NEWS
Imperial Cup launches 2010 steeplechasing season
Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 3:40 PM
The National Steeplechase Association’s racing season begins on March 20 with the Aiken Steeplechase card in Aiken, South Carolina.
The day’s card at Aiken is anchored by the $45,000 Budweiser Imperial Cup, a two-mile test over National fences.
The Aiken Steeplechase will offer six races with purses worth a total of $105,000. The meet is one of 19 race meets during the NSA’s spring season.
Ahead of spring racing, NSA President Guy J. Torsilieri and the board of directors are continuing to look at ways to continue steeplechasing’s growth. Torsilieri said increasing purses will be the goal in 2010 and beyond.
He also noted that the sport enjoyed an important expansion last year with streaming videos of races on Internet, “which puts steeplechasing into new markets and positions us to attract new fans.” Also, the NSA inaugurated U.S. Championship day last year. U.S. Championship day offers a televised program of championship-quality racing from Far Hills, New Jersey, and The Plains, Virginia.
Torsilieri also noted that steeplechase racing was added at several of the nation’s flat racetracks, including a one-day meet at Monmouth Park.
“This is an area where we will be seeking to expand opportunities, especially in the Mid-Atlantic region,” Torsilieri said.
NSA spring schedule
|
Race/Meet |
Location |
Date |
|
Aiken Spring |
Aiken, S.C. |
March 20 |
|
Carolina Cup |
Camden, S.C. |
March 27 |
|
Stoneybrook |
Raeford, N.C. |
April 3 |
|
My Lady's Manor |
Monkton, Md. |
April 10 |
|
Block House |
Tyron, N.C. |
April 17 |
|
Grand National |
Butler, Md. |
April 17 |
|
Middleburg |
Middleburg, Va. |
April 17 |
|
Atlanta |
Kingston, Ga. |
April 24 |
|
Foxfield Spring |
Charlottesville, Va. |
April 24 |
|
Maryland Hunt Cup |
Glyndon, Md. |
April 24 |
|
Queen's Cup |
Mineral Springs, N.C. |
April 24 |
|
Virginia Gold Cup |
The Plains, Va. |
May 1 |
|
Winterthur |
Winterthur, Del. |
May 2 |
|
Iroquois |
Nashville, Tenn. |
May 8 |
|
Tanglewood |
Clemmons, N.C. |
May 8 |
|
Willowdale |
Kennett Square, Pa. |
May 9 |
|
Radnor |
Malvern, Pa. |
May 15 |
|
Strawberry Hill |
New Kent, Va. |
May 15 |
|
Fair Hill |
Fair Hill, Md. |
May 29 |
