Daniel Island’s Horse Racing Links
on October 6th, 2011 at 1:46 pm
Steeplechase races are a Southern tradition, and Charleston, South Carolina, has a long history of horseracing, dating back to the 1700s. But since 2003, those interested in watching a live horse race in South Carolina had to travel to Aiken or Camden. This year, the races have returned to the Lowcountry with the 18th running of the Charleston Cup slated for November 13, 2011, at the Plantation at Stono Ferry in the Charleston County town of Hollywood. The event will feature three races with jumps and one flat race. Stono Ferry began hosting horse races in 1986, but they were discontinued in 2003.
According to the Post and Courier, downtown Charleston had a popular racetrack that operated for more than 100 years from 1792 until 1900. The one-mile track surrounding today’s Hampton Park was known as the Washington Course and hosted the February Race Week event.
Daniel Island’s connection to horse racing is traced with another newspaper article: “Dark Star Wins Kentucky Derby in Upset,” read a May 1953 News and Courier headline. The owner of Dark Star was none other than Harry Guggenheim, founder of the New York Racing Association and longtime owner and winter resident of Daniel Island. During the Depression era, Guggenheim entered into thoroughbred racing as Falaise Stable. Later, inspired by the Native American or Gullah (possibly a corruption of “cain hay”) name of his Daniel Island plantation, Guggenheim renamed Falaise the Cain Hoy Stables.
Cain Hoy Stables had horseracing and breeding facilities in Columbia, SC, and Kissimmee, FL. By 1959, Cain Hoy Stables was the leading earnings-winner of all American owners, taking $742,081 for the year. Guggenheim sold the operation in 1970, just a year before his death.
Anyone in the Daniel Island area interested in equestrian events can check out Brick Church Farm, a boarding and training facility that shows horses locally and nationally. They are located at 1131 Wando Road, north of Daniel Island in the midst of the Francis Marion National Forest.
For those planning to attend the November 13 Charleston Cup steeplechase races, event details can be found at: charlestoncup.net
Resources:
1. Racing tradition returns at full gallop
2. Dark Star Wins Kentucky Derby in Upset
3. Captain Harry And His Cain Hoy Stable
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Since you mentioned my birth year of 1953, I couldn’t help but comment. I did not read that “News” and Courier story, of course, but can imagine the stir it made. Thanks for the read.
Thanks for the note. Glad you enjoyed. Charleston has so much interesting history.