On Sunday, May 28th, the day after the pinnacle of Maryland timber racing, junior jockeys had the chance to ride on a day designated just for them. The Maryland Junior Hunt Cup, run on its usual Sunday date the day after the Maryland Hunt Cup, celebrated its nineteenth running with full fields of young riders and ponies of all sizes.
The Lead Line Pony Trot Races started the day with Mint Meadows Farm LLC taking both divisions. Suzanne Stettinius trained Farnley Druid to win the first division under Savannah Hutchins and Dash of Mint to win the second division with her son Daniel Edelstein aboard. There were also two divisions of the Shetland Pony Flat race with Olney Smarty Pants winning the first division over Dash of Mint. Sophie Perri both owned and rode Olney Smarty Pants. The second division was won by Knight’s Taffy and Sadie Edwards.
Mimi Schmitz was the trainer of three winners at the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup, the first coming from Hoof Hearted’s win in the Small Pony Flat Race. William Slater had the mount. Gerry L. Brewster’s Roger That won the Medium Pony Flat Race with Patrick Gallagher in the irons. The Large Pony Flat Race was won by Charmed, owned by EHM stables, trained by Betty McCue, and ridden by Teddy Davies who would go on to get another win.
New this year was the Maryland International Young Rider Hunt Cup, a young rider timber race for amateurs on ponies. There were three entries but Colin Smith took the win on Balls to the Walls, owned and trained by Mimi Schmitz.
The Maryland Junior Hunt Cup Field Master Chase was a two horse race. Parker Hendriks and Lawn Ranger, a successful pair so far this season, defeated Teddy Davies and Classical Art. In the Maryland Pony Hunt Cup Field Master Chases, Sophie O’Brien and Baby Blue won the small pony division after Chewy lost his rider, William Slater – who is alright! Teddy Davies’ second win of the day came in the medium pony division on Betty McCue’s Count Chocula. Austin Belt finished second on Domino Effect but came back to win the large pony division on Mint Meadows Farm LLC’s Class Day.
The final race of the day was a flat trial, a flat race for riders 14-18 years old who work for a trainer licensed under the National Steeplechase Association (NSA). Their mounts also had to be in training with the NSA trainer. Katherine Neilson owned and trained Soluble who was ridden to victory by her daughter Skylar McKenna. Tommy Fenwick was second on Kiplin Three’s Inle, trained by William Dowling.
Look for these junior jockeys at the Howard County Cup Races next weekend!
For full results please click here.
/E.Scully