GLYNDON, Md.--Vintage Vinnie will be going for his third straight victory in the Maryland Hunt Cup on Saturday, April 29, a feat only one other horse, Blockade, has accomplished.
Vintage Vinnie on his way to winning last year with Teddy DaviesArmata Stables' Vintage Vinnie (Ire), trained by Joe Davies, won by 96 lengths two years ago and set a new track record of 8:29,.60, and he won last year by 54 lengths, beating his previous time and setting a new track record of 8:15.00.
"No other horse in the Hunt Cup has broken his own track record," said Davies.
Five other horses have won three times to retire the challenge cup, but none three times in a row.
Winton's wins were separated when the race was cancelled from 1943 to 1945 in World War II, Pine Pep was beaten in his third run before winning again in 1952, Jay Trump skipped 1965 to run in the Aintree Grand National and Cancottage was also beaten in his third run before retiring the trophy in 1983.
Vintage Vinnie will be ridden by Dan Nevin, who rode him to victory two years ago.
Teddy Davies, who rode Vinnie last year, broke his collarbone when his mount fell in the Grand National, and his hopes of a quick fix were dashed when the Space X doctors at NASA said that none of the glues they had for treating astronauts in trouble would work on him.
"No miracle cure for collarbones available at this time," said Joe Davies.
EIGHT HORSES have been entered to run in the Hunt Cup against Vinnie, five of which have jumped around the Hunt Cup course successfully.
Vintage Vinnie over the 3rd fence, one of the biggestFive of the riders, Theresa Dimpfel, Virginia Korrell and Elizabeth Scully, along with Freddy Tett and Conan Tierney from England and Ireland, will be riding over the daunting course with it's 4'6", solid rail fences for the first time.
Lucy Goelet's Rocket Star Red, trained by Mark Beecher, who himself rode two Hunt Cup winners, finished third in 2018 and second last year, both times ridden by Brett Owings, who will ride him again this year.
Armata Stables' Goodoldtimes, trained by Alicia Murphy and ridden by Colin Smith, finished third last year and will be ridden by Smith again this year.
Charlie Fenwick's Royal Ruse trained by Sanna Neilson, was fourth two years ago, ridden by Chris Gracie, and will be ridden this year by Scully.
Kinross Farm's Blackhall (Ire), trained by Davies, was fifth last year ridden by Eric Poretz, andt will be ridden this year by Dimpfel.
Sportsmans Hall's Hill Tie, trained by Billy Meister, was fifth in 2019, ridden by Owngs, and will be ridden this year by Korrell.
Irv Naylor's Withoutmoreado, trained by Kathy Nelson, is a first time starter and will be ridden by Tierney, who has only been riding over timber in this country since March.
Shootist, trained by Todd McKenna, is also a first time starter and will be ridden by Tett, whose first ride over timber was only a couple of weeks ago at Wicomico.
Kinross Farm's Great Road, trained by Davies, is a first time starter to be ridden by Eric Poretz, but Davies said he's a maybe.
"I'm looking forward to it," said Dimpfel of her first ride in the Hunt Cup. "I'm riding a really good horse that I get along with. I walked the course last year, and I'm walking it again today."
As to what to do to handle Vinnie, she said, "I don't want to run my horse off his feet, I'll just try to get around well and hope Vinnie comes back to me."
"I'm excited about it," said Korrell. "The fences are big, but Hill Tie is a good jumper. I've been to the Hunt Cup many times. I haven't walked the course yet this year. I'm walking it with Billy Thursday, and we'll talk about the plan for the race then."
"I've been to the Hunt Cup many times, the first time was when I was 12," said Scully. "I've walked the course before, but I walked it properly for the first time yesterday, and I'll walk it a few more times this week. The fences are big, but everyone knows that. I'm on a very good jumper that's jumped around there before, so I feel good."
