Off AND RUNNING

Off AND RUNNING

Lickety Split and Yomar Ortiz Jr and Mallory and Cami Kern battle it out to the wire in the Small Pony Flat Race at the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point.

Photo by Tim Sudduth

The 56th running of the Loudoun Hunt Point-to-Point is set for Sunday, April 23 at the Equestrian Center at Morven Park. Pony races like no other, so be there early and stay late. General admission is $35 presale and $40 at the gate. For subscriber parking or patron parking contact Mary Sell, MFH marysell@takarofarm.com or Carroll Galvin, MFH carroll.galvin@gmail.com. Be there at: 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg, VA 20176. Gates open at 10 a.m. Details: loudounraces.com

The tailgating competition is about more than fried chicken.

Photo by Karen Monroe of Middleburg Photo

At the Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 30, the tailgate competition is as keen as it comes. This about more than fried chicken. The setting at Glenwood Park adds to the ambiance. A car pass is $40 before April 15 and $50 thereafter. There are eight races scheduled.

Details: MiddleburgHuntPointToPoint.com

John Stuart

Forte

Meanwhile in the world of flat racing….

What a delight to see Clarke County native John Stuart in the paddock at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida prior to The Fountain of Youth Stakes in early March. All eyes were on Forte for his first outing as a three-year-old. The dark brown colt was last year’s Eclipse Award champion two-year-old. Stuart, a devoted Virginia horseman, represented breeder Amy Moore of South Gate Farm in Millwood via his Bluegrass Thoroughbred Services when the colt was first sold as a weanling in Keeneland. Now owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables and trained by Todd Pletcher, Forte is on top of the list for the May 6 Kentucky Derby with earnings (after the Fountain of Youth) of $1,833,230. Stay tuned, no matter what, we promise there’s more to come from John Stuart.