Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Large crowds turn out for Willowdale Steeplechase
EAST MARLBOROUGH >> The 25th running of the Willowdale Steeplechase races Sunday was a great day of entertainment and an example of how closely horses and Chester County go together.
Willowdale Steeplechase races are run no matter what the weather, bringing out the entire family for a day of excitement and fun. “Last year it was not because of the rotation of the races, there’s an extra weekend in the month of May, so we’re back. It’s a tradition to be on Mothers Day,” said Lin Bove, press tent coordinator.
Like many of the spectators, Bove has been coming to the races since they began. “I grew up down the street here, went to Unionville High School, so it’s exciting to have something in this area like this,” she said. “There’s so many aspects to it. It’s a big community event, so you see a
lot of people you know from the area.”
Younsters could be seen playing with stick horses, and tossing balls among the tailgate picnics as part of a family tradition of a day at the races. The tradition runs even deeper for the horsemen on the other side of the rail.
Steeplechasing grew out of the fox hunting tradition, which has deep roots in the region. Riders start hunting young, and they start racing
young as well. The day at Willowdale began with small, medium, and large pony races for junior riders, and a lead line pony race for children 6-yearsold or younger.
The Large Pony Race was won by 13-year-old Joey Dipierro of Cochranville on Hot Chocolate. In addition to racing, Dipierro fox hunts the pony. “We just bought her this year, but I ride her every week,” he said.
He may outgrow Hot Chocolate, but the pony will remain in the family as a hunting mount for Dipierro’s petite grandmother Michele Schofield Davies. “Mom could fox hunt him too, because she’s the same size. She’ll be here forever,” Davies said.
This year Willowdale looked back to another hunting tradition, running for the first time, a race for sidesaddle riders. The field of nine entries covered two miles over timber fences, with Julie Nafe winning on McCradys, owned and trained by Lauren Schock.
Willowdale is one of the top five events in America’s world of Steeplechasing. The featured event, out of seven sanctioned races held Sunday was worth a total purse of $35,000. In addition, in recognition of Willowdale’s 25th anniversary year, the winning horse, Doc Ceru, owned by Charles Fenwick Jr., and trained by Jack Fisher, is now eligible to take home a $100,000 bonus if he wins again in the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup in November.