Virginia Gold Cup Thrills the Crowds

Photos by Tony Gibson

Saturday, May 5th, may not have brought record numbers to Great Meadow for the 93rd Virginia Gold Cup, but it did bring a surge in wagering and some major wins for our area’s owners, breeders and trainers.

Zanclus led from the start for owner-breeders Sara and Bruce Collette, trainer Neil Morris and rider Kieran Norris in the feature $100,000 Virginia Gold Cup timber race, crossing the finish line 3 ¾ lengths ahead of Mike Smith’s Le Chevalier, trained by Julie Gomena and ridden by Jack Doyle.

Personal Sport won the afternoon’s featured hurdle race, the $75,000 Semmes Memorial, for owner-breeder Maggie Bryant of Middleburg and The Plains-based trainer Richard Valentine.

Of course, fine racing also brought out gaily-arrayed crowds to cheer on the horses and enjoy the competitive atmosphere. Wagers aside, everyone went home happy! ML