Raeford, North Carolina November 17, 2016 – After careful consideration the Carolina Horse Park has made the decision to no longer host the Stoneybrook Steeplechase.Originating in 1949 the Stoneybrook Steeplechase enjoyed its first 49 years at the Southern Pines farm of its founder Mickey Walsh.  Following Walsh’s death the farm was sold and the Stoneybrook Steeplechase ceased to exist.  In 2001 a group of equestrian enthusiasts revived the event in its new location at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, NC where it ran for another sixteen years.  

The changing landscape of the local equestrian community and the exponential growth of other events hosted at the Carolina Horse Park have required the Board of Directorsto reevaluate all lines of business.  Upon careful review, the decision has been made to concentrate CHP resources on meeting the expectations of North Carolina’s equestrian community while focusing on those competitions that result in the largest economic impact to the region.  

In 2016, the Carolina Horse Park once again drew rave reviews for many of their competitions across the multiple disciplines which showcase the diversity of competitions at the Park.  The Cloud 11~Gavilan North LLC Carolina International and the $20,000 War Horse Event Series presented by Southern Pines Equine Associates and Adequan™ have been highly publicized for the innovation and forward thinking they bring to the sport.  In addition, the Southern Pines CDE annually draws internationally renowned drivers and hosts highly competitive USEF National Championships.  The North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association chose the Carolina Horse Park to host their 2016 and 2017 Dressage Championships, bringing the best dressage riders from around the state.  The Triangle Farms Horse Show Series hosts two USEF ‘A’ Hunter/Jumper Shows and a NCHJA ‘C’ Hunter/Jumper Show, bringing hunter/jumper exhibitors from up-and-down the East Coast.

“While the Stoneybrook Steeplechase will be greatly missed from our calendar”, said Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bryan Rosenberg.  “I want to thank all of the members of our community that supported Stoneybrook over so many years and for all of the efforts of our Stoneybrook Organizing Committee.”

If you are interested in holding an event at the Carolina Horse Park or learning more about existing events please contact the Park at: info@carolinahorsepark.com

To find a full schedule of the Carolina Horse Park’s events visit the calendar.

Raeford, North Carolina- The Carolina Horse Park is pleased to announce the exceptional success of the inaugural War Horse Event Series presented by Adequan and Southern Pines Equine Associates (WHES). Throughout the five event series a total of 1,310 competitors from 10 states were hosted with an average of 215 contesting each competition. The 2015 series came to a conclusion November 7-8, with 145 horse and rider combinations qualifying for the championships and 12 champions being crowned.
 
Established in 2015, the War Horse Event Series was developed to provide horses and riders an exceptional opportunity to learn the sport of eventing in a formal yet unrecognized setting. Held at the Carolina Horse Park this unique series is designed to introduce the sport to young horses and less experienced riders through pre-competition schooling opportunities, exceptional show jumping and cross country course design and the formality of a premier, recognized competition.
 
"The War Horse offered a series of 5 events, progressing in difficulty and technicality, over proper 'big time' courses and with the same impressive atmosphere that you get at major recognized events,” said competitor Audrey Wiggins. “Whether you’re a professional, amateur or junior rider you can come to the War Horse at CHP and ride with confidence knowing that the staff at CHP and the organizing committee are 100% dedicated to providing the best footing, course design and show experience to ALL competitors.  My horse and I were able to build upon each event gaining in confidence and skill - truly priceless!"
 
The WHES benefits from unprecedented corporate sponsorship from two very generous organizations: Adequan and Southern Pines Equine Associates. Cash sponsorships are rare in most recognized events throughout the country and as such, the WHES support from Adequan and SPEA is most unique and greatly appreciated as we all work toward growing the sport of eventing.
 
“Everyone at Adequan has been extremely impressed with the War Horse Event Series and we are very excited to be associated with such a beneficial and educational event. The WHES has such value in introducing young riders and horses into to the sport,” said Caroline Hogan Adequan Senior Territory Manager. “The Carolina Horse Park has done a phenomenal job making the events very special for amateurs and giving them a venue with a specific focus on their development. Additionally, the prize money and awards program brings another unique facet to this series.
 
Dr. Tom Daniels of Southern Pines Equine Associates had similar praise for the WHES and is particularly proud of the funds the series helped to raise for the Special Forces Charitable Trust.
 
"Our 2015 co-sponsorship of the War Horse Event Series is exciting for our team on so many levels. With the new event comes the opportunity to also share goodwill and charity in the community. First and foremost, we are hoping to bring awareness of the challenges our veterans and their families face by partnering with the Special Forces Charitable Trust," said Daniels. “And we are very pleased to announce that Aberdeen Feeds Second Chance Award already has pledges up to $6,000 for next year!”
The key drivers of this series are education, safety and an outstanding competitive experience for all involved. Each competition is run over two days with the first day held exclusively for pre-competition schooling in the dressage rings and on the actual show jumping and cross country courses, with the idea of ensuring rider and horse preparedness for the following day’s formal competition. Horse Trial divisions are run at the Green as Grass through Training levels, additionally dressage only and combined tests are also offered for those not interested in one or all jumping phases.
 
"The purpose of this format is to encourage the idea of preparing the horse for the show. We want every horse and rider to have a positive experience, and we feel this arrangement will provide all competitors with the opportunity to achieve the best results possible,” said Marc Donovan, the Event Director and Architect.
 
In addition, competitors enjoy the benefits of robust corporate sponsorship and formal prize giving. In 2015, $5000 in prize money was awarded and competitors received a further $5600 worth of gifts and awards.

Jennifer S. Pitts’ Bau Bai Gold will be the mare to catch when she faces off against male competitors in the $25,000 Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle at the 64th annual Stoneybrook Steeplechase at the Carolina Horse Park in Raeford, N.C., on Saturday, April 4.

Opening ceremonies begin at noon followed by the famous Hat Contest, Stick Horse Races, and Tailgating Competition among the many other activities at this favorite springtime event. Stoneybrook tickets may still be purchased online at ETIX.com or at the Gate on race day. The five-race program kicks off at 1:30; the Sandhills Cup $25,000 purse race is the final race where Bau Bai Gold will compete against the field of six male competitors.

Trained by Jazz Napravnik, Bau Bai Gold, the five-year-old Sightseeing mare started the new National Steeplechase Association with an impressive victory in the Charles S. Bird optional allowance hurdle at the Aiken Spring Steeplechase. Ridden by Ross Geraghty, she led throughout the two-mile race and drew clear to a 6 1/2-length victory despite bobbling upon landing at the last fence. Geraghty will again be in the saddle as Bau Bai Gold looks to stretch out to the Sandhills Cup’s 2 3/8-mile distance.

The Aiken Spring Steeplechase in South Carolina also served as the season opener for several Sandhills Cup competitors. Finishing behind Bau Bai Gold in the Bird was Marq Your Bible, who was second. Champion jockey Willie McCarthy again will be aboard Perfect Peace Racing Stable’s Marq Your Bible.

Lilith Boucher, who trains Marq Your Bible, also will saddle William E. Riddle Jr.’s Absolum, who finished third in Aiken Spring’s $50,000 Budweiser Imperial Cup (Gr. 3). He will carry a $20,000 claiming price.

Elizabeth P. Carey’s Mr. Lickety won Aiken Spring’s Ford D. Conger starter allowance hurdle for trainer William B. Cocks, and jockey Bernie Dalton has a return call.
Not to be forgotten is Betsy Mead’s veteran hurdler Forgotten Man, who tuned up for the Sandhills Cup with a fifth-place finish in a Carolina Cup training flat race on March 28. Second in last year’s Sandhills Cup, homebred Forgotten Man will have apprentice jockey Gerard Galligan in the saddle for trainer Doug Fout.
Tickets at Stoneybrooksteeplechase.com, ETIX.com or at the Gate on Saturday at the Carolina Horse Park, Raeford.  Tickets to the Frontstretch Fest bourbon, beer and bites party also available at ETIX.com.

Further reading:  Racing enthusiasts may enjoy Jockey, Ross Geraghty’s Blog at Gojumpracing.org.
 
FIELD OF COMPETITORS FOR SANDHILLS CUP:
Here is the field for the $25,000 Sandhills Cup optional allowance hurdle in post-position order:

Absolum. 2008 dk. b. or br. g., Fantasticat—Zenon, by Hawkster. Owner: William E. Riddle. Trainer: Lilith Boucher. Jockey: Open. 2015 record: 1-0-0-1, $5,000. 2014 record: 3-1-0-0, $12,000. Finished third in Aiken Spring’s Budweiser Imperial Cup (Gr. 3) to open 2015 season. Won Middleburg Spring optional allowance hurdle last April before losing rider in Radnor's National Hunt Cup (Gr. 3) and falling in Parx allowance hurdle. Won 2013 Middleburg Spring maiden claimer by 12 lengths before second in Radnor’s Thompson Memorial allowance hurdle and third in a Parx optional allowance.

Bau Bai Gold. 2010 dk. b. or br. m., Sightseeing—Lynx of Gold, by Forest Wildcat. Owner: Jennifer H. Pitts. Trainer: Jazz Napravnik. Jockey: Ross Geraghty. 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $15,000. 2014 record: 2-1-0-0, $15,000. Won the Charles S. Bird optional allowance hurdle at Aiken Spring to open 2015 season. In first start over fences, won a 2014 Foxfield Fall maiden hurdle for fillies and mares by 13 1/4 lengths and then finished fifth in Far Hills’ Peapack Stakes.
 
Forgotten Man. 2008 ch. g., Bowman’s Band—Hark the Sound (GB), by Robellino. Owner: Betsy Mead. Trainer: Doug Fout. Jockey: Gerard Galligan. 2015 record: No starts. 2014 record: 5-0-1-1, $10,450. Finished fifth in Virginia Fall's W. Gary Baker Memorial, was pulled up in the International Gold Cup’s David L. “Zeke” Ferguson Memorial (Gr. 3), and closed 2014 season with a third in a Colonial Cup allowance hurdle. Homebred finished second in Sandhills Cup allowance hurdle at Stoneybrook Steeplechase, then was fifth in the Queen’s Cup MPC ’Chase on April 26. Tuned for this year’s Sandhills Cup with a fifth in a flat training start at Carolina Cup.

Saint Jerome (Ire). 2010 b. g., Jeremy—Eminence Gift, by Cadeaux Genereux. Owner: Irvin S. Naylor. Trainer: Cyril Murphy. Jockey: Kieran Norris. 2015 record: No starts. 2014 NSA record: 3-0-1-0, $4,540. Accomplished young hurdler in England finished second in a Montpelier optional allowance hurdle before fifth in Colonial Cup allowance hurdle. Formerly trained by Jamie Osborne, had two 2014 wins in novice hurdles at Warwick and Ludlow.

Mr. Lickety. Owner: Elizabeth Carey. Trainer: William B. Cocks. Jockey: Bernie Dalton. 2015 record: 1-1-0-0, $9,000. 2014 record: 6-1-1-1, $17,700. Kicked off the 2015 season with a victory in an Aiken Spring starter allowance hurdle. Won his maiden victory at 2014 Aiken Spring and was second in a Stoneybrook claiming hurdle.
 
Marq Your Bible. 2009 dk. B. or br. g., Marquetry—Red Devilette, by Oh Say. Owner: Perfect Peace Racing. Trainer: Lilith Boucher. Jockey: Willie McCarthy. 2015 record: 1-0-1-0, $4,500. 2014 record: 9-2-2-2, $44,475. Finished second in Aiken Spring’s Charles S. Bird optional allowance hurdle to open 2015 season. Virginia-bred won a state-bred allowance on the flat at the International Gold Cup and then was third in the Crown Royal allowance hurdle at the Steeplechase at Callaway.