A Boot for Fashion and Foul Weather...

After a few years working in the garden and continually discovering large amounts of dirt and other things lodged inside my shoes and transported back inside my house, I knew I had to come up with a better solution.

And then last year at the My Lady's Manor Races when the rain was coming down in buckets, mud caked the bottoms of my trousers and there was nothing I could do to prevent that from happening. My feet were dry with the boots I was wearing, but my trouser cuffs were a muddy wet mess. I had to do something to improve my situation.

Luckily for me, my wife had the solution to both my problems. It was time to invest in a pair of Wellies.

And when it comes to Wellies, there is nothing better than the classic green boots for which Hunter has become famous.

Hunter has helped to turn the rubber boot into a country classic and of late a coveted fashion item. A "Hunter," in various styles, can be seen today on from farms in the country to college campuses in cities and towns.

The company was originally established in 1856 in Edinburgh, Scotland by American entrepreneur Henry Lee Morris as the North British Rubber Company, which was to eventually become known as Hunter Boot Ltd. many years later. They not only made rubber boots but a variety of rubber products to include tires, conveyor belts, combs, golf balls, hot water bottles and rubber flooring.

Wellington boots or the more commonly known ’Wellies’, were not created by Hunter, by were in fact created by a shoe maker named Hoby of St. James, London, to a design by The Duke of Wellington in 1817. Originally fashioned from fine, soft calf leather, they were the first boots of their kind to be created. And while leather versions of those original Wellington Boots are still made, it was the rubber variations manufactured later in the 19th century with which most Americans are familiar.

During World War I Hunter produced their Wellington Boots for the heavy wet clay and flooded trenches of the battle fields. The Scottish mills ran day and night to eventually produce 1,185,036 pairs to meet the Army’s demands.

Today, Hunter’s are worn on happier days and can be found in a fun array of sizes, colors and quirky limited editions to brighten up any cloudy day. And while Prince Harry of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge have been seen sporting other brands of Wellies, the likes of Kate Moss, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooke Shields, Hilary Duff, Katy Perry, Ashley Olsen, Dakota Fanning, Liv Tyler, Reese Witherspoon and others.

While at the Maryland Grand National, with forecasts of rain threatening the days festivities, Hunter's could be found being worn long before the the rain arrived. Even at fashion conscious events like this, it is Hunter's which are the go to footwear when rainy weather threatens.

And while there are many other makers of the Wellington boot, it is Hunter which has not only won a royal warrants for their boots, but also the hearts and loyalties of Americans as well.

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Two Weeks of Amazing Racing in Monkton...

So what is the difference between and Point-to-Point and a Steeplechase? Well in the UK, the Steeplechases are held over permanent courses using National Hunt rules and Point-to-Points are traditionally over ad hoc courses, though many are held on permanent courses now. But for the average spectator, there is no noticeable difference between the two types of racing, especially in the US, other than a difference in names used for them.

2012 Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point

Last on the list before the "big three" is the Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point. It's held each year at Atlanta Hall Farm, in Monkton, Maryland. I don't know what it is about this race which I like so much, but it's certainly a favorite, which is saying a lot given how much I like the rest of the races in Maryland. Again, like Green Spring, this is an early season race, so be prepared for cool, windy and/or wet. I rarely head to any of the races without my Barbour and wellies in my car.

This race is not heavily advertised. As a matter of fact, even aware of where I was headed, I drove right past Pocock Road and had to turn around, as there was no sign even mentioning the races were being held that day.

But what this race lacks in advertising, it makes up for in style and racing. The course has 15 timber fences, a combination of stacked, board, rail and coop, over about 3 miles.

2012 Elkridge-Harford Point-to-Point

I should also note, that tailgating at both Green Spring and Elkridge-Harford are very casual informal affairs. That isn't to say they are pedestrian, just not over the top. Think classic, old fashioned tailgating.

The vast majority of those in attendance at this race, like Green Spring, are either closely connecting with the hunt or racing, or they are fairly serious followers of the sport.

The following weekend, just down the road is the first of the "Big Three" of Maryland Steeplechase Racing. With a greater amount of advertising, they attract a much wider audience and here you will find many people who have never watched a race before, and quite a few who probably never even see the horses run while they are at the races.

This first "big race" is the My Lady's Manor Races. This race was first run in 1902 and after a brief hiatus, was established as an annual event in 1909. In 1922, the John Rush Street Memorial was added to the Manor Race card. Even in the lean years of the Great Depresssion, the Manor Races flourished nevertheless, with as many as four races on the card. The main race was run over about 3 miles with 16 timber fences, a combination of stacked, board and rail.

2012 My Lady's Manor Races

For 69 years  the race was run over a course on the Secor, Pearce, Riggs and Warfield properties in Monkton, Maryland near the intersection of Monkton and Markoe Roads. Even in this quite part of the state, new houses have been built where famous race horses once battled it out for the finish line. Then in 1978, the race moved to its current location adjacent to the Elkridge-Harford Hunt Club and Ladew Gardens.

All three races on the card today at the Manor Races are run over timber on the 3 mile course of 16 timber fences. The fences on the course are set at about 3 foot 7 inches, which are the lowest fences of the big three races in Maryland.

And this is something else which really sets Maryland racing apart from other places in America. Maryland is known for timber racing. They jump a combination of stacked, board and rail fences, all very hard and unforgiving. Those soft brush fences which are seen elsewhere are not found in Maryland and when a horse comes into contact with one, you hope for the best for both horse and rider.

2012 My Lady's Manor Races

At the Manor Races, you need to take your time to find the right spot from which to watch the races. There are quite a few different options and everyone seems to have their favorites.

And the crowd here is as varied as the vantage point form which to watch the races. The tailgates/picnics and clothing are found in a wide range of styles to suit each of the many spectators. The Manor Races probably represent the most socially diverse crowd of any of the the big three races, and passes are available next door to the course at Ladew Gardens on the day of the race.

And like all of the races, they are held rain or shine, so first dress for the weather and then for the occasion. While those bad days might not be for everyone, the loyal followers of the sport will always be found in Monkton the first two weekends in April regardless of the weather. I know that's where I will always be!

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And so the Steeplechases Begin...

Every year, the Foxhall Farm Trophy Chase kicks off Maryland's steeplechase season in late March. This is probably the least known of all the Maryland Races despite having perhaps the largest trophy of any of the races.

2011 Foxhall Farm Trophy Chase Winning Team from the Green Spring Valley Hunt

It began in 1920 over timber at the Monkton, Maryland home of renowned American sportsman, Foxhall P. Keene. His intent was to encourage participation in the sport and the race is run by teams of three, all regular followers of a recognized hunt. To honor the winning team, Keene commissioned a challenge cup which was to be held by the victorious hunt until the next renewal if the race. Made of sterling silver, it is one of the most impressive trophies in the sport.

I was unable to make the race this year, but last year it was held on a brisk sunny early Spring afternoon at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club, current holders of the trophy. A really beautiful day, but for those who are used to the races as a social event rather than a horse race some things were absent. There was no "glamour crowd." There were no tents or lush tailgate spreads. There was no champagne. It was a very simple affair and I can't say I missed any of it at all.

"The Foxhall race is really more of a training ground," explained retired lawyer and former steeplechase jockey Turney McKnight, in a 2009 Washington Post article.

2011 Foxhall Farm Trophy Chase

Many of these same horses will compete in Maryland's triple crown of Steeplechase, My Lady's Manor, Grand National and Maryland Hunt Cup, as well as further afield like Carolina Cup and Virginia Gold Cup. "The jockeys want to practice but not overexercise the steeds," McKnight further explained.

The Green Spring Hunt were wonderful hosts after the race. Might not be a race that gets much attention, but it will definitely remain on my calendar for years to come.

Howard County-Iron Bridge used to be next up in the order of races, but some late season snow falls, they moved to the other side of the Hunt Cup and have remained there this year, so these is usually a week off between Foxhall Farm and the rest of the Maryland season.

Next up is the Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point. I've been to the course before, so I know what to expect from the race course. I've arrived with a gifted Horseman's Pass which had me down by the trailers a distance from the actual finish line, and more recently with a Patrons Pass, which places you atop a hill above the finish line and encircled by the newly realigned course. Because of the topography, you can't quite see the finish from the Patron parking, but it's not a bad little walk downhill to the finish line, though not the sort of walk you'd want with too many picnic items and quite a hike back to the car uphill.

Outriders at the 2012 Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point

This race, like those at Cheshire a week earlier, are chances for the horses to prepare themselves for the big three races, which are held the last three Saturdays in April. Every other race lines up on those three.

Green Spring is held at Shawan Downs, a large tract of land which was saved from development by the many members of the horse community and has been developed as an equestrian park, hosting a variety of events on its grounds. With a variety of parking options and tailgating options, this race has a large hillside from which you can watch see the horses run.

Like Foxhall Farm, this is an early race in the season, so the weather can be cold, windy and wet. But if you love Steeplechase, I can't think of any place I'd rather be that day.

2011 Green Spring Valley Point-to-Point

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Dark Chocolate Deliciousness...

I must admit, I wasn't quite sure what I'd discover when I first heard of Bourbon Creams. Living in America, the word bourbon brings to mind that native spirit distilled using at least 50% corn and historically coming from Virginia and Kentucky.

So, curious to see exactly what this British biscuit is, I sought out a packet. I quickly discovered that these Bourbon Creams have nothing to do with American Bourbon, and that's a good thing!

Crawford's are one of those companies which has a very loyal following, but for which there is very little information available. If you go to the website for United Biscuits, the company which bought William Crawford & Sons in 1960, there is no information whatsoever about Crawford's biscuits. When I wrote to United Biscuits asking for information regarding this biscuit, I was told simply that they were in production at the time United Biscuits acquired Crawfords and is a small brand which is manufactured and sold in the United Kingdom only.

What we do know is that William Crawford & Sons was founded in 1813 at Leith. 

So what is a Bourbon Cream? Well, it's a dark chocolate treat! A Bourbon Cream is chocolate fondant sandwiched between two thin oblong biscuits with granular sugar sprinkled on top. Like the Custard Cream, it is neither overly sweet nor is it too fancy. It truly is a perfectly blended dark chocolate biscuit.

And it's yummy enough to feel like you are treating yourself, but not so fancy that you feel bad for having two or three at a sitting.

Now I mentioned earlier that United Biscuits informed me that Crawfords Bourbon Creams were only sold in the United Kingdom. While that might be the official story, if you spend a short bit of time on the internet, you will find quite a variety of sources to help you to enjoy this classic treat at home.

So when I have desire for some dark chocolate and I want something with a little crunch, I'm going to be relying heavily on these biscuits. I now make sure to have a packet or two in the cupboard...

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Ginger Is Perfect with Breakfast...

For those who have been following my blog, you will have realized that I do love my ginger. And I mean the plant, not those lovely ladies with red hair, though I do have an acknowledged soft spot for Amy Adams. But enough of that nonsense...

After my recent adventure writing about Tiptree's Black Currant preserve, I decided to explore some other offerings in their range of preserves. The one which immediately struck my eye was their Ginger preserve.

With the first mouthful, I was immediately captivated and what I intended to be two pieces of toast with Ginger preserves turned into four pieces!

Tiptree Ginger Preserve on Toast

Tiptree was founded by Arthur Charles Wilkin in the village of Tiptree in the south eastern English countryside of Essex in 1885.

As new varieties were added the distinction between jams made with home grown fruit "conserve" and foreign produce "preserve" was made, but in America there is a preference to the term Preserve, which is found on Tiptree packaging exported here.

Tiptree's Ginger preserve was first offered in 1905 and is made from sugar and ginger, as well as pectin and  sodium citrate. The Ginger originally came from China, as this was supposed to be the best source of Ginger at that time.

Tiptree is committed to using the best fruit available, so they now source their Buderim Ginger from Yandina, Australia, on Queensland's beautiful Sunshine Coast.

And from the time you open the jar, you immediately notice the whole chucks of ginger in the preserve.

These preserves are an amazing combination of sweet mixed with spicy ginger, free of glucose, artificial coloring and preservatives. It is what Preserves were meant to be, and what they still are if you take some time to look.

And Ginger, in addition to being delicious, is also acknowledged to be effective in the treatment of nausea. 

My mouth is watering right now, and as soon as I am finished writing this, I'll be enjoying another piece of toast Tiptree's Ginger preserves, a new favorite I'm sorry it took me this long to discover.

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Fragrant as a Breeze from the Pines...

For as long as I can remember, as long as there was soap in the soapdish, I really cared little for what soap I used.

Well, that all changed one day when I was on holiday and used some soap my father-in-law provided for the bathroom. He had discovered the soap at a golf club outside Philadelphia years earlier.

When I entered the living room, freshly showered, my wife commented on how fresh and clean I smelled and I was quick to take note of her approval.

I've been buying it by the case ever since!

Lightfoot's is a bit of a mystery.

This is what I have discovered after extensive searches. Lightfoot's was founded by William Lightfoot Shultz about 1915 in Brooklyn, New York as the Lightfoot Shultz Company and by 1918 was operating in Hoboken, New Jersey. He made fragranced soaps and toiletries as well as shaving soaps. In 1933, the American Razor Blade Company acquired full interest in the company, having been a part owner since 1919. Shultz went on to found the Shulton Company in 1934, the makers of Old Spice.

Lightfoot Shultz became a part of the Philip Morris Company in 1960 when the American Razor Blade Company was purchased by Philip Morris. In 1973, Lightfoots was dissolved and the brand sold to the Bradford Soap Company. In 2009 operations were moved to West Warwick, Rhode Island. While Bradford is the maker of the soap, they do not distribute the soap, and distribution is handled by Kenyon's Grist Mill in west Kingston, Rhode Island.

Rumors abound on the internet of the soap being made in England and dating to 1890. While Bradford Soap did open a plant in Chester, England in 1993, it was sold in 2005. I have found nothing to substantiate any claims of the soap dating to the 1890s or its English origins.

What we do have is an American made soap, which for years was only found in private clubs in America, developing a strong, but quiet, following.

The soap is hard milled, which means it lacks water and glycerin. While perhaps costing more per bar, it will last longer and is more resistant to "dissolving" in your soap dish.

And if you buy it by the case, which I do, you will find that the longer you have the bars, the longer they will last. This is because they continue to dry out as you keep them and this drying process results in a longer soap life in your soap dish.

Lightfoot's is filled with essential oils and resins of pine, which encourage the lungs to breath deeper, which in turn brings you to a deeper state of relaxation.in addition, that pine scent leaves you feeling and smelling fresh and refreshed after any level of exercise or activity.

I really like this soap. And while its origins may be less impressive than the packaging and internet rumors may imply, it is a well made soap with a well deserved reputation for quality.

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America's Resort Since 1778...

There are few places in the world today where you can step back into the age of the elegant resort hotel.

Yes, there are resort hotels around the world, but most of these are modern late 20th and early 21st century creations which bear little or no resemblance to those resort hotels which dotted the shores and mountains of America in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Circa 1914 Advertisement for The Greenbrier from "The History of The Greenbrier"

The Greenbrier, which dates to 1778, is located just inside West Virginia on the border with Virginia.

The current main hotel, designed by British architect Frederick Junius Sterner, was built to replace the earlier "Old White," and opened in 1913. This is not the oldest part of the resort complex, as rooms in Paradise Row, originally called Brick Row, offer cottage rooms which were originally built in the 1820s and have been modernized to keep up with the times.

I first became aware of the resort, when each year, I would receive notices of the annual share holders meetings of, first the Chessie System, and later CSX, the railroads which were the descendants of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, which bought the resort in 1910. But every year, I would pass on the chance to visit the resort.

The North Parlor

When it came time to select a destination for my honeymoon, I wanted to find a place where I would not hear any apologies for anything going wrong during our visit. I wanted a resort which had a long history of taking care of their guests in the finest manner possible. It was at this time that The Greenbrier immediately sprang to mind.

Since that first trip, we have been back three times, once again while still under railroad ownership, and twice under the ownership of West Virginian, Jim Justice.

With the change in ownership have come changes to the resort, including the addition of a new underground shopping, dining and casino area. The dining options at the resort have increased and new life has been breathed into the resort. Aside from the relocation of one restaurant and the conversion of the "Old White" lounge into a steakhouse, most of the changes are quite imperceptible.

There is no doubt we were quite spoiled in our first visit to the resort which lasted for a week and began and ended with a train ride from our home to the train station across the street from the front door of the hotel. We stayed in the Spring Row Cottages and for a good portion of the trip had the resort to ourselves.

Since then we have stayed in the main hotel and limited ourselves to a long weekend in White Sulphur Springs. Our visits have been in November, January and February, and despite the fact that these are not the main season for the resort, we have found that there has been more than enough activities to keep us occupied, from the golf course when the weather permits, to the spa, bowling alley, movie theater, and indoor swimming pool built in 1911 and described in 1914 as "a bathing-pool which might have been the pride of Rome." They also have an off road driving school, falconry, skeet, trap and sporting clays, and the list goes on...

The Cameo Ballroom

During World War II, the resort was used as a military hospital, and when the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad bought it back from the US Government in 1946, they hired Dorothy Draper to redecorate and remodel the hotel. It took her 16 months, 30 miles of carpeting, 45,000 yards of fabric, 15,000 rolls of wallpaper, 34,567 individual decorative and furniture items and 40,000 gallons of paint to complete the job. 

A Room in the Main Hotel Decorated in Typical Dorothy Draper Style

When the resort reopened in 1948, her "Romance and Rhododendrons" themed hotel hosted 300 of the "biggest wigs" C&O Railroad President Robert Young could find. This extraordinary party marked a new era in the resorts history, one which has been maintained by Draper herself, and her successor Carleton Varney to this day.

The Lobby Bar

The Greenbrier is an incredible vacation spot, be it for a long weekend or a week, and one which will always hold a special place in my heart.

The Trellis Lobby

With so much to see and do at The Greenbrier, I cannot do it justice by writing about it in one single blog entry, so this will be the first in a series of entries I will be writing on the resort based on my most recent visit last month. I hope you will return to see what I have to write about the spa, casino and dining options available at The Greenbrier.

More information about The Greenbrier can be found at The Greenbrier

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