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| Carolina Cup flyer Photo cred:www.carolina-cup.org |
If you ask any member of a Greek organization in just about
any Carolina school if they are going to Carolina Cup, chances are they’ll say,
“of course!”
Carolina Cup, the premier event of the spring semester for
Carolina college students, and a time honored South Carolina tradition, returns
Saturday, March 29th in Camden, S.C.
“I assume there are some people who go to the races to see
who actually wins and I’m sure there is some form of gambling,” said Joseph DelGuercio,
an HPU senior and three time Carolina Cup attendee. “But for me, the goal is to spend a sunny Saturday with good
friends and good food and soak in the Southern culture.”
This
annual race draws over 60,000 fans from throughout the Carolinas, to enjoy the
exhilarating sport of steeplechase horse racing amongst a whirlwind of spring
fashions and sophisticated tailgate parties. This event is described by some as one of the most Southern
things that happens in South Carolina.
“Freshman
year, after joining a fraternity and hearing the older brothers talk about
Carolina Cup in the past years,” DelGuercio said. “I knew I had to join the fun
and get a ticket. After getting
wardrobe advice, and buying more food and drink than we needed, we were all
ready for a good time.”
Camden, South Carolina where Carolina Cup is
held every year is a very quiet small town that has become a lovely place to
visit and spend a few days. There
are many historic sites to visit, but traditionally, Camden is all about
horses, something that the town is so rich with history about.
From the beginning, the old race course was
purchased by Henry Kirkover and Ernest Woodward two gentleman from upstate New
York with a common interest in horses, who then renamed it Springdale and sold
it years later to Mrs. Ambrose Clark.
Following to her death the race course was bought by Marion du Pont
Scott.
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| Mid race during last years annual Carolina Cup Photo cred: Delta Sky Magazine |
It was known that Mrs. Scott bred, owned and
was quite passionate about horses all of her life. Besides the race course in Camden she had a horse farm in
Virginia. She had bred and trained
some of the most remarkable winners of the Carolina Cup as well as a horse who
was trained in Camden and then was sent across the pond to win the Grand
National at Aintree, England. A
feat not so easily won.
After Mrs. Scott died, she deeded the
Springdale Race Course to the state of South Carolina with the request that the
land remain solely for equine use.
Along with that, she also left a million dollar endowment. For the course it was a wonderful
gesture that was not ever forgotten.
Springdale Race Course can be found just on the
outskirts of town, and hosts two of the most important steeplechases every
year. The tremendously popular
Carolina Cup in the spring and the esteemed Colonial Cup in the fall. Though Camden is such a small town, more
than 60,000 people show up every year and have a wonderful time at the races.
From the Hospitality Terrace to College Park, no matter where you are, as long as you're at Carolina Cup on Saturday, March 29th, fun times are to be had by all during an afternoon filled with six races, good food and good friends.
What: Carolina Cup
Where: Springdale Race Course, 200 Knights Hill Road, Camden, South Carolina
When: Saturday, March 29, 2024
Tickets: $90
Info: www.carolina-cup.org
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