Camden, South Carolina

Signature Experiences

The Colonial Cup

Where Champions Come to Run

The Marion Dupont Scott Colonial Cup is Camden’s fall championship of steeplechase racing, where proven horses, elite jockeys, and the sport’s most devoted followers gather at historic Springdale Race Course. More than a race day, it is a celebration of world-class competition, Southern hospitality, sporting tradition, and Camden’s place at the heart of American steeplechase.

This year’s Colonial Cup is on Sunday, November 22, 2026. Join us for a weekend of fall magic and unforgettable championship-level horse racing action, events and festivities.

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A circular logo for the Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup featuring silhouettes of four jockeys riding horses, six red stars, and the event name around the edge.

Don’t Miss The Magic

World class horse racing is only one reason to attend the Colonial Cup. We’ve put together some of the best reasons why this is the “must attend” fall event in Camden, SC.

Four jockeys in colorful uniforms race their horses on a grassy track, with trees and a blue sky in the background. The leading horse and jockey wear blue and yellow.

Experience Camden’s Championship Race Day

The Marion duPont Scott Colonial Cup carries real weight in the sport. Rooted in Camden’s deep racing history, it gives fans the chance to experience the premier event of every steeplechase racing season. Decide how you want to spend the day – We offer a variety of ticketing options to accommodate a perfect day at the races! General admission tickets will allow you access to the grounds, with shopping and food trucks available. If you’re looking for a seat on the rail, you will need to reserve a tailgating spot. The Grandstand gets you a seat at the finish line, or go all out with an all-inclusive pass to the Skyline Club.

Competitive Juices Flow

Racing isn’t the only thing where the stakes are high. This fall ritual brings out the competitor in all attendees with the wildly popular Corgi Race segment, Best Dressed Competition and the Cup’s Best Tailgating Contest. If you’re coming, come to win.

Three corgis wearing colorful bandanas race across a grassy field, with a crowd of spectators and a clear blue sky in the background.
People gather in a wooden-ceilinged room decorated with colorful jockey silks on the walls, round tables covered in orange and green cloths, and framed photos. Some guests converse while others look at displays.

Rub Shoulders with the Steeplechase Faithful

The Colonial Cup draws the people who know and love the sport: owners, trainers, riders, racing families, longtime fans, and sporting insiders. The National Steeplechase Museum, which sits alongside the race course, hosts a classic pre-race party each year – sometimes a little more casual – with drinks, denim, and live music.

 

Rock Out Before the Races

Get into town a little early and experience Downtown Camden’s Southern hospitality, as merchants and barkeeps take it to the streets, and live music is the feature of the evening. Classic cars, entertainment for the kids, and more make this Saturday evening street festival worth the hotel room.

Three people smiling and posing with peace signs at an outdoor event, holding blue drinks. They appear happy, dressed casually, with a crowd and trees in the background on a sunny day.
Two polo players on horseback compete for the ball on a grassy field. One player in blue swings a mallet while the other in green rides close by. Both horses are in motion with grass flying up from their hooves.

A Weekend of Festivities

For guests looking to make a trip of it, the Colonial Cup Weekend also offers a golf tournament, a polo match and even a 5K road race. Add in some great shopping and dining options in this “steeplechase capital of the world” and you have a reason to book some vacation time.

Curated

Itineraries

Ready to launch your next getaway? We've collaborated with some notable locals to create compelling and easy to access itineraries just for you. Their stories, your freedom to explore - get ready for history, horses, hospitality and more with your own unique Camden experience.

A person wearing a blue cap and ear protection aims and fires a shotgun outdoors, with smoke visible from the barrel and clay target fragments in the distance against a blurred landscape.
A Sporting Weekend
The Culture Vulture
Mother Daughter Get Away
The Outdoor Adventurer
Couples Get Away
A jockey in a yellow helmet and purple-striped shirt rides a brown racehorse past a cheering crowd at an outdoor horse racing event, with tents and trees in the background.
Horse Lovers
culture conniseur
Culture Connoisseur
A group of people dressed as Revolutionary War soldiers in historical uniforms fire muskets, with smoke filling the air during a reenactment on a grassy field.
History Buff
A dirt path leads through tall green trees toward a wooden fence, with a river or lake in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
Outdoor Adventures
A jockey in a yellow helmet and purple-striped shirt rides a brown racehorse past a cheering crowd at an outdoor horse racing event, with tents and trees in the background.

More To Explore

Looking for more equine time?  Don’t miss the Colonial Cup’s sister event in the Spring.  The Carolina Cup Steeplechase Race is a southern tradition and a rite of spring (and happens to be one of the most popular races in the southeast).

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Events & Happenings

Camden offers myriad ways to enjoy our city’s rich hospitality with a full calendar of arts, culture, outdoors, equine, history and related events. Find your “thing” in Camden, SC.  All Events →