Who’s Who at the 2019 Governor’s Cup Series Awards Reception

Another great season of steeplechasing racing in Maryland has concluded and the winners are ready to be crowned. Tonight, Thursday, June 20 the winners will be celebrated at the annual Maryland Steeplechase Association Governor’s Cup Series Awards Reception held at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club. Horses, riders, trainers, and owners cumulated points over eight exciting weekends of racing from March to May. Here’s a preview or everything you need to know about the winners if you cannot attend the event:

The Maryland Governor’s Cup Horse of the Year (Open Timber Champion): Senior Senator

Senior Senator, a nine year old gelding owned by Irvin L. Crawford II, has been no stranger to the Maryland Steeplechase Association spring circuit. He ran in the Maryland Hunt Cup for the first time in 2016 and his victory there set the stage for what was to come. Once again aiming for the Hunt Cup in 2017, all eyes were on Senior Senator and his jockey Eric Poretz. The pair fell at the third fence and Senior Senator suffered a neck injury that required surgery. Miraculously, in 2018, the pair came back stronger than ever, winning the Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup for the second time. His victories there allowed him to defend his title as the Maryland Open Timber Champion. This year was an even bigger year. Senior Senator ran in four races and won all four including the Grand National and the Maryland Hunt Cup once again. In doing so, he retired both the Grand National Challenge Cup and the Maryland Hunt Cup Challenge Cup — the latter being a feat that had not been achieved since 1983. Irvin L. Crawford II is only the seventh owner to have a horse win the Maryland Hunt Cup three times. This is his third consecutive title as the Maryland Governor’s Cup Horse of the Year. Senior Senator is also the recipient of the Maryland Million-Sired $500 bonus for the third year in a row. 

Maryland Novice Timber Champion: Schoodic

Reigning National Steeplechase Association champion trainer, Jack Fisher, unleashed Schoodic to the Maryland timber racing circuit this spring. Schoodic, owned by Mrs. John Fisher, was making his first starts over timber this year. He previously ran over hurdles and was a regular entry in stakes races. Jockey Hadden Frost rode Schoodic at the My Lady’s Manor Races where he broke his maiden in only his second start over timber. Michael Mitchell then had the ride at the Fair Hill Races where Schoodic made the victory look easy in the Novice Timber, establishing himself as a tough timber competitor on the rise. In between the Manor and Fair Hill, Schoodic won the Mason Houghland Memorial in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amateur Apprentice Timber Horse and Rider Champion: Flaming Sword and Aaron Sinnott

Flaming Sword and Aaron Sinnott were both new to American steeplechase racing but the duo did quite well. Owned by Fat Chance Farm, Flaming Sword was a new addition to trainer Leslie Young’s barn this year. Aaron Sinnott rode races in Ireland but this was his first season riding in the states. The pair finished first in the Amateur Apprentice Timber race at the Grand National and fifth in the Amateur Apprentice Timber race at the Fair Hill Races. 

Maryland-Bred $500 Bonus Winner: Boogie Biz

Wrapping up the horse awards is Happenstance and Michael Beecher’s Boogie Biz. Boogie Biz ran at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point, the Grand National, and the Potomac Hunt Races. He earned victories with jockey/trainer Mark Beecher at both Green Spring and Potomac.  

Leading Owner (H Turney McKnight Perpetual Trophy): Morning Star Farm (Ricky Hendriks)

Morning Star Farm had seven horses run in Maryland this spring. Carrickboy, the only timber horse, was second at Green Spring and third at the Manor Races. Between the Fair Hill Point-to-Point and the Fair Hill Races, Hendriks had four winners and another second. Shoreline won a Maiden Training Flat at the Point-to-Point before going on to win the Maiden Claiming Hurdle at the season finale. Good and Proper won an allowance flat at Fair Hill and Diplodicus was second. Indigo Heart also scored a victory for the farm in the Amateur Apprentice Hurdle at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point. 

Leading Trainer: Jack Fisher

Jack Fisher has not been the leading trainer in the Governor’s Cup Series since 2007, but he has been the National Steeplechase Association leading trainer for the past several years. He ran sixteen horses at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point alone. A couple horses ran at the Potomac Hunt Races but the rest of his Maryland runners were in the races which cross over with the National Steeplechase Association. Political Theatre came off of a win at Green Spring to win again at the Manor Races. Novice Timber Champion Schoodic won at the Manor as well. Drift Society ran in the Grand National and also finished second to Senior Senator in the Maryland Hunt Cup this year. Fisher had four winners at the Fair Hill Races; Schoodic, Overwhelming, Our Legend, and Amnicalola.

Leading Lady Rider (Betsy Firey Memorial Trophy): Bethany Baumgardner

Baumgardner had another solid season making this year her second year in a row with the title. She finished third on Sovereign Fund at Green Spring and third on Wildcatter at the Elkridge Harford Point-to-Point. She was second on The Duck in the Amateur Apprentice Timber at the Grand National and second on Coastal Moon at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point. At the Fair Hill Races she rode four races and didn’t finish worse than fourth. Master Gunner was second in the Allowance Flat and her own Mavourneen was third in the Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes.

The Voss Amateur Flat Series: Paul O’Neill

Paul O’Neill rode in nearly every Maryland race meet this spring. His rides included six flat races, two of which were won at the Elkridge Harford Point-to-Point. In addition to these wins on Cotton Town and Flash Jackson, he was second in two races at the Fair Hill Point-to-Point on Lonely Weekend and Include It. All of these horses were trained by Todd Wyatt. 

Leading Timber Rider, Leading Amateur Rider, Overall Leading Rider: Eric Poretz

Poretz swept all three jockey titles for the second year in a row. In addition to his big victories on Senior Senator, he won two other timber races at Elkridge on Some Response and Vintage Vinnie. He also won aboard Great Road at the Potomac Hunt Races, this time in a maiden hurdle race. Poretz had successful rides on Stand Down (second at Elkridge and the Manor) as well as Witor who finished second in the My Lady’s Manor Timber Stakes. Jockey Mark Beecher was the closest to Poretz in the standings for amateur, timber, and overall leading rider. 

Leading Junior Large Pony Rider and Overall Leading Pony Rider: Austin Belt

Austin Belt had a bumpy start at the beginning of the season when he went off course and was disqualified at the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point but he came back very strong after that riding a large, medium, and small pony. Belt rode Class Day to win four of five field master’s chases in the large pony division. He also rode Domino Effect, a medium pony, winning one race at Elkridge and finishing second in the rest of the spring races. Tony the Pony was his small entry; the pair finished second at the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup and the Howard County Cup Races. 

Leading Junior Medium Pony Rider: Teddy Davies

Teddy Davies rode in large, medium, and junior horse divisions this spring but most of his successes came from his medium pony, Count Chocula. The pair went undefeated this season, winning field master’s chases and flat races at the Grand National, the Fair Hill Point-to-Point, the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup, the Howard County Cup Races, and the Potomac Hunt Races. 

Leading Junior Small Pony Rider: Sophie O’Brien

Sophie O’Brien rode in just four races this spring but won three and finished second once earning her the title. She rode Baby Blue in the field master’s chases at Green Spring, the Grand National, the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup, and Howard County.

Leading Junior Horse Rider: Parker Hendriks

Hendriks rode a variety of horses this spring and also rode a large pony at the Elkridge Harford Point-to-Point. Other rides included a Foxhunter Timber Race on Maryland Hunt Cup winner Guts for Garters and an Amateur Open Flat on Benevolentdictator. However, all of his wins that earned him points in this division were on Lawn Ranger. The pair raced four times and won four times at Elkridge, the Grand National, Fair Hill, and the Maryland Junior Hunt Cup. 

The Jonathan Kiser Memorial Scholarship, the Junior Foxchasing Scholarships, and the D.M. Smithwick Group Award will be announced at the event.

/E.Scully