Going to the races and meal time at the monestary.
By Vicky Moon
Richard Roberts with the Piedmont hounds. Photo by Karen Buckley.
HIS CUP RUNNETH OVER
Publisher, sportsman and philanthropist Arthur W. “Nick” Arundel hustled to the paddock just in time to see his big bay horse walk on the course for the $50,000 Porsche International Gold Cup timber race at Great Meadow. “Good luck,” he said to jockey Robbie Walsh. “See you on the stand,” he added mischievously.
For the past 30-plus years, Nick has brought steeplechase racing to center stage for area spectators and participants. He served on the board of directors for the races and continues to act as Chairman of the Great Meadow Foundation. Nick had just come from the other side of the official’s tower, where artist Alexa King’s bronze sculpture of Saluter (six-time winner of the Virginia Gold Cup and two-time winner of the International Gold Cup) was unveiled to a crowd of 38,000.
Seven minutes, one and four-fifths seconds later, Nick was on the stand (as he so cannily predicted) accepting a lovely trophy. Irishman Walsh rode his horse, Seeyouattheevent, to victory – and set a course record along the way. The stunning gold trophy was first used in competition in the United States in the 1930s and is known as The King of Spain International Gold Cup Perpetual Trophy. Named in honor of his Royal Highness Alfonso XIII, it was later donated by Alfred M. Hunt.
In other Hunt Country horse-related events, Eve Fout recently captured the Field Hunter Championship of American by riding her horse, Morning Glory, in a series of competitions. Mary Lea and Jim Treptow took Margaret and Trow Littleton along for a 42-minute flight up to New Jersey to watch their horse, Rebellion, run in the Breeder’s Cup races. At the Unison Days Celebration, Piedmont Fox Hounds huntsman Richard Roberts brought the hounds down the main road of the village for a meet-and-greet session with the neighbors.
