Spring Steeplechase Season Starts March 20th!!

AfleetTreet · **Posted:** March 10th, 2010, 12:34 am

(Courtesy of Bloodhorse)

Steeplechase Spring Season Begins March 20

By [url=/horse-racing/articles/author/blood-horse-staff]Blood-Horse Staff[/url]

Posted: Tuesday, March 9, 2010 8:40 AM
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

Betthecathorse · **Posted:** March 10th, 2010, 5:16 pm

I guess it's time to brush off the NSA link.....

AfleetTreet · **Posted:** March 10th, 2010, 10:55 pm

Gosh I barely know anything about Steeplechase...I used to pick from what Siren Song posted for us and pray I would come in. I have a couple past faves though and so hopefully I can get it enough on Tv to keep up with it. Do you follow it regularly Beau??? ANy tips you can give me about it?

Betthecathorse · **Posted:** March 11th, 2010, 5:32 pm

Not so much anymore, Treet. Matt McCarron retired last year, and so did several of my favorite horses. I used to go on Pedigreequery a lot to get some idea of how good various horses were. You don't get PP's on chasers like you do on the flat races, but after a while, you do pick up on trends.

oso7 · **Posted:** March 11th, 2010, 5:46 pm

I wonder what ever happened to Sirensong? She disappeared that final year on the MSNBC board, I hope nothing bad happened to her. Yes, picking the chasers was fun but more like hitting a dart board. They sure had some great names though.

Betthecathorse · **Posted:** March 11th, 2010, 5:52 pm

Ah, who could forget Good Night Shirt - his name always reminded me of a 'Before and After' puzzle on Wheel of Fortune. And McDynamo, remember him?

I wonder about Sirensong, too. She just seemed to drop out of sight. She was a terrific mentor, if it wasn't for her, I never would have done as well as I did in that Fantasy Steeplechase game.

karendeebee · **Posted:** March 11th, 2010, 7:14 pm

she was just starting to get me drawn in before she disappeared... once she was gone, I drifted away from it again. I do remember Good Night Shirt though...

Betthecathorse · **Posted:** March 12th, 2010, 8:30 am

Eeek - it looks as though NSA has made some major alterations to their website. The old one wasn't that easy to navigate, we'll just have to see how user-friendly the current model is.

AfleetTreet · **Posted:** March 13th, 2010, 2:32 pm

*Sigh* Well then Beau I shall rely on your help to keep me afloat! I'll do my best with picks...WHo could forget McDynamo and Good Night Shirt?? What a wonderful couple horses they were.

As for Sirensong, I had her email and sent a few to her hoping she would get them but I don't think she has that email address anymore. BUMMER! I have missed her steeplechase contributions and wisdom as it seems she was the STeeplechase glue that held all of us together! Hopefully we'll run into her some day and she will re-join us....I DID manage to locate Scarletandgreypimpernel on one forum though...Hoping there is a way to get in touch and send an invite to HRM...Would be so nice to find some people that we know that didn't manage to rejoin us here or at the UK board...I'll bet many of them wonder what happened to all of us as well.

Hopefully we'll be able to make a few good picks anyway...I am sure willing to try since I have enjoy all the chase races I have had the privilege of watching...we don't broadcast many up here so I am very limited but like to watch them.

Spring Steeplechase Season Starts March 20th!!

Steeplechase Spring Season Begins March 20

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