69th Running of The Iroquois Steeplechase The Run for the Mint Julep Cups in Nashville, TN By Nancy Brannon Just as the first Saturday in May is known in Kentucky and the nation as Derby Day, for the running of the Kentucky Derby, for Tennesseans and Steeplechasers, the second Saturday in May is always set aside for the Iroquois Steeplechase. May 8, 2010 marked the 69th running of the Iroquois Steeplechase held at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, TN. This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Calvin Houghland, Sr. and the race renamed the Calvin Houghland Iroquois in his honor. Many people refer to Houghland as the soul of the Iroquois Steeplechase. He was founder of the Volunteer State Horseman’s Foundation, governing body of the Iroquois, and served as race chairman for three decades. In 1981 he was instrumental in developing the partnership for the Iroquois Steeplechase to benefit the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Horses were a lifelong passion for Houghland, riding in his first race at age 12 or 13. His love of horses was inherited from his father, Mason Houghland, founder of the Hillsboro Hounds foxhunt club. Mason Houghland helped design the course at Percy Warner Park and, with John Sloan, Sr., inaugurated the Iroquois Steeplechase in 1941. In 1943 Houghland had his first steeplechase win as a jockey. Calvin Houghland contributed to steeplechase racing in many other places and ways. In 2005 he was awarded the National Steeplechase Association’s Chairman Award, which recognized him as the person who made the most significant contribution to amateur steeplechase racing in the U.S. He was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Iroquois Steeplechase Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2009 his horse PIERROT LUNAIRE won the Iroquois Steeplechase, ironically, the last Iroquois Steeplechase Houghland, age 92, would attend. "That’s just racing luck,” was Houghland’s famous phrase. Born September 16, 1916, Houghland died October 27, 2009. The 2010 winner of the Houghland Iroquois Steeplechase was Irvin S. Naylor’s TAX RULING, ridden by Darren Nagle and trained by Desmond Fogarty. Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s SLIP AWAY, ridden by Paddy Young, enjoyed the lead for most of the race. But at the next to last hurdle, TAX RULING edged ahead and continued to increase his lead over the last hurdle to win the three mile race over 18 National Fences with a 4 and 3/4 length victory. SLIP AWAY placed second and Hudson River Farms’ ARCADIUS was third. In other races, Cherry Knoll Farm’s DALUCCI, trained by Janet Elliot with Mark Beecher aboard, won the Bright Hour Amateur Hurdle. Colvin Ryan’s DYANTONIA with jockey Carl Rafter won the Marcellus Frost Hurdle Stakes, a two mile race over 15 National Fences, by 2 and 3/4 lengths. Riverdee Stable’s DICTINA’S BOY driven by jockey Xavier Aizpuru made a strong challenge, but couldn’t pass the leader at the finish. Mrs. Calvin Houghland’s SWEET SHANI drew a 3 and 1/4 length win over second place DIVA MARIA in the Margaret Currey Henley Filly and Mare Hurdle Stakes. Coming to the finish line, SWEET SHANI, piloted by Danielle Hodsdon, and DIVA MARIA, Xavier Aizpuru aboard, were neck and neck over the last hurdle, but SWEET SHANI pulled ahead to win the victory. SWEET SHANI is trained by Jonathan Sheppard. CALL YOU IN TEN, ridden by Jeff Murphy and trained by Doug Fout, won the George Sloan and John Sloan, Sr. Sport of Kings Maiden Hurdle. Augustin Stables’ RADIO FLYER had a clear lead, up to 15 lengths, in the Mason Houghland Memorial Timber Stakes, but the field closed in during the final mile. On the last lap, Arcadia Stable’s BUBBLE ECONOMY, ridden by Paddy Young, closed the gap to take the lead and the win, bursting RADIO FLYER’S bubble of envisioned victory. The Parade of the Hillsboro Hounds is a traditional “seventh inning stretch” before the running of the final race, the Iroquois Steeplechase. Led by Huntsman John Gray, the foxhounds are a mainstay of the day’s pageantry. Like the Kentucky Derby, ladies’ hats make the fashion statements of the day. The hat contest winners were announced, with the Buzzing Bees entry the whimsical winner. Michelle Hughes of Hampshire, TN has a tradition of creating a new hat every year specifically for the Iroquois Steeplechase, all sporting a horse. This year’s model included black tail feathers from a Phoenix rooster she raised. “He has 3- to 6- foot-long tail feathers,” she said. Her grandfather raised Tennessee Walking Horses and she trail rides on Tennessee Walking Horses.