Issue 18-44 | OCtObeR 29 - nOvembeR 4, 2009 1
very year, on the dren coming to Montpelier with her Maryland, and the home of the Fair
E
first Saturday in family in 1901, over the years she and Hill Races. They are credited with also o
November, the her brother, William duPont Jr., excelled creating Delaware Park near Wilming-
Montpelier Foun- at the equestrian arts, learning to ride, ton, and the Camden Race Course in
dation presents a train, and breed horses and becoming South Carolina, home of the Carolina
r
day of autumnal accomplished riders themselves. After Cup and the Colonial Cup Races.
a
equine diversion William struck out in his own in adult-
that is truly one of Virginia’s fin- hood, and Marion remained at Mont-
Montpelier Restoration
est traditions, the Montpelier Hunt pelier, the siblings’ contributions to the
This year marks two significant n
Races. November 7 will mark the world of horse racing remained a unify-
milestones for Montpelier. Not only
Montpelier
75
th
running of the Montpelier Hunt ing interest, and their accomplishments
is it the 75
th
running of the Montpe-
G
Races, and over 15,000 spectators were substantial.
lier Hunt Races, it is also now 25 years
are expected to attend. Throughout Marion duPont Scott’s crowning
since the transfer of Montpelier Estate
the afternoon, an impressive field of
to the control of the National Trust for
e
achievement may have been the breed-
colts, fillies, stallions, and mares will ing and training of several world-re-
Historic Preservation, which opened
|
try to keep the pace along Montpe- nowned champion thoroughbreds.
the doors for the creation of the Mont-
Hunt Races
lier’s two-mile, three-furlong steeple- Two of her champions were sired by
pelier Foundation. As a provision of
l
chase track. And all the punters will Man O’ War, the great racehorse of
Marion duPont Scott’s will, the foun-
o
surely be entertained. the 1920s. It was one of Man O’ War’s
dation was formed with the mission
The Montpelier Hunt Races were descendants, Battleship, that became
to restore the estate to its original con-
established in 1924 by Marion duPont the first American horse to win the
figuration and preserve the legacy of
u
Scott, who lived at the estate from the English Grand National steeplechase
President James Madison.
time her father purchased it around
I
1900, until her death in 1983. The an-
s
nual format for the Montpelier Hunt
Visitors to the Montpelier Hunt Races will spread out across
a
Races includes seven races on the
schedule, with purses ranging up to
$40,000 for the winner. Two races are
the infield of the steeplechase track, setting up tailgate parties, rubbing elbows,
run on the one-mile, flat dirt track,
the other five are run on a two-mile,
and throwing into the tote with other horse enthusiasts.
three-furlong steeplechase course.
Each of the five steeplechase races
have hurdles for the horses to jump
at points along the course, including
hedges, moats, and brush.
Visitors to the Montpelier Hunt
eet
Races will spread out across the in-
H
field of the steeplechase track, setting
ts
up tailgate parties, rubbing elbows,
and throwing into the tote with other
horse enthusiasts. One of the best and
most prized vantage points to watch
the races is along the rail, where on-
eekendHo
lookers can feel the thrill of watching
the approaching field, particularly as
they approach one of the many jumps
rew
along the track. Forecasters turn to
the race day program, which provides
details on each horse, jockey, and
owner, and each horse can be seen up
close between races in the paddock
aar.com/
area. Each jockey’s unique patterned
.c
silk uniform represents their horse’s
owner, to help distinguish them at a
Celebrate
distance. www
The first race begins at 12:30 p.m.
|
and the last race will start around
4:30, and after each race, the victori-
75
th
Running
ous horse, jockey, trainer, and owner
will bask in the glory with a tradition-
event in 1938. Other accolades in-
lives on in the Virginia Tech Marion In recognition of the Virginia equine
After years of painstaking and care-
al Winner’s Circle presentation at the
cluded her horse Trouble Maker’s win
duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, tradition’s enduring historical value,
fully undertaken research into the ar-
te Weekly
Race Tower, near the finish line. Gen-
celebrating its 25
th
anniversary this Scott’s estate also provided an endow-
A
at the Maryland Hunt Cup in 1932, chitectural legacy of James Madison’s
by Thom CanaliChio eral admission tickets, parking passes,
several American Champion titles for
year, made possible in part through ment to assist the University’s Special
Montpelier, restoration of the home
e
st
and other race day packages are avail- l
her grass and steeplechase horses, and
funding provided in the late Mrs. Collections Department to develop
of our fourth President and author
able at the Montpelier Hunt Races’
A
a “lifetime-achievement” type award
Scott’s will. A few years after Scott’s and expand the archives of horse-re-
of the Constitution was completed in
Web site, www.montpelierraces.com.
from the National Turf Writers As-
death, another provision in her will lated resources.
September of 2008.
Marion duPont Scott, sociation known as the Joe Palmer
donated a substantial collection of Marion duPont Scott, along with
In a ceremony on Constitution Day,
Equestrian Extraordinaire
Award.
books and periodicals on horse breed- her brother, William, also worked to
2,600 school children from around
CAAR Re
The true heart and soul of the Mont-
In addition to her many awards
ing, racing, and other aspects of the establish the Fair Hill Natural Re-
Virginia held up red, white, and blue
pelier Hunt Races beats proudly in the
and establishing the Montpelier Hunt equine arts to the University of Vir- sources Area, headquarters of the pieces of paper to form an American
legacy of Marion duPont Scott. As chil-
Races, Marion duPont Scott’s legacy ginia’s Special Collections Library. National Steeplechase Association in
flag on the front lawn of Montpelier,
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