Big news from the May 4 Virginia Gold Cup at Great Meadow in The Plains. They have announced the $150,000 Commonwealth Cup Hurdle Stakes, a Grade 1 race at 2 miles, 1 furlong over 12 fences. It will be the co-feature with the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup Timber Stakes.
“The creation of the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup is a natural progression for steeplechasing in Virginia,” said Al Griffin, co-chair with Will Allison of the Virginia Gold Cup Association. He also is director of racing.
“The Virginia Gold Cup Association runs significant race meets in both the spring and the fall, and we’ve worked hard to create enhanced opportunities for the horsemen. And, it’s not just Gold Cup. Foxfield in Charlottesville is planning an enhanced card this spring as well.
“On the other end of the spectrum,” Griffin continued, “we’ve created sanctioned racing opportunities at point-to-points with Old Dominion Hunt and now this year with Blue Ridge Hunt. With all of the steeplechase racing in Virginia, it was time that we created a grade 1 racing opportunity in the Commonwealth.“But, it’s not just here in Virginia. South Carolina folks are working hard to enhance racing opportunities with the reemergence of the Colonial Cup and their Grade 1 Stakes Race in the fall. Other South Carolina race meets like Aiken have stepped up their game in terms of the quality of their race course and the conditions offered. The overall goal it to create more and better racing opportunities at all levels of steeplechasing.” Details: https://www.vagoldcup.com