by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 13, 2023
Ellie Wood Page Keith Baxter, the winner of the 1936 ASPCA Maclay Finals, died Monday at the age of 101.
An active fox hunter who also starred with hunters in the show ring, the Virginian was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 2000. While she won many championships, perhaps the one for which she is best remembered is the Maclay.
She was victorious on Big Tip, of whom she said, “Of course he was a Thoroughbred. We didn’t ride anything but Thoroughbreds.”
Her mother, Big Elliewood, had a yard full of ponies and children at Keithwood, where students from the nearby University of Virginia in Charlottesville would come to ride. Her father was one of the original whippers-in of the Farmington hunt, and hunting was as important as showing for her family.
The horsewoman’s ability was legend. During the 1940s and ’50s to the mid-1960s, she found herself much in demand to ride in ladies’ and amateur classes. The horses on which she competed included Substitution, Spanish Mist, Escapade and Adventure.
She and her late husband owned The Barracks, a farm in Charlottesville that was purchased in 1973 by Claiborne Bishop and her husband, Tom, a former Master of Fox Hounds. Claiborne (who was three years old when she began riding with Big Elliewood at Keithwood), said Ellie Wood was “still as sharp as a tack” past her 100th birthday, which she celebrated at the Upperville Colt and Horse Show. Last week, she wanted to know what happened at the Devon Horse Show, and asked Tom for a report on that competition.
She stopped by the barn once a week, and kept up the high standards that were her trademark.
“She stamped all of us who rode with her,” said Tom, noting she would come out with the hunt following a double-hip replacement even when she was in her late 90s..
“She rode beautifully and expected a lot from you, but she was supportive.”
Claiborne added, “She had a following.”
Although riding wasn’t the only pastime at which Ellie Wood excelled–she also was an avid dancer and tennis player–her classic style and bravery over fences were what made her a much-admired figure in the horse world.
In 2022, she was awarded the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame’s Founders Cup for Excellence, joining William Steinkraus as one of only two recipients thus far.
In a statement, the Hall said, “Ellie Wood was an inspiration to many riders, young and old, in the hunting field as well as in the show ring. She was one of a kind and a lady of the highest order. Thanks, Ellie Wood, for showing us the right way to conduct ourselves in and out of the show ring. We are eternally grateful.”
She is survived by her son, Charlie; her brother, Tommy Keith and sister-in-law Sue Keith, as well as two grandchildren. Arrangements are pending.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 8, 2023
A plan that would take 96.29 acres from Wellington, Florida’s equestrian preserve area and change the land use to residential was rejected unanimously Wednesday night by the Village’s Equestrian Preserve Committee, following a hearing of more than four and a half hours.
After members of the committee aired their thoughts in front of a packed meeting room, filled primarily with those objecting to the Wellington North project, resident after resident spoke out about concern over losing equestrian open space. They also feared an increase in traffic stemming from construction of 244 units of high-end housing. More than 30 other people who didn’t want to speak registered their objections in writing.
It was announced that a petition against the project, which started circulating a few weeks ago under the auspices of the “horsesnothouses.com” organization, has more than 3,000 signatures.
The 96.29 acres is 1 percent of the 9,360 equestrian preserve acreage in the Village. The Equestrian Preserve Area is included in the Village’s charter with the intent “to protect the distinctive characteristics of Wellington’s equestrian community and the lifestyle it offers.”
Wellington North is a companion proposal to Wellington South, which will be discussed Thursday night. It includes 269.39 acres, part of which would go for an expansion of the showgrounds where the Winter Equestrian Festival is held. The applicant wants approval of changing the land use and master plan to expand the current cramped WEF site, run by the Global Equestrian Group. It also would develop up to 197 single-family residential units on the eastern portion of the property.
Jane Cleveland, who chairs the Equestrian Preserve Committee, expressed concerns that there were no designs “not even a sketch” for the expanded showgrounds, which was presented as having capacity for 7,000 spectators and up to 1,500 stalls.
It was noted that there were “no assurances” the new show facility property would be developed. Money has not changed hands for the land on which the expanded showgrounds would be built.
The next step in the process will come when the Village Planning and Zoning and Adjustment Board hears the proposals next month. The decision on whether rezoning and development can be approved will come from the Village Council, which is set to weigh in on the issue in August.
Much of the land involved in Wellington North is known as Equestrian Village, now used for the Global Dressage Festival and a derby field where hunters and jumpers compete. The other portion is White Birch Farm, which has two polo fields.
An attorney for Deeridge Farm, the home of the Jacobs family that is down the street from Equestrian Village, spoke in protest of the Wellington North plan. He told the committee that if it approved the Wellington North plan, it “would have no recourse to require them (the developers) to develop the equestrian facility” (at Wellington South) if they decided not to do so.
The developers include Mark Bellisimo of Wellington Equestrian Partners, branded as Wellington Lifestyle Partners, working in conjunction with the Tavistock Group’s Nexus Luxury Collection.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 11, 2023
U.S. competitors Boyd Martin and Phillip Dutton dominated the top placings in the major divisions at the Mars Equestrian: Bromont CCI in Quebec, Canada, with Phillip rising from 15th in dressage on Azure in the 4-Star Long to first after cross-country, clinching the title in show jumping while accumulating just 0.4 time penalties in that final segment on Sunday.
Discussing Saturday’s cross-country route laid out by Olympic course designer Derek Di Grazia, Phillip noted, “The course was difficult, with the combination of terrain, jumps and the time that was hard to get.”
For Azure, he observed, “it was a bit of an eye-opener…and it’s certainly the toughest thing she’s done. The terrain is undulating, you’re constantly up and down, which probably takes about 15 percent off your speed when you’re trying to go fast.
“But she knows me pretty well now and I trust her, so I’m able to shave off time on the approach to the jumps as well. We’re forming a good partnership and hopefully it will grow from here.”
Arielle Aharoni, a veteran of the Bromont Rising development grant program, and Dutch Times were impressive in second place, moving up from eighth in dressage to second after cross-country and finishing double-clear in the final phase with a score of 41.3.
Last weekend’s Essex Horse Trials winner, Hannah Sue Hollberg, brought a different horse, Capitol HIM, to the facility that was the venue of the 1976 Olympics for third place (42.4).
Boyd, who like his friend Phillip grew up in Australia, did not have an entry in the 4-Star Long, focused on three other divisions, bringing home the win in each.
Phillip Dutton and Azure. (Cealy Tetley photo)
He took the 4-Star Short with On Cue (45.8) while Phillip settled for second there aboard his Olympic mount, the much-traveled Z (51.7).
Bromont was a prep for the Aachen, Germany competition this summer,where Phllip is on the U.S. team with Z.
Boyd paid his 17-year-old mare, rehabbed from a strained tendon, quite a compliment: “She would have to be the best cross-country horse I have ever ridden. She’s just back in the swing of things and it was a monstrous 4-Star Short course and she just went around on a loose rein.
“She’s smart, she’s careful and she gallops like the wind. She’s brave, easy to turn and sees a fence in a split second.”
Boyd Martin and On Cue. (Cealy Tetley Photo)
Boyd topped the 3-Star Long with Chiraz, winning on his dressage score of 29.6. In the 2-Star Long, he again took the measure of Phillip, victorious on his dressage score there as well, an impressive 23 penalties with Asti’s Charming. Phillip was close behind with Fernhill’s Shutterfly (24.9) and got a little revenge, since Boyd was third on Mo Chroi (26.9) rather than finishing 1-2.
“We’ve only been together a short time and I didn’t really know what to expect,” Boyd said of Chiraz.
“He put in a fantastic round and although we had a couple of iffy fences…he kept fighting for me and we finished just inside the time.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 8, 2023
The biggest assignment of my fledgling sports writing career put me at Belmont Park on June 9, 1973, shadowing Penny Chenery Tweedy, the powerful chestnut’s patrician owner. I wrote what is known as a sidebar; not the main story about the most historic Belmont Stakes, but rather, a piece cataloguing the reactions of the horse’s inner circle.
With the Belmont on the docket again for this weekend, I will remember once more being in the corner of a historic occasion.
At the start of that special day a half-century ago, I hung out with a few dozen other members of the media by the barn where Secretariat was stabled, happily aware of the great privilege my newly bestowed press pass imparted.
My initial in-person glimpse of Secretariat was fulfillment, an opportunity to witness radiant greatness first-hand. His presence was far more powerful than it had been on television, where I first made his acquaintance. You’ve read the adjectives; they all apply, from the striking color of his coat to his rippling musculature and look of confidence. He definitely knew who he was, and we all paid homage.
Even the veteran racing writers, a skeptical group if there ever was one, showed respect, and dare I mention it — a touch of awe.
When the time arrived for the walk to the paddock, I became part of the parade, buoyed by the feeling — growing every minute — that something far beyond a mere horse race was about to happen. There was just one question hanging over the proceedings: Could Secretariat win the Triple Crown, the prize that had eluded every great horse since Citation swept it 25 years before in 1948?
While he had the ability, of course, there was always fate, that unsportsmanlike spoiler hanging around. Secretariat seemed a sure thing, but this was horse racing and who knew what could happen? From the starting gate to the finish line, there were too many possibilities for scuttling a dream, no matter what the 1-10 odds on the tote board indicated.
I was wearing a distinctive black and white polka dot dress that day. The wardrobe choice turned out to be fortunate, enabling me to spot myself over the years in photos and videos of the march to destiny by Sec (as headline writers called him) and his entourage.
The tree-shaded paddock at Belmont, where Secretariat’s statue now stands, is at once grand and intimate. The horses are close for a turn or two after being saddled before stepping out onto the track. In those days, the race’s theme song was “The Sidewalks of New York,” (it was replaced in 1997 by “New York, New York). It struck a chord that was stronger in me than the anthems of the previous two Triple Crown races, the Kentucky Derby’s “My Old Kentucky Home” and “Maryland, My Maryland” for the Preakness.
This was it, the big moment. How big it would be, I never guessed and I doubt that anyone else did, either. It seemed almost certain that Secretariat would win. But none of us could have figured by how much, or the way the memories of that day would gain ever-more traction as the years slipped by.
Penny Tweedy and trainer Lucien Laurin are center and right in the front row. I am in the second row, second from left, with sunglasses and that polka dot dress.
I wish I had each of those minutes back, so I could polish and appreciate them properly. They were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only to see history, but also to be a tiny part of it.
I stuck close to Penny Tweedy (she would later divorce and go back to using her maiden name). The elegant Meadow Stable owner had an aristocratic demeanor that would have been intimidating in anyone else, but she was down-to-earth and wonderfully polite, considering the gravity of the occasion.
Nothing would get between me and my quarry. Football linebackers were my inspiration as I turned aside interlopers while following her to the box from which she would view the race. She was grace; I was determination.
I had yet to develop the tactful hovering technique eventually perfected for other horse races as the years went by, when I wrote the sidebars on other owners. Eventually, I came up with a way to remain on the fringes without being too obvious, yet close enough to eavesdrop when necessary for “color” and quotes.
My demeanor with Mrs. Tweedy (I still tend to call her that) combined respectful and persistent. She was quite patient with me, giving thought to all my questions, despite the fact that they were similar to queries she’d answered dozens of times along the path of Secretariat’s many triumphs. She was rather more forthcoming than I expected someone of her standing to be, but there was no way to approach her other than with the regard she deserved.
Mrs. Tweedy had been in the spotlight before, albeit one not of the intensity that Secretariat commanded. Her less glamorous Riva Ridge won the Derby and Belmont the previous year, missing out on the Preakness when the track came up muddy and not to his liking.
I, however, had no experience with an occasion at the level of importance enjoyed by the 1973 Belmont. I had not even been to the track on the edge of New York City previously, nor had I ever seen a race of this caliber anywhere but on TV. For me, it was like going from zero to 60 in a few seconds of elevation to the big time.
It was a thrill to see Secretariat in Meadow’s distinctive blue and white silks with his trademark checkered blinker hood, colors and a pattern that would become a part of history. As the great horse headed to the starting gate with Ron Turcotte aboard, I don’t think I was breathing.
My gaze flicked between the horse and his owner, a marvel of self-control, though I would think her butterflies outnumbered mine exponentially. Earlier in the year, she had syndicated Secretariat for a record $6.08 million, and I’m sure those who had bought shares were expecting a lot for their money. They got it, and more.
The race began with an “And they’re off!” roar from the crowd as the field of five broke. Sham, the Triple Crown perennial second banana, challenged Sec’s lead, but couldn’t keep up and would eventually finish a discouraged last. As Big Red pulled away from his non-rivals, I forgot my mission and stopped watching Mrs. Tweedy, focusing only on the colt who had become a galloping machine.
To some, it may have looked as if he were running off, but the more knowledgeable realized that his jockey was simply allowing him do his thing. The crowd’s noise increased with every stride, coming to a crescendo like the sound of 1,000 freight trains. We all were one, all of us, joined in total adoration and admiration as Secretariat galloped toward the finish line to put an exclamation point on his performance.
He set a record with his 31-length victory in 2:24 for the mile and a half. The big horse also had set a record in the Kentucky Derby, but due to a clock problem in the Preakness, the fact that he had set a record in that race was not confirmed until 2012.
Secretariat’s jockey Ron Turcotte looks back at the rest of the 1973 Belmont Stakes field
Mrs. Tweedy was delighted with the victory but quickly regained her composure after initial moments of jubilation. Someone with less class would have been freaking out, but that wasn’t her style.
As she went to the winner’s circle, I stood in silence for a moment before I was able to refocus, then headed off to write my story; a different reporter was assigned to the press conference. My brush with history was over, but it never would be forgotten.
Although it had been quite an afternoon, the excitement amplified over the years as Secretariat’s legend grew and I appreciated even more what I had witnessed firsthand and in very special company.
I went on to cover the subsequent triple crowns of Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978), yet they weren’t the same. When Affirmed won, it actually seemed as if the Triple had become routine in a sense. But the fact that the next Triple winner, American Pharaoh, didn’t wear the crown until 37 years after Affirmed, underlined the difficulty involved in the achievement. That was a longer stretch than the gap between Citation and Secretariat. And then Justify did it three years later, in 2015, but we’re still waiting for the next one.
Of course, we won’t see it this year. The Kentucky Derby winner, Mage, was third in the Preakness and is not even running in the Belmont.
There is no question that the Triple Crown is a stupendous achievement; any horse topping the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont over the space of five weeks is worthy of accolades. There is talk of spreading out the test, keeping the Derby in May, moving the Preakness to June and having the Belmont in July. It wouldn’t be the same, but what is these days?
On another racing occasion a few years after Sec’s Triple Crown triumph, I ran into Mrs. Tweedy again and threw her a question to which I thought I knew the answer.
“Who was your favorite horse?” I asked, sure that she would say “Secretariat.” How could she not respond that way; he was everybody’s favorite horse.
Instead, she replied, “Riva Ridge,” explaining that it was because his 1972 victories had helped save her family’s Meadow Stable by averting the sale of the financially troubled farm.
For me, however, and for millions, there is only Secretariat. He was the Man O’ War of our age, and I was incredibly privileged to be present for this king’s coronation.
Like me, so many people have cherished memories of Secretariat that are surfacing as we mark the 50th anniversary of his historic Triple Crown.
One of those with a special connection to the magnificent chestnut is Jane Heart, a jewelry designer known for her work that represents a breed or discipline with artistic accuracy.
Through the years, she had never done a design paying tribute to a famous horse until she learned that Gretchen and Roy Jackson, the breeder-owners of Barbaro, were starting a fund for laminitis research in his memory.
Barbaro, who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, shattered his right hind fetlock two weeks later in the Preakness. Everything possible was done to save him, but he contracted laminitis and had to be euthanized.
When Jane’s husband saw an article about Barbaro and mentioned it to his wife, Jane was intrigued. She contacted Gretchen Jackson seeking a license to design jewelry with Barbaro’s likeness that would benefit the fund.
After her success with Barbaro, Jane’s desire to continue honoring specific horses led her to Secretariat, the stallion she calls “the greatest horse who ever lived.”
Connecting with his people was not easy, however. It took two years to get an approval from Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery. But Jane was persistent. Jane finally got together with Penny, who had to approve everything that was licensed and used his trademark name.
“She was so sharp and noticed every little detail,” Jane recalled.
“Nothing missed her sharp eye. I remember we were doing an event in Doswell, Va., in a bookstore. I walked past her and she quipped…”Jane…love your patent leather tennis shoes!”
“I so admired her and her story so very much,” said Jane, adding, “What an inspiration to women!”`
The Time magazine cover that inspired Jane Heart’s Secretariat pendant.
Jane recalled fondly, “Over the years, I was able to see her many times doing trunk shows with the jewelry at the Secretariat Festivals in Paris, Ky., several Vox Populi awards at Santa Anita and events at Belmont Park.”
Jane enjoyed a role as an extra in the 2010 movie, “Secretariat,” and even got to ride with Seretariat’s jockey, Ron Turcotte, and his family in the disabled jockey’s special van during a Belmont Stakes event. Every time Jane had something new to show Penny, she would approve it.
The Secretariat pendants in silver and gold.
“I am honored to have the license to design jewelry for Secretariat,” said Jane, who has come out with a special design in honor of Big Red’s victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes to clinch the Triple Crown.
The new cameo necklace with great dimension is stamped with his name on the back and comes with a special anniversary card. It is cast in sterling silver with a hand-cut sterling disc. There also is a 14-karat gold head version on sterling in a limited edition of 50, as seen on the right.
The image is enhanced by a hand-enameled version of his familiar blue-and-white-checked blinkers in the colors of Meadow Stable as he looks toward the camera, the way he loved to do.
Click on this link to Jane’s website to see more about her special design for the anniversary of Secretariat’s Belmont. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Secretariat Foundation.
As Jane noted, “I am honored to have the license to design jewelry for Secretariat. He, indeed, followed his heart with his tremendous passion for running and has been an inspiration to me to continue to follow my own heart.”
She hopes those who buy the necklace likewise will be inspired to pursue their dreams and reach the highest level of their ability.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 7, 2023
Somerset County, N.J.’s former Lord Stirling stable in Basking Ridge is getting back into the swing of things after a halt to its major equestrian programs due to Covid in 2020.
An open house over the weekend for its new equine-assisted therapies program, Rocking Horse Rehab, drew scores of families and others interested in seeing what is happening at the facility now called the Stable at Lord Stirling Park.
Rocking Horse was based at the Essex Equestrian Center in West Orange for 22 years, but had to move when that facility closed down last December. The organization’s mission is to “enhance the quality of life of individuals with disabilities and their families by offering innovative opportunities for clinical, educational and social development.”
Sheri Marino, founder of Rocking Horse, had boarded her own horse at Lord Stirling, so she knew it was “the perfect place for our program to reside and serve the community. It was just a dream come true that the county was willing to work with us…and make this happen for the community, especially those families with special needs who need services like this.”
She has bachelor’s degrees in speech pathology and audiology, and a master’s in communications sciences and disorders.
Octavia Brown, one of the pioneers in developing therapeutic riding in this country, has been a mentor to Sheri.
Octavia Brown and Sheri Marino at the stable. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“She inspires others to follow her lead,” said Octavia, who visited the open house.
“I sort of see her as one of my heirs, if you will.”
Rocking Horse brought five horses to the stable for a soft opening last month. The open house marked its grand opening “so we could make the county (residents) aware that we’re here and ready to serve,” noted Sheri.
In February, the stable began offering guided trail rides several times a week with six horses. Pony rides and grooming also continue. Hunter paces are being held, as are dog walks on a regular schedule.
Prior to Covid, Lord Stirling had a major lesson program, but the horses were sold during the pandemic and there is no indication when formal lessons could resume.
When asked whether the stable might offer riding lessons eventually, Geoff Soriano, the Somerset County Park Commission’s executive secretary/director, said the agency is thinking about starting lessons.
“The hard part is finding the right horses,” Greg noted. He said they are going to see if perhaps some trail ride horses can be converted for use in lessons.
County Commissioner Melonie Marano did not want to put a timeline on what will happen in terms of riding instruction at the stable.
“The mantra is `Right, not rushed.’ I can’t tell you what the future will hold,” she explained.
“We take it one step at a time. We get it to our task force, they explore those options, we see if we can get the right horses, the right instructors, the right mix, the right budget. All those things together have to be connected in a puzzle piece to make it right. We’re exploring everything right now.”
She added, “The job of Somerset County is to promote this location so that everyone in the county, from Franklin to Bernardsville to Branchburg to North Plainfield, knows that this is here for them.
“If the public has ideas that they wish for us to explore, let us know. I can’t make any promises, because I never know if we have the resources to execute those promises, but we evaluate them and we explore them.”
One thing she would like to see is getting veterans, especially those suffering from PTSD, to the stable for some therapy with the horses.
“That’s another long-term goal,” she commented.
Horses eventually will be taken out of the main stable, an old dairy barn, after 12 to 16 new stalls are built.
County Commissioner Sarah Sooy, who first sat on a pony at Lord Stirling, where she eventually learned to ride, likes the public/private partnership exemplified by Rocking Horse’s operation at the facility.
“It’s hard to keep this affordable and accessible,” she pointed out.
Somerset County Commissioners Melonie Morano, Sarah Sooy and Lord Stirling task force member Chuck Rosen. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“What’s the best way to do it? I think this is a prime example of how we can integrate that and still service our community.”
Geoff said the Friends of Lord Stirling Stable, a support group that was active with the previous operation, will continue to provide a volunteer base.
During the open house, children were lined up to try on helmets so they could be led on pony rides in a tree-shaded paddock.
Diana Alvear of Bridgewater, said her autistic son, Sebastian, 7, has ridden in the past and “really enjoyed it.” When Diana learned about the open house, she jumped at the chance to attend, bringing her son and his sister, 3-year-old Anais.
“We might pursue lessons again,” she mused.
“It’s so lovely to come to the stable and have them ride horses and meet the animals. It’s a great event.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jun 6, 2023
There have been dozens of show jumping grands prix around the country since the beginning of the year. Do you remember who won them? It’s easy to take a guess–McLain Ward, Kent Farrington, Karl Cook, but as one show comes after another, it’s just as easy to forget which class was which in the mists of week-after-week competition.
The Devon Horse Show is different. Devon, which just ended its 2023 run in a suburb of Philadelphia, is a touchstone of the year. People may decide to go to HITS instead of WEF, or the Desert Circuit rather than WEC. But they’ll always make an effort to compete at Devon, because everyone remembers who won there (it’s engraved on the lovely sterling silver trophies) and it’s an experience like no other on the circuit. It harks back to a more elegant past, but with up-to-date footing.
Its country fair, set among shade trees; the little carnival with its merry-go-round; the Tea Cart with crustless tea sandwiches–the whole of Devon is a unique island of joy on a decidedly unglamorous strip of highway.
Shopping at the country fair is a popular Devon pastime.( Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
At age 127, Devon is the oldest multi-breed show in the country. At one time, it wasn’t unusual to see classes for saddlebreds and hackney ponies at the same showgrounds across the country as the hunters and jumpers, but that is no longer the case in the era of specialization. So Devon is an exception.
At Devon, every discipline–from the four-in-hands pulling coaches to those hackney ponies and the equitation–is enjoyed by the crowd. Many spectators spend all day on the blue benches at ringside as they watch class after class.
They also are entertained by various exhibitions, including the Budweiser Clydesdales this year. as well as the Shetland pony steeplechase and the Radnor Hunt Fox Hounds. The Orpheus Club, the oldest men’s singing group in the country, offered beautiful renditions of God Bless America and the Star-Spangled Banner on grand prix night.
From the blue benches to the grandstand, the crowd loves what happens at Devon. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
Riders are appreciated here. Even though fans may only come to this one horse show a year, they remember their favorite athletes, human and equine, providing both congratulations and consolation as needed. They root for the riders, never more so than in the $226,000 Thursday night grand prix, where each downed rail brings a sympathetic “ooh,” while successful completion of a difficult triple combination elicits a cheer, only a bit more restrained than the eruption when a competitor produces a clean round.
The “King of Devon,” McLain Ward, calls the show “a very special place to my heart, and I think to many people.”
The 12-time winner of the Sapphire Grand Prix of Devon, named after his favorite horse, explained, “It has such tradition, and the show has had a little bit of a rebirth in the last 10 years. That’s great to see. It’s always nice to be successful here.”
Ashlee Bond, who won the grand prix on Donatello 141, also enjoyed the crowd and gave back to fans, circling the ring at a walk several times after her victory gallop. She greeted spectators, letting the kids pet her horse and offering a bright smile that will remain with many onlookers as a treasured Devon memory.
Ashlee Bond, Sapphire Grand Prix winner, with Donatello. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“These special shows are so few and far between now,” mused Pat Boyle, who is Devon co-manager with Phil DeVita, succeeding managers David Distler and Peter Doubleday, who ran the show for a half-century.
When it comes to shows like Devon that are champions of tradition, Pat said, explaining why he accepted the post, “someone has to take the initiative to make them continue. Peter and David did a phenomenal job, it’s too important not to keep it going and thriving.”
Devon co-manager Pat Boyle. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
For Pat, that’s what makes being a manager worthwhile, despite only grabbing three hours of sleep a night.
The most noticeable change this year was the glamorous archway at the Dixon Oval’s side entrance. It was produced by David Lauinger Equestrian Services, which also redid the footing where an upgrade was needed.
The new arch at the side entrance to the Dixon Oval really dresses up the ring. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
The pony breeding was moved from the show’s first Thursday to the final day, making it “an all-breeding day.” The concept got mixed reviews, but Pat believes it was better not to have the distraction of pony breeding when the equitation competitors were riding in the most important classes of their young lives.
With other changes, he said, “it’s still Devon, but it’s Devon squared.”
“We want to keep building on the aesthetics,” explained Pat, citing improving the lighting as a priority and “constant upgrades to make the horse and rider safety experience even better.”
For showgoers, he believes it should be the case that “Every time they come back, there’s something new.”
After getting his face painted, Isiah Bradbury enjoys a lemon stick. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
That’s also what happens at the country fair, which is run by a separate group from the horse show. But tradition can’t be ignored.
Kids love the lemon sticks; a lemon with a candy stick stuck in it. It’s a classic sweet and sour combo.Then there’s the awesome Devon fudge and a host of special treats for the younger set.
Artist Rosie Carlino designed her pop-up shop to make it look like a little garden. It’s her first time being part of the fair.
Rosie Carlino and her pop-up shop in the country fair. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
“I grew up going to Devon. I’ve always admired Devon and I’ve been on a waiting list to get in,” she said.
Another important aspect of Devon goes beyond the competition and the shopping.
Wednesday is Ladies Hat Day, with some very interesting attractions sitting on various heads, along with the usual fascinators and feathered straw toppers.
Mrs. Cortright Wetherill, whose family has been involved with Devon for generations, wore a hat featuring the ferris wheel (part of the fair’s skyline) and several plastic horses nestled among flowers.
When it comes to hats, Katie Whaley, is the expert. Her Hats by Katie booth is always busy, as it has been for 31 years, but her offerings aren’t designed to be contest winners. They’re more sophisticated, perfect for anyone who is driving horses, which is her specialty.
Katie, who will be competing her pair of Welsh ponies in the world driving championships this summer, said hats are “much bolder” these days as customers get used to having something different.
“They used to be a little skittish about the dressy hat and the feathers. Now they come in and look for a Devon hat every year–something tasteful they can wear again, but something that’s got a little bit of a kick to it.”
Katie Whaley and her hats. (Photo © 2023 by Nancy Jaffer)
As for the horse show where she and her mother both competed, she said, “Devon’s Devon, my favorite show of the year. We’re all scratching and kicking to keep it the same.”
People have worried for years that with Devon’s location in a commercial area, it might someday be sacrificed for development. But Pat Boyle said rumors to that effect are completely untrue and that the show, which benefits Bryn Mawr Hospital, will continue at its same site.
“Why would it go anywhere?” he asked.
Interested in reading our Devon coverage? Click on this link or the Previous Columns link at the top of the website.
