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National Steeplechase Museum – America’s jump race repository, and a national treasure
The 90th Carolina Cup is star of the show in one of dozens of rotating exhibits at this Camden, South Carolina
town landmark
| | Being in steeplechase sometimes feels a little like being part of a living history museum diorama, anyway. Meet the brains, the brawn and the sponsors behind the National Steeplechase Museum. | | |
The horse has dominated the Camden, South Carolina landscape for more than 200 years, with thousands of acres dedicated exclusively for riding, showing, training, schooling and racing.
There's no place more natural for a museum dedicated to American steeplechase.
Two transplanted New York sportsmen, Harry Kirkover and Ernest Woodward formalized the ongoing relationship between Camden and jump racing when they created the Springdale racecourse in the late 1920s.
The inaugural Carolina Cup meet was held in 1930.
Saturday welcomes the 90th running of the Carolina Cup races, long considered a rite of spring in this small town a half-hour northeast of the state capital – and home to the University of South Carolina. Thousands of students, Camden residents and the region’s horse racing fans will converge on the historic Springdale racecourse for the March 29 event. (find the entries HERE)
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Marion duPont Scott purchased Springdale in 1954; she added a fall meet, the Colonial Cup in 1970.
A long line of active steeplechase horsemen and women have long managed the expansive course – used as a year-round training center as well as the two race meets, and have operated the National Steeplechase Museum located at the top of the Springdale backstretch.
Today, Springdale is managed by the Carolina Cup Racing Association, headed by Toby Edwards who also acts as executive director of the museum.
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The NSM opened in 1998, created to foster public interest and educate the broadest possible audience through public events, interactive exhibits, artwork and publications.
The original building was a simple two-room structure purportedly moved from Marion duPont Scott’s Camden house, Holly Hedge.
Preservation architect Henry D. Boykin II designed an addition reflective of turn-of-the-century style so prevalent in the small southern town.
The white clapboard building houses both the Carolina Cup Racing Association and the National Steeplechase Museum.
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A life-size bronze statue of Hall of Fame champion Lonesome Glory flanks the flagstone walkway to greet visitors entering the complex from the parking area. The five-time horse of the year is buried near the statue. (photo courtesy of NSM)
Behind a small pond, several national fence hurdles are set up for visitors to get a hands-on measure of the height, width and flexibility of the official National Steeplechase Association obstacles.
The view as soon as you enter the building reaches through the expansive meeting room to a panoramic look out French doors to the Springdale course. A display of ‘chase champion owners’ silks encircles the room.
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The silks of champions - whose do you recognize?
(photo courtesy of NSM)
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Exhibits on side walls depict the history of ‘chasing in Ireland and England and its evolution in America. In the reception area, visitors can continue the ‘chase immersion experience and step on an old-fashioned jockey scale or take a spin on a modern Equiciser.
Scattered throughout are memorabilia of American ‘chase titlists, from the halter of Rowdy Irishman and trophies won by Flatterer to the Eclipse Awards of Zaccio.
George Strawbridge Jr. is credited with this area’s sponsorship. Each of the museum’s rooms is underwritten by titans of the turf.
The media room, named for Irv Naylor, houses a collection of videos of past races from England, Ireland and the U.S. Visitors can watch film shorts on Springdale history and select from dozens of others.
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Too Friendly (GB), owned by Mr. Irvin S. Naylor, won the 49th Running of the Colonial Cup in November 2024. This marks Mr. Naylor's third Colonial Cup win, joining Tax Ruling in 2011 and Dawalan (FR) in 2015. The Naylor silks are displayed with the Colonial Cup at the NSM.
(from the NSM Facebook page)
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The Victorian Hill trophy room, sponsored by owners Bill and Renee Lickle, houses the original Carolina Cup – forged in Ireland in 1704, and the Colonial Cup – crafted in England in the 1800s.
The Bobby Davis memorial library is dedicated to the late rider and trainer gifted by the Davis family, Dr. and Mrs. M. Nixon Ellis. John Van Holland Davis III, who couldn’t remember why he acquired the name Bobby, rode races from 1927 until 1947 and then trained horses until 1983, when he retired to spend the rest of his days in Camden. He trained three winners of the Carolina Cup.
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The library (left, NSM photo) is adorned by bronzes and 19 Paul Brown watercolors from the English Grand National in the 1930s. A large collection of steeplechasing and foxhunting volumes fills a massive bookcase, including one-of-a-kind books from England and Ireland and extensive racing and breeding records.
Curator Wesley Faulkenberry says exhibits throughout the museum change regularly. “We're opening our newest one, ‘Chasing Traditions,’ this Friday,” Faulkenberry says. The exhibit centers around the meet’s 90th anniversary running, and includes a cocktail reception.
Faulkenberry says tickets are still available.
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Headed to the races on Saturday? Celebrate at the National Steeplechase Museum on Friday evening! | | | |
The exhibit will be moved to Springdale, set up al fresco in the Paddock Shoppes near the grandstand Saturday.
Other new exhibits include the Montpelier Hunt Races and Pennsylvania Hunt Cup to celebrate; both exhibits will travel to those fall meets later this year.
“In addition to the exhibits, we're doing a Carolina Cup memories project to get people to share their favorite cup memories to preserve,” Faulkenberry says. Everyone that submits a race memory will be entered to win a Colonial Cup tailgate package to the 50th running in November.
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Stop by the museum tent in the paddock shoppes on race day to see the new exhibit, and while you're there, don't miss out on the tailgating package raffle. (From the NSM Facebook page) | | | |
"The museum really is a feather in Camden's cap, and is a great resource for anyone in steeplechasing," says Springdale director Toby Edwards. "Whether you've been in jumping your whole life or have never heard of steeplechasing, it's worth visiting to learn more about our sport.
"I support the museum as a member, and encourage all horsemen to do the same."
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday, other times by appointment. No admission is charged, but donations to the non-profit organization are appreciated.
The museum can be rented for events and gatherings, from large, tented receptions on the back lawn to private dinners, weddings, even morning yoga classes taught during training hours with horses on the turf gallops as a backdrop.
A special backstretch tour and private guided museum tour can be arranged, free for museum members, $20 for non-members. Find more at steeplechasemuseum.org.
| | From yoga to weddings - the Steeplechase Museum is available for event rentals. | | | | |
