New steeplechase venue will offer more tailgating spaces, new amenities

Sep. 20—After being canceled for two consecutive years because of concerns about the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase is scheduled to be conducted again on March 26 of next year.

It will be the first horse racing event held at the Aiken Steeplechase Association's new venue, which is bounded by Rudy Mason Parkway, Old Wagener Road and Richland Avenue East.

During the Rotary Club of Aiken's meeting Monday at Newberry Hall, the Steeplechase Association's event manager, Jessica Miller, talked about what the new facility would be like for patrons and when they would be getting more information about the 2022 Spring Steeplechase.

Its site is larger than the former one at the Aiken Horse Park Foundation's Bruce's Field — approximately 140 acres compared to about 65.

And the racecourse will be a tri-oval instead of an oval.

The new venue will have "close to 100 additional railside parking spots," Miller said. "We have tripled the number of second row spots, and we've also tripled the number of infield and outfield tailgating spots."

Longtime holders of reserved spaces soon will learn where their spots will be in the new venue.

Because of the difference in the racecourse's configuration, "our plan is to do a retrofit of the spaces from the old track to the new," Miller said. "We plan to keep you next to your neighbors you've had for years, and you'll be notified in early December regarding your new space number and the placement of your spot in the new facility. We are going to do our best to give you a comparable view to what you had at the old facility."

In addition, a list of prices will be made public soon.

"There will be some changes, but we're looking to continue making it affordable for everyone to attend," Miller said.

Replacing the traditional Guarantor Tent Party will be an area that will be known as the Guarantor Terrace. It will include private terrace boxes that will be 12 feet by 25 feet.

Also in the plans are a tent for young professionals, a VIP tent with reserved tables near the finish line and a corporate tailgating area with 20 spaces.

There will be four entrances to the new venue. The Red Gate ]will be on Richland Avenue East. The Yellow Gate and the Blue Gate will be on Old Wagener Road. And the Green Gate will be on Rudy Mason Parkway.

The Red Gate will be the main access point.

The new venue also will have a zone where racing fans can be dropped off and picked up.

During her presentation, Miller showed a master plan that Johnson, Laschober & Associates of Augusta prepared for the Steeplechase Association.

In January 2020, the Steeplechase Association purchased the property for the new venue for $2.112 million.

The removal of trees and undergrowth began the next month in preparation for phase one of the construction process.

Much of the work in that initial phase has been completed.

The primary focus is to build "what we need to have" for the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and the Aiken Fall Steeplechase to be conducted, Miller said.

That means some of the amenities included in the master plan won't be constructed until later.

One of those is an office that would allow the Steeplechase Association to move from its current headquarters at the Aiken Training Track.

Miller told the Rotary Club that the Steeplechase Association wants to do more than hold horse races at its new venue.

"As an organization, we are evolving, and we are looking to run multiple other events throughout the year," she added.

The Steeplechase Association will partner with other organizations and also will organize some events on its own. They could include concerts, festivals, outdoor movie nights and charitable fundraising efforts similar to Relay for Life.

An oyster roast, with live music, is scheduled for Nov. 19, and a Kentucky Derby watch party is planned next year for May 7.

The new venue will have a multipurpose field where polo matches, soccer matches and school field days can be held, Miller said.

Eventually, a complex with a permanent tower for horse racing officials, a pavilion and maybe even a kitchen will be built.

The Steeplechase Association could "rent out" the complex for weddings and other special events, Miller said.

Steeplechase Association President Paul Sauerborn also spoke during the Rotary Club's meeting.

For more information about the Steeplechase Association, call 803-648-9641 or visit aikensteeplechase.com.