Aiken Mile Track, horse racing venue in Aiken, South Carolina
The Aiken Mile Track is a horse racing venue in Aiken, South Carolina, consisting of three separate courses designed for different training purposes. The facility includes a one-mile racing oval, a seven-eighths mile exercise track, and a half-mile training track, along with brick stables, frame barns, grooms' cottages, and a grandstand built during its original development.
The Aiken Mile Track was built in 1936 by Ira Coward on the former Hassler Polo Fields, originally serving to train standardbred trotters. The facility quickly expanded with a turf track added in 1937 and a steeplechase course in 1938, leading to the inaugural Imperial Cup hurdle race, which became a major event on the local racing calendar.
The Aiken Mile Track served the Winter Colony, a wealthy community that made Aiken their seasonal home. The track reflects the deep connection residents and visitors shared with horse racing and training, a tradition that remains central to local identity.
The track sits near Aiken's center, only a few miles from downtown in a quiet area with open fields. The site is typically privately owned and not open to the public, so visitors should respect access restrictions and seek permission from the owners before visiting.
The track was built during the Great Depression in 1936, demonstrating how central horse racing was to the town's identity, and was created by developer Ira Coward for local horsemen. It remained active during World War II, highlighting its importance to the community despite broader economic hardships.
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