The National Steeplechase Association’s 19-race spring season begins March 20 with the traditional Aiken Spring chase in Aiken, S.C.

According to a release from the NSA, the schedule includes a return of the Tanglewood Steeplechase in Clemmons, N.C. May 8.

After a year in which developments within NSA included expansion of streaming video, inaugurating the televised U.S. Championship Day, and a one-day race meet at Monmouth Park, NSA president Guy J. Torsilieri and the board of directors are planning for the future as they go about selecting a successor to chief executive officer Lou Raffetto.

Raffetto has announced he will leave his position effective June 30 to pursue other interests in the Thoroughbred industry.

"Collectively, the NSA board represents decades upon decades of experience in running race meets, acting as racing officials, owning or training racehorses, and providing leadership to the sport in so many ways," Torsilieri said in a letter to board members. "As a board, we are determined to marshal this bounty of knowledge and apply it to keeping American steeplechasing on a growth path. It can be done, and it will be done. It will take lots of hard work, and it will require both the patience and persistence of our NSA board, our executive staff, our race chairmen, our horsemen, and our members. Together, we can lead American steeplechasing toward a bright future. And, we will."

Torsilieri said one of the organization’s major goals this year is to increase purses.

National Steeplechase Association Spring Calendar:

Aiken Spring Aiken, S.C. Saturday, March 20

Carolina Cup Camden, S.C. Saturday, March 27

Stoneybrook Raeford, N.C. Saturday, April 3

My Lady’s Manor Monkton, Md. Saturday, April 10

Block House Tryon, N.C. Saturday, April 17

Grand National Butler, Md. Saturday, April 17

Middleburg Middleburg, Va. Saturday, April 17

Atlanta Kingston, Ga. Saturday, April 24

Foxfield Spring Charlottesville, Va. Saturday, April 24

Maryland Hunt Cup Glyndon, Md. Saturday, April 24

Queen’s Cup Mineral Springs, N.C. Saturday, April 24

Virginia Gold Cup The Plains, Va. Saturday, May 1

Winterthur Winterthur, Del. Sunday, May 2

Iroquois Nashville, Tenn. Saturday, May 8

Tanglewood Clemmons, N.C. Saturday, May 8

Willowdale Kennett Square, Pa. Sunday, May 9

Radnor Malvern, Pa. Saturday, May 15

Strawberry Hill New Kent, Va. Saturday, May 15

Fair Hill Fair Hill, Md. Saturday, May 29