'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 19
'Jump' Newsletter - Edition 19
"Lightning Ridge romps in Alston Cup!"
Welcome to the nineteenth edition of 'Jump.'
As we approach the end of the 2023 jump season, all eyes are on Aiken, South Carolina, where the Aiken Fall Steeplechase will host the final jumps meet of the year. With five competitive races lined up, the event promises to be a fitting finale to a season that saw many familiar faces in the winner's circle.
Leslie Young and Jack Fisher once again demonstrated their prowess, with Young taking home the title for most wins and Fisher scoring the highest in terms of money earned.
The Champion Jockey title seems to be heading towards Graham Watters for another year, replicating his success from 2021, unless Harrison Beswick can stage an extraordinary performance and clinch victory in four out of the five weekend races.
The competition for the Eclipse award is heating up, with nine-year-olds Noah and the Ark and Snap Decision leading the pack. However, the Merry Maker camp might just throw a spanner in the works and challenge these seasoned veteran.
This promising six-year-old gelding by Malinas burst into the racing scene by staging a remarkable comeback from last place to clinch victory in the $150,000 Lonesome Glory Handicap in September. He then bolstered his burgeoning reputation with an outstanding performance at the Grand National at Far Hills.
As we look forward to the Aiken Fall Steeplechase, it's clear that while new talent is emerging, the old guard is still holding their own. Here's to a fantastic conclusion to the 2023 jump season.
Riders Up!
Steve Coxon - USASteeplechase
In Case You Missed It: This Week's Top 4 USA Jump Racing Stories
Contents
Sunday’s Recap - Lightning Ridge romps in Alston Cup, but comes up short in bid for title
Saturday’s Entries - Overnights for Aiken
Aiken - Aiken Steeplechase gets first permanent structure with three-story tower
National Steeplechase Standings - As of November 12th, 2023
“The ‘Jump newsletter’ is an absolute boon to me. Now domiciled in the UK, it keeps me updated on US jump racing. Thank you.” - Barbara Shaw (Facebook)
Lightning Ridge romps in Alston Cup, but comes up short in bid for title
By Tod Marks
Though most key championships were already decided, the second to last meet of the 2023 National Steeplechase Association season still packed plenty of drama, deciding the title of leading three-year-old and likely settling the jockey championship as well.
In the featured $35,000 Alston Cup, one of only two stakes restricted to sophomores on the calendar, KMSN Stable’s Lightning Ridge put on a tour de force under Graham Watters, running away from his three competitors by 21 widening lengths.
The Alston Cup was a showdown with Armata Stable’s pro-tem division leader Kyogo, narrow winner of the recent $50,000 Gladstone stakes at Far Hills, a race in which the lightly raced Lightning Ridge led before tiring. The Gladstone was just the second NSA start for Lightning Ridge, who was exiting a maiden score at Shawan Downs, and facing a much more seasoned opponent in New Jersey. This time, however, the son of Peace and Justice trained by Keri Brion was up to the challenge, grabbing the lead at the start and crushing the field while never being seriously challenged. However, the title of leading three-year-old is based on cumulative earnings, and Lightning Ridge fell $500 short of Kyogo, who finished third in the Alston Cup.
For Watters, his two victories on the day all but cemented his second leading jockey crown in three years. Harry Beswick, with one winner at Charleston, trails Watters – who already clinched the title by earnings – by three, with five races to go at Aiken next Saturday.
In other action, Winflower’s Prophets Voice was victorious in his NSA debut in the $20,000 Post and Courier maiden claiming hurdle by 6 lengths under Harry Beswick for trainer Ricky Hendriks. A veteran of six starts on the flat in the Mid-Atlantic and a dozen more in his Irish homeland, the four-year-old tuned up for his debut with a strong effort on the turf at the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup Races on Nov. 6. Prophets Voice chased Atlantic Friends Racing’s Carloun (Mell Boucher) for the first half mile, outdueled that rival and repelled a challenge by Tom Rice’s Secret Soulmate (Jamie Bargary), who finished second.
Kinross Farm’s Outperform gave jockey Gerard Galligan and trainer Richard Valentine a narrow win in the $30,000 Editor’s Cup maiden special weights hurdle over Kincraig Stables’ In Effect (Graham Watters). Making just his second start after competing on the NYRA circuit and at Gulfstream Park, the son of champion Gun Runner showed the way through the opening mile. At that point he was hooked by In Effect, and the duo raced together the rest of the way, with Outperform edging clear by a half length. Joseph Fowler and Riverdee Stable’s Snow Geese ran well to be a close third.
Graham Watters’ victory aboard William Russell’s Seismic Wave in the $20,000 Lexus Cup 110 ratings handicap was the rider’s 20th of the year. But it didn’t come easy. Racing off the pace, the seven-year-old son of Tapit trained by Neil Morris, made his move to challenge Tom Rice’s Oscar Winner (Conor Tierney) with about three-eighths of a mile remaining. The pair battled to the wire, with Seismic Wave prevailing by a neck. Ashwell Stable’s Durragh was third.
In the finale on the flat, Hurricana Farm’s Fingal, an NSA newcomer, gave the father-daughter, trainer-rider team of Arch and Taylor Kingsley a 1 ¾-length win over over Karl McMillan’s Lord Donegal (Harry Bewsick). The five-year-old son of Noble Mission is coming off a lengthy 21-race career, mostly on the NYRA circuit, but made one (off-the-board) start in a maiden claiming hurdle at the Virginia Gold Cup Races in May.
Overnights for Aiken
Aiken Steeplechase gets first permanent structure with three-story tower
By Graham Lee
AIKEN, S.C. (WJBF) – After being around for nearly a century, Aiken Steeplechase now has its first permanent structure.
Four months ago, the folks at Steeplechase had a groundbreaking ceremony for what was once an idea, but now that idea is springing to life. The association had a dedication ceremony Wednesday morning to celebrate this milestone achievement.
“Oh gosh, I am so thrilled to have this here, because it shows that we’re here, and this place is gonna grow and get bigger. We needed this structure so badly for all the race functions,” said President Frank Mullins.
The $300,000 project spans across three floors, and each floor will serve various functions. The first floor will have hospitality for owners, trainers, and riders, as well as official functions for NSA (National Steeplechase Association). Some of those functions include pre-race meetings for jockeys, and weigh-ins for horses.
The second floor will be a viewing area for owners and invited guests during their particular race. The third floor will be a place for videography and timing for racers–with a spectacular view.
“Each floor has a purpose, and we need it badly, we need a structure that is safe, and also one we can rent out for other purposes. We want other people to enjoy the property, and this will give us the opportunity to start doing that,” said Mullins.
During the off-season and days the Outlook is not needed for racing, the structure will be available to rent for events such as weddings.
“This is truly a multi-purpose structure that will find many uses in the future,” said Mullins.
The Outlook is named after James “JR” Stainbrook, who donated a big portion of the $300,000 for the project. He says the tower looks phenomenal and was amazed to see the final product.
“It exceeds my expectations the way this thing turned out. It’s absolutely stunning. I think it will be here for many years to come, and I think it’s going to be a nice little landmark for the city of Aiken,” said Stainbrook.
City Manager Stuart Bedenbaugh says having this new addition will not only help Steeplechase, but the city of Aiken for tourism.
“Having events here at this facility is going to help our businesses, whether in our downtown or other parts of the city,” said Bedenbaugh. “Folks are gonna come here, they’re gonna dine in our restaurants, they’re gonna stay in our hotels, and short-term rentals. It’s gonna be a strong positive for our business owners here in the city, and I couldn’t be happier.”
Mullins also says this tower is just the beginning of a master plan over the next several years for the property.
“This is just the beginning of what I believe is an era of donor-funded construction that happens out here. We have barns to build, an office to build, we’d like to do a covered arena. There’s a multitude of different things that are part of this master plan–I’d like to see it happen in my lifetime, maybe even sooner,” said Mullins.
Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the tower, but Mullins says everything will be complete in time for their next races this Saturday.
The structure will be open to renting for corporate events in the next couple of months, according to Mullins.
https://www.wjbf.com/csra-news/aiken-steeplechase-gets-first-permanent-structure-with-three-story-tower/
2023 National Steeplechase Standings
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