In 1981, Henry Wood ventured to New York in search of a steeplechase that could hopefully conquer the Iroquois Steeplechase in Nashville, Tennessee. Henry was an experienced amateur jockey who had a burning desire to win what was at the time the most notable amateur race on the NSA circuit. He arrived at Belmont Park […]
NSA winter meetings are considered a great success The annual NSA Race Chairman’s and Board of Directors’ meetings were held on Friday, January 16, 2026 at the Dewberry Hotel in Charleston, SC. Aiken Steeplechase Chairman Frank Mullins hosted the Race Chairmen’s six-hour conference, themed “Sharing Best Practices.” Nineteen of the 28 scheduled race meetings for […]
Sad news from the racing community. Retired trainer and former steeplechase jockey Leo O’Brien has died aged 85. Leo was the father of Keith O’Brien, the NSA’s new assistant racing secretary. Here’s a tribute from the New York Racing Association: NYRA mourns the passing of Leo O’Brien OZONE PARK, NY – The New York Racing […]
Lisa Rackle Ben-Dov, whose life included a distinguished professional career in New York with a deep-rooted philanthropic presence in Virginia hunting country, died unexpectedly on December 7, 2025, just months after braving cancer. Lisa was born on March 21, 1945 in Atlanta to Eugene Emile Rackle and Mabel Claire Moody Rackle and grew up in […]
© Tod Marks The second-richest schedule on the National Steeplechase Association’s fall calendar takes place Saturday at Great Meadow in The Plains, Virginia, with the 88th running of the International Gold Cup Races. Notable on the $365,000 eight-race card are the $100,000 Grade 2 William H. Allison stakes, a handicap hurdle at 2 ⅛ miles, […]
Three stakes – two over timber and a $50,000 obstacle event for 3-year-old jumpers – highlight Saturday’s National Steeplechase Association doubleheader in New York and Virginia – the only time two will meet sharing the same date on the fall calendar. The Genesee Valley Hunt Races in Geneseo, NY, the only tower hunt in the […]
©Douglas Read As with last year’s Grade 3 Mariann De Tejada Memorial stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Jack Fisher saddled multiple runners, and of course, as in 2024, it wasn’t Fisher’s big horse – Snap Decision – who took home the top prize in Charlottesville, Virginia, but a supporting player. With veteran racesman Bernie Dalton, […]
©Tod Marks The National Steeplechase Association started its autumn calendar on Saturday with a six-race $ 160,000 card in Hunt Valley, MD., And the star of the show was a horse that rose out of the darkness at Shawan Downs exactly a year ago to become the most exciting Houtloper in the sport. When Dolly […]