ivjx. roue sensed his horse was not hurt, however,

ivjx. roue sensed his horse was not hurt, however, and urged him to his feet, then remounted and charged toward the finish line. As the only other horses to start, Virginia’s Harvel and Spreader, had both pulled up, Glittertind was awarded third place.

When Old Dominion’s races started shortly after noon on Saturday, the early morning showers had ended and things were drying up. About 2,500 spectators, the tailgates of their cars resplendent with picnics, had journeyed to Ben Venue’s attractive course for the races.

Unfortunately, the clear skies didn’t last too long. By the middle of the day’s program the heavens had opened once again and many of the races were run in the rain. But, though conditions weren’t perfect, the racing was very close to it for those that stayed to watch.

A pair of junior turf races started Old Dominion’s meet. In the pony race, after an early challenge from Stephanie Hendrick on Gray Ghost, Lil Fritz and Jill Waterman, the 11-year-old daughter of veteran trainer Randy Waterman, showed their heels to the field of five to win by three lengths. Christopher Williams on Strawberry Fizz overtook a tiring Gray Ghost for second place.

David Nuesch won the horse division of the junior race on John Credico’s Satan Blue, beating Dawn Dugan on Tingles Image by a length and a half.

Three owner-rider hurdle competitors went to the post for the third race following the ladies’ timber race. John Branscome took the lead right from the start on his Height Of Passion and was never bested.

“I didn’t want to go to the front,” Mr. Branscome said later. “But I couldn’t hold him.”

Charles Ross, who had been biding his time on Bipp Hahn at the back of the field, made a move with about three-quarters of a mile to go and managed to catch the leader at the final fence.

Together the two sailed down the stretch side by side and at the wire only a nose separated them. It was Height Of Passion’s nose, however, which was in