Travels to hotbeds of steeplechase racing and other premium items will be offered at the National Steeplechase Foundation’s Jump to the Challenge celebration on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Winterthur Museum and Gardens in Wilmington, Del. In addition to dinner and dining, the festivities will feature a live auction with several valuable offerings, including travels to England, Ireland and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Richard and Pauline Hutchinson annually lead a trip to England for several days of steeplechase racing, and the winning bidder will have the opportunity to go racing with them on Jan. 25-30. And what a tour it will be. On the schedule will be racing at Warwick, Newbury, and Cheltenham, capped by tea in the Queen’s Private Box at the headquarters of British steeplechasing. The winning bidder will receive four nights at a four-star country hotel as well as all meals and travel in England. It promises to be an memorable trip with genial and knowledgeable guides.
If you want to relax in Ireland, you can bid and win seven nights at Cahervillahow, a country estate in County Tipperary that formerly was the home of Mrs. Joy Valentine. The estate boasts one of the most famous gardens in Ireland, and the house easily accommodates six.
Summer at Saratoga Race Course in the dream of just about anyone who loves horse racing, and the successful bidder will win a stay in Saratoga Springs for two. The winner can choose to visit for the A. P. Smithwick Memorial or the New York Turf Writers Cup Handicap or any other agreeable date. Accommodations for two include two nights at the Hampton Inn in Saratoga Springs, dinner at the Beekman Street Bistro, lunch at the Reading Room before the races and two clubhouse seats.
Also among the live-auction offerings are a privately commissioned painting by noted equine artist Chris Cancelli and a personalized keepsake scrapbook honoring a memorable season or horse provided by ST Publishing.
All proceeds from the evening benefit the National Steeplechase Foundation, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization committed to working for a healthy present and future for American steeplechase racing. Since its inception in 1995, the National Steeplechase Foundation has launched several initiatives to promote the safety and well-being of participants in our sport. Some of those initiatives are course inspections and upgrades, medication testing, and certified safety helmets. The Foundation also promotes amateurism and works to develop new owners, trainers, and jockeys. Other initiatives assure fairness through patrol video replay systems and photo-finish cameras. In all, the Foundation has raised and distributed more than $1-million in support of these important initiatives.
For information on how to make your reservations for Jump to the Challenge and how to bid on the exciting auction items, e-mail info@nationalsteeplechase.com/old.