SPRINGDALE RACE COURSE
CAMDEN, SOUTH CAROLINA
LATE MARCH
WWW.CAROLINA-CUP.ORG
Take the back roads through the countryside of the South, and you will quickly reach the conclusion that Southerners love horses. They also adore a good horse race. One of our most popular races is the prestigious Carolina Cup, sometimes hailed as the “Derby of the South.” This Steeplechase is hosted by the Springdale Race Course located in Camden, South Carolina, a town steeped in Civil War history.
Since the 1930s, folks have been making their way to the Carolina Cup, which now brings in more than seventy thousand spectators each spring. The families of some of the present-day guests have been attending the race for generations, while some of the newer converts to the event come primarily for the colorful tailgating experience.
After what always seems like a long winter, late March is a time when Southerners are itching to attend outdoor events, and the Carolina Cup is at the top of the list. Ladies, especially, are eager to get decked out in the latest spring fashions, so you’re sure to see plenty of Lily Pulitzer sundresses and extravagant wide-brimmed hats under the tailgating tents at the Cup. In true Carolina fashion, you’ll also notice an abundance of succulent shrimp cocktail served on “Mama’s best silva,” just as it should be. And then, after all of that excitement, you may even see a horse race if you’re lucky.