Maryland-based equestrian champion like Phlash Phelps and Hello Beautiful, Ellen Charles has long been a champion for equine excellence in her state. In 2024, she’s riding high with multiple wins in the 4-year-old category. Posting time . The son of Frost most recently finished second in the Hill ‘N’ Dale Metropolitan Handicap (G1) on June 8.
Charles, a 22-year TOBA member, named Hillwood Stable after the house and grounds that her grandmother once owned, now a museum. “I grew up in Maryland in Howard County, west of Baltimore on a farm and had a wonderful rural childhood,” she said. “And now I live in DC, and I have a place to spend the weekends on the Chesapeake Bay.” Cary Frommer purchased Post Time for $85,000 on behalf of Hillwood at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midatlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Horse Auction. Charles was initially drawn to Post Time because his grandmother and her grandmother shared the same name; the foal’s grandmother was the mare Opening Verse Merriweather, while Charles’ grandmother was pioneering businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather Post. In fact, Thoroughbred horse racing was in Charles’ family, as her mother was philanthropist, breeder and owner Adelaide Close Riggs, while her father was racetrack manager Merrall MacNeille.
Sent to trainer Brittany Russell, who is ridden by husband Sheldon, Post Time has been unbeaten in three starts, finishing second. He won the Maryland Juvenile Stakes and was named the state’s two-year-old horse of the year in 2022. “He’s a great character too, so we love to laugh with him and of course we love to watch him run because he’s awesome,” Charles said, noting that Post Time likes to walk on his hind legs but is very friendly with children. In 2023, Post Time won the City of Laurel Stakes. Moving into 2024, Charles reflected, “Well, he’s won a few before, but it’s time to see if we can take him up a notch and how he does. And he certainly hasn’t disappointed. He’s been fantastic. He loves to win and he’s a remarkable horse.”
The gray colt started the year with three straight wins. The first two came in the January 28th Jennings Stakes at Laurel Park and the February 17th General George Stakes (G3), while the third came in the April 6th Carter Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) at Aqueduct. In the May 3rd Westchester Stakes (G3), held at Belmont in the Big A, he finished second by three-quarters of a length, posting an Equibase Speed Figure of 115.
Moved to Saratoga for the Met Mile, he finished second behind 2023 Preakness Stakes (GI) winner National treasures He is currently the highest-ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. At the same time, he has beaten some great runners, such as last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner White Abarrio. “It was very exciting. and I always get nervous, but it was exciting and the horse that won was a remarkable horse and the better horse that day. But Posty came in second and was up against a lot of really good horses. So I think that showed us that we can get him to a Grade 1, that he can do it. So it was very exciting.” She noted, “I think things are going in the right direction. He’s still a little broken, but not like he used to be. And he knows what he wants. He wants to win and he knows what it takes. So he’s a great horse.”
Post Time is the latest in a string of top racehorses for Charles. Looking back at some of his favorites, “Oh Cordmaker, I mean, you know, when he won the General George in 2022, that was really exciting. And he’s a great horse. I like ‘Cordy.’ And then I had a few, and my first great horse, Bandbox, was just a lovely, lovely horse. But he was very weak, so he didn’t run very often. But when he did run, he did it right. And he won the General George in 2014. They were fun and exciting.”
On May 16, Charles received the Special Merit Award at Pimlico’s Alibi Breakfast. “Yeah, I was surprised and very honored. I mean, I love racing. I don’t see myself as the number one woman in Maryland right now,” she mused. She added, “I just love what I do, and I love racing in Maryland, and I want the best for Maryland. And so to be honored for that thought was really, really exciting. And I was very touched and honored and I had great company, so I was just in awe of the whole thing.”
