Montpelier Hunt Races

THE HISTORY OF THE MONTPELIER HUNT RACES

In 1901, William duPont purchased the Montpelier estate, located four miles west of the Town of Orange, in Virginia's Piedmont Region. It was the lifelong home of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Mr. duPont's daughter, Marion duPont Scott, an accomplished horsewoman, resided at Montpelier until her death in 1983, at which time the duPont family transferred the property to the National Trust For Historic Preservation.

Mrs. Scott and her brother, William duPont, Jr., were responsible for creating many of steeplechase and flat racing's best known venues, including Delaware Park in Delaware, the Fair Hill

Natural Resources Area, home to the National Steeplechase Association Headquarters and its race course in Maryland, the Camden Race Course, South Carolina, home of the Carolina Cup and the Colonial Cup Races and in 1928, she inaugurated the Montpelier Races. As an owner, Mrs. Scott bred a series of winners from excellent Thoroughbred bloodlines. In 1932, her horse Trouble Maker won the Maryland Hunt Cup, regarded as America's most challenging timber race, and in 1938, her horse Battleship, a son of Man O War, became the first American bred horse to win the British Grand National Steeplechase. Other winners campaigned under her French blue, old rose and silver colors were Mongo, Accra and Annapolis, another son of Man O War.

Regarded by many as America's First Lady of Racing, Marion duPont Scott generously supported the equine industry throughout her life. She donated funds to construct Virginia's leading equine medical center in Leesburg, which is named in her honor. Her legacy continues with the running of the Montpelier Races, a premier event on the national Steeplechase Association's circuit, which is always held on the first Saturday in November.

Battleship is at the far right.

BATTLESHIP WAS PROBABLY MRS. SCOTT'S MOST FAMOUS HORSE.

Seventy years ago this year Battleship was the first American owned and bred horse to win the British Grand National, the preeminent test of a steeplechase horse. And, he was only 15.2 hands and carried a 17 year old jockey who stood well over 6 feet tall.

Mrs. Scott noticed Battleship, a son of Man ‘o War, at age three and wanted to buy him. He sustained an injury in a starting gate before she could buy him. Mrs. Scott was still interested and bought him after rest and corrective shoeing stating “you could just tell he was going to be right”. He raced as a four year-old winning six of 12 starts. He started racing over fences at five.

Battleship was sent to England in 1936 as a hopeful to run in the 1937 Grand National. His English trainer discouraged his entry in that race although he raced well there. In 1938 Mrs. Scott insisted he be entered in the Grand National. Reg Hobbs, the trainer, continued up until race day morning to try to discourage Mrs. Scott from entering him, even though his son was riding him.

The Grand National was celebrating its 100th anniversary in 1938 and 33 horses started. Battleship ran a grand race.The jockey, Bruce Hobbs, claimed after the race he was falling off at the fourth fence when a fellow jockey reached, grabbed him and plunked him back in the saddle. Only 13 horses finished the race. Battleship ran a nail biting stretch run against one other horse to stick his head in front at the wire.

A parade in his British home base greeted Battleship the day after the race. A month later when he returned to New York City aboard a ship mayor LaGuardia welcomed him along with actor Randolph Scott, Marion’s husband, who interrupted filming a movie in Hollywood to join the celebration. Mrs. Scott promised if Battleship won the Grand National he would never race again and she was true to her word. He retired to stud at Montpelier and is buried there. Guests can visit his grave, alongside two of Mrs. Scott’s other famous horses, Annapolis and Accura.