African-American exhibit is coming to Racing Hall of Fame
An exhibit featuring the contributions of the African-American community to the equine and Thoroughbred industries in the area will be featured next February during Black History Month at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.
“We’re reaching out to the African-American community to people who may have photographs, stories or clippings or anything else they may want to share for the exhibit,” said Lisa Hall, City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame program supervisor. “We’ve already had a couple of e-mail inquiries.”
African-Americans have played a significant role in the sport of Thoroughbred racing. African-American jockeys during a 27-year period – from 1875-1902 – were a dominant force in the Kentucky Derby as 11 different riders won the Run for the Roses 15 times during that span. African-Americans have made significant contributions as horsemen as owners, trainers, grooms and exercise riders.
“People can call me at the office if they want to set up an appointment to come by and show me what they have. I’ll be more then happy to sit down and take a look,” said Hall.
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Exhibition shows equestrian photography.
An exhibition featuring the works of nationally renowned equestrian photographer Barry Bornstein will be on display at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum Thursday through Feb. 28.
There will be an opening reception for the artist on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Bornstein’s exhibit will feature 33 photographs, many featuring scenes from Saratoga Race Course and Aiken, which captures the aesthetic essence of the Thoroughbred industry.
“About half of the photographs are from Aiken,” said Bornstein, a resident of both Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Aiken. “I look at photography as therapy.”
Bornstein spent nearly three decades in the nonprofit sector in executive positions, which included running a Public Broadcasting System television station and as president of the Special Olympics in New York. For the last 11 years of his career, he worked for three or four charitable organizations in New York, he said.
“I was in junior high school and had won a raffle, and the prize was a Brownie camera, worth about $13 at the time, and that got me started,” said Bornstein. “And like anything else, you have a teacher and a camera club. When I went on to college, I said to myself, this is a great way to earn some extra money. It got me a job as the head of the yearbook in college, and I contributed to the newspaper. I really got a good feel for it.”
His work and images have been featured in a wide variety of publications and venues including Family Circle magazine, The Weekly Reader, newspapers, magazines, Thoroughbred racing websites and the Aiken Training Track brochure.
A portion of proceeds from the photographs which can be ordered will be donated to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, and donations will be accepted at the reception for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.
For more information about the artist, visit www.barrybornsteinphotography.com.
Museum exhibit artist reception set for Thursday
An exhibit featuring the works of nationally renowned artist Dorothy Chhuy will be featured at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum from Thursday through Dec. 31.
An opening reception for the artist will be held Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m., and the public is invited to attend.
This will be the sixth time Chhuy’s works will be featured at the Hall of Fame; her work was previously exhibited in 1991, 1994, 2003, 2005 and 2007.
The artist’s watercolors and drawings of equestrian sport and landscapes give distinction and harmony to the form of life, and her work’s delicacy of feeling and tenderness of expression create an atmosphere of elegance. Her work captures the spirit and excitement of steeplechase and flat racing, mounted fox hunting and carriage driving.
Chhuy’s work has been exhibited in a number of juried shows including the Salmagundi Club in New York, the New Jersey and Louisiana watercolor societies, the Fourth International Miniature Print Competition, Pratt Graphics Center in New York, the Salon de Grabado, Museo Espanol de Arte Contemporaneo in Madrid, Spain, and a number of exhibitions in Paris, France.
She also has a number of pieces of art in the collection of the National Sporting Library in Middleburg, Va.
A portion of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum in Hopelands Gardens at 135 Dupree Place.
For more information, call 642-7631 or visit www.aikenracinghalloffame.com.
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Trophies to be presented to Thoroughbred Hall of Fame
A gift paying homage to two of the members of the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum will soon be on display at the facility, thanks to a generous donation.
Trophies won by William Haggin Perry’s Lamb Chop and Gamely will be presented his widow, Nicky Perry, to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum in a ceremony on May 31 at 2 p.m. The public is invited to attend.
The trophies that are being donated to the Hall of Fame are the Coaching Club American Oaks and Monmouth Oaks trophies won by Lamb Chop in 1963, and the trophies won by Gamely in the 7-furlong 1967 Test Stakes; the 1¬º-mile 1967 Alabama Stakes and the 1âÖõ-mile 1968 Beldame Stakes.
Lamb Chop also won the 1963 Spinster Stakes and the 1963 1 1/16-mile Jersey Belle Stakes by 12 lengths, establishing a new track record by covering the distance in 1:41 3/5. She was conditioned by National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee James W. Maloney. The ill-fated filly broke down during the running of the 1964 Strub Stakes.
In addition to winning the Test and Alabama during her sophomore campaign, Gamely won the Princess Stakes. At age 4, she captured the Beldame, Santa Margarita Handicap and the Vanity Handicap. The bay daughter of Bold Ruler won the Beldame as a 5-year-old.
Both Lamb Chop and Gamely were enshrined in the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum on March 18, 1979. Gamely, who was also conditioned by Maloney, has also been enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
Perry, who owned Waterford Farm in Middleburg, Va., was an honorary director of the Breeders’ Cup Ltd., campaigned a number of outstanding horses including Gamely, who was the Outstanding 3-year-old Filly in 1968; Lamb Chop, the Outstanding 3-year-old Filly in 1963; and Revidere, who was the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old filly of 1976.
Other prominent horses campaigned by Perry include Coastal, who won the 1979 Belmont Stakes; Princessnesian, who won the 1968 Hollywood Gold Cup and the 1969 Santa Margarita Handicap; Scan, who won the 1990 Cowdin and Remsen; and Tiller, who captured the 1978 Bowling Green Handicap, the 1979 San Juan Capistrano Handicap and the 1980 Sword Dancer.
Contact Ben Baugh at bbaugh@aikenstandard.com.
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Events of the Triple Crown.
The festivities begin Thursday with the Breakfast at the Gallops, a fund-raiser for the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, held at the Aiken Training Track’s clockers stand. Learn more about the sport of Thoroughbred racing as trainers based at the training facility discuss the sport and answer questions. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The event will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. For more information call 642-7650.
The Starting Gate Party is Thursday on the infield of the Aiken Training Track and will feature music by Anybody’s Guess. The dinner will be catered by Papa Russ’s Catering by Jennifer, and the meal will have a barbecue theme with a varied menu. Tickets to the Starting Gate Party are $50 in advance and $60 at the door. More Info.
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