Racing

Joe Davies had three winners at Willowdale, two for Armata

Details: May 12, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

KENNETT SQUARE, Pa.--Joe Davies saddled three winners at Willowdale Steeplechase on Saturday, May 9, including two, The Ballybreen Fox (Ire) and De Nordener (Ire), for Armata Stables.

Bogeys Imafe riddden by Teddy Davies Jim Graham Bogey's Image, ridden by Teddy Davies, leads Huyana early in the Timber Stakes (Photo by Jim Graham)Davies also saddled Bogey's Image to win the featured Willowdale Timber Stakes.

"It was a good day," said Davies.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Ben Griswold, primary owner of Armata Stables.

Armata Stables' The Ballybreen Fox, ridden by Teddy Davies, won the $15,000, 3 mile Maiden Timber by 3 lengths over Doesn't Sting (GB), trained by Jack Fisher, and Shining Marble (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

Armata's De Nordener,, ridden by Charlie Marshall, won the $15,000 Foxhunter's Chase Apprentice Rider Timber by 4 3/4 lengths over Old Style Humor (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher, and The Kid Rocks, trained by Meriweather Morris.

"We've had The Ballybreen Fox a couple of years," said Griswold. "He came with that name, straight from County Tipperary.'

"We've had De Nordener a couple of years, too," said Griswold. "Charlie Marshall, who rode Mr. Fine Threads to win the Maryland Hunt Cup, found both of them for us."

"They probably won't run again this spring," said Griswold. "As for where they'll go next, the one race we all want to win is the Maryland Hunt Cup. That's a huge goal. The odds of winning that race are so small."

Armata Stables has won the Maryland Hunt Cup four times, including most recently this spring,

"Armata Stables has been in business for 32 years, running in it every year,, so that's how often you have tor run in it to win," said Griswold.

Kathy Neilson won two at Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point

Details: April 6, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

WEST CHESTER, Pa.--Kathy Neilson saddled two winners and two second placed horses at Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point Races on Easter Sunday, April 5.

Teddy Davies left Bunny Meister and Skylar McKenna at a previous race meet (File photo by Joe Davies) The 83rd running of the races was Carl J. (Bunny) Meister's final meet as chairman after serving for 60 years, and Jim Jordan and Nancy Swayne spoke of his long service before the running of the timber races.

"It''s bittersweet to be honoring Bunny today," said Jordan. "Bunny, thank you for all you've done for Brandywine."

"I've had a wonderful life, and a lot of it is because of the people here," said Meister, 91. "My son Jay will be taking over, and nothing will change. I'll stay on the board."

Unfortunately, just as the pony races began, the rain began, but despite it's being Easter and raining, a number of people still came and set up tents to watch the races.

"We had the best races we've had in a long time," said Meister. "And we had all the costs covered before the races, so we didn't make out too badly."

Neilson saddled Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado (Ire), ridden by Teddy Davies, to win the three mile Henry C. Baldwin Open Timber by about 2 lengths over Court Dunn, trained by Leslie Young, and Fit for a King, trained by Todd McKenna.

"Teddy won on him at Cheshire, so we wanted to run him at Brandywine to have another go and another school for the partnership of Teddy and the horse," said Neilson. "The ground was perfect, and I was happy with the way we finished the race. Teddy won with just hands and heels. Withoutmoreado will go to the Grand National next."