The 2019 Steeplechase & Hunt Horse Racing Season Has Arrived

It’s that time of year again – The Winterthur Point to Point, The Willowdale Steeplchase, and the Radnor Hunt Races run over the next three weekends.

It’s that time of year to enjoy some great steeplechase racing throughout the Brandywine Valley.

This weekend, the 41st Annual Point to Point is being run at Winterthur in Greenville DE. It will be the place to be on Sunday May 5. With tailgating, children activities, and fantastic racing, it is a great way to relax and spend time with your friends and family. Gates open at 10:30 with racing starting at 2:00. The Alison Hershbell Pony Races start at noon and the George A “Frolic” Weymouth Parade of Antique Carriages begins at 1:00.

On May 12, you can ramble up to Kennett Square to enjoy the Willowdale Steeplechase. The event helps to raise money for The Stroud Water Resource Center, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, and Quest Therapeutic Services. The day begins at 10:00 with the opening welcome and Jack Russel Terrier Races at 10:30. Pony Races start a 11:30. Horse racing starts at 1:00 and races run throughout the afternoon.

The 89th Radnor Hunt Races are run the following weekend on Saturday May 18 – a great weekend to move up to the Main Line and the grounds of the Radnor Hunt in Willistown Township, The races support The Brandywine Consevancy. Gates open at 9:00 with the first of six races starting at 1:30.

Take some time and be sure to enjoy three great weekends of local horse racing in May.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DE
Office: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

Willistown Hunt Market Update

There is currently one property active on the market in Willistown Hunt listed for $374,900. In addition, there is one property pending in the community with a list price of $384,900 and there have been no closed sales in 2014. In 2013, there were 5 sales with an average sales price of $405,200. For prior years please see the reprinted information below and also click on the “last update” link for detailed community information.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

(Directions:From intersection of Route 926 and Route 3/West Chester Pike, go west on 926 to first left.)

(Original Post form June 2013:)
Willistown Hunt continues to be one of the most stable and consistent communities in the Willistown Chester County PA area.

Since the last update in March 2010, Willistown Hunt has continued to have fairly consistent sales and pricing as compared to many of the surrounding areas.

After several low priced sales early in 2010, sales rebounded to have five closed sales for the year with an average final sales price of $394,000 averaging 147 days on the market. Individual sales prices ranged from $340,000 to $458,000. In 2011, there were three sales averaging $395,000 with days on the market falling to 84. Prices ranged from $347,000 to $425,000.

Sales picked up again in 2012 with 5 sales. The average sales price dipped to $379,000 but the days on the market continued to fall to 54. Price range tightened as well with sales ranging from $365,000 to $399,000.

In 2013, there has been one sale for $385,000 (24 days on the market) and one property is under contract that was listed for $459,000. Three additional properties are available ranging from $384,000 to $429,000 with an average price of $404,000.

The sales and pricing for the last several years in Willistown Hunt continue to reflect the quality of the homes and great location of the community. Be sure to check out the earlier post for additional details on the community.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DE
Office: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

(All statistics per the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed)

Willistown Hunt Townhomes – Willistown Township Chester County Pa Home Sales Update

Willistown Hunt continues to be one of the most stable and consistent communities in the Willistown Chester County PA area.

Since the last update in March 2010, Willistown Hunt has continued to have fairly consistent sales and pricing as compared to many of the surrounding areas.

After several low priced sales early in 2010, sales rebounded to have five closed sales for the year with an average final sales price of $394,000 averaging 147 days on the market. Individual sales prices ranged from $340,000 to $458,000. In 2011, there were three sales averaging $395,000 with days on the market falling to 84. Prices ranged from $347,000 to $425,000.

Sales picked up again in 2012 with 5 sales. The average sales price dipped to $379,000 but the days on the market continued to fall to 54. Price range tightened as well with sales ranging from $365,000 to $399,000.

In 2013, there has been one sale for $385,000 (24 days on the market) and one property is under contract that was listed for $459,000. Three additional properties are available ranging from $384,000 to $429,000 with an average price of $404,000.

The sales and pricing for the last several years in Willistown Hunt continue to reflect the quality of the homes and great location of the community. Be sure to check out the earlier post for additional details on the community.

David Henke
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc – Devon, PA/Wilmington, DE
Office: 610-225-7400/Direct: 610-618-0808
www.DelawarePAHomes.com

(All statistics per the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed)

Local Finds: Spring Horse Racing in DE, PA, and MD

Southeastern Pennsylvania and Delaware have a long deep history of horse racing.  The area has always had hunt clubs, steeple chase races, and track racing and we are now in the middle of the spring rush.

Delaware Park in New Castle county began their 72nd Thoroughbred Racing Season last Saturday on April 25th.  The facility is open 24 hours per day for its slots gambling, but it also generally holds live racing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday through October and adds Sunday racing during June and July.  Founded in 1937, it is a great classic racing track and has a long and varied racing history.

In Chester PA, Harrahs Chester Casino is in its third Harness Racing Season.  Harrahs is also a full service casino with live racing generally held on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday through November and on Fridays from late May through November.  This is a brand new facility built on the former Sun Shipyard property right along the riverfront in Chester and is a cornerstone of the new development revitalizing the city.

Steeplechase racing also is continuing in full swing.  Their series actually started in February, but in the next month there will be four local events.  The Winterthur Point-to-Point Steeplechase races are being held on Sunday May 3 at the Winterthur Estate north of Greenville Delaware.  All tickets must be purchased in advance.  The 18th running of the Willowdale Steeplechase follows on Sunday May 10 just outside Kennett Square at the corners of Routes 82 and 926 benefitting Quest and the New Bolton Center.

Then on May 16th, there is the 79th running of the Radnor Hunt Races benefitting the Brandywine Conservancy.  All passes must be purchased by May 8th.  Finally on Saturday May 23, Fairhill will be holding the 75th running of the Fairhill Races just across the border in Cecil County Maryland.  All  the proceeds from this event benefit the Union Hospital

It’s going to be another great year for racing and an excellent opportunity to take some time off and enjoy more that the region has to offer.

Should you have any additional notes or questions, please feel free to call me anytime.

Willistown Knoll, Willistown Woods, and You

Sometimes the best location is just down the road a bit, but you just didn’t notice it.   Willistown Knoll, Willistown Woods, and Worington Commons are centrally located but still provide the feel and immediate access of Chester County and Delaware County country living.  

These back to back communities located in the southwest corner of Willistown Township offer an incredibly convenient location.  They are adjacent to the West Chester Pike  just west of its intersection with Route 926 along the Delaware County / Chester County border.  This location in southwest Willistown Township provides direct access to West Chester just minutes to the west, to Delaware via Route 926/Street Rd and then 202 south, Southern Delaware County and Media by Route 352, and to Newtown Square, the Blue Route, and all points east on West Chester Pike.

Willistown Woods was the original development built in the early 80’s with over 200 units.  These townhomes located off West Chester Pike have always been a popular option.  Pricing is very reasonable and prices have drifted down recently making them even more affordable.  Eight units sold in 2008 for an average sold price of $253,000.  This was down about 6% from the average in 2007 and over 8% from their peak.  There are currently two units on the market starting at $242,000.

Just off the entrance to Willistown Woods is Worington Commons.  This is a smaller, less expensive alternative to its neighbor up the hill built in the late 80s.  The community  of about 60 units had only one sale in 2008 for $211,000 and there are currently two units on the market starting at $210,000.  This pricing is in line with the last couple years as the pricing has remained in the $205-$210 range since 2005.

Abutting Willistown Woods over the crest of the hill is Willistown Knoll with its entrance off Route 926 / Street Rd.  This community was also built in the late 80s.  The homes here tend to be more spacious and the community boasts more common ground and a more open flow resulting in an higher average sales price of $309,000 in 2008 (10 units sold).  This is actually up just slight from sales average between $297 and $301,000 from 2005-2007.  There is currently only one home on the market for $318,900.

All three communties offer a great opportunity to own a home that is within easy commuting distance of most of the major population and work centers in the region while still retaining some of the original Chester County country feel that surrounded them when they were originally built.  They remain a great choice.

( All statistics fromt the TrendMLS system are believed accurate but not guaranteed.)