ten series races this year and all but one

ten series races this year and all but one last year.

Going into this final race, Randy Rouse, 10-times winner of the Virginia timber competition, led by two points, but he had to scratch Cousin Wes because of injuries. Another two points behind Boca Bird was David Semmes’ No Answer, so a victory by either Graham or Semmes could have decided the series championship.

The race itself was a real cliff hanger, with the lead switching back and forth between Boca Bird and young Peter Winants’ Bristol Glass. Then No Answer, and Peter Winants, Sr.’s First Jim joined them first over the fence in front of the stands and then again over the line fence going up the mountain. Each time the Field came down the mountain, Graham let Boca Bird fly to the inside and gain several lengths on the sharp left-handed turn. He was ahead by four lengths going into the last two fences and romped home six lengths to the good of Semmes’ No Answer. Bristol Glass, in young Winants’ first race between the flags, was a close-up third, followed by father Peter Winants on his First Jim.

In spite of the rain, almost 4,500 race race fans, including foxhunters and farmers, came to enjoy the last day of the Virginia spring race season at Thornton Hill Farm’s wild mountainous setting near Sperryville, which began with pair races and ended with the famous hound race.

Winner of fast time in the pair race was the Rap" pahannock Hunt team of Sally Cunningham riding Emily and Eva Dahlgren on Tee. Optimum time winners were Jill Steenhuis on Second Change and Robin Rolosson on Magic Oak from Farmington Hunt. Second place for optimum time in the pair race also went to Rappahannock, represented by Richard Wolfe on Revel’s Demon and Dr. Fay Witherell on Annie. It was luck that moved Annie on from chasing cattle to a