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.

 

BEECHER then saddled Straylight Racing LLC's Worzel Gummidge (Ire), ridden by Alex Leventhal, to easily win the Amateur Apprentice Timber race by over 10 lengths.

"He's a nice horse," said Beecher. "It's a nice owner/rider partnership. It was a nice win for Alex. He's a good supporter."

He then dominated the 2 mile Amateur Flat race, winning with The Hundred Acre Field's Cracker Factory (GB), ridden by Daisy Farish, and also saddling the second placed horse, Jeffrey S. Aimling and Merriefield Farm's My Afleet, ridden by Brett Owings.

"Cracker Factory is a horse we claimed last year," said Beecher. "It was a nice win with Daisy riding. Again, it's a kind of owner/rider partnership."

Daisy Farish was a highly successful show ring rider in her junior years.

"I trained her while she was still showing," said Beecher. "She's just home from college. She's gravitated towards racing now. She's a very good rider."

"The two horses that won here will probably go to the Maiden race at the Manor," said Beecher. "Cracker Factory will probably have another flat race. Then we'll see how Daisy's doing and maybe run him over hurdles."

Beecher's first second came in the first timber race for Heavyweights with Lucy A Goelet's Rocket Star Red, ridden by Owings, who was beaten by Armata Stables' Goodoldtimes, trained by Alicia S  Murphy and ridden by Eddie Keating.

The first section of the Heavyweight was won by Lucky Soul, trained by William Downing, owned by Jeremy A. Batoff and ridden by Justin Batoff.

Jack Fisher saddled Sheila Williams and Northwood Stables' Storm King, ridden by Watters, to win the featured 3 1/8 mile Green Spring Valley Cup Open Timber over Kiplin Hall's Sideling Hill, trained by Dowling and ridden by Hendriks.