The Old Dominion Hounds Point to Point was held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Ben Venue farm in Washington, Virginia. The exciting day of racing featured 10 races, including 3 races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association (NSA). Two of the point-to-point races had so many entries that they split into 3 & 2 divisions, respectively. The eight race was cancelled due to a lack of entries. leading to 12 competitions throughout the card.
The first race was an amateur/novice rider hurdle. For four-year olds and up going about 2 and a half miles over fences. This race was won by Lydford (GB) ridden by Even Dwan, owned by Maranto Manor, LLC and trained by Thomas Garner.
Second was the Hunter’s Rest maiden hurdle, for horses four and up who have never won over hurdles. Racing about two and a quarter miles. Ziggy Wiggy (IRE) was the winner for owner Mrs. S. K. Johnston, JR, and trainer Neil Morris. The 5-year-old mare was ridden by James O’Sullivan.
They ran a second division of this race that was won by Dream North, ridden by Dylan McDonagh for trainer Jack Fisher and owner Northwoods Stable.
With 29 entries in this condition, they had to split the Hunter’s Rest maiden into a third class which was won by Baseline Beater for owner Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom, Jr, and trainer Richard L. Valentine. The Kentucky bred gelding was ridden by Mell Boucher
The next event was the Old Dominion Hunt Cup for amateur & novice riders over foxhunter timbers. Similarly, too the Hunter’s Rest the race over filled and had to be split into 2 divisions the first of which was won by Bet the Pot for owner Vincent M Bonanni and trainer Neil Morris. The Pennsylvania bred gelding was ridden by Conor Tierney.
The second division scratched down to just one-horse Straw into Gold who was ridden by Sam Cockburn for owner Kinross farm and trainer Julie Gomena.
The first of the NSA sanctioned races was the fourth. A maiden hurdle race going 2 and a quarter mile, competing for a $30,000 purse. This race was won by Winning Spirit (GER) for owner Bonnie Rye Stables, and trainer Julie Gomena. The German 5-year-old was ridden by Gerard Galligan.
The fifth race was the Piedmont Equine NSA Maiden Hurdle, sponsored by the Virginia Equine Alliance. The $30,000 race was for horses four and up going two and a quarter miles. The race was won by Mission North notching another win on the card for owner Northwoods Stable, and trainer Jack Fisher. The Virginia-certified gelding was ridden by Graham Watters.
The next race The Meeting House Mountain Open Hurdle was not NSA sanctioned. The race was won by Madaket Stables LLC & The International Venture’s Going Country (IRE). The Irish gelding was ridden by Declan Carroll and trained by Keri Brion.
The seventh was the final race sanctioned by the NSA; the Leeds Don NSA Allowance Timber sponsored by the Virginia Equine Alliance going for $20,000. The race was won by Hard Strike trained by Todd McKenna and owned by Upland Partners. The winner was ridden by Gerard Galligan making it a double header for Gerard in NSA races on the card.
The eighth race the Aiken Classic restricted young adult flat race ended up scratching down to zero horses and did not end up being ran.
The ninth race was the High Thicket novice rider flat race for four-year-olds and up for novice riders, going a mile and a half on the flat turf. The race was won by Cadogan Place (GB) ridden by Mell Boucher, giving her two wins on the card. It was also a second win for owner Mrs. George L. Ohrstrom L. and trainer Richard L. Valentine.
The last race on the card was The Dark Horse Virginia-Bred or Virginia-Sired Flat races sponsored by the Viriginia Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association. The nightcap was won by Avalanche is Comin, ridden by Sarah Cundith for owner/trainer Jean L. Rofe.
