What to Expect on Race Day

Before You Leave Home

The races are rarely canceled due to weather. Snow, heavy rain, and lightning are some of the few things that might stop the meet for a while but don't count on it. Steeplechase fans are hardy folk. When it doubt, call the hunt monitor at 703-957-4633 to confirm that the meet is still on.

Before you pack up the kids to go chasing, get the weather report. If it has been raining, or rain is predicted, you may not want to drive your fancy car into the open fields we lovingly refer to as parking. Of course, we can haul you out if you get stuck. But if the sight of your baby hooked up to a tractor brings tears to your eyes, don't bring your baby. Get out your four-wheel-drive SUV or something with front-wheel drive. The upside of this, you can get more people and food in a bigger vehicle.

On a spring day in Virginia, Mark Twain's remark about the weather is very apt. "If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." So, be prepared. Layers are the best strategy. Unless the Doppler shows clear, bring something water-resistant just in case.

'Chasing Style

Hats are always in style for a day at the races. Good weather brings out the frivolous concoctions while bad weather brings the practical choices.

'Chasing fashion is country casual elegance. In cool weather, men often choose a tweed jacket with a sweater or a vest. You will see many a tweed Irish driving cap paired with khakis and a pair of muck boots, Timberlands or Wellington boots (aka Wellies) when the ground conditions are iffy. In better weather, the younger generation switches to khaki shorts, pale blue or white oxfords and ties with horse or racing motifs, or a polo shirt. Sometimes, they will add a blazer.

In cool weather, women sport calf and ankle-length skirts, nice slacks, wooly sweaters, silk scarves with a horse or fox motif, and tweed jackets. On a beautiful spring day, the women take their cue from their surroundings. You will see long sun dresses, flower print skirts, or khaki slacks. This is when the beautiful hats appear and the practical hats get left at home. Hot pants and micro minis should be left in your closet for another event.

You should also leave the Jimmy Chos at home. Practical shoes like Wellies, L.L. Bean gumshoes, or paddock boots are your best bet. Jimmy Chos will never survive the mud or the occasional meadow muffin. Besides, you want something that you can stand in comfortably for a few hours.

In cooler, damper weather, you will see long and short versions of the English/Australian waxed coat on everyone. Dark green and brown are the favorite colors since they are the most practical. They are good windbreakers and do a pretty good job of keeping you dry should Mother Nature decide to water the plants on race day. The coats can be found at any good tack store or L.L. Bean or Lands End. Alternatively, vendors may have these at the races.

The Art of the Tailgate

We have a tailgate contest so if your inner Martha Stewart is yearning to compete, bring it on. If you are more the eat-on-the-run type, some years we have food vendors but some years we don't. Unless you are really good at crashing strangers' tailgates, you should bring something for yourself.

Tailgate is just another word for picnic. Pack up your favorite picnic food and drinks and watch the races. A word to the wise, stick to Sterno! Any kind of open grill is a recipe for trouble and will bring you more attention than you want. With respect to drinks, alcohol is allowed but be respectful of the rest of the crowd. Control your intake.

If you don't have an SUV, a station wagon or a pick up truck, you may want a piece of heavy plastic to protect you from the ground.

You may bring lawn chairs but leave the tents, umbrellas, or any other view obstructing object at home!


Before and During the Races

We will have shopping and eating and fun for kids of all ages. Kid-specific activities include a stick pony race, moon bounce, and petting zoo. Adults will enjoy the course walk and the parade of hounds.

The Races!

'Chasing fans ears prick up when they hear Will O'Keefe's voice on the PA system. Will is the "voice of steeplechase" in Virginia. He calls the play-by-play as the horses gallop along the course. How he gets all the names and action out clearly and understandably is still a mystery to us.

"Steeplechasing is one of those sports that has something for everybody. You can tailgate with your friends and be entertained every half-hour with a race. It is an exciting sport with great athleticism on the part of the horses and there is so much color involved. The setting is much prettier than running in the dirt," says O'Keefe who announces our races and two weeks later, The Virginia Gold Cup. According to Will, the Fairfax Hunt races are the best of the season because a number of horses running are preparing for the Gold Cup.

Get to the races before post time, especially if you have never seen a steeplechase before. You will have a chance to walk the course with Gregg Ryan who is one of the winningest jockeys of all time. He will give you the 411 on how a jockey sees the race.

Horses fall into three different classes. Hurdlers are horses that jump over 52" man-made or natural brush fences. Timber horses jump over large freestanding wooden railed fences and jumps in fence lines. Flat racers have no jumps.

Like a human hurdler, a hurdle horse will take the jump in stride and may brush through the top of the fence. Hurdle races are shorter and faster than timber races. In a timber race, brushing or hitting the fence could be catastrophic. However, timber is made to break away if it is hit hard enough. Timber courses are longer than hurdles.

Bring your binoculars and a camera. Steeplechase courses are longer than traditional race courses. Morven Park's course is the best in the area! The fences are spaced around the course so everyone gets a great view of something. Your shots of the horses thundering by will remind you of the great day you had.

'Chasing is an equal opportunity sport. Jockeys are male and female as are the horses. All of the horses are registered Thoroughbreds. However, not all of the horses were born and bred in the US. Make sure you get a program when you come in so you can see the lineage of your favorite horse, where they are from, and how much they have won in the past. The race program will also tell you what kind of race it is, how long it is, and what horse and rider team has won it in previous years. Add a pen to your picnic gear so you can mark your program with any last minute changes that Will announces.

The start of a steeplechase is not as formal as flat racing. There is no starting gate. The horses line up evenly and they go when the flag is dropped. More like NASCAR. If one of the horses jumps the start (i.e., leaves before the flag actually fell), they start over again.

Wagering

This is not a pari-mutuel sport so you get to make your own odds with your tailgate buddies. It's harder to figure the odds on a steeplechase than at the flat because there are more variables. First, they are jumping serious fences at +30 mph. Guiding 1,200 pounds of horse whose only thought is to be in front over those fences is a challenge few riders can meet. If a jockey bounces off, which happens, the horse rarely stops. Most frequently, the horse keeps competing making it even more difficult for the remaining jockeys to jump cleanly. Do not try to catch a loose horse. We have outriders and officials for just such occasions.