A Distinguished History

The Camden Training Center was created in 1935-36 by Marion dePont Somerville, in the final flush of the famed "hotel era" that made Camden and Aiken, S.C. a destination for sportsmen and horse racing.  She acquired the old Camden Course, a polo field and a 1/2 mile track from the Camden Riding and Driving Club, and later the Springdale Race Course, to create a first class training and racing center.  

Continuing Success in 2008

Camden Training Center's illustrious history is still being written.  Recent wins by horses that spent their yearling year at Camden include:

• Matt's Broken Vow, who was prepared at CTC by Custom Care Equine, won the Canadian Derby on Aug. 23. Click here to view the full story on bloodhorse.com

• Follow the Rules, a Peace Rules colt, won in Kentucky for trainer Walter Bender after being prepared by Mickey Preger at Camden Training Center.  
• Shadwell Farms' Alwajeeha showed well for trainer Kairan McLaughlin in the Lake George Stakes at Saratoga this summer after being prepared at CTC in 2005 by Bob Witham.
• Lost Without You did well for trainer Peter Pugh after preparing at CTC with Fitzdalton Stables.
• Dreamalong placed third at Del Mar for trainer Dan Hendricks after preparing at CTC with Fitzdalton Stables.
• Annihilation placed second in two Del Mar Races; also trained with Dan Hendricks after preparing at CTC with Fitzdalton Stables.
• Edition Farm's Ouchy Night won at Belmont after being prepared at CTC by Wooten Stables
• Megachurch won at Delaware for trainer R.S. Evans after being prepared at CTC by Wooten Stables.
• Beau Dare, owned by Mike Walts and trained by Bruce Levine, won a stake earlier in the summer at Monmouth and was second in a stake at Monmouth in August.

Older Camden graduates, fresh after a winter's R&R on our year-round turf, have also been running extremely well in 2008.  Among the older winners: 

• Bella Atrrice has won three times after wintering with Fitzdalton Stables. Her new trainer is Bruce Brown.
• Lyke a Hurricane and Cagey Girl have been winning for trainer Dave Duggan; wintered at CTC with Fitzdalton Stables.
• The Elkstone Group's Mac N Mayo won three in a row for trainer Mike Rogers, including the Malvern Rose stakes race at Presque Isle Downs; wintered at CTC with Custom Care Equine.
• Shadwell Farms' 5-yr-old Abraaj won the Alfred Vanderbilt Handicap in Saratoga for trainer Kairan McLaughlin; wintered at CTC with Bob Witham.
• After leaving CTC, The Elkstone Group's Lacewell won six races straight for trainer Michael Beck including the West Virginia Legislature Chairman’s Cup Stakes; wintered at CTC with Custom Care Equine.
• Nyala Farms' Banrock won the West Point Handicap for trainer Tom Bush; wintered at CTC with Custom Care Equine; more on Banrock.

Ongoing Roster of Winners

Over the years, many outstanding stake horses have hit their stride at the Camden Training Center, among them Ambassador of Luck, Annie Lip, Assault Lane, Bail Jumper, Battleship, Bronze Babu, Celtic Ash, Chief ton, Chompion, Clef D'Argent, Coastal, Coronado's Quest, Cosmonaut, Counterpart, Dahaar, Damascus, Distorted Humor, Forengo, French Colonial, Hoist the Flag, Hollin Blade, Honorable Mill, Inside Information, Jazil, Lure Peach, Miss Buffam, Mongo, Oompau, Phalanx, Private Terms, Proud Delta, Revedere, Rhythm, Ruffian, Solid Mist, Temperance Hill, Tom Rolfe and Tureta.

Jazil, the 2006 winner of the Belmont Stakes, spent his early training at Camden Training Center.  Another Camden graduate, Dahaar, recently won the Cigar Mile, defeating Breeder Cup Champion Midnight Lute.

According to Bob Withan of Shadwell Farms, "Dahaar is a fine horse, but tough to train, so we brought him here for a couple of seasons rather than moving him earlier to another race track. The conditions and training options here were ideal for working with him."

A Rich Racing Heritage

Our beneficial climate and turf conditions have made Camden thoroughbred horse country since the late 1700s, and a racing center since the early 1800s.  We invite you to read a detailed history of Camden's early racing history, courtesy of the National Steeplechase Museum.