Steeplechase racing returns to South Carolina on Saturday for the 28th annual Aiken Fall Steeplechase, where the emphasis will be on horses beginning to make their mark on jump racing. First post time is 1 p.m. for an afternoon of exciting Thoroughbred racing at the Aiken Horse Park.
The races attracted large fields, with also-eligible lists for the first two races. The program kicks off with the afternoon’s richest race, the $30,000 Sport of Kings maiden hurdle at 2 ¼ miles. It attracted a full field of 10 with two also-eligibles waiting in the wings.
The second race, a $15,000 maiden claiming hurdle, also has a full field of 10 and four also-eligibles.
Maiden fillies and mares will be in action in the third race, which offers a $20,000 purse and attracted a field of nine. Concluding the action over fences will be a $20,000 claiming hurdle for horses who have never won two races. That 2¼-mile race drew a field of eight.