Page 74 - The Hunt - Spring 2024

POINT-TO-POINT
AT WINTERTHUR
THE RACE
For more than 40 years, Delaware has celebrated its own version of the Kentucky Derby each May. Winterthur’s largest single-day fundraiser, Point-to-Point supports maintenance and preservation of the garden and estate. The annual event was spearheaded in 1978 by Greta “Greets” Layton, who grew up around horses and steeplechasing. Searching for a way to utilize the nearly 1,000 acres of the estate, the trustees decided to present a day of racing in the tradition of the 18th and 19th centuries. 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 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.
Winterthur tractors cut a course
through a former cow pasture, and 7,000 spectators—mostly horsemen and their families and friends—witnessed the
first running on May 6, 1979. Today, Point-to-Point is a Winterthur tradition known for its lavish tailgate picnics, high-stepping carriage horses and stylish spectators. 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 and the Crowninshield Plate. In honor of Greets Layton, a trophy is awarded to the owner, trainer or rider who accumulates the most points.
In 2006, the Delaware Legislature passed a law that allowed Winterthur to offer
cash purses, and Point-to-Point became sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. The course is a challenging one, with a total of eight fences that are jumped 17 times, covering just over
three miles.
A gazebo in the gardens at Winterthur.
THE BENEFICIARY
Located just six miles outside Wilmington, Delaware, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses a former grand
du Pont estate set amid the quintessential Brandywine Valley landscape, 60 acres
of world-class gardens and a stunning mansion featuring the most significant collection of American decorative arts
in the world. Proceeds from Point-to- Point support environmental and land stewardship initiatives to care for, preserve and protect the Winterthur Garden and the woodlands, meadows and wetland habitats that surround it—nearly 1,000 acres of conserved land. From the mid- 19th century to the late 1960s, Winterthur was home to three generations of the du Pont family. The museum was founded by collector and horticulturalist Henry Francis du Pont in what had been his childhood home, which he expanded to its current size of 175 rooms displaying furniture, home accessories and works of art made or used in America from 1640 to 1860.
Du Pont also designed the Winterthur Garden. With its harmonious color and successive blooms year-round, it’s one of the oldest existing naturalistic gardens in North America. The Winterthur Library, an independent research library with a world-class collection, is dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of artistic,
cultural, social and intellectual history of the Americas in a global context from the 17th to the 20th centuries. 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 hosts films, musical performances, lectures and other programs. Among its popular family programs
are annual events like June’s Enchanted Summer Day and October’s Truck and Tractor Day. Winterthur also hosts its summertime Artisan Market, featuring
the region’s talented craftspeople, and the Delaware Antiques Show, a top-ranked weekend-long fall event. The annual Yuletide Tour in the mansion is a beloved Brandywine Valley holiday tradition, featuring spectacular displays celebrating the Winterthur collections and history.
Visit winterthur.org.
WILLOWDALE
STEEPLECHASE
THE RACE
The Willowdale Steeplechase will be “Racing for Life” on the second Saturday in May at its spectacularly beautiful racecourse on Street Road in Kennett Square with
six exciting steeplechase races. Since its inception in 1993, the event has raised over $1.3 million for local charities.
Race founder W.B. Dixon Stroud Jr.— who’d competed at the highest levels in steeplechase and polo—decided it was time to have a top-notch steeplechase event in the heart of Chester County’s Cheshire Hunt Country. Combining
his love for the sport and his commitment to the community, Stroud enlisted the help of many others for the inaugural running of the Willowdale Steeplechase in 1993.
The event features a world-class course incorporating timber fences, natural hedges and two water jumps. For the
31st running, Willowdale welcomes
back the Pony Races, the Jack Russell Terrier Races, the antique car exhibit, boutique shopping, food vendors, and the fun and educational Kid’s Alley. There’s something for everyone at Willowdale.
Family and friends can continued on page 40
38 STEEPLECHASE LOOKBOOK 2024 | todaymediainc.com