An Embarrassment of Riches

Unionvlle suffered an embarrassment of equine riches on Mothers' Day. The Willowdale Steeeplechase took place behind Landhope and the Plantation Field Horse Trials were held some three miles away, west of the village. Your reporter found out, once again, of the impossibility of being in two places at once!

Plantation Field Horse Trials

Stephen Bradley rode From to win Advanced Section 1. In spite of 16.4 time faults Cross Country, for forty-one seconds over the time, Steve, who had won the Dressage on 31.3 and had Show Jumped double clear on Saturday, was able to maintain his lead over second place finisher Laine Ashker and Frodo Baggins. (Steve and From are pictured at the right jumping out of the Foundation.)

Dornin North and Lion Display won Advanced Section 2 with 14 .8 time faults Cross Country, on Sunday, as well as three time faults acquired in the Show Jumping, on Saturday, for a total score of 49.1. Dana Widstrand finished 8.9 faults adrift of North, having picked up 15.6 time faults Cross Country as well as eight jumping and three time faults in the Show Jumping, held on Saturday.

Plantation Field Results:

Advanced Section 1:
1. Stephen Bradley, From - 47.7 (16.4 Time XC)
2. Laine Ashker, Frodo Baggins - 50.3 (5.6 time XC)
3. Selena O'Hanlon, Colombo - 52.0 (6 time XC)
4. Will Faudree, Don't Dali - 53.8 (5.2 time XC) (Will and Don't Dali are pictured at the left jumping the skinny after the Foundation.)
5. Jane Sleeper, New Moon - 55.8 (9.6 time XC)
6. William Coleman III, K. du Manoir 56.1 (16.4 time XC)
7. William Coleman III, Icarus - 57.1 (16.8 time XC)
8. Mara Depuy Dean, Nicki Henley 58.5 (15.2 time XC)
(14 competitors)

Advanced Section 2:

1. Dornin North, Lion Display 49.1 (14.6 time XC)
2. Dana Widstrand, Relentless Pursuit - 57 2 (15.6 time XC)
3. Allison Springer, Arthur - 62.4 (17.6 time XC)
(7 competitors)

OI/A:

1. William Coleman, Ret Mercury - 33.4 (4.4 time XC)
2. Stuart Black, Leader des Blieffes - 36.9 (FODS)
3. Will Faudree, Mr. McWhinney Will Faudree - 39.1 (DCXC)
(20 competitors)

OI/B:

1. Stuart Black, Fleeceworks Mystere du Val - 29.3 (FODS)
2. Jessica Kiener, My Boy Bobby - 30.8 (.8 time XC)
3. Phillip Dutton, Loose 'n Cool - 33.5 (FODS)
4. John Williams, Sweepea Dean - 38.2 (.4 time XC)
(20 competitors)

OI/YR

1. Madeline Blackman, Gordonstown - 34 (DCXC)
(8 competitors)

Sections of Preliminary Were Won By:

OP/A: 1 Kerry Torrey, Beantown Player 33.1 (2 time XC)
( 12 competitors)

OP/B: 1. Phillip Dutton, Dario 30.7 (FODS)
(12 competitors)

OP/C: 1. Kerry Torrey, Smokin One - 32.7 (2.8 time XC)
(10 competitors)

* * * * *

Willowdale Steeplechase

Seven races were run at the Willowdale Steeplechase, in Kennett Square, not a mile from Unionville, PA, on Sunday, May 13th. The first race, the Landhope Cup was a $10,000 Timber Race for four year olds and up which have never won over timber. The distance was three miles.Augustin Stables' six year old Radio Flyer, by High Roller from an Executive Perk mare, ridden by Jody Petty and trained by Sanna N. Hendricks won from Sportsman s hall's Private Attack ridden by William Santoro and trained by Alicia Murphy.

(Radio Flyer, number 4 above, follows Incaseyouraminer, number 1, and Western Fling, number 5, over the Water Jump.)

Lucy Lindsay's Luongo, trained by Johathan Sheppard and ridden by James Slater, won the second race a three mile $10,000 Hurdle race for Five-Year-Olds and Upward which have never won a stakes race.

(Luongo, number 8, leads Saitensohn, number 7, in the stretch in the second race, The Marshall W. Jenny Memorial.)

The third race was another $10,000 Maiden Claiming Hurdle, for Maidens Four Year Olds and Up, this time at two and One Half Miles.The winner here was Crestview Farm's Heros Among Us trained by Katherine McKenna and ridden by Carl Rafter.

(Heros Among Us, number 3, leads Miss Batiste, number 6, in the third race, The Folly.)

Because of the conflict with Plantation Field your reporter was unable to stay for the co- features, The Willowdale Steeplechase a $20,000 race over timber won by Acorn Hill Farm's Northern Thinking, ridden by Blake Curry and trained by Jack Fisher, and The Rose Tree Cup another $20,000 race, this time over hurdles, won by Toughkenamon, owned by Armata Stables, ridden by Carl Rafter and trained by Katherine McKenna. Toughkenamon is an appropraitely named horse to win at Willowdale as the village of Toughkennamon is a mere four miles from the course.