Steeplechase: A Mid-Atlantic Rite of Spring

By Kurt Jacobson
GoNOMAD Senior Writer

Each year, as winter loosens its chilly grip on the Mid-Atlantic, I look forward to two things: gardening and steeplechase.

Thanks to joining Ladew Topiary Gardens, my wife and I learned about the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase race. We’ve attended the race in Maryland four times since that first experience.

The fresh air, sun, and crowd’s excitement hooked us from the first visit. This race is a see-and-be-seen parade of fashion, fun, and speed. The humans parade around the viewing areas and crowd the fences as the horses come as close as 10-15 feet away, flying over a series of jumps.

In the first year, I didn’t find a good spot to see these magnificent horses and riders up close, but in the second year, I found a spot very close to the action and got an extra dose of adrenalin.

History of My Lady’s Manor

While the tradition of fox hunting goes back some 300 years in America, steeplechase is only about 120 years old. It’s said that several young men at the Manor wanted to see whose horse was the fastest and best jumper.

A course was agreed upon and they held that first race in 1902. The race was a hit with both the riders and viewers. The race has become an event that can draw several hundred spectators or several thousand, depending on the weather and venue.

In the Mid-Atlantic where families seem to stay put for generations, it’s clear that many of the attendees at the steeplechase races know each other. Some families reserve either a tailgate parking spot or a tent to enjoy hours of festive steeplechase fun.

On race day, the 2024 schedule was,

10:30 AM- Main Gates Open, 12:30 PM-Lead –Line Mini Manor, 1:30 PM-Post time for the 113th running of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase, 2:15 PM-Post time for John Rush Street Memorial Race, 3:00 PM-Post time for Thomas H. Voss Memorial Steeplechase, 3:45 PM- Post time for the Thomas H. Voss division 2 race, 4:30 PM-Post time for the John D. Shapiro Memorial Race, 6 PM-gates closed.

My favorite race it the Lead-Line Mini Manor where the little racers get to learn the ropes of horse racing on a pony.

As you can see, it’s a full day of fun. The tailgaters and those who rented tents show up fairly early to set up food and beverages, and let me tell you, they don’t skimp on food or drink!

My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase has spawned other similar events like, the Point to Point, Willowdale, and Radnor races. While My Lady’s Manor is the year’s first race, the Radnor Hunt Races are the last of the Mid-Atlantic season and are held in mid-May.

Local Bonus

If you are in the area, consider visiting Ladew Topiary Gardens. Highlights are touring the historic Ladew home, walking the topiary gardens, observing wildlife on one of several trails, and lunch in the café.

Other Important Steeplechase Races

Several steeplechase races are held each spring throughout the Mid-Atlantic States for regulars and newbies to attend. The races I’m aware of are Point-to-Point at Winterthur (Wilmington, DE), Willowdale Steeplechase (Kennett Square, PA), Radnor Hunt Races (Malvern, PA), and Fair Hill Steeplechase (Elkton, MD).

My wife and I attended the Fair Hill Steeplechase and noticed a betting booth. Many race fans were placing their bets, so we gave it a shot. We are total rookies at steeplechase betting and succeeded in padding the pockets of others who are wise in the way of horse betting.  Note that Fair Hill steeplechase isn’t held every year. Check their website for current race information.

Our dog Sophie joined us and even got to ride on the shuttle, a school bus, to and from the race area. It was at Fair Hill that Sophie decided horses were scary when one came within 15 feet of her at full gallop into a turn.

After that we stayed a bit further away. Most of the race venues allow well-behaved leashed dogs and some of the side events feature dogs.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library

In the Brandywine Valley are five magnificent du Pont estates that are open to the public. Winterthur is famous for many things, mostly the priceless collection of objects used in America since 1640.

The library holds volumes on the decorative arts, art history, and more. Winterthur offers graduate programs on Material Culture and Art Conservation.

I go to Winterthur to tour some of the mansion’s 175 rooms and enjoy seeing room after room of priceless furniture and art. On some trips to Winterthur, my wife and I love to walk parts of the 1,000-acre estate, enjoying the natural garden type of landscaping, unlike Longwood Gardens, which has several manicured gardens.

Finally, in 2024, my wife and I attended the 46th annual Point-to-Point Races. It was at the races we found out what it’s like to experience steeplechase in the rain. Steeplechase racing is a rain-or-shine event and on the day of the races, there was no shine, just clouds and light rain.

You might think that the rain would dampen the spirits of the race fans, but they seemed to be unfazed. Around 9,000 steeplechase fans showed up and had a great time.

Full Schedule of Events

The day’s schedule was full of fun events, and the gates opened at 10:30 to allow race fans to settle in. There were competitions for best dressed from head to toe and best tailgate. An auto show that featured Rolls-Royce automobiles gave a hint to the wealth of some race fans.

At 11:45, a pipe and drum band from Delaware warmed up the fans, followed by stick horse races, a parade of hounds, and singing of the National anthem at 1:50, and then, the first race started at 2 PM.

We had a blast watching the Parade of Hounds and then walked the grounds to find the best spots to watch the races. The rain probably kept some fans home, but thousands of sturdier fans were undeterred by the wet conditions.

We watched the first race at 2 PM, and three more races followed a half hour apart. The winners split approximately $60,000, no small sum for doing something they love. Stick horse races were held at 1:30, 2:15, and 2:45 for children gave them and their parents something else to cheer for.

Overall, the Point-to-Point is big fun for the whole family or couples like my wife and I, who have fallen under the spell of steeplechase.

Two Other Races

I’ve yet to attend the Radnor or Willowdale races. I suspect they are just as much fun as the other steeplechase races and not too far from my home in Maryland. Other steeplechase races are held along the East Coast, most of which donate a significant amount of money to various charities.

Jill Abbott of Winterthur told me, “The races for the most part run for a charity and the Point-to-Point is our largest fundraiser.”

So find a location on the steeplechase schedule at the National Steeplechase Association website and come and see what all the fun is about.