April 2026 Issue

April 2026 | EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN 38 Of Timber & Trees The Maryland Hunt Cup as Family Business Continued from page 34 and generations of sporting stewardship have pro- tected thousands of acres of open country—land preserved not for development, but for galloping. It is on that living landscape, maintained by both the sung and the unsung families of the sport, that the Maryland Hunt Cup still unfolds at full stride. The Last Saturday in April April belongs to timber racing—and to spring- time pruning—so it is impossible to trace every branch of the Maryland Hunt Cup’s family trees here. But year after year spectators gather with pic- nic baskets and field glasses to watch horsemen and women test themselves against four miles of Maryland countryside and twenty-twounforgiving timber fences. And as long as the race endures, the Hunt Cup’s family trees will continue to grow. Editor’s Note: The Maryland Hunt Cup’s story extends far beyond the families highlighted in this article. Generations of riders, trainers, breeders, and foxhunters have shaped the race across Mary- land, Pennsylvania, and Virginia hunt country. Among the many families whose names recur in the Hunt Cup archives are the Beards, Browns, Clothiers, Colwills, Crawfords, Georges, Janneys, Kingsleys, McHenrys [yes, those McHenrys], McKnights, Meisters, Naylors, O’Donovans, Ohr- stroms, Spencers, Stephensons, Stewarts, Streetts, Strawbridges, and Whistlers. Some remain active in the sport today, while others belong to earlier chapters of the race’s long history. We apologize to the many whose stories could not be included here—there is simply not enough room to name every branch of the remarkable family tree that defines the Maryland Hunt Cup. Fence Six at theMarylandHunt Cup, 4’9” of solid oak timber. PhotobyAlexBrownwithpublic domain use permission Wikipedia The National Steeplechase Association Schedule DATE RACE MEET LOCATION April 4 Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point Washington, VA April 11 Blue Ridge Point To Point Berryville, VA April 11 My Lady’s Manor Monkton, MD April 18 Grand National Steeplechase Butler, MD April 18 Middleburg Spring Races Middleburg, VA April 19 Loudoun Hunt Point To Point Leesburg, VA April 25 Foxfield Spring Races Charlottesville, VA April 25 Maryland Hunt Cup Glyndon, MD May 2 Virginia Gold Cup The Plains, VA May 9 Iroquois Steeplechase Nashville, TN May 9 Willowdale Steeplechase Kennett Square, PA May 16 Radnor Hunt Races Malvern, PA May 25 Fair Hill Races Fair Hill, MD June 21 Laurel Park Laurel, MD Summer Card ** Belmont Stakes Racing Festival @ Saratoga Saratoga Springs, NY June - August (see below)** Summer Meet Saratoga Springs, NY June - August (see below)*** Colonial Downs New Kent, VA August 30* Fair Hill Races Fair Hill, MD September 26 Shawan Downs Hunt Valley, MD October 4 Foxfield Fall Races Charlottesville, VA October 10 Genesee Valley Hunt Races Geneseo, NY October 10 Virginia Fall Races Middleburg, VA October 17 Far Hills Race Meeting Far Hills, NJ October 24 International Gold Cup The Plains, VA October 31 Aiken Fall Steeplechase Aiken, SC November 1 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup Unionville, PA November 7 Montpelier Hunt Races Montpelier Station, VA November 7 Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens Pine Mountain, GA November 15 Steeplechase Of Charleston Hollywood, SC November 22 Colonial Cup Camden, SC *Fair Hill 2026 Fair Hill has been granted up to eight racing dates by the Maryland Racing Commission for 2026, the August 30th Memorial Day weekend is the first meet confirmed, with that date listed on the official NSA calendar. **Saratoga —Spring & Summer Meets 2026 Saratoga’s 2026 steeplechase calendar begins with a jump race during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival on June 7, followed by a traditional slate of mid-week summer features. Expected highlights include the Grade I A.P. Smithwick Memorial, the Michael G. Walsh Novice Stakes, the Grade I Jonathan Sheppard Stakes, andmultiple allowance hurdles throughout July and August. ***Colonial Downs 2026 Colonial Downs will have an active summer rac- ing season in 2026, running live thoroughbred racing from June 25 through Labor Day (Sept. 7) 2026 and steeplechase is a part of its annual sum- mer meet in New Kent, Virginia, though specific dates and race titles have not yet been published.