Virginia Gold Cup
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The Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup are annual steeplechase races held in The Plains, Virginia. Together, the races have become two of the largest outdoor social events held in Virginia.[1] The races have been held in Fauquier County since 1922. It is sometimes seen as Virginia's answer to the Kentucky Derby.[2]
The Virginia Gold Cup is held the first Saturday of May at Great Meadow, a field events center created and bequeathed by the Arundel Family in 1984. The International Gold Cup is the featured horse racing event of the Fall season and is managed today by the Virginia Gold Cup Association. Now held on the third Saturday of October, the International Gold Cup was founded in Tennessee in 1930.
History
There is a history of horse racing in the region dating back to the 19th century;[3] however, the Virginia Gold Cup itself was not created until 1922. The race was created by eight sportsmen who met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton and organized a four-mile race alongside the natural walls and fences of the nearby hunting countryside on April 3, 1922, and thirty-four days later was the first Virginia Gold Cup race.[3]
Washington businessman Russell M. Arundel was chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup from 1930 to 1955. In 1980, his son Arthur W. "Nick" Arundel purchased Great Meadow, a 500-acre tract of open space in The Plains which he developed for more than $5 million into a new home for The Gold Cup, which at the time was threatened by development in Warrenton. Arundel served as Chairman of Great Meadow and of the Virginia Gold Cup for nearly two decades until his passing in 2011.
From 1994 to 1999, a horse named Saluter won six individual Virginia Gold Cup races. Overall, Saluter won 22 of his 43 lifetime starts. As of 2025, Saluter has won the most races in the history of the Virginia Gold Cup.[4]
The 2016 event drew more than 50,000 spectators.[5]
In 2025, the event held its 100th race despite being older than a century. This was due World War II and a scheduling conflict preventing the race from 1943-1945 and 1948 respectively.[6][7] The race was almost cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well.[7]
Additional activities include terrier and pony races before the main event, hat contests on Members Hill, vendor tents and booths, parachute demonstrations, classic and new car displays, and countless tailgates.
Viewing areas are divided into three basic sections: North Rail, South Rail, and Members Hill. Members Hill overlooks Winners Circle and has the best view of the course. All three sections include private tents, public viewing areas, and tailgate spaces. North Rail is geared more toward young professionals and social groups; South Rail is where most corporate tents and family-oriented outings congregate.
Winners
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time | Turf | Course |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Keys Discount | G. Watters | Jack Fisher | Mrs. John R.S. Fisher | 8:56<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | Firm | Great Meadow Course |
| 2024 | Schoodic | 8:57<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | Soft | ||||
| 2023 | Mystic Strike | G. Galligan | Todd McKenna | Upland Partners | 8:25<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | Good | |
| 2022 | Andi'amu | F. Procter | Leslie Young | Ballybristol Farm LLC | 9:26<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | Soft | |
| 2021 | Schoodic | H. Frost | Jack Fisher | Mrs. John R.S. Fisher | 8:31<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | Good | |
| 2020 | Doc Cebu | M. Mitchell | Charles C. Fenwick Jr. | 8:15<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | Good | ||
| 2019 | Andi'amu | J. Doyle | Leslie Young | Ballybristol Farm LLC | 9:12<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | Good | |
| 2018 | Zanclus | Kieran Norris | Niel Morris | Sara E. Collette | 8:43<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | Good | |
| 2017 | |||||||
| 2016 | |||||||
| 2015 | |||||||
| 2014 | Hot Rize | William McCarthy | Holston Hall | 9:20<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 2013 | Grinding Speed | Mark Bucher | Michael Wharton | 8:50<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 2012 | Incomplete | Joey Elliott | Robert A. Kinsley | 8:38<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 2011 | Bon Caddo | Dawn P. Williams | Merriefield Farms | 8:25 | |||
| 2010 | Bubble Economy | Paddy Young | Arcadia Stable | 8:22<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 2009 | Salmo | Daren Nagel | Irvin S. Naylor | 8:33<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 2008 | Bubble Economy | Chip Miller | Arcadia Stable | 8:48 | |||
| 2007 | Salmo | Irvin S. Naylor | 8:24<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | ||||
| 2006 | Miles Ahead | Chris Read | Kinross Farm | 8:19 | |||
| 2005 | 8:40<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | ||||||
| 2004 | Joe At Six | Louis Neilson III | Michele L. Hunter | 8:48<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 2003 | Lord Kenneth | Matthew McCarron | Kinross Farm | 8:28<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 2002 | Make Me A Champ | Blyth Miller | Irvin S. Naylor | 8:27<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 2001 | Ironfist | Roger Horgan | John H. Filbert III | 8:29<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 2000 | Priceless Room | Joseph Delozier III | Big Wood Stable | 8:26<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1999 | Saluter | Jack Fisher | Henry Stern | 8:23<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 1998 | 8:58<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | ||||||
| 1997 | 8:46<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | ||||||
| 1996 | 8:47 | ||||||
| 1995 | 8:27 | ||||||
| 1994 | 8:46<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | ||||||
| 1993 | Kuujjuaq | John Bosley | H. Turney McKnight | 8:38<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1992 | Push and Pull | Jack Fisher | Dover Ridge Farm | 8:29 | |||
| 1991 | Joe's OK | Sanna Neilson | Oliver Keelan | 8:30 | |||
| 1990 | Von Csadek | Patrick Worral | Sheppard-Worral Stables | 8:51 | |||
| 1989 | Call Louis | Jack Fisher | Sheila Williams | 9:45<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1988 | Von Csadek | Patrick Worrall | Scanden Stables | 8:45 | |||
| 1987 | Ozymandias | William Wofford | Irene Roeckel | 8:38 | |||
| 1986 | Sugar Bee | Charles Fenwick Jr. | Arthur W. Arundel | 8:49<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1985 | Prince Saran | Paul Sloan | John R. Neal | 8:29<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 1984 | Constantine | D.M. Smithwick Jr. | Joseph M. Rogers | 9:03<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | Broadview Farm Course | ||
| 1983 | Private Gary | R. Waterman | 8:36<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | ||||
| 1982 | Prince Saran | Paul Sloan | John R. Neal | 8:56 | |||
| 1981 | Juggernaut II | J. Fisher | John R.S. Fisher | 8:50<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 1980 | Tong | H.T. McKnight | H. Turney | 8:54<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 1979 | Sam Son Of A Gun | C. Fenwick | W. Wallace Lanahan Jr. | 9:03<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1978 | Navy Davy | D. Yovanovich | Ernest Scott | 9:11<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1977 | Pat's Gamble | B. Secor | H.E. Burkheimer | 9:08<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1976 | Semington | C. Fenwick | W. Wallace Lanahan Jr. | 9:17 | |||
| 1975 | Chapel Street | L. Nielson III | Rokeby Stables | 9:10 | |||
| 1974 | Mongogo | W. Moore | 8:33<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | ||||
| 1973 | Portobelo III | G. Flautt | Bella Vista Farm | 9:04<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1972 | King of Spades | J. Aitcheson Jr. | Joseph M. Rogers | 9:12<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1971 | Annual Meeting | John W. Warner | 8:27<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | ||||
| 1970 | King of Spades | D. Small | Thomas H. McKoy Jr. | 8:47 | |||
| 1969 | Annual Meeting | W. Moore | John W. Warner | 8:54<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1968 | Walrus | J. Aitcheson Jr. | A.C. Randolph | 8:48<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 1967 | Leeds Don | David L. Ferguson | 9:15 | ||||
| 1966 | W. Moore | 8:51<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||||
| 1965 | N. Lowry | 8:46 | |||||
| 1964 | Moon Rock | J. Aitcheson Jr. | Paul R. Fout | 9:38<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 1963 | Hill Tie | A.P. Smithwick | June H. McKnight | 8:52 | |||
| 1962 | 8:58 | ||||||
| 1961 | Mainstay | J. Aitcheson Jr. | Wm. E. Schlusemeyer | 7:52<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 1960 | Ricacho | Randolph D. Rouse | 8:29 | ||||
| 1959 | Judge Beacon | J. Walker | George P. Greenhalgh | 7:30 | |||
| 1958 | Coup-de-Vite | K. Field | Mrs. Henry Obre | 9:11 | |||
| 1957 | Grand Chal | J. Aitcheson Jr. | Alfred H. Smith | 8:54<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1956 | Gillian | G. Stephens | Capt. J.L.B. Bentley | 8:58<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1955 | Uncle Pierre | B.H. Murray | Cyrus Manierre | 8:41<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1954 | Lancrel | F. Bonsal Jr. | Hugh J. O'Donovan | 7:22<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1953 | Rayquick | D.M. Smithwick | C.M. Greer Jr. | 7:36<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1952 | Gift of Gold | F.D. Adams | Mrs. Simon T. Patterson | 7:34<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1951 | Mister Mars | H. Bennett | A.S. Carhart | 8:00<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1950 | Done Sleeping | D.M. Smithwick | Alvin Untermyer | Unknown | |||
| 1949 | Never Worry | L. Manogue | Thomas Stokes | 7:03<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1947 | Alex Stokes | 8:30 | |||||
| 1946 | Houseman | John Bosley | C.M. Greer Jr. | 9:43<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | |||
| 1942 | Sir Romeo | Robert Utterback | Mrs. A.S. Carhart | 7:35 | |||
| 1941 | Goldun | John Bosley | C.M. Greer Jr. | 7:29<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 1940 | Black Sweep | J.S. Harrison | Mrs. Frank M. Gould | 8:32<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />2⁄5 | |||
| 1939 | Or Else | Sidney Watters | W.F. Cochran Jr. | 7:48<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | |||
| 1938 | Ostend | William B. Streett | Mrs. Frank M. Gould | 7:59<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1937 | 7:48<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄5 | ||||||
| 1936 | Ghost Dancer | Noel Liang | Carlton H. Palmer | 7:34 | |||
| 1935 | Indigo | W.B. Cocks | John Schiff | 7:43<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />3⁄5 | |||
| 1934 | Melita II | Jack Skinner | Mrs. Sumner Pingree | 9:50<templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />4⁄5 | Clovercroft Course | ||
| 1933 | The Prophet | Unknown | |||||
| 1932 | Melita II | ||||||
| 1931 | Seraglio | William B. Streett | Mrs. John Hay Whitney | ||||
| 1930 | Soissons | Jack Skinner | Mrs. Sumner Pingree | ||||
| 1929 | Dunks Green | Frank A. Bonsal | Mrs. Walter J. Salmon | ||||
| 1928 | Tijuca | Ernest Woolf | Mrs. C.C. Rumsey | Broadview Farm Course | |||
| 1927 | Dum Dum | Donald Pearce | Mrs. T.M. Bowen | ||||
| 1926 | Billy Barton | Albert G. Ober | Howard Bruce | ||||
| 1925 | John Bunny | Raymond Belmont | Mrs. K.E. Hitt | ||||
| 1924 | Parana | Arthur White | Mrs. C.E. Perkins | ||||
| 1923 | Oddity | Jules Dillon | Mrs. K.E. Hitt | Oakwood Course | |||
| 1922 | Irish Laddie | Arthur White |
References
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