Staff Writer

Libby and Robert "Robin" Arnold were a one-two punch during the Foxhunter's Cup at Saturday's Block House Steeplechase in Tryon, N.C.

Libby, riding Betsy's Special Lace, won first place in the race for non-thoroughbreds. They won by a horse length over Robin, the jockey for Lola's Quarter Moon.

"My horse just couldn't pass hers," said Robin. "Her weight helped her out some. My horse was a little younger and had a little heavier load to carry. We beat two good horses; one lady actually passed on the back stretch. The lady had a real nice horse but I don't think she trained hard enough. We could tell her horse wasn't in race shape and he got tired. Libby just outran me, no excuses and there was nothing I could do about it."

Libby, 46, took home $1,200 and an embroidered horse blanket designating the winner. Robin, 49, won $600. Third place paid $200.

This was the third time Libby has raced in the Steeplechase. She was fourth out of eight riders in 2005 and third out of four in 2007.

The couple had been training for the horse race for months on their Santuc farm. Saturday, they took a group of friends with them and had a good time, Robin said.

"Libby doesn't really make a plan, she just goes all out," Robin said.

Attending the Steeplechase with them were Tommy Calhoun, Robert Adams and Joel Vaughan, the owner of Betsy's Special Lace. These men helped hold the horses while the Arnolds got ready to ride. Robin said they appreciated the assistance.

"There is a lot going on and it helps to have a horse crew with us," Robin said. "There were around 22,000 people there. Usually we ride with eight or 10 people. They walked the horses and go them ready and they walked them to cool them down after it was over. All that left us time to think about what we needed to do."

It had sprinkled rain all day during the races, leaving the grass slippery. That can be dangerous for a horse and rider. Robin said a couple of the professional horses and riders slipped in the main event and some also fell in the thoroughbred race of the Foxhunter's Cup. Everyone ran safely in the non-thoroughbred race and no horse or rider was seriously hurt all day.

Libby said she definitely plans to race again next year. She may ride her thoroughbred, "Rush to the Market."

It's a lot of preparation," Robin said. "She'll start working with him in a couple of months. My horse would probably do better next year. A horse doesn't really mature until they are 5 or 6."