The birch from the fence is scattered as runnes clear it at Lingfield racecourse on November 19, 2013 in Lingfield, England. (Alan Crowhu...

FOYLE (Douglas Lees Photo) Merriefield Farm’s Foyle defied his betting odds paying his backers $25.20 for a $2 win waqer and won the $5...

Runners take a look at the first fence at Cheltenham racecourse on October 18, 2013 in Cheltenham, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images ...

AERO and TAX RULING The National Steeplechase Association’s 2013 timber championship will be at stake in the $50,000 International Gold...

(FauquierNow.com Photo) (FauquierNow.com) Saturday’s steeplechase races at   Great Meadow  will offer pari-mutuel betting in the palms ...

Runners make their way towards the back straight at Huntingdon racecourse on October 15, 2013 in Huntingdon, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Gett...

Runners clear a flight of hurdles at Exeter racecourse on October 10, 2013 in Exeter, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)

Well, it's fast approaching that time when one needs to select the perfect International Gold Cup outfit. Have at it, and good luck. ...

. (Nigel Roddis/Getty Images Europe) A tradition at Gold Cup has long been the wildly popular Jack Russell races.  Popular at horse e...

McLane Henriks rode Thermostat to victory in the amateur highweight timber race for the second straight year  at the Virginia Fall Races ...

John Allen riding Gotta Take Care jumps the last hurdle on his way to win the Brendan Drechsler Hurdle during Mosstropper Steeplechase Day...

Horses and jockeys jump a fence past the grandstand at Fakenham racecourse during racing at Fakenham on May 7, 2013 in Fakenham, England...

(Douglas Lees) Michael Wharton’s Grinding Speed continued his dominance of the Great Meadow Course when he drew clear in the stretch to ...

OK, you’re almost at the finish line (pun intended). Tomorrow is the 88th running of the Virginia Gold Cup and the first to feature pari-m...

A general view of the course during the Phoenix Security Hurdle Race.  (Stu Forster/Getty Images Europe) The Sedgefield Races on May 2,...

Any questions?

ALFA BEAT (#10) (Douglas Lees Photo) Champion steeplechase owner Irv Naylor will play a strong hand in the $75,000 Virginia Gold Cup whe...

(AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Here’s how this goes. Everybody has said, “I went to the Gold Cup and I never saw a horse.” Har-Har. It’s an old joke. Let it go. This yea...

By Joe Clancy, www.ThisIsHorseRacing.com THE WINNER (LEFT) (Douglas Lees Photo) For a day with only one race, the Maryland Hunt Cu...

Pay not attention to the weather.  Gold Cup weekend will be here soon, and all will be well! (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe) Runne...

All photos by Douglas Lees.  The 9th fence at the 111th Grand National in  Butler, Md. Left to right: Brands Hatch (Jackson Roberts,...

Tim Donworth riding Zest For Life make their way through 'Joe's Water Splash' to win The Kildare Hunt Club Fr Sean Breen Memo...

Almost always one of these critters ends up running in the Virginia Gold Cup... All photos by Douglas Lees. Amelia McGuirk savors her...