The Marion du Pont Scott Colonial Cup is a perennial favorite in the fall in South Carolina. As the final race on the US Steeplechase racing circuit, the Colonial Cup often decides which horse, owner, trainer and rider wins the coveted Eclipse Award.
The 42nd annual running of this famous race will be celebrated on Saturday November 19 at Springdale Race Course, Camden along with a special Salute to our Troops tribute. To honor the men and women in uniform, 3,000 free general admission tickets and 500 Infield Reserved Parking spaces are being given away on a first-come, first-serve basis, to active and retired military.
The gates open at 9am, and the Pre-Race Show starts at 11am and features the Carolina Skydiving Team jumping the course with giant American flags, an official Swearing In Ceremony on the race course of US Army recruits, and patriotic music.
It is a day for families, tradition, and fun including tailgating, Jack Russell Terrier races, a carousel, exotic animal petting zoo, military equipment displays, the Buffalo Soldiers, and the Paddock Shoppes retail village.
Post time for the first race is 12:30pm, there are six races, with 35-40 minutes between each.
The Colonial Cup, first run in 1970, was created to encourage and promote international racing at Springdale Race Course. The Carolina Cup Racing Association, a non-profit organization, relies on the Carolina Cup (in March) and the Colonial Cup races to fulfill its mission of operating Springdale Race Course as both an equestrian and tourism center. Springdale Race Course, owned by the state of South Carolina, is a world-renowned, 600-acre European style Thoroughbred racehorse training center that operates year-round and is home to Hall of Fame trainers Jonathan Sheppard and Janet Elliot. Famous equine residents have included Flat Top, Storm Cat, Forever Together, Zacchio and Ruffian.
For more information, please call 803-432-6513 or 800-780-8117 and visit www.carolina-cup.org.
For more information about top events in South Carolina take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in South Carolina.