Point-to-Point

Point-to-Point

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events. John W. Warner, Virginia’s senior U. S. Senator, and Delegate Raymond R. (Andy) Guest Jr. minority leader of Virginia’s House of Delegates, both served as patrol judges.

Seventh District Congressman D. French Slaughter Jr. and Washington Redskin owner Jack Kent Cook also joined the crowd which cheered the competitors from the infield.

Douglas King, a professional trainer and jockey from Malvern, Pennsylvania, was among the riders who set aside the weekend to compete at Thornton Hill. Although he didn’t take home any trophies, Mr. King had nothing but praise for the day’s racing.

“I came down to check on the competition,” he said during an interview Sunday, “. . . to have fun, get fit, and get some race experience.” He entered two horses at Casanova last weekend, and rode Berny’s Shali to a fourth place finish in the Mary D. Slaughter timber race at Rappahannock.

“I was a little disappointed with the way he ran - but I took it easy down the hills, went around the deep spots - that cost me lengths. My concern was to protect the horse.”

The 24-year-old fifth-generation horseman has his sights set on the Maryland Hunt Cup, run the last weekend in April in the Green Spring Valley north of Baltimore. His ultimate goal is to match the achievement of his great-grandfather, who competed in England’s Grand National, the most prestigious steeplechase in the world.

The shorter courses and lower fences found in Virginia’s early spring steeplechases, Mr. King explained, provide excellent training for both him and his mounts. They work up from the two to three mile courses with three to four foot fences found in this area’s races to the longer (4 to 5 mile) courses and higher (5 foot) fences which he will face when the steeplechase season opens “up north” in April.