Once again, Virginia Gold Cup forsakes its traditional Derby Day fixture for the sake of the sport to run on May 29 under a new format, designed in compliance with Covid safety protocols to allow a limited number of spectators. Last year, the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) livestreamed the event online, free of charge. This year, it's going to be a race to the finish for tickets because supplies are limited. Purchases can be made only by phone on a first-come, first-served basis even if you reserved your rail space for years. Call the Virginia Gold Cup office: 540-347-2612.

Packages include one 12' x 20' rail space, 10 wristbands, one reserved tailgate car pass and two general admission car passes: $675 per space on Member's Hill and $500 per spot, north or south rail around the course. No corporate tents and no individual tickets will be sold. Per Covid-19 restrictions, no food will be available at Great Meadow. It's totally "bring your own."

This is huge, the prospect of spectators returning to Great Meadow to witness the exciting spectacle of equine athletes and riders, running and jumping over that hallowed sea of green punctuated by timber and hurdle fences. Tickets will go very quickly even though the fate of spectating depends on the virus's course. "A final ruling on the event is expected from the Governor a month before the race. Should something happen with Covid-19 between now and April 15, we will be able to adjust accordingly," explained Dr. William Allison, chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup Association. "In the interim, we'll accept space reservations but they'll be very limited."

The starter's flag is up… time to leap into action and call (540) 347-2612.

The NSA did a robust makeover of the spring calendar, and Middleburg Spring Races will take place on May 1 (middleburgspringraces.com). No ticket information was available at press time.

Heads up: the sporting calendar is subject to change, due to weather and/or the pandemic. The expense of putting on a meet, sanctioned and non-sanctioned, without spectators has impacted the racing circuit with a number of cancellations, including Foxfield Spring in Charlottesville.

The revamped NSA schedule offers a more robust circuit. For news and information: Nationalsteeplechase.com CentralEntryOffice.com is another essential resource about point-to-points on three circuits, especially racing right here in the Commonwealth. Two meets on the Virginia Point-to-point circuit were cancelled. Rappahannock Hunt won't run on March 6, but the Hunter Pace is April 10 (www.RappahannockHunt.com). Orange County Hounds also scratched their races, but the Hunter Pace (540-295-5141) is slated for Saturday, March 27.

PTP racing in Virginia kicks off with Warrenton Hunt on March 13 at the Airlie Race Course. Heads up on another bit of news: Warrenton will run The Second Warrenton PTP on Sunday, March 28: www.warrentonhunt.com and (540) 270-1730.

Two Warrenton meets give continuity to the circuit while bookending Piedmont Foxhounds PTP on March 20, (540) 592-7100; heads up, PFH cancelled their hunter pace. Old Dominion Hounds offers a full weekend for enthusiasts with racing on April 3 at Ben Venue Farm, followed by hunter pace events on April 4. OldDominionHounds.weebly.com

Blue Ridge Hunt PTP is set for Sunday, April 11 at Woodley Farm, with their Hunter Pace on April 17. www.BlueRidgeHunt.com

The action continues April 17 with Loudoun Hunt Point-to-point celebrating the long-hoped for return of steeplechase racing to Morven Park, Leesburg: LoudounHunt.com for details. Hunter Pace Events round out the month: Warrenton on April 18 – warrentonhunt.com and (540) 219-6562, and Loudoun Fairfax Hunt on April 24 – LoudounFairfaxHunt.com and (703)887-2711.

Middleburg Hunt Point-to-point, the final meet of the Virginia Point-to-point season, is scheduled for May 9 at Glenwood Park. For information, please call: (540) 338-4366 and (540) 454-2991.

Heads up all "tally ho" hound enthusiasts: the Virginia Foxhound Show has been cancelled. Feel free to blame the pandemic, but it makes sense because many packs travel great distances and go to great expense to compete as well as to attend. It will be an unusual Memorial Day Weekend without hundreds of hounds and their supportive enthusiasts under the oaks at Morven Park, but hark to a great return next year. Virginiafoxhoundclub.org

Here's some good news. Upperville Colt & Horse Show, brought to you by MARS Equestrian, Nutro Feed Clean, and Buckeye Nutrition, posts June 7-13, 2021 on its homepage. Upperville's 2021 prize list will be published on March 14. Entries, which can be made only online, open on April 14. Upperville.com

Kentucky Three Day Event takes place on April 22-25 without spectators. The decision to cancel this international five-star competition was reversed after the eventing community launched a fund-raiser that wowed organizers. The revived event is bolstered by support from US Equestrian and long-standing sponsors Land Rover, MARS Equestrian, and Rolex. The CCI-5*-L will be accompanied by the new CCI4*-S: KentuckyThreeDayEvent.com

Please be aware that masks and maintaining healthy social distances, along with hand hygiene, deserve credit for the substantial reduction in flu cases this winter. These simple practices, which help to protect you from exposure all OPGs (other peoples' germs), merit your attentive practice. Think about horses and strangles, another highly contagious disease we can all live without.

Stay safe and think spring!