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June 2012 Middleburg Life
Horsing Around By Lauren R. Giannini For Middleburg Life Welcome to summer: this year’s solstice takes place on June 20, the day when the sun is farthest north. Many have been busy with horses and hounds, the part of the rural lifestyle we all embrace.
Racing
At the 87th anniversary of the Virginia Gold Cup races on the first Saturday in May at Great Meadow, racing fans saw Joseph Delozier III trained Lake Placid, piloted by Ross Geraghty, win for owner Irv Naylor in the $25,000 Washington Fine Properties/Armfield, Miller & Ripley in the Starter Allowance Hurdle. Joey Elliott rode Incomplete, owned by Robert Kinsley and trained by Ann Stewart, to victory in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup. Exciting racing news of the day was Angel, a Jack Russell owned by Carole Stadfield, winner of the Gold Cup Terrier races, sponsored by the Virginia Lottery
Young Enthusiasts
Congratulations to Old Dominion Hounds, the only Virginia hunt to make the top six, for a third-place finish at the sixth edition of the Live Oak Hounds United States Pony Club Foxhunting Challenge Award. A total of $10,000 was distributed among the top six Pony Clubs who regularly take the greatest number of active USPC members out hunting. The Foxhunting Challenge encourages pony club members to try foxhunting and rewards pony clubbers, who hunt on a regular basis, for acting as mentors to the less-experienced. The competitive field of 127 pony club members logged more than 1,000 days in the field enjoying the thrill of the chase.
Hounds Galore
The 65th annual Virginia Hound Show at Morven Park hosted 800 hounds from 41 hunts at the end of May. Part of the weekend included the very popular Horn Blowing
contest won by Martyn Blackmore, huntsman for Loudoun West, who said that this is the first time in eight years that he won. About his line of work, Blackmore said: “Being a huntsman is not a job – it’s a way of life.”
Junior Handlers
The two Junior Handlers classes (each with more than 30 entries) took place in the Penn-Marydel ring. The two judges Kay Blassic, ex-MFH Casanova Hunt, and Kathleen O’Keefe, an avid foxhunter with Casanova, admitted that they were hard put to fulfill their duties because the competition was that good. “Locals” dominated in both age brackets, taking eight out of the top ten ribbons. Piedmont Foxhounds’ Allie MacManamy, 10, showing “Piedmont,” won the 10 and under class. Allie placed third in this class last year, so you know she put in some time practicing. Piedmont’s Amelia Gray Allen pinned second, Loudoun West’s Heather Feconda was third, with Huntley Dillon earning fourth for Piedmont. In the competition for ages 11 and
over, Warrenton Hunt’s Rachel Paradise, 12, showed “Othel” to first place. Loudoun West’s Ellie Gable took home fifth place.
Polo
Enthusiasts of this ancient game kicked off Twilight Polo at Great Meadow with more than 2,000 spectators. The event included a half time fashion show, with designs from Jordache, recently licensed by the U.S. Polo Association for official attire, and Middleburg’s own Wendy Pepper. Local fashionistas who modeled included artist Mikel Diaz; Manuel Simpson, creative director for Lou Lou’s and Crème de la Crème; Charlie Carroll, owner of the Fox’s Den, and hunter and jumper rider Rusty Schifflett. Mark your calendars for June 16. That’s when guests will gather at Great Meadow’s grass field for the sixth annual Van Metre Polo Cup to benefit Capitol Caring. The international line-up of players includes celebrities John Walsh from America’s Most Wanted, Nacho Figueras from Black Watch/ Ralph Lauren Polo, and Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the world famous Italian designer
Washington Fine Properties Dana Landry, Marc Schappell, Thomas Anderson, William Moody, jockey Ross Geraghty, trainer Joseph W. Delozier III at Great Meadow.