It was a big weekend for the Maryland Steeplechase Association, hosting two meets on the same weekend. Saturday was the 106th running of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase in Monkton and Sunday the Fair Hill Pt-to-Pt ran in Elkton. Congratulations to Irv Naylor on his score in the My Lady’s Manor feature race with Ebanour. Trained by Cyril Murphy, Ebanour came on strong with a late run piloted by Gus Dahl to win the $30,000 timber race by 6 1/2 lengths in 6:11:4/5.
Jockey Mark Beecher dominated the John Rush Street Memorial Maiden Timber, which was split into two divisions. Beecher scored a double, one win in the division aboard Best is West for trainer Alicia Murphy and another for trainer Julie Gomena aboard LeChevalier. Jockey Connor Hankin won the final race of the day, the John D Schapiro Memorial for Bruton Street-US aboard Drift Society.
Several riders fell in the final timber race of the day, the Schapiro Memorial. Race Chairman Turney McKnight reported that both “Conrad Somers and Ed McLaughlin were discharged late [Saturday] night from their respective hospitals. Both suffered small vertebrae fractures, but fortunately no follow up surgery was proscribed for either. They were hard and scary falls. We wish both the speediest possible recovery.”
For the Baltimore Sun write up about the My Lady’s Manor click HERE, for full results click HERE, and for race day photos click HERE.
Church Music broke his maiden in the Novice Timber at the Fair Hill Pt-to-Pt this past weekend, as did his jockey Brett Owings. The 9 yo Bowman’s Band mare owned by JWY Martin, Jr and trained by Suzie Owings bested a field of five novice contestants. After scratches, the Open Timber race ended up a match race between Hockey Pop and Maryland Hunt Cup winner Guts for Garders with Hockey Pop emerging the victor. Jockey Isabelle Bosley also broke her maiden in the Foxhunter Timber with a win on Tiz Relavant for trainer Alicia Murphy and owners O’Donovan & Stevenson. For results from the Fair Hill Pt-to-Pt click HERE.
Entries close for the Grand National races TODAY! Juniors are reminded to have their entries in to Central Entry Office by NOON and can click HERE to enter online.
Nominations (10) for the Grand National Amateur Timber Stakes (#26) with trainer are as follows: AND THE EAGLE FLYS (Meister), BATTLE ARAY (Meister), IMPERIAL WAY (VOSS), MECKLENBURG (Elmore), RAVEN’S CHOICE (Wyatt), SCHOOLHOUSE WOODS (Read), SENIOR SENATOR (J.Davies), SERENE HARBOR (McKenna), SPENCER ROAD (J.Davies), TAX RULING (Meister). All horses will carry 165 lbs.