So it is the last Saturday in February, and that means one thing in Hunt Country: the Casanova point–to–point outside Warrenton, the first of 17 steeplechase races on the Virginia circuit this spring. This is the 50th running of the Casanova Hunt Point to Point races and will begin at noon at Buckland Farm just outside of Warrenton. Steeplechases, on which horses race over fences at breakneck speed, take place every weekend until May 11th in Virginia. Steeplechase racing continues to be recognized as the fastest growing spectator sport in the Mid-Atlantic region. Some of the jumps include post and rail, rail plank, stone and chicken coops. The Southeast Tourism Society has once again selected the Casanova Hunt Point-to-Point as one of the Southeast’s top 20 events in the first quarter of the New Year. Along with great steeplechase racing, there is the very competitive Tailgate Competition; I think sometimes many folks forget there are actually horses at this event!  General Admission is $10 per person or $20 per car at the gate; children under 12 years of age are free. For information call (540) 788-4806 or (540) 788-4116. Buckland Farm is located just off Vint Hill Rd in Fauquier County.

Photo Credit to Doug Lees, and yes, steeplechase fans, that is not the Casanova Races pictured at right 😉