NEWS
Houghland, guiding force of Iroquois Steeplechase, dead at 93
Posted: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 7:09 PM
Calvin Houghland, one of steeplechasing’s most prominent patrons, died on October 27 at his Bright Hour Farm home in Brentwood, Tennessee. He was 93.
Houghland was a founder of the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation, the governing body of the prestigious Iroquois Steeplechase at Percy-Warner Park in Nashville. The feature race is the Iroquois Hurdle Stakes, which considered a Grade 1 event by the National Steeplechase Association.
Houghland won the Iroquois Hurdle Stakes as a jockey in 1943 on Frederick II and five times as an owner, including this year’s edition with Pierrot Lunaire, who won by three lengths. Houghland also captured the race with Local Run in 1958 and ’61, with Hidden Chance in ’64, and All Gong (GB) in 2002.
All Gong was one of Houghland best runners. He won the 2002 Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase at Far Hills, New Jersey, en route to the Eclipse Award as champion steeplechaser that season. All Gong also won the 2000 Coca-Cola/UPS Atlanta Cup Hurdle Stakes
Houghland, an inductee into the Iroquois Steeplechase Hall of Fame in 2008, was the 2005 recipient of the National Steeplechase Association’s Chairman’s Award, which recognized him as the person who had made the most significant contribution to steeplechasing in the U.S.
Houghland was an ardent sportsman, world traveler, and philanthropist, who was known for being kind and giving. He was the grantor and trustee of the Houghland Foundation for the benefit of local and national charities.
