Across Central Virginia and up and down the East Coast, families plan their fall around the first Saturday in November. As the leaves turn and the air cools, they return to the historic Montpelier home of James and Dolley Madison for the annual running of the Montpelier Hunt Races.
The origin of the races began more than a century ago, when William duPont purchased the former presidential property and moved his family from England to the Virginia piedmont. The duPont children—Marion and William—found their new home ideal for horses and developed Montpelier into a first-class Thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. Together, they hosted horse shows, foxhunts and early jump races across the property and later built a state-of-the-art steeplechase course and flat training track still in use today.
In 1929, Marion hosted the Montpelier Hunt Races and opened them to the public. By the time the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association sanctioned its first race at Montpelier in 1934, Marion duPont Scott was regarded by many as America’s First Lady of Racing.
Across nearly a century, the Montpelier Hunt Races have coupled spectacular steeplechase racing with a vibrant social atmosphere at the home of the Fourth President of the United States. Today, the event offers a full schedule with seven horse races, stick-horse and terrier races, hat and tailgate competitions, food trucks, specialty vendors and more!
Be part of nearly a century of sporting, hospitality and equestrian tradition at the 90th running of the Montpelier Hunt Races Saturday, Nov. 1, at James Madison’s Montpelier.
For ticket vendor locations, visit: https://www.montpelierraces.org/buy-tickets. Orange County residents receive a discount. Tickets are higher on Race Day. The Races run rain or shine and every vehicle must have a parking pass and each visitor a ticket. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. No pets (except those participating in the Jack Russell Terrier Races.) For additional information, visit https://www.montpelierraces.org/.
