As we begin to wrap up the spring season, and plan ahead for summer and fall, we're looking for some feedback on our weekly newsletters. If you have more suggestions or comments, please
email us
!
|
|
|
WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ON THE FREQUENCY YOU RECEIVE NEWSLETTERS FROM THE TGSF?
|
|
|
|
Hers is a timeless love story
|
|
Love of land, love of horses, love of family, love of sharing her considerable knowledge, energy and resources: Meet longtime Radnor Hunt Races chair Betty Moran
|
|
This year’s
Radnor Hunt Races mark the 89
th anniversary of the historic, Malvern, Pennsylvania meet.
This year also marks the 89
th birthday for one of Radnor’s most ardent supporters. Betty Moran has long been so tightly linked to the steeplechase hosted by one of the nation’s oldest hunt clubs that it’s hard to mention one without the other.
“If ever a definition of a philanthropist is needed, just describe Betty Moran,” Thoroughbred Charities of America founder Herb Moelis told Main Line Today about Moran. “All you need to do is ask and Betty steps forward.”
|
|
Forty years ago, Moran stepped in to help revive the flagging Radnor races, linking the May event to the local Brandywine Conservancy, increasing purses, bolstering volunteer rolls and pulling in bigger and bigger crowds. But her devotion to philanthropy doesn’t stop there. A founding member of the Chester County Community Foundation, Moran received the Jordan Award for Philanthropy in 2000. She served on the boards of the Devon Horse Show, Bryn Clovis Charity Foundation, Paoli Hospital, Community Volunteers in Medicine, Operation Warm, Home of the Sparrow for homeless mothers and the Chester County Food Bank. In 2009, she was honored by the Salvation Army for her tireless service, and she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Of her work with the Chester County Futures charity, Moran summed up her involvement to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “When women are supported, it benefits families. There are so many families who need a warm home, love, care and attention.” Moran knows from experience the importance of the family unit – she has five adult children, 15 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, with one more on the way at press time.
|
Betty Moran at the races with Anne Moran and Anne's daughters. (photo, NSA archives)
|
Taking the step from hunting to ‘chasing
Moran was a longtime foxhunter – she and her kids used to hack to Radnor meets, like a row of ducklings following their mom, says a former neighbor. She entered steeplechasing with Chester County neighbor-trainers Morris “Pop” Dixon and, later, Burley Cocks. Moran and her Brushwood Stable had great results over hurdles and timber, producing 1986 Pennsylvania Hunt Cup winner Tom Miller, 2000 English Grand National winner Papillon and many more.
On the flat, Moran had as much success. Moran's Creme Fraiche, purchased as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton July, was her most illustrious racehorse, winning the 1985 Belmont Stakes (
watch the race here). He was trained by Hall of Famer Woody Stephens. Creme Fraiche won 17 of 64 starts and earned $4,024,727. His Belmont victory, the fourth of five straight for Stephens, was achieved over Stephens-trained Stephan's Odyssey and 2-year-old champion Chief's Crown and came while Betty Moran was relatively new in flat racing. “I was spoiled too quickly, too soon,” she told the Blood-Horse. “I was speechless when he won.”
|
|
History of the Radnor Hunt Races
This Saturday, May 18, marks the 89th running of the Radnor Hunt Races. Held on the grounds of the Radnor Hunt in Willistown Township, Pennyslvania, the meet typically attracts 25,000 or more.
Founded in 1883, Radnor is the oldest active, recognized hunt club in the U.S.
The first Radnor Hunt Races were held in 1928 at the Chesterbrook estate of A.J. Cassatt. Bill Hunneman Jr., first race chair, spearheaded the relocation of the famed National Hunt Cup from Brookline, Mass. to Radnor.
Racing was suspended 1943-1945 during World War II. In 1946, George Brooke II—with the aid of Morris Dixon, Thomas McCoy Jr. and George Strawbridge Sr. – supervised construction of the present course.
In 1980, Radnor teamed with the Brandywine Conservancy spearheaded by Betty Moran and George A. “Frolic” Weymouth. Under their leadership, the Radnor Races developed the “Racing for Open Space” theme.
For almost four decades, the Brandywine Conservancy has been the sole beneficiary of the Radnor Hunt Races. Nearly $4 million has been raised to fuel efforts protecting open space and water resources in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware. More than 64,000 acres have been permanently protected, including the Radnor course itself and surrounding property.
|
|
Creme Fraiche won consecutive runnings of the grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup (watch
1986 here, and
1987 here) and the grade 1 Super Derby, American Derby, Meadowlands Cup Handicap and Jerome Handicap.
Retired at 7, Creme Fraiche was retired at Brushwood. He was visited by fans bringing his favorite treat of mints until he was put down in 2003 at age 21. He was buried at the farm in the handsome memorial garden at Bryn Clovis across from Brushwood.
Moran and Brushwood are credited with more than 600 runners on the flat and over fences and nearly $6 million in earnings.
|
|
She was an ardent world traveler, spending months at a time adventuring the globe. On one trip, she met and got to know Jeremy Irons, an English character actor with roles in Kafka and The Man in the Iron Mask but perhaps best known as the voice of “Scar” in The Lion King. Irons, who lived in Ireland when Moran met him, was an activist and philanthropist, and she really liked him. She named a Danehill Dancer colt she bought in 2003 after him. Jeremy was a multiple-group 1-placed runner and stood at the Irish National Stud before he died in 2014.
Another Brushwood-bred was stakes winner Bernstein. A son of Storm Cat bought in utero with the Affirmed mare La Affirmed out of the Keeneland November sale in 1996, Bernstein raced for Michael Tabor and Betty Moran, multiple group-placed before a lengthy shuttle stud career.
|
Trainer D.M. Smithwick accepts the trophy for a new race at the Radnor Hunt Races, The Morris Dixon Steeplechase, from Molly Dixon and Betty Moran on May 17, 1986. Mrs. Ogden Phipps' Rockaround won the $12,500 brush race with Jerry Fishback up. (photo, NSA archives)
|
The New Bolton link
Betty Moran was honored with the creation of a new award in her name, the Elizabeth R. Moran Award for Exceptional Service to
Penn Vet New Bolton Center.
“To have this world-renowned hospital in our own backyard since 1964 has been a great comfort,” she said in a New Bolton press release at the time. “When the critical care center, named in honor of my son, Jim, was dedicated, I was proud to be there with my family to open this important addition to the New Bolton campus.
“I have such respect for Dr. Dean Richardson and all the other … dedicated people who make New Bolton (what) it is.”
The James M. Moran, Jr. Critical Care Center opened in 2010, one of the country’s most sophisticated, bio-secure facilities for horses and large animals suffering from colic and highly infectious illnesses. Moran’s donation closed the gap between state support and other private donations.
Jim Moran operated Elk Manor Farm near Fair Hill. He died in 2008.
|
Photo of The James M. Moran, Jr. Critical Care Center courtesy of The New Bolton Center.
|
|
My little butterfly …
Meet Betty Moran’s English Grand National winner, Papillon
|
(Photo courtesy of Aintree Racecourse)
Foaled in Ireland in 1991, Papillon won the English Grand National for Betty Moran in 2000, becoming one of just nine National winners owned by an American. (
Watch the race here
)
Trained by Ted Walsh, Papillon was ridden by Walsh’s son Ruby, then 20 and making his first start in the Aintree classic.
Papillon was nipped at the line by Bobbyjo in the 1998 Irish Grand National. The two Irish runners won the next two English Nationals. L’Escargot had been the last Irish-based English National winner, in 1975.
Michael recalls some concern about running in the National. “I’m pretty sure my mother didn’t want Papillon to run,” he says. “She knew anything could happen in that race, even more than other jump races. She worried about him getting hurt, and worried about her friend Ted’s young son Ruby getting hurt.
“She took a lot of convincing.”
Papillon returned to Aintree in 2001, but he carried high-weight over heavy ground and was brought down at the 19
th
. Ruby Walsh remounted to finish fourth. (
Watch the race here
)
The game son of Lafontaine, by Sham, was retired at the end of the 2003 season, having earned his connections more than 400,000 pounds with nine wins in 39 lifetime starts.
All-time leading rider Ruby Walsh retired this spring. Ted had been 11-time champion amateur rider in Ireland.
Papillon retired at Ted Walsh’s farm in County Kildare. He died at age 26 in 2017.
|
|
To the Moran clan: “If you were Czars of Steeplechase, what would you do with the sport?”
“I think everyone is doing their best to put on a good safe days racing,” says Pennsylvania Hunt Cup co-chair and Maryland Hunt Cup winner Anne Moran. “We’re all after the same thing – get spectators to come out to the country for a beautiful day at the races. We’re up against the elements – look at poor Willowdale and Winterthur the last few weeks.
“Speaking for Betty, I know she was an innovative force in racing. She would jump on anything if somebody had a good idea.” As a for instance, when she was actively involved running the races, Betty Moran helped usher through a change of direction for the Radnor course, making it one of just two right-handed courses on the U.S. circuit.
“Speaking for myself, I recognize the (racing) culture just isn’t as strong here as it is in England and Ireland,” says PHC co-chair Michael Moran. “Over there, you ask anybody on the street in March, and they know who the Gold Cup winner was. It’s not like that here.” With so many draws on the leisure dollar, Moran hopes the American sport can right itself, though he came up empty with a detailed punchlist. “Steeplechasing can’t stay like a country club with an aging population. There just needs to be an attraction for young people.”
|
|
In last week's newsletter we asked the following question:
"WHAT IS YOUR FEELING ON THE QUANTITY OF CONTENT IN THE WEEKLY RACING NEWSLETTERS?"
Your answers were as follows:
They're too long: 21%
They're just right: 73%
They're too short: 2%
We appreciate your feedback!
|
|
Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation Flat Races Bonus
In an effort to give amateur/apprentice jockeys more experience, the Temple Gwathmey
Steeplechase Foundation will pay a $500 bonus to the owner and trainer of any horse winning an NSA flat race that is ridden by an amateur/apprentice jockey, in addition to any bonus already advertised. The bonus does not apply to races restricted to amateur/apprentice jockeys. A list of amateur/apprentice jockeys can be found
on our website.
|
|
Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation Developing Rider Flat Race Series
The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation's Developing Rider Program presented a series of seven flat races for young riders for the spring of 2019. The series has now wrapped up, with a winner declared based on the number of races ridden.
The program was developed to encourage participation of young riders and give them a safe and educational platform on which to compete. The rider competing in the most races in the TGSF Developing Rider Series will receive a Charles Owen skullcap. Ties will be broken based on points earned in the series. Riders do not need to ride the same mount to be considered for the series prize.
|
|
Mell Boucher was the winning Developing Rider, competing in four races in the series. Mell, seen here competing in the Developing Rider race in Camden, raced with us up and down the east coast. We appreciate her commitment to the series. Congratulations on your new helmet, Mell!
(
Sydney Conto
photo)
More details about the Developing Rider Flat Race Series can be found on the
TGSF's website.
|
|
See what's happening on our social sites:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
