The Willowdale Steeplechase was enjoyable if soggy this year. Judging by the many empty parking spots, lots of people decided to stay home, but I'm very glad we went.
The fashionistas who attended had to trade in their fancy hats, little summer dresses and heels for umbrellas, Barbour jackets and Dubarry boots, but there were still some lavish tailgate spreads to be seen -- albeit underneath waterproof canopies.
We said hello to lots of hardy friends, visited with politicians at their tent (and ate their food), chatted with Lou Mandich at the antique car display (and ate his food), made friends with lots of dogs and enjoyed watching kids playing in the little creek. The mud clearly didn't bother them a bit.
We arrived just as trumpet player (and West Marlborough resident) Tom Herman was playing the National Anthem.
It was a treat to watch Julie Nafe on Lauren Schock's McCrady's win the Miss Nancy Nicholas sidesaddle race for the second year in a row. The format was a bit different this year: the riders had to stay behind field master Ivan Dowling (Cheshire's huntsman) until the last fence, after which they took off and galloped to the finish. What amazing riders those women are!
The other winners of the day:
1. The Liam Magee amateur race: Brett Owings on Kristian Strangeway's I Am Not Here, trained by Todd Wyatt.
2. The Folly: Jack Doyle on Riverdee Stable's Ebullience, trained by Jonathan Shepherd.
3. The Rose Tree Cup: Graham Watters on Irv Naylor's Stormy Alex, trained by Cyril Murphy.
4. The Willowdale Steeplechase: Hadden Frost on Charlie Fenwick's Doc Cebu, trained by Jack Fisher (same as in 2017).
5. The Landhope Cup, first division: Mark Beecher on Thistledown Farm's Spirit of Shankly, trained by Mark Beecher.
6. The Landhope Cup, second division: Gerard Galligan on Merriebell Stable's Spoiler Alert, trained by William Meister.
7. The Marshall W. Jenney Memorial: Eric Poretz on Frank Bonsal's Stand Down, trained by Joseph Davies.
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