Aiken, South Carolina is a very special place to live and one of the major reasons that I am here is the Aiken Steeplechase. My family has been racing horses here since before I chose to move here and I owe a great deal of my devotion to the community to the Aiken Steeplechase Association.
The Spring and Fall Races bring the community and visitors together because of the excitement of watching the ability of these magnificent horses and brave riders and the sheer enjoyment of Southern Hospitality. I work for a company that sponsors the races and we work on the planning committees. The proceeds from the events go to different charities that benefit the community.
Steeplechasing is the racing of horses over jumps, or on the turf; historically from church steeple to church steeple, hence the name. The jumps can be brush or timbers with or without water. The sport has an Anglophile connection, but history even puts such races in ancient Rome. The sport can be addictive to watch (and wager on where legal) and when I was growing-up one horse used to count the days until he would race by pawing a strike on his door for each passing day until it was time for him to race.
Nationally, Steeplechasing is a wonderful tradition, a great way to enjoy a day and a vehicle for giving back to your community. The National Steeplechase Association oversees the member races and organizes the race calender, so check and see if there is a race near you. Attending and volunteering at these events even if you are not a horse person is a great way to meet new people and get involved in your community in an exciting way.
[These photos are from the steeplechasing websites]
Cute title. And good info for horse fans. Thanks for posting to Things to Do/Places to Visit group =)
Lisa, thanks for commenting! Our horse races can't beat the speed & horse power you have in Daytona, but it is a bit quieter:)!