the STEEPLECHASE

another beautiful STEEPLECHASE weekend. allegedly featured in the book "1000 places to see before you die," the event is one of AIKEN's favorite community parties. always a sort of homecoming literally circled by the race itself. more information from www.aikensteeplechase.com:

from the site:

HISTORY

The Association was founded in Aiken in 1930 by several influential horseman among these were Thomas Hitchcock, Temple Gwathmey and Harry Worchester Smith. The first official race was run in Hitchcock Woods (a beneficiary of the Aiken Steeplechase Association) along the Aiken Hounds draglines. Over a thousand people gathered to watch some from as far away as Camden. To keep them company, several hundred children from Aiken Prep and Fermata School were mounted on their ponies for a better chance at viewing the sport. Aiken has been home to many steeplechase greats and to many exceptional trainers: Thomas Hitchcock, the dean of American Steeplechasing and Ambrose Clark, one of the sport's greatest players, to name a few. Many other people have the passion for the sport and it is to their credit that it renewed in 1967 after a twenty-five year hiatus due to war and civic development.

The past efforts of Charlie S. Bird, III, G.H. Bostwick, MacKenzie Miller, Willard Thompson, Ford Conger, and Paul Mellon revived the tradition of Steeplechasing in Aiken and have left a legacy that the Association now calls upon again to secure the future of the sport.

Whether it is fact or fiction, the universal truth is that horses will always rein supreme in Aiken's history and in her future. It is the goal of the Aiken Steeplechase Association to continue this legacy started by these sporting gentlemen.

hopefully we'll see you next year...

cheers