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Upcoming Events
Due to cancellations for coronavirus, we will update as new dates become available.
October 24
Aiken Fall Steeplechase
Aiken, SC
November 15
Steeplechase of Charleston
Hollywood, SC
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Invite someone to a race. Photo Credit: Times-Union.com |
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President's Message
While things may never be "normal" as we once knew it, we are at least headed in the right direction. Race tracks across the country are coming back to life and sales are starting to take place.
The past three months have been difficult, and we need to be cautious going forward. Thankfully, our four-legged friends have continued to receive excellent care and we looked forward to the days ahead.
Jack Sadler, President
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Racing Across the Nation
As everyone is aware of, stakes opportunities as well as all racing action has been scarce during the pandemic. We did see two graduates of South Carolina training centers cross the finish line first in stakes run on May 16.
Jakarta, a 5-year-old
Bustin Stones mare, was the winner of the Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Second out of the gate, she quickly took the lead and while pressured all the way into the stretch,
Jakarta pulled away inside the 1/8th pole and crossed the finish line 2 ¼ lengths in front. She went through the breaking process at Randy and Kala's Rentz Farm in Ehrhardt, S.C. In 11 lifetime starts, the mare has recorded 6 wins, 2 seconds and a third.
On the same day, also at Gulfstream,
Double Crown recorded his second win in 3 lifetime starts capturing the Roar Stakes. Fourth after the opening ½ mile,
Double Crown made the lead in the upper stretch and would not be denied winning by a ½ length. He is a product of Cary Frommer's breaking operation in Aiken.
With tracks now opening up and resuming racing, we expect this article to be quite a bit lengthier next month!
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Donna Freyer Honored as SheHero
 SheHero is a wbsite that recognizes unsung female heroes in the horse racing world. Each Monday, Maggie Kimmett and Anita Motion feature a woman who works tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to make the horse racing world a better place for horses and people.
On June 1, South Carolina's own Donna Freyer was featured. This is a recognition Donna richly deserves. See
www.shehero.org.
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Dealing with the Pandemic
While the majority of the people in South Carolina have been in some form of lockdown during the pandemic, the farms and training centers have been conducting business with maybe a few minor adjustments.
Bill Gutfarb at the Aiken Training Track reports, "We have had several trainers here who have been unable to reposition their thoroughbreds to northern tracks. One trainer from Woodbine had to ship on a moments notice some weeks ago because he understood that the border was about to close. The Aiken Training Track, in consideration of the hardships of trainers who could not race and pinhookers who could not go to sales
because they were cancelled, reduced the price of training track use by 50%, from $200 per horse per month to $100.
Franklin "Goree" Smith's Elloree Training Center is continuing with business as usual. The operation has not had any COVID-19 issues and the horses continue to train daily.
Arch Kingsley, who has several steeplechase horses in Camden, says while training continues, "The great weather and quite weekends have given us a chance to catch up on the constant job of maintenance on a horse farm."
The pandemic has caused a change in routine for this time of the year at McCutchen Training Center. Debby McCutchen tells us, "While we have continued to function at the training center as usual, our plans to run several of our horses at Keeneland was, of course, not a possibility. Hopefully, we will have some opportunities to participate at Churchill Downs and Colonial Downs."
Marcus and Crystal Ryan have made minor changes to their daily routine at Mason Springs. "We are training nearly as usual - just backed off the track a bit, training in the field and doing hill work since some of them were getting too keen", says Crystal. "While some horses left for turnout, most owners are happy to give their young horses the time they need to develop."
I am sure Crystal Ryan speaks for all when saying, "Thank the good Lord above supplies have still been shipping in!"
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Forty Niner Passes at 35
Forty Niner, the 1987 Eclipse Award 2-Year-Old Champion and very successful sire, died in Japan at the age of 35 - an almost unheard-of age for a Thoroughbred stallion.
This son of
Mr. Prospector was bred and owned by Claiborne Farm. Claiborne was a longtime owner of a stable at the Aiken Training Track.
Forty Niner came to Aiken as a yearling in 1986 and went through the breaking process under the care of David Donk. When he was ready to leave Aiken, Donk sent the colt to Woody Stephens who guided
Forty Niner to 5 wins in 6 starts at 2. During his career,
Forty Niner finished first or second in 16 of 19 starts.
Forty Niner began his stud career at Claiborne Farm in 1989 and stayed there through the 1995 breeding season before being sold to Japanese interests.
Forty Niner sired Belmont Stakes winner
Editor's Note among other Grade I winners including
Ecton Park,
Gold Fever,
Marley Vale and
Nine Keys.
Forty Niner was inducted into the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame on March 18, 1988.
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Racing and Sales Return
Racetracks have resumed or are getting ready to resume racing across the country. Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Charles Town, Golden Gate, Laurel Park, Mountaineer Park, Santa Anita and others are conducting racing spectator free. Racetracks in Louisiana are allowing spectators. Monmouth Park opens July 3. Thank goodness much of this racing can be seen on TV and computers.
Two-year-old sales are also on the radar screen. The Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale will be held June 9-12. The Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale will be held at Timonium on June 29-30 and the OBS sale normally held in June will take place July 14-17.
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The following was recently submitted to
BloodHorse magazine:
I read with interest the Silver Springs Training Center article in the May 23 issues. The article points out the great success Mr. Millard Waldheim's Bwamazon Farm's 2-year-olds achieved over the years at Keeneland in April. Bwamazon owned a barn at the Aiken Training Track from 1962-1983. The Bwamazon yearlings would arrive in Aiken in October and stay until right before the opening of the Keeneland meet in April. Many of the 2-year-olds used the Aiken Trials held in mid-March as a final tune-up for their racing debuts in Kentucky.
During the 1970's and early 80's, Bwamazon had numerous 2-year-olds emerge from Aiken that became juvenile stakes winners including future stallions Well Mannered, To the Quick and T.V. Commercial.
Only four owners have earned a gold pitcher through the Keeneland Milestone Trophy program. One is Bwamazon Farm and another is Will Farish's Lane's End Farm. In the 70's and early 80's Mr. Farish's two year olds were prepared in Camden and shipped to Keeneland to Del Carrol when he came back from Oaklawn in the spring. Upon Carrol's death, the yearlings were sent to Camden well into the '90's under Neil Howard's tutelage. Horses who have spent time in Camden over the years include Battleship, Tom Fool, Hoist the Flag, Damascus, Ruffian, Forego and Go For Wand and more recently Toms d'Etat, Coal Front, Mucho Gusto, Mohaymen and Tamarkuz.
South Carolina is proud of its rich history in preparing young horses for 2-year-old racing.
Jack Sadler
President
SCTOBA
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Foal Photos
Should you have any photos of foals , please share them with us. We love to put smiles on people's faces!!
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It's Time to Renew
We thank you for your past support of SCTOBA and encourage you to renew for 2020 if you have not already. The renewal form can be found on our website -
www.sctoba.org.
Thank you.
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