The latest and greatest on dates and venues.
Go or no go? On or off? Here or there? Stop the press! Redo, rework, reprint – roll the presses! It’s already been an exciting season, and the first start flag has not even dropped yet; from date changes to venue changes, the Governor’s Cup Series committee has scrambled to keep up!
Now it’s done. The 2020 season has sorted itself out. So what’s new?
For 2020, both the Fair Hill Point-to-Point and the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup will be on hiatus. As many are aware, Fair Hill is undergoing a dramatic capital infrastructure overhaul and the course is temporarily unavailable, but organizers are looking forward to reviving the meet in 2021.
For the better part of two decades, the Junior Hunt Cup has provided young riders in the mid-Atlantic region with opportunities to learn about and participate in racing. Hundreds of horses, ponies, and children have come under the starters flag and have felt the thrill of the race. A tip of the hat to the original founders of the Junior Hunt Cup and a salute to race secretary Alix Smith for her 20 years of dedication. We hope to see it return in a future year.
An anticipated new Point-to-Point being considered 2020 has been tabled for this year, and Goshen Hunt Club will look instead towards 2021.
Meanwhile, the Foxhall Farm Team Chase, to be hosted this year by Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club, changed weekends, finally landing on March 22, which then shifted around the MSA’s clinic dates (see below).
Like the Fair Hill Point-to-Point, the Fair Hill Races were originally also on hiatus for 2020 (due to the same capital infrastructure facility overhaul). But a true 11th hour Hail Mary deal was struck with the Maryland Jockey Club to host a limited card of Fair Hill races at Laurel Park – thanks to the hard work of steeplechase diehards Ross Pearce and Jay Griswold.
We can now roll the presses on the 2020 Maryland Steeplechase Race Conditions Book! Click here for the digital version. If you would a hard copy of the Conditions Book mailed to you, please contact Crystal Brumme Pickett at 410-707-3678 or click here to email.
MSA Junior/Young Rider Race Clinic Sunday, March 1
MSA Open Advanced Race Clinic Sunday, March 8
Foxhall Farm Trophy Team Chase Sunday, March 22
Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point Races Sunday, March 29
Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point Races Saturday, April 4
My Lady’s Manor Saturday, April 11
Grand National Steeplechase Saturday, April 18
Maryland Hunt Cup Saturday, April 25
Howard County Cup Races Saturday, May 2
Potomac Hunt Races Sunday, May 17
Fair Hill Races at Laurel Park, Saturday May 23
The 2020 Governor’s Cup Series IS presented by Farm Credit. Thank you, Farm Credit!