Triple Crown 2011

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42)0,% #2/7. Aiken’s Crown Jewel

Aiken Trials

MARCH 19

Steeplechase

MARCH 26

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Pacers & Polo

APRIL 2

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Aiken’s Triple Crown F Aiken page 8

Trials

F Steeplechase page 12 F Pacers page 18

Welcome 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.

& Polo

Also Inside: Horse of the Year page 24

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

Etiquette 101 page 26

Publisher & Editor Scott B. Hunter Executive Editor Tim O’Briant

Triple Crown Map page 30

Managing Editor Mike Gibbons Advertising Director Dee Taylor Sales Managers Kathy Boyette Diane Daniell Mallory Gore is dressed and ready to race.

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Advertising DiAnn Bell Kathleen Cleveland

Tyler Crosby Rechelle Dallas Lauren Haley Joe Harty Stacey Holcombe Julie Lott Debra Price Robert Schettino Sharye Whisenant Digital Sales Becky Asbill Dearden Content Ben Baugh Design & Layout Matt Socha

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The 69th

Aiken 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 schooling races are an educational tool for 2-year-old horses as they prepare for their first start on the racetrack, and the 4¬½-furlong contests

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serve as a way to get older horses fit so they’ll be ready to run once they return to the races. Established in 1941, the Aiken 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 perform 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 Track Gates 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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Aiken’s Crown Jewel F

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Horse Racing 101 homestretch or the backstretch used for Acey Deucey A style of riding in which the jockey distances which would otherwise necesuses a much longer stirrup on the left, sitate starting on a turn. or inside leg. Climbing A fault in a horse’s stride in which, inAction A horse with an even, smooth stride is stead of reaching out, his action is abnormally high. said to have good action. Clubhouse Turn Also Ran The turn to the right of the grandstand, A horse that does not finish among the so called because the Clubhouse is usufirst three. ally to the right of the general stands. Backstretch

said to be fast. Field This word has two meanings in racing which could be confusing. The entire group of starters in a race is known collectively 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 equipment. 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 remaining five ran as the “field” and one of these, Count Turf, was the winner.

Colors The jockey’s silk or nylon jacket and cap provided by the owner. Distinctive colors are registered by the owner with Bandages Bandages or cloth wrappings on a The Jockey Club and with the state rachorse’s legs to not necessarily denote ing authority. The practice of using indilameness or infirmity. Many trainers vidually registered colors was introduced keep their horses in standing bandages at Newmarket, England in 1762. Flat Race Cushion at all times as a protection. They are Originally a race without obstacles The loose, top surface of the race such as hedges, hurdles or fences. Toalso used in racing for protection and track. support. day more often used as opposed to harness racing although the trotters also Dead Heat Barrier Where the photo-finish camera shows race on the flat. The starting gate is sometimes referred two horses inseparable at the finish, the to as the barrier. Fractional Time race is declared a “dead heat” or tie. The running time at various points beBill Daly tween the start and finish of a race. Dogs A horse that breaks in front and sets Wooden barriers used during workout the pace is “on the Bill Daly.” This manFurlong ner of running was said to be the princi- periods to close off a portion of the race One eighth of a mile. Originally a “furpal tactic drilled into jockeys developed track near the inner rail when the track row long” or the length of a plowed field. by “Father Bill” Daly, a colorful trainer is sloppy or muddy. Garrison Finish prior to the turn of the century. Driving A late rush resulting in a narrow marWhen a horse is running under ex- gin of victory, so called because Edward Blanket Finish One which finds several horses finish- treme pressure he is said to be driving. “Snapper” Garrison, a prominent rider ing noses and heads apart or so closely at the turn of the century, specialized in Dwelt grouped that they could be covered by a A horse that is slow in breaking from such finishes. blanket in a figurative sense. the starting gate is said to have “dwelt.” Halter Blinkers A piece of equipment placed on a Eighth Pole Once called the “Rogue’s Badge,” The pole one eighth of a mile before the horse’s head similar to a bridle but blinkers are a common piece of racing finish line. lacking a bit and reins. A long leather equipment today. The eye cups on the shank is attached to the halter for walkEntry blinkers, depending on modifications, ing the horse. Also an expression used Two or more horses in a race, owned for claiming a horse deriving from the block side and rear vision in either or both eyes. The use or disuse of blink- by the same stable, or trained by the fact that when the representative of the ers must be approved by the stewards same trainer are termed an “entry” and new owner takes the horse he must have and the change reported on the official coupled as a single betting unit, a bet on with him his own halter. A trainer who one being a bet on both. program. frequently claims horses is called a halter man. Excused Blow Out To be withdrawn from a race after the A brief last workout (usually three furHand longs or a half mile) given a day or two regular time for scratches a horse must A unit of four inches by which a horse’s prior to a race and designed to sharpen be “excused” by the Stewards. height is measured, placing one hand or maintain a horse’s condition. above the other from the ground to the Farrier A blacksmith specializing in the shoe- withers or the point where the saddle Cast When a horse is down in confined ing, or plating, of horses. In early days sits. A horse that measures 16 hands is 5 feet 4 inches tall at the withers. quarters, such as his stall or the start- he was also a horse doctor. ing gate, and unable to regain his feet-Handicapper Far Turn he is “cast.” One who assigns the weights to be carThe turn off the backstretch. ried in a handicap race. Also one who Chute Fast A straightaway extension of either the A race track at its best condition is makes selections in a race based on a The straightaway on the far side of the race track. Also used as a reference to the stable area.

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thorough study of the past performance back end of a horse’s shoe or racing of each horse. plate. The caulks are used most when the track surface becomes muddy or Handily A horse working or racing with ease sloppy. this will enable the horse to have and without urging is said to be going better racing traction on an “off” surface. “handily.”

quired to be at the post and ready to start. Preferred List A group of horses having priority in the event that a race draws more entries than can be accommodated.

Near Side Public Trainer Handle The left side on which a horse is led, One who trains for more than one The aggregate amount of money waowner, usually on a per diem basis. gered on a race, a day, a meeting or a mounted and dismounted. season. Off Side Quarter Horse The right hand side of a horse. A type of horse recently established Homestretch as a breed which is extremely fast at The straightaway leading to the finish. Overnight A race for which entries close 72 hours short distances. While so-called “quarHot Walker (exclusive of Sundays) or less before the ter horse” racing was popular in ColoA stable hand who leads a horse around the shed row or walking ring in post time for the first race on the day the nial times it has in recent years had a the “cooling out” process following a race race is to be run. Also, the (usually) pho- renaissance in the West. Quarter Pole or a workout. Walking hot is usually the tocopied sheet available to horsemen in On a one-mile track, the pole at the first job given a novice stable employee. the racing secretary’s office showing the entries for the following day. turn into the stretch a quarter of a mile Infield before the finish. Overweight The area within the inner rail of a race Depending on conditions each horse Racing Secretary track. carries an assigned weight. When the The official who makes up the conInquiry jockey cannot make the weight, overAn inquiry is an action taken by the weight is allowed but not more than 5 ditions for the races and assigns the track stewards following a race to check pounds. The overweight is either posted weights for handicap races. Ridgeling for a possible infraction that might have on an information board or announced A colt with one or both testicles undebeen noticed during the actual running on the public address system prior to scended. of the race. In the inquiry the stewards the race. will replay the race on videotape and reRoute Paddock view the incident, deciding eventually A race of more than one and one-eighth The area at the race track where the whether or not punitive action needs to miles is considered a route. horses are saddled and viewed prior to a be taken. race. A fenced off field on a farm. Savage In the Money In racing parlance “savage” is a verb. Placing Judge A horse finishing first, second or third Officials from the Racing Secretary’s A horse that tries to bite another horse is “in the money.” Office are in charge of the official placing or a man is “savaging” the horse or the Irons of horses during and after the running man. A chart footnote or an account of The stirrups are referred to as irons. of a race. Two of the judges call the view a race may mention that a horse tried to of the race to a third judge who feeds savage another. Juvenile Scratch A 2-year-old horse is called a “juve- the information by computer to the tote board. The judges determine the official To scratch a horse is to withdraw nile.” order of finish by viewing a still negative him from a race. There is a deadline for Key Horse film of each horse reaching the finish A single horse used in multiple combi- line, proceeding to the last place finish- scratches after which permission must be obtained from the Stewards. nations in an exotic wager. er. Their viewing stand is located on top Set Down of the grandstand, at the finish line. Lead Pad A jockey who has been suspended has A piece of equipment under the sadPlater been “set down.” dle containing thin slabs of lead used to A term for a horse that runs in Shadow Roll bring a rider’s weight up to that assigned cheap claiming races. Also the farrier A thick noseband of sheep’s wool used to the horse. who makes or fits the horse’s shoes or to prevent a horse from seeing shadplates. Length ows directly in front of him which might The measurement corresponding to Post cause him to jump or shy away. the average length of a horse and used to The starting point for a race. Short describe winning, or losing, distances. A Post Position A horse that drops out of contention in horse can win, or be beaten, by a length A horse’s position in the starting gate the stretch or close to the finish is said or more, or by fractions thereof -- 3/4 of a length, half-length, 1/4 length, neck, from the inner rail outward which is de- to have been “short,” the inference being head or nose. These terms are more de- cided by a drawing at the close of entries that with more work or preparation he the day prior to the race. might have lasted to the finish and perscriptive than scientific. haps have been the winner. Post Time Mud Caulks The time at which all horses are reThese are small cleats inserted on the

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The 45th Spring

Steeplechase Saturday, March 26 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

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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.

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

Tickets General 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.

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Steeplechase 101 Steeplechase A 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 Horse As in other types of professional races, all steeplechasers are thoroughbreds, and most are experienced in flat racing before being converted to steeplechasing, where the necessary talents include jumping ability in addition to speed.

well known jockeys, such as Jacinto standard fence was developed by the Vasquez and Jean Cruguet, have rid- National Steeplechase Association. Consists of a steel frame stuffed with den in both types of races. plastic “brush” and standing 52 inchSteeplechase Start Steeplechase races don’t start from es high. A foam-rubber roll, covered a gate. Instead, horses are lined up in with green canvas, is placed on the post position order and start from a takeoff side. Horses jump the fence in stride, much like human hurdlers standstill or a walk. in track and field events. The jumps National Steeplechase are brought to racetracks by truck, set up a day in advance, and can be Association The official governing body for taken down quickly to allow for turf steeplechasing in the United States, racing. based in Fair Hill, Maryland. Novice

Steeplechase Jockey Professional 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 compared to 110 pounds), though some

Wings National Fence The panels on either side of a steeA man-made fence used at most stops in the U.S. and in all major track plechase fence, which are designed to steeplechasing, so named because the guide a horse to a fence.

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

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Maiden A 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.

A horse in the early stages of its steeplechase career. Novice races, restricted by the date a horse breaks his maiden over jumps (usually January 1st of that year), give horses experience over hurdles before competing with more seasoned jumpers.

Ethan Haus clears a course set up in Paddock Playground with his balloon sword in hand.

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Aiken’s Crown Jewel F

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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

Pacers & Polo

Saturday, April 2 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

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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.”

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.

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

Julian Daniels takes a neck shot in featured polo action.

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Polo 101 The Game Six 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-minute break for players to change ponies. After three chukkers there is a tenminute “half time.” With time-outs for penalties and the like, a typical match lasts one-and-a-half hours.

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 protection.

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

Handicap Players are rated on a scale of minus-2 to 10. Beginners start at minus 2. Only Players a handful of players in the world are There are four players on the field for rated at 10, none in the U.S. About 96 each team, wearing a jersey numbered percent of all U.S. players have a handi1 through 4. The roles of each player cap of 2 or less, and some with a handiare: cap of 2 or more are considered profes#1 The Forward: Always out in front - sional. In handicap matches, each team should score most of the goals. adds up the ratings of its players to ar#2 The Hustler: Quick and aggressive rive at a team rating. The difference of 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.

shell: Don’t hit your horse or anyone else’s with your mallet. You can’t play left-handed. No dangerous riding. Abusive 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.

Foul When you hear the umpire blow the whistle it’s just like basketball - somebody fouled. The other team gets a free hit. The most common foul is crossing the line or the right of way. Forty The Shots Players actually stand up in the stir- percent of all the points in a game are rups when hitting the ball. The shots scored from the foul line. are made from the “off” side (right side) Rules or the “near” side (left side) or the pony. Polo is governed by the United States With reins in the left hand and a mal- Polo Association. The rules are so comlet in the right hand, the player is only plex it takes over 80 pages in the USPA holding on with his legs. Rule Book just to explain them. In a nut

Mallet It’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; lefthanded play is not allowed. The Ball Today’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 Horse They are called polo ponies. Most are former race horses, high-speed Thoroughbreds 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 prevent the reins from getting tangled up. The idea is for each player to have six ponies - one for each chukker. Horse Equipment A bridle that must have a bit. The

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Polo mallets are used to strike the ball.

Thoroughbred trainer Suzy Haslup talks about training Thoroughbreds as part of Breakfast at the Gallops presentation.

Breakfast at the Gallops We d n e s d a y , M a r c h 1 6 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 Haslup, 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.

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Other Disciplines

Show jumping

y strong presence in ow hunters have a ver Show jumping and sh ow Jumping hosts a Cram’s Progressive Sh Aiken. Rick and Cathy nter throughout the ir Highfields Event Ce ssic has number of shows at the s Events Aiken Fall Cla uu Eq ’s rd da Go n ga Me year. J.P. and autumn calendar. become a staple on the in Windsor is the ’s Belvoir Farm South Mike and Marilyn Sharp Greystone Farms le’s s. Sharer Da ow sh g lin oo sch of er site for a numb per events. that feature hunter/jum is among the facilities nter features a c at Highfields Event Ce rse Show in The Aiken Spring Classi en . The annual Aik Ho ers rid top n’s tio na number of the nts on the yearly most eagerly awaited eve idered one the Woods is one of the classes in what is cons of er mb nu a es tur fea calendar, and gs for a horse show. of the most idyllic settin g Carriage drivin

whether following in Aiken, and ge lar a s ha o als g vin Carriage dri e, the area boasts a g or driving for pleasur c about an it’s competition drivin se who are enthusiasti tho d an s, ver dri g din number of lea m of transportation. e was the preferred for activity that at one tim , and has several b was formed in 1985 The Aiken Driving Clu those at Hopeland se of the year including and Hitchdrives during the cour in the historic district y lon Co r nte Wi the d Farms, aroun racts many of cock Woods. Event in November att ng ivi Dr d ine mb Co id The Katyd g competitive drivers. North America’s leadin d tradition en has a rich and storie Aik in ng nti hu fox of The sport re recognized in Aiken. lished in 1914, and we ab est re we ds un Ho re the oldest The Aiken sociation in 1916. They’ As s nd ou xh Fo of rs ey Road Foxby the Maste ited States. The Whisk Un the in nt hu g dra Worry Hounds recognized in 1976 and the Why d he lis ab est s wa nt ds and the hounds Hu en-based Edisto Houn Aik e Th . 96 19 in d he the area’s other were establis n, Ga. are also among so om Th in ds un Ho e Belle Mead Hitchcock hunts. ssing of the Hounds in Ble al nu an ds un Ho 10 Terrific The Aiken The Huffington Post’s de ma y Da ing giv ks an Woods on Th ns list. Thanksgiving Traditio fox hunting

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Dressage

The sport of dressage has also seen an increase in its numbers in the Aiken area. Viewpoint Dressage hosts sev eral United States Dressage Federation recognized shows at Highfields Event Center. Eventing

Aiken has become one of the spo rt of eventing’s primary winter training hub s. Many of the sport’s biggest names pre pare their horses for the upcoming year in the are a. There are a number of facilities that hos t horse trials in the winter and spring including Full Gallop Far m; Paradise Far m; Sportin g Days Far m and Jumping Branch Far m, which are all located in Aiken, and Pine Top Equestr ian Center in Thomson, Ga. This winter the United States Eventing Association held an Instructors Cer tification Program Jumping Symposium at Paradise Farm. The United States Equestrian Federation Eventing High Per formance Tra ining Sessions and the USEF Eventing Developing Rider Training Sessions in Aiken wer e held this past winter at Three Runs Plantation .

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Quality Road annihilated the field winning by 12 ¾-lengths and broke his own track record for the distance.

Quality Road is Aiken Trained Horse of the Year Spring Hill Farm’s homebred 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 Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum. There will be memorabilia on display from Quality Road’s racing career, and the public is invited to attend. A winner of four Grade One races, and seven stakes contests, Quality 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 Aiken by Legacy Stable’s Ron Stevens. “I look at it as a team effort,” said Stevens, who credits his partner Brad Stauffer and their outstanding staff for playing

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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 debut, winning a 6 ½-furlong race at Aqueduct on Nov. 29, 2008, while being conditioned by Jimmy Jerkens. He picked up right where he left off during his juvenile campaign as a threeyear-old with an impressive 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 victory. 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 campaign, 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 Saratoga 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-yearold 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 Gulfstream Park, Quality Road annihilated the field winning 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 second 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 broodmare Kobla, a full sister to the 1997 Eclipse Award winning Three-Year-Old Filly Ajina. He entered stud at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, Ky., where he will stand his first year in 2011 for $35,000.

Aiken Trials race will be renamed after late trainer 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 racing 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, conditioning a number of stakes winners and several champi-

ons who trained over the Aiken Training Track. Miller conditioned four national champions including the co-1956 outstanding 2-year-old filly Leallah, the 1966 outstanding grass horse Assagai, the 1969 outstanding grass horse Hawaii and the 1975 Eclipse Award winning grass horse Snow Knight. Among the 72 stakes winners 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 behind the Aiken Trials for many years,” said Mike Fanning, Aiken Trials committee chairman. “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

Miller was a major force behind the Aiken Trials for many years.

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

Shepeard Community Blood Center

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DONATION

SAVES

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Etiquette 101 It 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

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on the rail. 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 racetrack, 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 racetrack 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. F

Triple Crown from the past 1978

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John Reeder holds up his daughter Lauren so she can pet Archie, one of the Aiken County Sheriff’s horses present at Steeplechase. 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 during the Aiken Trials. Two year old Gracie Patterson enjoys a ride in her wagon as she waits to catch a glimpse of the horses.

Aiken is a vibrant equestrian community.

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Natalie Grace Gregory and Christine Hauer watch intently as the horses pass by during the first race of the Aiken Trials.

The Flatland Express Bluegrass band performing at Steeplechase.

Adults enjoy Steeplechase’s stick horse race.

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

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