The 80th Montpelier Races-2014, An Orange County, Virginia Tradition

 

One of the premier events in Orange County will be held this Saturday, November 1^st , the 80^th Montpelier Races will be held at the Montpelier Estate, the home of President James Madison, the 4^th President of the United States. This annual event has been continuously held since 1934, when Marion DuPont Scott, America’s First Lady of racing, inaugurated this great Orange County tradition, the Montpelier Hunt Races are always held on the first Saturday in November.

Last year’s event was held on a relative warm, bright fall day, with just a bit of a breeze, making it perfect for a sweater or light jacket. Some years the weather has been an issue with unusually cold temperatures and a light rain. Let’s hope the phenomenal weather we’ve had all spring and summer will continue into early fall, and we’ll be blessed with a glorious day, although early forecasts say “dress for the cold”.

For the past 7 years, we have attended this event which features seven races, five of which highlight the traditional steeplechase jumps covering a two mile course. I am always impressed by the sights, sounds and smells of this event. Positioning on the rail is the key to fully enjoy the thundering hooves of the horses, the amazing skills of the jockeys and their colorful silks, and the horses themselves.

The races also include the very popular Jack Russell Terrier race, which is always a crowd favorite, starts at 10:15 AM. There is no doubt that shopping for the fine products sold on the grounds attracts many. This year there will be several accomplished artists painting on the grounds through “Arts at the Races”. Carol Iglesias from Lake of the Woods will be there creating an amazing piece. Stop by and see her work, or better yet purchase a painting from one of the artists, it will be a great addition to your home.

Come early as the crowds are large, and parking can become a challenge if you arrive after noon, but generally the event organizers keep traffic moving pretty well. If you haven’t attended before, I promise you’ll enjoy it. Our company Coldwell Banker Elite is a corporate sponsor and owner/ broker Kevin Breen generously invites all of his agents as his guests. We plan to bring some new residents to Orange County and Lake of the Woods to introduce them to this great community event.

For additional information on the 2014 Montpelier Races visit: http://www.montpelierraces.org and be sure to visit our website www.pennyohomes.com for a post-race update and for the latest real estate trends. Also look for the Ostlund Team add in the Montpelier Race program, featuring several properties currently available!