Charlottesville Horse Farms - Off To The Foxfield Races
Charlottesville horse farms are known to be some of the finest equestrian facilities in the state. Not only are these farms home to show hunters, trail riders, and dressage horses but also we have some race horse farms as well. And some of our local horses are sure to be found competing at the Foxfield Races.
However you don't have to own a Charlottesville horse farm to enjoy attending Foxfield. Watching a steeplechase race is pure excitement. Being able to actually witness spectacular thoroughbreds thundering around the race course from close at hand is an opportunity not to be missed. Watching these magnificent creatures do what they are bred to do is nothing short of amazing. Add to that spending a spring day outdoors in a beautiful setting in the company of friends and family with a yummy tailgate and you have a recipe for the perfect day.
There are UVA alumni that come to town every year just to get together with friends at the Foxfield Races. While other people get their first glimpse of the Virginia country life while attending Foxfield and come back to buy a Charlottesville farm.
The above picture is of one of my daughter's horses on the way to the start at a Virginia steeplechase.
The Foxfield property has not always been a race course; once it was the Charlottesville airport and the hangar still remains. Later Foxfield became a Charlottesville horse farm. As such it was the home of Grover Vandevender who taught many area residents to ride, myself included. Grover was also the huntsman for the Farmington Hunt. His knowledge of foxes and hounds was legendary. Going hunting with Grover was a treat not to be forgotten. I can remember hunting with Grover as a child. He would lead us away from the main body of the hunt. We would ride around for a while, and just when I would feel particularly lost, he would position us on the top of a hill with the instructions to "look over there". Before long out of the woods (just at the spot where he told us to look) would pop the fox, followed by the hounds in full cry, and then came the horses and riders. When all passed we would fall in behind and set off at a glorious gallop. Following Mr. Vandevender's death Mariann de Tejeda purchased the property which then became the Foxfield Racing Association and Race Course designed by Raymmond Wolfe.
Since 1978 the Foxfield Racecourse has been the site of stellar steeplechase racing. Races are held twice a year in the April and September. This year the spring races will be held this Saturday April 30, 2011. For information on how to purchase tickets and parking spaces go to: foxfieldraces.com
Come to beautiful Charlottesville Virginia in the spring, enjoy a day at the races, and then we can go out to look at Charlottesville horse farms for your very own.
Copyright 2011 all rights reserved by Pam Dent "Charlottesville Horse Farms - Off To The Foxfield Races".
