April
is the month of the three famous Maryland timber races, My Lady's Manor, the
Grand National (sometimes referred to as the Maryland Grand National to
distinguish it from the race of the same name at Aintree, in England), and the
Maryland Hunt Cup, the greatest timber race in the world. Saturday,
April 14th, marked the ninety-seventh running of the My Lady's Manor Steeplechase,
run next door to and for the benefit of the Ladew Topiary Gardens. 
Fappa
Fire, owned by Pack Up Stable, trained by Alicia Murphy, and ridden by Blake Curry
bested a field of nine timber horses over the "about three miles" route.
He made a sensational run from the second to last fence, where he was fourth behind
Bubble Economy (finished second); Mr Bombastic (finished third); Royal's
Quest (finished fourth), through the lane, to go on and win by  a
head. (Fappa Fire, in the green and yellow colors, is pictured above at the
second to last fence behind the grey Royal's Quest and the dark bay Mr Bombastic.
At this stage Bubble Economy was ahead of all three of these horses.)
Fappa
Fire had to withstand a claim of foul for inteference in the stretch from Jack
Fisher, who rode the third place finisher Mr. Bombastic. The claim was not allowed
by the stewards and the original order of finish stood. Fappa
Fire, a ten year old gelding by Personal Flag out of a Fappiano mare, had been
a flat horse on the Maryland circuit, later ran over hurdles, and ran in his first
timber race at Howard County in the spring of 2006. (He is pictured at the
right above going to the post.)  In
the second feature, Mr Liberator, a seven year old gelding by Awad, trained and
ridden by Billy Meister, led almost all the way to win his first sanctioned race.
(Mr.Liberator and Billy Meister are pictured at the left, in the lead, at the
second to last fence.)
In
this race, the John Rush Street Memorial, jockey Darren Nagle was med-evaced to
hospital by helicopter after a fall from Irish Laddie. Nagle had also fallen in
the first race. A
frequent occurence in steeplechasing is that a horse which has lost its rider
will continue on to run with the field inspite of being riderless. In the below
case, Rosbrian, thought by some to be a possible Maryland Hunt Cup winner, lost
his rider in the early stages of the race. He continued to run with the field
for more than two miles, jumping every fence. (Rossbrian, having lost jockey
James Slater, and Iron Country Xmas, ridden by Colvin Ryan, jump the second to
last as a pair below.) 
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