Credit: A. P. (Tony) Gouge, AP Gouge Photography
Pony racing kicked off the spring Saturday, March 14th at the Aiken Trials in Aiken, South Carolina. But first, a pony racing clinic was hosted the prior evening, March 13th, at the Whitney Polo Field in Aiken to ensure all participants knew the drill. The Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation sponsored the educational event that focused on safety, strategy, and race riding basics. Led by Hall of Fame trainer Janet Elliot and National Steeplechase Association trainer Allison Fulmer, approximately 30 juniors gathered for the experience. Clinic attendance was required for all new pony/rider combinations who have not raced in a U.S. Pony Racing event before. The group was treated to a BBQ dinner hosted by the Aiken Trials.
On Saturday, 34 pony and young rider entries headed to the start for the 3rd running of the Aiken Pony Derby. “This is the third year the Trials have offered pony races, which has added greatly to our event,” said pony race chair and Aiken resident, Wendy Gutfarb. “The pony races have been a spectator favorite and something you hear folks talk about out and about in town. We are very excited to work with U.S. Pony Racing to bring pony racing to the South.”
The day opened with three lead line trot divisions and Christopher McElyea aboard Wellington, Emmo Graf Grote aboard Simply Too Cute, and Cameron Cary Nuese aboard Kula Kai took home their first trophy. Next, Taylor Kingsley rode her first winner of the day in the large pony flat race in a nine pony field. Noelle Railey captured the small and Shetland pony divisions aboard Funsize and Carroway Tuesday. Jockey Taylor Smith also broke his maiden aboard Kiss My Sass in the medium pony flat against four other entries. And Kingsley closed out the Trials with her second win on the day aboard retired NSA campaigner Odi Et Amo in the young rider flat.
“The Aiken pony races have grown exponentially since their inception in 2018. Entries in the first running were largely from the mid-Atlantic area, but this year only seven entries shipped in from the north. U.S. Pony Racing is excited to be a part of helping popularize pony racing in the southern region and we hope for an even bigger response next year. We could not have done this without the help of Jenna Isennock and Alison Fulmer. And the Aiken Trials get huge kudos for being very welcoming to the young riders,” said U.S. Pony Racing founder and director, Regina Welsh.
Amidst the COVID-19 situation... USPR hopes to hold the Chasin' for Children races at Pimlico on May 23, but there is no official stance on this as of yet. Everything else prior to that has been canceled. The Potomac Hunt Races, which feature pony races, also have not canceled their race meet as of March 19.
Movin’ on Up...
Check out 17 year old former pony racer Charlie Marquez! Three wins on one day at Laurel Racetrack, and this isn’t his first hat trick!
Marquez was a regular on the pony racing circuit before taking out his flat license. Marquez rode his last pony race last spring for owner/trainer Elizabeth McCue and now with $512,494 in purse earnings is currently sitting in third place for Laurel’s winter meet with 24 victories from 132 mounts, right behind meet leader Trevor McCarthy (38) and Alex Cintron (26).