Cheshire Point-to-Point Races held on The Averell Penn Smith Walker Memorial Course, Plantation Field. Last Sunday of March.
Mr. Stewarts Cheshire Foxhounds was founded in 1912 by Plunket Stewart, the stepfather of Nancy Penn Smith Hannum, who made her joint master with him in 1945. In 1945, he appointed her Joint Master with him. In 1946, after the war, they started the races because it was fun. Back then, the event consisted of just three races: a ladies race, a heavyweight race and the open race for the Cheshire Bowl. This was a race people pointed to because the big prize in timber racing is to win the Maryland Hunt Cup and the Cheshire Bowl was the kind of course with the kind of fences that would help to get a horse ready.
Generating funds that go to the efforts and endeavors of land preservation, the races continue to be a major event today for the members of the Cheshire Hunt, as well as the entire community. Now featuring a total of eight races, the Cheshire Point-To-Point offers exciting racing as well as the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful countryside that has been preserved much as it was when the first races were held.
This year, the Cheshire Point-to-Point races will be held on Sunday, March 30th at the Plantation Field course, just off Route 82 outside Unionville. Gates open at 11 a.m. Post time for the first pony race is 12:30. In addition to two pony races, there are five races over fences and a flat race on the card. The admission fee for the races is by carload. Tickets are available in advance online or at the gate.
