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DEL.ICIO.USSteeplechase spiced by keen competition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Georgia’s romance with thoroughbred racing has been more a one-day tryst than a romance. Once a year, in a pasture near Rome, bearing the regal name of Kingston Downs, it takes place Saturday. This is the third home of Atlanta Steeplechase, first on a bend in the Chattahoochee River; then on John Wayt’s farm on Bethel Church Road, and now, finally settled in this rolling spread in a bend of the Etowah River. Home at last.
This has been going on since 1966, cheerily advertising itself as a “lawn party.” And, in truth, it is. Such fun. Terrier races, pig races, outlandish hat contest, rock climbing, petting zoo, all the stuff you’d expect at the county fair. And the racing of some of America’s finest hurdling thoroughbreds.
Now to the nuts and bolts of it all. What doesn’t come clear to most Georgians is that this is not just a one-day gambol in the grass. This is one in a series of national steeplechase races that began in Little Everglades, in Florida, a month ago, then continued through Camden and Aiken in South Carolina, cozy havens for thoroughbred runners since the time Yankees first came south for the waters and the pine fragrance. The races are capital events in the economic status of these resorts, and to give you just one glimpse of that, race day in Camden seven years ago drew 71,000 spectators.
Steeplechase has been the foundation of horse racing as we know it today. It began in Ireland, when one horse owner challenged another to race his steed from one church steeple to another over all the hedgerows and such obstacles in between. Horses aren’t bred for steeplechase. Usually, they happen. Most of them are too slow and too bulky for flat racing, and there are horses that like to jump over things, like kids. On the other hand, some of them have been successful on the flat track, then switched to the jumps as they aged.
One coming out this year named Alumni Hall earned over $750,000 in flat racing, and some have been stakes winners. One of them will be running in the Georgia Cup, the $75,000 feature Saturday at Kingston. His name is Riddle, a 6-year-old gelding — nearly all are geldings — and Jody Petty, who jockeyed McDynamo to the Eclipse Award last year will be in the saddle.
The winner of the Georgia Cup last year will not be back to defend. Quem se Atreve, a Brazilian import, running in the colors of Sarah Lyn Stable, has developed into a major contender, and was leading into the stretch at Aiken last month when he fell and is on the mend. The 7-year-old was a late developer, and surprisingly so. Hence a field of five will go to the post Saturday, Seafaring Man, Bow Strada, Mark the Shark, The Looper and the aforementioned Riddle. There’s little to go on this early in the season, but the two favorites are likely to be Riddle and Mark the Shark, who won two allowances and finished third in a graded stake last year.
Now, that I know passes over the all-time champion trainer of jumpers, and at the Atlanta meet, Jonathan Sheppard, and it is never safe to go against Sheppard here. He’ll have a horse in all six of the races, and in the Georgia Cup he sends out Seafaring Man, 8-year-old gelding with Danielle Hodsdon, leading rider of the spring, in the irons. He’ll be kindly weighted, carrying only 142 pounds, including Ms. Hodsdon, but so will all the others except Bow Strada, a British import carrying 150 pounds.
Sheppard has trained the winners of more than $11 million on the steeplechase circuit, winner of five features in Atlanta. (He has saddled 172 jumpers here.) And has been successful in flat racing as well. But it is the steeplechase that has been his breadwinner. “If it weren’t for the Atlanta Steeplechase,” he once said, “I’d have to get a job.”
He did once have a “job.” He was an accountant back in England, tied to a desk and hating it. “So one day I just got up and walked out and got into horse racing,” he said. A delightfully affable gentleman who will be receiving a special honor before the races, as will Dr. John Griggs, a longtime successful breeder and racer from Kentucky. Let the party begin and the races be run.
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Comments
By Retire you coot
April 13, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this
“It’s never safe to go against Shepard here” Gee Really. He only runs his horses at prestigious meets like Saratoga and is widely considered one of the top Jumper Trainers in the US.
Here’s a similar quality handicapping tip - The Sun will rise tomorrow morning.
Thanks as always or a history lesson and absolutely no perspective on the event you “cover”
By Comedy Girl
April 13, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this
I think it is a very interesting article. I have not yet been to the Steeplechase and it’s nice to learn about new things. Based on the weather forecast for tomorrow, I’m glad I’m not going, but there is always next year. Nice article, Mr. Bisher.
By Techfan
April 13, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Because everyone who reads this article is obviously and completely well-versed in the history of thoroughbred racing and the Steeplechase, right?
I, for one, have heard about this event from my friends for years and always wondered what it was about. Thanks for an insightful article.
By Elliot
April 13, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
This event is about drinking heavily….nothing less, nothing more….