A steward’s inquiry prompted extended deliberation and repeated review of the race video of the 98th running of the My Lady’s Manor Steeplechase, April 12.

But in the end, stewards Ross Pearce, Taylor Jackson and David Hershbell declared Irvin S. Naylor’s Hot Springs the winner. They moved Brigadoon Stable’s Erin Go Bragh down to second place for interference with Hot Springs approaching the last obstacle on the three-mile timber course in Monkton, Md.

Under the wire in a driving finish, Erin Go Bragh, ridden by Paddy Young, appeared the winner by a neck over Hot Springs and Darren Nagle, with veterans Bubble Economy and Brooks Durkee back 1⁄2 length in third.

“From the head-on view that I saw on the television screen, it appeared that the other horse [Erin Go Bragh] came over, but Paddy Young is one of the best professionals riding today, so it was hard for me to be certain,” said Naylor, a veteran jockey of many timber races himself. “The test was whether my jockey [Nagle] had to stop riding. It’s tough being a steward, but I appreciate their seeking what had to be done. I think, however, that it’s the first time I ever won a race on a foul claim.”

The field of seven starters included J. Alfred Prufrock, owned, ridden and trained by Conrad Somers, winner of the amateur heavyweight race over the same course last year, as well as the 2007 winner of the My Lady’s Manor, Fappa Fire, and the 2007 Grand National (Md.) winner Bubble Economy.

Mrs. William Class Jr.’s Royal’s Quest (Billy Meister) took the lead at the start, soon relinquishing it to J. Alfred Prufrock, who continued in that position until the field made the downhill run along Jarrettsville Pike and approached the third last. Up to this point the pace had been moderate with the ultimate first three finishers stalking the front-runners.

Turning for the 15th fence and an uphill run, Arcadia Stable’s Bubble Economy charged ahead, with Erin Go Bragh and Hot Springs in close pursuit. The latter two approached the last of the 16 fences seemingly in unison and pounded stride for stride down the stretch in a thrilling finish.

Nineteen-year old amateur Nagle is one of numerous Irish jockeys who have come across the Atlantic to ride in American jump races. Last year he had a rough trip at the Manor, falling and breaking his back at the water jump, according to owner Naylor.

“This year Darren had a good win at Green Spring [Md.] with Hot Springs, and I have to say that this is the best young horse I’ve had in a long time,” declared Naylor. “This is a runner that is better at 4 miles than he is at 3; he wants to stay. My trainer, Desmond Fogarty, has always had a great deal of enthusiasm and faith in him. Hot Springs is only 7, so he needs more experience, but we hope to go to the [Virginia] Gold Cup this spring.”

Flying Finish

Nine maidens made up the field for the second race on the card, the John Rush Streett Memorial amateur timber. In a time faster than the feature by 25 seconds over the same course, winner Flying Contraption, owned by Augustin Stables and ridden by H. Brooks Durkee, came from behind to best Crestview Farm’s Western Fling (Gregg Ryan) by half a length in another crowd-pleasing finale.

Both Durkee and Ryan were riding these maidens for the first time, but each expressed confidence in where their mounts would go in the future.

“I’d never ridden this horse [Flying Contraption] in a race before, having just schooled him this week at Joe Davies’ farm,” explained Durkee, who flies north each week from Florida to ride a variety of contenders for a variety of owners and trainers. “I knew I had a lot of horse at the last two fences. My trip could have been smoother overall, but Flying Contraption showed class and fitness in the stretch. It was a good ride.”

Ryan, likewise, was in Arizona on business the week before when trainer Kathy McKenna called him. He was coming to the Manor with his own horse for the amateur heavyweight event so why not?

“The horse jumped beautifully, and I thought this might be the race when I would break Rigan McKinney’s record [for sanctioned amateur wins],” said Ryan, 47. “If I could ride a horse like this every time, I’d ride forever—until I’m 57.”

John Rush Streett IV, the 9-year-old great, great grandson of one of the founders of the My Lady’s Manor race and nephew of leading NSA trainer, Jack Fisher, presented the trophy.

Haddix Has It

In the heavyweight race for amateurs, Mrs. William D. Class Jr.’s Classical Cal (Meister) and Mrs. Charles C. Fenwick Jr.’s Takin Inventory (Patrick Worrall) led the field of nine for half the running, setting a strong pace on the front.

As usual with this course, the real racing begins as the field heads downhill along Jarrettsville Pike. At this point Perry Bolton’s Haddix, ridden by Irishman Shane Burke, took over from Classical Cal with Augustin’s Move West (Stewart Strawbridge) and Hotspur (Ryan) right behind him.

Over the last two fences, however, it was Haddix all alone, galloping to the wire some 20 lengths to the good of Move West in second, only a half-length ahead of Hotspur.

Burke got the ride on the winner because Carl Rafter, who had won on Haddix at Marlborough (Md.) the week before, had commitments to ride at Atlanta this same Saturday. Although he had 100 rides in point-to-points and under rules in his native country last season, Burke has been here only four weeks, working for trainer Sanna Hendriks. Nevertheless, Burke has posted a second and a fourth in Pennsylvania point-to-points in that short period.

“Haddix is a very clever horse,” said Burke. “He attacks his fences, but he also measures them well. He’s just as good over the big ones as the small.”

“This is the fifth time out for my horse this spring,” emphasized owner Perry Bolton. “He just gets better and better, and he’s only 6. We definitely won’t try the [Maryland] Hunt Cup this year, but look out for us in 2009.”

Trainer Kathy McKenna viewed Haddix’ performance more philosophically. “Winning never gets old,” she said. “It’s so hard to get a horse to one of these races, much less win one. Haddix has really figured it out.”

In winning, McKenna bested the family connections of second-placed Move West, owned by her stepfather’s Augustin Stables, trained by her sister Sanna, and ridden by her brother Stewart.

Furthermore, McKenna had to answer some pertinent (maybe impertinent) questions about the fourth-placed finishers in this race: Irish-bred Meet At Eleven, ridden and trained by her husband, Todd.

“Well,” she mused, “maybe I will stay somewhere else tonight.”

By Margaret Worrall