Bruce and Janis McGhee own McGhee Mile Track, home to the annual Aiken Harness Races. RON COCKERILLE/STAFF

Future of racing tracks is fairly stable

The Triple Crown's three horse tracks, all more than 60 years old, remain as vital a part of Aiken's horse community today as they've been in years past.

While the Aiken Mile Track and Ford Conger Field appear stable, the McGhees' Mile Track remains in a state of flux after months of public debate and a city review of the facility.

McGhees' Mile, home to the third leg of the Triple Crown, the Aiken Harness Races, is run by Bruce and Janis McGhee and their children.

Mr. McGhee said he's not selling the track but doesn't plan to invest as much effort as in years past to promote the event. The track owner says he was frustrated by a petition filed last April to make his track a historic landmark.

It was filed after the city approved his plans to build a restaurant, tack shop, coin laundry and grooms quarters. Mr. McGhee did not start the work while the petition was being reviewed. He says now that he has no immediate plans to ever begin.

"I can't count on any rational support from the people in the community," he said. "The city, for all intents and purposes, was our adversary."

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The Aiken Mile Track, home to the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Aiken Trials, saw no such turmoil in 2002. The track received some surface improvements and there are no drastic changes planned for the future, track president Ron Stevens said.

The track is run by several shareholders who are committed to continuing the Triple Crown, he added.

Mr. Stevens said they want to "keep the reputation of sending horses out of Aiken that are fit and ready to win.

About 300 horses are training there now, and that's how many the track's board of directors wants, Mr. Stevens said.

The second leg of the spring series, the Aiken Steeplechase, will continue to be held at Ford Conger Field for years to come, said Jack Wetzel, who co-owns the field with Bruce Duchossois.

Mr. Wetzel bought the track about four years ago and is preparing to put a conservation easement on the track and the 64 acres that surrounds it at Powderhouse Road and Audubon Drive.

The property, called the Aiken Horse Park, also is used for horse jumping and showing events in addition to activities such as hot air balloon launching. Mr. Wetzel said a permanent show ring is planned for the property, but that wouldn't disturb the race.

"The main thing is that nothing interferes with the Steeplechase," Mr. Wetzel said.

Meantime, track owners and the Aiken Steeplechase Association, which organizes the spring and fall steeplechase races, are hammering out a permanent agreement, Mr. Wetzel said.

Reach Josh Gelinas at (803)279-6895 or josh.gelinas@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Friday, March 21, 2003 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle