Today we celebrate our young jockeys by taking a look back at this past spring and looking forward to what is up next for them.

In 2017 several point-to-points carded young rider flat races at their meets, but most were canceled due to lack of entries. The National Steeplechase Foundation has always encouraged jump meets to host flat races for young riders, but this year a prize was offered in hopes of increasing participation in young rider flat races. Along with existing young rider flat races in Virginia, including the Old Dominion Pt-to-Pt, the Loudoun Hunt Pt-to-Pt, and the Blue Ridge Hunt Pt-to-Pt, the Cheshire Pt-to-Pt (Unionville, Pennsylvania) and the Aiken Training Trials (Aiken, South Carolina) added a young rider flat to their card and the NSF Young Rider Flat Race Series was born. Charles Owen, a British riding helmet manufacturer world famous for raising the bar in safety, donated a jockey skull cap as a prize to the individual who participated in the most young rider flat races in the series.

The races in the series attracted sufficient entries, with the exception of the Loudoun Pt-to-Pt. A total of 10 young riders participated in the series, but it was Abigail Murphy and Hannah Belt who rode in all four in the series. The tie breaker came down to who earned the most points based on their finishes in the series and it was Murphy who came out on top with 19 points, which included three seconds and a fourth. The NSF would like to extend a special thanks to all of the race meets that hosted races for juniors and young riders this past spring.

This is a REMINDER to all 15-18 year olds interested in jump racing not to forget

that the deadline for the NSF Young Rider Domestic Steeplechase Trip application is

rapidly appraching. The NSF needs your written essay, letters of recommendation

and list of previous riding experience by Sunday, July 8th. Several jockeys and individuals involved in steeplechase racing made connections critical to their current careers during their experiences on this NSF trip. Some previous attendees who are heavily involved in the steeplechase world include Eric Poretz, McLane Hendriks, Erin Swope, Tess Croce, and Sam Cockburn just to name a few.

The NSF Young Rider Domestic Steeplechase Trip (on July 21 - 26) is structured toward providing students with an in-depth experience of what steeplechase racing in the USA is all about. It is for teenagers who are familiar with jump racing and who have a demonstrated interest in learning more about the sport. The ideal candidate should have expressed interest in being involved with steeplechase racing in the future.

Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot and amateur jockey Lia McGuirk will lead this year’s

trip. Activities include a hands-on visit to trainers’ barns in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; attending lectures and discussion sessions with trainers, jockeys, owners, and stewards; and attending races at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.

The trip will give students invaluable insight in to the world of steeplechase trainers in the USA. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet, speak with, ask questions of, and most importantly, learn from different trainers regarding how they operate and find their own success in racing. They will be hands-on at different stables, working with trainers and their resident exercise riders to learn about riding, grooming, horse handling, and the diagnosis and treatment of common race horse injuries. Young riders will have the opportunity to ride at some barns, but this is at the discretion of each trainer.

The trip will provide lessons into the technical aspects of jump racing in the USA. Young riders will learn about timber and hurdle racing through their time with experts in each field. The trip culminates in Saratoga Springs where young riders will meet numerous jump and flat trainers, jockeys, owners and officials. Along with taking in the races, they will be given special access to the jocks room, placing judges tower, racing barns, and the backstretch.

You can find the application for the NSF Young Rider Steeplechase Domestic Trip here and a sample itinerary here. Note that applications and letters of recommendation are due by July 8th. Those who earn a position in the trip will be notified by July 12th.

The NSF Developing Rider Ireland Trip will not be held this year, but will return in

July 2019. Brittany Scampton attended the trip in 2015 and credits her time in

Ireland with the NSF for much of what she is doing now. Scampton recently entered

the amateur jockey colony at Delaware Park after spending some time aboard

galloping in Australia.

Scampton says, “The NSF trip to Ireland made me want to go out and travel more. If

it wasn't for that trip I don't think I would have had the nerve to go to Australia by

myself. Having trainers in Ireland tell me I was good and I should continue with it

gave me confidence to go out by myself and get a job with as big a trainer as Chris

Waller in Australia.”

Scampton now gallops most mornings at Delaware Park and had the opportunity to

ride Apollo Eleven for Hubert Gaffney on June 18th in her first start on the flat. The

young jockey, who currently who has five flat rides under her belt, says, “I think that

for the time being because I'm such a light weighted person I have to stick to flat

[racing]. However, as I get older and my metabolism slows down, I'll be able to

return to jump racing and ride over timber which would be the dream come true.”

Scampton’s former employers, Elizabeth Voss and Garry Murray, connected her with

Waller, the top Grade 1 conditioner in Australia. Scampton gives, “all the credit to

the Voss gang, Bethany Baumgardner, and everyone else I have met in jump racing

who gave me a chance. Jump racing was my foundation for riding races and it still

helps me out to this day. Honestly, around the track it’s what the trainers love most

about me. They know I can handle horses because I have the jump racing background.”

We have just learned about the passing of jockey, author, and photographer Raymie Woolfe. You can read Mr. Woolfe's obituary in  The BloodHorse . Woolfe designed and built  The Foxfield Races  steeplechase course in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was a well-known and well-respected photographer. Raymie Woolfe passed away on May 10 at the age of 82. (Douglas Lees photo)

Longtime steeplechase enthusiast Bill Teter has also passed away. You can read more about Mr. Teter on the NSA website.

The Maryland Jockey Club announced that longtime Vice President of Racing and Racing Secretary Georganne Hale has been named Vice President of Racing Development. Hale, the first and only woman to serve as racing secretary at a major North American racetrack when promoted to the position in 2000 by the Maryland Jockey Club, will work on a number of initiatives to continue the growth of Thoroughbred racing in Maryland.

The Cecil County Library is hosting a program on Monday July 16th at their Rising Sun Branch. It will discuss the history of horses in Cecil County, Maryland, and will be presented by Equus writer Emily Kilby. Registration is free - please register HERE. 

The NSA's Fall Condition Book is now posted online. The hard copy will be mailed soon. See the NSF's ad in there, as well. All the race information for the summer racing schedule can be found on the NSA's website.

Do you have news or programs you'd like to share? Email us and tell us about it!