Racing

Zabeel Champion won the $250,000 Iroquois Stake

Details: May 10, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--Riverdee Stable's Zabeel Champion (GB) came flying at the very end to win the $250,000 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Stakes in a dramatic finish on Saturday, May 8 at the Iroquois Steeplechase.

Swore lead over last in Iroquois Zabeel Champion in blue silks and red cap 13 Zabeel Champion, in blue silks and red cap, caught Swore in the last stride to win the Iroquois (Photo by TodMarks)Trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Freddie Procter, Zabeel Champion won the G1, 3 mile Stakes by a neck over Swore, trained by Keri Brion and Ziggle Pops (GB), also trained by Fisher.

Iroquois was dominated by just a few big names.

Fisher and Riverdee teamed up to win the G1Stakes and the Novice Hurdle Stakes and also finish second in the Allowance Timber, while Gordon Elliot brought two over from Ireland to win for Ricky Hendriks' owners, Leamington and Del Rio, and those two will stay with Hendriks, who also won a Stakes on the card.

In the Iroquois, Swore had led throughout the entire race and looked like a sure winner until Zabeel Champion came from out of nowhere.

"That was some run," said Sean Clancy, manager of Riverdee Stable. "He was eighth turning for home. Who ever wins the Iroquois when you're eighth turning for home."

Little Trilby won the G1 Stakes at the Gold Cup for Ricky Hendriks

Details: May 4, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

THE PLAINS, Va.--Ricky Hendriks saddled Little Trilby (GB) to win the G1, 2 1/8 mile Commonwealth Cup at the Virginia Gold Cup on Saturday, May 2.

Little Trilby left duels Jimmy P early in Commonwealth Cup 1 Little Trilby, left, duels with Jimmy P early in the Commonwealth Cup (Photo by Tod Marks)"He ran a big race," said Hendriks,who has had Little Trilby for almost two years.

Owned by Del Rio Racing and ridden by Conor Tierney, Little Trilby won by 6 3/4 lengths over Welshman, trained by Jack Fisher, and Merry Maker (Ire), trained by Arch Kingsley.

"Little Trilby had just won two races in Ireland, and a friend of mine called me and said we should get him," said Hendriks, who got the horse in August, 2024.

Little Trilby won the Holiday Cup Stakes at Aiken that fall for Hendriks and now has four wins, all in Stakes, and a second in 10 races in this country.

He was just unlucky last year," said Hendriks. "He won the Stakes at the Gold Cup here in the fall, but they had just dropped it from a grade 1 to a grade 2, and then he fell at the Colonial Cup. We still can't understand why he fell in that race."

"He's a very straight forward hose to train," said Hendriks. "We had this race targeted from early spring. My team did a great job getting him ready."

"It all paid off Saturday," he said. "That was by far his best race. He's just 6, so hopefully he's just coming into himself."

Leslie Young and Ricky Hendriks had winners at Middleburg Point-to-Point

Details: April 29, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

MIDDLEBURG, Va.--Broken Vow (Ire), trained by Leslie Young, won the Maiden Hurdle and Jamestown, trained by Ricky Hendriks, won the Restricted Maiden Hurdle at the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 26.

Leslie Young 12 Leslie Young Leslie Young saddled Silverton Hill's Broken Vow (Ire), ridden by Luke Carberry, to win the 2 1/8 mile Maiden Hurdle by 2 lengths over Sir Lenny, trained by Cole, and Bandoola, trained by Hendriks.

"Kevin Prendergast bred Broken Vow, and she ran once at Lingfield on the flat and won," said Young. "I bought her in a digital sale. We've had her since February. This was her first race for us. She ran great."

"She's easy to train," said Young. "For a little rd-headed filly, she's a good girl. She's nominated for Iroquois, but maybe she'll go to Fair Hill instead."

Broken Vow landed in front of long time leader Sir Lenny over the last fence and went on to win at Midleburg.

Uco Valley is okay, but he's not good enough to go to the Gold Cup," said Young of the gelding that was leading in the Grand National when Justin Batoff on Storm Team steered right into Uco Valley in an attempt to avoid cutting a flag.

Both Uco Valley and Storm Team, as well as their jockeys, are lucky not to have been badly hurt if not killed.

Batoff has since resigned his jockey's license and will ride races no more.

Jamestown, trained by Hendriks, owned by Leamington Racing and ridden by Jake Coen, won the Restricted Maiden by 7 lengths over T Rex, trained by Lawrence Smith, and Ladsfirstlove, trained by Jason Cole.

Cyber Ninja won the $75,000 Novice Stake at Foxfield

Details: April 28, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.--Riverdee Stable had a good day at the Foxfield Spring Races on Saturday, April 25, finishing first and second in two races, including in the featured $75,000 Danial Van Clief Novice Stakes.

Cyber Ninja and Rocket Onr Photo courtesy of Camden Littleton Cyber Ninja and Rocket One, first and second in the Novice Stakes (Photo courtesy of Camden Littleton)Cyber Ninja,trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Jamie Bargary, won the $75,000, 2 1/8 mile Novice Stakes by 1/2 length over Rocket One, also owned by Riverdee and trained by Fisher, and Mr. Percy (Ire), trained by Neil Morris was third, another 2 3/4 lengths back.

"We bought Cyber Ninja in the fall of '24 off Bill Mott," said Sean Clancy, manager of Riverdee Stable."We gave him the winter off. Last year was his first full year racing for us."

Riverdee raced Cyber Ninja both on the flat and over fences last year, and he placed second in an allowance on the flat and won an allowance over fences.

"I felt confident going into this race off last year," said Clancy. "He was sitting third, with two way off in front, but I knew we had those two measured. At the top of the hill he got a little flat."

Cyber Ninja was fourth over the last fence but rallied in the stretch for the win.

"I was impressed by him," said Bargary. "He's one of the best I've ever sat on."

"He's nominated for the Novice at Nashville," said Clancy.

Mr. Fine Threads won the Maryland Hunt Cup

Details: April 28, 2026; By SARA CAVANAGH

GLYNDON, Md.--Mr. Fine Threads won the Maryland Hunt Cup on a rainy Saturday, April 25 for owner Armata Stable's fourth win and trainer Joe Davies' eight win in the most difficult timber race in the world.

Mr. Fine Threads leads Great Road at the 6th (Photo by Tammie J. Monaco)Ridden by Charlie Marshall, Mr. Fine Threads won by 6 lengths over Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna and Royal Ruse, trained by Sanna Neilson.

Seven of the nine starters finished, with Withoutmoreado, who won in 2024 and was second last year, and Road to Oz, who won last year, being the only two that fell.

"The third time was the charm," said Davies of Mr. Fine Threads, who had fallen in his first two runs in the Hunt Cup. "It started raining 10 minutes before the race, not enough to soften the ground but enough to make it slippery."

"Withoutmoreado slipped on the take-off at the sixth,"said Davies of the horse ridden by son Teddy. "Teddy's okay and is planning to ride in the Gold Cup this weekend."

"Mr. Fine Threads had a pretty quiet first fences at the back of the field and began to move forward at the 16th," he said.

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.