Second Best Seat in the House
There’s no doubt about it; the best seat in the house at the Montpelier Hunt Races is in the saddle! Since that’s not an option for most of us, we wanted to give you the next best thing. Last year, we captured the thrill of Race Day from a whole new perspective by mounting a GoPro camera on Joel Merle-Smith, Master of Foxhounds (MFH) and head outrider since 2017, along with his wife, Nicolette Merle-Smith of Merle-Smith Sporthorses. Keswick Hunt Club, a private fox hunting club located in the heart of Virginia’s horse and hunt country supply the crew of outriders and our fox hound exhibition.
Behind the Scenes: What Outriders Do
Outriders ensure that Race Day runs as smoothly as possible for the horses, jockeys, officials, trainers, and owners. Stationed around the course, they’re responsible for assisting in emergencies, keeping the crowd where it should be, and, when necessary, catching or stopping a loose horse. Their work keeps both horses and riders safe.
A View from the Course
While traditional horse racing video coverage, particularly in the more-famous races like the Kentucky Derby, have incredible televised coverage, our GoPro camera footage offered a unique perspective that you don't usually get to see. If you enjoyed this up-close look at the races, keep an eye out for more behind the scenes views from Race Day on our social media accounts.
