HUNT CUP: Thanks, Kathee!

I suspect Kathee Rengert had something to do with the perfect weather -- warm and sunny -- that we spectators enjoyed for the 84th running of the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup on Sunday, Nov. 4. (Kathee, the longtime executive director, died on Oct. 6.)
But due to the heavy rain we received on Nov. 2, the carriage parade was cancelled--the ground was just too muddy for the heavy carriages--and for safety's sake two of the jumps in low-lying areas were eliminated from the race course.
No matter what the weather, the Hunt Cup is always great fun, as it attracts so many local folks who come out to watch the races, socialize, and eat and drink. Our table groaned with Royal Farms fried chicken, brownie cupcakes, veggies, chips and berry crumble. Dearest Partner's favorite parts of the afternoon are taking photographs and making friends with every canine he sees.
The talk among the foxhunters was about how Opening Day for every local club was cancelled due to the aforementioned downpours. As one friend in our party said mournfully, "I spent hours washing, and brushing, and polishing, and braiding, and getting everybody's finery together -- then I got the email."
"She burst out crying," added her husband. Both were quick to note, however, they realized it was a First World, even One Percent, problem.
The sidesaddle race (the Mrs. Ford Draper Side Saddle Invitational) was amazing to watch -- what incredible riders those women are, and they look stunning in their vintage black riding habits. For the race they wore modern body armor and helmets (I wonder if, for safety's sake, that rule shouldn't apply throughout the day). The winner was Julie Nafe on McCradys, owned and trained by Lauren Schock. After the race the riders and their horses posed in front of a bevy of photographers like it was a Hollywood premiere.
Usually we are so cold that we leave before the final race, the Athenian Idol (won by Robert Law-Eadie on In It to Win, owned by John E. Teas  Jr. and trained by Michael W. Dickinson) but the weather was so glorious that we just hung out, ate and enjoyed each other's company.
The winners:
In the Lewis C. Ledyard Memorial Race, the winner in a very close finish was Hooded, with Darren Nagle up (owned by Irvin Naylor and trained by Cyril Murphy).
The Arthur O. Choate, Jr., Memorial Race was won by Riverdee Stable's Biedermeier, trained by Todd Wyatt, with Mark Beecher up.
And the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup winner was Frank Bonsal Jr.'s Stand Down, trained by Joseph Davies, with Eric Poretz up.