EARLEVILLE, Md.--Two jockeys made history at Wicomico Point-to-Point on April 16 by winning their first race, for Whitney Schweizer, it was his first win ever, and for Frederik Tett, his first win in this country.

Whitney Schweizer, still wet from his traditional dousing as a first time winnerSchweizer rode Cohiba Stable's Inle, trained by Willy Dowling, to win the Maiden Timber by 3 lengths over Belay, trained by Jeremy Gillam and ridden by Eric Poretz.

"I rode until I was 14,and then quit for a while," said Schweizer, "I started back riding a year ago. I work for Willy Dowling."

"The race went pretty perfectly," he said. "I didn't go too wide around the beacons this time. Hopefully, I'll get something to ride at the Grand National."

When the entries for the Grand National came out, Schweizer wasn't listed as a jockey, but there are a number of horses entered without a jockey named.

For winning for the first time, Schweizer got the usual treatment, a pail of water dumped over his head, thoroughly soaking him, but luckily it was a fairly warm day so not such an ordeal.

Wicomico drew a large and enthusiastic crowd in its second year of racing.

Casey Pinkard trained and rode The Filbert Family's City of Grace to win the Lady Rider Timber by 2 lengths over Blackstair Rocco (Ire), trained by Adair Stifel and ridden by Elizabeth Scully.

"I've had City of Grace for three years," said Pinkard. "She came from a show barn, but she was too hot to show, so I got her. I've just been doing point-to-points with her this year.  Maybe I'll do one more with her this year, then it's back to hunting. I hunt with Green Spring and Elkridge-Harford."

"Last year, she almost died of an infection, and I had breast cancer," said Pinkard. "So we both came out of it together."

 

THE AMATEUR Apprentice Rider Timber and the Open Timber were run together, as there was only one entry in the Open.

Teddy and Joe DaviesJoe Davies saddled his Brave Deacon, ridden by son Teddy, to win the Amateur Apprentice by 1 length over Kid Macho, ridden by Tett.

Kiplin Hall's Bowled Over, trained by Dowling and ridden by Poretz, actually ran third after leading for most of the race, but won the Open Timber as the only entry.

"It went according to plan," said Teddy, who ran second to Bowled Over for much of the race. "We wanted to get him covered up, and he settled well for a change. It was a better jumping race for him. He's still pretty young and green. We won at Warrenton earlier this year, and he was second at Brandywine."

"Bowled Over went great," said Poretz. "He jumped great, just got a little tired at the end."

The Amateur/Apprentice Rider Flat was divided into three sections, with Tett winning the second, and largest, division on Upland Flats Racing's Mr.Connecticut, trained by Ricky Hendriks.

"This was only the second time I've ridden over timber, and the first race I've won," said Tett, looking around to find someone to take his picture to mark the occasion.

"It's his first race here, but he's won over 100 in England," said Teddy.

Mr. Connecticut closed to win by a neck in the final strides over Eleazar, trained by Leslie Young, in an eight horse race.

Frederik TettBrookfield Stables' Diva of Seville, trained by Pinkard and ridden by Scully, won the first division by 4 lengths over Sir Lenny, trained by Jason Cole.

Thomas Rice's Booby Trap trained by Young and ridden by Jesus Saucedo, won the third division by a neck over Flop Shot, trained by Elizabeth Voss.

Hoof Hearted, ridden by Cami Kern, won the Small Pony Flat, Charleston, ridden by Paige Wyatt, won the Medium Pony Flat, and Janneydancer, ridden by Jaitlyn Shore, won the Large Pony Flat..

Kern rode the winners of both the Field Masters Chase, Small Pony, and Medium Pony, taking the Small on Mallory and the Medium on Roger That, while Shore won the Horse division on Grandiflora.