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By TINA SKINNER
Arundel Newapapen Staff Writer
Roaring winds and occasional raindrops only added to the unpredictable atmosphere pervading the Old Dominion Hunt’s point-to-point races on Saturday. Nearly every race had a strange twist of fate, though fortunately, none was fatal.
Predictably enough, William Russell won the owner-rider timber race on Marat, last year’s horse of the year who also earned his rider the leading rider award and contributed towards his trainer Don Yovanovich’s 1986 leading trainer status. However, this winning pair won in an uncharacteristic way.
When the five-horse field kicked off from the starting line, Marat chose his regular third-place position while the leaders raced ahead. Gookin ’N Lookin led followed by Shell Out who shelled out, falling in the second round. Opportunistic Zohar Ben-Dov urged his Manly Carter into the lead on the second mile, Marat remained third in line.
When Paul B. Cramer Jr. pulled his Cookin ’N Lookin up in the final third mile, only three were left to carry on, West Coast Boy, Peter de Simone up, already an astronomical 86 Va lengths behind, according to announcer Will O’Keefe.
Mr. Simone, however, wasn’t the only one behind. As the crowd' stared in amazement Marat and Dr. Russell slipped farther and farther behind the leading Manly Carter and the awaited rally in the stretch never came. In fact, Dr. Russell cantered his horse slowly across the finish, a good 30 lengths behind.
A few keen horsemen, including Marat’s trainer Mr. Yovanovich were wise to this strange finish. Manly Carter had missed a beacon and, assured of his victory, Dr. Russell had taken it easy. Nevertheless, Mr. Yovanovich was disappointed with the victory.
“I told you to work him,” he told Dr. Russell. “That horse is too old and he’s too smart. He only works when he’s running. He won’t work at home,” he said. So Marat won the timber race, though he managed another easy day’s work.
Dr. Russell also captured the owner-rider hurdle victory with News Special, beating series leaders Naughty Hugo and Star Billing. As usual, Dr. Russell held back during the race, though he waited till the
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