The Loudoun Point-to-Point race took place on Sunday April 23 in Leesburg VA, the staple point-to-point event was a massive success both for Loudoun County and the Virginia Equine industry. Fans from all over the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area came out to enjoy the races! The scene was set with traditional derby hats and apparel.
The event began with five pony races including a lead rope race, a large pony flat race, a Shetland pony flat race, a small pony flat race, and a medium pony flat race. The lead rope race sponsored by Don Devine was won by EHM stables Thumper ridden by Manuel Aguilera Jr. Thumper was trained by Betty McCue.
The large pony flat race (between 13.2 and 14.2 hands) for junior riders (below 16 years old) was won by Lesile Young’s Janneydancer ridden by Jaidyn Shore, trained by Suzanne Stettinius.
The second to last pony race was for small ponies under 12.2 hands tall, ridden for about a quarter of a mile by junior riders under 16 years old. The race was won by Christopher Kern’s Mallory, ridden by Cami Kern and trained by Christopher Kern and was seven lengths the best. in a time of 25 seconds.
Lastly, the medium pony flat race was held for ponies between 12.2 and 13.2 hands, also ridden by junior riders. This race went for three furlongs on the turf. It was won by Blueberry, a pony owned and ridden by Yomar Ortiz Jr, and trained by Betty McCue. Blueberry crossed the wire 12 lengths ahead of the second-place finisher in a time of 38 seconds.
The first and only hurdle race of the day, the Farm Credit Maiden Hurdle race was split into two divisions both went for 2-1/4 miles around the track and included 13 jumps. The first division was won by Rolling Tide LLC’s Hold Hard, ridden by Barry Foley and trained by Doug Fout. He won by a single length and the winning time was 5 minutes and 9 seconds.
The Second Division was won by Kiplin Hall’s Absam, ridden by Jamie Bargary, and trained by William Dowling. He won the race by a neck over Upland Flats Racing’s Moonshine Time. The winning time was 5:04 3/5.
The Loudoun Hunt’s hounds came out and played with all the kids on the track. A highlight of the yearly event as always!
The third race was a mile and a quarter flat race sponsored by the VHBPA (Virginia Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective association) for a purse of $2,000. The winner was Mint Meadows Farm LLC and Don Metzger’s B Determined, ridden by Erika Taylor, and trained by Suzanne Stettinius. The horse charged to victory with a time of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, winning by a neck.
Race number four was the Katherine F. Russell Memorial flat race for three-year-olds and up who had never won a flat race. This race went for about a mile and a half on the turf and was sponsored by Nadine Miglio Galvin and Carroll D. Galvin, MFH. The race was won by Beverly R. Steinman’s Dyna Mast, ridden by Barry Foley, and trained by Doug Fout. Dyna Mast won the race by one length in a time of 2 minutes and 45 seconds.
The fifth race on the card was the Takaro Farm Turf Cup, a mile and three quarters for horses three and up. The winner of the three-horse race was Charles C. Fenwick Jr’s Withoutdestination, ridden by Elizabeth Scully and trained by Todd J. Wyatt. He completed the race in 3 minutes and 20 seconds winning by ⅗ of a length.
The last race on the card was the Dale Lumber Company Restricted young flat race for 5-year-olds and up to be ridden by amateur riders from the age of 15-20 years old. EHM Stable’s Prince Khozan dominated the two-horse field besting Camile DeStanley’s Blue Mandate by an eighth of a mile (furlong). Congratulations to winning rider Gretchen Eisenberg and trainer Manuel Aguilera Jr.
As always, the Loudoun Point-to-Point races were a massive success and truly embodied the rich history and culture that makes the equine industry in Virginia one of the greatest in the world.
