Page 56 - The Hunt - Spring 2022

AbouttheRaces
continued from page 18
The museum was founded by collector and horticulturalist Henry Francis du Pont on the estate that had been his home since childhood. His 175-room house features furniture, home accessories and works of art made or used in America from 1640
to 1860.
With harmonious color and successive blooms year-round, the 70-acre Winterthur Garden was designed by Henry Francis du Pont and is one of the oldest continually operating naturalistic gardens in North America. It’s also a resource for scholars, landscape architects and horticulturists.
Winterthur Library provides staff, students and the general public with research materials about American decorative arts. It’s open to the public
free of charge. In partnership with the University of Delaware, Winterthur also offers two graduate programs focused on the study of art conservation and American material culture.
Winterthur also hosts films, musical performances, lectures for scholars and the general public, and study programs on decorative arts. Among its popular family programs are annual events like June’s Enchanted Summer Day and October’s Truck and Tractor Day. Winterthur also hosts the Delaware Antiques Show, a top- ranked weekend-long fall event. A beloved Brandywine Valley tradition, Yuletide at Winterthur tours depict American holiday celebrations of the past, along with the holiday rituals of the du Ponts.
Visitors are always free to explore the estate. All outdoor areas are available to members year-round. The retail store offers books, clothing accessories, decorative items for home and garden, children’s gifts, and more.
Winterthur’s largest single-day fundraiser, Point-to-Point supports maintenance and preservation of the gardens and estate. The annual event was spearheaded in 1978 by Greta “Greets” Layton, who grew up around horses and steeplechasing. Drawing on the knowledge of Russell B. Jones Jr., Louis “Paddy”
Neilson III and other local horsemen, Layton launched the organizational effort. The first weekend in May seemed an ideal time for the race, as it didn’t conflict with the Radnor Hunt Races and other area equestrian events that already featured prominently in sporting and social calendars. It also rounded out a series of race meets hosted by the Delaware Valley Point to Point Association.
For the first Point-to-Point in
1979, spectators were mainly hardcore enthusiasts of the sport. They dressed
in country clothes and sat on blankets, or they stood on hillsides to watch the action. More than 1,000 people attended the event—a far cry from the 16,000 the event draws today.
In the early years, winners of the five races were awarded trophies modeled after notable pieces of silver in the Winterthur collection. Races were named after people and organizations familiar to Winterthur supporters and area residents: the Isabella du Pont Sharp Memorial, the Vicmead Plate, the Middletown Cup,
the Winterthur Bowl, continued on page 22
20 STEEPLECHASE LOOKBOOK 2022 | todaymediainc.com