The Genesee Valley Hunt Races were held on Saturday October 14 at the Nations Farm on nations Road in Geneseo NY. It featured the 89th running of the NSA sanctioned Genesee Valley Hunt Cup [Steeplechase], with a purse of $30,000.
The Genesee Valley Race Meet is among the first in the country to offer sanctioned steeplechase racing and remains the only place in New York State where sanctioned timber steeplechase racing is offered.
The Hunt cup race was the highlight of ten races that included Small and Large Pony races, Stock horse sprints, Heavy Horse races and more. Some of the races were run with obstacles and some without.
There was also a full venue of canine events featuring Jack Russell Terriers, a parade of hounds and herding demonstrations. Other activities included horse drawn wagon rides, vendor booths featuring NY state food and wine, Sheep shearing, Pony rides and Tailgate picnics that rival anything seen at a football game.
One of the must-see events was the “stick horse” races for children ages one to nine, where every child received a ribbon, and the loudest cheering was heard here.
