The 2022 Maryland Steeplechase Association Governor’s Cup Series is set to kick off on Sunday, April 2nd at Shawan Downs. The Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point, always the first race meet on the MSA schedule, is traditionally run on the last Saturday in March. This year, Green Spring falls on the first Sunday in April to make it easier for horsemen who were in Camden, South Carolina for the Carolina Cup Races on Saturday, April 1st.
The day gets started at 10:30 am with three pony flat races. Trainer Betty McCue has a total of ten entries in the flat races, including all four runners in the Large Pony Flat Race. Next on the card is the Austin Tamberino Memorial Junior Field Masters Chase. This race is named in Austin’s memory in honor of something that he loved so deeply, and is sponsored by Joe, Eliza, and Savannah Tamberino and family. The Green Spring Valley Hounds paid tribute to Austin on their Facebook page: “In the spring of 2015, one of Austin’s friends invited him to help exercise one of their ponies after school. Never having ridden before, he was up for the challenge! Austin quickly fell in love with riding and rapidly progressed. One year after first getting on a pony, he rode in his first race, the GSV Point-to-Point in 2016. Some of the races Austin raced in were, the Potomac Hunt Race, Maryland Junior Hunt Cup, Howard County Cup Races and the Grand National. Unfortunately, Austin passed away in 2020 at the age of 17. He is forever in our hearts.”
The first of four timber races runs at 12:30 pm. Four horses line up for the Worthington Bowl Heavyweight Timber including Maryland Hunt Cup nominees Rocket Star Red and Preseli Rock. Nine horses are entered for the second timber race of the day, the Daniel Baugh Brewster Memorial Novice Timber. Riverdee Stable’s City Dreamer, a three-time Novice Stake winner over hurdles, tries timber for the first time.
The Green Spring Valley Hunt Cup Frank A. Bonsal Memorial Open Timber has five entries, including Maryland Hunt Cup nominee Sideling Hill and timber stakes winners Schoodic and Storm Team. The last timber race on the card is the Kiplin Farm Bowl Amateur Apprentice Timber. Three horses are entered to run.
Four flat races follow the timber races, with post time for the first flat race at 2:30 pm. The Caves Farm Amateur Flat (two miles) and the Stoneworth Farm Training Flat (one and one half miles) were both split into two divisions. The Amateur Flat has seven horses in each division, including 2019 NSA Champion Timber Horse Andi’amu. The Training Flat was split into a division of eleven horses and another division of ten horses. The 2020 Eclipse Award winner and NSA Horse of the Year Moscato, owned by Bruton-Street US, goes for a leg stretcher along with his stablemate, multiple stakes winner Snap Decision.
Full entries can be found on the Central Entry Office website or by clicking here.
Can’t attend the races? Livestream coverage can be found here! The race day program is also available online.
Looking for fun in between races? New in 2022: a tailgate competition! Cars and Finish Line Boxes will be in the running to receive an ever-popular fox head topiary (and bragging rights), PLUS a Spring brunch/dinner styling to include: full table design install + consult+ all the florals. Value ~ $650!