Carolina Horse Park, located in Hoke County in between Aberdeen and Raeford, announces the 53rd running of Stoneybrook Steeplechase.

“This year, the well-known Stoneybrook Steeplechase will savor its rich history as well as new beginnings with an added race and sponsor,” says Elizabeth Darling, Carolina Horse Park’s executive director.

Six exciting races plus the pony race will be run this year which is a first for Stoneybrook.

“This me-and more stampeding horses through your tailgate contest,” says Phoebe Walsh Robertson with a laugh.

The Carolina Ford Dealers’ sponsorship will complement the continuing sponsor support of BB&T, Lumbee River EMC, Spring and the McCashin Family.

Gates open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 3.

Robertson, the race director, grew up with Stoneybrook when the races were held in Southern Pines. Her grandfather, Michael “Mickey” Walsh founded Stoneybrook at the family’s training stable in the 1940s.

Robertson introduced Stoneybrook to the Carolina Horse Park. Not much has changed about Stoneybrook.

“Building on old traditions with new faces and entertainment is a great way to share this exciting sport with others,” says Robertson. “Race day is a lot of fun and there is, of course, great racing.”

After the course walk for children of all ages at 10:30 a.m., opening ceremonies will take place. The Hoke County R.O.T.C. will raise the flag followed by the national anthem, which will be sung by Judy Strother, a member of Ashley Heights Baptist Church in Aberdeen.

The tailgating and hat contests begin at 11 a.m. in the infield and the pony race continues that tradition at 11:45 a.m.

Vendors will be on hand for a majority of the day offering food or wares and even hat if you happened to forget your spring bonnet or creative race day chapeau.

Pony Race

Bob Tate Realty and the Tate family are the new sponsors for the pony race. Dubbed the “Busy Bee Fat Furlong,” this year’s winner will be the first to possess the perpetual trophy that bears the race’s creative name.

The 40-inch Shetland pony, who stood at the equivalent of 10 hands, was a teacher to dozens of young riders for many years.

“Busy Bee was known for her antics,” says Bob Tate of Southern Pines. “She would put her head down to eat while being ridden which often would cause the saddle, or even worse, the saddle and rider, to slide over her neck and head.”

Busy Bee would often find a weak spot in the fence at the Tate’s former residence on East Connecticut Avenue. She would lean against it until it would break or bend enough for her to slip through and then she would trot off to find food at a nearby farm.

“She always found her way into the neighbors’ oat bin where she would help herself,” Tate says.

According to Mary Francis Tate, Bob’s wife, Busy Bee lived to be 34 years old. She says she will be fondly remembered and loved by the Tate family and all who came to contact with her. That could be quite a few equestrians from both North Carolina and Virginia. The late Elizabeth Tate or “Lizzie” often used Busy Bee to train students.

“Mrs. Tate taught riding with ponies for over 50 years,” Mary Francis Tate says. “She bought Busy Bee originally for our daughter Betsy when she was just 1-and-a-half years old.”

Lizzie Tate felt riders should be at least five or six before getting a pony to care for but she knew Busy Bee would be special. Lizzie Tate often paired riders who needed a challenge with Busy Bee to learn the ropes.

“The pony sensed things about people,” Bob Tate says.

After years with the Tates, Busy Bee headed to St. Andrews in Laurinburg where teacher Shelby French, a colleague of Lizzie Tate, had Busy Bee taking her young students through the paces.

“The race certainly honors Busy Bee but is as much for all ponies as it is for her,” Bob Tate says.

As for the trophy, it is truly a one-of-a-kind piece sculpted first in wax by Betsy Tate, who is now a realtor and artist living in Raleigh. The trophy was to later be gilded in a metal locally by Hawkins and Harkness.

“It’s ‘Busy Bee’ as she saw her,” says Mary Francis Tate.

The Tate name is no stranger to equestrians here as, among a slate of other accomplishments, a jump at the Carolina Horse Park course bears “Lizzie’s” name.

The “Busy Bee” race begins at 11:45 a.m.

This pony race has been an ongoing tradition for Stoneybrook starting as far back as the 1950s. Children from around the area compete once around the track, leaping to fame and glory over series of hay bales.

Support Sources

According to Darling, it takes a number of groups to support Stoneybrook.

“From the North Carolina State Highway Patrol to members of the Hoke County Sheriff’s Office to area civic groups, everyone’s participation and help is important,” she says.

A number of civic groups are involved this year including the Boy Scouts of America Troops 410 and 404, the Southern Pines Rotary Club, Raeford Kiwanis Club, the Kiwanis of the Pines and Ashley Heights Baptist Church. These workers are compensated with a donation to their organization. These civic groups are visible to spectators as many manage the gates, will call areas and help with tickets and program sales or parking and trash removal.

BB&T bank provides employees at no charge to help with post-event accounting.

And the workers will be moving quickly to keep up with the fast pace of the Steeplechases which are notorious for fast paces and excitement at the jumps. Since Stoneybrook’s beginning, thousands of spectators have enjoyed the races that are run in the spring. The racing season in the United States begins in early March and continues through November.

Carolina Horse Park is dedicated to keeping this Sandhills traditions going, says a spokesperson.

Schedule of Events

STONEYBROOK EVENTS ARE HELD RAIN OR SHINE

NO REFUNDS FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

Race Day