Irish-bred Black Jack Blues, relishing the soft going at Far Hills Races in New Jersey Oct. 22, strode away to a front-running seven-length victory in the $250,000 Grand National (NSA-I).
Saturday, October 22, 2011Lou Raffetto, formerly the chief operating officer and president of the Maryland Jockey Club, has been named president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Sunday, June 26, 2011The National Steeplechase Association has obtained accident-insurance coverage for its licensed jockeys.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011The National Steeplechase Association's board of directors has approved a schedule of 20 race meets for the spring racing season, with total purses exceeding $2-million.
Thursday, January 20, 2011Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Slip Away swept to the lead approaching the Springdale Course's final turn and powered away to a remarkable 25 3/4-length victory in the Colonial Cup Steeplechase at Camden, S.C., on Nov. 13.
Saturday, November 13, 2010The National Steeplechase Association will host a summer schedule of racing at racetracks from Virginia to New York, with tentative purses exceeding $800,000.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010Don Clippinger, an Eclipse Award-winning writer with wide experience in the racing industry, has been hired as the National Steeplechase Association's communications consultant.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The National Steeplechase Association's 19-race spring season begins March 20 with the traditional Aiken Spring chase in Aiken, S.C.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010The National Steeplechase Association announced that Lou Raffetto will leave his position effective June 30 to pursue other opportunities within the Thoroughbred racing industry.
Friday, January 22, 2010The inaugural U.S. Steeplechase Championships are set to go Saturday, Oct. 17, with six events being conducted in Far Hills, New Jersey, and five races from the International Gold Cup in The Plains, Virginia.
Friday, October 16, 2009eBet Technologies Inc. announced Oct. 2 that it has launched an Advance Deposit Wagering operation for the National Steeplechase Association.
Friday, October 02, 2009The National Steeplechase Association announced Aug. 19 the inaugural running of the U.S. Steeplechase Championships on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
The 29th annual open house at Saratoga, scheduled for Sunday, July 26, will include five races -- four steeplechase races and one turf race -- presented by the National Steeplechase Association.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Good Night Shirt is the overwhelming favorite to win the $150,000 Iroquois Steeplechase Stakes (NSA-I) for the third consecutive year May 9 in Nashville, Tenn.
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
Harold A. "Sonny" Via Jr.'s Good Night Shirt repeated as champion steeplechaser, taking his second consecutive Eclipse Award in the same runaway fashion he used to win five grade I stakes during the 2008 season.
Monday, January 26, 2009The 2008 National Steeplechase Association season, which came to a close Nov.29 with the inaugural Palm Beach race meet, set new highs in total and average purses.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Good Night Shirt completed a perfect season with a gutsy victory in the $150,000 Colonial Cup (NSA-I) at Springdale Race Course Nov. 16, running down Preemptive Strike in deep stretch to score by a neck.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Defending steeplechase champion Good Night Shirt served notice that he won't give up his title easily with a convincing victory in his 2008 debut April 12 in the $100,000 W Hotel/Irongate Capital Georgia Cup (NSA-I) at the Atlanta Steeplechase.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Lou Raffetto Jr., most recently president and chief operating officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, has been named chief executive officer of the National Steeplechase Association.
Thursday, March 06, 2008Following a Jan. 17 meeting of the National Steeplechase Association's board of directors in Baltimore, Md., president Franny Abbott announced a 2008 preliminary plan to restructure the organization that governs the sport in the United States.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
National Steeplechase Association purses were a record $5,357,645 in 2007, up 10.5% from last year, according to the organization's year-end statistics released Nov. 30.
Friday, November 30, 2007Franny Abbott plans to broaden steeplechasing's position within Thoroughbred racing in his role as new president of the National Steeplechase Association.
Friday, January 19, 2007The National Steeplechase Association's 2006 season begins March 5 with the sixth annual Little Everglades Steeplechase in Dade City, Fla. The meet cards six races (four over hurdles and two on the flat) including the $35,000 Little Everglades Stakes.
Friday, March 03, 2006ST Publishing announced Monday the formation of The Times, a new publication that will focus on the equestrian sports of steeplechase racing and eventing. The move combines ST's two publications Steeplechase and Eventing Times, and will take effect at the start of the 2006 publishing season in March.
Monday, January 09, 2006The 2005 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase (NSA-I), held Oct. 22 at the Far Hills in New Jersey, will be the subject of expanded television coverage in the United States and Great Britain this week.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005Two-time NSA jockey champion Dave Bentley announced his retirement at the start of the 2005 fall season. Bentley, 35, began riding in the U.S. in 2000 and won championships in 2002 and 2003.
Friday, September 30, 2005The April 22 Royal Chase at Keeneland (NSA-I) drew nominations from previous Eclipse Award winners Hirapour and McDynamo. Both horses are also prior winners of the $150,000 Royal Chase, the second-richest race on the National Steeplechase Association calendar.
Thursday, April 14, 2005The $75,000 Georgia Cup (NSA-II) promises to be an uphill battle Saturday. The two-mile stakes is one of the shorter events on the National Steeplechase Association schedule, but the stretch is a rising slope that will provide a steeper test than the distance itself. Preemptive Strike, fifth on the 2004 money list, is ready to rise to the challenge.
Thursday, April 14, 2005Following the lead of other U.S. racing jurisdictions, the National Steeplechase Association will randomly test for alkalizing agents or "milkshakes" on race day. The enforcement begins March 26 at the Aiken Steeplechase in Aiken, S.C.
Thursday, March 24, 2005The National Steeplechase Association's 2005 calendar begins March 6 with the fourth annual Little Everglades Steeplechase in Dade City, Fla. The tour's southern-most stop kicks off a 24-stop spring circuit that offers total purses of $2.6 million.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005Michael Moran's McDynamo, bidding for a second consecutive Eclipse Award, leads a list of eight Thoroughbreds nominated to the $100,000 Marion du Pont Scott Colonial Cup (NSA-I).
Wednesday, November 10, 2004Longtime National Steeplechase Association executive secretary John E. "Jack" Cooper died Sept. 9 at Rosehaven Nursing Home near his home in Litchfield, Conn. Mr. Cooper, who was recovering from pneumonia, was 93.
Friday, September 10, 2004The Fair Hill Races, the only National Steeplechase Association race meet with pari-mutuel wagering, brings out the horses and the fans for its annual Memorial Day meet Monday.
Friday, May 28, 2004Seven hurdle stakes horses will square off in Saturday's $100,000 Iroquois Steeplechase (NSA-I), at three miles the longest hurdle race on the National Steeplechase Association calendar, in Nashville, Tenn.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004Preemptive Strike and veteran Lord Zada headline the list of nominations for Keeneland's $150,000 Royal Chase (NSA-I), the richest race on the National Steeplechase Association's spring schedule, to be run Friday, April 16.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004Unlike the hundreds of Thoroughbreds nominated to the Visa Triple Crown Challenge, chances for a steeplechase Triple Crown winner are much better, with only 11 horses nominated to the first leg, the two-mile Georgia Cup (NSA-I).
Thursday, April 01, 2004The National Steeplechase Association has adopted a new whip rule beginning with its April 3 racing at Southern Pines, N.C. The new rule requires the use of a cushioned, shock-absorbent whip by all jockeys. The change in the rule follows that of the English Jockey Club and was created to improve the racing conditions for Thoroughbred horses competing in NSA events.
Wednesday, March 31, 2004Aiken hosts the Regions Bank Imperial Cup on Saturday. Al Skywalker heads a group slated to compete March 27 at Camden. McDynamo is sidelined.
Thursday, March 18, 2004Jonathan Sheppard has taken over for George Strawbridge as president of the National Steeplechase Association. Sheppard, who lives in Pennsylvania, was elected Jan. 16 to head a 15-member board of directors.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004Citing a new contract with horsemen, Churchill Downs halted its seven-year history with steeplechasing by canceling the $100,000 Hard Scuffle Stakes for 2004.
Wednesday, December 31, 2003Michael Moran's McDynamo was installed as the heavy favorite over seven other entrants in Saturday's $175,000 Breeders' Cup Steeplechase (NSA-I) to be run at the Far Hills Races in Far Hills, N.J.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003Il Capitano, a 6-year-old gelding who has spent most of his career in England, is the highweight and highly unknown factor in Thursday's 62nd running of the $100,000-added New York Turf Writers Cup, the major steeplechase stakes race of the Saratoga Race Course season and a National Steeplechase Association grade I race.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003The $100,000 Joe Aitcheson Stakes, second leg of the Steeplechase Triple Crown, has been canceled for 2003 because of the weather at Pimlico Race Course along with scheduling conflicts for the three-race series.
Thursday, May 22, 2003Thirteen steeplechase stakes horses were nominated Tuesday to the $150,000 added Royal Chase (NSA-I) to be run at Keeneland Friday, April 25.
Wednesday, April 16, 2003Proven stakes performers Tres Touche and Al Skywalker meet Saturday in the year's first National Steeplechase Association Grade I stakes, the $100,000 Carolina First Carolina Cup at Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C.
Thursday, March 27, 2003The National Steeplechase Association crowned its divisional champions at their annual awards dinner in Camden, S.C. on Nov. 17.
Tuesday, December 03, 2002Here are next year's scheduled racing days for NSA-sanctioned events.
Tuesday, December 03, 2002Opening day 2002 for the National Steeplechase Association was pushed back one day with the cancellation of Saturday's hurdle race at Tampa Bay Downs.
Wednesday, March 06, 2002Citing budgetary constraints, the National Steeplechase Association announced Friday, Dec. 28, that it has eliminated the position of chief operating officer.
Friday, December 28, 2001The final stop on the NSA's 2001 calendar will include two races at Florida's Calder Race Course on Sunday, Dec. 9 and preliminary indications point to solid fields for both races.
Thursday, November 29, 2001
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