Steeplechase Racing Returns to Florida

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Posted February 25, 2022 | By Michael Compton

Following a hiatus of more than a decade, steeplechase racing is returning to the Sunshine State with the inaugural point-to-point Florida Steeplechase at the Florida Horse Park on March 5. With backing and support from both the National Steeplechase Association (NSA), the governing body of American steeplechasing, and Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, the festive day of competition will feature a six-race card with a first-post time of 12:30 p.m.

The highly anticipated day of jump-racing is the brainchild of former NSA jockey Archie Macauley and his partner Jessica Berry, who serves as the event’s vice-chair. Macauley and Berry reside in Boynton Beach, Fl., but they are no strangers to the local equestrian community, spending one to two nights a week in Ocala. They are hopeful that the Florida Steeplechase will fill a void and grow into a sanctioned event on the NSA calendar. Florida last hosted a steeplechase event in 2009. The Little Everglades meet in nearby Dade City began as an NSA-assisted point-to-point in 2000 (like the Florida Steeplechase) and continued without sanctioning through 2009.

“This year’s meet will be a showcase of the sport of steeplechase racing in the Horse Capital of the World,” said Macauley. “Ocala hosts or is home to every other major horse sport and it’s time to shine a light on steeplechasing at one of its premier equestrian venues, the Florida Horse Park. Support for this year’s meet will be essential for showcasing the sport to spectators and sponsors whose participation next year will be key to growing the event into a fully sanctioned meet.”

Macauley and Berry began planning the Florida Steeplechase in early 2020, but progress was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We first started trying to put this together at the beginning of 2020 with an aim towards running it that November,” Macauley explained. “Then COVID hit, and obviously that put a big pause in our timeline. In the fall of 2021, we received a lot of support from the horsemen that we spoke to and decided around November to try and get the ball rolling again.

“The Horse Park had the first weekend in March available, and we knew it was ambitious to try and put this together in essentially three months, but we also believed that it was a good date,” Macauley added. “It fell at the beginning of the jump-racing season, it was still within the winter season of the other equestrian disciplines that winter in Ocala, and it was just before the OBS 2-year-old sale (March 15-16). It started to sink in that this was really happening when we launched the website in December, and from there we haven’t had any time to question it because we’ve been flat out organizing it.”

Despite delays and with the event coming to fruition, Macauley and Berry are appreciative of the widespread support they have received to get the inaugural meet up and running.

“When we lived in Pennsylvania, we became friends with Buck Davidson, the eventer, who is on the board of the Horse Park,” Macauley said. “Buck mentioned to us that the park would like to host a steeplechase, and he put us n touch with the park’s director, Jason Reynolds. Jason invited us to come and see the park and once we did, we saw that it was a perfect place to run a meet.

“The local community has been incredibly supportive of the steeplechase,” he continued. “First and foremost, the Horse Park (staff) has gone above and beyond to make this happen. Jason and his team have used their machinery and expertise to help us design, create, and maintain the course itself. The Ocala Chamber of Commerce was also one of our first points of contact and their Director of Equine Engagement, Louisa Barton, has been a tremendous help by introducing us to members of the local equine community. The local businesses and horsemen we have spoken to are all looking forward to the event and we are hoping for a big turnout and to establish steeplechase as an annual feature on the community’s calendar.”

Support from owners, trainers, and riders is crucial for the long-term success of the event, and Macauley is pleased with the reception the Florida Steeplechase has received from horsemen. To encourage participation from horsemen in Canada, South Carolina, and the mid-Atlantic region since purse money isn’t offered for the initial event, Macauley and Berry have offered free shipping to Ocala from South Carolina.

“One of the biggest supporters has been Mason Lampton,” Macauley indicated. “Mason runs his own successful meet in Georgia and has been very generous with his time, advice, and his sponsorship. A special thank you must also go out to Mike Hankin for his role in facilitating Brown Advisory’s involvement in the event.

“Every owner and trainer we have spoken to so far has been supportive of the event, and many have already offered to support the meet by bringing runners. There are also some former steeplechase horsemen who live in the area who are keen to get involved and participate.”

The steeplechase course is located on the existing cross-country course at the Florida Horse Park. The course is about 1 1/16 miles around and is slightly undulating. There is a long straightaway leading into the stretch which will offer attendees an excellent vantage point for spectators to view the final fence and the finish. Entries for the races close on March 1 at 11 a.m.

In addition to the racing action, which will include a junior pony flat race, the Florida Steeplechase will have something for everyone in attendance. There will be a parade by the South Creek Foxhounds, Florida’s oldest foxhunting club (officially founded in 1965). The hounds will parade on the racecourse accompanied by mounted members of the hunt in between the first and second hurdle races of the day.

There will be a ladies’ Fashions on the Field competition. ODETTE boutique, located in the World Equestrian Center, is the official sponsor of the Fashions on the Field competition, and prizes will be awarded to the winner, first and second runners-up. After the races, there will be live music from BigTime Jukebox, a popular Central Florida dance band.

“I think we have created a pretty amazing event in a short span of time,” Macauley said. “It’s going to be fun and will showcase the sport of steeplechasing very well. We’re creating a new meet and a new place to run and have horse racing. It’s a tremendous sport, and there isn’t currently a meet in Florida because there is no one to run it. You just need the right people who are crazy enough to try to do all of this and make it happen. Like us.

For those interested in attending the Florida Steeplechase at the Florida Horse Park, tickets can be purchased online at Thefloridasteeplechase.com.

“Our primary ticketing options are tailgates and Turf Club,” said Macauley. “The Turf Club is our single admission ticking option where there will be a bar and light fare buffet available. Tailgating options are outlined on our website and children under 12 will be admitted free. It’s difficult to predict what size crowd we will draw because this is our first year running the event, however, we could consider it a success to have a few thousand spectators in attendance.

“If you are tailgating, get dressed up in nice clothes. Bring whatever you want to eat and drink and be ready for a full day of action, Macauley added. “I think people will be really excited about the steeplechasing. It is an amazing spectacle. There is nothing else like it, and we’re excited to bring it to Ocala.”