AIKEN, S.C.--The top steeplechase trainers, owners, jockeys and horses were honored at an Awards Gala that showed the health of the sport.
Jack Fisher
The Gala was held after the Aiken Fall Steeplechase on Saturday, Nov. 23.
For the first time ever the National Steeplechase Association distributed over $7 million in purses at 27 races meets, Saratoga, Colonial Downs and Belmont at Aqueduct.
Four Grade 1 races were added, the Comonwealth Cup at the Virginia Gold Cup, the Beverly Steinman at Aqueduct, the Will Allison at the International Gold Cup and the return of the Colonial Cup.
The awards highlighted the depth of the trainers involved with steeplechasing, as along with Jack Fisher and Leslie Young who won the top awards, another four trainers conditioned horses that won in various categories.
And for the first time, two trainers earned over $1 million and a jockey earned over $1 million.
Jack Fisher led in Trainer, Money Won with $1,274,600 over Leslie Young with $1,197,300 and Keri Brion with $724,400.
This was Fisher's 13th time leading in Money Won and his seventh time winning over $1 million.
Fisher also tied with Young for Races Won, with each winning 29 races, while Brion again was third with 13 races won,
"I guess the Races Won title s considered the most important, but I'd rather win the Money Won title," said Fisher. "I thought it was good to tie with Leslie for Races Won. I was so far behind after the spring races, But I don't think Leslie won anything over the summer, so that helped us."
FISHER ALSO trains Snap Decision, who was the leading Horse, Money Won with $337,500, over Gold Charm with $170,700 and L'Imperator with $167,500.
Fisher had previously said Snap would run in the Iroquois next spring and then would be retired.
"That's still the plan," said Fisher. "He won't go to Cheltenham in 2026."
Young not only won over $1 million for the first time but also won or tied for Trainer, Races Won for the third time and was the leading Timber trainer in Races Won.
"I think I'm the first woman to win that title three times," said Young. "Janet Elliot won it twice. We had a good year, with a lot of wins, seconds and thirds."
"I'm happy with the way the horses ran," she said. "We have good owners, good riders and good help. Everything came together. We'll have some down time and then begin jogging horses on Jan. 1. You'd better not be hungover after New Year's Eve, because it's back to reality on the first."
Super Chunk,trained by Sean McDermott was Leading 3-Year-Old with a win and a second.
Garloun (Ire), trained by Keri Brion, was Leading Novice Horse with three wins and a third.
Gold Charm, trained by Cyril Murphy, was the Leading Filly and Mare with three wins and a third.
Mystic Strike, trained by Todd McKenna, was Timber Horse, Money Won with $79,500.
Graham Watters won both the Jockey, Money Won and Races Won titles and was the first jockey ever to win over $1 million in purses.
Watters won with $1,256.150 over Jamie Bargary with $856,700 and Stephen Mulqueen with $660,200.
Watters led in Races Won with 26 wins over Barary with 17 wins and Gerard Galligan with 15 wins.
Dan Nevin was the Leading Apprentice Rider with six wins over Evan Dwan with five wins and Virginia Korrell with four wins.
Bruton Street-US won Owner, Money Won with $599,200 over Leipers Fork Steeplechase with $481,700 and Irv Naylor with $476,060.
In Timber Standings, Upland Partners was leading Owner, Money Won with $121,700, McKenna was Trainer, Money Won with $169.700 over Joe Davies with $164,050, and Teddy Davies led in both Rider, Races Won, where he tied with Freddie Proctor with five wins each and in Rider, Money Won with $120,650 over Galligan with $108,950.
