The outcome of the richest hurdles stakes on the National Steeplechase calendar determined the Lonesome Glory Champions Award for the leading money winner of 2014 when Demonstrative, owned by Jacqueline Ohrstrom, trained by Richard Valentine and ridden by Robbie Walsh, won the $250,000 Grand National (Grade 1) Hurdles Stakes at Far Hills, NJ, on Saturday, October 18.

Demonstrative bested Divine Fortune, last year's Grand National winner and Eclipse Steeplechase Horse of the Year, by nearly four lengths. Parker's Project ran third, followed by Barnstorming — all three horses placing from second to fourth are trained by Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard.

With three consecutive Grade 1 wins ($150,000 New York Turf Writers at Saratoga and the $150,000 Lonesome Glory Stakes Hurdle Handicap at Belmont Park), the seven-year-old gelding (Elusive Quality – Loving Pride, by Quiet American) seems to have an unbeatable edge to become the Steeplechase Horse of the Year. Demonstrative's earnings, with only one Grade 1 left on the NSA calendar (Colonial Cup in November), are more than double his closest rivals, All The Way Jose and Divine Fortune.

The last three Eclipse Steeplechase HOTYs have been decided by their wins in the Grand National.

Valentine has always felt that Demonstrative is a really special horse (see story in last month's Eccentric) and his comeback after surgery to correct his breathing issue has been nothing short of phenomenal. According to Don Clippinger's report on the National Steeplechase Association website, Valentine was quite moved by the horse's performance in the Grand National and, just before the awards presentation, stated, "I love this horse. I love my owner. I love my staff."

Jacqueline Ohrstrom said, "I feel really fortunate to own Demonstrative. He's an extraordinary horse, and I am still recovering from watching his race yesterday. I don't feel blasé any time I watch my horses run. It's always an emotional experience and more excitement than I can really handle when it's actually happening. The most important thing is for the horses to come home safe. Richard has done a great job, along with his assistant Laird George, and Robbie Walsh, his jockey — they have all contributed to Demonstrative's success."

Other "locals" enjoyed a great day, spiced with success, at Far Hills. Clarke Ohrstrom's Umbraggio, ridden by Walsh, won the Sport of Kings maiden hurdle and Jacqueline Ohrstrom's Class Cherokee placed third — both trained by Valentine. Trainer Leslie Young and jockey-husband Paddy Young teamed up with Irvin S. Naylor's Bittersweetheart (GB) to win the Sport of Kings Filly & Mare Hurdle Stakes. Trainer Doug Fout prepared Beverly R. Steinman's Perfect Union, who scorched to a nearly eight-length victory in the Gladstone hurdle. For the card's final race, Trainer Russell Haynes and his Holston Hall syndicate cheered Hot Rize and jockey McCarthy, last May's Virginia Gold Cup winners, home to a one-half length win in the New Jersey Hunt Cup timber stakes.

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October 4 proved a big day at Glenwood Park, Middleburg, for steeplechasing and foxhunting (see photo pages). The day began at 9 a.m. with the finals of the Theodora Randolph Field Hunter Championship of America. At 1 p.m. the first race of nine races on the Virginia Fall Races, sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, went to the start. Local enthusiasts and many visitors enjoyed beautiful weather and great sport.

Locals appearing in the winner's enclosure included Kinross Farm's Schoolhouse Woods, trained by Neil Morris, first by nearly three lengths in the Bon Nouvel Allowance Optional Claiming Hurdle. Morris added two more winners to his record with Kingofalldiamonds, owned by Noble Stables, which bested a field of nine in the Maiden Hurdle and Sara E. Collette's Wahoo won the Virginia Sired or Bred Flat race. Julie Gomena trained Oakwood Stable's Country Cousin, ridden by Mark Beecher, to a 2½-length victory in the William P. McCormick Memorial maiden timber.

Magalen O. Bryant owned four horses entered at the Virginia Fall Races, earning first, second and third in different races. Dakota Slew, trained by Valentine, won the National Sporting Library & Museum Cup timber stakes. Adios Diable, trained by Doug Fout, placed second in the James P. McCormick Memorial Maiden, and Casual Creeper, trained by Jimmy Day, with Paddy Young in the irons, finished third in the Bon Nouvel.

Bryant owns Thoroughbreds running on the flat and over fences, but her greatest win to date took place on August 23 at Saratoga when V.E. Day, rated at long odds of 19-1 in spite of two consecutive wins, scored a huge upset in the $2.5 million Travers Stakes (Gr. 1).

Hot news: Bryant's US racing manager, Cynthia Tucker Curtis, confirmed that V.E. Day, trained by Jimmy Jerkens, has been entered in the $5-million Breeders Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 1 and added, "we are excited about the way he has been training and the opportunity to run." Other three-year-olds expected to enter the Classic include California Chrome, Tonalist, Shared Belief, and Bayern.

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The steeplechase season is winding down with only The International Gold Cup taking place this Saturday, October 25, at Great Meadow in The Plains. You must purchase all tickets in advance, including general admission passes. It's a great day of racing, complete with parimutuel betting. If you haven't made plans, there's still time and you have options to buy both reserved tickets and general admission online. Or you can buy general admission at various remote sites.

Gallop to the website: http://vagoldcup.com/intl/tickets — On that page, you can order both reserved tickets and general admission car pass and pay by credit card, then follow the directions in your confirmation email so you can pick up your tickets at "will call" – located at The Corner Store, Old Tavern Road, on the day of the races, just opposite Great Meadow's main entrance.

Additional ticket outlets include: Cuppa Giddy Up (Middleburg), The Corner Store (Old Tavern Road, The Plains), Tri County Feeds (Marshall), Great Falls Florist (Great Falls, VA), and more. See the listing on the tickets home page and remember that "Will Call" at the Corner Store doubles as both a place to pick up your tickets as well as a ticket outlet the day of the races. Please allow extra time as the traffic is usually heavy. Note: the races start at 12 p.m. this year – make plans and see you at the races!

Any questions not answered at the International Gold Cup website, contact the office before COB on Friday, Oct. 24: 540-347-2612.

For information and the fall calendar: www.centralentryoffice.com