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, 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."

 

CHESHIRE Races was run as a point-to-point for years and then began to add recognized races a few years ago.

Cheshire now has four recognized races as well as unrecognized pony, side saddle, timber and flat races.

"I was delighted with the day," said Neilson, Chairman of Cheshire Races. "We had really good, quality horses. The attendance was strong, we had tons of general admission parking. I feel like the races are getting better and better. The event is definitely growing."

As well as serving a race chairman, Neilson saddled a winner and three second placed horses.

Neilson saddled Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado (Ire), ridden by Teddy Davies, to win the Allowance Timber over Keys to Court (Ire), trained by Young, and Mystic Giggle, trained by Neilson.

"It was Teddy's first time riding Withoutmoreado and he gave him a great ride," said Neilson. "He's a beautiful rider. Withoutmoreado will go to Brandywine and then to the Grand National."

Ricky Hendriks saddled Del Rio Racing's Harrenhal (Ire), ridden by Virginia Korrell, to win the $15,000 Maiden Timber by 4 1/2 lengths over Lighting Ridge, trained by Sanna Neilson, and Total Joy (ire), trained by Young.

This was Korrell's 15th win as a jockey, so she now loses the weight allowance she had as as apprentice rider.

"I'm going to stay riding as an amateur for this year, and then maybe turn professional next year," said Korrell.

Davies saddled Armata Stables' De Nordener (Ire), ridden by Sophie O'Brien,, to win the $15.000 Apprentice Rider Timber by 1 1/2 length over Recoup (GB), trained by Neilson, and Huyana, trained by William Dowling.

Hendriks saddled Hidden Path, ridden by Elizabeth Scully, to win the Open Flat, and Suzanne Stettinius saddled Class Photo, ridden by O'Brien, to win the Apprentice Flat.

Imogen Weaver on Quick Draw McGraw won the Very Small Pony Flat race, and Sophie Cameron on Monkey won the Small Pony, while Pauly Aguilera on Rose won the Medium Pony, Will Stickler on Dakota won the Large Pony and Manuel Aguilera won the Lead Line Trot race.

Julie Nafe on her Noble Weed won the Side Saddle Flat race over Olivia Siter on Leading the Light (Ire) and Mary Musheno on Champagne & Confetti.