Cattail Chase returns as unsanctioned opportunity on steeplechasing’s fall circuit | |
A conversation with Crystal Brumme Pickett, who helps hold the reins at Maryland's popular charity event | |
|
The spring is full of them, but this Sunday is a one-off on the fall jump circuit, an unsanctioned race joining a full schedule of National Steeplechase Association meets.
But don’t let its rarity deceive you: the Cattail Chase Races have been a popular addition to the Maryland Steeplechase Association calendar since they moved from spring to fall last term.
Organizers and participants agree that the unprecedented expansion has been good for the horses and good for the horsemen, good for the Brookeville, Maryland community that hosts the popular event, and good – best of all, for the handful of area charities that benefit from the Sunday program.
| | |
|
|
The name game
The Cattail Chase Races are named for Cattail Creek and Little Cattail Creek, both of which form borders of hosting Pleasant Prospect Farm. The course is in rural Brookeville, Maryland, 20 miles southwest of Baltimore, 25 miles northwest of Washington, D.C.
| | |
|
Horsemen, especially, appreciate the chance for the less pressurized atmosphere of an unsanctioned meet in the fall. It's a great way to introduce young horses to the jumping game, they say, and it gives young riders more experience in real racing before taking on the NSA or open point-to-point circuits.
“We are so grateful for the opportunity that (race co-chair) Crystal Pickett and (farm owner and) host Don Reuwer provide at the Cattail races,” said trainer Joe Davies, who saddles several runners on Sunday. Both his kids – son Teddy and daughter Scarlet, are named to ride. “They've laid out a terrific course and it's so important that we have a point-to-point in the fall for young horses and riders preparing for sanctioned races in the future.”
| |
|
As Davies noted, part of the magic is due to the facility, but a bigger part of it is due to the decades of expertise brought to the table by the Cattail team.
Co-chair Crystal Brumme Pickett brings extensive industry experience to the management team. The lifelong horsewoman has built her career – and life, around Maryland’s horse and racing industries.
The Mount Airy resident graduated from the University of Maryland in 1986 and rode on their equestrian team. Pickett created The Equiery magazine in 1990, operating it until she sold it in 2018. She’s owned and operated East View Farm more than 20 years.
She qualified for Maryland’s state fellowship program, Leadership and Education for Agricultural Development, in 2001.
Pickett has served on the Maryland Agriculture Council since 2018, and on the Maryland Horse Council board since 1992. She was state horse council advisor for the American Horse Council 1993-2004.
She was Maryland Steeplechase Association secretary 1996-2016, treasurer 2016-2022 and currently is the president. She was on the North American Point-to-Point Association board 2009-2012.
Pickett has acted as technical advisor to the Maryland Horse Industry Board since 1999.
Pickett has served on the Howard County-Iron Bridge Hounds board since 2006 and has been joint-master and honorary secretary.
Pickett was 2010 recipient of the American Horse Council's Van Ness Award in recognition to an individual dedicated to the improvement of the horse industry at the state level.
We knew she’d be busy since it’s late in race week, but Pickett agreed to a quick Take 5 interview so we could learn more about Cattail and find out what’s keeping her busy these days since she “retired” from the publishing industry.
| |
Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation: Tell us about the Cattail races: that’s quite a feat, raising purse money and creating a new race meet these days. | |
Crystal Brumme Pickett: This is the second running of the Cattail Chase Races (fall meet), although Pleasant Prospect Farm has hosted a spring point-to-point since 2008. | |
|
The owner of Pleasant Prospect, ex-master Don Reuwer, has long (been involved with) thoroughbred racing, both on the flat and steeplechase (his Grand Manan was a multiple stakes winner over timber.)
In 2007, he sculpted an elegant course out of his hills, valleys and cornfields in Howard County, together with former (Howard County Iron Bridge Hounds) master Dr. Roger Scullin.
| | |
Grand Manan, carrying the colors of Donald Reuwer, winning his first timber stakes, the Valentine Memorial Timber Novice Stakes, at Fair Hill in 2015. Fritz Boniface had the ride. ©Tod Marks | |
|
|
TGSF: Now that you no longer own The Equiery, you’re, like, retired?
CP: Ha! Hardly. I’m busier than ever now that I’m “retired.”
I am selling real estate, specializing in farms and rural residential, of course. We have thriving short term guest rentals in the middle of Maryland’s prime farmland for breweries, wineries and foxhunting.
| |
TGSF: How did you get involved in real estate? | |
|
CP: Through the women in my life: My mother and grandmother instilled in me a love of architecture and homes. Childhood vacations were either spent property shopping or touring historic homes.
When I started purchasing real estate for myself, my Equiery client and by then good friend Tracy Diamond was my realtor.
In 2019, after having sold The Equiery, Tracy pulled me in, and I haven’t looked back.
She knew I had the marketing background, plus I had experience helping farm owners (with) their visions for their properties. Under Tracy’s mentorship, I developed a solid foundation in real estate transactions.
My favorite part of the real estate industry: every property has a story.
My favorite quote about the industry: Don’t wait to buy real estate. Buy real estate and wait.
| |
|
CP: I have field-bred American Cocker Spaniels who are "master hunters," and some of which actually “work” to earn their kibble. (pictured, Pickett's dog Zoe with a pheasant hen)
Master Hunter, Madison’s Life of Merit works with her professional handler and trainer – her breeder, Trish Jackson, at Orvis Hill Country. Merit hunts upland game for “walk-up” hunts and provides pick-up service for driven shoots.
Earlier this summer, we lost Merit’s mother, Madison’s For the Life of Pride. “Zoe” was my first Master Hunter, and she was a fan favorite as a picker-upper at local driven shoots.
These aren’t your grand aunt’s Cocker Spaniels. These are real, working dogs.
Trish Jackson and a handful of breeders have worked for several decades now to bring back the American Cocker Spaniel as a respected gun dog, a companion (dog) with good conformation and a good disposition.
These working spaniels (have) an appropriate field coat – not the heavy coats of the show dogs.
It’s fun to see people’s faces when they realize they’re watching an American Cocker Spaniel in the field.
| | | | |
