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The DC Traveler

April 18th, 2008

The Virginia Gold Cup

The annual running of the Virginia Gold Cup horse races in The Planes, Virginia,about 45 miles from Washington, DC, attracts 35,000 spectators each May. 
It all started in 1922 when eight area horsemen organized a four-mile race through the local countryside. 
Today, the event has grown to seven races run throughout the afternoon, over a […]

By Jon -- 2 comments

April 28th, 2007

The 82nd Virginia Gold Cup

Unlike traditional thoroughbred horse racing, the steeplechase is a 2-4 mile cross-country horse race with about a dozen jumps over 52-inch fences, hedges or railings along the route. Jockeys are larger than the flat track counterparts, usually in the 140-160 pound range, versus their 110 lb. counterparts.
The horses are the same, most being former thoroughbred […]

By Jon -- 1 comment