Each hunt club contributes $500 towards series for its team, with the winning hunt club receiving the total as a prize towards the club’s paneling fund, and a trophy. Horses must be fairly hunted. Hunt clubs must nominate team members, and teams do not need to be made of the same members for each race in order to be eligible for the overall series winner. Number of team members may vary according to race. Accumulation of points will determine overall winner, ties to be broken by the most number of wins. Some relays may allow more teams from participating clubs, as well as nonparticipating clubs (please check with individual race meets). In the event that a club has more than one team in a given relay race, only one of the team’s placings will count towards points for the Series. To be ridden in formal hunting tack and attire, catch weights. Overgirths and vests are not required, but are strongly encouraged. Open to members from all hunt clubs, but only Maryland Hunt Clubs will earn points towards the Governor’s Cup Series.

25a. Governor’s Cup Inter-Hunt Challenge Relay (The following condition’s apply ONLY to the mirror image courses.)

Each heat will consist of 2 teams of 4 horses each. The winning team will be the team with the fastest time including penalties, and they will go forward to the next round; the two fastest losers may run off for a place in the main competition, at the discretion of the officials; the draw will be published on the day of the races, which indicates running order. It is the responsibility of the teams to present themselves to officials at the appropriate time.

The team at the top of the draw will be in the left hand lane. The baton will be a hunting whip provided by the meet. If the whip is dropped the competitor should dismount, pick up the whip; if in the starting box, may hand it to the next competitor from the ground. Team members can not ride for two competing teams, but clubs may use alternates from other participating Governor’s Cup clubs. Riders must be hunt members or members of the hunt’s staff.

Riders will wear formal hunting attire and a helmet with a chin strap. The course will consist of 2 mirror image working hunter type courses with 8 knockable fences not to exceed 3’4”. There will be a marked starting box for each team, adjacent to the starting line and the team collecting area. No more than 2 members of the team may be in the box at any time. The baton hand-off will take place in the starting box with all 4 feet of each horse completely in the area. Start box must be entered from behind. No head on hand offs will be permitted.

Rounds are timed; there will be a 10 second penalty for every jump knocked down; there will be NO penalties for refusals. After 3 “good Faith” attempts at a jump, resulting in refusals, the rider may pass their turn to the next rider. The next rider then goes out on course, gets the baton and completes the course. In the event of a refusal resulting in a knock down, the competitor will have ten seconds added and should then bypass the fence and go onto the next fence. Rails which have been knocked down will be put up the arena crew between competitors. However, in the event of a course not being ready, the starter will show a red or yellow flag, depending on the lane, to stop the next competitor from starting. In this event, the clock for that team will be stopped. Error of course, competing with the baton, or handing off outside the box (except in the case of above-mentioned situations), unless corrected to the satisfaction of the judges, will result in elimination. Outside assistance is not allowed except by a steward who may assist competitors who have fallen to remount, catch loose horses or to render assistance for safety purposes.

The stewards’ decision will be final. Each team member pays entry fee. Winning team receives 50% of the total team entries for that race. All hunts are eligible. Clubs may enter more than one team in the mirrored image relays. Only one set of points will be awarded per club for the highest placing club team. Placings will be determined by fasted time within descending tiers.

There will be a separate Hunt Team Relay division for juniors at specified meets. All conditions will be the same as the Inter Hunt Challenge except:
1. Open only to riders who have not reached their 16th birthday as of the first of the current year.
2. Fences shall not exceed 2’6”.
3. Points will not be awarded toward the Gov. Cup Series.
4. Riders do not have to be affiliated w/a hunt club. Open to all.
5. Proper attire required.
6. Monetary prizes will not be awarded.