Racing

Tomgarrow wins at Blue Ridge Point-to-Point

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April 12, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

BERRYVILLE, Va.--Leslie Young saddled Leipers Fork Steeplechasers LLC's Tomgarrow, ridden by Gerard Galligsn, to win the 3 mile Open Timber race at the Blue Ridge Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 11 by 35 lengths over Mr. Haire, also trained by Young.

Tomgarrow and Leslie Young's son Rory before the Open Timber raceLast year's Timber Horse of the Year, Curve of Stones, was also entered in the race but was pulled up, skipping the last fence.

"Tomgarrow ran over hurdles, and then we converted him to timber last fall," said Yonng. "He won a timber race at Shawan point-to-point and then we ran him in Georgia in a recognized race, and he won there, too, so he's now eligible for a non-winners of two."

"Originally, we were just going in that race for a nice, easy gallop," said Young. "We just wanted to get a race into him before Middleburg. We were just going for a nice gallop around. Gersrd said he never pushed him Hopefully that puts him right for Middleburg. I put Mr Haire, a maiden, in it, just to give him a trip over timber."

Despite Young saying Tomgarrow was in just for an easy gallop, Tomgarrow finished in 6:48 4/5, just 13 seconds slower than the fastest timber race of the day, the Novice Timber, won by Lisa Nelms' Arkadag, trained by David Bourke and ridden by Galligan, who won by  1 3/4 lengths over a field of four.

Curve of Stones pulled up well, said Young, and presumably was just in the race to get a 3 mile gallop into him.

Galligan rode three winners on the day, also winning on Pathfinder Racing's Milton Road,, trained by Neil Morris, in the 1 1/8 mile Maiden Flat race over a field of six and on Morgan's Ford Farm's River Deep, trained by D.M. Smithwick , who won a flat race  by a neck over a field of five.

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Vintage Vinnie wins the Manor for trainer Joe Davies

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April 10, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Armata Stables' Vintage Vinnie (Ire), trained by Joe Davies and ridden by Chris Gracie, won the $30,000 My Lady's Manor 3 mile timber race on April 10 after leading all the way in a race that was marred by the fall on turns by two of the favorites.

Joe DaviesBut if you stayed home to watch the race via live stream, you might not have know that until the winner was in the winner's circle and the live stream flashed the results up on the screen.

There were live voices before and after the race, but no announcer during the race, and the first three-quarters of the race was seen only in glimpses through deep woods.

There had been no announcements of colors prior to the race, so unless you were lucky enough to know the red and gold silks of Armata Stables, you had no idea who was so far out in front.

You caught a glimpse of a horse slipping and falling on an early turn, but the camera was so far away there was no chance of spotting a number or seeing colors.

It turns out that it was Mystic Strike, a previous winner of the Manor, who fell on the turn after the seventh fence.

Then on the final turn, after the third to last fence, another horse drew even with Vintage Vinne, but again, the camera was too far away to tell who it was.

It turned out that it was Schoodic, a horse that had won five of his seven runs over timber, including the Gold Cup, but just as he got to Vintage Vinnie, he slipped and fell on the turn, leaving Vintage Vinnie to finish alone, with Bruton Street-US' Preseli Rock (Ire), trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Connor Hankin, a distanced second.

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Keri Brion wins for the second time in Ireland with The Mean Queen

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April 9, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

WEXFORD, Ireland--Keri Brion finished her stint of training in Ireland by saddling her second winner, Buttonwood Farms LLC's The Mean Queen, ridden by John O'Neill, who won the $12,000 Mares Maiden Hurdle at Wexford on April 9.

It was an historic win for Brion, as she is the first American trainer training in Ireland to saddle a horse to win over fences.

Let to right, Keri Brion, The Mean Queen and far right, John O'Neill, after winning at WexfordRunning in the middle of the pack on the first circuit of the 2 1/2 mile race, The Mean Queen moved up gradually to be third going into the final circuit. going to the lead 3 furlongs from the wire and going on to win comfortable by about 6 lengths.

"I expected her to do well," said Brion. "She jumped beautifully. She was second at Down Royal in the Bumper race there, and the mare that beat her went on to win a race at Aintree. The Mean Queen had really bad racing luck to get beaten there."

A Bumper race is for steeplechase or hurdle horses running for the first time on the flat..

"The Mean Queen is really special," said Brion. "The Moorheads actually bought her last fall, and she won a  point-to-point in their colors being trained by James Doyle. She then had some time off and came to me in January."

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Fisher's Schoodic leads a strong group of timber entries in My Lady's Manor.

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April 8, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Schoodic looks like the horse to beat in the first major timber race of the year at My Lady's Manor, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, with four races including the featured $30,000, 3 mile My Lady's Manor with seven entries.

But to win, Schoolic will have to beat a previous Manor winner, Mystic Strike, as well as five other top timber horses.

Jack and his mother Dolly Fisher  after the Manor in 2019While a limited number of spectators will be allowed, the races will also be live streamed and available on the website of the National Steeplechase Association.

A G2 stakes winner over hurdles, Mrs. John R.S. Fisher's wel bred Schoodic, bu Tiznow, trained by her son Jack and ridden by Hadden Frost, has won five of seven starts, including the International Gold Cup Timber Stakes, since converting to timber racing in 2019.

After an unsuccessful career on the flat as a 2- and 3-year-old, Schoodic won his first start over hurdles as a 3-year-old for his breeder, Edith R. Dixon, and raced in her colors  for trainer jack Fisher throughout his hurdle career,

Running 30 times over hurdles, Schoodic won six times, including once in a G2 and once in a G3.

Running only once in 2020, placing fifth in an Allowance, this is Schoodic's first start in 2021.

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McLane Hendriks won two timber races at Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point

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April 5, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

NORTHBROOK, Pa.--McLane Hendriks won two races, including one on Officer Sydney in the fastest race of the day, at the Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point on Easter Sunday, April 4, a beautiful spring day with the temperatures finally climbing into the 60s..

Mclane HendriksOfficer Sydney is owned by McLane's grandmother Wendy Hendriks and trained by his father Ricky and he won by 2 lengths over Aquies, owned by Irv Naylor, trained by Kathy Neilson and ridden by her daughter Skylar McKenna, with Spoiler Alert, owned and trained by Billy Mister and ridden by John Brophy, third.

"George Mahoney and I bought Officer Sydney from Gordon Elliot," said Ricky,, who trained Officer Sydney to two wins over hurdles for Mahoney's Rosbrian Farm. "He got injured  in 2018, and George gave him to me."

Ricky converted Officer Sydney to a timber horse, and he's now won three timber races for the Hendriks.

 "He was a bit keen early on," said McLane. "He jumped so great, and then on the backside he just  tugged me to the lead."

Officer Sydney then led for the rest of the race, leading over the last fence and going on for the win.

"He'll go the My Lady's Manor next week," said Ricky. "I also have Cheers to Us, who won last week at Cheshire, going to the Amateur race there, and Pincer Movement (who won the last race at Brandywine under Courtney Dankanich) going in the Maiden."

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Keri Brion wins in Ireland with Scorpion's Revenge

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April 5, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

CORK, Ireland--After a frustrating winter of canceled races and deep going disliked by her horses, trainer Kari Brion finally won a race in Ireland.

Keri Brion's string in her barn in Ireland"Finally," said Brion after Irv Naylor's Scorpion's Revenge, ridden by Dan Nevin, a local jockey, won a 2 3/8 mile National Hunt Flat race at Cork on April 4. "The ground has finally come around."

Running mid-pack throughout most of the race, Scorpion's Revenge moved six wide around the final turn and went into the lead 2 furlongs from the wire.

Shall Donn moved up on his inside 1 furlong out and looked like he was going to go right on by, but Scorpion's Revenge found another gear and sprinted off to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

"When he got out in front, he was just running a bit green," said Brion. "He saw the other horse come up to him and went on again. It would have taken a good horse to get by him today."

Scorpion's Revenge went off at odds of 32-1 in the field of 17 horses.

"It was a relief to finally win," said Brion. "It was very exciting. This was my first winner since going out on my own. I had a couple of winners that I trained while I was still Jonathan's assistant trainer. I was delighted for Dan. It was his first win as a jockey, too."

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Kate Dalton and Doug Fout each win 2 at Old Dominion

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April 5, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

BEN VENUE, Va.--Kate Dalton saddled two winners over hurdles while Doug Four trained one hurdle winner and one timber winner at Old Dominion  Point-to-Point on Saturday, April 3.

Razoul ridden by Bernie Dalton won the Open HurdleFout opened the day in the first race with Beverly Steinman's Go as You Please, ridden by Sophie Henelius, who rallied to overtake Ebullience, owned and trained by Sanna Neilson and ridden by her son Parker Hendriks, to win by a head in the Amateur/Novice Rider 2 mile Hurdle.

Dalton took the second race, the first division of the Maiden Hurdle, with Edition Farm's Riendo, ridden by Bernie Dalton. who overtook Embrace the Grind, owned by Wendy Hendriks, trained by Ricky Henriks and ridden by Courtney Dankanich, in the run in after the last fence to win by 2 lengths.

Dalton then saddled Hayabusa One to place second to Gostisbehere, owned by Riverdee Stable, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Watters, in the third race, the second division of the Maiden Hurdle.

Gostibehere won by 2 1/2 lengths.

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Eddie Keating rode four winners at Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point

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April 3, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

MONKTON, Md.--Eddie Keating rode four winners, including three timber races and one flat race, on the six race card at the Elkridge=Harford Point-to-Point on April 3.

"It's easy if you have good horses under you," said Keating, whose previous biggest day was three wins at Howard County last year.

Keating began his skein of victories with a win in the Open Timber on Frank A. Bonsal Jr.'s Stand Down, trained by Casey Pinkard Savin.

"He had just had a race last weekend, so this was just going to be a school around, " said Keating. "I started in the back of the field, but he was jumping so good, and with a half mile to go I was just behind the leaders, so I just kicked on and he won easy. He came out of it fresh."

Stand Down won by a couple of lengths over Kinross Farm's Just Wait and See (Ire), trained by Richard Valentine and ridden by Chris Gracie in a six horse field,

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Ricky Hendriks and Sanna Neilson saddled the winners of the Louis Neilson III Timber at Cheshire Point-to-Point

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March 29, 2021

By Staff Writers

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--McLane Hendriks repeated his win in the National Steeplechase Association sanctioned $7,500, 3 mile Louis Neilson III Timber race for Apprentice Riders, but this year he did it on his Grandmother Wendy's Cheers to Us, trained by his Father Ricky.

Cheers to Us, ridden by McLain Hendriks (Photo by Tod Marks)McLane won the Neilson last fall at Willowdale on Officer Sydney (Ire), and he was leading in the first section of the Neilson at Cheshire on Officer Sydney when he went off course and was eliminated.

McLane had already ridden once around the Cheshire course, having won the previous race, the Joseph Walker II Memorial Cheshire Bowl Open Timber on Michael A. Smith's Le Chevalier, trained by Julie Gomena, when he went off course.

"I'd' been following the other horses in the field in the Cheshire Bowl," said McLane. "In the first section of the Neilson, I was  in front. When you come off the bottom turn, there's a fence on the right that's in front of you. You have to turn sharp left to follow the course. I jumped the fence in front of me, and then I realized something was wrong when I saw the other horses all off on my left."

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William Dowling saddled Elucidation to win Novice TImber at Warrenton

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March 29, 2021

By Staff Writers

WARRENTON, Va.--William Dowling saddled Elucidation, ridden by Gerard Galligan, to win the 3 mile Novice Timber race st the Second Warrenton Point-to-Point on March 27 in an extraordinary race.

About halfway through the race, the lead horse in the five-horse field stopped at a fence, and the one by one behind him, all the following horses stopped too.

Obviously confused, the riders milled around in a circle for a couple of minutes, and finally one set off again, followed by the rest.

Coming to the stretch, Elucidation moved into the lead and won by 1/2 length over Huyana, ridden by Eddie Keating.

"We didn't expect the leader to stop," said Dowling. "After that, it was like a roller coaster. The horses behind had no where to go. I've never seen anything like that. It was quite extraordinary."

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Mark Beecher wins three at Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point

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March 27, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

COCKEYSVILLE, Md.--Mark Beecher had a huge day at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 27 with three wins, two seconds and a third in the five races he entered.

Mark Beecher was a very successful jockey before turning exclusively to training"It was nice to get back to a bit of the normal." said Beecher, who had his first runners of 2021 on Saturday after running some in sanctioned races last year. "It was nice to get back to point-to-points, they have a bit of community spirit about them."

Some spectators. socially distanced, were allowed at Green Spring.

"We ran six at Green Spring," said Beecher, who has 14 in training in Fallston, Md. "If they all run as good as that in the future I'll be happy,"

"My wife Rebecca and another girl and I do all the work with them," said Beecher.

Beecher began his win streak in the second section of the 3 1/8 mile Novice Timber race, saddling Northwood Stables' Road to Oz, ridden by Graham Watters, to move into the lead over Renegade River, trained by William Dowling and ridden by McLane Hendriks, in the stretch and go on to win by 3 lengths.

"Road to Oz is a pretty nice horse," said Beecher. "He won a hurdle race last year. He's a nice big, good looking horse. We decided to turn him over to timber, and Graham gave him a good experience in his first timber race.

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Three steeplechase point-to-points to be live streamed this weekend

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March 26, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

With three point-to-points scheduled for his weekend, one on Saturday, March 27 and two on Sunday, steeplechasing fans will be delighted to know that all three can be viewed from the comfort of youR home via live streaming,

The Green Spring Valley Hounds Point-to-Point will offer a full card of flat and timber races, as well as junior races on Saturday.

Entries for all thee meets can be found at Central Entry Office, and Green Spring Valley will be live-streamed at no charge to the public at noon on shawandowns.com.

Cheshire Point-to-Point will be held Sunday, with the entries from the two recognized races, the Louis Neilson III, to be found at the National Steeplechase Association.

Cheshire will be live streamed Sunday evening, no certain time has been announced yet, at https://steeplechase.tv/.

The Second Warrenton Hunt Point-to-Point is also to be run Sunday, with the first two hurdle races of the season scheduled.

Warrenton will be live streamed beginning at 1:00 pm at warrentonhunt.com.

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Neilson family dominates Cheshire Point-to-Point entries

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March 25, 2021

By Staff Writers

UNIONVILLE, Pa.--Cheshire Point-to-Point on Sunday, March 28 at Plantation Field has two sanctioned races and eight point-to-point flat and timber races, and, although the meet is closed to spectators, complete taped coverage will be available later at https://steeplechase.tv/.

Neilson, Hendriks, and McKenna families celebrated the Louis Neilson II race win by McLane Hendriks (far right) at Willowdale last fall (Photo by  Tod Marks)Extended members of the Neilson family dominate the entries for the $7,500 Louis Neilson III 3 mile timber race for apprentice riders, which has been divided into two sections with four entries each.

Section one, which will be run at the seventh race at 1:30, is topped by Wendy Hendriks's Office Sydney, trained by son Ricky and ridden by grandson McLane, who won the first running of the race at Willowdale last fall.

Paddy's daughters Kathy and Sanna will saddle the other three entries, Aquies ridden by grandson Parker Hendriks and It's Nothing ridden by Aaron Davis for Kathy and Royal Ruse, ridden by granddaughter Skyler McKenna for Sanna.

Section two, to be run as the ninth race at 2:30, includes As You Like it, trained by daughter Sanna and ridden by grandson Parker, and Awesome Adrian, trained by daughter Kathy and ridden by granddaughter Skylar.

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Richard Valentine has 2 winners at Piedmont, Elkridge-Harford wins Team Race, French Light 5th at Downpatrick, local winners

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March 22, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

UPPERVILLE, Va.--Richard Valentine saddled two winners at the Piedmont Fox Hounds Point-to-Point on Saturday, March 20, including in the featured 3 1//2 mile Rokeby Challenge Bowl timber race with Just Wait and See, ridden by Chris Gracie for Kinross Farm.

Coastal Moon  ridden by Teddy Davies (Photo by Joanne Maisano)The seven races  carded at Piedmont enjoyed fairly good entries, with three horses entered in each of the four timber races and up to seven in the flat races.

With last year's Maryland Hunt Cup canceled due to Covid, this year's race, whether it will allow spectators or not still to e decided, is highly anticipated.

Just Wait and See made short work of his opposition, beating Hooded, owned by Irv Naylor, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by McLane Hendriks, by 1 furlong, with Flash Jackson third.

Hendriks rode Naylor's Indian Hawk (Ire) to win the first race, The George Robert Slater Memorial Maiden Timber, by a length over Chris Gracie on Include It.

 Two young, up-and-coming amateur riders had first wins over fences.

Teddy Davies had his first win over fences in the C. Reed Thomas, MFH Memorial Amateur and Novice Rider Timber on his mother Blythe Miller Davies' Coastal Moon, trained by Joe Davies.

 Davies, when he beat Chris Gracie on Hafajay (GB) by 2 1/2 lengths.

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French Light fourth at Naas, may run again next week at Down Patrick

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March 15, 2021

By SARA CAVANAGH

NAAS, Ireland--Irv Naylor's French Light, trained by Keri Brion, ran fourth in a $35,500, G3 Novice Hurdle at Naas on March 14, but according to Brion took so little out of himself that they may run him back at Down Patrick in a week.

French Light and Keri BrionThe ground was horrible," said Brion. "The ground had been good, and then we got two days of rain. He didn't try that hard. If things aren't to his liking, he doesn't try."

"When we got back to the barn, he drank just three-quarters of a bucket of water and cooled out very fast," said Brion. "When I led him out the next day to graze, he reared like a stallion and tried to strike out at me. I talked to the Naylors, and there's  a race at Down Patrick for him next week. I'll enter him, and if he's still that fresh and the ground is good, we'll run him. Down Patrick is three hours north of here, and the ground is better there."

"The Naylors just bought another horse over here, Scorpion's Revenge, and he's running there," said Brion. "He'll be coming back to the U.S., and he either  go to Cyril Murphy or me."

Baltimore Bucko and The Mean Queen are running Wednesday, March 17 at Down Royal.

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