Last Chance

This is of upmost importance: The South Carolina Equine Advancement Act will come before the State Senate in April. We need your help to pass this Bill. Please contact your State Senator to ask for their support for our equine industry. Visit www.scstatehouse.gov.

On February 19, Yankee Dollar recorded her second career Stakes winning the Molly P Stakes for the second year in a row at Turf Paradise. Yankee Dollar stalked the leaders from the inside before moving out to the six path in the stretch. In a hard drive, she reached the wire a head in front. On March 14, she captured her second Stakes win in a row finishing first in the Queen of the Green Stakes also at Turf Paradise. Yankee Dollar followed the same path pressing the leaders from the inside before angling out and running them down in the stretch crossing the finish line 1 ¾ lengths in front. Yankee Dollar was prepared for racing by Wes Carter in Bamberg, SC.

On March 2, Camaro Z, a 3-year-old son of Liam’s Map, proved best in a hard fought battle to the wire in the Black Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds. Camaro Z had to force his way through heavy traffic at the three- sixteenths pole, then battled to the wire with another and won by a neck. Camaro Z was prepared for his racing career by Cary Frommer in Aiken before being sold at the Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2023.

Lonesome Boy proved much the best in the City of Brotherly Love Stakes at PARX on March 5. This 3-year- old colt by Nationhood learned his early lessons from Randy and Kala Rentz at their training center in Erhardt, SC. In this Stakes, Lonesome Boy pressed the leader before taking control at the top of the stretch and drawing away crossing the finish line 6 ¾ lengths in front.

Photo credit: Barry Bornstein/Aiken Standard

Racing Action Returns

The sun was shining and an enthusiasm for racing filled the air as the 81st Running of the Aiken Trials took place on March 16. Four Thoroughbred trials were held – two for 2-year-olds and two for older horses.

The first Trial, The Coward Trophy was won by Belle of the South, a 2-year-old filly owned by Steve Bacon, trained by Brad Stauffer and ridden by Kat Hogan. Chado won The Gaver Trophy. This 2-yer-old filly is owned by SCTOBA Board member Debby McCutchen, trained by her husband, Bobby, and was ridden by Brody Durr, son of SCTOBA members Travis and Ashley Durr. These 2-year-old Trials are a great experience for young horses headed to Keeneland.

The City of Aiken Trophy for older horses was won by R. Marie Farms LLC’s He is Bonafide, trained by Rebecca Hurt and was ridden by Kathleen Wilson. The last Trial of the day, The Iselin Hall of Fame Trophy, was captured by Young Racing Stable’s Tiz the Prince, trained by Bill Allyn and ridden by Lizzie Quinn. This colt will soon head to New York to race at Aqueduct.

Elloree Trials Returns

After taking last year off, the Elloree Trials returned this year. This event was held at Franklin “Goree” Smith’s Elloree Training Center.

Once again, the 59th running of the Elloree Trials gave ample evidence that South Carolinians do indeed love horse racing by what appeared to be a record crowd in attendance on March 23.

Fans witnessed six exciting and competitive races while enjoying partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures.

A Trial was held for 2-year-old fillies and one for colts. The filly division was won by Debby McCutchen’s Vodka With a Twist, trained by Debby’s son, Jason. The filly was ridden by Demetrius Chandler. The colt division was captured by El Mayo, owned by Rodrigo Preciado. Travis Durr saddled El Mayo and Demitrius Chandler gained his second win for the day.

Following these races were three Trials for 3-year-old Maidens. Maintain proved best in the first. Maintain is owned by Walker McCutchen and trained by Jason McCutchen, his second win for the day. The horse was ridden by Brody Durr. In the next race, Shuler Stables’ Sweet Windsor finished first. Trained by Robbie Shuler, Sweet Windsor was ridden by Lamont Smalls. In the fifth Trial of the day, Dream Leader crossed the finish line first. Dream Leader is owned by Brian Griffith, trained by Cody Durr and was ridden by Robby Ranson.

The feature of the day, the Elloree Cup, was a Durr family affair. The winner, Academic Affair, is owned by Mason Durr and was prepared for this race by Travis Durr and ridden by Travis’ son Brody.

Aiken Spring Steeplechase Kicks Off NSA Season

While the rain was heavy at times Friday night, Saturday, March 23, had clear skies and plenty of breeze for the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. This meet kicked off the 2024 National Steeplechase Association season. A flat race began the day, five steeplechase events run at 2 1/8 miles over National Hurdles followed. The crowd exceeded 25,000 setting a record attendance.

The training flat race, The James W. Maloney, was captured by Hidden Path, Upland Flats Racing, trained by Richard Hendriks and ridden by Harrison Beswick. The first race over jumps, The G. W. Bostwick, was for Maidens and the winner was Secret Soulmate. He is owned by Thomas Rice and was saddled by Leslie Young. The jockey was Jamie Bargary.

Frank Mullins, President of the Aiken Steeplechase Association, found himself in the winner’s circle following The Charles S. Bird III, an overnight handicap. Along with Jordan Wycoff, he owns Clara Bell, who beat the boys. Clara Bell is trained by Keri Brion and was ridden by Bernie Dalton.

The winner of the Ford D. Conger, another Maiden hurdle race, Chef D’Etat, is owned by SCTOBA member Pierre Manigault’s Hurricana Farm and is trained by SCTOBA member Arch Kingsley. Chef D’Etat was ridden to victory by Parker Hendriks. The wife and husband team of Kate and Bernie Dalton (also SCTOBA members) train and rode the winner of The Joe R. Blanchard, a Maiden hurdle race. Haint Blue is owned by Layton Register.

In the feature race of the day, the $35,000 The Imperial Cup, West Newton proved best. The team of Upland Flats Racing, Richard Hendriks and Harrison Beswick combined for the win, their second victory of the day.

Carolina Cup Takes Place Before Large Crowd

The Carolina Cup ran for the 89th time at Springdale Racecourse in Camden before close to 40,000 fans on March 30. Five races were held over National Hurdles. The day ended with a training race over the flat.

The day began with a Maiden Claiming race over jumps won by the Arch Kingsley-trained Sherkali, owned by Pierre Manigault’s Hurricana Farm. He finished 2 lengths in front. Both Kingsley and Manigault are SCTOBA members. Sherkali was ridden by Parker Hendriks.

The second race, a Maiden Hurdle event, was captured by the George Laird-trained and Clark Ohrstrom-owned Lightning Rod. He won by a length under Gerard Galligan. In a hard-fought stretch drive, Feeling Festive beat Snow Geese to the wire in another Maiden race by a ½ length. Arch Kingsley saddled his second winner of the day. Richard Colton is the owner and Parker Hendriks was in the saddle for his second win.

The fourth race of the day was a Ratings Handicap and Tease and Seize, also ridden by Gerard Galligan, was much the best crossing the finish line 19 ½ lengths in front. Tease and Seize is trained by SCTOBA member, Richard Valentine and owned by Mrs. George Ohrstrom, Jr.

The feature race of the day, The Carolina Cup, was captured by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners’ Abaan by 2 ¼ lengths. Abaan was a multiple Stakes winner on the flat before moving over to the jump circuit last August. Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners formed a merger with Dogwood Stable in 2013 and continues to maintain an office in Aiken. Abaan has won three in a row over hurdles including two Stakes after finishing second in his debut over jumps. He has been excellently prepared by SCTOBA member Kate Dalton and ridden in each of his starts by Kate’s husband, Bernie.

The day concluded with a flat race. Bernie Dalton quickly got back in the saddle to guide St. Rita Racing’s China Beach to victory. Ted Thompson is the trainer.

Done Talking Sired Six Recent Winners

Done Talking, who stands at Goree Smith’s Elloree Training Center, is the sire of six recent South Carolina-bred winners. Four of these wins occurred at Laurel Park.

Stop the Cap was best in his race on March 9, Voodoo Priestess the next day, Walk Away Joe on March 17 and Homecoming Joe on the same day. Stop the Cap was bred by Greg Smith and trained by his uncle, Hamilton. Voodoo Priestess and

Homecoming King are owned by Goree and trained by Hammy.



On February 22, Miss Fussy Pants won an Allowance race at Mahoning Valley and Tilted Tiara won at Penn National on February 29.