As we wait for the Birds to fly north and Boog to fire up the grill, other rites of spring are well underway. Anchored by major events such as the Preakness and US Open, Maryland attracts many visitors who enjoy additional aspects of those sports and other outdoor activities.
For many fans and weekend athletes, this season is defined by horses, courses, and natural resources. Maryland has them in abundance.
Since
steeplechase season is well underway, we'll start there. It is a proud part of our history and heritage, and a recognized tourist attraction.
In 1894, the members of the Elkridge Fox Hunting Club challenged the members of Green Spring Valley Hounds to a timber race, which became the first Hunt Cup. Although the first race was limited to members of the two clubs, the next year the race was opened to all fox hunting clubs in Maryland, and in 1903, members from recognized clubs throughout the United States and Canada were invited to participate.
Timber racing – so called because the fenced hurdles are split rails – is a form of steeplechase or point to point racing.
The Maryland Hunt Cup is the grand dame of all Maryland Timber Races. Along with the Grand National in England, it is considered to be among the most challenging in the world.
The season runs from March to May. While most races are staged on estates in Baltimore County, there are popular steeplechases in Harford, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Montgomery Counties. At the end of the season, outstanding performer are honored at the Governor’s Cup Awards Dinner.
A calendar of these events, along with directions and the history of the race, can be found at
Maryland Steeplechasing.
One of the major spring steeplechase destinations is
Fair Hill, the 5,600 acre former estate of William duPont, Jr. in Cecil County. Fair Hill is the home of the national governing body of
steeplechase racing. It has also served as host of the nationally-televised Breeders' Cup Steeplechase in 1986, 1987 and 1991.
Since 1934, the estate has been the venue for the
Fair Hill Races, which annual draws 15,000 visitors to enjoy the only place in the country where there is para-mutuel betting on steeplechase.
The Fair Hill Races traditionally take place on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend. The 77th annual event is May 28th this year. As befits this "gentleman's sport," the races benefit a local non-profit, the Union Hospital of Cecil County.
One needn’t be a master of the hunt to appreciate the beauty and festivity of these events. Much of the fun is experiencing a beautiful day in the country with family, friends, food and high spirits. Nothing like placing a little wager on the action, too. After all, that's as much a Maryland tradition as crabs, beer, and the Baltimore O's.
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