Horses don't mind snow and cold as long as they have feed and water, but it made racing conditioning problematic for steeplechasers this winter.
 


For the most part, farm animals had it easy while some of us humans shivered without power during the epic blizzards this winter. Horses and cattle tolerate cold temperatures far better than sweltering summer humidity and biting insects. While expensive, hay and feed was readily available this winter, and farmers with their equipment, especially large tractors with buckets and scrapers, open rural roads usually far faster than city plows reach snowbound suburbanites. But while they dined on oats and hay and sipped water from heated buckets, the athletes among them—the performance horses this area's known for—lost many training days this winter, with the exception of the lucky few who travel south to train and/or compete.

Cancellation and postponement of the early season point to points, the area's harbinger of springtime, means this year the point to point racing season will open in mid-March, weather permitting. Traditionally starting with the Casanova Hunt opener in February, canceled this year because of snow cover, and with the cancellation and postponement of two other early meets, fans hungry for some tailgating and good racing action will get their first taste at the Warrenton Hunt Point, just outside of Warrenton on Saturday, March 13.

Easily accessible directly from Rt. 66, the Warrenton Hunt Point to Point course is located at Airlie, on its spectacular 1200-acre grounds. There are wonderful tailgating spots located around the course, those with the best views sell quickly with prices starting at $55 per car. General admission is $20 per car. A full card of seven races, over timber, hurdles and on the flat, begins at 12:30. Directions and more information can be found on the website at warrentonraces.com or by calling 540-219-1400.

Race chairman Al Griffin, a local orthodontist who's also one of the joint Masters of the Warrenton Hunt, the sponsor or these the races, said they're determined to go off as scheduled. “We're ready,” he said. “We've already been chain harrowing the course,” he said. “We're used to dealing with weather; we've had to move snow two other times in the past few years.” Mid-March snows not being uncommon in the area, the club has had lots of experience—this year marks the 69th running of the races. It's an enjoyable early spring outing, especially for those suffering from cabin fever.

Most of the best steeplechaser horses, jockeys and trainers in the country make their debut at Warrenton in preparation for the big spring races like the Virginia Gold Cup held later in the season. Some will come from southern training centers located in Aiken, South Carolina and Ocala, Florida, while many locals have had to make do with the use of indoor arenas and makeshift straw galloping tracks.

The week following the Warrenton event the Piedmont Fox Hounds in Upperville have their point to point scheduled for Saturday, March 20 with Orange County slated for the 27th.

The complete schedule of spring racing - as well as updates on postponements, rescheduling and other notes - can be found on the calendar k  the centralentryoffice.com website.

Yes, it's hard to imagine that daffodils, forsythia and crocus will bloom even though the days are lengthening as the spring solstice approaches. If there are telltale green shoots, they're still buried under the thick snow blanket still covering the hunt country around the Blue Ridge at press time. The spring thaw seems an awful long way away from this record-breaking winter of snow and cold temperatures. This winter's record-breaking snowfall has disrupted schools, jobs and the most mundane of daily chores. Even as people dig out, melting snow and ice is merrily causing structural and roof damage, wrecked suspensions, car accidents, pulled muscles, broken branches and even toppled shrubs and whole trees. It will feel good to take a day off for the races, a sure sign that spring has come to the Virginia countryside.

Saturday, March 13
12:30 pm
Warrenton Hunt Point to Point
Airlie Race Course, Warrenton, Virginia
(540) 219-1400 
 


Saturday, March 20
1:00 pm
Piedmont Fox Hounds Point to Point
Salem Course, Upperville, Virginia
(540) 592-7100 
(540) 687-3455 
 


Sunday, March 21
12:30 pm
Bull Run Hunt Point to Point
Brandywine Park, Culpeper, Virginia
(540) 832-2726 
(540) 937-2510 
 


Sunday, March 28
1:00 pm
Orange County Hunt Point to Point
Locust Hill Farm, Middleburg, Virginia
(540) 687-5552 
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Saturday, April 3
12:00 Noon
Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point
Ben Venue Farm, Ben Venue, Virginia
(540) 364-4573 
(540) 636-1507 



Sunday, April 11
12:30 pm
Loudoun Hunt Point to Point
Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, Virginia
(703) 777-8480 
(540) 338-4031 
 
 

Saturday, April 17
1:30 pm
Middleburg Spring Races
Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia
(540) 687-6545 
(504) 687-6595 
 


Sunday, April 18
12:00 Noon
Fairfax Hunt Point to Point
Morven Park, Leesburg, Virginia
(540) 687-0611 
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Saturday, April 24
1:00 pm
Foxfield Spring Races
Charlottesville, Virginia
(434) 293-9501 
 


Sunday, April 25
1:00 pm
Middleburg Hunt Point to Point
Glenwood Park, Middleburg, Virginia
(540) 687-6069 
(540) 454-2991