Florida Open All-Age Championship

Leonard

I reported my first field trial in January 1995 and my last in January 2022, both at Chinquapin Farm, both the Florida Open All-Age Championship. Many in between all over the continent and every year the Florida. All but a few on borrowed horses. Read more

My Love Affair With Chinquapin

January 10, 2024 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Remembrances, Ted Baker | Comments

My long life (85 years) has been marked by good luck. None so great as meeting Ted Baker and gaining his invitation to report the Florida Open All-Age Championship which I did from 1995 through 2022. As a result, I watched the continent’s best all-age dogs in competition head to head annually over twenty-seven consecutive years on wild quail. Just think of it. Read more

When January Comes

October 17, 2023 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Poetry, Remembrances, Ted Baker | Comments

When January comes I will be here at home First time since 1994 Won’t be at Chinquapin The second week Of that cold month at home I spent in North Florida From 1995 through 2022 Read more

Silverwood at Chinquapin

February 28, 2023 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Great All-Age Dogs, Poetry | Comments

“What was the best race You ever saw?” “Silverwood’s at Chinquapin 2002” Read more

Chinquapin Second Week January

January 13, 2023 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Poetry | Comments

Oh, Chinquapin I miss you so This first January Without your trial Read more

The Florida Championship

January 9, 2023 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Poetry, Remembrances | Comments

The Florida Championship is no more A glorious trial is over forever Like all things conceived by mortal man It had a beginning and has come to an end It was unique in many ways Embodied the best of the field trial game Wild quail on sloping prairie-like land Wire grass cover over sand Read more

When January Comes

December 24, 2022 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Poetry, Ted Baker | Comments

When January comes I will be here at home First time since 1994 Won’t be at Chinquapin The second week Of that cold month at home I spent in North Florida From 1995 through 2022 Read more

How the Florida Open All-Age Championship Was Different

November 30, 2022 | Florida Open All-Age Championship | Comments

1. No mud — ever, on Chinquapin Farm, even after heavy rain. No creeks, much less rivers. Three man-dug ponds, one at Big House, one on second morning hour course, one on second hour afternoon course. Soil: sand over lime rock, everywhere. Cover: wire grass, everywhere. No crop fields. No wooded areas that cannot be ridden through on horseback. Read more

43 Years of The Florida Open All-Age Championship

May 3, 2022 | Florida Open All-Age Championship | Comments

1979 CH: Builder’s Addition, PM (Builder’s Risk x Bearwallow Babe), Fred Rayl R-U: Triple Squeeze, PM (Endurance x Silver Springs), Bob Lamb 1980 CH: Blackbelt, PM (Flush’s Country Squire x Quailwood’s Sally), Freddie Epp R-U: Arcanum’s Hurricane, PM (White Knght’s Button x Arcanum’s West Wind), Charlie Cameron 1981 CH: Texas Squire’s Hank, PM (The Texas Squire x Fast Delivery Jane), John Rex Gates R-U: Annex, PM (Builder’s Addition x Highway Read more

Mr. Ted

April 29, 2022 | Florida Open All-Age Championship, Poetry, Ted Baker | Comments

I loved Ted Baker like all of us ‘Cause he loved us in spite of us He gave us a place that was ideal To run the Sunshine and the Florida for 60 years Read more