A bit of good news from steeplechase world…
For the first time in almost 50 years, the Winterthur Steeplechase in Delaware will not be run this spring. Using the 75th anniversary of the onsite museum as a reason (pretext?), the organizers said this: “[The steeplechase] has been a tradition for many, and we understand this news may be met with some surprise and disappointment. However, the museum’s 75th anniversary presents a unique and meaningful opportunity to reflect while looking ahead.” Sounds like the animal cruelty part may be at an end.
In North Carolina, the Tryon Steeplechase is apparently dead. First run in 1947, Tryon actually canceled last year with this explanation: “In light of significant financial and logistical challenges to hosting the race, the club believes a reassessment of how the Steeplechase is promoted and presented is warranted.”
(If this holds, this was probably the last kill at Tryon.)
Tryon comes on the heels of the Queen’s Cup, first run in ’95, shutting down two years ago. Their statement at the time: “After months of evaluation and planning, the very difficult decision was made…to cancel the 2024 race. It is with heavy heart the announcement is being made.” The upshot: There are no sanctioned National Steeplechase Association races in North Carolina this year. Progress, folks.
(Here are two previous posts on the Queen’s Cup: Watching a Horse Die on a “Beautiful, Sunny Spring Day” and Watching Horses Fall – Good, Clean Family Fun.)
For a more detailed account of what Bob Baffert is worth, there is an article titled “Bob Baffert Net Worth 2025: All About His Earnings, Sponsorships and Endorsements” in ESSENTIALLY SPORTS. He makes money from several angles and I am certain we will never know the actual amount because under the table money is not reported. With the corruption going on at the Baffert stable at Santa Anita and the corruption connection with the California Horse Racing Board, you know there was good reason for him to be banned from the Kentucky Derby.
I have recently moved from Southern CA back home to Brentwood TN. The annual tradition here is called a “Rite Of Spring” which is the 85th Running of the Iroquois Spring Steeplechase at Percy Warner Park. It is the richest race on the National Steeplechase spring circuit. It attracts about 30,000 people who pay outlandish prices for various levels of seating & viewing areas. Like the KY Derby it is a party at the expense of the horses. There are fancy hats, clothes, Country music, a children’s area & horses dangerously running at full speed over jumps. There is no pari mutual gambling in TN so this is just a twisted spectator spectacle all put on under the guise of a fundraiser. It is not a very good fundraiser b/c in 44 years it has only raised 11.4 million which is a little short of $26,000 per year. So the horses are abused every spring under the pretext of a charitable fundraiser with very little money going to charity while the owners run for very lucrative purse money. If the course is only used once a year so how can it be safe for the horses. Once again the horses are used as bait for a day of spring time society racing with a card of races & purse money being awarded, up to $250,000 for the winner of the marquee race and a pitance going to charity. ( but in no way does dropping in the words charity fundraiser for a children’ hospital at Vanderbilt Univ. excuse the abuse of the horses) Hopefully the Steeplechase circuit will soon end. Abusing steeplechase horses for charity is no better than racetracks abusing racehorses for profit. ( source Brentwood Lifestyle magazine April 2026)
To SJ Kennedy
Your math ain’t mathing. Where did you ever come up with Buffett collecting a million dollars a year per horse. If your whole premise is based on this, you are completely clueless to the cost of training a horse. I would be embarrassed by writing that crap!
The wickedness used against horses is not limited to thoroughbred or standardbreds. I came across a blog that details horrors used against show and event horses. The thoroughbred industry has a charity that supposedly rehabs horses into good homes but this blog reveals the atrocious abuse of horses done by sicko equestrians and tolerated within that community.
Read the disclosures contained in milestoneequestrian.ca/blog/2019/1/12/the-dark-side-of-the-horse-industry
To the credit of the blogger the truth has been published – but in the thoroughbred world racetrackers are covering up their sins and making heroes out of the vicious and the vile trainers such as Baffert, Pletcher, et al and the jocks who accepted mounts from these immoral and evil trainers who are by their activities the filth and dredge of humanity. As for the Race Track Chaplaincy they are no better than the muck and mire Baffert who gave a paltry share of his blood money a $50,000 donation -( he rakes in 1 million per annum per horse and has a stable of 200 horses) 10 percent of 200 Million is 20 twenty million. Whether the amount is 50Gs or a not offered 20 Mil is still covered in the sufferings and blood of horses murdered by drugs….the entire industry is guilty of being a disgrace to God and to humanity. To accept any donation from these horse killers is a crime against all of America because the American people are by their constitution and principles a just and wonderful country.
Where are the staffers from the Paulick Report? Why are they not finding out if any donated thoroughbreds are among the victims described in the blog?
I wonder if anyone in this tradition of putting their beloved horses’ lives at risk of catastrophic injuries and death will ever comprehend what they did and how it affects other people that can clearly see that this is cruelty to horses even though these “horse-people” automatically deny any wrongdoing. It sounds like they would continue the steeplechase races in the future if they had the financial backing.
What a joyful news to wake up to this morning. Hopefully more of these hurdle races will disappear in the future and become a thing of the past!