Booth Malone left his day job to pursue a career in fine art 35 years ago, and found his passion in painting horses and hounds.
Say the words "Triple Crown" to folks and you're likely to get a variety of answers.
The Aiken Triple Crown features three equine-related events happening on three consecutive weekends in March: the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.
The Aiken Triple Crown is  comprised of the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.Â
Community support is the bedrock of local journalism. If you aren't already among our loyal subscribers, please consider supporting our important work of covering Aiken County and beyond.
Food. Fashion. Fun.
The third jewel of Aiken's Triple Crown – Pacers and Polo – will return to Aiken this weekend after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol, which will be handling Aiken Spring Steeplechase traffic this weekend, is urging patrons to be mindful when parking at the event and avoid drinking and driving.
The dominating victory by Dr. Marbooz in the City of Aiken Trophy on Saturday was an early birthday present for the 5-year-old gelding’s owner and breeder.
The Aiken Triple Crown is made up of three equine-related events happening on three consecutive weekends in March: the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.Â
The time is fast approaching to eat, drink and be merry again while watching horses and their riders compete.
Saturday mornings for the past several months have included some extra challenges for Ida Sankey and Kahla Onetto, with New Bridge Polo Club as the host site for Aiken Peewee Polo, offering the chance for some of Aiken's youngest equestrians to learn the basics of the sport. Â
Over the years, people in the Aiken community have trained thousands of horses.
The 79th edition of the Aiken Trials is set to make its glorious return in March after missing a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Aiken’s Triple Crown and Steeplechase events are returning after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with its triumphant return, fashion and the bold choices made by spectators also return.
Polo season returns to Aiken in a few months with some changes in tow.
The process took a couple of years, but retired teacher Karey Santos now has one of her horse-friendly creations circulating throughout Aiken, as the artist behind this year's poster to promote the Aiken Spring Steeplechase.Â
Complete with a water treadmill, dry treadmill, theraplate and solarium, Balanced Sport Horses in Windsor offers a wide array of equine services.
The Aiken Polo Club is gearing up for the 2022 season and their 140th year.
The Aiken Triple Crown is made up of three equine-related events happening on three consecutive weekends in March: the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.Â
Watching horses compete is a thrill. But for some of us, a day at the races is less about who finishes in the money than it is about what there is to eat. From that perspective, Aiken's Triple Crown is the ultimate spring tailgate.
Horses and the equestrian way of life have been part of Aiken's fabric for well over a century.
The generation gap between Rebekah Hammond and Hector Garza is wide, but their efforts to bridge it have been successful.
Aiken natives and travelers gathered with their horses at the historic Aiken Training Track Sunday afternoon to partake in the annual Ride the Rail event.
A win eluded Dream Shake in the $750,000 Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.
Polo is in high gear in Aiken County every spring and fall, with relatively mild temperatures helping create a prime time for two- and four-legged participants alike.
For local equestrian photographer Nick Bridges, the key to honing your craft is keeping a positive attitude.
Aiken County, with an assortment of top-flight equestrian facilities, is home base for hundreds of competitive riders who travel around the country and beyond, and local acreage also includes a few places where prospective riders can get a feel for the basics of horsemanship.Â
The Aiken Steeplechase Association’s new racecourse that is under construction on Aiken’s east side is expected to enrich the community while preserving a local equine sporting tradition.
Since reopening in December after a months-long pandemic closure, Lisa Hall said it's been pretty much business as usual at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.
The success of the Aiken Horse Park Foundation’s Bruce’s Field, where the $50,000 LiftMaster Grand-Prix Eventing showcase will be held Friday and Saturday, has exceeded the expectations of the people involved in its development.
Some of the top riders in the sport of three-day eventing – both nationally and in the world – have close ties to Aiken.
Like anyone else with a passion, local artist Joy Abbott has to sideline her painting hobby to commit to a full-time job and personal obligations.
Thoroughbreds named for two local private schools are among the entries in the City of Aiken Trophy, which will be the feature race during the 78th Aiken Trials on Saturday.
Those in the medical profession are never truly "off the clock."
One of Aiken's newest equestrian facilities, just north of the city limits, focuses on bringing experienced horse handlers together to share their expertise "to empower individuals with special needs and their families," as indicated in the mission statement of Great Oak Equine Assisted Programs.Â
You'll be glad you didn't forget to pack these items when attending Aiken Triple Crown events:
Trying to find something to wear for the races that isn't a dress? Fox and Lady sales associate Winter Thompson helps bring spring ideas. Re-create your favorites with these pants-inspired outfits.Â
Last year, Logan Bearden rode Ron Madden’s filly Gallanor to a first-place finish in the Aiken Trials. This year, Bearden is back as a trainer with co-trainer Justin Lorenzo Rivera, preparing for another victory in the Trials with Madden’s horse My Boy Paddy (Paddy O’Prado – Wildheartsneverd…
So you thought you could do it all?
Dedicated and enthusiastic, Justin Rivera and Logan Bearden represent the next generation at the Aiken Training Track.
The Aiken Triple Crown is made up of three equine-related events happening on three consecutive weekends in March: the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.Â
The Aiken Triple Crown is made up of three equine-related events happening on three consecutive weekends in March: the Aiken Trials, the Aiken Spring Steeplechase and Pacers & Polo.Â
Portraits from past Aiken Triple Crown events.
Aiken has a rich history in all things equestrian and is widely known as a horse lovers’ paradise.
Tailgating is one of many draws to Aiken's Triple Crown events. If you're tailgating railside this year, here are a few drink recipes to sip as you watch the horses go by.Â
People come to Aiken from all over the world for the Aiken Triple Crown, but many may not know the definition of a "pacer" in the third event Pacers and Polo.
The third jewel of the Aiken Triple Crown is Pacers and Polo, which will benefit scholarships for students-athletes at USC Aiken.
Running Indigo Heart in the $30,000 Budweiser Imperial Cup wasn’t originally in trainer Ricky Hendriks’ plans, but it turned out to be the right decision.
With the Pacer as its mascot, USC Aiken has a special connection to Aiken's equine community.
USC Aiken's new polo team might have competitors seeing double.
The road to recovery has been a long one for Kensington Court.
In at least one way, the Rev. Grant Wiseman is a wild and crazy guy.