Post-Race Analysis:
Glyndon, Maryland - April 30, 2005: Make Me A Champ won the $65,000
Maryland Hunt Cup, running down last year's winner Bug River in
deep stretch to prevail by a half-length. Little Starvin Marvin,
who led for much of the 4-mile race, finished third while Rosbrian
(Ire) was fourth and last in in the 109th running of the world's
oldest timber race.
At age 14, Make Me A Champ is the oldest horse to have won the
Maryland Hunt Cup since at least 1930. The winner that year, Brose
Hover, is simply listed as "aged" in the history books.
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Make Me A Champ (left) about to pass
Bug River en route to winning the 109th running of the Maryland
Hunt Cup. Isabel J. Kurek photo
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As a steady drizzle descended on the storied course at Glyndon,
Bug River cleared the final fence in the lead and appeared a winner
as he galloped down the long stretch towards the finish line. But
Make Me A Champ and jockey Joe Davies came flying down the middle
of the course to overtake Bug River in the shadow of the wire.
The victory fulfilled a lifelong dream for Make Me A Champ's owner,
Irv Naylor, who won his first Maryland Hunt Cup after having participated
in the historic timber race as a jockey and an owner since 1953.
"The only way to improve on this would be to win it again,"
said Naylor, who is confined to a wheelchair after being paralyzed
in a riding accident four years ago. "There is no thrill left
that could top this. I've been trying to win this race for over
50 years."
Make Me A Champ came into this year’s race off a second-place finish
at My Lady’s Manor two weeks ago. The son of Salutely (by Hoist
The Flag) finished fourth in last year's edition of the Maryland
Hunt Cup.
The victory was the third in the past eight years for 43-year-old
amateur jockey Joe Davies, formerly known as Joe Gillet. Davies
had previously won the Maryland Hunt Cup with Swayo in 2000 and
on Florida Law in 1998.
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Jockey Joe Davies celebrates his third
Maryland Hunt Cup victory with his wife and son. Isabel
J. Kurek photo
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"This is probably it for me," said Davies after the race.
"I think this'll do it unless somebody comes to me with a hot
horse."
Three of the seven horses in the starting field lost their riders.
Narrow River unseated Alex Robertson at the famed third fence, the
largest on the course at 4 feet 9 inches tall. Jay Griswold came
off Blackchesters at the 15th when his saddle slipped. Then, after
taking the lead, two-time Hunt Cup winner Swayo (2000 and 2003)
lost jockey Charlie Fenwick III at the water jump, the second-to-last
of 22 fences on the course.
"He propped and I was right behind him and ran right over him,"
said Davies. "But we kept going. I was determined and this is a
tough horse beautifully trained by Bruce Miller."
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Little Starvin Marvin slipped as he approached
the third fence of the Maryland Hunt Cup but jockey Billy
Meister was able to stay on and guide his mount to a third-place
finish in the four-mile timber stakes. Isabel J. Kurek
photo
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This was the third Maryland Hunt Cup victory for trainer F. Bruce
Miller, his most recent having come in 2001 with Solo Lord. A decade
ago Miller trained recent Hall of Fame inductee Lonesome Glory while
he garnered five steeplechase Eclipse awards.
"This was a great thrill," said Miller after the race. "Our
horse doesn't want the lead, and the pace was quite slow. That made
it tricky for Joe. But when he had to run on, he was there. He's
got quite a leg kick and, at 14, he's as good a jumper as I've ever
had."
The $65,000 Maryland Hunt Cup, America's oldest and richest timber
race, is restricted to amateur riders. All horse carried 165 pounds
over the grueling 4-mile course that featured the largest timber
fences in America - some as high as 4 foot 9 inches tall.
The Maryland Hunt Cup originated in 1894 when the members of the
Elkridge Fox Hunting Club challenged the members of Green Spring
Valley Hounds to a timber race. Although the first race was limited
to members of the two clubs, the next year the race was opened to
all fox hunting clubs in Maryland, and in 1903, members from recognized
clubs throughout the United States and Canada were invited to participate.
In 1922, Worthington Valley became the permanent home of the four
mile, twenty-two fence race course. Since then, the size and spectacle
of the race has grown as fans bring their friends and families for
an afternoon of tailgating and picnicking on a hill that offers
a panoramic view of the racecourse.
The complete order of finish for the Maryland Hunt Cup is set forth
below.
Results:
|
FP
|
Horse
|
lbs
|
Jockey
|
Trainer
|
Owner
|
|
1
|
Make Me A Champ |
165 |
Davies |
F. Bruce Miller |
Irvin S. Naylor |
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2
|
Bug River (S) |
165 |
Waterman |
Regina Welsh |
Northwoods Stable |
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3
|
Lil Starvin Marvin |
165 |
Meister |
Billy Meister |
Mrs. William Class |
|
4
|
Rosbrian (Ire) |
165 |
Elliott |
Casey J. Randall |
Rosbrian Farm |
|
LR
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Swayo |
165 |
Fenwick |
Ann D. Stewart |
Move Up Stable |
|
LR
|
Narrow River |
165 |
Robertson |
Alex Robertson |
Alex Robertson |
|
LR
|
Blackchesters |
165 |
Griswold |
Jack Griswold |
Jack Griswold |
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Scr
|
Sky And Sea |
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Billy Meister |
Lucy Goelet |
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Scr
|
Bruno Castelli |
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|
Christopher Lyons |
Waverton Farm |
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Pedigree of Winner:
Click here for Make Me A Champ's 5-cross pedigree.
Pedigrees compliments of Thoroughbred
Pedigree Query
Previous Winners:
| YEAR |
FIRST (Age) |
JOCKEY |
lbs. |
SECOND |
lbs. |
THIRD |
lbs. |
|
2004
|
Bug River (11) |
Waterman |
165 |
Narrow River (13) |
165 |
Young Dubliner (15) |
165 |
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2003
|
Swayo (12) |
Gracie |
165 |
Wood Whistle |
165 |
Bowman's Crossing |
165 |
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2002
|
Young Dubliner (Ire) (13) |
Moran |
165 |
Swayo (11) |
165 |
Stone Buster |
165 |
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2001
|
Solo Lord (9) |
Hoffman |
165 |
Welter Weight |
165 |
Floating Interest |
165 |
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2000
|
Swayo (9) |
Gillet |
165 |
Welter Weight |
165 |
Emerald Action |
165 |
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1999
|
Welter Weight (11) |
Elmore |
165 |
Emerald Action |
165 |
Nem Blong Hem |
165 |
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1998
|
Florida Law (12) |
Gillet |
165 |
Welter Weight |
165 |
Sarkis |
165 |
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1997
|
Buck Jakes (9) |
Moran |
165 |
Welter Weight |
165 |
Florida Law |
165 |
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1996
|
Hello Hall (10) |
Meister |
165 |
Florida Law |
165 |
(only 2 finished) |
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Post-Race Analysis | Results
| Pedigree of Winner | Previous
Winners
