Next Sunday, May 22nd, will see a happy return to the Kentucky Horse park for the 44th running of the High Hope Steeplechase after a year’s hiatus because of the World Equestrian Games.
A wonderful day out for the whole family, John Nicholson, Executive Director of the Horse Park admitted it’s his favourite day of the year. Not only are there some legitimate races, (eg a $25,000 Maiden Hurdle) but so far the HIgh Hope Steeplechase has raised more than $1.5m for good causes, and this year will benefit Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Secretariat Center, Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital, Kentucky Horse Park Foundation and other local equine charities.
There are lots of ticket options, from general admission trackside parking at $25, preferred taligating $250, a spot in the members pavilion $75 (includes parking, admission, open bar & gourmet lunch), or a corporate entertainment tent for $2,000 – tent admits 40, says admits, not sleeps (!), includes sign and 8 parking passes. I think this is what EN signed up for!
As well as the hurdle races, I’m really looking forward to watching Hall of Fame, two time Kentucky Derby winner Chris McCarron’s North American Racing Academy jockeys ride in their own designated race, the “Catch a Riding Star”, and of course I’ll be cheering extra loudly for Nick Milford who we spoke to way back in February, and who I caught up with briefly this morning.
NARA graduates have gone on to win over 750 races and have purse earnings of over $10million. The NARA race is the final race after which of course there’ll be a rendition of My Old Kentucky Home, so I’ll have to keep my eyes open for Glennyglenn, my 2010 radio show co-host and Horse Radio Network head honcho to see if he’s tearing up in a corner somewhere, gets him every time!
The High Hope is much like a day out at an English point-to-point. There’s drinking and picnics involved, lots of dogs, and of course you may see the odd horse race. There’s a parade of the Woodford Hounds, and lest I forget myself and imagine I am back home in Bicester country, ha ha, there will be a singing of the national anthem, I’m pretty sure that will be the US version after the Presentation of the Colors (note spelling!) before the first race. There’s plenty to keep the kids happy – Cambo the Clown, Arts and Crafts, Hobby Horse Races and Lurcher and Terrier Races (not strictly for kids). The fourth race will be the popular Timber race, the $15,000 Jay Trump Timber, presented by The Friends Of High Hope, and the course is designed by none other than “Wild” Bill Wofford.
Bill brought one of his horses to school around some of the jumps today, and a very good looking horse it was too. Although it’s only been barely a fortnight since Rolex, and we’ve had plenty of rain in the meantime, I was really surprised at how firm the track is already. When the jockeys galloped past us it sounded pretty hard, and it already feels quite unforgiving to walk on compared to ten days ago. The hunters and jumpers who are here for the spring shows are supposed to stay in the infield for hacking, and off the track, but they are mainly a law unto themselves, and one jumper inadvertently nearly got caught up in the race whilst walking his horse back to the barns unawares along the steeplechase track! I was very happy to meet Bill briefly while he was waiting for his horse to come back, and I now have an inkling of why they call him “wild” Bill!
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Thanks to Wild Bill, and to Nick Milford for talking to me, and thank you as always for reading. I can’t wait for all the fun next sunday; please do come out and enjoy the day if you’re even halfway local, it’s terrific fun, and supports lots of good causes. Go steeplechasing, eventing, and Animal Kingdom!
