Mike Keogh was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in April 2020. Keogh began training horses for Gus Schickedanz in 1993 and trained horses at Aiken Training Track during the winter months. Keogh reflects on his career in this article, originally published in May 2020 in The 2020 Special. Read the complete article here.
Aiken Standard looks back at record-setting race horse, Whirlaway and Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro. During his time as a contract rider for Greentree Stables, Arcaro also rode Devil Diver and Shut Out to victory. Both horses were conditioned by legendary trainer John M. Gaver Sr. at the brand-new Aiken Training Track.
Read full article here.
THE AIKEN TRAINING TRACK ANNOUNCES THAT THE USAGE FEE FOR THE TRACK WILL BE SLASHED BY 50% FOR TRAINERS, AS COVID-19 HITS THE THOROUGHBRED RACING INDUSTRY ACROSS THE COUNTRY
April 1, 2020
Aiken, S.C. – The Executive Committee of the Aiken Training Track worked quickly on Monday afternoon, March 30, 2020, to cut in half the track’s usage fee for horses training on the mile and/or 5/8 mile track offered at the historic grounds. The monthly track usage fee of $200.00 per horse has been dropped to $100.00 per horse, at least through the month of April 2020.
“We want to help our loyal trainers at this time of economic uncertainty. We plan to watch over our monthly track usage fee with an eye to assisting our hard-working trainers as they try very hard to withstand the numerous changes in the racing business caused by this Coronavirus pandemic. Racing meets have been cancelled, important thoroughbred sales have been cancelled, even restrictions on where horses can ship have emerged, “said Bill Gutfarb, President of the Aiken Training Track and a member of the Executive Committee. “Owners, trainers and staff have been seriously impacted. We are trying to help them,” he continued.
At a track board meeting on Thursday, March 26, 2020, the purchase of a new John Deere 5100E Utility Tractor was approved, along with a new loader and fixed pallet fork. Jim Rhodes, head of the track’s maintenance program, spearheaded the tractor purchase and will make certain the new equipment is well used in perfecting the track’s outstanding surface.
“The Aiken Training Track is famous for its outstanding surface. My staff and myself are committed to keeping the same level of excellence at our track in these challenging times, “ Rhodes said. The Aiken Training Track is open during the summer months as well as the winter season. Owners and trainers are encouraged to send horses to Aiken now.
The 78th running of the Aiken Trials was held on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Five pony races and five trials were successfully run. Excellent examples of young horses on their way to becoming winners, as well as older horses took to the track with zest. Fans enjoyed the horse racing. During the Trials a famous gentleman from Canada and a long-time friend and owner who brought horses to train at the Aiken Training Track, Gus Schickedanz, was honored. The late Mr. Schickedanz became the 3rd inductee into the track’s Ambassador’s Club. He is remembered for his dedication to the sport of horse racing and to the Aiken Training Track in particular.
End
For more press information,
Contact – Helen Naylor
617-510-9524
Member – Board of Directors
P.R. Representative
photo courtesy of the Aiken Standard
Have you ever wanted to ride on the Training Track where racing immortals like Kelso, Swale, Pleasant Colony, Tom Fool, Gallorette, Shuvee, and others trained?
On Sunday, February 23, 2020, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm, you will have the opportunity. Ride alone or with friends. The cost is only $40 per horse/rider combination.
Space is limited, and advanced registration is requested. Please visit this page for more information about the track’s Ride the Rail event.
The Aiken Training Track announces an outstanding year in 2019.
William Gutfarb, newly elected president of the track’s Board of Directors and Chair of the Finance Committee, tallied the graduates’ year-end results shortly after the November-December 2019 results were posted on the track’s web site.
For the 12 months of 2019, “graduates earned $5,634,932.00 and the track produced 20 stakes winners and 25 stakes placed runners,” Gutfarb said. Continue…
The Aiken Training Track is honored to be the winner of 2019 Aiken Commemorative Ornament contest. The Aiken Downtown Development Association (ADDA) has run this contest for 24 years, and voting this year began in August. Other ideas for the commemorative ornament included the Old Aiken Hospital and Palmetto Golf Club.
Everyone who voted for Aiken Training Track will be entered into a contest. The first-place winner will receive four free ornaments, the second-place winner will receive two, and the third-place winner will receive one free ornament. If you are not lucky enough to be one of the winners, you may purchase an ornament at the ADDA office, located at 208A The Alley in downtown Aiken, and at Aiken Office Supply on Whiskey Road in Aiken.
For a complete list of Aiken commemorative ornaments, visit DowntownAiken.com. This information appeared in the Aiken Standard on November 13, 2019 and is available here.
This painting, featuring the 1942 Aiken Trials, sold yesterday at auction for a hammer price of $70,000 plus 20% buyers premium of $14,000. Total cost to the buyer was $84,000.
” This painting depicts the Aiken Trials, which began in 1942 at the newly built Aiken Training Track. Devereux Milburn, F. S. von Stade, and William B. Wood obtained a charter for the training track in 1941. Modeled after Keeneland’s track in Lexington, Kentucky, it was completed and opened in November of that year and not long after saw success with Shut Out, who trained there, winning the 1942 Kentucky Derby. …”
Learn more here.
This painting, featuring the 1942 Aiken Trials, will come up for auction.
” This painting depicts the Aiken Trials, which began in 1942 at the newly built Aiken Training Track. Devereux Milburn, F. S. von Stade, and William B. Wood obtained a charter for the training track in 1941. Modeled after Keeneland’s track in Lexington, Kentucky, it was completed and opened in November of that year and not long after saw success with Shut Out, who trained there, winning the 1942 Kentucky Derby. …”
Learn more here.
Bill Gutfarb and his wife Wendy have maintained a house in Aiken since 2009 as seasonal residents, becoming full time residents in 2014 with the purchase of their home in the Horse District. He formally retired in 2016 after ten years with the Boston Red Sox and thirty four with Boston Trust Management Corporation. Retiring as Executive VP and Treasurer with responsibility for the business affairs of the late Jean Yawkey, her trust and estate, the Yawkey Foundations, her controlling interest in the Boston Red Sox, and the 25,000-acre Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center in Georgetown, SC. Over the years Bill has served as a trustee of a number of New England independent schools and charitable organizations. He was a charter member of the board of Boston’s Emerald Necklace Conservancy. He also served for many years as a trustee and Clerk of the Corporation of the Dedham (MA) Institution for Savings, a $1.5 billion Mutual Savings Bank. Bill is a graduate of Boston University and holds an MBA from Babson College. Bill remains active as a Trustee of the Yawkey Foundations and is a Trustee of Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, MA.
Bill and Wendy are active in Aiken’s equestrian community, and Wendy serves as Joint Master of the Aiken Hounds. Interests include ownership of thoroughbred racehorses, sporting art, and non-fiction reading. He’s been active over the years in the sports of ice hockey, golf, skiing, riding and fox-hunting. Bill is a member of the Green Boundary Club, the Saratoga Reading Rooms and the Aiken Tennis Club. Bill has two adult children married and living in Massachusetts.
We were lucky that Hurricane Dorian never appeared in Aiken! All horses and their owners are safely home at this time.
follow us on