CHADDS FORD, PA — One of the Main Line’s most enduring spring traditions is entering a new chapter.
The Brandywine Conservancy announced that the 95th running of the Radnor Hunt Races on Saturday, May 16, 2026, will mark its final year as the sole operator and beneficiary of the storied steeplechase event, ending a 45-year stewardship that has tied elite equestrian sport to land conservation across the region.
Brandywine officials said the organization will work closely with Radnor Hunt leadership over the next 18 months to identify a new operator and develop a transition plan aimed at ensuring the Races continue well into their second century. The event, which predates Brandywine’s involvement by decades, is approaching its centennial running in the coming years.
“The Radnor Hunt Races have been a beloved springtime tradition on the Main Line for nearly a century,” said Virginia Logan, Frolic Weymouth Executive Director and CEO of the Brandywine Conservancy & Museum of Art. She said the organization is proud of its role since becoming the sole operator and beneficiary in 1980, but described the approaching milestone as the right moment to pass leadership to a successor. Logan said Brandywine intends to make its final year operating the Races “the best one yet.”
Since taking the reins, the Conservancy has linked the event to its “Racing for Open Space” mission, helping protect more than 70,700 acres of land to date, including the Radnor Hunt racecourse and surrounding properties. Proceeds from the Races have supported open space preservation, water quality initiatives, outdoor recreation, and historic preservation throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
Radnor Hunt President Jodi Spragins said the organization was saddened by the decision but expressed gratitude for Brandywine’s decades of leadership. She said Radnor Hunt leadership will begin exploring ways to reimagine and continue the historic event while maintaining its deep connection to conservation and equestrian sport.
George Strawbridge Jr., chair of the Radnor Hunt Races committee, said Brandywine remains committed to a smooth transition and to supporting the event’s future success beyond 2026.
The Radnor Hunt Races are traditionally held on the third Saturday of May each year. With nearly a year and a half before the 96th running in 2027, Brandywine officials said there is ample time for Radnor Hunt to identify a new operator. Organizations interested in taking over the event’s operations are encouraged to contact Radnor Hunt directly at gm@radnorhunt.org.
Planning is already underway for the 95th running in May 2026, with corporate sponsorships and advertising opportunities available. Tickets will go on sale beginning March 3, 2026, with proceeds benefiting the Brandywine Conservancy. Since 1980, the event has raised more than $5.5 million for the Conservancy’s open space and clean water initiatives.
In addition to jump races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, the 2026 program will feature the Katherine W. Illoway Invitational Sidesaddle Race, pony races, an antique carriage parade, and the traditional parade of foxhounds — a final Brandywine-led celebration of a nearly century-old tradition.
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