Washington Life Magazine
Washington Life Magazine

RACE into SUMMER
Daffodils in Upperville, Gold Cup and gardening with the Queen

B Y V I C K Y M O O N
RIDING ATTIRE?
Riding Attire? A very elegant Lady Godiva was spotted not far from the main drag in Upperville recently. And this much is true; one irate woman whispered in my ear, “I think this is a travesty.” You see, the Lady Godiva in question was part of the hotly contested artistic division of the 44th Annual Daffodil Show presented by the Upperville Garden Club at Buchanan Hall.
The inspiration was “Women: Famous and Infamous,” and the competition was stiff. A note in the program
stated: “Bare your creativity.” No problem for Linda Dodderidge, Marcia Keech and Pat Sharp-Hyde, who won the contest hands down. Their clever arrangement, complete with flowing mane of asparagus fern, included an abundant and anatomically correct LG. Is it any wonder that writer John Updike once wrote a very fitting poem back in 1961, which began with:
Lady Godiva, in daffodils.
In Upperville, the upper crust Say “Bottoms Up!” from dawn to dusk An “Ups-a-daisy, dear!” at will - I want to live in Upperville.
JUMPING IN STYLE
The spring steeplechase season includes the legendary Maryland Hunt Cup in the horse country near Baltimore. It is a one race only affair with a purse of $75,000 over four miles and 22 (very tall and sturdy) timber fences. The main attraction is the race ... not too many tailgates here. This year, as always, there were many from Middleburg watching: John Coles, Ann and Bill Backer, Sheryl and Henry Wood, Lennart and Lena Lundh and Leo and Winston Wood. Race horse trainer Barbara Graham made the day trip over with Jill Waterman and Ellen Waterman. Ellen’s daughter Blair Wyatt rode Bug River and led most of the way, only to finish second to Stewart Strawbridge on The Bruce. The race was run in memory of D. Michael Smithwick, who won the Hunt Cup a record six times. His widow, Middleburg horsewoman Dot Smithwick, and other family members were on hand for the trop hy presentation. In Virginia, racing fans and tailgate devotees gathered for the 82nd edition of the $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup. Nick Arundel, who has been an important part of this event and Great Meadow, was given a gold medal in a touching tribute produced and narrated by Brit Hume of Fox News. When winning jockey Chip

 

 



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