Photo courtesy of Willowdale Steeplechase
Photo by Tisa Della-Volpe
Gates open.
Marketplace: Shop for hats, clothing, jewelry, accessories and more.
Winterthur Hunt: Enjoy special activities, crafts and contests hosted by community organizations.
Keystone Region Rolls-Royce Owners’ Club Antique Auto Display
Delaware State Police Pipes and Drums
Alison Hershbell Pony Races
Parade of River Hills Foxhounds
George A. “Frolic” Weymouth Antique Carriage Parade
Tailgate Picnic Competition Presentation
Stick Horse Races (ages 4 and under)
National Anthem sung by Rebecca Gasperetti
First race: Isabella du Pont Sharp Memorial Maiden Timber Race ($20,000 purse)
Stick Horse Races (ages 5–7)
Second race: Winterthur Bowl Open Timber Stakes ($25,000 purse)
Stick Horse Races (ages 8–10)
Third race: Vicmead Plate Amateur Apprentice Timber Race in honor of Louis “Paddy” Neilson III ($15,000 purse)
Fourth race: Middletown Cup Amateur Training Flat Race
Presentation of the Greta Brown Layton Trophy
Gates close
Schedule subject to change. 5101 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware. Visit winterthur.org/ptp.
For more than 40 years, Delaware has celebrated its own version of the Kentucky Derby each May. Winterthur’s largest single-day fundraiser, Point-to-Point supports maintenance and preservation of the garden and estate. The annual event was spearheaded in 1978 by Greta “Greets” Layton, who grew up around horses and steeplechasing. Searching for a way to utilize the nearly 1,000 acres of the estate, the trustees decided to present a day of racing in the tradition of the 18th and 19th centuries. Drawing on the knowledge of Russell B. Jones Jr., Louis “Paddy” Neilson III and other local horsemen, Layton launched the organizational effort. The first weekend in May seemed an ideal time for the race, as it didn’t conflict with other area equestrian events that already featured prominently in sporting and social calendars. It also rounded out a series of race meets hosted by the Delaware Valley Point-to-Point Association.
A gazebo in the gardens at Winterthur. Courtesy of Winterthur.
Winterthur tractors cut a course through a former cow pasture, and 7,000 spectators—mostly horsemen and their families and friends—witnessed the first running on May 6, 1979. Today, Point-to-Point is a Winterthur tradition known for its lavish tailgate picnics, high-stepping carriage horses and stylish spectators. In the early years, winners of the five races were awarded trophies modeled after notable pieces of silver in the Winterthur collection. Races were named after people and organizations familiar to Winterthur supporters and area residents: the Isabella du Pont Sharp Memorial, the Vicmead Plate, the Middletown Cup, the Winterthur Bowl and the Crowninshield Plate. In honor of Greets Layton, a trophy is awarded to the owner, trainer or rider who accumulates the most points.
In 2006, the Delaware Legislature passed a law that allowed Winterthur to offer cash purses, and Point-to-Point became sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. The course is a challenging one, with a total of eight fences that are jumped 17 times, covering just over three miles.
Located just six miles outside Wilmington, Delaware, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library encompasses a former grand du Pont estate set amid the quintessential Brandywine Valley landscape, 60 acres of world-class gardens and a stunning mansion featuring the most significant collection of American decorative arts in the world. Proceeds from Point-to-Point support environmental and land stewardship initiatives to care for, preserve and protect the Winterthur Garden and the woodlands, meadows and wetland habitats that surround it—nearly 1,000 acres of conserved land. From the mid-19th century to the late 1960s, Winterthur was home to three generations of the du Pont family. The museum was founded by collector and horticulturalist Henry Francis du Pont in what had been his childhood home, which he expanded to its current size of 175 rooms displaying furniture, home accessories and works of art made or used in America from 1640 to 1860.
Du Pont also designed the Winterthur Garden. With its harmonious color and successive blooms year-round, it’s one of the oldest existing naturalistic gardens in North America. The Winterthur Library, an independent research library with a world-class collection, is dedicated to the understanding and appreciation of artistic, cultural, social and intellectual history of the Americas in a global context from the 17th to the 20th centuries. In partnership with the University of Delaware, Winterthur also offers two graduate programs focused on the study of art conservation and American material culture.
Winterthur hosts films, musical performances, lectures and other programs. Among its popular family programs are annual events like June’s Enchanted Summer Day and October’s Truck and Tractor Day. Winterthur also hosts its summertime Artisan Market, featuring the region’s talented craftspeople, and the Delaware Antiques Show, a top-ranked weekend-long fall event. The annual Yuletide Tour in the mansion is a beloved Brandywine Valley holiday tradition, featuring spectacular displays celebrating the Winterthur collections and history.
Visit winterthur.org.
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