There
are two special signs of spring in Unionville, Pennsylvania - the daffodils are
in bloom and Mr. Stewart's Cheshire Foxhounds Point-To-Point takes place over
the Averell Penn Smith Walker Memorial Course, which to us eventers is known as
a part of Plantation Field. The
Open Timber Race, the feature of the afternoon, was won by Lucy A.
Goelet's 8 year old Why Not Baby trained and ridden by William (Billy) Meister.
This race was sponsored by The Whip, a dining spot popular with both eventers
and racing fans. (Meister and Why Not Baby are pictured at the right.) Augustin
Stables Irish Prince, a New Zealand bred 9 year old, ridden by Stewart Strawbridge
and trained by Sanna Hendricks, was a close second. (Strawbridge and Irish
Prince are pictured at the left below.) Conrad Somers trained, owned and rode
the third place finisher J. Alfred Prufrock. The
starter for the Cheshire Point-To-Point was Denis Glaccum, the organizer of Fair
Hill Equestrian Events, which take place at Plantation  Field. The
Cheshire Point-To-Point is well known as a prep for the Maryland Hunt Cup, the
Kentucky Derby of Timber racing. Three of the last ten winners have gone on
the win The Hunt Cup - Move Up stables Swayo, in 1999; Mr. Irvin S. Naylor's Make
Me A Champ, in 2005; and Stewart Strawbridge's The Bruce, in 2007. Since World
War II, ten Cheshire winners have gone on to win the Maryland Hunt Cup. Crestview
Farm's Western Fling, ridden by Carl Rafter, and trained by Katherine N. McKenna
won the Heavyweight (- horses to carry 190 pounds -) Race. 
(Carl
Rafter and Western Fling, winners of the Heavyweight Race, lead Lear Charm and
Chip Miller and Todd McKenna on Meet at Eleven over the third fence.) Augustin
Stables' Rochester, ridden by Jody Petty and trained by Sanna N. Hendricks, won
the Novice Race. (Petty and Rochester are pictured below at the center.) 
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