May 9 Middleburg Point-to-Point At Glenwood Park Completes Spring Season Slate

Virginia’s Point-to-Point season came to a close May 9  when the last of seven spring meets was contested at Middleburg’s Glenwood Park. A total of 62 horses competed that day in a mix of hurdle, timber and flat races. The season kicked off March 13 at the Airlie Race Course in Warrenton. The Virginia Equine Alliance again sponsored a Starter Rewards incentive program, which provided every Virginia trained or owned horse that competed a $200 per start bonus. In all, $31,000 in awards were given out which represented 155 starters The collection of photos below by Douglas Lees capture the action at Glenwood.

 

Rider McLane Hendriks leads Better Tapit to victory in the Restricted Maiden Hurdle. The 5-year-old Tapit gelding is out of Betterbetterbetter by Galileo. 

All Out of Aces and rider Parker Hendriks is joined by trainer Neil Morris after winning the Amateur/Novice Rider Hurdle. The 8-year-old Kentucky-bred has bankrolled $125,905 and in 2017, won three straight flat races at Delaware Park.  

Tankerville and rider Courtney Dankanich were best in the Novice Rider Flat. The 5-year-old Kitten’s Joy gelding is trained by Bill Mott.

Elusive, with rider Thomas Garner, turns for home (second from right) en route to victory in the Maiden Flat’s first division. The winner, a 3-year-old Mshawish gelding, is trained by Doug Fout for Beverly Steinman. 

The Monk and rider Felix Astudilla captured the Maiden Flat’s second division. The 5-year-old has made two pari-mutuel starts — both at Presque Isle and the most recent with former Colonial Downs fan favorite Mario Pino in the irons. 

Maiden Hurdle winner Master Gunner (outside) battles with Fashion Line. Eddie Keating rode the victor while Thomas Gunner directed the runner-up. The winning Elizabeth Voss trainee finished a respectable fourth, just 1 1/4 lengths behind, in a maiden special weight last October at the Middleburg Fall Races.   

Middleburg Bowl winner Huyana (#2) prevailed over Flaming Sword (#1). The 6-year-old Kentucky-bred, ridden by Eddie Keating, is a son of Malibu Moon. He has $81,048 in winnings from 27 starts.

Open Flat winner Lord Justice (inside) battles runner-up Petrichor in the Open Flat. The Jack Fisher trainee was ridden by Connor Hankin and has earned $132,653 in purse monies.

Next up in Virginia is the 2021 Gold Cup Races which will be held May 29 and tailgating, in limited numbers, will be available. The event, which normally attracts 60,000-plus fans, will attract between 10,000 – 15,000 fans in socially distanced rail spots around the massive venue. Details are at vagoldcup.com.