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Summer, Dancer legendw||
on junior racing circuit ? j f i j
■ 3 4 I j <
By Betsy Parker n *
Times Newspapers Staff Writer
Long blond mane a-fly and tiny flinty hooves bare of racing plates, Summer jigs a little, champing her minuscule D-ring bit as she prances to the saddling paddock.
Older than she is tall (20 years, 12 hands) Summer is most decidedly not your average race mare. But this small chestnut pony is a largerthan-life living legend of Virginia’s racing circuit.
Back at the races, less than half a minute passes and she’s won, again. Summer prances back to the stable, sweaty but clearly pleased with herself.
A mainstay of the spring point-to-point circuit, pony racing for juniors has long been part of Virginia steeplechasing appeal. Many of today’s champion jockeys and trainers had their start in pony races, including area standouts Chuck Lawrence and Speedy Smithwick.
Pony races will kick off the action at Great Meadow’s Virginia Gold Cup meet. Post time is 11:30 a.m.
A Summer story
From the moment his sister discovered Summer in a Rappahannock pasture as a riding pony for his daughter, race trainer Pete Aylor knew the mare was special.
“It was about 12 years ago,” Aylor said. “My sister knew I was looking for a pony for Natasha, and she saw this little thing turned out in a field. We took her, not even knowing if she was broke, but she was easy; she took to racing.”
Fourth in her first start in 1991 with young rider Hannah Osier, Summer has rarely been headed since, winning almost 40 races and
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