Over the years, the standard punchline for Foxfield racegoers goes something like, “I’ve been going to the Foxfield for years and haven’t seen a horse.” 

Recently, though, the event has become more watchable than ever as its quality of racing improves —  converting attendees from being racegoers into racewatchers.

Veterinarian Reynolds Cowles has been with the Foxfield Races since its inaugural running in 1978 and currently is chairman of the non-profit board that operates Foxfield, which takes place in Charlottesville, VA. In recent years, it’s been a clear objective to move the focus from a festive country day outside the rails to an improving product inside the rails.

“In particular in the last five years with the major renovation of the turf course and the improvement of the turf course, we’ve been able to attract more and higher quality horses race by race, ” explained Cowles. “Foxfield has always been a second-tier steeplechase meet, but with the improvement of the turf course well as the increase of purses, we are pushing our envelope higher for sure.”

Six races will offer nearly a quarter million dollars of purse money April 26. The improved irrigation system has ensured the course was maintained through this year’s spring dry spell. The forecasted rain heading into Saturday may impact race watchers more than race participants. The dual features on Saturday are the third race, the $75,000 Daniel Van Clief Memorial, and the fourth race, the $50,000 Good Night Shirt.

Jack Fisher’s Smart Uncle looks for his third straight win in the Van Clief, while last year’s Van Clief winner, the Leslie Young-trained Total Joy, looks to win the Good Night Shirt.

One of the biggest supporters of racing at Foxfield was Albemarle County resident Harold “Sonny” Via who passed away on March 24, 2025. His star Good Night Shirt won eight Grade 1 steeplechase events between 2007 and 2008 on his way to becoming the two-time steeplechase horse of the year.

“Well, Sonny was just an iconic figure both in our local community as well as steeplechase racing,” praised Cowles. “He had so many really good horses, but the great one was Good Night Shirt with two Eclipse Awards.”

Via’s estate will start Welshman in the $50,000 Good Night Shirt, a 2 1/8-mile hurdle race run just after the featured $75,000 Daniel Van Clief Memorial. Welshman is destined to be the sentimental play of the day.

“Welshman has been a very good [horse],” assessed Cowles, drifting from his typically neutral stance on participants. “It would certainly be wonderfully fitting if he could win this race on Saturday.”

Welshman has won five in his career, four of them, including the 2023 Grade 2 David Semmes Memorial, over jumps.

It’s not as easy as it used to be to win a race at Foxfield. The 2024 Steeplechase Horse of the Year, Snap Decision, took a loss at Foxfield last October. The 11-year-old kicked off his 2025 campaign at the Middleburg Races at Glenwood Park on April 19 to win the $100,000 Temple Gwathney while carrying 164 pounds.

“He’s a horse of a lifetime,” said rider Graham Watters after the Middleburg race. “It didn’t go according to plan today. I was a little further back than I wanted to be. They went a good strong gallop, and I kind of jumped my way there. Snap has that dirt and grit about him, put his head down on the line.”

Snap Decision will likely appear next in the Iroquois, a staple of the spring calendar set in Nashville Tennessee on May 10. He carried 158 pounds when winning that race in track-record time a year ago; a higher impost may await him this year.

“It’s a lot of weight but he’s well used to carrying that after the last four years of carrying it around”, added Watters.

Nick’s Picks for the Foxfield Races:

1ST RACE #7 Dante’s Fire #6 Brie’s Mission, #4 King of the Kids
2nd RACE #6 Vintage Year, #4 Dynamite Dan, #7 Point Me By Father Rider Richard Boucher versus Daughter Rider Mel Boucher.
3rd RACE $75,000 Daniel Van Clief #5 Smart Uncle, #2 Chosen Judge, #1 Evie’s Princeth
4th RACE $50,000 Good Night Shirt #6 Total Joy, #7 Proven Innocent, #5 Welshman
5th RACE #5 L’Avvocato, #6 The Insider, #1 Icandothat
6th RACE #2 Silly Lily, #9 Just Another One, #10 Equate

To learn more about the Foxfield Races, visit their website.