Horsing around takes on a whole new meaning in Kershaw County. Long recognized as one of the nation’s most elite equestrian communities, Camden, S.C. boasts a thriving equine industry built on more than 200 years of American tradition.

Each year, more than 50,000 cheering spectators turn out for the Carolina Cup series at Camden’s historic Springdale Race Course. Established in 1930, the springtime Carolina Cup, together with November’s Colonial Cup, comprise the premier sporting events in South Carolina. Operated by the Carolina Cup Racing Association, the races exist to raise money for charity. The course also includes a year-round, 600-acre thoroughbred racehorse training center.

Visitors to the Springdale Race Course also can pay homage to America’s equestrian roots at the National Steeplechase Museum – the only museum dedicated to the horses, trainers, owners and riders of American Steeplechasing. The sport, which came to America in the 1800s, was named for early competitions in which races began at one church steeple and ended at another, with riders facing a rugged, obstacle-filled country terrain. In Camden, the museum serves to preserve documents, photographs, trophies, memorabilia, interactive exhibits and film tracing the sport’s roots to the 18th century.

“Camden and Kershaw County have been known as an equine destination since the last century,” says Hope Cooper, executive director of the National Steeplechase Museum. “In its days as a resort destination, visitors flocked in for the winter to play polo, fox hunt, and show and train race horses.”
 
In 2009, equestrian aficionados welcomed the opening of the South Carolina Equine Park. Located just off I-20 in Camden, the county-owned park offers riders and trainers more than 40 acres of show rings, cattle- and warm-up areas, refurbished stalls, a vendor area, restaurant, courtyard and RV sites. Much more than a recreation facility, the park is expected to generate up to $22 million annually in direct and indirect spending and encourage additional economic development.

In historic downtown Camden, the Camden Polo Field provides yet another reminder of Kershaw County’s rich equestrian past. Recognized as the second oldest polo field in America, the 1898 site once drew large crowds of winter tourists from throughout the world. Today, the field is home to the annual Camden Cup Polo Weekend. Every May, eager onlookers once again gather as regional teams compete for the Camden Cup Trophy.

From polo fields to racetracks, Kershaw County truly is an equestrian destination, and you can bet that folks here wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Our equestrian heritage contributes to the unique lifestyle of the area, setting it apart from many other small historic towns,” Cooper says.