This Sunday will find Steeplechase fans from The Main Line and Southern Chester County tailgating at the PA Hunt Cup Races in Unionville, PA. The farm where these races are held is simply beautiful and is a classic example of the rolling hills,fields and woods of Southeast PA horse country. This is a smaller Meet and the purses are not comprable to Radnor or Far Hills or the Grand National. Nevertheless, this slate of races finds top notch trainers,jockeys and horses on the entry card and is always exciting. The course is rigorous,challenging and sometimes dangerous.
The smaller format makes for a more intimate afternoon of tailgating with a knowledgale crowd of afficianados....people really there to watch and wager and not just see and be seen while sucking down Bloodys and eating pate'.
Many of the events in the Steeplechase season find crowds of pretenders who are there to party,gossip,pose and puke while dressed up in a manner they think an RL advt. of Steeplechase tailgating would look like. They have no idea that horses are running and no idea what he sport is all about. Instead, they stumble and flog about with the trappings but never really get the soul of the sport. It is sort of the contrast between the May Virginia Gold Cup versus the October International Gold cup....or the difference between Far Hill in NJ and My Lady's Manor in Maryland.
This year I think Bon Caddo has a chance to repeat as winner of the main race....followed closely by Prof. Maxwell or a late challange by Private Attack.
The weather forecast is favorable, the wagering will be spirited, the tailgate spread and cocktails inviting, and we are not even going to miss the Eagles as they are playing Monday night.
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