Fair Hill Races. Credit Richard Ewing
It’s springtime in Maryland and the Brandywine Valley, and the horses are jumping. The Maryland Timber Triple Crown occupies the final three weekends of April, and these three races north of Baltimore signify the true start of spring--much more so than the weather or the almanac—for many Marylanders.
In May the action moves north to the Brandywine Valley. Celebrate the biggest party of the spring at Winterthur, spend Mother’s Day with Willowdale, celebrate open space with the Radnor Hunt Races, and kick off your Memorial Day weekend at the Fair Hill Races.
It’s spring at the races – get out there and Go Jump Racing!
My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase Races
Saturday, April 13, Monkton, MD
Each year, My Lady’s Manor kicks off the storied Maryland Timber Triple Crown. The race began in 1902 as a sporting way of deciding who among the young men on the Manor had the fastest and best jumper. Officially sanctioned in 1909, My Lady’s Manor will have its 109th running this year. The meet offers three races, beginning with the My Lady’s Manor at three miles, the shortest of the Timber Triple Crown races but still a serious challenge to horse and amateur jockey.
Many changes have occurred over the years, but the attraction of the countryside remains as spring returns vibrant colors to its hills and valleys. As a long-ago newspaperman wrote, "Today you have fine horses and courageous riders fighting it out over a fair line of countryside, for all to watch and enjoy. How better to spend an afternoon of early spring?" In addition to the races, guests will enjoy live bluegrass music, food vendors and horse-themed merchandise tents and exhibits.
My Lady's Manor benefits charities supported by The Manor Foundation Inc. Admission is by parking passes; no additional admission ticket is required to attend the races. www.manorraces.com
The Grand National Steeplechase
Saturday, April 20, Butler, MD
It’s hard to keep a young rider down, and that’s been true for a long time. In 1898, a bunch of young-buck riders wanted to compete in the Maryland Hunt Cup, but age restrictions at the time kept them on the ground. So, they started their own race, the Grand National, in nearby hunting country that year.
Over the years, the Grand National has blossomed into the middle jewel of the Maryland Timber Triple Crown, and it annually attracts appreciative crowds on the next-to-last Saturday in April.
The Grand National offers plenty of challenges over its 3 1/2-mile distance and 18 fences. A Grand National victory is a prized accomplishment, and several of the competitors will show up the following week at the start of the Maryland Hunt Cup. Ask accomplished Hunt Cup competitors, and they will tell you that the best way to prepare a horse is with a run in the Grand National.
The Grand National celebrates its 117th running this year, and it continues to be one of the most highly anticipated days of the year for all timber-racing enthusiasts. In keeping with its country traditions, no on-site concessions are available, and picnicking is encouraged. www.grandnationalsteeplechase.com
The Maryland Hunt Cup
Saturday, April 27, Glyndon, MD
In 1894, members of the Elkridge Fox Hunting Club challenged their Green Spring Valley Hunt Club counterparts to a timber race, the first Maryland Hunt Cup. The race organizers wanted the race to be run over natural hunting country, to be ridden by amateurs, and to have no commercial activity. Initially the race was limited to members of those two hunt clubs, but soon it was opened up to members of any recognized hunt club and eventually to any qualified amateur rider.
In 1922, Worthington Valley became the permanent home of the four-mile, 22-fence race. Since then, the Hunt Cup has earned international renown. It remains a Maryland spring staple as generations of friends and family turn out for an afternoon of tailgating and picnicking at the racecourse. Hunt Cup traditions are honored. The afternoon has only one race, the Hunt Cup, and there are no sponsors, on-site vendors, or grandstands. The Maryland Hunt Cup remains special in its simplicity, which is part of what attracts a crowd of 15,000 spectators. www.marylandhuntcup.com
The Maryland Junior Hunt Cup
Sunday, April 28, Cockeysville, MD
Steeplechase racing continues to be a way of life for many residents of the Green Spring Valley and Elkridge-Harford foxhunting territories. In an effort to share the enthusiasm of racing over fences in these foxhunting communities, Joe Gillet Davies organized in 1974 the first Maryland Pony Hunt Cup, a cross-country timber steeplechase for ponies, at his parents’ farm in Monkton.
After the third renewal, the race was dormant until 2000, when Davies revived the race as a "Make a Wish" event for a 12-year-old California girl with cystic fibrosis. Currently, the event is managed by the Land Preservation Trust and Shawan Downs; proceeds from the day of racing serve to promote junior and amateur racing as well as land preservation through the Land Preservation Trust. The event that began in a farmer's field with a handful of young jockeys riding in one pony steeplechase, has grown into a full day of 11 or more races with more than 80 junior jockeys participating. www.shawandowns.com
Point to Point at Winterthur
Sunday May 5, Winterthur, DE
Run on the grounds of the Wintherthur Museum outside of Wilmington, DE, the Point to Point at Winterthur was created 41 years ago as a way to get more people to Winterthur, increase visitation and expand community awareness. Point to Point has bloomed into one of the most spectacular and anticipated annual spring events in the region. Raising over $250,000 a year, it is the Museum’s biggest fundraiser.
Experience the thrill of professional steeplechase races while picnicking and tailgating with family and friends. Marvel at the elegance of one of the nation’s largest processions of antique horse-drawn carriages and admire an impressive collection of historic automobiles. Visit the Winterthur Hunt area, where kids of all ages will enjoy stick horse races, pony rides, and canine-friendly activities. www.winterthur.org/exhibitions-events/events/point-to-point-steeplechase/
The Willowdale Steeplechase
Sunday May 12, Kennett Square, PA
The Willowdale Steeplechase features a world-class steeplechase course in a community known for its top jockeys, trainers and owners. The course features an uphill approach to the fences, which encourages less speed and more jumping. The unique water jump has a 12-foot span with slight drop in elevation, which makes it the most thrilling jump to watch on the course.
Watch from your tailgating spot or general admission - the bowl-shaped course offers a spectacular view from every location.
From the inaugural race on Saturday, May 22, 1993 until today, attendance, interest and support have become stronger and stronger. The Willowdale Steeplechase will continue to grow because of its commitment to combining the great tradition of steeplechasing with the ever-changing needs of the community. Since its founding in 1993, The Willowdale Steeplechase has donated over $1,000,000 to local charities. The current beneficiaries are Penn Vet New Bolton Center, Quest Therapeutic, and Stroud Water Research Center. www.willowdalesteeplechase.org
Radnor Hunt Races
Saturday May 18, Malvern, PA
Celebrate 89 years of horse racing on the Main Line. With everything from amazing tailgates, fancy hats and bow ties to the parade of antique carriages and thoroughbreds racing for the finish, Radnor Hunt Races is a day filled with elegance, excitement and fun. Race day is about steeplechase racing, it’s about fashion, and it’s about tradition! It’s about family and friends celebrating Spring and it’s about Racing for Open Space.
For the past 40 years the Brandywine Conservancy has been the sole beneficiary of the Radnor Hunt Races. With over $5 million raised, those funds have fueled the Conservancy's vital efforts to protect open space and water resources in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. To date more than 64,000 acres are permanently protected, including the Radnor Hunt racecourse itself and the surrounding lands. www.radnorhuntraces.org
Fair Hill Races
Saturday, May 25, Elkton, MDFair Hill Races celebrates its 85th anniversary with Baltimore-based investment firm Brown Advisory as its title sponsor. This annual steeplechase race meet on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend exudes a country-fair vibe, and it’s the largest single-day event in Cecil County. Approximately 15,000 tailgaters and race fans turn out each year to kick off the holiday weekend. This year, the festivities will include an anniversary celebration with four races on Friday, May 24.
William duPont Jr., an avid steeplechase competitor and supporter, founded Fair Hill in 1934 on the model of a British country race course. His vision was a fun day for the entire family, and Fair Hill continues the tradition today.
Following Fair Hill Races, the Maryland Stadium Authority will break ground on improvements for the turf course. When complete, the upgrades will feature an irrigated racing surface with wider turns. Fair Hill is excited to support this project, which will benefit the entire Maryland and tri-state equestrian community. www.fairhillraces.com