The sound of hounds in chase and the cry of the huntsman's horn have long echoed across Virginia, starting with the settlement of the area by the English in the mid-1600s and the formation of the first foxhound club in 1840, until there are now more recognized hunts in Virginia than in any other state.

The town of Middleburg has long been thought of as the Hunt Capital of not only Virginia, but also all of America, with more than five hunts located just 15 minutes away from town. However, the focal point of the area is the Middleburg Hunt, which traces its origins to the great international foxhunting match between A. Henry Higginson's Middlesex and Harry Worcester Smith's Grafton hounds in 1905. The match was arranged to settle a dispute between the gentlemen concerning the superiority of their respective English and American packs of hounds. Mr. Smith's American hounds decisively won the match. Those two weeks of the match, as well as the resulting newspaper publicity, established Middleburg as the axis of Hunt Country, since the hunting took place largely in the area near the village. The foxhunters in the area officially established the Middleburg Hunt in 1906, and the Masters of Foxhounds Association recognized it in 1908. Since 1906, the hunt has gained a reputation for beautiful territory, outstanding hound work by their 40 couple of American foxhounds, and excellent hospitality. Several famous Virginians have also served as Masters, including Daniel Cox Sands, founder of Glenwood Park and the Virginia Spring Races, and Charlotte Noland, founder and headmistress of Foxcroft School.

This year, the Middleburg Hunt is celebrating its centennial year of hunting, proud of having retained their heritage and the continuation of their reputation as one of the top hunts in America. In honor of reaching the hundred-year mark, the hunt is planning a variety of activities this year.

On February 4th, Peter Winants, former editor of the Chronicle of the Horse magazine, will give a free lecture on the history of the Middleburg Hunt at the National Sporting Library. In April, not only will they continue their popular Hunter Pace event, but also, after an absence of many years, there will be a black-tie Hunt Ball at the Middleburg Community Center to celebrate.

On Sunday, April 30, Middleburg will host its annual Point-to-Point races at Glenwood Park. The races, part of the Virginia Point-to-Point circuit, have been part of the Washingtonian "must-do" list for many years, and this year is expected to be even more exciting, with additional races and the continuation of the competitive tailgate contest.

The first Saturday of November, Middleburg will host its Opening Meet at Groveton Farm, one of their best fixtures, and finally culminate the year with the incredibly popular, annual "Christmas in Middleburg" parade, when the hounds and over a hundred riders parade down main street in Middleburg prior to hunting.

For more information on joining in on any of Middleburg Hunt's centennial events, please contact Mrs. John Denegre at 540-687-6069, or check the hunt website at www.middleburghunt.com.