Racing

The Maryland Hunt Cup to be an exciting competition

Details: April 22, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

GLYNDON, Md.--This year's Maryland Hunt Cup may be one of the most exciting and hard fought ever, with a big field 10 entered for the 4 p.m. race on Saturday, April 25.

Road To Oz and Withoutmoreado Road To Oz, left, and Withoutmoreado in last year's finishThe field included two past winners, Withoutmoreado, who won in 2023 and finished second last year after losing his rider in 2024, and Road to Oz, who won last year over Withoutmreado in his first attempt at the daunting 4 mile race that includes 22 stiff timber fences ranging from 4' to 4'10 in height.

Getting around the course is a challenge in itself.

With a very close finish between Road to Oz and Wiithoutmoreado last year, it could be just a rematch, but there are a number of other strong contenders to challenge them.

Also entered are two horses besides Withoutmoreado that have finished second; Shootist, who finished second in 2024 and also finished fourth in 2023; and Royal Ruse, who was second in 2023 and lost his rider in 2024.

Of the remaining entries, Monbeg Stream (Ire) finished fourth last year, Mr. Fine Threads and Great Road, both of which fell last year, and Storm Team, Animal Kingston and The Butler Yates (Ire), who are the three first time entrants.

All the horses must be ridden by amateurs.

Cyril Murphy had two winners at Loudoun

Details: April 21, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

LEESBURG, Va.--Cyril Murphy saddled two winners in the recognized races at the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point races on Sunday, April 19.

Ranger 1 Thunderbolt Ranger ThunderboltIrv Naylor's Ranger Thunderbolt, ridden by Harry Beswick, won the $20,000, 2 1/4 mile Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 30 1/2 lengths over Army Times, trained by Neil Morris, and Carnane (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"We've had Ranger Thunderbolt for quite some time, since November 2023," said Murphy. "Sunday was the first time he got to the races. He had all kinds of injuries. He won quite nicely. Hopefully, he will win again."

Belfast Banter (Ire), owned by Naylor and ridden by Elizabeth Scully,, won the $15,000 Apprentice Rider hurdle by a head over Walk the Warrior (Ire), trained by Leslie Yong, and Clifton Down (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher.

"That was great for Belfast Banter and for Elizabeth," said Murphy. "Elizaabeth comesin to rideout for us twice a week and has been forquite a while."

"Belfast Banter won the A.P. Smithwicjk a couple of years ago and then had a tendon injury that kept him away for two years. Last year he had to run in stakes, and his old legs couldn't keep up. He's 11 and not that competitive now. Now, because he didn't win a stake last year, he can run in apprentice races, and luckliy the apprentice races give him a chance. The alternative would have been retirement. He enjoys training and still has a desire tor race.=, so the apprentice races are great."

Mr. Fine Threads won the Grand National for Joe and Teddy Davies

Details: April 20, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

BUTLER, Md.--Joe Davies saddled Mr. Fine Threads to win the $50,000, 3 1/4 mile Grand National Timber Stakes on Saturday, April 18 after barely avoiding a catastrophic collision that took out three horses.

Mr. Fine Threads Grand National Mr. Fine Threads after splitting loose horses (Photo by Robert Keller)Mr. Fine Threads, owned by Ben Griswold's Armata Stables and ridden by Teddy Davies, won by 3 lengths over Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna, and Master Seville, trained by Mark Beecher, with Royal Ruse, trained by Sana Meilson, the only other finisher, fourth.

Approaching the 11th fence while Uco Valley (Ire) was leading, Justin Batoff on Storm Team wandered way off to the right outside of a flag.

Despite having already been off course, Batoff dragged his horse sharp left and collided violently with Uco Valley, throwing both riders to the ground.

Riderless, Uco Valley and Storm Team veered sharp right to avoid jumping the fence just as Davies was approaching.

"Teddy said that he had a split second to decide whether to try to pull up or to go between Uco Valley and Storm Team," said Joe Davies.

Teddy chose to try to go through, and he just squeaked through by a hair's length.

Jack Fisher won both stakes at the Middleburg Spring Races

Details: April 20, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG,Va.--Jack Fisher saddled his mother's Keys Discount to win the Timber Stakes and then in the next race saddled Riverdee Stable's Zabeel Champion (GB) to win the G2 Temple Gwathmey Stakes.

Zabeel Champion left Ziggle Pops early in Grawthmey 31 Zabeel Champion, left, and Ziggle Pops early in the Temple Gwathmey (Photo by Tod Marks)Zabeel Champion, ridden by Freddie Procter, won the G2, $100,000, 2 1/2 mile Temple Gwathmy by 1 length over Hidden Path, trained by Ricky Hendriks, and Ziggle Pops, also trained by Fisher.

"The plan is to go to Iroguois," said Fisher. "We expected this to just be a school."

Fisher said this win moved Zabeel Champion up in his estimation.

"Zabeel Champion was owned by some English owners that sent him over here in 2023, said Sean Clancy, manager of the Riverdee syndicate. "I manged him for them, and he won the Appleton Hurdle Stakes and the Noel Laing Stakes. Riverdee bought him in 2024. He was a really good third at Iroquois to Snap Decision that year."

"He doesn't run in the summer. Last year in the Iroquois he was running well and was right in contention when he fell over the last fence. We couldn't figure out why he fell, he jumped the fence fine, just fell after it. We were getting him ready to run in the fall, but he had a minor issue, so we stopped with him."

Grahamzilla won at Blue Ridge for Ricky Hendriks

Details: April 15, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

BERRYVILLE, Va.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Grahamzilla to win the $20,000, 2 mile Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point on Saturday, April11.

Ricky HendriksLeamington Racing's Grahamzilla, ridden by Graham Watters, won by 1 1/2 lengths over Coal Boss, trained by Kate Dalton, and Lord Donegal, trained by Neil Morris.

"We got Grahamzilla about three or four months before the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup, and he won the flat race there," said Hendriks. "Peter McCausland''s Leamington Racing is a new owner for me."

:Grahamzilla was second at Aiken," said Hendriks. "Conor Tierney rode him there, but he's hurt, so Graham filled in for us."

"He was a big, gangling horse when we got him," said Hendriks. "Jessica McCabe worked with him. She did a lot of dressage with him. It was exciting to see him come together. Maybe he'll go to Willowdale next."

Kate Dalton saddled Hard Par, owned by MBH Stable, Soda Rock Stable and Dalton and ridden by Bernie Dalton, won the second division of the $20,000 Maiden Starter/Maiden Claiming Hurdle by 2 1/4 lengths over El Bello, trained by David Bourke, and Hello Newman, trained by Barry Foley.

Hard Par went right to the front and led all the way, running comfortably, and won easily, an impressive first race.

Maryland Moon won at Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point

Details: April 14, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

EARLEVILLE, Md.--Willy Dowling saddled Maryland Moon to win the $2,500, 3 mile Open Timber at the Mount Harmon-Wicomico Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 12.

Mount Harmon generic Before the races at Mount Harmon Frank A. Bonsal Jr.'s Maryland Moon, ridden by Gerard Galligan, won comfortably over Fit for a King and Noah And The Ark (Ire), both trained by Todd McKenna.

"I've had him for about two years," said Dowling.

Maryland Moon ran on the flat, owned and trained by Lacey Gaudet, for three years.

Bonsal acquired Maryland Moon in 2024, and, with Dowling as trainer, switched him to hurdles.

"I ran him over hurdles, but he was never quite fast enough," said Dowling. "Frank Bonsal is a big timber owner, so we switched him to timber this year,"

"He ran at Green Spring, but he wheeled at the start, so he was never in it," said Dowling.

"Gerard gave him a great ride at Mount Harmon," said Dowling. " He won eased down, the jockey never touched him."

He's by Malibu Moon," Dowling said. "The Malibu Moons are tough, but they want to run. He'll go to Fair Hill or Wilowdale in the timber race."

Uco Valley won the My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes

Details: April 14, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Uco Valley (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, won the $50,000, 3 mile My Lady's Manor Timber Stakes on Saturday, April 11.

Uco Valley takes jumpy earl in MLM Uco Valley takes a jump early in the My Lady's Manor (Photo by Tod Marks)Uco Valley, owned by Potter Group USA, Gaskells Waste Service and Ashwell Stales and ridden by Darren Andrews, won by 6 1/4 lengths over Animal Kingston, trained by Neil Morris, and The Butler Yates (Ire), also trained by Young.

Bogey's Image, trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Teddy Davies, actually won the race, but after a very long Steward's inquiry, Bogey's Image was disqualified for carrying the incorrect weight.

Apparently, when Davies weighed out after the race, he was carrying a pound less than the 165 assigned weight.

"Nobody wants to win that way," said Young. "I feel badly for Teddy, Joe and the owners. But I don't make the rules."

"Uco Valley jumped great," said Young. "I had Darren Andrews over from England, and Uco Valley relaxed incredibly well for him. That's funny, because he's usually quite keen. He was so relaxed he was a bit far back in the field. I would have felt better if he was up where my other horse, The Butler Yates, was. He had too much to do at the end to catch Bogey's Image."

Mark Beecher won two at Elkridge-Harford

Details: April 8, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Mark Beecher won two timber races, including the $10,000 Open Timber, at Elkridge-Harford Hunt Point-to-Point races on Saturday, April 4.

Mark Beecher in coat Mark Beecher Beecher saddled South Branch Equine's Master Seville, ridden by Dan Nevin, to win the $10,000, 3 mile Open Timber by 5 lengths over Mr. Fine Threads, trained by Joe Davis, and City of Grace, trained by Casey Pinkard.

"Master Seville is just starting his season," said Beecher. "He won the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup last fall. The $10,000 purse madeit worthwhile to come here. He'll run in the Grand National next."

Beecher also saddled Samui Sunset, owned by The Hundred Acre Field and ridden by Nevin, to win the Novice Timber by 5 lengrhs over Jersey Pass (Ire), trained by Davies, and Northern Thunder, trained by Pinkard.

"Saamui Sunset won the novice at Warrenton, too," said Beecher. "This was his second start over timber. He's by the same sire as Master Seville. He's 9 now, and we've had him since he was 6. He won over hurdles and then was injured. Now he's running over timber. Maybe he'll go in the maiden at the Grand National or else he'll go in another point-to-point."

Davies saddled Goolsby, Donovan and Coloun's Bogey's Image, ridden by Teddy Davies, to win the Heavyweight Timber by 7 lengths over Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson, and Brave Deacon, trained by Davies.

Garner, Hendriks and Neilson win at Old Dominion

Details: April 7, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

WASHINGTON, Va.--Tom Garner, Ricky Hendriks and Kathy Neilson won the three recognized races at Old Dominion Hounds Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 4.

Ricky HendriksHendriks saddled Upland Flats Racing's Hidden Path, ridden by Elizabeth Scully, to win the $15,000. 2 1/4 mile Apprentice Rider Hurdle by 11/4 lengths in 3:52, the fastest time of the day.

Walk the Warrior (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, was second, with Clifton Down (Ire), trained by Mark Beecher, third.

"We've had Hidden Path for a couple of years," said Hendriks. "We ran him on the flat at Cheshire, and he won there, too. Elizabeth rode him both times."

"He cam from way out of it to win at Old Dominion," said Hendriks. "I had told Elizabeth to stay close, but he got left at the start. It turned out to be a good thing because the other three went very fast in the beginning."

Hidden Path moved up gradually, moving into second over the last fence and kicking clear in the stretch to win.

"He''s nominated for the Temple Gwathmy, but we're not sure he'll run there," said Hendriks.

Neilson saddled Morning March, owned by Morning March Partners and ridden by Freddie Procter, to win the $30,000 Maiden Hurdle, division 1, by 6 lengths over Middle Ages (Ire), trained by Tom Garner, and Big George, trained by Jack Fisher.

"Morning March is a good looking, strong horse," said Neilson. "We took him hunting, and Skylar rode him in the Team Chase. His first time out he was third at Aiken, Freddie schooled him and did a great job."

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."

Swore, trained by Keri Brion, won the $75.000 Carolina Cup

Details: March 31, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

CAMDEN, S.C,--Swore, trained by Keri Brion, won the $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Carolina Cup Novice Hurdle Stakes over a field of seven at the Carolina Cup Races on Saturday,March 28.

Swore leads Chortal over last in Carolina Cup 1 Swore leads Chortal over the last in the Carolina Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)Owned by Stone Farm and Upland Flats Racing and ridden by Stephen Mulqueen, Swore won by 6 3/4 lengths over Chortal (GB) and Coutach (GB). both trained by Ricky Hendriks.

Swore now has four wins and a second, including two stakes wins, from six starts over fences.

"Swore was trained by Graham Motion," said Brion. "He was a nice horse but just a click below stakes quality. I'd been watching him for a while. Stone Farm bred him and still owned half of him. I said to Patrick Lewis that I thought he'd make a good steeplechase horse, and Patrick bought the other half."

"He's been in my barn since November of 2024," she said. "We taught him to jump and then turned him out for the winter. I'd noticed he sounded like he was making a noise, and in the spring it was worse, so he had a complete wind operation. That's why he didn't run until July, but that wind operation really helped him."

Later last year, Swore won the G1 Lonesome Glory Handicap and the G1 American Grand National Hurdle Stakes.

Leslie Young won two at Cheshire Races

Details: March 30, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Leslie Young had two winners, including Uco Valley (Ire) in the featured $20,000 Cheshire Bowl, at the Cheshire Races on Sunday, March 29.

Kathy Neilson 1 Kathy Neilson, Race Chairman (File photo)The races drew a good crowd to enjoy top notch racing on a sunny spring day.

Uco Valley, owed by Potter Group USA, Gaskells Waste Services and Ashwell Stable and ridden by Freddie Procter, won the 3 mile Cheshire Bowl Open Timber by 12 1/2 lengths over Marcel Magic, trained by Kathy Neilson, and Anzio, trained by Sandra Webb.

"He's a lovely horse, very athletic and a lovely mover," said Young. "He had some really bad luck last year. I'm glad he won, he deserved it."

Uco Valley finished second in both the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup and the International Gold Cup in October but was disqualified in two other races.

"He went wide around a beacon in Nashville, and they disqualified him," said Young. "He was running well at the Gold Cup in the spring but went off course and was disqualified."

"He'll go to My Lady's Manor next," said Young.

Leipers Fork Steeplechase's For the Parish (Ire), ridden by Procter, won the $15,000 Maiden Timber by 32 lengths over The Red Fox, trained by Todd McKenna, and The Ballybreen Fox (Ire), trained by Joe Davies.

"For the Parish is a good jumper, and he won some nice hurdle races for us," said Young. "We wanted to convert a horse to timber for his owners. He'll run over timber at Nashville, and maybe he'll run once in between."

"The ground was beautiful at Cheshire," said Young. "They put on a good show."

Father and son Todd and James Wyatt had a winner at Piedmont

Details: March 24, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

UPPERVILLE, Va.--The father and son combo of Todd as trainer and James as jockey joined forces to win a timber race at the Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 21.

Piedmont racesDr. Dr. Sarah M. Jay's Be Counted won the second division of the Foxhunter Timber by 5 lengths over Shining Marble (Ire), trained by Kathy Neilson.

"We've had Be Counted for quite a long time," said Todd. "He's owned by Sarah Jay, whose father, who has passed, was a long time client of ours."

"James won a bunch of races on Be Counted last year," said Todd. "He was also on the winning team at the Foxhall Farm Team Chase a couple of weeks ago. We'll run him back at Elkridge Harford, and James will ride him."

Of having the father and son combination, Todd said "We''re lucky to have that."

Neil Morris saddled Vincent Bonanni's Bet the Pot, ridden by Eric Poretz, to win the first division of that timber race by a neck over Paddy's Crown, trained by Emily Hannum.

Arch Kingsley and Kathy Neilson won at Aiken Steeplechase

Details: March 23, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

AIKEN, S.C.--Arch Kingsley saddled I'm A Rocket Man (Ire) to win the $35,000 Maiden Hurdle and Kathy Neilson with L'Avvocato (Fr) won the $25,000 Ratings Handicap Hurdle at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase on Saturday, March 21.

Im A Rocket Man Tod Marks I'm A Rocket Man over a fence halfway through the race (Photo by Tod Marks)This was I'm a Rocket Man's first race in this country after running five times in Ireland with two third place finishes.

"We brought him over last fall," said Kingsley. "We were going to run him last fall, but he got little hurt when he got here. That gave him a little extra time to get acclimated."

Owned by Hudson River Farms and ridden by Freddie Procter, I'm A Rocket Man won the 2 1/8 mile race by 1 3/4 lengths over Coal Boss, trained by Kate Dalton, and Rotterdam, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"He's always trained like a nice horse," said Kingsley. "We were really pleased with him. There's a couple of non-winners of two were looking at for him, at Middleburg and at Great Meadows."

Kingsley also had Bee Well run third in the $40,000 Ratings Handicap.

"That was a satisfying performance," said Kinsley. "He was stepping up in class. We think a lot of him."

Elkridge Harford Hunt won the Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase

Details: March 17, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

WEST GROVE, Pa.--Elkridge Harford Hunt placed first, second and third in the Foxhall Farm Cup Team Chase for the fastest time, while Green Spring Valley Hounds team won the Full Cry for the team chase average time.

Foxhall Farm Cup Foxhall Farm Team CupCharlie Fenwick rode on the winning team in the Full Cry Chase and owns a horse that was on the winning team in the Foxhall Farm Cup Chase.

The Foxhall Farm Team Cup is competed over about three miles of fair hunting country, and Elkride Harford, Green Spring Valley annd Cheshire Foxounds alternate hosting the Chase.

The team of James Wyatt on Fenwick's Neutral, Dan Nevin on Riverdee Stable's Include It and Freddie Procter on Sarah Jay's Be Counted won in 12:03 over the Elkridge Harford team of Teddy Davies, Sophie O'Brien and Chelsea Secor that finished in 12:08.

There were six team in the fastest time division, and the Elkridge Harford team of Manuel Aguilera, Gretchen Eisenberg and Pauly Aguilera was third, finishing in 12:28.

Leslie Young had two winners and four placed at Warrenton

Details: March 16, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

WARRENTON, Va.--Leslie Young had two winners, two seconds and two thirds at the Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 14.

Leslie YoungAfter a long, hard winter, trainers were obviously anxious to give their horses an outing as the maiden, novice and flat races all had big entries.

Leipers Fork Steeplechasers' Walk the Warrior, trained by Young and ridden by Ben Mulligan, won the Amateur/Novice Hurdle by 20 lengths over Articuno, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"Walk the Walk was a very competent hurdle horse," said Young. "We ran him last year in steeplethons, and that didn't work, so now he's back to hurdles."

"All the horses had a nice prep," said Young. "We use the point-to-points as a work. The jockeys said the going was good. I was really happy without first outing. It;s a long season."

Young's horses ran first, second and third in the Open Flat that had 11 entries.

Sharon Sheppard's Rucker Road (Ire), ridden by Sarah Cundith, won by 4 lengths over Foxy Walk (Ire) and Rampoldi Plan.

"Rucker Road is headed to Aiken for the Ratings Handicap," said Young. "Foxy Walk and Rampoldi both had good runs."

Ricky Hendriks also had a good day as a trainer, with one winner, three seconds and a third.

Learnington Racing's Chortal (GB), trained by Hendriks and ridden by Virginia Korrell, won the Novice Rider Flat by 5 lengths over two of Young's, Two Past Eight (GB) and Garrison Forest (Ire).