National Steeplechase Association Published on May 8, 2026
Many of the top horses in training head to Nashville for the stakes-studded 85th Iroquois Races, while timber and hurdle runners at various levels of competition, and apprentice riders compete for $115,000 in purses at the Willowdale Steeplechase in Kennett Square, Pa.
Percy Warner Park in Nashville hosts a spectacular day of racing on Saturday, capped by the $250,000 Grade 1 Iroquois Steeplechase, which has drawn an international field of top-notch talent.
Four of the 10 prospective starters in the weight-for-age fixture at 3 miles are G1 winners on the National Steeplechase Association circuit. And none bigger than Bective Stud’s Zanihiyr, who hopes to duplicate the feat he achieved in October when he crossed the Atlantic to land the Grand National (G1) at Far Hills, America’s most prestigious steeplechase. Zanahiyr was one of five winners on the Far Hills card for champion Irish conditioner Gordon Elliott, who has made three previous trips to Nashville and is still seeking his first stakes score.
Zanahiyr will be accompanied by his Grand National rider, Jack Kennedy, who recently secured the National Hunt jockey championship. It will be Kennedy’s first trip to Nashville. Zanahiyr made his initial after since the Grand National, finishing a close second in a handicap on the flat last month.
But Zanahiyr will have his hands full as he faces a bevy of NSA stars led by Del Rio Racing’s Fil Dor (Ricky Hendriks), who was part of Gordon Elliott’s Far Hills’ juggernaut, finishing fifth in the Grand National. He was subsequently turned over to Del Rio and Hendriks, who has a longstanding relationship with Elliott. Fil Dor bounced back following his NSA debut with a scintillating score in the G1 Colonial Cup to close out his season.
Another top contender is Daigneault Thoroughbreds and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ 2025 Iroquois winner Abaan (Kate Dalton), who was fourth in last Saturday’s G1 Commonwealth Cup at the Virginia Gold Cup Races, his first start back following an injury that kept him sidelined for a year. Abaan is sure to be more fit following his nice run at Great Meadow, and the 3 miles of the Iroquois will be much more to his liking than the 2 1/8-mile distance of the Commonwealth Cup.
Riverdee Stable’s Zabeel Champion (Jack Fisher), who was a good third in the 2024 Iroquois, has to be considered a threat coming off of a win in the G2 2 1/2-mile Temple Gwathmey at Middleburg, where he unleashed a powerful closing kick to overtake stakes winner Hidden Path and Ziggle Pops. Bruton Street-US’ Ziggle Pops Also trained by Fisher), winner of the G1 A.P. Smithwick at Saratoga in 2024 (also trained by Fisher) ran an impressive Gwathmey following a layoff of nearly two years.
Local ownership group Leipers Fork Steeplechase, who are always loaded for bear at their home course, has a pair of contenders trained by Leslie Young. Vae Patron, who has made just four starts (all Grade 1s) in two years since coming over from France, has been sharp in his two previous Iroquois attempts, finishing a heartbreaking neck behind Snap Decision in 2024 and less than two lengths behind Abaan and Snap Decision last year. More of a mystery is classy European veteran and recent acquisition James Du Berlais. Formerly trained by legendary Willie Mullins, the 10-year-old French-bred has earned more than $650,000 in his career, competing successfully in top competition over both hurdles and steeplechase fences. Danny Mullins travels from Ireland for the ride. Mullins has made numerous trips stateside, and has had multiple G1 wins, but the Iroquois has eluded him.
Hoping to make amends for his showing in the Grand National, over a course his connections said wasn’t to his liking, is Stone Farm and Upland Flats Racing’s Swore (Keri Brion). Swore, the leading novice of 2025, captured the G1 Lonesome Glory last fall and, more recently, the Carolina Cup novice stakes to kickstart his 2026 campaign.
Two runners taking a huge step up are Hurricana Farm’s Sweet Will (Arch Kingsley) and Maranto Manor’s Lydford (Tom Garner). Sweet Will was a five-time winner over jumps in Europe during a lengthy career, and earned his first NSA victory in six starts in a 120 handicap at Aiken in November. Two months earlier, he was a sharp third to Swore in the G1 Lonesome Glory at Aqueduct. Lydford has upped his game in his previous two starts following seven earlier NSA efforts. He secured a 115 handicap victory at Callaway Gardens to end his 2025 season, then began 2026 with a determined victory over a much tougher field in the Good Night Shirt stakes (a 130 handicap) at Foxfield in April.
There are four other stakes (all at 2 ¼ miles) on the card. The $60,000 Lewis Brown McMillan, a new hurdle stake for maidens; two $125,000 events for novices, the Green Pastures and Marcellus Frost; and $100,000 Margaret Currey Henley for fillies and mares. The remainder of the card includes the $45,000 Bright Hour handicap for horses rated at 120 or less at 2 ¾ miles and the $25,000 Mason Houghland Memorial allowance at 3 miles over timber.
Post time is 1 p.m. Central time. The Iroquois goes off as race five, with a 3:40 p.m. post time. For complete entries, click here.
And at Willowdale
While Iroquois is a major spectacle that often showcases champions, the beauty of the Willowdale Races in Kennett Square, Pa., rests with its relaxed country-fair atmosphere.
Six races worth $115,000 are on tap, with the $35,000 Willowdale Steeplechase timber stake at 3 ½ miles anchoring the event. The feature has drawn eight likely starters, including past and recent stakes winners Uco Valley (My Lady’s Manor stakes), Master Seville (Pennsylvania Hunt Cup), The Butler Yates (Genesee Valley Hunt Cup), Bogey’s Image (My Lady’s Manor), Withoutmoreado (Maryland Hunt Cup) and Storm Team, a five-time winner over both hurdles and post and rails.
The remainder of the card consists of three 2 ¼-mile hurdle and two 3-mile timber events: The hurdle races are the $15,000 Liam Magee, restricted to apprentice riders and horses who haven’t won a stakes in 2025 or 2026; the $15,000 Folly, a $10,000 claimer; and the $20,000 Rose Tree Cup, a handicap for horses rated 110 or less. The timber contests are the $15,000 Landhope Cup maiden and the $15,000 Willard A. Speakman Memorial Foxhunter’s Chase for apprentice riders and horses who haven’t won a stakes race in 2025 or 2026.
Post time is 1 p.m. Eastern time. For complete entries, click here.
If you can’t make it to the races, both meets will be streamed live at www.nationalsteeplechase.com