Royal Ascot has the Windsor Grays. In the Mid-Atlantic, steeplechase racing has the River Hills Foxhounds outriders. Led by the Paxson family --
a cadre of immaculately turned-out horsemen on (predominately) gray horses -- the squad has become a fixture on the jump racing circuit. And one notable standout over the past several years is the striking dark bay gelding Tracking.
He's not gray, but his roots are royal. Bred in Pennsylvania by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard and owner Bill Pape, the 19-year-old gelding is by Syncline, a stakes-winning son of Danzig trained by Sheppard for George Strawbridge's Augustin Stables. Tracking's female family is all Pape and Sheppard, through dam My Papoose and her predecessors Sultress and Martie's Mad. The latter, a foal of 1966 by Martins Rullah bred in Maryland by Glade Valley Farm, produced steeplechase champion Martie's Anger and Frankie and Johnny, the dam of Maryland Hunt Cup winner Welter Weight among others.
A stakes winner on the turf at Penn National, My Papoose (by Northern Baby) also produced three hurdle stakes performers -- winner Pram, graded-placed Tepee Tot and placed Baby League -- for Pape and Sheppard. Tracking made both starts in the same blue and white silks, but produced nothing more than a third over hurdles at Parx Racing in 2012.
Soon after, Sheppard contacted the Paxsons and asked if River Hills needed a new staff horse. Perhaps "asked" isn't entirely accurate.
First, Sheppard's then assistant Keri Brion called about sending two horses.
"Let me check," said River Hills' Winter Paxson. "I could take one, but I don't think two. I think we are full."
Then Sheppard called. Paxson reiterated the lack of space.
"No, you don't understand," said Sheppard. "He is coming to you. I can tie him to your mailbox."
Paxson, pregnant with her daughter at the time, stopped that idea and loaded up the van to pick up the horse. Her parents, Elise "Hoppy" duPont Stearns and her husband Clifford Stearns, who died in 2017, laughed about it and made room at the family's 100-acre Whizard's Lair Farm in Conowingo, Md. It's an idyllic setting for family country life with sheep, cows, dogs, cats, horses and a now-45-year-old pony named Missy.
Hoppy Stearns serves as a master at River Hills along with Jimmy Paxson and his nephew Greg, Winter's husband. A few weeks after Tracking's arrival, the family suffered a crushing blow.
"We unexpectedly lost one of our best horses -- an incredible outrider, foxhunter, and show jumper," Winter said. "He was irreplaceable in many ways. Tracking quietly stepped into that role and in time became one of the best horses we have ever had."
That happened gradually and with much patience and understanding on the part of his new connections. Quirky and equipped with an "auto-lock braking system," Tracking could spin like a top in any direction.
"But once he trusted you," Winter said, "he gave you everything."
In so doing, Tracking has compiled an inspiring resume. As a River Hills huntsman's horse, he is ridden by Greg Paxson or their 15-year-old son Clayton. As a whip's horse, he'll partner with Greg, Clayton, Hoppy or Winter. As an outrider's mount at National Steeplechase Association sanctioned races and point-to-points, he has several duties: leads in the box, start horse, pickup horse and pony horse.
His talents aren't limited to the hunt field or race meets. Tracking is equally as accomplished in the show ring -- as are most of the Paxson/River Hills horses. He's a past winner of the foxhunting team class at the historic Devon Horse Show, where he has also placed second and third in the family class. He's placed sixth, seventh and eighth on hunt night at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show at Harrisburg.
Perhaps most significantly, Tracking is a family horse in every sense. He's literally been a Paxson longer than Winter and Greg's daughter Willow, 11, and younger son Lane, now 8. And he's bringing them up right. Willow rides him on the farm, and Lane takes him on trail rides. He has competed in local shows with all three kids. And according to Winter, Tracking loves those kids. They're right at the top of his list of favorite things -- along with "being ridden -- he stands at the gate waiting to be taken out," carrots and horse cookies, hunting, outriding and getting on the trailer.
Is there anything he doesn't like? Standing in his stall. Standing on cross ties. Being braided ("he finds this strangely annoying") and, somewhat oddly, apples.
Tracking lives the life of a professional athlete, and he looks every inch the part -- lean, fit and sharp. His typical day starts with breakfast at 7:30 and turnout time afterward until schooling or hacking time. He'll do light ring work twice a week, hack the hills and jog the roads. He gets a light lunch mid-day, followed by more field time, "usually bossing the other horses around." Dinner is at 3:45.
He stood patiently for photos for a few minutes before taking a keen interest in the sheep in the nearby field who had come to the fenceline to check out the activity.
As Winter explained, "He does round up cows and the occasional flock of sheep."
The Paxson family is always happy to introduce people to foxhunting, outriding and racing. "We have people come through the barns and we love to help bring them along. This has been our lives for years."
The River Hills outriders are a diverse group, including an anesthesiologist, an osteopath, a surgical technician and a real-estate agent. All volunteer for the love of the horse and the sport.
"This year, you'll see Tracking at point-to-points, NSA meets, and a few local horse shows -- still doing his job, still loving his people, and still being the horse everyone counts on," Winter said. "Tracking is the kind of horse that teaches you what versatility, heart, and generosity really mean. From the racetrack to the hunt field, from outriding to teaching kids, he has done it all without ever losing his personality."
