A Fun Day at the Races

If you missed the Genesee Valley Hunt Races this year, don’t miss them next year!

I picked this winner, Sky Count, in the third.

The hunt races, held on a lovely course north of Geneseo, NY, offer a variety of entertainment and activities, even for your non-horsey significant other and children.  After going for the first time this year, I heartily recommend it!

The 2012 races included a main race card with races on the flat and over fences.  It also included fun races, such as small and large pony races with kids aboard, a moderately paced, amateur  “chase” over fences, and a sport horse sprint, won for the second year in a row by a dark bay, mixed breed named Woogie.

In addition to the races, the event included food vendors offering soups, sandwiches and sweets, tents full of the work of local artisans (alpaca hair socks!) local produce and a petting zoo.  Other activities included Jack Russell and “wiener dog” races, dog agility and other fun activities to watch and do.

It was a chilly day, but with enough layers, my friend Trish and I were happy enough.  We set up our chairs near the finish line and watched the races through the main event, the Genesee Valley Hunt Cup, then headed home.

Here are some shots from the day.

A Jack Russell wins in a blur.

Small Pony winner crossing the finish. He's named One Stinky Pony, ridden by Katie Hindt.

Woogie, winning and keeping the Sport Horse Sprint title, with Danielle DeSain aboard.

This groom got clocked by his horse's head and bit at the finish line.  Medic!

Master of the Hunt, Marion A. Thorne, parades the hounds on the race course.

Mickey The Belgian and rider Jennifer Rogers made it across the finish line in the Heavy Horse Race.