The autumn steeplechase season is upon us. Time again to plan the tailgate picnicking, the race spectating, the paddock viewing, the "high-stakes" wagering ($1 bets only, thank you) and all the rest of the fun that goes along with a day at the races.

Of course steeplechase is not like just any other day at the races. And the Virginia Fall Races, held at Middleburg's own Glenwood Park, are an incomparable event, steeped in local tradition and historically hosting more entries than any other fall meet.

This year marks the fiftieth running of the Virginia Fall Races, and a full schedule of activities is planned for those attending.

First and foremost, naturally, are the races themselves. While attendees of recent Fall Races may recall that National Steeplechase Association-sanctioned races were run on Saturday only, this year marks a return to the running of NSA-sanctioned races both weekend days. According to Gary Barker, Chairman of the Virginia Fall Races, "There are now so many entries, and the races ran so late last year, that we're running sanctioned races both days."

As of press time, there are a total of 15 races slated for the meet, 7 to run on Saturday and 8 to run on Sunday, with hurdle, timber and flat races featured both days.

So how to plan your weekend? Before choosing a day to attend, why not consider going to both, keeping in mind that proceeds from the meet go to two local charities, the Loudoun Hospital Center in Leesburg and Glenwood Park itself. These two charities have long been the beneficiaries of the Virginia Fall Races, and with such a packed weekend planned for this year, the hope is to donate a meaningful amount once again.

The late Daniel C. Sands donated the 112-acre Glenwood Park to the people of Virginia, and on Saturday the annual Sands Cup will be held in his honor.

New to the card this year is the Emily North Hutchison Memorial allowance hurdle, named for the late, great horsewoman herself. The race, a $25,000 allowance hurdle, is sponsored by a group of North Hutchison's friends and family. That purse, about triple the figure of other races on the card, represents the efforts of those grateful to her for her efforts made on behalf of the sport for so many years.

North Hutchison was a longtime, active member of the Virginia Fall Race Committee, as well as serving on the Virginia Steeplechase Association board. It was North Hutchison who was a driving force behind the rule that forbids the use of toe grabs on shoes worn by steeplechasers. Having suffered the loss of some of her own equine athletes as a result of injuries sustained in races where horses wore toe grabs, and having witnessed many friends do so as well, North Hutchison made it her mission to ban the use of the shoes.

She was known not only for her fine string of race horses but was also one of the top show riders of her day. Shortly before her death, Hutchison was awarded the Pegasus Medal of Honor in recognition of her significant contributions to the sport of horse showing.

"Emily North Hutchison was a very forceful member," recalls Baker. "And all for the betterment of the sport."

Races aside, plenty of other activities are slated for the weekend meet. On Saturday the Piedmont Gourmet will be sponsoring a tailgate competition, so tailgaters are encouraged to not only bring out the finery but be creative in doing so as well. Also on that day there will be a Family Fun Fair that will include a petting zoo, face painters and pony rides.

Steeplechase racing owes its history to the sport of foxhunting, and this will become very apparent on Sunday when the finals of the Field Hunter Championships of America are held at noon. The Championships are the culmination of a week-long judged competition of fieldhunters who come from across the nation to compete. On Sunday, those who have qualified during the week of judged hunts sponsored by local Virginia hunts participate in a "mock" hunt on the Glenwood Park racecourse. At this point, judges begin narrowing the field further through a series of tests designed to indicate the suitability and skills of a horse and rider in a hunt field.

Trophies will be awarded for Field Hunter Champion, Reserve Champion, Best Turned Out, Most Suitable, and Champion of (past) Champions.

Gates open both days at 11 am; post time is 2 pm. Tickets, box seats, railside and tailgate picnic parking spaces can be purchased in advance by calling the Race Office at 540-687-5662 or by visiting the website at www.vafallraces.com. General admission is $20.00 per car (4 people).