Iroquois Steeplechase celebrates 75 years
Nashville’s Rite of Spring Since 1941 Reaches Milestone, Celebrates Traditions
The Iroquois Steeplechase has been Nashville’s rite of spring since 1941, attracting more than 25,000 spectators to watch the best horses and riders in the world race over hurdles on a three-mile turf track. Held the second Saturday of May each year at Percy Warner Park, May 14, 2016, will mark 75 years for the Iroquois Steeplechase and more than seven decades of Music City’s annual celebration of time-honored traditions, Tennessee hospitality and Southern fashions.
Those who attend the event enjoy areas for families, well-appointed tents and individually organized tailgates where the emphasis is on race day pickings, larger-than-life hats, Honey Jack Juleps and crowd-pleasing recipes. More importantly, guests support a cause at the heart of the event: Since being designated as the official charity in 1981, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has received more than $10 million from Iroquois Steeplechase proceeds.
In addition, the Iroquois Steeplechase has partnered with the world-famous Cheltenham Racecourse in England to offer a $500,000 bonus challenge to any horse that can win both the Group 1 World Hurdle at Cheltenham in March and the 75th Anniversary Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois Hurdle Stakes in May–or vice versa–within a 12‐month period. The Brown Advisory Iroquois Cheltenham Challenge was coordinate with the 75th anniversary in mind, and looks to reignite the cross‐Atlantic rivalry that has been a part of steeplechase racing through history.
Tickets to the 75th Iroquois Steeplechasea are now on sale, and range from $20 general admission tickets and $100 tailgating singles to luxurious VIP packages that scale in price. For more information on the 75th anniversary or to reserve a space, go to www.iroquoissteeplechase.org.
