. In the Crossbred Pack Class, Sean Cully, MFH, and his striking black and tans won the Edward S. Voss, MFH Trophy for Rose Tree-Blue Mountain, with a wonderfully relaxed but sharply executed performance that delegated the popular homeboys from Radnor to second.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

The Penn-Marydels are indisputably the “Big Guns of Bryn Mawr.” Why else would they get the shadiest ring on the grounds? Benefitting their status, they had as their judge the MFHA’s Big Gun, President Patrick Anthony Leahy, MFH, the Fox River and Massbach Hounds. The four hats Tony wears—Master, Huntsman, President, and Judge—are all bespoke, and he wears them well. Today he was brilliantly on form. “I left the ring today well-pleased with my choice of Champion,” Tony said later. “That bitch caught my eye and stole my heart early on, and I couldn’t get her off my mind all day.” The bitch in question was the Golden’s Bridge’s Registered unentered beauty, “Chanel” (GBH “Smurf” ’15 x their “Fiddle” ’14). But lots went on prior to championship time.

To begin the show, the Andrews Bridge resurfaced (they had mysteriously vanished in 2017) to predominate in the Listed division, winning both Unentered Dogs and Bitches with homebred littermates “Steward” and “Starlette,” the latter being named Listed Champion. They also won Entered Bitch with “Oboe” ’14 (the unentereds’ dam). But Virginia’s Red Oak Foxhounds’ Entered Dog “Flint” ’17 (by AB “Kendal” ’14) made it close, and grabbed Listed Reserve Champion.

Golden’s Bridge gave notice immediately in the Registered division, winning with Unentered Dog “Yeti,” and sweeping the class. Millbrook took Entered Dog for Ian Milne Award winner, Huntsman Don Philhower, with “Profit” ’17. Andrews Bridge “Kodiak” ’14, a sterling son of 2014 Grand Champion Foxhound and Best in Show, GBH “Phoenix” ’12, took Stallion Hound honors. In the Doghound Championship, “Kodiak” spanked his son “Profit.”

Then GBH “Chanel” opened the bitches’ fashion show, parading off the runway with the Unentered blue. Andrews Bridge-bred Red Oak “Garmin” ’17 beat a strong Entered Bitch field, just ahead of GBH “Sunday” ’15, who then snared top spot in Brood Bitch.

For Registered PMD Champion, the Kirkwood Farms Trophy went to GBH “Chanel,” with Andrews Bridge “Kodiak” ’14 standing Reserve. A light red-colored bitch, “Chanel” is also light of frame, exquisitely feminine, and she covers the ground like a passing shadow. She has great poise and presence, but she needs more reassurance under pressure, which a year of hunting and the loving care of Huntsman Codie Hayes will surely develop.

Veteran Hound plaudits went to definitely non-geriatric Andrews Bridge “Motion” ’12.

In the PMD Pack Class, the Golden’s Bridge put on a choreographed gem of a performance for smiling Codie Hayes, to relegate Adam Townsend’s Andrews Bridge to second.

As the western horizon filled with a teasing of ominous clouds, a crowd of knowledgeable spectators lined the terrace above the Radnor racecourse for the Grand Champion Foxhound and Best of Show classes, held on the lowest terrace. As they lined up for the Foxhound competition, the day’s winners were a contrast of types and conformation.

Against the towering doghounds, GBH “Chanel” looked tiny but exquisite. Unfortunately she was overwhelmed by her pressure-cooker surroundings, and Cody Hayes couldn’t show her off-lead, which sabotaged her chances. Green Spring Valley “Potter” ’16, although a sturdy campaigner, lacked the grace, balance, and length of stride to take the title, which left the American and English winners in a classic confrontation. Blue Ridge “Rambler” first took center stage. A tall, rangy hound, long of leg and with a frame to carry age’s added weight without sacrificing fluency, he rocketed after biscuits with youth-

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ful abandon, his huge stride threatening to take him out of the county.

His was a lovely performance, yet at times he seemed gangly and in danger of flying apart. His youth was apparent, too, being light of loin, and the great wheel of muscle in his back that a season’s hunting will produce is as yet undeveloped. At only 14 months of age, his developmental potential is phenomenal. And then, on stage strode OCH “Kermit,” the picture of a fully-developed champion. If, as Judge C. Martin Wood III, MFH, the Live Oak Hounds, has so often stated, “Balance is most Judge Tony Leahy congratulates Huntsman Codie Hayes, dangerous to the quarry,” then the Golden’s Bridge, for winning the Penn-Marydel Pack Class as Orange County foxes had best be J. Wesley Hardin, Jt-MFH, Radnor Hunt looks on. marathoners, for this magnificent dog has a gymnast’s balance. He has a flawless shoulder and a generous elbow slash that facilitates his awesome, effortless stride; a powerful wheel of muscle in his back; and an extraordinary hind leg. He is the picture of power wedded to grace; and when he moves, everything is as in-concert as the workings of a fine Swiss watch. But, late on this muggy afternoon, it was as if he had taken stock of the opposition, and realized that winning wouldn’t take the supreme effort that had subdued “Juicy”; and he did just enough to win.

Then he faced the champion Beagle, Warrington “Siegfried” UE and Basset, Foxboro “Verite” ’13. Although they are lovely little hounds, effervescent and good movers, they were no match for “Kermit,” who happily took home all the silver. Said an admiring and emotional judge, Marty Wood, “He’s possibly the finest example of an American Hound I’ve ever seen.” There were no arguments as “Kermit” strolled off stage into retirement from the show ring. From now on he’ll get to do what he does best: hunt foxes!

For many years there has been an after-show party at “Heartwood,” where Ester Gansky, MFH, Radnor Hunt, extends the warmest of welcomes. Her major domo, Bessie Roberts, puts on an awesomely delicious spread (of course she does—she’s a Virginia girl!), and there is always a relaxed ambiance that is the perfect unwinding after a hectic day. But not this time: various reasons, including interior work on the house, led to a sabbatical year. All of us hope the Ganskys won’t abandon this lovely tradition. A cocktail gathering ensued in the Radnor clubhouse with lavish and delicious hors d’oeurves in abundance. It was a pleasant enough interlude upon which to end the day, but it lacked the aura of “Heartwood.”

Overall, the 104th renewal was typical of the modern Bryn Mawr Hound Show: excellent hounds, spirited competition and good sportsmanship, all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It is a joy to attend and a red-letter day on the sporting calendar.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

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SPORTING LIFE HIGHLIGHTS Junior Field Hunt Championship Prepares for Fall Qualifiers and Finals at Old Dominion Hounds The 2018 Finals for the Junior North American Field Hunter Championship will be hosted by Old Dominion Hounds, Orlean, Virginia, over the weekend of November 10-11. Masters and members of ODH are already hard at work to make this a truly special event for all of the competitors as well as for the support teams of family and friends.

Qualifying meets are held during hunt season. Most are scheduled from September through early November, but dates may vary depending on the hunting season in a given area. Check with your local hunt. As of press time, hunts in 14 states— along the East Coast from Pennsylvania to Florida and as far west as Washington—are on board to host qualifiers. More may be added as we get closer to hunt season, so be sure to check out the website (see below) for updates.

This program is designed to achieve several important goals.

Number one is for juniors to come together, get to know each other, form friendships that may last a lifetime, and enjoy foxhunting.

Ainsley Colgan, 2016’s Reserve Champion, 12 & Under, Seeing juniors embrace the sport Jumping. Ainsley hunts with Virginia’s Old Dominion is a vivid way to remind hunt Hounds, which will be hosting the 2018 JNAFHC Finals members how important juniors (and where her father, Tim, is now a joint-master).

David Traxler photo are to preserving both foxhunting and the countryside. The JNAFHC has proven to be a valuable tool in encouraging more cooperation among hunt clubs, thus strengthening the bonds of foxhunting throughout the country. Juniors travel around to the different participating hunts, enjoy hunting in new territory, and learn about the different hound packs.

We encourage everyone who cares about the future of foxhunting to help support the JNAFHC. For more information, go to www.jnafhc.com or contact Marion Chungo at 540-220-7292 or Mchungo@aol.com.

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Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship Save the Dates: October 8-13, 2018 Entries are already coming in for the 2018 Theodora A. Randolph Field Hunter Championship. Scheduled for October 8-13, in Northern Virginia, the week features four days of hunting with Warrenton Hunt, Blue Ridge Hunt, Orange County Hounds, and Bull Run Hunt, punctuated by evening social events. Horses and riders will be judged by an illustrious panel of eminent foxhunters during each hunting day. Qualifying finalists are announced at the conclusion of each meet and those horse and rider combinations then gather on Saturday morning at Glenwood Park, Goshen Hunt’s MacKenzie Taylor rode prior to the Virginia Fall Races held later that day, Linda Becker’s Rita to the 2017 to contest a mock hunt and individual test. Best T.A. Randolph North American Field Turned Out judging will be held at 8:00 am and Hunter Championship.

Douglas Lees photo the riding competition begins at 9:00 am.

A $2500 prize will be awarded to the hunt of the Grand Champion rider and $1500 will go to the Reserve Champion’s hunt.

Registration for the 2018 competition is $300 per horse and entries close September 21. The field is limited to 60 contestants. Entry forms and information are available from the Virginia Fall Races website: VAFallRaces.com.

For additional information: karynwilson.fhc@gmail.com.

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MHHNA “Year of the Hound” Art Show and Sale It was a veritable celebration of 33 years of the Museum of Hounds & Hunting North America on Saturday evening of the traditional Virginia Hound Show during Memorial Day Weekend at Morven Park. Members flocked to the seasonal grand opening of the Museum and its annual exhibition. This year, it was a special Art Show and Sale, aptly called the “Year of the Hound”: a collection of all new original sporting art by nine well established artists who are Signature members of the American Academy of Equine Art (AAEA): Christine M. Cancelli, Kathleen S. Freidenberg (sculptor), Morgen Kilborn (sculptor), Booth Malone, Joanne Mehl, Sally Moren, Rev. Michael Tang, Linda Volrath, and Larry Dodd Wheeler.

This group of contemporary sporting artists did a brilliant job of capturing the spirit and soul of foxhunting in their oil paintings, watercolors, sketches, and sculptures. Even though the focus was on the 25 Virginia foxhunting packs, the works express universal scenes and moments that vibrate with energy, color, light and action—familiar and Rev. Michael Tang’s “Piedmont Fox Hounds.” universal scenes from kennels to hunt field—essentially, everything enthusiasts love about hounds, horses, country, and this unique sporting lifestyle.

“We’re very pleased with the response to the Year of the Hound Art Exhibition and Sale,” said Nancy Bedford, Chairman of the MHHNA Board.

The Museum of Hounds and Hunting North America, Inc. exists to preserve the rich North American heritage of hunting with hounds—for today and for the future. Its most important tasks include the acquisition of significant artifacts before they are lost, to provide a repository for precious objects and, by developing educational exhibits through research projects, present hunting with hounds through the sport’s historical, sociological, and cultural heritage. Everyone who values the sport of mounted hunting is encouraged to join in that effort. Memberships are available at various levels, starting as low as $50 per year.

A “gem” for a “gem”—this special presentation took place at the opening of the Year of the Hound. “We’re very grateful to Marion Maggiolo, who served on the Museum’s board for 25 years,” Bedford said. “It was Marion who put her very special touch on the Museum, its exhibits, annual grand opening and reception. Marion set a very high standard which we will strive to maintain.”

After June 24, keep an eye on Facebook for the announcement that the MHHNA’s Year of the Hound Art Exhibition & Sale has gone live online. A percentage of the sales directly benefit the Museum, which needs your support, both financial via memberships and donations, as well as by being involved.

Website: www.MHHNA.org and Facebook: Museum of Hounds and Hunting North America Inc. For more information: 540-364-7620.

COVER PHOTOGRAPHER:

Liz Callar PHOTOGRAPHERS:

On the cover: Mary Dahl, former Whipper-in at Elkridge-Harford Hunt, puts a hound through its paces at the Virginia Foxhound Show, Morven Park, May 27, 2018.

Jake Carle Richard Clay richardclayphotography.com Marcia Degnan Lauren R. Giannini Lesley and David Hower howerphotos.smugmug.com Austin Kaseman austinkaseman.com NancyMilburn Klek nancymilburnkleckphotography.com Douglas Lees douglaslees@comcast.net Joanne Maisano www.joannemaisano.com Jim McCue Rick Stillings rickstillings.com David Traxler Karen Kandra Wenzel

is published 5 times a year.

Editorial and Advertising Address: 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 For information and advertising rates, please call (540) 347-3141, fax (540) 347-7141 Space Deadline for the Fall issue is August 11, 2018. Payment in full due with copy.

Publisher: Marion Maggiolo Managing Editor: J. Harris Anderson Advertising: Kim Gray (540) 347-3141, (800) 882-4868, Email: hckimbtc@aol.com Contributors: Aga; J. Harris Anderson, Jake Carle, Lauren R. Giannini, Will O’Keefe, Virginia Equine Alliance, Jenny Young LAYOUT & DESIGN: Kate Houchin Copyright © 2018 In & Around Horse Country®. All Rights Reserved. Volume XXVX, No.3 POSTMASTER: CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

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HOUND SHOWS

Hillsboro “Walnut” & “Starlight” Crowned Grand Champion & Reserve Grand at Virginia Hound Show

By Lauren R. Giannini The 71st annual Virginia Foxhound Show provided a beautiful setting for the largest hound show in the world, attracting 550 hounds from 38 hunts throughout the US. With the goal of breeding the best to the best to produce hounds that hunt great and show well, Hillsboro is still experiencing euphoria: English Champion Hillsboro “Walnut” prevailed over a stellar group of all-stars: Orange County “Kermit,” American Champion and defending 2017 Virginia Grand Champion; Moore County “Damsel,” Penn-Marydel Champion; and Walnut’s own kennel-mate, Hillsboro “Starlight,” Crossbred Champion, who earned reserve grand honors.

On May 27, as shadows grew longer, enthusiasts gathered in the tent and filled chairs outside on the lawn in front of the Morven Park mansion. The air was charged with expectancy as the incomparable Dr. Marvin Beeman, Arapahoe MFH and Huntsman, stepped front and center to preside over the judging of the grand finale wherein four outstanding foxhounds competed for the prestigious William W. Brainard, Jr. Perpetual Cup, presented by the MFHA. “I deplore subjectivity in judging—it doesn’t matter whether it’s a horse or a hound, and I use a system developed by the Alberta Canada Horse Improvement program that involves five criteria, which have served me well,” said Beeman. “First, you look at the head, neck, body, and balance, then front limb, hind limb, way of going, and type. It really helps you to concentrate on the animal you’re looking at and you can say to yourself, well, this hound has a better head, neck, body and balance than that one, and you keep working through the criteria. The Grand Championship is tough—four different breeds of foxhound and obviously they’re damn good hounds or they wouldn’t be there. A wonderful Animal Science professor at Michigan State University, Byron Good, defined conformation as the ‘relationship of form to function.’ I picked the bitch who was Grand Champion because she best fit the five criteria.”

Hillsboro entered the record book as the second pack ever to win both the Virginia Grand Championship and reserve grand in one year. The first was Live Oak in 2010 when their dog champions Maximus (English) and Apache (Crossbred) finished Best In Show in that order. In 1998, however, two other Live Oak champions vied for the Grand Championship, long before reserve honors were established.

Live Oak “Hostess” (Crossbred) took the crown, with their “Morning” (English) earning the judge’s approval as runner-up.

Historically speaking, Hillsboro has been dedicated to breeding hounds that can handle their demanding Tennessee hill country. About 10 years ago, Johnny Gray, Hillsboro Huntsman for 35 years now, embarked on an enthusiastic collaboration with Orrin Ingram. “Ever since Orrin came to Hillsboro, he loved his hunting, but he also wanted to show and be competitive—we’ve done that,” Gray said.

In 2008 Ingram joined Hillsboro’s mastership, led for several decades by his uncle, Henry Hooker (1933-2017), and was able to make hounds his priority. Gray and Ingram knew exactly what they wanted to breed: hounds that could handle the hilly terrain and quarry—red fox, coyote, bobcat—as well as show, but it didn’t happen overnight.

“Our priority has always been hounds that hunt great, but they’d gotten smaller over the years because of line breeding,” Ingram said. “Tony Leahy, Daphne and Marty Wood, and Mason Lampton have been very generous. Henry’s son, Bradford Hooker, is joint-Master with his wife Jamie Ball Hooker at the North Cotswold in England and they sent us four couple of unentered hounds. Between Fox River Valley, Live Oak, Midland, and the North Cotswold, they infused new blood into our pack. We didn’t want to lose the historical bloodlines that have been in the family for years—we just wanted to freshen them up a little.

It took a long time to accomplish that objective.”

This honors the legacy of Hooker’s line breeding and retains some of the old-fashioned “dynamite” he swore by. The hunting community is worldwide and hound enthusiasts tend to share their pack’s best bloodlines, because even if someday your hound ends up beating their hound, it’s great for the gene pool and, in return, the givers receive puppies sired or produced by a champion. What goes around, comes around.

In 2015, Hillsboro “Siskin”—a gift from Otis Ferry, MFH, thanks to Tony Leahy, MFH-Huntsman Fox River Valley—earned top honors in the English ring and was crowned Grand Champion. In 2016, Hillsboro “Brighton” won the Performance Trial Hound Championship, with their “Kingpin” finishing in second place after garnering Best Stallion Hound.

That year, Gray himself was honored with the coveted Ian Milne Award for Huntsmen. Last year, “Walnut,” who was the 2017 English champion at Virginia and this year Grand Champion at the Southern Hound Show hosted by Live Oak, joined the Virginia Grand Champions’ club while making history with her runner-up packmate “Starlight.”

It’s noteworthy that Hillsboro swept this year’s Best In Show at Virginia with two lady hounds, both boasting impeccable bloodlines. Crossbred “Starlight” is by Midland “Striker”—Virginia’s 2016 Crossbred Champion and Grand Champion—out of Warwickshire “Daylight.” English “Walnut” is the progeny of Hillsboro “William” and Hillsboro “Sable.”

“Sable’s” backstory illustrates the spirit of camaraderie within the hunting world. In 2013, Hillsboro “Sable”—the gift puppy from Live Oak—was crowned English Champion at Virginia. At the time, Gray said, “We’re awfully grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Wood for their generosity. Sable will be important and improve our breeding program for years to come.”

Gray wasn’t just whistlin’ Dixie. “Sable” is the progeny of 2012 Virginia Grand Champion Live Oak “Farrier” and their “Sarah.” Already Sable’s blood is making itself known in various packs around the country. “Sable’s” puppies are hunting well; as for showing, her unentered puppies finished first, second, and third for two different hunts in one class at this year’s Virginia Hound Show.

“We’ve got a lot of people to thank for our success, especially all the people whose hounds improved our pack,” Gray said.

Although the initial frenzy that resulted from their incredible success at Virginia has calmed down, Gray admitted, “We’re all still walking on cloud nine.”

Virginia Grand Champion Hillsboro Walnut ’17 (l-r, front row): Huntsman John Gray; Judge Dr. Marvin Beeman, MFH; Joan Jones, ex-MFH, president of the Virginia Foxhound Club; Orrin Ingram, MFH, on knees in front of Lee Ann Ingram; and Leilani Gray. (Back row): Charlie Burke, Hunt Secretary; Dana Burke; Hill McAlister, MFH; Emily McMcAlister; Nina Lindley; Michael Lindley, MFH; and Eleanor Menefee Parks, MFH. Lauren R. Giannini photo

Reserve Grand Champion Hillsboro “Starlight” ’17. She may have been edged out by packmate “Walnut” for the Grand Championship, but she was not going to be bested in the biscuit toss-and-catch competition. Nancy Milburn Kleck photo

Best Single American Dog – Entered Potomac “Ace” ’15, shown with Catherine Hanagan, Whipper-in (Professional).

Joanne Maisano photo

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

(l-r) Champion American Foxhound Orange County “Kermit” ’15, shown by Huntsman Reg Spreadborough, Reserve Champion American Foxhound Orange County “Juicy,” shown by Fiona Anderson, whipper-in; John Coles, MFH, Orange County Hounds, accepts the trophy from Tom Pardoe, MFH, Goshen Hounds. Karen Kandra Wenzel photo

American Foxhounds For the last few years, Orange County Hounds have enjoyed serious success in the American ring, which features two divisions: kennels with under 20 couple and those with more than 20 couple of hounds. Presiding over the judging were John J. (Jake) Carle, ex-MFH/Huntsman, and co-judge Parker Gentry, MFH Millbrook Hunt.

Orange County “Kermit” ’15 (Potomac “Kadillac” x Orange County “Pernod”) debuted at Virginia in 2015 and the unentered (that is, unhunted) “pup” beat some of Potomac’s best en route to winning the American dog championship and continued all the way to the breed title. The next year, entered, Kermit showed well but kept playing bridesmaid to Potomac hounds. Another season of growth and development put this dog on top at Virginia in 2017 when “Kermit” earned the Grand Championship, relegating Hillsboro “Walnut” to reserve grand.

This year, “Kermit” defended his breed championship, besting Orange County “Juicy,” his daughter and bitch champion. Although he showed well in the finale, Best In Show at Virginia eluded him, but one week later at Bryn Mawr, “Kermit” proved unbeatable, earning the big championship with “Juicy” claiming the reserve grand honors [see Jake Carle’s Bryn Mawr report].

“Parker and I had a lovely day judging the American ring—Kermit is a magnificent dog, one of the finest foxhounds of any breed I’ve ever seen,” said Carle. “He has a lot of class, and I thought Orange County’s unentered bitch Juicy was phenomenal and graceful. She needs filling out, she’s not a complete package yet as Kermit is. Next year, I think Juicy will be unbeatable. And yes, I’m an American hound man and I think that the American championship was the most competitive class I’ve ever judged.”

Orange County hounds that pinned include: “Junior”, winner of Unentered Dog and his littermate “Judgment” in second (both by OC “Kermit” out of OC “Justice”); “Judo” and “Junior” winner Couple, Unentered; “Texas” second and “Mendip” third in Entered Dog; first (“Kendall” and “Kermit”) and second (“Termite” and “Tesco”) in Couple, Entered Dog; “Kermit” first in Best Stallion Hound, both alone and shown with three of his get—a double-barreled victory in any ring that led to “Kermit’s” dog title with reserve honors bestowed on Potomac “Ace.” Orange County’s lady hounds also earned blue ribbons and silver, namely “Juicy” and “Juggle” placing first and second in Unentered Bitch, then taking the win in Couple, Unentered. OC “Royalty” was Best Brood Bitch. “Juicy” earned both the Best Unentered Hound and the Bitch championship, with the reserve tri-color awarded to Middleburg “Kisses.” OC “Juicy” went on to reserve honors in the breed championship.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with Kermit after a great hunting season and a very successful show season,” said Reg Spreadborough, Orange County Huntsman. “The dog has been to six grand championships in the last four show seasons, winning Virginia Grand Champion last year and clinching the Bryn Mawr title this year. He’s earned his retirement from showing in single classes. I’m thrilled with Kermit—he’s a great hound, all business in the middle of the pack, and I thoroughly enjoy working with him. Kermit’s first crop of offspring successfully hit the show Best American Bitch – Entered, Middleburg ring this year, and Kermit’s daughter Juicy “Kisses” ’14, shown by Huntsman Richard stood reserve in the American Champion Roberts, trophy presentation by Irwin L. Hound classes at Virginia and Bryn Mawr. I’m “Skip” Crawford, II, MFH, excited to enter them this season.”

Potomac Hunt. Karen Kandra Wenzel photo

American winners included Keswick, finishing first and second in Unentered Dog with their “Keebler” and “Kiwi” and placing second in the Couple of Dogs, Unentered (open to both large and small kennels)—two of the last puppies from former huntsman Tony Gammell’s breeding program. Brazos Valley “Thumper” took the blue in Entered Dog home to Texas. “Kate” claimed kudos in Unentered Bitch and Goshen “Thatcher” took first place in Entered Bitch (small kennel), and Middleburg “Kisses” earned Best Entered Bitch, besting Potomac and Orange County. Potomac Hunt “Ace” took first Best Entered Dog Hound en route to finishing reserve dog champion. Potomac “Toni” and “Tori” claimed blue ribbons in Couple, Entered Bitches.

Best Single American Bitch – Entered, Goshen Crossbred Foxhounds Crossbreds comprise the most entries “Thatcher” ’17, shown by Andrea Kinder, Whipwith two rings running, divided into per-in (Hon.), trophy presentation by Mary Kalergis, MFH, Keswick Hunt Club. kennels of less than 35 couple and more Karen Kandra Wenzel photo than 35 couple. Of the 23 packs with Crossbreds, 17 competed in Ring 1 for “small” kennels (relatively speaking), judged

by Mason Lampton, MFH Midland, while the six “big” kennels showed in Ring 2 under the scrutiny of Alastair Jackson, ex-MFH/Huntsman (UK). The competition is both fierce and friendly as winners of qualifying classes in each division meet for the big titles. Please note: Winning any class in any ring at Virginia is cause for celebration.

That Hillsboro, one of the six “big” Crossbred kennels, had a stellar day is more than a pun on their “Starlight” who went all the way to the Crossbred breed championship. “Starlight” bested a field of 12 Entered Bitches, relegating Midland to second and fourth with their “Nettle” and “Stellar” while Live Oak “Kismet” took third.

After taking the Bitch championship over Midland “Nettle,” “Starlight” faced off with Live Oak “Assault” and won, securing her place as Champion Crossbred Foxhound of the show in the grand finale.

In fact, Hillsboro earned serious bragging rights in the Crossbred ring. Their “Britain” finished first of 19 Unentered Dog Hounds, then showed with “Bryant” to win Couple of Dogs, Unentered, in which two couple from Live Oak placed second and third. Out of 12 Entered Dogs, Hillsboro “Striker” earned the blue rosette over Midland “Worsley” and Live Oak “Champion.”

Hillsboro’s professional whipper-in, Leilani Gray, supervised and showed their Crossbreds, receiving top marks from her huntsman-husband, Johnny Gray: “I want to thank my wife Leilani because she spends all day with hounds, preparing them to show, whenever she has a chance. We’ll be working with them until late afternoon— I’ll be worn out and she’ll say, “Let’s go work with the puppies now!’ I’m like, ohhhkay. She showed Starlight by herself in the Crossbred ring and did just fine without me.”

Live Oak “Aster” distinguished herself by winning Unentered Bitch, relegating Midland “Scamp” to second and Green Spring Valley “Lacy” to third.

Midland “Scamp” and “Silver” topped the judge’s card in Couple of Unentered Bitches while Midland “Windfall” and “Nettle” won Couple of Entered Bitches. Midland “Rocket” and three progeny harvested the win in Crossbred Stallion (which may be American or English) Shown With Three of His Get—any class where “daddy” is shown with his offspring is very interesting to watch.

In the title classes, Hillsboro “Britain” claimed Best Unentered Crossbred over Live Oak “Aster”. Live Oak “Assault” took home Champion Crossbred Dog Hound with Hillsboro “Striker” garnering the reserve tricolor.

For those who like records, Marty Wood, Live Oak MFH, said, “Assault is my favorite hound. He not only hunts well, he’s never been beaten in the stallion class.”

Unfortunately, Live Oak’s hopes for a hound in the grand finale were dashed when their “Assault” finished runner-up to Hillsboro “Starlight,” who harvested the Crossbred Championship of the Show.

Hounds competing in “small kennel” Crossbred classes had their work cut out for them, stiff competition made even greater by so many really nice hounds. Deep Run had a good day, winning four classes, including Couple of Dogs, Entered, with their “Sentry” and “Shropshire”. In Unentered Bitches, Deep Run “Cameo” pinned first over Casanova “Ethel” and Deep Run “Caper” took third. Their “Cameo” and “Chorus” pinned first in the Couple of Bitches, but Deep Run scored their biggest win, literally and figuratively, when their “Reminiscence” earned the judge’s nod over a field of 20 in the Entered Bitch class.

The rest of the honors were spread out. Blue Ridge “Wizard” took first in Unentered Dog, Casanova “Earl” and “Elton” won Couple, Unentered Dogs. Whiskey Road “Spitler” distinguished himself in a field of 20 Entered Dogs for the Gordon G. Smith Perpetual Cup, relegating Deep Run “Warrior” to second with third going to Camden Hunt’s “Addemup.”

Lampton awarded Best Stallion Hound to Bridlespur “Pendleton” with Blue Ridge “Prosper” in second, followed by Howard County–Iron Bridge “Bidder” in third. Farmington “Wicked” and “Wiggle” captured kudos in Couple of Bitches, Entered, and Howard County Iron Bridge “Zag” earned glory as the Best Crossbred Brood Bitch with Deep Run “Clever” in second, followed by Warrenton “Tempo.”

In the Crossbred Pack class, Piedmont Fox Hounds won, with Middleburg in second, and Midland third.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

English Foxhounds Derbies are de rigueur in the English ring where Tessa Jackson, MFH (UK), presided over seven packs. As mentioned, Hillsboro experienced a most rewarding day on the boards, especially with “Walnut” who claimed English Bitch, Breed, and Grand Champion titles by the end of the day.

Hillsboro showed only bitches in the English ring, and their “Waggle” and “Walnut” took the blue in Couple of Entered Bitches, followed by a major victory when their “Walnut,” “Waggle,” “Modest,” and “Mothball” took the blue in Two Couple of English Bitches, Entered.

Blue Ridge “Rambler” won his classes all the way from Unentered Dog to Couple of Dogs, Unentered with littermate “Ranter.” The young hound “Rambler” cruised steadily onward, harvesting the English Dog Championship and Best Unentered English Hound.

Live Oak “Agent” pinned first in Entered Dog, then coupled up with his brother “Able” for another win in Couple of Dogs, Unentered. One hopes that they were part of Live Oak’s win in Two Couple of Dog Hounds. Live Oak “Gracious” and “Grateful” took first in Couple of Bitches, Unentered. Live Oak won the English pack class and their “Agent” took home the Reserve English Dog Championship.

Iroquois “Hackle” won Best Brood Bitch and the English Bitch Hound Reserve Championship. Princess Anne’s “Hillsboro Moreton” won Best Stallion Hound, and his daughter Princess Anne “Midnight” won the Unentered Bitch class and was reserve to Blue Ridge “Rambler” in the Unentered Championship.

Hillsboro “Moreton,” cherished member of Princess Anne’s pack, also proved he really stamps his get. Hounds produced with Hillsboro “Sable” included not only the Unentered Winner, Princess Anne “Midnight” but also siblings that pinned well in the same class. Hillsboro “Modest” harvested second place with Live Oak “Model” in third. It’s always fun to spot the ancestral bloodlines running through various hunts.

Penn-Marydel Foxhounds Ten packs showed Penn-Marydel Foxhounds under the judging of Daphne Wood, MFH Live Oak, and Jim Faber, exMFH/Huntsman, at heart a Penn-Marydel man. This year’s champion is Moore County “Damsel” who happens to be the full sister to Moore County “Dan,” last year’s Penn-Marydel Champion.

“We had a big day,” said Cameron Sadler, MFH Moore County. “We didn’t show Dan this year. We decided to show Damsel, and she won, which is really exciting. Their parents [Golden’s Bridge “Dan” and Glenmore “Vivian”] won PennMarydel Championships at Virginia.”

De La Brooke’s “Moore County Drillbit” won the PMD Stallion class, and he’s another example of a hunt giving away a great puppy. “Drillbit is Damsel’s brother and we gave him to Kami Wolk when she was master and huntsman at Wentworth,” Sadler said. “When Kami came down to De La Brooke, she got to bring Drillbit with her and this year she showed him at Virginia. He won the PMD stallion class and ended up champion PMD dog hound and reserve PMD breed champion.”

Golden’s Bridge “Yeti” proved himself to be quite a show hound, winning Unentered Dog, then taking home the Reserve tricolor for PMD Dog Hound. Golden’s Bridge “Atom” and “Butch” won Couple of Entered Dogs. Golden’s Bridge “Smurf” was second in the Stallion class and second again in the Stallion Hound or Brood Bitch Shown With Produce/Get to the winner, Golden’s Bridge “Pippa.”

Red Oak “George” claimed first in Entered Dog, and their “Fame” and “Fortune” placed first in Couple of Entered Bitches. Long Run “Latecia” went home with reserve champion Unentered Hound honors, having earned firsts in Unentered Bitch and teaming up with littermate “LaBelle” (Long Run “Lampton” x Long Run “Molly”) for another win in Couple of Unentered Bitches. Tennessee Valley Hunt won the Pack Class.

Moore County “Damsel” claimed the crown in Best Brood Bitch, relegating Long Run “Value” to second en route to besting Golden’s Bridge “Poppy” for the Bitch Championship.

“Damsel” made it three out of four breed titles won by lady hounds that day when she won the Penn-Marydel Championship, relegating her littermate, De La Brook “Moore County Drillbit” to reserve honors.

“Jim Faber and I got along famously in the PMD ring,” Daphne Wood said. “Having judged his hounds the last time I judged the PMDs at Virginia, I was confident we would be looking for the same type ribbon winners. I first judged PennMarydels with Sherman Haight at Bryn Mawr many years ago.

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I was pleased to see that, on the whole, their feet, loins and hind legs have improved tremendously since then.”

Special Classes & Events The Performance Hound Trials Finals is a great competition for hunting hounds who qualify by scoring in the top 10 at specific qualifying meets from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Hounds are judged for how they work in a pack of unfamiliar hounds led by a new huntsman in unknown country. The Trials score every aspect of a foxhound’s innate characteristics: nose to cry to endurance. It takes a very special hound to perform well for two consecutive days under these challenging circumstances, especially when the local quarry isn’t native to the hound’s home country.

The program listed 17 hounds for the finals, and 10 Champion Penn-Marydel Foxhound Moore showed under the sharp eye of K.T. Atkins, MFH Warrenton, County “Damsel” ’14 with Huntsman Lincoln Sadler. Lauren R. Giannini photo who awarded the Benjamin H. Hardaway Perpetual Cup for Best Sanctioned Performance Trial Hound, presented in 2000

by Epp Wilson, MFH and Huntsman Belle Meade, to Midland “Saber.”

“We were delighted with Saber winning the Performance Trial final—he’s the son of our Rocket (2011) crossed on Staffordshire Stunning (2011),” said Mason Lampton, MFH/Huntsman Midland Foxhounds. “The cross was amazing.

Saber’s brother Striker won in Virginia and at Bryn Mawr and his sister Stellar won in 2016 at Virginia. I was delighted Saber did well in the Performance Trial which proves he is not just a pretty boy.”

It was very special for Midland Foxhounds to take home the magnificent trophy named in honor of their Ben Hardaway, Best Sanctioned Performance Trials Hound, who essentially developed a new breed of hound known as Crossbred. He passed away in October having lived to hunt and Midland “Saber” ’15, shown by Huntsman Ken George with (l-r) Mary Lu Hardaway Lampton; serving as a Midland Master from 1950 to 2017. No doubt, Mason Lampton, MFH, Midland Fox Hounds; both Hardaway and Henry Hooker, who passed in April, were K.T. Atkins, MFH, Warrenton Hunt; Epp Wilson, watching and cheering their favorite hounds from Elysian MFH, Belle Meade Hunt; Charles Montgomery, Fields.

Huntsman, Bull Run Hunt.

Placing second was Moore County “Trainwreck” with Lauren R. Giannini photo Camden Hunt’s “Camden Flirt” in third, followed by Midland “Caper” in fourth (Lampton sent Caper’s brother “Crusher” ’13, one of “Midland’s very best performers,” to the Heythrop in England where he has bred five bitches to date). Bridlespur “Bond” finished fifth.

Watching Junior Handlers show off their hound skills is always fun. Never an easy division to judge, the officials take their duties very seriously; after all, these young enthusiasts are the future of foxhunting. Kay Blassic, ex-MFH/Hon. Whipperin Casanova, and Jim Elkins, MFH Warrenton, judged the 5to-10-year-old group while Celeste Vella, MFH Warrenton, and Diana Dutton, Hon. Sec’y Ashland Bassets, judged the 11-16 group.

Each year the juniors raise the bar a little higher in the ring, thanks to coaching sessions at their hunt’s kennels under the mentorship of staff. In the 10 and Unders, the winner was Zachary Wolk, De La Brooke Foxhounds, with Halliday KellyMaarten, Casanova, in second, followed by Middleburg’s Miranda King. Evie Storer of New Market–Middletown Valley finished fourth, with the pink ribbon to Aria Venezia of Middleburg.

In the 11-16 division, Moore County juniors Makyla Zachary Wolk, De La Brooke Foxhounds, Junior Handlers 10 and Under winner, reacts to the Alexander and Madison Elliott swept first and second respectively. Third was Willow Bennett, Golden’s Bridge, followed judge’s announcement as his mother, Kami Wolk (brown hunt cap) looks on.

by Savannah Long, Princess Anne, with Lexi van der Woude Nancy Milburn Kleck photo of Warrenton in fifth place.

On Saturday evening, the Virginia Foxhound Club’s dinner tent provided the setting for Fred Berry, MFH Sedgefield, to make the official presentation of the Ian Milne Award to Donald Philhower, Millbrook huntsman, with Ian’s wife Brenda Milne in attendance.

The National Horn Blowing Contest saw Brian Kiely, Potomac Huntsman, win his fourth consecutive title as huntsman, with a total of six horn blowing championships to his credit.

Adrian Smith, Metamora Huntsman, was second, with third going to Ashley Hubbard, Green Spring Valley’s huntsman.

When all is said and done, the Virginia Hound Show is a major labor of love by an unofficial army of volunteers. Joanie Jones, ex-MFH and president of the Virginia Foxhound Club, in concert with Bob Ferrer, MFH, oversee every detail with help from committee members and a host of enthusiasts. You’re invited to get involved on any level, within your hunt or throughout the preparations that make this show one of the greatest rural sporting traditions, known to create a worldwide Junior Handlers, 11-16 division, (l-r) Moore community of hounds, horses, and humans dedicated to conCounty’s Makyla Alexander and Madison servation and preserving open land so that the symphony of Elliott swept first and second respectively. hounds in full cry can be heard by many generations to come.

Lauren R. Giannini photo For full results: virginiafoxhoundclub.org/results

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

HUNT BALLS

“What are we going to do tonight? Have fun!”

When you hear the phrase “hunt ball,” what image comes to mind? If you’ve never attended one, you might think of a scene from a stuffy BBC historical drama in which gaudily dressed couples swirl gracefully around in a glitteringly ornate ballroom while the string quartet plays a sleep-inducing waltz.

But if you’re familiar with the real thing—especially the American version—your thoughts might run more to the “Shout!” scene from Animal House.

Not that hunt balls can’t be refined, dignified events. It’s just that no one wants to attend that kind.

Hunt balls are a long-standing tradition for most clubs. But like many elements related to this sport, there are some universal practices observed by all as well as some notable variations related to each club’s unique culture. Most of these events take place within a fairly insular environment, attended mainly by hunt members and a small cadre of non-hunting guests from the local community. As such, there’s at best only limited awareness of how other clubs handle this and not much sharing of ideas that could be of mutual benefit.

To develop a broader perspective, we polled several clubs with a nine-topic questionnaire. The responses revealed several expected similarities, some unique variations, and a few interesting ideas that might be worth considering.

1. ROE: Return on Effort Putting on a hunt ball takes a lot of work. What would you say are the top three benefits (either tangible or intangible) that make all the effort worthwhile?

The one word that predominated was, not surprisingly, “fundraising.” While the amounts can vary widely, every club has routine overhead expenses to cover. Some of those costs are covered by subscription fees and guest caps, but other income-generating activities help keep the dues from reaching exorbitant levels. A well-attended hunt ball, and especially the auction proceeds, can go a long way to achieving that end.

There can also be non-routine expenses that come up at times for which hunt ball proceeds can be used. When Heather Heider took over the chairperson’s job for Loudoun Fairfax Hunt, the club was just undertaking the construction of new kennels.

This costly project substantially ramped up the need to make the ball not just a fun social event but a financial winner.

Close behind the money comes the intangible, but still significant, benefit best described as “social cohesion.” The ball is a chance to dress up, mingle, chat, and, as we’ll see, dance! Strolling around during the cocktail hour and perusing the auction items provides the chance to interact with many others rather than being stuck at a dinner table all night. The socializing is further enhanced by the presence of non-hunting guests, family members, and landowners as well as what might be termed “hunters emeriti,” those whom for one reason or another no longer ride to hounds but remain part of the hunting community.

If there is a third, albeit distant, benefit it would be the go-to answer foxhunters always fall back on to explain any practice, no matter how arcane: Tradition. But that has not always been sufficient reason to maintain the custom. Some clubs, including at least a couple for which most other traditions are rigidly observed, no longer hold a ball. At least one we surveyed put the ball on hiatus for some years but has recently started up again.

Ultimately, though, if the bucks aren’t there, the ball won’t happen.

By J. Harris Anderson, Managing Editor

The image of a typical 21st Century hunt ball…not!

Two variations came up as possible options for easing the burden. The practice at Old Dominion Hounds is to hold a ball every other year. Not only does this allow for more recovery and planning between balls, it also helps build anticipation and lessens the risk that members will succumb to ball fatigue. A variation on this is the shared arrangement between neighboring Farmington Hunt Club and Oak Ridge Fox Hunt where each club hosts in alternating years.

2. Fixing the Fixture What essentials are required for a suitable location?

Most responses on this were basic practicalities: ample seating space, plenty of room for displaying the auction items, a large dance floor, and convenient for the local hunting community. Good food and ease of working with the facility staff and caterers were also cited.

After those commonalities, variations came up.

One notable difference was whether the ball was always held at the same place or if the location varied. For those who opted for the former, benefits accrued from maintaining a loyal relationship. Not only did a regular working arrangement ease the process over time, it could also lead to some additional perks.

For instance, Karen Miller, who has been chairing New Market-Middletown Valley Hounds’ hunt ball for the past six years, recalls the year the hunt did not meet the minimum number of attendees required by the venue to cover the cost. While the contract required the hunt to pay the difference, the manager offered a compromise in appreciation of the club’s loyalty: a selection of appetizers would be delivered at a future date and location. “We had the best appetizers at closing meet ever!” Karen said.

Conversely, Warrenton Hunt’s joint-MFH Jim Elkins suggests that varying the location helps offset any possible boredom factor. Fauquier Springs Country Club is often the venue, but the ball has been held at a private residence and for an additional note of variety to match the “Barn Dance” theme used one year the location was—go figure—a barn.

Some clubs, such as those located farther away from metropolitan areas, are limited in the range of location options available, so the choice may come down to no more than one or two options. However, in at least a few such instances, the hunt is fortunate enough to either have its own clubhouse capable of accommodating the ball or enjoys a relationship with a local facility. For example, Bob Satterfield reports that the Oak Ridge ball is always held at the Oak Ridge Estate, an historic mansion dating back to c.

1802.

Where there might not be a standing arrangement between a club and a suitable facility, a similar benefit could be realized if one or more members have such a connection. In the case of Loudoun Fairfax, a member of the hunt who is also a member of River Creek Country Club was able to secure the

ballroom at no cost, a benefit the country club extends to its members.

In the case of Old Dominion Hounds the location limitation is self-imposed as the club’s rules require the ball to be held within the hunting territory. As Gale Johnson puts it, that policy means “ODH balls are held in some very interesting homes.” That was certainly the case this year with the ball held at High Meadow, a private residence larger than most commercial event facilities.

One other responder, perhaps best left anonymous in this case, cited two places where not to hold the ball: in the middle of town or close to a police station. (We didn’t ask for details about any specific situations that led to those locations being singled out for exclusion.)

3. To Theme or Not to Theme Some hunts always include a theme of some sort (e.g., Pirate Night, Greek Mythology, Masquerade, Vegas Night, Denim & Diamonds, etc.). If your hunt always (or at least usually) goes with a theme, do you find this has a significant influence on both attendance and the enjoyment level on hunt night?

For those who chose to respond to this question, the answers were yes, no, and maybe.

Well-known for their inventive themes, going back to 1992, Casanova Hunt’s Joyce Fendley, MFH, says, “A theme can be fun and gets everyone excited and looking forward to the event.”

As previously noted, Warrenton Hunt will toss in a theme on occasion, such as the recent “Barn Dance” night.

Conversely, Caroline Hunt’s Joint Master Elizabeth Ferrer feels that the formality of the hunt ball itself is sufficient theme.

Bull Run Hunt’s Rosie Campbell, MFH, agrees with Joyce.

They’ve had many themed balls and Rosie reports that their members really get into the theme, including some pretty elaborate costumes, such as the year Joint-MFH Mike Long arrived in full gladiator costume.

And then there’s Old Dominion’s ap- Diane Jones and foxy friend at proach, which, accord- the 2018 Casanova Hunt Ball, ing to Gale Johnson, which always features a creative can go both ways, a theme and enticing entertainment under the direction of theme some years, no joint-master Joyce Fendley. theme others. (This year’s event featured a Photo courtesy of Casanova Hunt Mardi Gras Masquerade theme, which inspired some costumes every bit an equal match for Mike Long’s bare-legged gladiator.)

There are also different interpretations of what’s meant by a “theme.” At one extreme this entails elaborate decorations, creative costumes, and perhaps even special entertainment (a signature feature of every Casanova Hunt ball). Alternatively, Heather Heider preferred to go with something more neutral, such as “Swing Into Spring,” for Loudoun Fairfax that provided a cohesive theme but kept related operating costs to a minimum.

The take-away, then, is that themes are one of those variables reflective of a given hunt’s culture.

Some would never stage a ball without one, some would never do so, and others bring a more flexible approach to this.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

4. Scarlet If Convenient For ladies, the traditional dress was white or black (to not detract from the scarlet-clad men in full peacock mode for that one evening). It appears that’s mostly gone by the wayside these days. Do you see that as a positive (or at least neutral) trend? Or would you have preferred to see the traditional black-or-white custom maintained?

The divide here, where there was one, fell clearly along age lines. Older members tended to favor the black-or-white tradition. But where that practice is either relaxed or now completely ignored, it’s mainly intended to make the ball more accessible to the younger set for whom such customs are considered outmoded.

As Jim Elkins points out, “Today’s crowd is much less formal than in the past…something more casual usually attracts a bigger crowd.”

At Deep Run, the scales seem to still be holding in favor of the old style, but with an element of modernity creeping in. Says Halle Shourds, “The women at our club tend to stick to the tradition of not wearing red dresses, but we do see a lot of other colors, although mostly black and black/white.”

Some respondents, while allowing a nod to the younger folks, would still prefer to see the tradition observed. NM-MV’s Karen Miller explains it this way: “It is something that we all read about, even if we haven’t been hunting long enough to have experienced it. It’s kind of expected, sets the ball apart from other galas. And it’s a tradition easy enough to hang on to. We have made so many changes/adjustments due to membership demographics and geography of the land—let’s not lose all tradition.”

Although Orange County Hounds hasn’t held a ball in recent years, Catherine “Bundles” Murdoch, Honorary Secretary, agrees with Karen Miller. “I am a very firm believer in white, black, or not flashy colors for the ladies. We try to keep so much of the hunting traditional, why let down the side with ladies in bright colors or heaven forbid red!”

Keswick’s Susie Matheson adds her voice to the chorus: “I love the traditional dress and think it is a positive influence. The traditions should be kept and passed on.”

Our readers of a certain age will no doubt concur with Karen, Bundles, and Susie. But the evidence suggests the aging peacocks in “drinking pinks” will be increasingly competing for attention with young ladies whose attire for the evening spans the spectrum of dazzling colors.

We should also note that, thanks to Bob Satterfield’s observation, some gentlemen use the hunt ball as an opportunity to wear their kilt along with its full formal regalia. And those, both men and women, who have spent their careers in the service of our country or are still on active duty are entitled to attend in formal military dress.

A full and nicely arranged silent auction table, as is always a feature at the Casanova Hunt Ball, helps assure a good return on the night’s bidding action. Photo courtesy of Casanova Hunt

5. Putting the “Hunt” in “Hunt Ball” Most auction items tend to be hunting or horse related. But do you include other foxhunting tie-ins to the evening (e.g., award of colors or other awards; highlights of the previous season; puppy auction; whip cracking, horn blowing, halloaing, or other such contests, etc.)?

Such activities, it was widely felt, are better suited for other hunt-sponsored gatherings. For example, Halle Shourds, event manager for Deep Run Hunt Club, tells us they do such things at the annual Oyster Roast/Silent Auction held at the end of the hunting season in late March. The overwhelming opinion, though, was that they’re not suitable for the ball. The general feeling is that the standard ball activities—cocktails, silent and live auction, dinner, and dancing—are sufficient to fill up the

A unique auction item at the Loudoun Fairfax ball in 2014: The privilege of a dance with the legendary Ray Moffett, ex-MFH. A bidding battle ensued and Elizabeth Coopersmith prevailed, all in the interest of supporting the hounds. Austin Kaseman photo

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“You know you make me want to SHOUT!” In the spirit at the 2018 Bull Run Hunt Ball, (l-r) Alexa “Lexi” Adams, Jacque Juntilla, and Susan Travellin lived up to the club’s motto: “What are we going to do? Have fun!” Marcia Degnan photo

evening. It was also noted that non-hunting attendees might find such distractions irrelevant and an intrusion into the flow of the evening. (And whip cracking in a confined area can be dangerous!) A few brief comments such as thanking everyone for attending; recognizing staff, special guests, and landowners; a nod to all who contributed to the auction; and appreciation for those who organized the event are always appropriate. And then…let’s dance!

6. Everybody Dance Now! How enthusiastic are your attendees about dancing? Do you do anything to encourage more participation (e.g., offer a dance lesson as part of the evening’s activities)?

In a couple of instances, we didn’t even bother to ask about this, knowing from personal experience that the answer is “very enthusiastic!” We might just as well have left it off the questionnaire completely, as this was the unanimous response. No encouragement needed…foxhunters love to dance! And that enthusiasm is expressed in a manner much more akin to that Animal House Paul Wilson, MFH, and Karyn Wilson demonstrate proper ballroom frame at the 2014 “Shout!” scene than to a Jane Austen peLoudoun Fairfax Hunt Ball. riod romance on PBS. Austin Kaseman photo According to Susie Matheson, it’s more difficult to get the Keswick ball attendees off the dance floor than to get them on it, an attitude we can safely assume is universally applicable wherever foxhunters gather and music is played.

Skill levels vary widely, of course. Not unlike the hunt field itself, there are first flighters (couples who are well practiced in multiple styles), second fielders (those with a limited set of moves but able to keep up), and hilltoppers (those who basically do little more than shuffle about, but at least they’re out there trying, and having fun). We might also include the “car followers,” those who sit and watch. It seems that men tend to predominate this group, which leads to several ladies dancing together. (A personal aside here: Guys, women like to dance.

It doesn’t matter if you’re good at it or not. Put down that seventeenth hors d’oeuvre and get out there and dance! Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.)

7. Thanks for the Memories Any special memories from one or more balls?

Themes may have an influence on how the memory of a ball lingers. At least a few Bull Run Hunt ladies are likely to remember Mike Long’s gladiator costume for years to come. Gale Johnson is sure that this year’s ODH Mardi Gras masquerade ball will be remembered for multiple reasons, including the spectacular location as well as the festive theme. Joyce Fendley recalls that for a week after Casanova’s Harry Potter themed ball in 2004 locals in Warrenton could be seen wearing their Harry Potter scarves and carrying magic wands given out at the ball.

And sometimes it’s just an unplanned, unique image that stands out on its own merits. Vicki Crawford, MFH, tells of an awkward but amusing incident from a Potomac Hunt ball back in the ‘70s. “Five women wore the same dress from Garfinckel’s, an exclusive store in DC, now long gone, sadly. Some of them thought it was funny as the dress was very expensive, but some of them were quite insulted.”

Continued

8

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

Speaking of attire, albeit in a different context, Bob Satterfield’s answer to the special memories question was, “No, at least none we can put into print. There have been occasional lost or torn garments on the dance floor, but nobody’s talking.”

Farmington’s Beth Sutton also has a memory from a good while back that remains vivid in her mind. “I will never forget the sight of John Rogan swinging his wife Rosemary Rinehart Rogan onto the floor with a theatrical swirl that made her blue chiffon dress billow out in a perfect arc. The dancers on the floor cleared to make room for them, and it looked like a scene from a movie with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as they floated across the ballroom. The elegance and the classic music were unforgettable! It was in the early seventies, and I was a UVA student—the world outside Farmington was turning upside down but the hunt ball was part of a solid Virginia tradition that was holding fast.

Flash forward forty-plus years and Beth now has another stirring image to add to her memories. “Last year’s hunt ball was the first time we had it at the Boar’s Head and our new membership chair Jebb Cuthbert was not going to miss it. She showed up on a walker with a broken pelvis suffered just a few days before in a freak driving accident. Luckily she was okay and her husband is a nurse so she was in good hands. Jebb rides first flight with FHC and she is hard to keep down for long. She came to the hunt ball dressed in a classic black beaded outfit, and was out on the dance floor that night!”

8. Flirtin’ With Disaster Any nights that didn’t work out as planned? Nasty weather? Or a potential crisis avoided at the last minute? Perhaps some learning experiences that helped make subsequent balls go more smoothly?

Weather is always the wildcard. It just doesn’t feel right to hold a hunt ball in the summer. Scheduling varies, of course, but late winter, around the end of hunt season, tends to be the most popular time. This year’s Old Dominion ball was held in February, which took some chutzpah, especially considering the miles of narrow, winding country roads that had to be negotiated to reach the in-huntingterritory spot. Chilly rain was forecast and in deference to that the generous hosts arranged for a very large, long canopy to be erected from the valet parking dropoff point to the front door. Young men—teenaged junior members of the hunt— were on hand with umbrellas and a steady arm to escort the ladies up the mountainous stairway.

The ODH folks did, however, temper their chutzpah with some practical cushioning. They signed up for cancellation insurance coverage. According to agent Mike Morris of Moore, Clemens Insurance in Leesburg, Virginia, this arrangement allowed the hunt to transfer the risk of their upfront costs should it be necessary to cancel the ball. Gale Johnson said the expense was very reasonable and gave everyone involved increased comfort about forging ahead toward the February 10th event.

While such coverage may provide peace of mind about the potential financial loss, it can’t protect against other forms of cancellation-related fallout. Carolyn Chapman, who has served as Farmington’s hunt ball chairperson for the last 30 plus years, recalls one such incident. “One year I had to cancel due to bad road conditions from a snowstorm, and I got phone calls from some of the lady members who were very upset about not being able to wear the dresses they had planned to wear for the ball! Lesson learned—have the ball in March at the end of the season when the snow finally is less risky!”

And sometimes the show must go on, weather be damned. Joyce Fendley and the Casanova faithful tend to remain undaunted by the vagaries of March weather in Virginia. “The Retro Ball from 2014 saw a huge snowstorm at the last minute. The (look alike) Jersey Boys Group was coming down to be our entertainment. They made it, the show was great, and we had about 50% of our attendees who had a great time, but it was very stressful nonetheless.”

Two such stressful situations convinced the folks at Deep Run Hunt to opt for a schedule change. “For two of our balls held in February,” says Halle Shourds, “we had bad weather get in the way. For the future, we no longer book the hunt ball in February.”

While we didn’t specifically ask the question, it’s our understanding that hunt ball reservations are typically paid in advance. While complete cancellation might warrant consideration of refunds, that’s generally not an option if the ball is still held and some folks opt not to attend, for whatever reason, foul weather or otherwise.

Heather Heider’s advice is to “take payment prior and notify on the invite that once registered, payment is due in full. Take payment by credit card for not only reserving placement, but also have this for quick checkout for auctions. People will spend more if they can charge to a card.”

If not disasters, some organizational matters can certainly cause headaches.

Karen Miller admits that some ideas haven’t worked out as planned. “One year we had the bright idea to put name/placecards in order by table. No one could find their names because of course they had no idea what table they were at.”

She adds, “Going forward we always put names in alphabetical order.” NM-MV has also had less than satisfactory experience using bid numbers for the auction, while for others that’s standard procedure. Asking attendees to write their names on the auction sheets alleviates the need for people to remember their bid numbers, but can then raise problems of legibility.

After potential snags due to weather and functional logistics, there remains one other possible pitfall: People. Elizabeth Ferrer adheres to the do-it-yourself model. “I plan everything out,” she says, “so that I don’t have to rely on anyone to get it done if help backs out!”

Heather Heider, who has since passed the torch on to others, preferred the team approach, but was careful about whom she chose. “I selected persons to sit on the committee that were workers, get-the-job-done kind of people without micromanaging them.” She compared the successful results to “just doers working well together as a pack,” an analogy any foxhunter can appreciate.

Seating is always a challenge,” says Susie Matheson. “We were adding tables up until the last day. We never like to turn anyone away and work hard to put people together who may not know each other...but should.”

While Susie strives to put people together, after many years of running Potomac’s hunt ball and armed with a thorough knowledge of the personality dynamics within the club, Vicki Crawford’s approach to seating arrangements took on a somewhat different objective. “I always knew who to place at opposite ends of the room during seating arrangements; i.e., former girlfriends/wives/lovers, etc.”

9. Not Just Another Old Hunt Ball A substantial portion of our readership area is home to several hunt clubs and most extend invitations to a much broader audience than just their own members.

For those who may only wish to attend one or two balls per season, what makes yours stand out from the others?

This was a non-issue for some clubs, those not in close proximity to other hunts.

Where there are multiple options, the predominant reason given was “fun,” followed by such factors as a friendly, welcoming atmosphere, a good band, excellent food, great auction items (including several with appeal to a broad audience, including non-hunting/horsey types), and an appealing venue.

Rosie Campbell summed it up by citing the standard exchange that precedes the start of every hunt at Bull Run. The master asks, “What are we going to do today?” And the followers exuberantly respond in unison, “Have fun!”

Keeping a foxhunting club going takes considerable effort. Planning, organizing, and hosting a hunt ball to help offset some of the club’s overhead costs also requires a substantial amount of work. But, in both cases, thank goodness there are dedicated folks willing to step up and handle the task. Which means all the rest of us can have fun!

Heads or Tails: A fun way to raise money and spark some friendly competition. Volunteers circulate through the crowd selling strands of beads during cocktail hour. Participants then gather on the dance floor and the auctioneer prepares to flip a coin. Everyone wagers on the outcome by placing their hands on either their head or their “tail.” The losers must remove a strand of beads. This continues until only one person is left with beads. He or she then wins half the pot, with the other half going to the hunt (although most winners graciously donate their share to the hound fund).

Austin Kaseman photo

Special thanks to all who contributed to this article, both those cited herein as well as several others who helped put us in touch with the right people.

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

AGA’S SAGAS

Magic Words and Mint Juleps

Well, winter is a distant memory, summer arrived in full force and there is nothing better than lounging around the pool soaking up the sun’s heat. My Marion always makes sure there is fresh water in the bowls within tongue’s reach and all is quiet in the yard. That is, it was quiet until Bunsen started muttering under his breath with his eyes closed. Bunsen! What are you going on about?

Wha? Ach, lassie, I was just wondering why we always must wait so long for supper. Faith and bejabbers, I’m starving!

You’re unbelievable. We just ate breakfast!

You know…breakfast in the morning, supper in the evening. It isn’t evening yet.

Why cannae Marion give us supper right after breakfast? It makes sense, dinnae ye think? Saves preparation time and we wouldn’t have to waste precious napping minutes eating again in the evening. And Marion would nae have to take a break from Horse Country business to attend to us. Now I ask ye, m’wee darlin’, is that nae a bonnie idea?

Hmmm. It is tempting to run that by Marion. She certainly is busy now with all the new hunting attire sitting in cartons at the store. But you know how humans dislike having their daily routines disrupted. ’Tis true, sadly enough. But this might be a good time to ask her. She’s in a merry mood now that Miss Anne is up.

Yes, her neighbor, Miss Anne, has come up from Florida for the summer. Miss Anne is like a breeze from the Deep South, but happily without the excessive heat. We knew she was home as soon as we heard her charming drawl waft over the fence from her yard. She is quite the gardener.

She is quite the bartender, too. I love when they leave the cups low enough for us to reach them. My favorite is when she makes those mint June bugs!

I think they are called mint juleps.

Are ye sure?

I’m sure.

Hmm. My cup had a bug in it. D’ye mean it was nae supposed to have one?

Alexa! What is in a mint julep?

[Alexa: Two cups of water. Two cups of white sugar. One half cup of roughly chopped fresh mint leaves. 32 ounces of Kentucky bourbon.]

There you are, Bunsen. Although the added protein from an insect or two would be a plus.

Mine had a very lively buzz, too!

It’s amazing how Alexa always delivers.

Delivers, does she? All right, then. Alexa! Two pork chops, rare. And give Aga whatever she wants.

You are very kind to think of me, Bunsen, but Alexa doesn’t work that way, remember?

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menu? And nae for the better!

Yes, we need to let her know this won’t do at all. Distasteful as it is, maybe a hunger strike is in order.

Ach! I’ll nae shrink from righteous protest for a worthy cause, lassie. But a hunger strike! Given the choice, even bad food will always be better than no food at all.

Besides, why can we nae eat scraps from the table, like we used to do?

You know why, Bunsen. The vet says it isn’t healthy for dogs to do that.

And ye just accept that excuse? Sounds flimsy to me. People ingest that stuff and dinnae fall over frothing at the mouth, unless it’s one of Miss Anne’s Moscow Mules.

If My Marion says it is true, then it is. And that’s that. Now, if you are finished with all your griping, I am going to move into the shade and take a long nap. We have a busy day at the store tomorrow, what with all the tweed jackets to unpack, sort, tag. Keeping My Marion sorted. Just exhausting, really.

Well, I can always talk to Alexa. Maybe I just need to find the right combination of magic words. Alexa. Pork chop! Chops of pork. Chopped pork. Pork chopped up...

10

HOUND SHOWS

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

Carolinas’ Hound Show

By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH

Thomas Wolfe wasn’t always right. The enthusiastic, innovative, and determined folks at the Moore County Hounds proved that you can go home again when, on the second weekend in May, they returned the Carolinas’ Hound Show to “Mile-Away Farm” in Southern Pines, North Carolina. For nine years the show called the Springdale Racecourse in South Carolina home, where the Camden Hunt ensured a delightful experience for everyone. But dwindling entries and an aging army of volunteers eventually dictated a move. With the insistence in latter years upon an unfortunate date—Kentucky Derby weekend, which coincides with the Virginia Gold Cup—and the loss of several supportive packs from the Old Dominion, the 2017 show was Camden’s last. Luckily the facilities at “Mile-Away” remained intact and, under the dauntless leadership of Moore County’s Joint Master Cameron Sadler and Neil Schwartzberg, plans were carried out to return “home.” The portable kennels were returned and reassembled, the pavilion at “the Implement Shed” was renovated with a concrete and brick patio/dance floor, and an expanded and more flexible schedule was drawn up. A fresh look was highlighted by an eye-catching new logo, designed and executed by multi-talented David Raley, ex-MFH—architect, artist, and huntsman (De La Brooke, Red Mountain, Moore County, and now Green Creek). As a “Welcome Home!” party, the show was a huge success.

Beagles and Bassets Beagles and Bassets were included during the South Carolina years, and have always had a light turnout. This year, instead of being squeezed into a one-day schedule, they had Friday afternoon to themselves.

Had Lincoln Sadler, Moore County Hounds’ Huntsman, not entered his Entwhistle Village Beagles, there’d have been little competition. Entwhistle’s unentered dog “Kindred” won the doghound championship over Wiggins Beagles’ Bedlam “Cheese” ’13. The bitches were more competitive, with Helen Delacroce and Jeannie Thomas’ Sugarsand Beagles (formerly Why Worry), entering the fray. Wiggins’ Orlean “Patch” won top bitch honors, edging Sugarsand’s Bedlam “Vertigo” ’09. Champion Beagle went to Entwhistle “Kindred” over Wiggins’ Orlean “Patch” ’16. Perhaps next year the Bobbitts will bring their packs, Mandy her Bedlam, Billy his Glenbarr. Other show-minded Virginia packs—Farmington, Nantucket-Treweryn, and Wolver— would be welcome additions.

The Bassets only had two packs shown, both from Maryland, the Cedar Way and Hill & Hollow. H&H swept the doghounds, their “Dublin” ’16 edging kennelmate Ripshin “Nautical” ’13 for champion. Cedar Way made it a fight, dominating the bitches, with “Scarlett” ’14 named champion over their brood bitch, “Raindrop” ’12.

For Basset Champion, H&H “Dublin” ’16 prevailed over Cedar Way “Scarlett” ’14.

As in the beagles, more entries would help. Ripshin and Twin Oak hail from Georgia, and two Virginia packs, Ashland and Reedy Creek, are within a comfortable drive.

Their presence would certainly enliven the proceedings. Former MFHA Executive Director, Dennis Foster, ex-MFH, judged both breeds.

Foxhounds When exhibitors came to pick up their numbers and programs, they were greeted with the dazzling smiles of stunning show secretaries Ivy Grisanti and Nicole Zardus. What a perfect way to start any show! Entries were adequate, the Penn-Marydel and Crossbred rings well-filled.

However, following an unfortunate trend, the entries of English and American hounds, who shared Ring One, were rather light. The return to Southern Pines and the date change should encourage some Virginia packs to ease the trend.

In the Penn-Marydel ring, the Moore County PMD Judges Dennis Foster, ex-MFH; and David Twiggs, Executive entries had on brilliant display hounds that showed Director, MFHA. the Jody Murtagh-David Raley-Lincoln Sadler influence: solid, leggy, well-balanced hounds that move with flowing grace and show themselves with assurance.

Indeed, much of that influence was on display in the entries of every exhibiting pack, and Judge Dennis Foster, exMFH, faced a demanding challenge, albeit a pleasant one. For Apprentice Judge David Twiggs, Executive Director of the MFHA, it was an accelerated learning experience. Moore County blew through the doghounds, winning all but two classes (and bred the Stallion Hound winner, De La Brooke’s MCH “Drillbit” ’14). Entered hound Lincoln Sadler with PMD Champion Moore County “Dan” ’14.

MCH “Dan” ’14 (Goldens Bridge

“Dan” ’02 x Glenmore “Vivian” ’10) was named Champion with unentered kennelmate “Yancey” (MCH “Hamlet” ’15 x MCH “Damsel” ’14) in Reserve. The Moore County juggernaut was slowed in the bitch competition, with Tryon and Bedford County coming to the fore. But it was MCH “Damsel” ’14, following her littermate “Dan’s” lead, to the tricolor with Tryon “Rhythm” ’16 a strong Reserve. Chivalry aside, it was “Dan” snatching breed honors from “Damsel.”

The English entries were especially light this year with the absence of Hillsboro and Why Worry (disbanded), but their breeding dominated in the pedigrees of the winners. Only three packs competed, but with Whiskey Road concentrating on the Crossbred ring, their participation was limited. Martyn Blackmore has left Lowcountry to take the Princess Anne job, taking with him his English hounds that have been stalwarts during this show’s Camden years. Similarly, Jefferson “Tot” Goodwin retired at Green Creek, and his hounds, both English and Crossbred, are now the fledgling Goodwin Hounds.

Martyn and Tot had a spirited and lighthearted competition throughout the morning, with the Virginia pack winning the vast majority of classes. However, the division concluded with a reversal that saw Champion Bitch Goodwin “Raquel” ’16 (Blue Ridge “Barnfield” ’10 x Heythrop “Rachel” ’11) winning the English Championship over Princess Anne’s Hillsboro “Moreton” ’12 (Heythrop “Partner” ’09 x North Cotswold “Moonstone” ’07.) “Raquel’s” dam, Heythrop “Rachel” ’11, who won the 2016 English Championship for George and Jeannie Thomas’s Why Worry Hounds, was a draft to Tot when WWH sadly American and English Judge, folded.

David Raley, ex-MFH. Keswick had been a powerful presence in the American division at this show, winning seven breed championships in twelve years.

But their successful run came to an end in 2017, when political upheaval prompted Huntsman Tony Gammell’s retirement, and put in doubt that pack’s participation here in the near future. However, when he relocated to South Carolina’s Lowcountry Hunt, Tony took with him five couple representing the best of the wonderful Bywaters American lines he had so lovingly nurtured for 17 years, and Keswick’s presence at day’s end remained strong, this time under the Lowcountry banner. The Aiken Hounds dominated the doghound classes with both unentered and entered hounds that trace directly to Keswick “Nipper” ’10. The Lowcountry competed in only the Stallion Hound class, winning with Keswick “Echo” ’14 “(Keswick “Keplar” ’07 x their “Wendy” ’09), who then edged Aiken “Zorro” ’15 (KHC “Nipper’s” grandson via AH “Vampire” ’13 x their “Zebra” ’12). Aiken’s bitches, bred similarly to their doghounds, were sweeping up the ribbons until they ran afoul of Bedford County’s regally bred brood bitch, Potomac “Knicknack” (Potomac “Jacket” ’06 x their “Kestral” ’09), who won the Bitch Championship with her proud Huntsman Larry Pitts, who had bred her at Potomac. Aiken “Kalmia” (Genesee Valley “Keeper” ’11 x Aiken “Nicely” ’14) was Reserve. Judge David Raley had an eyeful in the Championship Class and in the end pinned Lowcountry’s Keswick “Echo” ’14 Champion, with “Knicknack” Reserve. Wonder how that cross would work out?

In the Crossbred ring, Deep Run and Whiskey Road waged a donnybrook reminiscent of years past. In his first season at Deep Run, Huntsman John Harrison brought forward an excellent entry bred by his predecessor Richard Roberts (now at Middleburg), winning the majority of the doghound classes. But Whiskey Road’s Joseph Hardiman had the answer in Stallion Hound, where he stood up “Spitler” ’17, a handsome son of the stunning, but sadly deceased, Midland “Striker” ’15 out of Whiskey Road’s Warwickshire “Daylight” ’12. Ultimately, in the champion doghound throw-down, it was 2016 Champion, Crossbred Grand Champion Foxhound Deep Run “Warrior” ’15 (DRH Deep Run “Warrior” ’15.

“Wimbledon” ’11 x their “Berry” ’12) atop the ladder, with “Spitler” one rung down. Then Deep Run really caught fire, winning every bitch class but Brood Bitch, which fell to WRFH “Lila” ’11, somewhat by default with no DRH entries. Judges, Midland’s Mason Hardaway Lampton, MFH, and Arapahoe’s Mary Ewing, MFH, chose the Deep Run duo of “Reminisce” ’17 and unentered “Cameo” as Champion and Reserve Bitch respectively. The allDRH breed championship saw “Warrior” ’15 recapturing his 2016 crown, leaving “Reminisce” as lady-in-waiting.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

As always at this show, the Junior Handlers’ competition was spirited and highlighted by polished performances. Camden’s Gavin Koening’s professional handling easily topped the 7-12 years class. Moore County’s Makyla Alexander won a tie-breaker in the 1318 years division. For the overall championship, Makyla’s bubbling enthusiasm seemed to inspire her otherwise laid-back hound, and their performance was exquisite, their tricolor well-deserved. Given her age (15), she has a good shot at equaling Aiken’s Carolina Wolcott’s record of four wins. Then, with Madison Elliot whipping in, Makyla led the Moore County pack to a walkover win in the Junior Pack Class.

In the Performance Trial Hound Class, Aiken’s fluidly-moving “Vampire” put away Moore County “Trainwreck,” Aiken “Zombie” (“Vampire’s” son), and Goodwin “Gallahad.”

At this show, all the unentered winners have their own championship. Princess Anne’s lovely bitch “Midnight” (Hillsboro “Moreton” ’12 x Mooreland “Gilly” ’15), one of the best movers in the entire show, gave fair warning to her English rivals in years to come as she relegated MCH “Youpon” to Reserve.

The air had grown stifling by day’s end and, despite some shade in Ring 2, hounds in the Grand Championship Class needed a strong will to win, an attribute all four combatants had in abundance. The winner, Deep Run “Warrior” ’15, has about him the look of a champion: he has balance, grace and a seven-league stride; and he fervently wanted to win. Lowcountry’s Keswick “Echo” ’14 rallied for Reserve, with just a shade less pizzazz. It was a rewarding class to judge and to observe.

The pack class, with all breeds showing together, was held in a 95o blast-furnace. Late arrivals and lastminute scratches drew it out, and hounds began to wilt.

Lincoln Sadler showed his Moore County pack brilliantly, and, defying the heat, his hounds responded with a performance that would win anywhere. Under the conditions, it was awesome. Following were Tennessee Valley, Camden, and Goodwin.

To end the day, Lincoln then stood in his accustomed place—that is to say, surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women—smiling broadly as he accepted the Huntsman’s Trophy. It was hard-won and well-deserved. To once again judge this show was an honor and a joy. But the piece de resistance of the weekend was staying at the Sadlers’ house, so steeped as it is in sporting heritage. Combining with Cameron’s and Lincoln’s warm and genuine welcome was the very real spirit of the late Ginnie Moss, that infuses every inch of “MileAway.” I was intimately wined and dined in an atmosphere that made me feel as at home as a beloved family

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member. And then there was breakfast with Ivy and Nicole! Will I return if asked to judge next year? You bet!

Grand Champion Foxhound Deep Run “Warrior” ’15.

Junior Handler (7-12 yrs.) winner Camden Hunt’s Gavin Koening.

Huntsman’s trophy winner Moore County’s Lincoln Sadler with Show secretaries Ivy Grisanti and Nicole Zardus with the Huntsman’s trophy.

Junior Handler (13-18 yrs.) winner Moore County Hounds’ Makyla Alexander.

Pack Class winners The Moore County Hounds with Huntsman Lincoln Sadler.

Reserve Grand Champion Foxhound Lowcountry Hunt’s Keswick “Echo” ’14.

Aiken Hounds “Vampire” ’13 winner of the Performance Trial Hound class.

lizcallar.smugmug.com

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IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

RACING

Spring Races

By Will O’Keefe Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point, Amateur and Novice Rider Timber (l-r) Churchill D (Evan Dwan, up) – 1st; Hishi Soar (Woods Winants, up) – 3rd. Douglas Lees photo

Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point, Ben Venue Lady Rider Timber Manacor (Amber Hodyka, up) – 1st. Douglas Lees photo

Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point, Meeting House Mountain Open Hurdle (l-r) Officer’s Oath (Liam McVicar, up) – 1st; Foxhall Drive (Bryan Cullinane, up) – 2nd. Douglas Lees photo

Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point, Audi of America, Inc. Novice Timber Kingofalldiamonds (Sean McDermott, up) – 1st. Lesley & David Hower photo

Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point, Land Trust of Virginia Open Hurdle Three Kingdoms (left, Kieran Norris, up) – 1st.

Lesley & David Hower photo

Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point 4-7-2018 Irish novice rider Evan Dwan had a day he’ll never forget at the Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point near Ben Venue on Saturday, April 7. He had three mounts winning twice and finishing second once. His first win on the card was in the amateur and novice rider timber race on Wits End Stable LLC’s Churchill D for trainer Willie Dowling. These were his first wins in the United States, and he did them in fine fashion.

Churchill D was rated off the early pace for a mile, made his move to take command with two miles to run and steadily widened to win by three-sixteenths of a mile. Benjamin Swope’s Way Up High (Erin Swope) ran well but was second best, and Randolph D. Rouse Trust’s Hishi Soar (Woods Winants) was third.

Evan Dwan picked up the ride on Magalen O. Bryant’s Plated for trainer Jimmy Day. Plated went to the lead in the early going, held off Small Giant’s Stable’s Air Maggy (Amber Hodyka) the last time around and won handily by 8 lengths.

Matt McCarron’s Addoneslasthurrah (Erin Swope) got up for second and Air Maggy was third.

Dwan had to settle for second in the maiden hurdle race on Wits End Stable LLC’s Renegade River, who fell short by 1 length to Ridgeview Farm’s Virginia Envy (Archie MacAuley).

Virginia Envy was reserved off the pace in a tightly bunched five horse field, made her move in the last quarter mile to jump the last hurdle in second place and went on to win in the stretch.

Bruce Smart, Jr.’s He’s One Wild Dude (Liam McVicar) finished third.

Small Giant’s Stable’s Manacor won the lady rider timber race ridden and trained by Amber Hodyka. He led for most of the race and won easily by 4½ lengths. Sweet Talking Guy, who had won at Piedmont, made a bid with three furlongs to run, but could not sustain his rally and finished second. Ron Blankenship’s Skunk (Emme Fullilove) was third.

The meet’s leading trainer, Jimmy Day, got his second win with Bruce Smart, Jr.’s Officer’s Oath (Liam McVicar) in the open hurdle race. Cristina V. Mosby’s Foxhall Drive (Bryan Cullinane), who was also trained by Day, was the only other starter. Foxhall Drive went to the early lead, but Officer’s Oath took command following the third fence and won handily by 1 length.

The open timber race scratched down to one starter, Milldale Four LLC’s Secret Soul. Trainer/rider Jeff Murphy chose to school two times around the timber course on his way to a walk over win.

Three flat races rounded out the card. Sharon Sheppard’s Comanchero (Elizabeth Scully) came from off the pace to win the restricted young adult race by 1 length over Abigail Murphy on her Flaming Arrow. Rehilian Racing Stable’s Bats Cleanup (Liam Bourke) was third. The winner is trained by Leslie Young.

Emme Fullilove won the novice rider flat race on PathFinder Racing’s Strong, who was trained by Neil Morris.

Strong and Cristina V. Mosby’s Full Faith (Bryan Cullinane) emerged from a tightly packed field to battle into the stretch.

Strong pulled away in the final sixteenth to win by 2 lengths with Full Faith second and Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Blue Atlantic (Archie MacAuley) third.

The Virginia-bred flat race was a match race between owner/trainer Jean Rofe’s Willisville (Jeff Murphy) and Nicki Valvo’s Naughty in Nola (Liam McVicar). Willisville made all the running and won handily by 12 lengths.

Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point 4-15-2018 The Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 15, at Oatlands Plantation near Leesburg ran in direct competition with the Fair Hill Point-to-Point in Maryland and a day after two sanctioned meets. As a result entries were light, but the racing was good.

Unfortunately the Eustis Cup timber classic failed to have enough runners and was not run, making the open hurdle race the headliner. Seven horses went to the post and for most of the race S. Bruce Smart, Jr.’s Orchestra Leader (Keri Brion) set the pace, but in the late stages Colvin Ryan’s Three Kingdoms (Kieran Norris) took command and won going away by 6

lengths. Three Kingdoms was a highly touted Irish import a year ago but took a while figuring out how to jump the National fences. Under trainer Julie Gomena’s tutelage, he has mastered that task and appears ready to fulfill his potential. Orchestra Leader finished second and Stephany Harper’s Outlaw Cody Z (Eddie Keating) was third.

The maiden hurdle race attracted eighteen runners and was split. The first division went to Emily Astor & George Tyding’s pace setting Lambeau Field (Eddie Keating). Beverly Steinman’s Negotiate rallied but fell short by 1½ lengths while holding on for second. Leslie Young trained the winner. Magalen O. Bryant’s City Gold (Kieran Norris) finished third. Beverly Steinman had better luck in the second division when her New Horizon (Barry Foley) won for trainer Doug Fout. New Horizon was never far back, took the lead approaching the last fence and won easily by 2 lengths over Stonelea Stables LLC’s Naval Gazer (Kieran Norris), who placed second with Bruton Street-US’s Satish (Eddie Keating) third.

Leading trainer Neil Morris saddled two of the six runners in the novice timber race. Buckshot Racing Stables LLC’s Longing to Travel (Darren Nagle), who had won at Orange County, was joined by Noble Stables’ Kingofalldiamonds (Sean McDermott). Longing to Travel made the early running but lost his rider the second time around the course. Kingofalldiamonds had already gone to the front and stayed there to the finish where he won handily by 6 lengths over Irvin S. Naylor’s El Jefe Grande (Eddie Keating) with EMO Stables’ Appoggiatura (Barry Foley) rallying for third.

Neil Morris got a second win on the card when PathFinder Racing’s Bibbo (Darren Nagle) won the open flat race. Bibbo was reserved off the pace that was set by Ivy Hill Farm’s Diamond Drive (Sara Katz). With a half mile to go Bibbo started to make his move and took the lead with a furlong to run. He won going away by 2 lengths over Beverly Steinman’s Marvari (Barry Foley) with Diamond Drive holding on for third.

In the Virginia-bred flat race the four horse field ran as a group for much of the race. Everyone was in contention with a quarter mile to run, but S. Rebecca Shepherd’s Trustifarian (Barry Foley) emerged from the pack at the head of the stretch and won handily over Sara Collette’s Balistes (Kieran Norris).

Heather Booterbaugh’s Scented Up (Mike Woodson) finished third.

The sidesaddle exhibition races once again proved crowd pleasers. In the jumping division Cherry Blossom Farm LLC’s King of Hearts (Devon Zebrovious) and Amy Jo Magee’s Little Lady took turns setting the pace. Little Lady led over the last fence but could not match strides in the stretch with King of Hearts, who drew away to win by 3 lengths. George Kuk trained the winner. The flat division went to Terrie Ehrenfeld’s Hail Yeah (Kathryn Cowles, trainer/rider). When the field was released by the field master, Hail Yeah and Ketterman Jewelers’ Always As You Wish (Dillyn Millnick) hooked up and battled to the finish where Hail Yeah proved best by a neck.

Middleburg Spring Races 4-21-2018 The Middleburg Spring Races on Saturday, April 21, presented a great day of steeplechase racing over one of the sport’s most popular race courses at Glenwood Park near Middleburg, Virginia. The $75,000 Temple Gwathmey Hurdle Handicap Stakes headed the card, and attracted some of the best horses in training. In a handicap race the horses are weighted in such a manner that light weights have an equal chance against the high weights. That was just the case when Robert A. Kinsley’s Lyonell (Jack Doyle) carrying 140 lbs. won by 1½ lengths at the direct expense of Rosbrian Farm, Benjamin and Wendy Griswold’s Zanjabeel (Ross Geraghty), who carried 150 lbs. Another lightweight (140 lbs.) Michael A. Smith’s Mercoeur (Shane Crimin) was third. In the race Lyonell was rated off the pace, rallied two fences from home and had a share of the lead with Mercoeur over the last. Mercoeur faded in the stretch and Zanjabeel rallied to take second. This was the first of three winners on the card for Jack Doyle. Elizabeth Voss trained the winner.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

Last year’s NSA Timber Horse Champion Charles C. Fenwick, Jr.’s Doc Cebu (Hadden Frost) faced four opponents in the $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup Timber Stakes.

This time it was Irvin S. Naylor’s Super Saturday (Gerard Galligan), who surprised everyone for trainer Katherine Neilson. Super SatMiddleburg Spring Races urday was settled Middleburg Hunt Cup Timber Stakes in the middle of Super Saturday (Gerard Galligan, up) – 1st. the field, rallied Joanne Maisano photo to take the lead three fences from home and held off Michael A. Smith’s Le Chevalier (Jack Doyle), who rallied belatedly and missed by 2½ lengths. Doc Cebu tired in the late stages and finished third.

Last year’s leading rider, Darren Nagle, had a riding double. In the allowance hurdle race he rode Hudson River Farms’ Iranistan to a 10½ length victory for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. Iranistan led throughout the race Middleburg Spring Races and won as his rider Glenwood Hurdle pleased. Ann JackIranistan (Darren Nagle, up) – 1st.

Joanne Maisano photo son’s Flash Jackson (Michael Mitchell) and Riverdee Stable’s Down Royal (Bernard Dalton) were second and third but were no match for the winner. Nagle added another win with Irvin S. Naylor’s Ocean Ready in the maiden hurdle race for trainer Cyril Murphy. Ocean Ready was rated off the pace and drew clear in the run in from the last to win by 3¾ lengths over Noble Stables’ Dynaformersrequest.

Jack Doyle’s second win was in the maiden claiming race that was won by Ronald E. Sapp’s Really Ready, who was trained by Jonathan Sheppard. Rated in third early, Really Ready took the lead two fences out and drew clear to win by 1¾ lengths over Virginia Lazenby Racing Stables’ Misfortune (Bernard Dalton) with S. Bruce Smart, Jr.’s Corstorphine (Sean McDermott) third.

Jack Doyle also won the Alfred M. Hunt Steeplethon with Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Andi’amu but the win was in jeopardy at the water jump where Andi’amu made a mistake, nearly losing his rider. Fortunately, they recovered, took the lead two fences from home and held off PathFinder Racing’s Cognashene (Michael Mitchell) by a neck.

William L. Pape’s Giza (Darren Nagle) finished third. The winner was trained by Leslie F. Young.

Local trainer Neil Morris and local rider Kieran Norris won the training flat race with Lana Wright’s Front Line Paige. Far off the early pace, Front Line Paige started to rally on the outside with three furlongs to run. He joined The Fields Stable’s Norse Star (Jack Doyle) at the head of the stretch and proved best by 1 length. Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Alshibaa (Dean Sinott) finished third.

Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point 4-22-2018 Last year inclement weather forced the Blue Ridge Hunt to move their races to April. This change was so successful that the races moved to Sunday, April 22, for the 2018 running.

Spring-like weather brought out a big crowd to enjoy an eight race card at Woodley Farm near Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Berryville.

Maiden Hurdle Emily Astor’s Star Glitter (#4, Dean Sinnott, up) – 1st.

Joanne Maisano photo Star Glitter (Dean

Sinnott) won the maiden hurdle race. Star Glitter and Donna T. Rogers’ Tambourin (Michael Mitchell) dueled for much of the race. Star Glitter held a narrow lead over the last fence and drew away to win by 1¾ lengths over Wits End Stable LLC’s Six Gun Salute (Evan Dwan), who rallied for second over third placed Tambourin. Leslie Young saddled the winner.

Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard won the restricted young adult flat race with his Stalled giving Mell Boucher her first win. Boucher reserved Stalled close behind the leader, made her move on the final turn to take the lead and won as the rider pleased. Charlie Marquez finished second on Mast Strike, and Abigail Murphy was third on Flaming Arrow.

The combination of owner Rosbrian Farm and trainer Ricky Hendriks has been red hot this spring, and it was no great surprise when Eve Ledyard rode their Swansea Mile to victory in the novice rider flat race. Swansea Mile was never far from the leaders, took command on the final turn and held off the late charge of Paddy Young’s For Goodness Sake (Eddie Keating) to win by a head. Chris Harting’s Moonshine Mistress was third.

Sara E. Collette’s Eryx had been second in the Virginia-bred flat races at Warrenton and Orange County, but at Blue Ridge he found his way to the winners’ circle.

Kieran Norris rated him off the pace in a tightly bunched field. He advanced steadily around the last turn to take the lead in the stretch and won going away by 2¼ lengths over Heather Booterbaugh’s Scented Up (Mike Woodson) with Ridgeview Farm’s Virginia Envy (Teresa Croce) finishing third. Leading trainer Neil Morris was the winning trainer.

The maiden flat race attracted a big field of eleven starters and the resulting race was exciting. S. Bruce Smart, Jr.’s Hepcat (Sean McDermott) had led from the start, but Samurai Song (Gerard Galligan) was not to be denied. He took the lead in the final sixteenth and drew away to win by 1¾ lengths. Rosbrian Farm’s Tay Lane (Ross Geraghty) was third. Trainer Jonathan Sheppard added a second win on the card.

The lady rider timber race was combined with the novice timber race making a three-horse field. Wits End Stable LLC’s Churchill D (Evan Dwan) duplicated his winning effort at Old Dominion and once again romped home alone. Buckshot Racing Stables’ Longing To Travel (Darren Nagle) finished second 15 lengths behind the winner, who was Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point Novice Timber trained by Willie Churchill D (Evan Dwan, up) – 1st.

Dowling.

Erin Joanne Maisano photo Swope’s Sweet Talking Guy crossed the finish line in third place but was the winner of the lady rider timber race.

Erin Swope had better luck in the amateur and novice rider timber race which she won on owner/trainer Ben Swope’s Way Up High.

Charles Noell and Blythe Davies’ Rollforward (Eric Poretz) made most of the running until the final quarter mile where he was joined by Small Giant’s Stable’s Air Maggy Blue Ridge Hunt Point-to-Point (Amber Hodyka) Lady Rider Timber and Way Up High. st At this point Way Sweet Talking Guy (Erin Swope, up) – 1 .

Joanne Maisano photo Up High found a different gear, taking command and winning going away by 3½ lengths. Air Maggy and Rollforward were disqualified for going off course, moving Matthew Martinez’ Seeking Dinero into second place.

13 Foxfield Spring Races 4-28-2108 Trainer Ricky Hendriks and rider Ross Geraghty won three of the five races at the Foxfield Spring Races near Charlottesville, Virginia, on Saturday, April 28. Their hat trick of winners included the Irish-bred Officer Sydney who won the featured $30,000 allowance optional claiming race for George Mahoney’s Rosbrian Farm. In the very early going Officer Sydney dueled with Team Ollie’s Orchestra Leader (Keri Brion), who had won this race a year ago, but was taken back off the pace during the first time around the course. The last time around Officer Sydney made his move, taking the lead with three fences to jump with Irvin S. Naylor’s Lake Champlain (Graham Watters) close behind. Lake Champlain made a run at the winner but could get no Foxfield Spring Races closer than the final 2 lengths’ margin Allowance Optional Claiming Hurdle (l-r) Pure Deal (Barry Foley, up) – 3rd; of victory. Beverly Lake Champlain (Graham Watters, up) – R. Steinman’s Pure 2nd; Officer Sydney (Ross Geraghty, up) – Deal (Barry Foley) 1st. Rick Stillings photo was third and Orchestra Leader was fourth.

Hendriks and Geraghty also won the maiden claiming race with Rosbrian Farm’s Cheers to Us. Cheers to Us was never too far off the pace, Foxfield Spring Races rallied around Maiden Claiming Hurdle the final turn to (l-r) Ebullience (Gerard Galligan, up) – 2nd take the lead and Corstorphine (Paul O’Neill, up) – 3rd after the last battle for the lead but Cheers to Us (far right, fence and won Ross Geraghty, up) proved best at the finish.

Rick Stillings photo going away by 5 lengths. Riverdee Stable’s Ebullience (Gerard Galligan) and S. Bruce Smart, Jr’s Corstorphine (Paul O’Neill) had shared the lead on the backside the last time around but had to settle for second and third.

The third win for Hendriks and Geraghty was with Eve Ledyard’s Quarla in the filly and mare maiden hurdle race. Quarla raced in the middle of the pack the first time around, rallied steadily the last time around and joined Sinatra Thoroughbred Racing’s Leoness (Graham Watters) and Mike Dalton and Why Not Racing LLC’s Etched in Time (Gerard Galligan) on the front end three fences from home.

Leoness was the first to drop back but Quarla and Etched in Time continued to duel to the finish where Quarla prevailed by a neck.

Trainer Cyril Murphy sent out Irvin S. Naylor’s Jarir (Graham Watters) to win the maiden hurdle race. He was rated off the pace, launched a winning rally up the hill on the final turn, and was second over the last fence close behind Christina V. Mosby’s Foxhall Drive (Paul O’Neill). In the run in from the last, Jarir proved best by 1½ lengths with Foxhall Drive second and early pace setter Beverly R. Steinman’s Negotiate (Barry Foley) third.

Neil Morris trained the first two finishers in the nonwinners of two for a claiming price hurdle race. William M. Russell’s Holiday Mousse (Barry Foley) came from off the pace to jump the third last with Sara E. Collette’s Balistes (Shane Crimin) and Shannon Hill Farm’s Show King (Paul O’Neill). Holiday Mousse and Balistes raced as a team over the last, but upon landing Holiday Mousse found another gear and drew away to win Foxfield Spring Races, Condition by 4¼ lengths. Balistes Claiming Hurdle was second and Show Holiday Mousse (Barry Foley, up) – 1st. Rick Stillings photo King was third.

14 Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point 4-29-2018 On Sunday, April 29, the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point ran over the extremely popular Glenwood Park Race Course near Middleburg. The sport’s leading owners, trainers, and riders were on hand and the racing was great in spite of an unseasonably windy and cold day.

There is a saying in horse racing about “horses for courses.” In other words, horses whose form improves over certain race courses. That certainly applies to Irvin S. Naylor’s El Jefe Grande who won at first asking at this race meet a year ago in a maiden hurdle race.

He did not win in three more tries over hurdles. He was converted to timber, placing third at the Virginia Fall Races in the maiden timber race. This Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point year at the MiddleMiddleburg Bowl Open Timber burg Point-to-Point, (l-r) Plated (Evan Dwan, up) – 2nd; st El Jefe Grande (Darren Nagle, up) – 1 . trainer Cyril MurLesley & David Hower photo phy ran him in the open timber race against a solid field of winners. Magalen O. Bryant’s Plated (Evan Dwan) led for much of the race but failed to respond when El Jefe Grande (Darren Nagle) took command on the backside. El Jefe Grande won handily by 2½ lengths over Plated with Gordonsdale Farm’s Canyon Road a rallying third under Kieran Norris.

The Naylor/Murphy team also won the maiden flat race with Osmoz (Graham Watters). Osmoz rallied from off the pace to join Mrs. William Pape’s No Mans Land (Shane Crimin) Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point, Matthew and Rosbrian Leslie Memorial Maiden Hurdle Farm’s Tay Lane Bridge Builder (#5, Kieran Norris, up) – 1st. for the lead at the Lesley & David Hower photo head of the stretch and proved best in the final sixteenth. No Mans Land was second and Tay Lane was third.

Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point, Middleburg Hunt Cup Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle Goodness Sake (#1, Eddie Keating, up) – 1st. Classical Art (Eric Poretz, up) – 2nd. Lesley & David Hower photo

In the amateur/novice rider hurdle race Paddy Young’s For Goodness Sake (Eddie Keating) led all the way with Mrs. Calvin Houghland’s Classical Art (Eric Poretz) close behind. For Goodness Sake held Classical Art safe by 1¾ lengths with Morning Star Farm’s Needle in the Hay (Keri Brion) third. Leslie Young was the winning trainer.

The other two hurdle races on the card were for maidens. Celtic Venture Stable’s Bridge Builder (Kieran Norris) was a very popular winner for trainer Eva Smithwick. Bridge Builder was never far from Emily Astor’s Sbarazzina (Eddie Keating), who set the pace. At the last fence Sbarazzina had a slight lead but Bridge Builder proved best in the stretch by ¾ length. Sheila J. Williams & Northwood Stable’s Notjudginjustsayin (Sean McDermott) finished third.

In the restricted maiden hurdle race, Petticoats Loose

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

Farm’s Al Neksh (Willie McCarthy) was on the pace throughout the race and held off Sheila J. Williams & Northwood Stable’s Storm Team (Sean McDermott) to win by ¾ length. Sharon E. Sheppard’s Undisclosed (Barry Foley) was third. Meriwether Morris was the winning trainer.

Two of the three horses that went to the post in the maiden timber race were trained by Jack Fisher, and they finished first and second. Northwood Stable & Sheila J. Williams’ Causeworthy (Sean McDermott) stalked Jewish Holiday (Hadden Frost) and Matthew Martinez’ Ameri Weber, who each took turns on the front end. Causeworthy took the lead on the backside the last time around and won easily by 8 lengths over Jewish Holiday. Ameri Weber was third.

The novice rider flat race went to Wendy Hendriks’ Surprising Soul (Eve Ledyard) in a front running effort finishing 4½ lengths ahead of Gordonsdale Farm’s Overdrawn (Teresa Croce) with Sharon Sheppard’s Mr. Fine Threads (Alex Fulton) third. Ricky Hendriks was the winning trainer.

The open flat race was won by Riverdee Stable’s Wigwam Baby giving Sean McDermott his second win on the card, this time for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. Wigwam Baby was never far off the pace that was set by Rosbrian Farm’s Daneking. The winner rallied in the final sixteenth and won by ¾ length. Daneking was second and Beverly Steinman’s Perfect Union (Barry Foley) was third.

Virginia Gold Cup Races 5-5-2018 Saturday, May 5, was an historic day for Virginia owners at the Virginia Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow near The Plains. Led by Sara E. Collette’s Virginia Gold Cup winner Zanclus and Magalen O. Bryant’s David Semmes Memorial Hurdle Stakes winner Personal Start, horses owned by Virginians amassed nearly $200,000 in earnings.

Zanclus was ridden to perfection by Kieran Norris, going to the lead shortly after the start and leading all the way. He was rated masterfully on the front end, and each time someone made a move to challenge he had the answer.

Last year’s winner Irvin S. Naylor’s Ebanour (Darren Nagle) launched a challenge with a half mile to run but could not sustain his bid and finished fourth. Michael A. Smith’s Le Chevalier rallied in the final quarter mile but to no avail as Zanclus was in hand and in command. Neil Morris has now trained four Virginia Gold Cup winners, and this is the third Virginia Gold Cup winner bred by Sara E. Collette. Salmo won in Irvin S. Naylor’s silks in 2007 and 2009.

Zanclus is the ultimate Virginia-bred and is a testimony to the Collettes’ breeding program. Zanclus’ sire, dam, grand dam and great grand dam are all home-breds foaled in Virginia by the Collettes.

In the David H. Semmes Memorial, Personal Start assumed a stalking role as Stonelea Stables LLC’s Balance the Budget assumed his normal position setting the pace.

At the second fence from home these two Virginia Gold Cup Races, Virginia Gold jumped as a Cup Timber Stakes team. Personal Zanclus (Kieran Norris, up) – 1st.

Start landed Douglas Lees photo running, led over the last fence as Balance the Budget faded, and won easily by 8¼ lengths. Virginia Lazenby Racing Stable LLC’s Hardrock Eleven rallied to finish second with Balance the Budget third. Personal Start was bred by Magalen O. Bryant and was trained by Richard Valentine.

The Steeplethon Stakes is always exciting with its varied obstacles, and this year was no exception as Gerard Galligan, who was aboard Randolph D. Rouse Trust’s Hishi Soar, was unseated and landed in Swan Lake. In the race Happenstance and Harry’s Boogie Biz (Mark Beecher) made the early running with Ballybristol Farm LLC’s Andi’amu (Jack Doyle) close behind. Andi’amu took the lead and won going away by 5¼ lengths. Boogie

Biz was second and Nicki Valvo’s Triton Light (Darren Nagle) was third. Andi’amu won the steeplethon at Middleburg, and it appears that trainer Leslie F. Young has a steeplethon specialist.

Trainer Richard Valentine also won the allowance hurdle race with Check Mark Stables LLC’s Willow U (Shane Crimin). Willow U was rated off the pace in a tightly bunched field, made his move around the last turn to take the lead. He led over the last two fences and held off Irvin S. Naylor’s Deficit (Graham Watters), who rallied and got up to take second narrowly from Wendy W. Hendriks’ Any Given Royal (Michael Mitchell). The winning margin was 1 length.

Irvin S. Naylor and trainer Cyril Murphy had better luck in the maiden hurdle race with Warp Factor (Darren Nagle). Warp F a c t o r stalked the leaders, went to the front on the turn for home and won by ½ length over Mrs. S. K. Virginia Gold Cup Races Johnston, Steeplethon Timber Stakes Jr.’s Set to (l-r) Hishi Soar (Gerard Galligan, up); M u s i c Andi’amu (Jack Doyle, up) – 1st; Dye Fore (Gerad Galli(Sean McDermott, up) – 4th; Triton Light gan) with (Darren Nagle, up) – 3rd; Cognashene Wits End (Michael Mitchell, up). Douglas Lees photo Stable LLC’s Renegade River (Eric Poretz) third.

Virginia Gold Cup Races, Virginia Equine Alliance/Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle (l-r) Warp Factor (Darren Nagle, up) – 1st; Set To Music (Gerard Galligan, up) – 2nd. Douglas Lees photo

The Secretariat Stakes was the headliner of the three flat races, and for the second year in a row Merriebelle Stable LLC’s Renown (Jack Doyle) took home to Maryland the winner’s share of the $50,000 purse. Renown was reserved slightly off the pace, made a winning move around the final turn and won going away by 2¼ lengths over Woodslane Farm’s Overwhelming (Sean McDermott) with Patricia L. Bosley’s Qualify (Darren Nagle) third.Bosley’s Qualify (Darren Nagle) third. Elizabeth Voss was the winning trainer.

The next race was an allowance flat race for horses that had never won two races. Rosbrian Farm’s Sixty Five (Michael Murphy) raced in the middle of the pack for most of the race and launched a rally entering the final turn. He outdueled Mrs. S. K. Johnston, Jr.’s Lost Story (Darren Nagle) in the stretch and won by ¾ length. Serendipity Stable’s Dark Gemini (Willie McCarthy) was third. Ricky Hendriks saddled the winner.

The final race on the card was the Virginia Bred or Sired flat race, and the final margin of a nose was the closest finish of the day. Sara E. Collette’s Eryx (Kieran Norris) went to the lead at the start with S. Bruce Smart, Jr.’s Officers Oath (Sean McDermott) in hot pursuit. These two battled the length of the stretch with neither horse nor rider giving an inch with Eryx narrowly best. Lady Olivia at North Cliff’s Accountable (Michael Mitchell), who won this race at the International Gold Cup Races last fall, was not a threat to the top two but was third. For the Collettes, trainer Neil Morris, and rider Kieran Norris, this was icing on the cake. Eryx is Zanclus’ little brother, making this a true family affair.

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

15

BEAGLES

2018 NBC Spring Trials

By John J. Carle II, ex-MFH The southernmost Virginia pack, Floyd County’s Octorara, very nearly didn’t make the 2018 National Beagle Club Spring Trials at Aldie, Virginia, when 14 inches of heavy, wet snow blocked roads, downed innumerable trees, and knocked out power county-wide. It was only thanks to the Herculean efforts of Appalachian Power that Larry and Debby Bright managed to get their pack to the Institute in time for the three-couple class. They made the most of it, winning with a spectacular run that left trailing Sandanona, Farmington, and Glenbarr respectively. That was to be Octorara’s first and last hurrah, for they were uncharacteristically skunked for the rest of the trials.

After a two-year hiatus, the Hills Bridge Beagles returned to hallowed ground with a vengeance in the five-couple. This hard-driving pack and their mercurial Huntsman not only laid down an awesome, winning run, but theirs was the highest scored run of the trials. A resurgent Nantucket-Treweryn headed the also-rans in strong form, to edge Farmington and Sandanona.

The eight-couple competition was run under widely fluctuating scenting conditions. Hills Bridge made the most of an early-morning window of opportunity before it slammed emphatically, to defeat Glenbarr, Ben Venue, and Sandanona.

The Three Hour Stake proved to be a rather discombobulated, slow-starting affair that heavily taxed the talents of judges Sally Bickerstaff, MBH, and Allen Forney. Thirteen inch honors went to Old Chatham “Smokey,” who outhunted the Nantucket-Treweryn duo of “Voodoo” and “Meyers.” Old Chatham also headed the 15 inch leaderboard with their “Bastille.” Following, in order, were Bedlam “Messenger,” Fairview “Turbo,” and Glenbarr “Haden.”

By virtue of entering and placing in every division and the Stake, the Sandanona Hare Hounds won the Highest Scored Pack award. Unfortunately, their Master and Huntsman, Betsy Park, wasn’t on hand to collect her award, having raced home to Millbrook, New York, to hunt her bassets. Such is the dedication of the foot-hound crowd!

Judges Allen Monroe Forney and Sally Bickerstaff, MBH.

Judge Allen Forney.

Beth Opitz, MB, with her Ben Venue 8 Couple and Field Marshall Billy Bobbitt, MB, Glenbarr Beagles and NBC Vice President.

The Ben Venue 8 Couple on the line.

Hills Bridge hounds on the line.

The Ardrossan 8 Couple pack in full cry.

Octorora Beagles in search of a rabbit.

Octorara 8 Couple Pack Larry Bright, MB/Huntsman; Whippers-in Debby Bright and Dunham Hollister.

Larry Bright, MB Octorara; Tom Hancock, MB, Fairvew; John Marshall, Ardrossan; Dunham Hollister, Octorara.

16

HORSE RACING

IN & AROUND HORSE COUNTRY • SUMMER 2018

Horses and People to Watch Virginia Equine Alliance

Virginia-Bred Stakes Races Scheduled At Laurel This Summer The series of Virginia-bred races in Maryland that has been so popular the past several years will return again in 2018 and will feature a new format. Previously, the three separate Saturday programs shared a combination of Thoroughbred stakes and maiden events. The new version will offer maiden races on Friday and stakes exclusively on Saturday. A total of 18 races will be carded—13 stakes at $75,000 each and five maiden races at $40,000 each. They will all be contested on turf.

The Saturday stakes event days are June 23rd, August 4th, and September 22nd. A four-pack including the Edward Evans, Nellie Mae Cox, White Oak Farm, and Tyson Gilpin Stakes kicks off the series. The first pair will be held at the one-mile distance; the other pair at 5½ furlongs. The middle leg features the Hansel, William Backer, Meadow Stable, and Camptown Stakes. The first two will be at one and one-sixteenth miles and the last two at 5½ furlongs. The series concludes with five more on September 22nd: The Bert Allen, Brookmeade, Punch Line, Oakley, and Jamestown Stakes. The first pair are at a one and oneeighteenth miles distance and the final trio will go 5½ furlongs.

Two other aspects are new. A $20,000 Trainers and Owners bonus program will offer awards to the overall top five leading trainers and owners that participate in the series. Points over the 18 scheduled races will be totaled at the end. Trainers and owners will be awarded five points for a win, four points for second, three points for third, two points for fourth, and one for every finisher after fourth place. $10,000 will be awarded for first place, $4,000 for second, $3,000 for third, $2,000 for fourth, and $1,000 for fifth.

Horses that entered the new Virginia certified residency program will be eligible to compete in one of the maiden races and could potentially enter a stakes race as well. A 5½ furlong maiden sprint for two-yearolds is slated for Friday August 3rd and is open to Virginia-bred, sired, or certified horses. The Jamestown Stakes, slated for September 22nd, could include certified horses if there are less than six Virginia-bred or Sired entered.

Series details can be found at www.vabred.org.

Virginia Off Track Betting (OTB) Centers Do Big Business During The Triple Crown The Virginia Equine Alliance’s (VEA) fourth Off Track Betting (OTB) Center opened in early March so that site, based in Collinsville at The Windmill Sports Grill, along with ones in Henrico (Breakers Sports Grille), Richmond (Ponies & Pints), and Chesapeake (Buckets Bar & Grill), was able to take advantage of Justify’s path to the Triple Crown Championship. The OTBs had large crowds for all three legs—the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

Thru May, 2018, $14 million was wagered at the four OTBs combined including over $500,000 on Kentucky Derby Day alone. On Belmont Day, when Bob Baffert’s Justify secured the Triple Crown, fans at the four sites bet $400,000. When combined with the monies wagered via four online betting partners, total Virginia handle was over $51 million.

The sites are all open seven days a week from 11:00 am to 11:30 pm. All four take the simulcastfeeds from up to 20 track signals per day, have both manned

and self bet stations, a complete dining menu, full bar, and access to past performance programs via a kiosk.

A complete list of the four OTBs with addresses is at www.virginiahorseracing.com.

40th Annual Virginia Thoroughbred Championship Awards Ceremony This event was held May 4th at Great Meadow in The Plains, on the eve of the Virginia Gold Cup Races. The evening was presented by the Virginia Thoroughbred Association and Virginia Breed- Larry Lucas of Revolutioners Fund. Stellar Wind ary Racing, new owner of Colonial Downs, was recognized as 2017 addressed future Virginia Virginia-Bred Horse of racing plans with attendees.

Richard Clay photo the Year as well as Champion Older Female. Here are a few memories from the event, courtesy of photographer

Yes To The Dress returns to the winners circle after capturing the 2017 Jamestown Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Jim McCue photo

Robin Richards (right), breeder of Champion Dirt Horse Just Call Kenny, accepted an award from Debbie Easter.

Richard Clay photo

Special Envoy wins the 2017 Edward Evans Stakes at Laurel. The 7-year-old Stroll gelding, who is nominated to the ’18 Evans Stakes, also captured the Hansel and Bert Allen Stakes last year. Jim McCue photo

Amy Moore (right) joined Wayne Chatfield-Taylor in accepting honors for Queen Caroline, who was named Champion Turf Female. Richard Clay photo

Queen Caroline captures the 2017 Nellie Mae Cox Stakes. The 5-year-old Blame mare will compete again in the same event June 23rd. Jim McCue photo

Northern Eclipse prevails in the 2017 Camptown Stakes.

The ’18 edition will be held August 4th at Laurel.

Jim McCue photo

Donna Rogers (left), owner of Champion Over Fences honoree Dapper Dan, is pictured with Debbie Easter. Richard Clay photo

JENNY’S PICKS

HORSE COUNTRY BOOKSELLERS

Brown, Rita Mae. Probable Claws. The next in the Mrs. Murphy series continues the probe into post-Revolutionary War history as it entwines with the 21st century escapades of “Harry” Haristeen and her intrepid feline and canine 60 Alexandria Pike, Warrenton, VA 20186 • 800-882-HUNT • 540-347-3141 companions. As usual, the first murder jumps right in early, with the shooting of a man Harry is working with to Recently acquired used books: design her workshed: right in front of Harry and her policewoman Anatomical Model of the Horse. Vinton & Co., London, no date. friend, Cynthia Cooper, as they stand outside his shop. The motor- Fold-outs start with points of the male horse and strip him down to cyclist miscreant, tinted visor covering his face, his bike unlicensed, the skeleton, with text on several pages identifying the various parts. pulls up, shoots, and flees. And of course Harry can’t help but start Cardboard covers, fair condition. #6315 $30.00 poking around trying to find out why her architect had been killed, Morgan, Shirley O. Between the Ears/A Unique View of the World. which—also as usual—gets her in the potential line of fire as well. Privately published, 1995. Fine condition, dj fine though with inWe were lucky enough to have Rita Mae in the store when the books dentations where someone wrote on paper over the back cover and came in, so we have 14 AUTOGRAPHED copies! When they’re small tear on front bottom. The author, a former Master of the Chagone, if we get another order in, we can’t guarantee they’ll be auto- grin Valley Hunt in Ohio, recounts her adventures hunting around graphed, so act quickly if you want one. Hardcover, 336pp. $27.00 the world with packs of English foxhounds. Hunts include packs in Chilvers, Brooke. The Sporting Life: The Art of Joseph Sulkowski. Portugal, France Italy, South Africa, Kenya, India, New Zealand, Some of you may remember a few years ago when we offered a pre- Australia, and North America. The British Isles are covered in an vious book by this sporting artist, Master and Hounds. We sold them appendix which discusses different varieties of English foxhound. until we couldn’t get more. Well, now we have a new book, and this Mostly b&w photos, some color. Hardcover, 116pp. #6316 $45.00 one expands its inventory to include other field sporting activities Surtees. Handley Cross, or Mr. Jorrocks’ Hunt, Vol. 1. Spottissuch as polo and fishing. Sulkowski has a lovely, soft, almost-im- wood, for Lawrence & Bullen, Ltd., London, 1898. Illus. by John pressionistic feel to his artwork—what we in the field call Leech. Hardcover, red cloth, fair condition; no dj but protected by “painterly.” The previews look gorgeous! Hardcover, 240pp. with plastic wrap. Bookplate inside front cover. Mild foxing on inside about 180 artworks depicted. $60.00 front and rear covers & flyleaves. Humorous hunting fiction depictSmith, Sharon B. Stonewall Jackson’s Little Sorrel. If there are two ing a rotund MFH well known to foxhunters, if only by artwork and horses from the “late unpleasantness” whose names are familiar to reference in other books. 288pp. #6412. $45.00 today’s readers, they will be General Lee’s gray, Traveller, and Surtees. Plain or Ringlets. Bradbury, Agnew & Co., London, nd.

Stonewall Jackson’s Little Sorrel. This is the story of the latter, a (1890?). Fair condition for its age, edgeworn with bumped corners. plain little ambling or pacing horse that Jackson acquired early in Spine leather w/gilt decoration, back and front cover outside, page the war at Harper’s Ferry. Ostensibly the horse was to be a gift for edges, and flyleaves marbleized, bookplate inside front cover. his beloved wife, but the gelding turned out to be just what Jackson Tinted and b&w illustrations by John Leech. While there is hunting needed himself as a mount: not too large, comfortable to ride, sen- in this, it is mostly a humorous “romance” that pokes fun at British sible and gentle, and a “good keeper.” He had others, but it is Little society and humanity in general. Hardcover, 406pp. #6413 $45.00 Sorrel who made the history books. The author has found several Surtees. Mr. Facey Romford’s Hounds. Bradbury, Agnew & Co., old photos of the horse that I have never seen before; all of the artis- London, nd (may be 1890 ed.). Fair condition for its age, edgeworn tic renditions from the time glorify him in the manner of a hand- with bumped corners, spine split and some foxing on flyleaves. some, fiery charger, even though all the eyewitnesses describe him Spine leather w/gilt decoration, back and front cover outside, page quite the opposite. (You can see him yourself, stuffed by a taxider- edges, and flyleaves marbleized, bookplate inside front cover. Typmist, in the VMI museum in Lexington, Virginia.) A great deal of ical Surtees novel with characters of exaggerated form and behavior, research has obviously gone into this biography, and I found it a with plenty of hunting scenes. Tinted and b&w illustrations by John most enjoyable and informative book. Hardcover, 259pp. $26.00 Leech and Hablot K. Browne. Hardcover, 391pp. #6414 $45.00 Thompson, Steve. How to Look Cool Whilst Learning Polo. In- Roebuck, Kenneth C. Where Spaniels Spring. Amwell Press, USA, struction books for the sport of polo are few and far between; this 1993. Ill. by David G. Roebuck. Like-new condition in slipcase— is the latest to come out. Don’t let the lighthearted cover fool you— appears unread. Autographed copy. Brown cloth cover with gilt decwhat’s inside looks like a very useful handbook for the beginning oration, printed on acid-free paper and custom bound by Haddon student. I have to say “looks like” because all I know about the sport Craftsmen. This is for anyone out there who enjoys bird-hunting is that a bunch of guys or gals on small, fast, quick-turning horses with dogs. As may be guessed by the title, Springer Spaniels feature chase a little white ball around (or a bigger one if playing arena prominently in the book, which is primarily but not exclusively polo) trying to get it between their respective goalposts. Besides the about dogs the author has known and their hunts afield. Not infreexcellent visuals in the book, I appreciate the efforts of the author quently, a rabbit or hare may end up as part of the day’s take! Hardto prevent misuse of the horses by jerking them around vigorously. cover, 173pp. #6328 $59.00 Softcover, 218pp. $45.00 While on the subject of dogs, I have a single copy of a new book Two books that have done well for us, How to Tie a Tie and How that I thought might be interesting: to Tie a Scarf, have been joined by two more useful books by the same company (Potter Style): How to Pack and How to Accessorize. Howell, Philip. At Home and Astray/The Domestic Dog in VictoSome people have been trained already in how best to pack a suit- rian Britain. University of Virginia, Charlottesville and London, case to take advantage of every crevice without causing wrinkles; 2015. The cover of this book reminds me of the chapter in Lassie many of us (myself included) just kind of cram stuff in as best we Come-Home in which Lassie is taken in as a stray by the local concan. And some have a natural affinity for putting outfits together, stabulary as she attempts to make her way home from Scotland. Bepossessing an artistic elegance that would make them excellent win- fore she can be executed, however, she manages to break free and dow designers. And some of us don’t! These little handbooks can escape out an open window. The book jacket’s illustration by an unhelp you should you lack either of these skills, with advice that is named artist is entitled “Waiting for the Verdict—Scene at a Glasto the point and “correct.” (For instance: tiaras should be worn only gow Police Station during a Campaign against Stray Dogs.” The by royalty (unless you’re going to a costume party) for formal dog the policeman holds at the desk even looks like a collie—a borevening events. And certain faces look better with certain styles of der collie or cross, with a line of assorted mutts waiting their turn glasses. The packing book naturally includes packing list sugges- at the door. Dogs faced a hard life then, especially if stray, but even tions for different occasions (wedding, business, beach vacation, pampered pets were at risk: dog thievery for ransom was a common long trip), checklists, and ways of folding to reduce wrinkles; it even crime, and the victims might or might not get their pet back after includes tips for easing air travel difficulties such as the security paying the demanded amount. In the days before vaccinations, the threat of rabies was always taken seriously and probably was behind line. Hardcover, $14.00 each. the killing of many strays. Hardcover, 252pp. $39.50

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

MARYLAND RACES Douglas Lees Photos

108th My Lady’s Manor, Monkton, Maryland April 14, 2018 At the 10th fence, Zanclus (Darren Nagle, up) – 1st.

122st Maryland Hunt Cup · Glyndon, Maryland April 28, 2018

116th Grand National Steeplechase Butler, Maryland, April 21, 2018 At the 5th fence, Senior Senator (Eric Poretz, up) – 1st.

At the 13th fence, (l-r) Drift Society (Hadden Frost, up) – 3rd; Senior Senator (Eric Poretz, up) – 1st.