While only a few South Carolina training center graduates found themselves in the winner’s circle following Stakes races during the October 20 to November 20 period, Randy and Kala Rentz claimed both. Bold Fortune won the New York Breeder’s Futurity at Finger Lakes and The Boy’s Warrior proved best in the Mark McDermott Stakes at Presque Isle Downs both races being on October 21. Bold Fortune broke sharply, immediately taking the lead and never looked back. He led by 3 lengths halfway through this six furlong race and extended his lead in the stretch crossing the finish line 7 ¾ lengths in front. In three career starts, this 2-year-old Central Banker gelding has 2 wins and a third with earnings of $151,270.

In the Mark McDermott Stakes, The Boy’s Warrior set the pace while racing on the inside. He maintained a ½ length lead for the first half-mile before sprinting clear in the stretch winning by 4 lengths. The Boy’s Warrior is undefeated in 3 career starts and already is a 2 time Stakes winner having won the Whistle Pig Stakes at PARX on September 21. He has accumulated $142,200 in earnings.

Return of Colonial Cup

The Colonial Cup returned to the Springdale Race Course in Camden, SC on November 17. The weather was nice and a large crowd witnessed the running of five hurdle races and an apprentice rider flat race.

The program began with a Maiden Hurdle race captured by Madaket’s Arrow, owned by Daigneault Thoroughbred LLC, trained by Kate Dalton and ridden by her husband Bernie. The Daltons are SCTOBA members. In her second race over jumps, Madaket’s Arrow was prominent throughout winning by 1 ½ lengths.

The Raymond Woolfe Memorial Stakes was taken by Matthew T. Groff’s Brie’s Mission, trained by Jack Fisher and ridden by Graham Walters. Brie’s Mission took the lead following the 6th of 10 fences and proved much the best crossing the finish line 7 ¾ lengths in front. This was his first win over hurdles. The third race, a Starter Allowance, was won by Hard Game LLC’s L’Avvocato by a ½ length in a hard-fought effort. L’Avvocato is trained by Jack Fisher and was ridden by Evan Dwan.

The feature race of the day, the $150,00 The Colonial Cup-G1, was run as the fourth race. The field was composed of the country’s best jump horses. Too Friendly had only one beat after 2 miles. During the final ¼ mile, he worked his way up and jumped the last fence with two others then reached the finish line a ½ length in front. He is owned by Irvin S. Naylor, trained by Leslie Young and was ridden by Jamie Bargary.

The final hurdle race of the day, the $72,000 The Hobkirk Hill, also was captured by an Irvin Naylor-owned horse, the mare, Gold Charm. This was her third win in a row. Gold Charm trailed the field for the first mile, then gradually advanced and took the lead right after the final fence. She drew clear to win by 5 ¾ lengths. Gold Charm is trained by Cyril Murphy and was ridden by Gerard Galligan.

The final race of the day was a flat race ridden by apprentice riders. Holey Moley, ridden by Brian Barry, proved best by 1 ¾ lengths. Holey Moley is owned by Paul Wells and trained by Barry Foley.

Aiken Fall Steeplechase Run Under Sunny Skies

The 31st Running of the Aiken Fall Steeplechase took place on November 23. Due to the cancellation of the Steeplechase of Charleston on November 10, the original 5 race program was expanded to 7 events over jumps.

The first race, a Maiden Claiming event, was captured by Cant Catch Camacho by 1 ½ lengths. Cant Catch Comaccho is owned by Go Poke the Bear Syndicate, trained by Leslie Young and was ridden by Jamie Bargary. SCTOBA Board member, Marsha Hewitt, is a participant in this ownership group.

In the second race, a Ratings Handicap, we saw an exciting finish with Sawbuck Racing’s Bellarmine Hall outdueling others approaching the wire and winning by a neck. Trained by Liam Burke, Bellarmine Hall was ridden by Paddy O’Hanlon.

The team of SCTOBA members, trainer Kate Dalton and jockey Bernie Dalton’s charge, China Beach, proved best in a Maiden Hurdle event by 3 ½ lengths. China Beach is owned by St. Rita Racing. In another Maiden Hurdle race, James B. Steele’s King of the Kids found his way to the winner’s circle winning by 1 ¾ lengths. Ridden by Harrison Beswick, this 5-year-old son of Lemon Drop Kid is trained by Cyril Murphy.

The fifth race was also a Ratings Handicap. This race had a very competitive stretch run with Daniel R. Barker’s Decisive Triumph earning a hard-fought victory by a ½ length. He was ridden by Dan Nevin and is trained by Mark Beecher. The Alston Cup, an Allowance race, also had a tight finish with Mrs. S. K. Johnston Jr.’s Smart Uncle leading the field past the finish line by a ½ length. Jack Fisher saddled Smart Uncle and gave Graham Watters a leg up into the saddle.

The final race of the day was the feature, the $50,000 The Holiday Cup. SCTOBA member Virginia Lazenby’s Del Rio Racing’s Little Trilby went right to the front opening up a lengthy lead. He was never threatened and galloped home a 21 length winner.

The Aiken Fall Steeplechase was the final meet of the 2024 National Steeplechase Association schedule. The 2025 season will start in Aiken next March.

Photo credit: Post and Courier

Heart of the Turf in Aiken

The Keeneland Library’s exhibit, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers is being featured at the Aiken Racing Thoroughbred Hall of Fame and Museum starting December 4 and running through January 17. The traveling exhibit, developed and shared by the Keeneland Library, highlights the lives and careers of 100 African American horsemen and women from the mid-1800’s to the present. One-of-a-kind photographs from the Keeneland Library collections capture moments across their varied careers, while biographical vignettes honor their lasting legacies.

From racetrack superstars to behind-the-scenes caretackers, The Heart of the Turf: Racing’s Black Pioneers showcases select stories of the countless African Americans who forged their way in Kentucky and beyond from the era of slavery to the present, making the racing industry what it is today. The Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum is open from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. On Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

Debut Winners

Donna Freyer and Travis Durr recently saw former students win their debut races. Points is Points, a 3-year-old daughter of Constitution, who was developed for her racing career by Freyer, broke her maiden at Keeneland on October 25 by 1 ½ lengths. She is owned by SCTOBA member Stuart Grant’s The Elkstone Group LLC.

Heck of a Bust, a 3-year-old filly by Bustin Stones, won first time out by a length at Finger Lakes on November 6. She is a graduate of the Travis Durr Training Center. Another graduate, Her Laugh, a 2-year-old daughter of Practical Joke, proved best in her racing debut at Churchill Downs on November 17 by a hard-fought head. Durr has had 12 first time start winners this year.

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