By Betsy Burke Parker

As far as an investment strategy, American steeplechasing's unique young rider training experience to Ireland gets a gold star rating.

Virginia Korrell with Richard Valentine at Radnor (Photo by Tod Marks)From the first International Developing Rider trip in 2014 to today’s group (which, at press time, were just returning from Ireland), the unique program continues to pay huge dividends to the sport.

Co-founder Sam Slater says the infusion of knowledge gathered by young riders exploring Irish racing, steeplechasing, bloodstock and culture benefits the domestic product in myriad ways. Executive director of the sponsoring Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, Alissa Norman agrees, explaining that the trickle-down process could takes years, decades even.

But it’ll be worth it.

“The ultimate goal of this trip is to help grow the sport. We're delighted to retain a vast majority of our participants as owners, supporters and general steeplechase enthusiasts,” Norman says. “For our sport – any sport, to be successful, we need more up-and-coming owners, officials, even fans.”

The past performance lines tell the tale: most of steeplechasing's owners, trainers, officials and sport executives of the future – even turf writers – begin their development as junior and amateur riders.

 

FORMER, and all-time, leading NSA owners George Strawbridge (Augustin Stables) and Irv Naylor had standout careers as amateur-owner-riders.

Current NSA leading owner Mark McMillan (Leipers Fork Steeplechasers) rode on the old Midwest circuit.

Leading trainer Leslie Young (then Falini) started in pony racing.

Turf writer Sean Clancy started on the junior race circuit, went on to win an NSA title (1998) before going on to win last year’s Eclipse Award news feature.

“The hope is that once these young folks get a taste of racing in Ireland, they bring a sliver of that knowledge and enthusiasm back to the States and use it to support our sport,” Norman says.

Here are some program participants over thepast decade.

Jacob Crotts

When he did the Ireland exchange 10 years ago, Crotts had already determined that a jockey career was unlikely and was already considering vet school. 

He is at Piedmont Equine Clinic in Marshall, Va., where the-now-Dr. Crotts has completed a one-year internship and recently signed a one-year fellowship.),

Erin Swope

Now 25, the Westminster, Md. native earned a bachelors in business administration and finance from Towson. Her last semester, Swope did an internship with the Maryland Horse Foundation. MHF operates in the same office as the Maryland Horse Breeders Association.

Following her internship, she signed on as MHBA bookkeeper.

“Working at the MHBA was also nice because they allowed me to continue galloping, so I would get up and head into Pimlico every morning before coming to the office.”

Juliette Chalmers

I did one year and one month of college right after the Ireland trip, (but) in January, 2016 I started galloping at Turfway Park.

I made my way to Churchill where I did the Kentucky-Florida circuit for a few years – worked for D. Wayne Lukas, Rusty Arnold, Mark Hennig. In 2020, during Covid, I moved back to Maryland and ended up with Niall Saville in Fair hill for about a year before settling in New York at Belmont Park in spring, 2021 where I’ve stayed. With stints in Saratoga for the meet.

I’ve worked for Bill Mott, David Duggan and Anthony Dutrow.

I’m currently in Saratoga working for Barclay Tagg.

Brittany Scampton

Rode a few NSA races in the seasons after her Irish adventure, but since 2018 she’s ridden on the flat. She’s got 49 winners of almost $1.19 million based in the mid-Atlantic region.

Emme Fullilove

Rode the NSA and point-to-point circuits through last spring; just returned from a year in New Zealand to work for Jack Fisher.

John Brophy

Rode in point-to-point and NSA races through 2021, including four runnings of the junior Maryland Hunt Cup.

Megan Harrigan

Rode in point-to-point races through the 2015 season. Assists with the Green Spring Valley Point to Point.

Alex Fulton

Rode point-to-points and NSA races through the 2018 season. Following his Ireland experience he returned to work for trainer Pat Doyle a few months.

Helps with point-to-point and NSA meet management, and operates Fulton Excavating and Fulton Farm to Table in Maryland’s hunt country. Steeplechase owner - his REASSURED trained with Mark Beecher in 2023.

David Pawlak

Rode point-to-points on the flat through the 2019 season.

Isabelle Bosley

Isabelle rode on the flat and over timber at point to points in 2016. Selected for the 2022 USEF Eventing Emerging Athlete Program. Trained and worked with eventer Lillian Heard from 2017 - 2024.

Joined Olympic three-day eventer Phillip Dutton’s Equestrian team last month. Bosley told Dutton’s social media team that working for the multiple gold medalist has been “fun to see a different program and how things are run. I’ve been really enjoying riding with everyone here and just getting a different perspective.

Skylar McKenna

Won a half-dozen regional championships riding 2014-2022. Today, she’s assistant trainer for Jimmy Toner.

Virginia Korrell

Works for retired jockey-turned-trainer Tom Garner. She’s been super active on the NSA and point-to-point circuits with nine wins – so far, this season. She spent the winter of 2022-23 riding for trainer Andrew Slattery in Ireland.

Korrell's most recent win was for trainer Richard Valentine at Radnor in May.

Chloe Hannum

Rode point-to-point and sanctioned races through 2023, and is currently studying at Virginia Tech and applying to vet school. She rides out for her parents (Emily and Jeb Hannum) and also fox hunts. She is spending this week at Saratoga shadowing track veterinarians.

Elizabeth Scully

Won her first NSA jump race a few months after returning from her Ireland adventure, and has won 29 sanctioned and point-to-point races over the past four seasons. Following her Ireland experience she returned to work for trainer Willie Mullins for a few months in the winter. She rode on the Fegentri circuit in 2022 and 2023 and secured a win at Leopardstown.

The Loyola grad also works as a fan engagement representative for the Baltimore Orioles and also in marketing for the Maryland Steeplechase Association.

Scully's most recent ride was a second place finish on PURE COURAGE at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in May.

Thomas Young

Worked a season for Gordon Elliott in Ireland after the sponsored training trip but is back in the U.S. now working for Leslie and Paddy Young.

Eliza Edwards

Rode a half-dozen point-to-points through this spring. Spent some time galloping in the UK for top flat trainer Ralph Beckett last fall (an amazing experience, says dad Toby Edwards).

Worked this spring for the Carolina Cup Racing Association in the office, helping as horseman and officials liaison and all social media creation/production.

Working for Leslie and Paddy Young this summer but will return to Camden in the middle of August to take up her mantle in the same categories for the return of the Colonial Cup races on November 17th.

Taylor Kingsley

Currently tops the international amateur jockey club – Fengentri – leaderboard. Read more about Kingsley HERE and HERE. Spent some time working for John "Shark" Hanlon in Ireland.

Kingsley's TGSF Developing Rider Trip came full circle in July - she rode Pierre Manigault's Bonnebosq in a race at Galway and the 2024 trip participants were there to cheer her on!

Scarlet Davies

Rode on the flat and over timber this spring season.

Davies rode BRAVE DEACON in the Open Timber at the Potomac Hunt Point to Point in May.

Sophie O'Brien

Rode a race on the flat this spring; works for two NSA trainers.

Camille deStanley

Rode the Virginia point-to-point circuit this spring; works for trainer Diana McClure when not in school.