Golden Fox steeplechase race

St.Petersburg doesn't have a horse racing track since 1960s. In general, what horse racing is left in Russia is concentrated in the southern regions, with only token races held in Moscow at the Central Hippodrome.

But in the Lomonosov district of Leningrad region (the city has been renamed to St.Petersburg, but the surrounding area remains the Leningrad region), in the town of Ropsha, people with a dream are breeding horses. They started with a dream of breeding Arab horses, with everyone telling them about how crazy the very idea is. But Oleg Grishin and his wife never listened to naysayers, and their Kovcheg stud farm, if looking somewhat dilapidated by European standards, has nearly a hundred horses now, producing excellent Arabs, and Latvians, and other warmbloods.

And since there is no racing track available, they have made their own - a measured track done in the fields, and regular flat races going on for years now. To that, they have added a barrier race - a steeplechase type event, called Golden Fox. This year it had two classes of entrants, one for horses up to 6 years, and another for those older. The event is supported by local administration, municipality, friendly club of offroad enthusiasts, and of course by equestrian public of all sorts.

Despite the amateur origins, everything is duly organized - there is vet control before, after and at the event, there's an ambulance on standby, judges at the obstacles and the start/finish line, and last but not least - prize money to be had.

Of the younger horses, 4 riders started, but only two made it to the finish line - one rider fell, and another retired. In the second round, seven riders started, and five finished, with one horse falling at a water obstacle, and another at a log obstacle. Thankfully, nothing serious, some minor injuries sustained only.

Between the rounds offroad club provided some entertainment for children, and after the second round there was a little show of trick riding by riders from a friendly club named "Argamak".

Granted, this is not an event even closely resembling Grand National, or Velky Pardubicke steeplechases. However, this is an equestrian event held by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, supported by local government year in and year out, and while they are at it, we can hope for a revival of this noble and exciting sport.