News & Stories
High Hampton Horse Races
Kentucky Derby parties often mark the beginning of Cashiers' Summer season. Starting in May and concluding in November, the Horse Races were the family-favorite evening activity for many years. With two dice in hand and a wooden horse, the children vied for coveted jockey positions. Every night, wooden horses named Hampton Lady, Mountain Filly, McKee Maverick, Will to Win, Ghost Rider, Heaton Owl and Halsted Stallion were placed on the race track. The jockeys stood behind them while their friends and families surrounded the track in anticipation.
Bets were 25 cents each, with the lucky winner often going home with several dollars in winnings.
Longtime High Hampton Activities Director Robert Tyson, who conducted the thrice-weekly evening races in the lobby, commented on his favorite piece of the event. He tells us that the most rewarding part of his job was watching the excitement of children and parents alike coming together to cheer their favorite horse to victory.
The original High Hampton wooden race horses will be on view next year at the new High Hampton History Center. To continue this longstanding tradition, we are eager to resume the favorited family race event upon reopening in Spring 2021!