Saturday was the 80th running of the Brandywine Hills Point to Point in West Chester, Pennsylvania, while Sunday marked the traditional Maryland Steeplechase season kick-off with the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point at Shawan Downs in Cockeysville, Maryland.

Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point Recap

A gaggle of ponies and plenty of timber horses got in some good racing between the morning rain and the evening storms in West Chester, Pennsylvania, for Saturday's Brandywine Hills Point to Point.

Abby Taylor rode her first winner, and enjoyed her first soaking, on Saturday - she rode her own Spur of the Moment to the win in the Medium pony flat race. The competitive Large pony division was won by newcomer Calliope Crawford-Blaine riding Oaks Bridget. Cami Kern piloted Hoof Hearted to victory in the Small pony division. Sister Carly Kern rode Manero to the win in the Thoroughbred division of the Field Masters Chase. And Thumper, with Manuel Aguilera, Jr. in the tack, trotted down the stretch the fastest to win the leadline race.

(Jim Graham photo)

Several Maryland Hunt Cup nominees used the Brandywine timber course as a prep run for the big race at the end of April.

Hill Tie, with Virginia Korrell, won the Lady's Timber race over fellow MHC nominee, Blackhall, ridden by Theresa Dimpfel. Scarlet Davies rode in her second timber race in two weeks, finishing third on Coastal Moon.

(Tisa Della-Volpe photo of Virginia Korrell and Hill Tie, pre-race)

Fellow Maryland Hunt Cup nominees Withoutmoreado and Great Road took on It's Nothing in the Amateur Apprentice Timber, with Conor Tierney guiding Withoutmoreado to the win for trainer Kathy Neilson. Novice timber horses Stolen Shoes and Brave Deacon fought for their first win, with Stolen Shoes coming away with the win in his first run over timber. Freddie Procter had the ride for trainer Leslie Young. (Tisa Della-Volpe photo of Stolen Shoes leading Brave Deacon)

A two-horse field in the Open Timber provided the most exciting finish of the day, as Our Friend and Fashion Line jumped the last together and battled down the stretch. Our Friend (Teddy Davies) got the nod at the wire.

Three sidesaddle riders tackled the Field Masters Chase over timber, with My Silver Belle winning for the second week in a row. Lauren Apple rode.

Results can be found on the Central Entry website, here: centralentryoffice.com/Meets.aspx

Additional recap HERE.

Live stream replay HERE on Brandywine Hills' Facebook page.

Photos by Jim Graham are HERE.

Photos by Tisa Della-Volpe are HERE.

Additional video recap HERE by Rough Coat Photography.

Green Spring Valley Hounds Point to Point Races Recap

Sunday at Shawan Downs was jam-packed with ponies, timber horses and full fields in the flat races, with plenty of stars out racing. The Green Spring Valley Hounds Point to Point boasted beautiful sunshine and blue skies - perfect racing weather.

The ponies were out in force on Sunday with full fields in most divisions. Olney Yes Ma'am and Skye Gammon captured the Very Small pony division, while Apache and Astrid Star-Radivich took the Small division on the flat. Jigsaw and Emma Paternote took home the Medium flat trophy, while Mini and James Wyatt won the Large division. (Bob Keller photo)

Things fell apart a bit in the Junior Field Masters Chase, but that's what these races are for - good learning experiences. Mallory and Cami Kern won the Small division, while sister Carly won the Medium division on Roger That. No placements were given for the Large division. Retired timber vet Prime Prospector showed he still knows his job, winning the TB Horse division with James Wyatt in the irons. (Bob Keller photo of Yomar Ortiz, Jr. on Blueberry (#5) and Carly Kern on Roger That)

The Joe Davies-trained Bogey's Image (Teddy Davies, up) won the Heavyweight Timber in a tight finish over Maryland Hunt Cup-nominated Rocket Star Red and Island Nation. (Anne Litz photo of Bogey's Image (winner), Rocket Star Red, and Island Nation). Parker Hendriks rode Irv Naylor's Family Tree to win the Novice Timber over stablemate Animal Kingston.

Elizabeth Scully picked up the ride on Armata's MHC-nominated Goodoldtimes to win the Open Timber, then came right back the following race to win the Amateur Apprentice Timber on Charlie Fenwick's Royal Ruse, who is also nominated for the Hunt Cup. (Anne Litz photo of Goodoldtimes, winner of the Green Spring Valley Hunt Cup Frank A. Bonsal Memorial).

Leslie Young brought a barn-full for the flat races, with stablemates Eternal Story (George Connolly) and Fast Vision (Virginia Korrell) placing 1-2 in the Amateur Flat race.

Trainer Jack Fisher captured both divisions of the Training Flat, with Bruton Street's Neotropic (Jamie Bargary) and Merriebelle Stable's Beat Le Bon (Graham Watters).

Results can be found here: http://www.centralentryoffice.com/Meets.aspx

Additional recap HERE.

Live stream replay available HERE on the GSV website.

Photos from: Bob Keller; Anne Litz

REMINDER - ONLINE ENTRIES WILL OPEN WEDNESDAY AT NOON for both the Mount Harmon-Wicomico Hunt Point to Point and the Blue Ridge Hunt Point to Point. Please, we beg you, don't leave your entries til the last minute. Enter early, online, at Central Entry Office: http://www.centralentryoffice.com/Meets.aspx

Anne Litz photo from the Green Spring Valley Hounds Point to Point