Page 63 - The Hunt - Spring 2021

OPEN SEASON A
By Eileen Smith Dallabrida Portraits by Tessa Marie Images
After a lost year
due to COVID-19, steeplechase racing comes galloping back.
fter a year lost to COVID-19, there’s
really only one goal for the organizers of Willowdale Steeplechase, the Radnor Hunt
Races and Point-to-Point at Winterthur: Get back on the horse.
This May, the events resume, rain or shine. In
this transitional year, fans can expect fenced-off
areas and other measures to ensure that social- distancing protocols are met. In addition to the fancy hats, expect to see masks and other face coverings. Willowdale is rolling out touch-free ticketing and
a digital race-day program accessed by a link on a smartphone. Spectator areas on the 145-acre grounds will be reconfigured. “The challenges of the pandemic have forced us to think differently, move out of our comfort zone of business as usual and completely retool,” says Leslie Carpenter, Willowdale’s race director. “Change is uncomfortable, but change is also exciting—and we can’t wait for May 8.”
And while there will be a full card of races, there will be fewer spectators. “It will be a smaller, more streamlined version this year,” says Kathy Franey Smith, race director at Radnor Hunt Races, which will host its 90th meet on May 15.
Winterthur will host its 43rd Point-to-Point on May 30, the last Sunday of the month, instead of the traditional first Sunday in May. Expect socially distanced tailgating that adheres to guidelines established by the State of Delaware and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fans can also enjoy tailgating at home as they watch the races remotely. “We’ve been working for months on different
plans and scenarios that adhere to safety and health protocols,” says race director Jill Abbott. “We’re lucky that we have 70 acres to spread out and accommodate our event. We’ve reduced the number of spectators
to under 30 percent and separated each tailgate area. Those who want to have their own tailgate at home can livestream the races on their computers.”
A (DIFFERENT) DAY AT THE RACES
Historically, as many as 25,000 spectators attend Radnor Hunt, with 18,000-20,000 at a typical meet. While a precise number of guests won’t
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