Evening star., 1941-04-24
New Trophy at Stake
Fourth in 48-Year
History Of Test
Neur-AirucIe Achieved
When Blockade Won 1t
Three Times in Row
By LARRY LAWRENCE.

Several hundred Capital horse
fans will be among the 10000 or
more followers of steeplechase rae
ing who will journey to Worthing-
ton Valley, Md, on Saturday to
attend the 48th renewal of the
Maryland Hunt Cup. In this famous
contest held annually at the !Glyn-
don estate of j. w. Y. Martin, near
Baltimore, Super-steeplechasers Of
America will compete in the world S
most noted timber classic.
There are two celebrated races
known the world over as the sever
est challenge to the heart of the
gallant thoroughbred. In England,
the Aintree Grand National, with
its miles $50 yards of winding
course punctuated by 80 monStrous
brush jumps, is the most cherished
Of all Steeplechase events in the
annals Of British sport. America has
what corresponds to the Aintree,
the equally cherished Worthington
Valley Maryland Hunt Cup, the
most rigorous test of timber horse
devised by man.
Fixed Fences Dangerous.
1t is run over a 4-mile 120-yard
course that traverSes several fields
divided by % giant oak plank fences,
up to feet high. These obstacles
are of the most solid and sub
Stantial construction, with no rails
that can be knocked down at the
slightest impact of a horses hoof.
On the Maryland course, If horse
hits a rail hard horse and rider 60
down, not the fence.
Only the hardest and best-con-
ditioned timber racers can hope to
be contenders in this arena of swift
and strenuous action, SO naturally
in the 48 years of its stirring his
tory the Maryland has brought
forth a distinguished list of timber
tmmortals. Forty-eight years ago,
Johnny Miller, an outstanding hunt
er of that day, owned and ridden
by John McHenry, defeated a field
Of nine to capture the inaugural
over difficult cross-country course.
Since that historic day, over the
same identical course, the Maryland
Hunt Cup has been the prize for
which hundreds of the most valor-
GUS timber horses and daring riders
annually have competed.
Three times the celebrated mug
has been retired. In 1903, 1905 and
1906 it was lifted by w. J. H. Waters
illustrous Princeton. Preceding
Princeton's triumph the late John
H. ODonovan's Garry Owen, ridden
by Jervis Spencer, jr., registered
wins in 1901 and 1902 and came back
five years later in 1907 to a victory
that placed the coveted trophy in
Mr.. ODonovan's hands for keeps.
Last year, after chalking up sue
cesses in 1888 and 1899, Mrs. E. Read
Boards Blockade won the Maryland
for the third successive time. feat
that was supposed to be almost i'm
possible OF attainment for tradition
had 1t that a very active two-time
jinx prevented any horse from tax
ing three races in row.
Several owners have won the cup
twice, but failed in third endeavor;
the most notable and regrettable in
stance was in 1923. That year Mrs
Raymond Belmont was trying for a
third win with her doughty Oracle
II, which had taken the race in 1920
and 1922. The superb little gray
crossed the finish line with a COM
Portable lead, but was disqualified
because, in the mist and rain, Ray
mond Belmont galloped his famous
mount past the wrong side of the
judges wagon and carried five other
contenders with him. The seventh
horse to finish, William Almy, jr.s,
Red Bud, was declared the winner.
Other double winners have been
c. L. A. Heiser's bon Master in
1927 and 1928, Charles S. Cheston's s
Captain Kettle in 1888 and 1894, and
Sacandaga in 1909 for Miss Frances
Fell and again in 1910 under the
colors OF Mrs. A. j. A. Devereux.
Troublemaker Tragic Winner.
Among the noted horses that have
won single victories in the MARYLAND,
none was more famous than Trouble
maker, which lowered the record to
8:51ss in 1882. In later Maryland
Hunt Cup race Mrs. T. H. Somerville's
big-hearted gelding was killed in
what was to be his farewell race.
Troublemaker's record stood until
Blockade, ridden by J. F.. Colwill,
brought the record down to 8:44 in
1898.
This year there is a new Chal-
lenge Cup for which the first flight
timber horses will race. 1t is pre-
sented in memory of the late Red
mond c. Stewart, one of the most
famous of all Maryland horsemen,
for he won the race more times
than any other individual, and was
one Of the original founders of the
timber classic.
II Will require q couple of hours,
at least, for Washingtonians to drive
to Worthington Valley The race
starts at 4 pm. There is no admis-
sion charge to the broad acres of
Glyndon, but there Is q charge for