The 91st running of the Montpelier Hunt Races, presented by Dominion Energy, an annual celebration of steeplechase racing and traditional Southern hospitality, will be held on Saturday, November 7 at James Madison’s Montpelier. Tickets are available online at www.montpelierraces.org, at more than two dozen regional ticket outlets (see website for locations) or by calling the office (540-672-0014).
The 2026 Race Day will include seven horse races beginning at 12 p.m. with purses totaling more than $240,000. Prior to the races are several favorite events like the Jack Russell Terrier Races at 10:15 a.m. followed by the Stick Horse Race for children. Corgis will take to the track after the first race in the second annual and often hilarious, Corgi Cup. The popular Hat Contest, sponsored by Dubarry of Ireland, will take place after the second race. The Tailgate Competition is also another crowd favorite. The tailgate theme is “Birthday Party” in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The Kimpton Forum Hotel, official hotel for the races, will provide prizes.
Often considered locally to be the unofficial start of the holiday season, the Montpelier Races offer a range of interesting vendors and items at the Montpelier Market. Vendors sell a range of unique items including hats, jewelry, boots, clothing, artwork, pet gifts and cigars and more.
Promotional posters are produced each year from original artwork commissioned to illustrate the Races. This year’s artist, Kelly Coffin, is a Virginia resident and lifelong equestrian. After serving as a pilot in the US Navy, Kelly turned to art as a career and often paints equestrian scenes and scenes of country life. Commemorative posters will be available for sale at the Races and Kelly will be present to sign purchases. She also will display additional works.
Approximately 18,000 people are expected to attend. All those over the age of 12 require a ticket. Parking pass options are available online at www.montpelierraces.org. Tickets and parking passes will be available at ticket outlets from October 1 until Race Day and will be available at the gate, but at a slightly higher cost.
Race Days tours of Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison are available for an additional price.
The Montpelier Hunt Races were established in 1934 by Marion duPont Scott and were the only time the private estate was open to the public. In 1929, Scott built a steeplechase course and a flat track on the Montpelier property and initiated the Montpelier Hunt Races soon thereafter. Mrs. Scott established a thoroughbred breeding and racing operation and was very successful, campaigning Battleship, the first American-owned and bred horse to win the British Grand National, and Mongo, a flat racing champion inducted into the National Racing Hall of Fame this summer at Saratoga, NY.
The Montpelier Steeplechase and Equestrian Foundation—the nonprofit organization that stages the Races each year—has contributed more than $1 million to James Madison’s Montpelier. Funds contributed promote constitutional education, historic preservation and the legacy of Madison’s most powerful idea: Government by the People.
For more information, please contact Martha Strawther at 540-672-0027 or visit the website at www.montpelierraces.org.
