LoudounNow Now LOUDOUN COUNTY’S COMMUNITY-OWNED NEWS SOURCE
[ Vol. 1, No. 23 ]
[ loudounnow.com ]
[ April 14 – 20, 2016 ]
OFF TO THE RACES
‘Chitty Chitty’ takes off in Purcellville .................... 28
BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE County Launches New Domestic Violence Protocol BY DANIELLE NADLER
Douglas Graham/Loudoun Now
Riders sail over a timber jump during the spring Point-to-Point races at Oatlands. The event celebrates its golden anniversary Sunday.
Big Crowd Expected at Oatlands for 50th Running of Point-to-Point BY MARGARET MORTON “Are you going to Oatlands?” That’s a common question at this time of year as thousands of Loudouners gear up for the annual rite of spring—the Oatlands Point-to-Point races. There will be a special buzz of excitement this Sunday as the crowd gathers at the historic estate south of Leesburg for the Loudoun Hunt’s 50th running of the races. The Oatlands Point-to-Point Races are distinctive in that they feature both serious racing and a strong social aspect—a mix
that appeals to die-hard racing fans and to those who enjoy a spring day outdoors while paying scant attention to the Thoroughbreds thundering past their finely appointed tailgate spreads. The event features nine races, highlighted by the coveted Eustis Cup, a 3.5-mile endurance run, and the Mrs. George C. Everhard Memorial Invitational Side Saddle Race.
How It All Began The origins of steeplechasing go back centuries, beginning in Ireland where
neighbors challenged each other to race from church to church, jumping over stone walls, ditches and hedges. There will be no steeples in sight at Oatlands on Sunday, but all other aspects of the sport of kings will be on full display— as they have been since 1966. Brett Phillips, then editor of The Loudoun Times-Mirror, was part of the original planning for the races. He recalled the 1965 meeting involving some of those who became legendary supporters of the Oatlands races, including Loudoun Master of Foxhounds Dr. Joe Rogers, Harry Wight, Morris Fox, Silas D. “Sonny” Phillips and Anita Graf. A large jug of sour mash whiskey was also present at the meeting in Fox’s Leesburg office.
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OFF TO THE RACES >> 38
Domestic-related homicides have left their mark on all types of Loudoun families in recent years. Poor and wealthy. Black, white, Hispanic and Asian. The county has seen an increase in the number of lives taken by family members or people they were once close to. There’s been three in Loudoun already this year. It’s prompted local law enforcement and domestic abuse prevention groups to adopt a new strategy to prevent them, and rallied community members to ask what they can do to be a part of the solution. Less than a week after an ex-boyfriend was charged with fatally shooting a Leesburg mother of three, the county government announced last Friday a program aimed at helping victims of abuse who are in danger of being murdered before it’s too late. Under the new model, called the Lethality Assessment Program, law enforcement officers will ask domestic assault victims an 11-question survey to assess the level of risk they may be in. If the victim is considered in serious danger, he or she is immediately connected with Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter. LAWS provides 24-hour support for victims, including counseling, legal representation and, if needed, shelter. Leesburg Police started screening domestic abuse victims with the program Feb. 22, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE >> 16
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