Triple Crown 2011

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A i k e n s C r o w n J e w e l Steeplechase MARCH 26 Aiken Trials MARCH 19 Pacers & Polo APRIL 2

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Triple Crown 2011

Transcript of Triple Crown 2011

Page 1: Triple Crown 2011

Aiken’s Crown Jewel

SteeplechaseMARCH 26

Aiken TrialsMARCH 19

Pacers & PoloAPRIL 2

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Aiken is synonymous with equine sport, and the Aiken Triple Crown has come to symbolize an annual rite of passage for residents, and attracts visitors from throughout the region.

The event is composed of three legs, the Aiken Trials (flat racing); the Aiken Spring Steeplechase (racing over jumps) and Pacers and Polo.

The Aiken Trials, held at the Aiken Training Track, serves as an outstanding way for young horses to get some invaluable experience before they go on to compete at the racetrack; the Aiken Spring Steeplechase is held at Ford Conger Field and is part of the National Steeplechase Association’s regular calendar and is the most well attended one-day sporting event in Aiken; and Pacers and Polo, played at Powderhouse Field, benefits USC Aiken Athletics department and is the largest fund-raiser the Pacer Club is involved in.

Welcome

326 Rutland Drive | Aiken, S.C. 29801(803) 648-2311

Publisher & EditorScott B. Hunter

Executive EditorTim O’Briant

Managing EditorMike Gibbons

Advertising DirectorDee Taylor

Sales ManagersKathy BoyetteDiane Daniell

AdvertisingDiAnn Bell

Kathleen Cleveland

Tyler CrosbyRechelle DallasLauren Haley

Joe HartyStacey Holcombe

Julie LottDebra Price

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ContentBen Baugh

Design & Layout Matt Socha

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F Steeplechase page 12

F Aiken Trials page 8

Aiken’sTripleCrown

F Pacers & Polo page 18

Horse of the Yearpage 24

Etiquette 101page 26

Triple Crown Mappage 30

Also InsIde:

Mallory Gore is dressed and ready to race.

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The 69thAiken Trials

Saturday, March 19

The 69th edition of the Aiken Trials, the first leg of the Aiken Triple Crown, will be held on March 19. The school-ing races are an educa-tional tool for 2-year-old horses as they prepare for their first start on the racetrack, and the 4¬½-furlong contests

serve as a way to get older horses fit so they’ll be ready to run once they return to the races. Es-tablished in 1941, the Ai-ken Training Track serves as the site for the event, and the day will feature six races including three contests for juveniles and two for older horses. The

day’s race card will also feature a Polo Pony race. The Aiken Trials were first run in 1942.

The Winner’s Circle Pavilion Tent returns for the 2011 edition of the trials, but only a limited amount of tickets will be available.

This year’s Aiken Tri-

als will feature a number of different contests with prizes being awarded for best hat and tailgate spot. A mariachi band will per-form in between races.

“We’re looking for a great event this year,” said Mike Fanning, Aiken Jaycees and owner of All Star Tents and Events.

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Location: Aiken Training TrackGates Open: 10 a.m.Carriage Parade: 1 p.m.Post Time: 2 p.m.

TiCkETS General admission tickets are $10 advance and $15 at the gate; general parking is $10 advance and $15 at the gate. Call Tixonline at 278-4TIX for available railside spots.Winner’s Circle Pavilion Tent Party is $100 for two tickets or $60 for one ticket. A limited number of tickets are available and will only be sold in advance for the Winner’s Circle Pavilion Tent Party, which includes cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres. For more information about the Aiken Trials, visit www.theaikentrainingtrack.com.

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Horse Racing 101

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ACEy DEuCEyA style of riding in which the jockey

uses a much longer stirrup on the left, or inside leg.

ACTiOnA horse with an even, smooth stride is

said to have good action.

ALSO RAnA horse that does not finish among the

first three.

BACkSTRETChThe straightaway on the far side of the

race track. Also used as a reference to the stable area.

BAnDAGESBandages or cloth wrappings on a

horse’s legs to not necessarily denote lameness or infirmity. Many trainers keep their horses in standing bandages at all times as a protection. They are also used in racing for protection and support.

BARRiERThe starting gate is sometimes referred

to as the barrier.

BiLL DALyA horse that breaks in front and sets

the pace is “on the Bill Daly.” This man-ner of running was said to be the princi-pal tactic drilled into jockeys developed by “Father Bill” Daly, a colorful trainer prior to the turn of the century.

BLAnkET FiniShOne which finds several horses finish-

ing noses and heads apart or so closely grouped that they could be covered by a blanket in a figurative sense.

BLinkERSOnce called the “Rogue’s Badge,”

blinkers are a common piece of racing equipment today. The eye cups on the blinkers, depending on modifications, block side and rear vision in either or both eyes. The use or disuse of blink-ers must be approved by the stewards and the change reported on the official program.

BLOw OuTA brief last workout (usually three fur-

longs or a half mile) given a day or two prior to a race and designed to sharpen or maintain a horse’s condition.

CASTWhen a horse is down in confined

quarters, such as his stall or the start-ing gate, and unable to regain his feet--he is “cast.”

ChuTEA straightaway extension of either the

homestretch or the backstretch used for distances which would otherwise neces-sitate starting on a turn.

CLiMBinGA fault in a horse’s stride in which, in-

stead of reaching out, his action is ab-normally high.

CLuBhOuSE TuRnThe turn to the right of the grandstand,

so called because the Clubhouse is usu-ally to the right of the general stands.

COLORSThe jockey’s silk or nylon jacket and

cap provided by the owner. Distinctive colors are registered by the owner with The Jockey Club and with the state rac-ing authority. The practice of using indi-vidually registered colors was introduced at Newmarket, England in 1762.

CuShiOnThe loose, top surface of the race

track.

DEAD hEATWhere the photo-finish camera shows

two horses inseparable at the finish, the race is declared a “dead heat” or tie.

DOGSWooden barriers used during workout

periods to close off a portion of the race track near the inner rail when the track is sloppy or muddy.

DRivinGWhen a horse is running under ex-

treme pressure he is said to be driving.

DwELTA horse that is slow in breaking from

the starting gate is said to have “dwelt.”

EiGhTh POLEThe pole one eighth of a mile before the

finish line.

EnTRyTwo or more horses in a race, owned

by the same stable, or trained by the same trainer are termed an “entry” and coupled as a single betting unit, a bet on one being a bet on both.

ExCuSEDTo be withdrawn from a race after the

regular time for scratches a horse must be “excused” by the Stewards.

FARRiERA blacksmith specializing in the shoe-

ing, or plating, of horses. In early days he was also a horse doctor.

FAR TuRnThe turn off the backstretch.

FASTA race track at its best condition is

said to be fast.

FiELDThis word has two meanings in rac-

ing which could be confusing. The entire group of starters in a race is known col-lectively as the “field.” However, a “field horse” is one of a group designated by the track handicapper in a case where there are more starters than there are betting units provided by the pari-mutuel equip-ment. Rightly called the “pari-mutuel field” this group runs as a single betting unit. For example in the Kentucky Derby of 1951, while there were only 12 betting units, 20 horses started. Seven started as individual betting units; four stables had entries of two horses each; the re-maining five ran as the “field” and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.

FLAT RACEOriginally a race without obstacles

such as hedges, hurdles or fences. To-day more often used as opposed to har-ness racing although the trotters also race on the flat.

FRACTiOnAL TiMEThe running time at various points be-

tween the start and finish of a race.

FuRLOnGOne eighth of a mile. Originally a “fur-

row long” or the length of a plowed field.

GARRiSOn FiniShA late rush resulting in a narrow mar-

gin of victory, so called because Edward “Snapper” Garrison, a prominent rider at the turn of the century, specialized in such finishes.

hALTERA piece of equipment placed on a

horse’s head similar to a bridle but lacking a bit and reins. A long leather shank is attached to the halter for walk-ing the horse. Also an expression used for claiming a horse deriving from the fact that when the representative of the new owner takes the horse he must have with him his own halter. A trainer who frequently claims horses is called a hal-ter man.

hAnDA unit of four inches by which a horse’s

height is measured, placing one hand above the other from the ground to the withers or the point where the saddle sits. A horse that measures 16 hands is 5 feet 4 inches tall at the withers.

hAnDiCAPPEROne who assigns the weights to be car-

ried in a handicap race. Also one who makes selections in a race based on a

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thorough study of the past performance of each horse.

hAnDiLyA horse working or racing with ease

and without urging is said to be going “handily.”

hAnDLEThe aggregate amount of money wa-

gered on a race, a day, a meeting or a season.

hOMESTRETChThe straightaway leading to the finish.

hOT wALkERA stable hand who leads a horse

around the shed row or walking ring in the “cooling out” process following a race or a workout. Walking hot is usually the first job given a novice stable employee.

inFiELDThe area within the inner rail of a race

track.

inquiRyAn inquiry is an action taken by the

track stewards following a race to check for a possible infraction that might have been noticed during the actual running of the race. In the inquiry the stewards will replay the race on videotape and re-view the incident, deciding eventually whether or not punitive action needs to be taken.

in ThE MOnEyA horse finishing first, second or third

is “in the money.”

iROnSThe stirrups are referred to as irons.

JuvEniLEA 2-year-old horse is called a “juve-

nile.”

kEy hORSEA single horse used in multiple combi-

nations in an exotic wager.

LEAD PADA piece of equipment under the sad-

dle containing thin slabs of lead used to bring a rider’s weight up to that assigned to the horse.

LEnGThThe measurement corresponding to

the average length of a horse and used to describe winning, or losing, distances. A horse can win, or be beaten, by a length or more, or by fractions thereof -- 3/4 of a length, half-length, 1/4 length, neck, head or nose. These terms are more de-scriptive than scientific.

MuD CAuLkSThese are small cleats inserted on the

back end of a horse’s shoe or racing plate. The caulks are used most when the track surface becomes muddy or sloppy. this will enable the horse to have better racing traction on an “off” sur-face.

nEAR SiDEThe left side on which a horse is led,

mounted and dismounted.

OFF SiDEThe right hand side of a horse.

OvERniGhTA race for which entries close 72 hours

(exclusive of Sundays) or less before the post time for the first race on the day the race is to be run. Also, the (usually) pho-tocopied sheet available to horsemen in the racing secretary’s office showing the entries for the following day.

OvERwEiGhTDepending on conditions each horse

carries an assigned weight. When the jockey cannot make the weight, over-weight is allowed but not more than 5 pounds. The overweight is either posted on an information board or announced on the public address system prior to the race.

PADDOCkThe area at the race track where the

horses are saddled and viewed prior to a race. A fenced off field on a farm.

PLACinG JuDGEOfficials from the Racing Secretary’s

Office are in charge of the official placing of horses during and after the running of a race. Two of the judges call the view of the race to a third judge who feeds the information by computer to the tote board. The judges determine the official order of finish by viewing a still negative film of each horse reaching the finish line, proceeding to the last place finish-er. Their viewing stand is located on top of the grandstand, at the finish line.

PLATERA term for a horse that runs in

cheap claiming races. Also the farrier who makes or fits the horse’s shoes or plates.

POSTThe starting point for a race.

POST POSiTiOnA horse’s position in the starting gate

from the inner rail outward which is de-cided by a drawing at the close of entries the day prior to the race.

POST TiMEThe time at which all horses are re-

quired to be at the post and ready to start.

PREFERRED LiSTA group of horses having priority in

the event that a race draws more entries than can be accommodated.

PuBLiC TRAinEROne who trains for more than one

owner, usually on a per diem basis.

quARTER hORSEA type of horse recently established

as a breed which is extremely fast at short distances. While so-called “quar-ter horse” racing was popular in Colo-nial times it has in recent years had a renaissance in the West.

quARTER POLEOn a one-mile track, the pole at the

turn into the stretch a quarter of a mile before the finish.

RACinG SECRETARyThe official who makes up the con-

ditions for the races and assigns the weights for handicap races.

RiDGELinGA colt with one or both testicles unde-

scended.

ROuTEA race of more than one and one-eighth

miles is considered a route.

SAvAGEIn racing parlance “savage” is a verb.

A horse that tries to bite another horse or a man is “savaging” the horse or the man. A chart footnote or an account of a race may mention that a horse tried to savage another.

SCRATChTo scratch a horse is to withdraw

him from a race. There is a deadline for scratches after which permission must be obtained from the Stewards.

SET DOwnA jockey who has been suspended has

been “set down.”

ShADOw ROLLA thick noseband of sheep’s wool used

to prevent a horse from seeing shad-ows directly in front of him which might cause him to jump or shy away.

ShORTA horse that drops out of contention in

the stretch or close to the finish is said to have been “short,” the inference being that with more work or preparation he might have lasted to the finish and per-haps have been the winner.

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The 45th SpringSteeplechase

The 45th edition of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase, the most well attended one-day sports event in the CSRA, is scheduled for March 26, and will be held at Ford Conger Field at the

Aiken Horse Park. The meet sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association was moved back by a week for 2011.

The day’s feature race will be the Imperial Cup, a race won in 2009 by

Mixed Up, who would go onto win the 2009 Eclipse Award as the outstanding Steeplechase horse.

The Aiken Spring Steeplechase is the first meet on the 2011

National Steeplechase Association calendar. The Aiken Spring Steeplechase dates back to 1931, when it was first run in the Hitchcock Woods. The event was revived in 1966.

Saturday, March 26

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Location: Ford Conger FieldGates Open: 9:30 a.m.village of Shops: open at 10 a.m.Guarantor Party: 11 a.m. First Post Time: 1 p.m.Carriage Parade: 1:15 p.m.

TiCkETSGeneral admission is $10 in advance and

$15 race day; children 6 and younger are free.

General admission tickets are available at Aiken Drug, Aiken Saddlery, Anything Goes, Boots, Bridles and Britches, Floyd & Green, Ingate Professional Pharmacy, Lominick Pharmacy, H. Odell Weeks Activities Center, North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Plum Pudding, Southern Bank & Trust, Stoplight Deli and Unique Expressions.

For more information, call 648-9641 or visit www.aikensteeplechase.com.

{The first track event of the day - the Calico Creek race.

Aiken’s Crown Jewel F 13

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STEEPLEChASEA race for thoroughbred horses over

jumps. Steeplechase racing is the same as ‘flat’ racing in most respects, except the inclusion of fences to jump over.

STEEPLEChASE hORSEAs in other types of professional

races, all steeplechasers are thor-oughbreds, and most are experienced in flat racing before being converted to steeplechasing, where the neces-sary talents include jumping ability in addition to speed.

STEEPLEChASE JOCkEyProfessional jockeys, the human

riders in horse races, are traditionally adults of smaller physical dimensions – contrary to popular belief there are no height limits on jockeys, only weight limits. Weight limits for “jump” jockeys, as they’re known colloquially, are traditionally higher than for flat jockeys (roughly 140 pounds com-pared to 110 pounds), though some

well known jockeys, such as Jacinto Vasquez and Jean Cruguet, have rid-den in both types of races.

STEEPLEChASE STARTSteeplechase races don’t start from

a gate. Instead, horses are lined up in post position order and start from a standstill or a walk.

nATiOnAL STEEPLEChASEASSOCiATiOnThe official governing body for

steeplechasing in the United States, based in Fair Hill, Maryland.

MAiDEnA horse that has never won a race.

In steeplechasing, a horse that has won on the flat is still a steeplechase maiden, meaning even a champion on the flat would “start over” as a maiden in steeplechasing.

nATiOnAL FEnCEA man-made fence used at most

stops in the U.S. and in all major track steeplechasing, so named because the

standard fence was developed by the National Steeplechase Association. Consists of a steel frame stuffed with plastic “brush” and standing 52 inch-es high. A foam-rubber roll, covered with green canvas, is placed on the takeoff side. Horses jump the fence in stride, much like human hurdlers in track and field events. The jumps are brought to racetracks by truck, set up a day in advance, and can be taken down quickly to allow for turf racing.

nOviCEA horse in the early stages of its

steeplechase career. Novice races, re-stricted by the date a horse breaks his maiden over jumps (usually January 1st of that year), give horses experi-ence over hurdles before competing with more seasoned jumpers.

winGSThe panels on either side of a stee-

plechase fence, which are designed to guide a horse to a fence.

Steeplechase 101

Jockey Bernie Dalton is a familiar face at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase.

Ethan Haus clears a course set up in Paddock Playground with

his balloon sword in hand.

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View the Aiken Downtown Development Association’s

website for upcoming events.

www.downtownaiken.com

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View the Aiken Downtown Development Association’s

website for upcoming events.

www.downtownaiken.com

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Pacers & Polo

The final jewel of the Aiken Triple Crown will be held on April 2 at the Powderhouse Fields. Pacers and Polo will feature a sport that has been part of Aiken’s rich equine

tradition for nearly 130 years.

The proceeds from the game and event support the USC Aiken Pacer Club, which is the booster organization of the

athletic department.The gates open at

11 a.m., and the game begins at 1:30 p.m.

“I’d love for the event to mirror what we did last year,” said Randy Warrick,

USC Aiken athletic director. “We had a great turnout and great weather. We also had inflatables and that was a big hit with the kids. We want to make this a family event.”

Saturday, April 2

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Location: Powderhouse Polo FieldsGates Open: 11 a.m.Game Begins: 1 p.m.Post Time: 1:30 p.m.

TiCkETS$10 for adults and $5 for children at the gate.

Advance tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children.

General admission parking is $5, which includes a souvenir program. Reserved railside parking is $100 and includes four tickets and programs.

The VIP Hospitality Tickets are $70 per person and includes a lunch catered by Outback Steakhouse, beverages, parking and admission to the game. Tickets are required for all guests and should be purchased in advance. Lunch will be served at noon. For more information, call 641-3331.

Tickets can be purchased at Aiken Drugs, Floyd & Green, USC Aiken Athletic Department, Lominick’s Drug Co. or H. Odell Weeks Activities Center.

For information, call the USC Aiken Athletic Department at 641-3486.

{Julian Daniels takes a neck shot in featured polo action.

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ThE GAMESix Chukkers (periods), seven and

a half minutes each. The field is 300 yards long and 160 yards wide. On the end line at each end are goal posts, twenty four feet apart. Points are scored by hitting the ball between the posts. Each time a goal is scored the teams change direction of play. It’s like hockey on horseback. It is legal to “hook” the hitter’s mallet and it’s okay to ram into your opponent during play. The game is very physical and can be dangerous. In between chukkers there is a four-min-ute break for players to change ponies. After three chukkers there is a ten-minute “half time.” With time-outs for penalties and the like, a typical match lasts one-and-a-half hours.

PLAyERSThere are four players on the field for

each team, wearing a jersey numbered 1 through 4. The roles of each player are:

#1 The Forward: Always out in front - should score most of the goals.

#2 The Hustler: Quick and aggressive with fast ponies.

#3 The Pivot: The quarterback and captain. Has to hit a long shot.

#4 The Back: Defender. There are no goalies. It’s his job to stop the goal shots.

Helmets are required, and some have face masks. Most players wear padded knee guards and they all have to wear boots.

MALLETIt’s a solid bamboo cane with a hard

wood head. It’s about 4-I/2 feet long and you hit the ball with the side of the mallet, not the end. All players must hold the mallet in the right hand; left-handed play is not allowed.

ThE BALLToday’s polo ball is solid plastic,

weighing I/4-lb., and is a little larger than a baseball. Historically polo balls were made out of wood.

ThE hORSEThey are called polo ponies. Most are

former race horses, high-speed Thor-oughbreds with exceptional abilities. The tail is braided to stay out of the way of the mallet. The mane is clipped off so the player can see the ball, and to pre-vent the reins from getting tangled up. The idea is for each player to have six ponies - one for each chukker.

hORSE EquiPMEnTA bridle that must have a bit. The

saddle is English. A girth, over-girth and breastplate help hold the saddle in place. Two sets of reins are used. A martingale, a part of the bridle, keeps the pony from throwing it’s head and blocking the player’s view. The lower legs are wrapped for support and pro-tection.

ThE ShOTSPlayers actually stand up in the stir-

rups when hitting the ball. The shots are made from the “off” side (right side) or the “near” side (left side) or the pony. With reins in the left hand and a mal-let in the right hand, the player is only holding on with his legs.

hAnDiCAPPlayers are rated on a scale of minus-2

to 10. Beginners start at minus 2. Only a handful of players in the world are rated at 10, none in the U.S. About 96 percent of all U.S. players have a handi-cap of 2 or less, and some with a handi-cap of 2 or more are considered profes-sional. In handicap matches, each team adds up the ratings of its players to ar-rive at a team rating. The difference of

the two teams’ ratings is awarded as points to the lesser skilled team as the beginning score of the game.

FOuLWhen you hear the umpire blow the

whistle it’s just like basketball - some-body fouled. The other team gets a free hit. The most common foul is cross-ing the line or the right of way. Forty percent of all the points in a game are scored from the foul line.

RuLESPolo is governed by the United States

Polo Association. The rules are so com-plex it takes over 80 pages in the USPA Rule Book just to explain them. In a nut shell: Don’t hit your horse or anyone else’s with your mallet. You can’t play left-handed. No dangerous riding. Abu-sive play and language are not allowed. If a player comes off his or her horse or off the field, the clock can continue to run; if a horse falls down, stop the clock. The team with the most points at the end of six chukkers wins. If the game ends a tie they play sudden death overtime.

Polo 101

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Polo mallets are used to strike the ball.

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Wednesday, March 16

Breakfast at the Gallops

The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum’s fifth annual Breakfast at the Gallops will give residents an opportunity to get an up-close look at Thoroughbreds being trained before they leave for the racetrack.

The breakfast, sponsored by Darley, will be held Wednesday, March 16 from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Aiken Training Track.

Several Thoroughbred trainers, including Suzy Has-lup, will be on site to talk about their training programs, answer questions and offer their insight about the world of Thoroughbred racing.

The program serves as a prelude to the Aiken Trials on March 19, which will showcase the talents of equine athletes, both 2-year-olds and older horses, who will be training over the Aiken Training Track.

Tickets for Breakfast at the Gallops, which go on sale on Tuesday, are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate and are available at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center and the Aiken Training Track office. Children under the age of 6 will be admitted free. Space is limited.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to support the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. Only in the case of severe weather will this event be cancelled.

Thoroughbred trainer Suzy Haslup talks about training Thoroughbreds as part of

Breakfast at the Gallops presentation.

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Other Disciplines

ShOw JuMPinG

Show jumping and show hunters have a very strong presence in

Aiken. Rick and Cathy Cram’s Progressive Show Jumping hosts a

number of shows at their Highfields Event Center throughout the

year. J.P. and Megan Godard’s Equus Events Aiken Fall Classic has

become a staple on the autumn calendar.

Mike and Marilyn Sharp’s Belvoir Farm South in Windsor is the

site for a number of schooling shows. Sharer Dale’s Greystone Farms

is among the facilities that feature hunter/jumper events.

The Aiken Spring Classic at Highfields Event Center features a

number of the nation’s top riders. The annual Aiken Horse Show in

the Woods is one of the most eagerly awaited events on the yearly

calendar, and features a number of classes in what is considered one

of the most idyllic settings for a horse show.

CARRiAGE DRivinG

Carriage driving also has a large following in Aiken, and whether

it’s competition driving or driving for pleasure, the area boasts a

number of leading drivers, and those who are enthusiastic about an

activity that at one time was the preferred form of transportation.

The Aiken Driving Club was formed in 1985, and has several

drives during the course of the year including those at Hopeland

Farms, around the Winter Colony in the historic district and Hitch-

cock Woods. The Katydid Combined Driving Event in November attracts many of

North America’s leading competitive drivers.

FOx hunTinG

The sport of fox hunting in Aiken has a rich and storied tradition

in Aiken. The Aiken Hounds were established in 1914, and were recognized

by the Masters of Foxhounds Association in 1916. They’re the oldest

recognized drag hunt in the United States. The Whiskey Road Fox-

hounds Hunt was established in 1976 and the Why Worry Hounds

were established in 1996. The Aiken-based Edisto Hounds and the

Belle Meade Hounds in Thomson, Ga. are also among the area’s other

hunts. The Aiken Hounds annual Blessing of the Hounds in Hitchcock

Woods on Thanksgiving Day made The Huffington Post’s 10 Terrific

Thanksgiving Traditions list.

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DRESSAGEThe sport of dressage has also seen an increase in its numbers in the Aiken area. Viewpoint Dressage hosts several United States Dressage Federation recognized shows at High-fields Event Center.

EvEnTinGAiken has become one of the sport of event-ing’s primary winter training hubs. Many of the sport’s biggest names prepare their horses for the upcoming year in the area. There are a number of facilities that host horse trials in the winter and spring including Full Gallop Farm; Paradise Farm; Sporting Days Farm and Jumping Branch Farm, which are all located in Aiken, and Pine Top Equestrian Center in Thomson, Ga.

This winter the United States Eventing Asso-ciation held an Instructors Certification Pro-gram Jumping Symposium at Paradise Farm. The United States Equestrian Federation Eventing High Performance Training Ses-sions and the USEF Eventing Developing Rider Training Sessions in Aiken were held this past winter at Three Runs Plantation.

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Spring Hill Farm’s home-bred Quality Road becomes the first horse to repeat as the Aiken Trained Horse of the Year. Quality Road will be honored in a ceremony on March 20, 2011 at 12:30 p.m. at the Aiken Thor-oughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

There will be memora-bilia on display from Qual-ity Road’s racing career, and the public is invited to attend.

A winner of four Grade One races, and seven stakes contests, Qual-ity Road set three track records that saw him win or place in 12 of 13 career starts. The bay colt was broken and trained in Ai-ken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens.

“I look at it as a team effort,” said Stevens, who credits his partner Brad Stauffer and their out-standing staff for playing

an important role in Quality Road’s early training. “It’s a privilege to be associated with a horse like Quality Road.”

The Virginia-bred colt broke his maiden in his de-but, winning a 6 ½-furlong race at Aqueduct on Nov. 29, 2008, while being con-ditioned by Jimmy Jerkens. He picked up right where he left off during his juve-nile campaign as a three-year-old with an impres-sive 4 ¼-length victory in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, and then established a track record setting performance in the 58th edition of the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28, 2009 at Gulfstream Park, completing the 1 1/8-miles distance in 1:47:72, en route to a 1 ¾-length vic-tory.

The colt’s Triple Crown hopes were derailed when Quality Road developed

quarter cracks in his right front and right hind hooves. He returned to the races during his sophomore cam-paign, this time in the barn of four-time Eclipse Award Winning Trainer Todd Pletcher, and his return in the 6 ½-furlong Grade 2 Amsterdam Stakes at Sara-toga Race Course would see him once again set a track record winning the race in a time of 1:13:74.

He wired the field in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 3, 2010, and his four-year-old debut seemed to serve as a harbinger of what was to come. In his next start the 1 1/8-miles Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulf-stream Park, Quality Road annihilated the field win-ning by 12 ¾-lengths and broke his own track record for the distance, stopping the timer in 1:47:49. He would run the third fastest

time ever in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Mile Handicap at Belmont Park on May 31, 2010, covering the distance in 1:33:11. His other Grade 1 victory came in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes Sept. 4, 2010 at Saratoga.

“I’m certainly proud of his accomplishments and it’s very satisfying,” said Stevens.

Quality Road retires with eight wins from 13 lifetime starts, having finished sec-ond three times and third once, amassing $2,232,830 in earnings.

Bred by owner Edward P. Evans, Quality Road is by Elusive Quality, out of the Strawberry Road brood-mare Kobla, a full sister to the 1997 Eclipse Award winning Three-Year-Old Filly Ajina. He entered stud at Lane’s End Farm in Ver-sailles, Ky., where he will stand his first year in 2011 for $35,000.

Quality Road is Aiken Trained Horse of the Year

Quality Road annihilated the

field winning by 12 ¾-lengths

and broke his own track record for the distance.

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Aiken’s Crown Jewel F 25

This year’s running of the Iselin Trophy at the Aiken Trials will be renamed the MacKenzie T. Miller Trophy, in honor of the Hall of Fame trainer whose influence in the world of Thoroughbred rac-ing has made a far reaching impact. The Aiken Trials will be run March 19 at the Aiken Training Track.

“The Gentlemen Trainer of Morgan Street” passed away Dec. 10 at the age of 89. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1987. Miller first started to come to Aiken in the winter of 1958-59 and became a fixture for decades, condi-tioning a number of stakes winners and several champi-

ons who trained over the Aiken Training Track.

Miller conditioned four national champions includ-ing the co-1956 outstanding 2-year-old filly Leallah, the 1966 outstanding grass horse Assagai, the 1969 outstand-ing grass horse Hawaii and the 1975 Eclipse Award winning grass horse Snow Knight.

Among the 72 stakes win-ners Miller trained were a number of those conditioned in Aiken, including Fit To Fight, the last horse to win the New York Handicap Triple Crown in 1984; Java Gold, who went on to win the 1987 Travers Stakes, Whitney Handicap and Marlboro Cup; Halo, winner of the 1974 United Nations Hand-

icap, Danger’s Hour, winner of the 1985 Hill Prince, Lexington Stakes, Lawrence Realization and the 1986 Manhattan and Saratoga Budweiser Breeders’ Cup and Sea Hero, winner of the 1992 Champagne Stakes and 1993 Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes.

Miller had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

“He was a major force be-hind the Aiken Trials for many years,” said Mike Fanning, Aiken Trials committee chair-man. “It’s great to be able to honor him in this way. When I first became involved with the Aiken Trials 20 years ago, he was a major force, not just because he was able to get

horses to run but also because he was a big supporter of the event.”

Aiken Trials race will be renamed after late trainer

Miller was a major force behindthe Aiken Trials for many years. Shepeard Community

Blood Center

www.shepeardblood.org

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ONEDONATIONSAVES

THREELIVES

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Etiquette 101It may be a good time to consult

with Miss Manners on the rules of etiquette if you will be attending the 45th Renewal of the Aiken Spring Steeplechase at Ford Conger Field at the Aiken Horse Park.

Spectators should adhere to these guidelines while enjoying their day: F People shouldn’t overcrowd the space to the point that they are encroaching on the space next to them.F Those attending the event should use the readily available portable restrooms. F People should drink responsibly. F Ticket holders should park in their space only. F Only those ticket holders with railside passes are allowed to park

on the rail. F Spectators are encouraged to use the waste bins for their refuse. F Those attending the event should stay clear of the horses and should avoid bringing balloons and flags. F People should stay off of the race-track, and children should be kept off of the National Fences (jumps). F Those who have a second row or infield spot should view the races from the open area around the race-track and should only move up to view the races railside if invited by railside ticket holders. F Individuals engaging in rude and obnoxious behavior can be removed from the grounds, which will result in permanent loss of reserved and railside spots.

F Ticket holders are responsible for their guests’ behavior, and, in the event they engage in inappropriate conduct, the ticket holder’s space will be taken away permanently.F No pets are allowed at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. F Spectators can bring a tent, but it can’t be larger than 10 feet by 10 feet and must be placed at least 12 feet away from the rail. F Vehicles taller than 12 feet are not permitted.F Those who are guests of ticket holders in a subscriber area must have a subscriber ticket.F Spectators departing the event should not carry open containers of alcohol while attempting to leave the grounds.

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Aiken’s Crown Jewel F 27

Triple Crown from the past

19781986

1981

1982

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Aiken’s Triple Crown

Carole Pincavage and Barry Sroka celebrate

Halloween and the Steeplechase

festivities with some clever disguises.

Paul Notine, Jack Wetzel and John Abbott look down the rail at the Aiken Training Track dur-ing the Aiken Trials.

Two year old Gracie Patterson

enjoys a ride in her wagon as she

waits to catch a glimpse of the

horses.

John Reeder holds up his daughter Lauren so she can pet Archie, one of the Aiken County Sheriff’s horses pres-ent at Steeplechase.

Aiken is a vibrant equestrian community.

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Aiken’s Crown Jewel F 29

Adults enjoy Steeple-chase’s stick horse race.

The Flatland Express Bluegrass band perform-ing at Steeplechase.

Natalie Grace Gregory and Christine Hauer watch intently as

the horses pass by during the first race of the Aiken Trials.

Member of area high school NJROTC’s presented the colors before the races.

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Richland Ave.

Hampton Ave.Yo

rk S

t.

Grace Ave.

Two

Notc

h Rd

.

East Pine Log Rd.

Whi

skey

Rd.

Mead Ave.

Audubon Dr. Banks Mill

South Boundary Ave.

Laur

ens S

t.

Making your way around

30 F Triple Crown 2011

Aiken TrialsAiken Training Track

MARCh 19

Aiken SteeplechaseFord Conger Field

MARCh 26

Pacers & PoloPowderhouse Field

APRiL 2

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