The Virginia Gold Cup and International Gold Cup are annual steeplechase races held in The Plains, Virginia. Together, the races have become two of the largest outdoor social events held in Virginia. The races have been held in Fauquier County since 1922. It is sometimes seen as Virginia's answer to the Kentucky Derby.
The Virginia Gold Cup is held the first Saturday of May at Great Meadow, a field events center created and bequeathed by the Arundel Family in 1984. The International Gold Cup is the featured horse racing event of the Fall season and is managed today by the Virginia Gold Cup Association. Now held on the third Saturday of October, the International Gold Cup was founded in Tennessee in 1930.
History There is a history of horse racing in the region dating back to the 19th century; however, the Virginia Gold Cup itself was not created until 1922. The race was created by eight sportsmen who met at the Fauquier Club in Warrenton and organized a four-mile race alongside the natural walls and fences of the nearby hunting countryside on April 3, 1922, and thirty-four days later was the first Virginia Gold Cup race.
Washington businessman Russell M. Arundel was chairman of the Virginia Gold Cup from 1930 to 1955. In 1980, his son Arthur W. "Nick" Arundel purchased Great Meadow, a 500-acre tract of open space in The Plains which he developed for more than $5 million into a new home for The Gold Cup, which at the time was threatened by development in Warrenton. Arundel served as Chairman of Great Meadow and of the Virginia Gold Cup for nearly two decades until his passing in 2011.
From 1994 to 1999, a horse named Saluter won six individual Virginia Gold Cup races. Overall, Saluter won 22 of his 43 lifetime starts. As of 2025, Saluter has won the most races in the history of the Virginia Gold Cup.
The 2016 event drew more than 50,000 spectators. The 2024 International Gold Cup was held in Middleburg, Virginia, instead of in The Plains.
In 2025, the event held its 100th race despite being older than a century. This was due to World War II and a scheduling conflict preventing the race in the years 1943–1945 and 1948 respectively. The race was almost cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well.
Additional activities include terrier and pony races before the main event, hat contests on Members Hill, vendor tents and booths, parachute demonstrations, classic and new car displays, and countless tailgates.
Viewing areas are divided into three basic sections: North Rail, South Rail, and Members Hill. Members Hill overlooks Winners Circle and has the best view of the course. All three sections include private tents, public viewing areas, and tailgate spaces. North Rail is geared more toward young professionals and social groups; South Rail is where most corporate tents and family-oriented outings congregate.
Winners +Virginia Gold Cup winnersYearHorseJockeyTrainerOwnerTimeTurfCourse2025Keys DiscountG. WattersJack FisherMrs. John R.S. Fisher8:56FirmGreat Meadow Course2024Schoodic8:57Soft2023Mystic StrikeG. GalliganTodd McKennaUpland Partners8:25Good2022Andi'amuF. ProcterLeslie YoungBallybristol Farm LLC9:26Soft2021SchoodicH. FrostJack FisherMrs. John R.S. Fisher8:31Good2020Doc CebuM. MitchellCharles C. Fenwick Jr.8:15Good2019Andi'amuJ. DoyleLeslie YoungBallybristol Farm LLC9:12Good2018ZanclusKieran NorrisNiel MorrisSara E. Collette8:43Good2017EbanourGustan DahlCyril MurphyIrvin Naylor20162015Grinding SpeedM. BeecherAlicia MurphyMichael T. Wharton2014Hot RizeWilliam McCarthyHolston Hall9:202013Grinding SpeedMark BucherMichael T. Wharton8:502012IncompleteJoey ElliottRobert A. Kinsley8:382011Bon CaddoDawn P. WilliamsMerriefield Farms8:252010Bubble EconomyPaddy YoungArcadia Stable8:222009SalmoDaren NagelIrvin S. Naylor8:332008Bubble EconomyChip MillerArcadia Stable8:482007SalmoIrvin S. Naylor8:242006Miles AheadChris ReadKinross Farm8:1920058:402004Joe At SixLouis Neilson IIIMichele L. Hunter8:482003Lord KennethMatthew McCarronKinross Farm8:282002Make Me A ChampBlyth MillerIrvin S. Naylor8:272001IronfistRoger HorganJohn H. Filbert III8:292000Priceless RoomJoseph Delozier IIIBig Wood Stable8:261999SaluterJack FisherHenry Stern8:2319988:5819978:4619968:4719958:2719948:461993KuujjuaqJohn BosleyH. Turney McKnight8:381992Push and PullJack FisherDover Ridge Farm8:291991Joe's OKSanna NeilsonOliver Keelan8:301990Von CsadekPatrick WorralSheppard-Worral Stables8:511989Call LouisJack FisherSheila Williams9:451988Von CsadekPatrick WorrallScanden Stables8:451987OzymandiasWilliam WoffordIrene Roeckel8:381986Sugar BeeCharles Fenwick Jr.Arthur W. Arundel8:491985Prince SaranPaul SloanJohn R. Neal8:291984ConstantineD.M. Smithwick Jr.Joseph M. Rogers9:03Broadview Farm Course1983Private GaryR. Waterman8:361982Prince SaranPaul SloanJohn R. Neal8:561981Juggernaut IIJ. FisherJohn R.S. Fisher8:501980TongH.T. McKnightH. Turney8:541979Sam Son Of A GunC. FenwickW. Wallace Lanahan Jr.9:031978Navy DavyD. YovanovichErnest Scott9:111977Pat's GambleB. SecorH.E. Burkheimer9:081976SemingtonC. FenwickW. Wallace Lanahan Jr.9:171975Chapel StreetL. Nielson IIIRokeby Stables9:101974MongogoW. Moore8:331973Portobelo IIIG. FlauttBella Vista Farm9:041972King of SpadesJ. Aitcheson Jr.Joseph M. Rogers9:121971Annual MeetingJohn W. Warner8:271970King of SpadesD. SmallThomas H. McKoy Jr.8:471969Annual MeetingW. MooreJohn W. Warner8:541968WalrusJ. Aitcheson Jr.A.C. Randolph8:481967Leeds DonDavid L. Ferguson9:151966W. Moore8:511965N. Lowry8:461964Moon RockJ. Aitcheson Jr.Paul R. Fout9:381963Hill TieA.P. SmithwickJune H. McKnight8:5219628:581961MainstayJ. Aitcheson Jr.Wm. E. Schlusemeyer7:521960RicachoRandolph D. Rouse8:291959Judge BeaconJ. WalkerGeorge P. Greenhalgh7:301958Coup-de-ViteK. FieldMrs. Henry Obre9:111957Grand ChalJ. Aitcheson Jr.Alfred H. Smith8:541956GillianG. StephensCapt. J.L.B. Bentley8:581955Uncle PierreB.H. MurrayCyrus Manierre8:411954LancrelF. Bonsal Jr.Hugh J. O'Donovan7:221953RayquickD.M. SmithwickC.M. Greer Jr.7:361952Gift of GoldF.D. AdamsMrs. Simon T. Patterson7:341951Mister MarsH. BennettA.S. Carhart8:001950Done SleepingD.M. SmithwickAlvin Untermyer rowspan="1" 1949Never WorryL. ManogueThomas Stokes7:031947Alex Stokes8:301946HousemanJohn BosleyC.M. Greer Jr.9:431942Sir RomeoRobert UtterbackMrs. A.S. Carhart7:351941GoldunJohn BosleyC.M. Greer Jr.7:291940Black SweepJ.S. HarrisonMrs. Frank M. Gould8:321939Or ElseSidney WattersW.F. Cochran Jr.7:481938OstendWilliam B. StreettMrs. Frank M. Gould7:5919377:481936Ghost DancerNoel LiangCarlton H. Palmer7:341935IndigoW.B. CocksJohn Schiff7:431934Melita IIJack SkinnerMrs. Sumner Pingree9:50Clovercroft Course1933The Prophetrowspan="12" 1932Melita II1931SeraglioWilliam B. StreettMrs. John Hay Whitney1930SoissonsJack SkinnerMrs. Sumner Pingree1929Dunks GreenFrank A. BonsalMrs. Walter J. Salmon1928TijucaErnest WoolfMrs. C.C. RumseyBroadview Farm Course1927Dum DumDonald PearceMrs. T.M. Bowen1926Billy BartonAlbert G. OberHoward Bruce1925John BunnyRaymond BelmontMrs. K.E. Hitt1924ParanaArthur WhiteMrs. C.E. Perkins1923OddityJules DillonMrs. K.E. HittOakwood Course1922Irish LaddieArthur White
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