Posted on by Darrell Wood
Based on the recent success of running several National Steeplechase Association (NSA) sanctioned races at Virginia’s spring Point-to-Point meets the past couple years, that strategy will continue and even expand in 2025 according to NSA Director of Racing Bill Gallo.
“We’ve had a good experience at the Old Dominion and Blue Ridge meets and will be adding the Loudoun Hunt Meet at Morven Park in Leesburg to the mix next year,” said Gallo. “We thought it would be good to reach out to Point-to-Point meets that were well established and had good racecourses that were safe to race over and give them a chance to expand their racing opportunities. We refer to them as hybrid meets now since they include regulated NSA sanctioned races and other races they traditionally have run that are not regulated. These mixed meets give Point-to-Points a bit more validity and substance,” added Gallo. “It clearly gets the top riders and trainers to participate in these meets. It’s a win-win situation. It’s a small step but a very positive one. It’s good for the Point-to-Points and good for the NSA as well.”
The new Loudoun Hunt PTP is scheduled for Sunday April 20 and will feature a minimum of two sanctioned races though the final program is still being created. The Old Dominion PTP, slated for Saturday April 5 at the Ben Venue Farm in Washington, Virginia, hosted two sanctioned races last year — one hurdle and one timber — and will get an additional sanctioned hurdle race this spring to bring its total number up to three. The Blue Ridge, which has a new date of Saturday April 12 at the Woodley Farm in Berryville, will host a four-pack of sanctioned races, up from two last year. They will have three hurdle events and a timber race.
Overall, the NSA is coming off a strong 2024 which saw purses rise one million dollars — from just under $6 million, to just under $7 million. Gallo referred to the gain as “unheard of”.
“The fall meets in Virginia were great and a big reason why we had a successful year,” he said. “We did have a course problem at Great Meadow but the transition to running it at Glenwood Park in Middleburg worked out nicely. Thank God we had that option for the International Gold Cup card as opposed to cancellation of a major meet. Horsemen liked running at Glenwood Park.”
“Montpelier had their strongest race card ever and had the biggest crowd that I’ve ever seen there,” continued Gallo. “And Foxfield put a tremendous amount of effort into their course thanks to Jack Sanford and Reynolds Cowles. They are presenting themselves beautifully with major renovations and increased purses. As a result, they have two premier meets now. Horsemen really appreciate those efforts.”
Two new additions to the Virginia stakes schedule also played a major factor in 2024’s growth. The Grade 1 Colonial Cup was run during the spring Gold Cup card and the Grade 1 Will Allison Stakes was contested during the fall International Gold Cup card. The pair represented the first Grade 1 steeplechase stakes to ever appear on the Commonwealth’s calendar.
The jump race program at Colonial Downs also was key. “We love going to Colonial,” added Gallo. “It is such a great opportunity. It’s not just the volume of races, but the purses are very good too. It’s pivotal for us. The meet there offers $50,000 purses for maiden special weights — which is substantial for us — along with several ratings races for claiming type horses which are in the mid to lower end — like they are in any kind of racing. The meet was complemented by two $100,000 filly stakes which were held a month apart which fit perfectly with the program.” Discussions are currently taking place about what the 2025 summer season in New Kent will look like.
Gallo reminisced about the NSA’s path forward after the pandemic. “Covid was crippling to us. We salvaged some meets that year to keep our horsemen going but didn’t have fans at any of the races — which is a big source of revenue. It was very difficult financially. We’ve rebounded and rallied to the point that race meets are much better and NSA is doing much better. We are very excited about the future.”