The 2025 Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens, “Racing for the Arts,” is scheduled for November 15 in Pine Mountain, Georgia.
Story by Cara Clark
It began with a steeple in the distance. In 18th-century Ireland, thrill-seeking riders would challenge each other to wild cross-country races, galloping from one town to the next with nothing but open fields — and a church spire on the horizon — as their guide. There were no tracks, no grandstands, just hedges, ditches, stone walls, and raw determination. These impromptu contests, equal parts endurance test and daredevil spectacle, became the earliest form of what we now call the steeplechase.
The first recorded race thundered across the Irish countryside in 1752, from Buttevant to Doneraile in County Cork. And while today’s version may look more refined, the spirit remains the same. Watching sleek, powerful horses launch themselves over barriers at nearly 40 miles an hour still feels like a beautiful kind of madness — controlled chaos in motion.
From the rolling hills of Tennessee to the pine forests of Georgia and the historic streets of South Carolina, steeplechasing is far more than a sporting event in the South — it’s a living tradition, a celebration of community, and a tribute to equine excellence and Southern culture.
The horses themselves are a special breed. Many are retired flat-track racehorses, given a second career in jumping. They come from across the United States — South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia — and overseas from Ireland and England. Their jockeys, too, are an international mix.
Hoofbeats Through History
The Southern steeplechase circuit is grounded in a lineage of passion and purpose. In Pine Mountain, Georgia, where “the air carries the scent of autumn and the echoes of hooves thunder across the landscape,” the Steeplechase at Callaway Gardens is a vibrant celebration of sport, heritage, and philanthropy.
The forerunner of the Steeplechase at Callaway, the Hardscuffle Steeplechase, was founded in 1974 by Race Chairman Mason Hardaway Lampton’s father, Mason Houghland Lampton. The Callaway race, which he started in 1985, was envisioned as a sporting event and a cultural cornerstone for Columbus, Georgia, and the surrounding area.
“He believed strongly that the arts are critical in making a city attractive for families and businesses,” Mason explains. “As a native of Louisville, Kentucky, he brought with him a passion for both horses and culture. I’m proud to carry on his legacy.”
But the story doesn’t begin there. Steeplechasing runs deep in the Lampton bloodline. Mason’s grandfather, Dinwiddie Lampton, rode Rockmayne, the winner of the first Iroquois Steeplechase in Tennessee. This passion for the sport — an exhilarating test of speed, strategy, and endurance over fences —has become a personal tradition and a regional spectacle.
A Triumvirate of Tradition
Steeplechasing has flourished across the South for generations, creating its distinctive circuit where elegance and endurance meet. In Aiken, South Carolina, the sound of pounding hooves has echoed since the 1930s. The Aiken Steeplechase, founded by equestrian icons like Thomas Hitchcock and Temple Gwathmey, remains a cherished event on the Southern sporting calendar.
“The Steeplechase is deeply rooted in the rich history of the South's sporting life,” says Jessica Miller, event director. “Especially in Aiken, which is known to have been a winter colony resort.”
Miller herself is a product of that legacy: “My grandparents began attending in the late 1960s and later passed their tailgate spot down to my parents. The races have been a family tradition for as long as I can remember.”
In Nashville, Tennessee, the Iroquois Steeplechase gallops through history every second Saturday in May, hosted in the natural amphitheater of Percy Warner Park. Since 1941, it has been a highlight of the city’s social and sporting calendar. “Generations have gathered. .. creating memories with family and friends,” says Autumn Eklund, the event’s chief marketing officer. “Whether you come for the sport, the style, or the camaraderie, you’ll leave with memories that last a lifetime.”
The Sport Behind the Spectacle
Steeplechasing is a trial of grit, grace, and precision—a race that pits horse and rider against fences, water jumps, and undulating terrain.
“In the equine industry, steeplechasing is a true test of both speed and stamina,” says Autumn. “Watching a horse and jockey clear a fence in perfect rhythm is a moment that never loses its thrill.”
Mason agrees, especially at Callaway, where the course was purpose-built with hills to challenge horses in a way flat tracks never could. “It’s become a proving ground,” he says. “We’ve seen horses that were underwhelming on flat tracks become superstars in the steeplechase circuit.”
Aiken's Jessica adds that the sport demands courage as well as fitness. “Steeplechasing requires a unique combination of elements ... agility and bravery displayed by both the jockeys and the horses.”
These horses are often retired flat-track racers — older, stronger thoroughbreds transitioning into second careers.
“In steeplechase, speed alone isn’t enough — horses must also navigate jumps with precision,” Mason says.
A Community Affair
Across these Southern meets, steeplechase culture is defined as much by its people as its ponies.
In Georgia, the Callaway event is woven into the fabric of family and civic pride.
“We’re now seeing a third generation of families making memories here,” Mason says. “Many of today’s volunteers grew up watching their parents devote themselves to the event.”
The same is true in Aiken, where race day feels more like a reunion than a competition. “The steeplechase community is tightly connected,” Jessica says. “We frequently travel to each other’s events to show our support, as we are all working towards the same goal of keeping the sport alive and thriving.”
That spirit of camaraderie also beats strong in Nashville. “We share ideas, work to promote the sport collectively, and celebrate each other’s successes,” says Autumn.
More Than a Race
All three events — Callaway, Aiken, and Iroquois — operate as nonprofit organizations, directing proceeds to charitable causes and community enrichment. Mason shares the race’s philanthropic roots at Callaway: “This is about more than horses. It’s about what those horses help us build — stronger communities, vibrant cultural institutions, and lasting memories for families.”
In Aiken, the focus has expanded to include new family-friendly traditions like corgi races, live music, and vendor villages, ensuring that the next generation finds joy in the tradition. In Nashville, Autumn emphasizes that the race supports local nonprofits while honoring the legacy of the sport. Fashion and festivity are part of the draw, too.
“It’s our own spin on fall weekends in the South,” Mason says. “Instead of football, it’s food, fashion, and fast horses.”
Elegant tailgate spreads create an atmosphere as rich as the races themselves. Together, these three events form a vibrant network of tradition, competition, and community spirit. From the thunder of hooves in Nashville to the cheering crowds in Aiken and the rolling hills of Callaway Gardens, the heart of Southern steeplechasing beats strong.
Or as Mason puts it: “There’s nothing like watching these incredible animals do what comes naturally — running and jumping in a herd, trying to be the leader. It’s raw, beautiful competition.”
In the modern South, steeplechasing isn’t just a sport — it’s a way of life. And its story, rich with heritage and hope, continues to gallop into the future — hoofbeat by hoofbeat.
