Great Meadow racecourse, spread across 380 acres donated by a newspaper magnate Arthur Arundel in 1982, is situated at The Plains in Virginia and first opened for steeplechase racing in that year to host the Virginia Gold Cup when it moved from Broadview racecourse in Warrenton. Its principal race is the Virginia Gold Cup, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, which it first hosted in 1985. The Cup, a 4 mile steeplechase between flags with natural fences and walls to contest, was first run on 7th May 1922. It had been the brainchild of a group of 8 equestrian enthusiasts who met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton on 3rd April 1922. Things moved quickly, and within a month a course was laid out across hunting countryside on the Oakwood Estate in the vicinity of Warrenton, with a first prize of 1,000 dollars. In that inaugural running the winner was Irish Laddie ridden by Arthur White and owned by Katherine Hitt, and within 2 years the race was transferred to a more permanent course at Broadview Farm. Other feature races hosted at the track include a card formed of the International Gold Cup races in October.
Virginia Gold Cup selected winners
1922 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Irish Laddie owned by Katherine Hitt and ridden by Arthur White
1976 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Semington trained and ridden by Charlie Fenwick jnr
1979 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Sam Son of a Gun trained and ridden by Charlie Fenwick jnr
1986 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Sugar Bee trained and ridden by Charlie Fenwick jnr and owned by Arthur Arundell
2016 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Ebanour owned by Irvin Naylor, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gustav Dahl
2017 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Ebanour owned by Irvin Naylor, trained by Cyril Murphy and ridden by Gustav Dahl
2018 The Virginia Gold Cup was won by Zanclus (22/10 fav) trained by Neil Morris and ridden by Kieran Norris
I am grateful to our American Racing Correspondent Richard Gauthier for the scan of the rare badge shown below:-
