Other than the racing itself, Saturday’s “The Cup Runneth Over” will hardly resemble the Carolina Cup in terms of crowd numbers and cost of admission.
The one-time event to be contested over the Springdale Race Course takes the place on the National Steeplechase Association calendar of the Georgia Steeplechase, which was canceled by its organizers in mid-March due to lagging ticket sales.
The day of racing action is being billed as a scaled-down, less-expensive day at the races and a thank you to the thousands of patrons who have supported the Carolina Cup Races.
The NSA is putting up the entire $90,000 in purse money for Saturday’s races which features a $30,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle, a $25,000 ratings handicap for horses rated at 115 or lower, a $20,000 maiden hurdle for fillies and mares, a $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle and a training flat race.
In addition, there will also be four pony races prior to the regularly scheduled slate of NSA racing as the US Pony Racing and Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation will sponsor the inaugural running of the Camden Pony Derby Races. The first of the pony races is slated for an 11 a.m. start.
The first NSA-sanctioned race of the afternoon will meet the starter’s flag at 1:30 p.m. with a 1 p.m. paddock time. Races are scheduled to be run every 40 minutes.
The cost for admission is $40 per vehicle, regardless of the number of people entering the races. Tickets will only be on sale at the gates on race day. There will be no pre-sale for tickets.
There will only be two gates for patrons to enter on Saturday and they are both located along Springdale Drive. They will be marked with signs directing patrons into the reserved parking and boxholder --- Gate 2 and Gate 6, respectively, parking areas. Both entrances will be staffed by workers and will have large signs in front of the near the road. The general admission gates, located on Knights Hill Rd. and Highway 97, will be closed to members of the public on race day.
Parking is available along the front row as well as behind the grandstand on a first-come, first-served basis. All other parking areas, including the infield, will be closed.
The grandstand, which will have chairs in place from the Carolina Cup, will be open to patrons on a first-come, first-served basis. The sponsor mounds, located on the home stretch of the race course, will also be available to fans.
Officials with “The Cup Runneth Over” are encouraging guests to bring their own tailgate and picnic food to enjoy during the day.
Haile Street Grill will operate the concession stand located behind the grandstand selling hot dogs, hamburgers, BBQ, chicken fingers, boiled peanuts and potato chips. Soft drinks will also be on sale throughout the day.
There will be hospitality available at The Finish Line Tent, located adjacent to the grandstand in the spot which hosted the Turf Club last Saturday. The cost is $75 per person. Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the tent the day of the races or in advance at the National Steeplechase Museum on Knights Hill Rd. in Camden through the end of the business day today.
“We encourage families with children to come out and enjoy another great race day at the Springdale Race Course,” said interim Carolina Cup Executive Director John Cushman.
For more information, on the Cup Runneth Over, please call 432-6513 or, log onto www.carolina-cup.org.
