"Thoroughbred" wins!
Celebrating Conservation
Benefits FHC-PEC- photos!
FHC gets top billing on the Marquee at the historic Charlottesville theater.
Farmington Hunt Club sponsored a special screening of the documentary "Thoroughbred" at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville April 14th. Photos by Meredith McKee Photography.
Over 650 horse enthusiasts of all ages from near and far came to see Paul Wagner's wonderful documentary and to meet special guest Arthur Hancock, the noted horse breeder featured prominently in the film who traveled from his home in Paris, Kentucky to be part of the event. Following the film, Hancock and Wagner entertained the audience with an informative discussion on the current state of the thoroughbred racing business and the enduring legacy of this classic breed that, as MFH Pat Butterfield said, "is truly the Rolls Royce of Hunt Horses."
Special Guests Paul Wagner and Arthur Hancock
370 VIP guests attended a reception in the Founders Lounge after the show. It was a terrific crowd of foxhunting friends, local landowners, and supporters of the arts and land conservation. Members of hunt clubs came from around the state and as far away as Massachusetts and Vermont to join the celebration of Farmington's success, honoring their achievement in winning the 2011 MFHA Habitat Conservation Award.
Thanks to a fantastic group of generous sponsors and support from the community, Farmington was successful in raising sufficient funds to make a $5000 donation to the Piedmont Environmental Council to support their work in land conservation.
Finish Line Sponsor Blue Ridge Trailer Sales' Rob Martin, Ginger and David Ashcom, Donna Martin"Thoroughbred" was produced by KET and will be released nationwide on PBS May 5. Tune in to our local PBS station WHTJ to see it! To hear an interview with Paul Wagner originally aired on WVTF NPR with local radio IQ host Sandy Hausman, go to http://www.wvtf.org/news_and_notes/ee.php then scroll down to 3-10-11.
I'd like to personally thank each and every one of our generous sponsors without whose support this event would never have happened, to our special guests Arthur, Paul and D.G. who drew a terrific crowd of friends and fans, to volunteers Jessica Thayer and B.J. Korol who valiantly manned the registration table. A month ahead Sally Powers, Carolyn Chapman, Sue Hart and Em Green gathered names and helped with 550 invitations, and special thanks go to all the commitee members who brought their friends. 
Event co chairs Mark Thompson,Beth Sutton with Ellie Wood Baxter and special guest D.G. VanClief Kathleen Capshaw's superior graphic designs created wonderful posters and print materials. Cathy Summers provided spectacular Farmington photography for the evening's pre-film enjoyment, for which we cannot thank her enough. Finally, nothing would have gone as well as it did without the cool hand of Dave Simpson at the C&O and Mark Thompson who worked with Jason Williams and the crew at the Paramount. And of course, huge thanks to Paul Wagner, who gave us a magnificent film on a subject we all appreciate so much, the Thoroughbred horse.
By Elizabeth H. Sutton April 28,2011
