Radnor Hunt Races

A week from this Saturday will find the Sportsman and his crew at the Steeplechase races in Chester County. The running of the prestigious National Hunt cup and it's $75,000.00 purse is a highlight of the day at Radnor and the best trainers and jockeys will be present challenging for the cup and the cash. This past weekend featured the Virginia Gold Cup and the Winterthur Point to Point. National Steeplechase Association website reported on these 2 races as follows:

Bon Caddo wins Virginia Gold Cup by 13
Merriefield Farm’s Bon Caddo took command in the late stages in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup and drew away to a 13-length victory at Great Meadow Race Course in The Plains on Saturday, May 7. Augustin Stables’ Radio Flyer was the only other horse to finish 86th running of the timber classic after three horses were eliminated at the second fence.

Ridden by Blair Wyatt, Bon Caddo won his second race of the year in two starts. He had won the $35,000 My Lady’s Manor timber race in Monkton, Md., on April 16. Trained by Dawn Williams, the ten-year-old Bon Point gelding ran the Virginia Gold Cup’s four miles in 8:25 on ground rated as good.


EMO Stables’ He’s a Conniver struck the top rail of the second fence at tumbled with jockey Jody Petty. More Fascination and Delta Park, following behind him, attempted to avoid He’s a Conniver and lost their jockeys. None of the horses or jockeys sustained serious injury.

Gum Tree Stables’ Uppercut was left on the lead and ran in company with Radio Flyer, with Bon Caddo stalking them. Uppercut pulled up at the final fence, leaving the race to Radio Flyer, ridden by Robbie Walsh.

Wyatt had plenty left in reserve with Bon Caddo, and they drew clear to a relatively easy victory. With $66,000 in 2011 earnings, Bon Caddo assumed the lead in the year’s timber horse standings.

Music To My Ears in Winterthur Bowl

Anna Stable’s Music To My Ears pulled away in the stretch from Morning Star Stables’ South Monarch to win the $20,000 Winterthur Bowl by 1 3/4 lengths at the Winterthur Point-to-Point Races on Sunday, May 8.

South Monarch, winner of last year’s Winterthur Bowl, jumped the final fence with Music To My Ears, but the 13-year-old Irish-bred gelding had plenty in reserve and came home to a clear victory under Robbie Walsh. Owner-trainer Alicia Murphy’s Major Price finished third, and Robert A. Kinsley’s News Flash took fourth.

Trained by Richard Valentine, Music To My Ears ran the 3 1/4 miles over timber