On Saturday steeplechase racing in Virginia moved to Morven Park. The weather was lovely but there seemed to be fewer spectators than in the past, which is a shame because it’s a nice course for viewing the races. For more photos of the horses please visit my steeplechase gallery.

The first two races were over hurdles with a lot of entries. In both cases the fields were tight over the last fence. Legendary Pacer (on the left) with Ross Geraghty chased down Green Velvet with Danielle Hodsdon (on the right) in the stretch to win the maiden hurdle race.

Canardly won the second hurdle race and was claimed for a new owner. Here he is in the paddock before the race with his groom.

Roddy Mackenzie won the first flat race on Jellyberry.

I’m Telling and Jacob Roberts won the timber race. This horse is lots of fun to watch because he usually jumps high over every fence and loves to run in front. This time, however, Atrium passed I’m Telling before the last jump where I’m Telling chipped in and hung a leg before making a huge leap to maintain his balance. Most of us were surprised as he pulled past Atrium in the stretch.

The final race was the Virginia bred flat race and it was even more unexpected. Coming out of the paddock, Love Colony and Paddy Young parted ways and Love Colony romped around the race course for quite some time. He was eventually caught near the starting point and Paddy ran 1/8 mile down the course to get back on. The two led for the entire seven furlong race and cruised easily over the finish line.

And finally it’s thirst business being an outrider’s mount.