Point-to-points and sanctioned race meetings in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, sometimes both weekend days, offer an action-filled mid-Atlantic circuit to participants and spectators alike. April's been jampacked with one more very local tradition: Middleburg Hunt Point-to-Point on Sunday, April 29 at Glenwood Park, first race at 1 p.m.

Now's the time to make plans, if you haven't already, to enjoy the Virginia Gold Cup on Saturday, May 5. It's a great day with spectacular racing, people-watching, tailgate partying, and Pari-Mutuel Betting at Great Meadow, The Plains. Gates open at 10 a.m., first race is 1 p.m., but try to get there earlier for the Terrier Races at 11:30 – totally entertaining.

Last month, it was easy to run highlights of the two point-to-points, but this month's PTPs featured Orange County, Old Dominion, Loudoun, and Blue Ridge, plus the Middleburg Spring Races. Too much territory to cover in one little update, but there's good news that's very local on the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) front: Nina and Robert Bonnie's Stonelea Stables LLC is on top of the current NSA standings for Owners, Money Won, and Julie Gomena sits in 3rd for Trainers, Money Won, and inside the top 10 Trainers for Races Won.

As of April 24, Balance The Budget ranked #1 in Horses, Money Won in the NSA standings where graded races constitute big-time stakes for the best hurdle and timber horses, trainers, riders, and owners, all competing for the winner's share of the purse. With two graded wins under his girth, Balance The Budget made his debut in the first Grade 1 race of the new season and totally owned it to harvest the winner's share of the $150,000 Marion DuPont Scott Colonial Cup (NC).

"My husband (Robert Bonnie) has developed a good eye for a horse, and when he saw this one in the paddock at Saratoga, he really liked him, but it took us a while to claim him – there were so many claiming slips put in on him and we kept losing the 'shake' (draw)," Gomena said. "Budget went from Saratoga to race in Florida, then back to Kentucky where we put a claim in on him at Churchill Downs and won the shake on our fourth try."

Bonnie and Gomena both grew up with horses and foxhunting. Gomena's horsemanship is an ever-growing treasure trove of experience from her many years engaging in multiple disciplines and sports: 3-Day Eventing (1994 winner Rolex Kentucky 4-star), steeplechase jockey, foxhunter, and all-around horse person. She can really ride – ask 4-star eventing specialist Jim Wofford next time you see him – and, as it turns out, Julie can really train, too.

Budget's 3-win streak includes the recent prestigious Colonial Cup, last October's $75,000 "Zeke" Ferguson Memorial Hurdle Gr. 2 Stakes at the 2017 International Gold Cup, and his first start of 2018 when he won going away on the flat at Warrenton Hunt PTP – marking his fourth consecutive year to win his first race of the new season. He also earned bragging rights as the Virginia-owned Steeplechase Horse of the Year in 2016 and 2017 as well as garnering the VSA Hurdle Championship.

"When we first got Budget, he was skinny, rangy – a nervous, unhappy kind of animal," recalled Gomena. "His basic conformation was very good. Budget just went along and tried to make the best of things. He's my best friend these days. He has developed into a giant, massive animal and he's so happy. He's very well aware he won the Colonial Cup!"

At the Middleburg Spring Meet, Gomena had two runners, both earned paychecks for their day at the office. Le Chevalier, owned by Mike Smith, placed second in the $30,000 Middleburg Hunt Cup with Jack Doyle. Mo's In The House, piloted by Kieran Norris for Bon Nouvel Chasers LLC, took 3rd in the $30,000 Virginia Equine Alliance Maiden Hurdle.

At Loudoun on April 15, Gomena saddled a winner for owner Gregg Ryan, MFH Piedmont Fox Hounds, and retired jump jockey, when Three Kingdoms (IRE) and Norris finished first by 6 lengths in the Land Trust of Virginia Open Hurdle. She also sent out Naval Gazer (Stonelea Stables LLC) who, with Norris in the irons, claimed 2nd place in Division 2 of the Trisept Maiden Hurdle.

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The spring season's winding down – go racing with your family and/or friends and have a blast. Virginia meets include: Foxfield Spring Races (Charlottesville), April 28; Middleburg Hunt PTP (Glenwood Park, Middleburg), April 29; and Virginia Gold Cup (Great Meadow, The Plains), May 5.

For all sorts of information, including calendars for Va, Md., and Pa.: www.centralentryoffice.com

NSA: www.nationalsteeplechase.com