Trophy

In 1910, the duPont children, Marion and William Jr., held the initial Montpelier Horse show. According to Marion’s recollections later in her life, the event was a competition between children on neighboring estates; Mr. and Mrs. duPont often served as judges. In 1921, the event was formalized, first becoming the Orange County Horse Show and in 1928 transforming into the Montpelier Hunt Races. Today, the Montpelier Hunt Races are an annual tradition held on the first Saturday in November.

Both Marion and William duPont Jr. were accomplished equestrians as young children. In 1915, twenty-one year old Marion duPont won a blue ribbon at the Madison Square Garden Horseshow in New York, where she was the first woman to ride astride or cross-saddle in show competition. By 1926, Marion was master of the Montpelier Hounds, a local foxhunting pack in Orange County. In addition to showing and jumping, Marion also began training and breeding race horses. In 1938, her horse Battleship became the first American horse to win the British Grand National Steeplechase.

By age 15, William Jr. had his own pack of fox hounds. Like his sister, he turned to breeding and racing thoroughbred racehorses. In 1937, his horse Rosemont beat Seabiscuit in a photo finish at the Santa Anita Handicap. In addition to owning a number of winning thoroughbreds, William became a renowned architect of racetracks. He designed more than twenty-five racecourses including Delaware Park, Fair Hill, and Montpelier’s steeplechase and flat tracks.