Competitions aren’t all about the horses
By Liz Barry on Oct. 24, 2007
Not all of the competition at the Fourth Annual Steeplechase at Oak Ridge will be on the race course.
On the public side of the rail on Oct. 28, there will be competitons for grown-ups and children.
“It’s a multigenerational thing,” says Susan Carrington, a volunteer and member of the Jubilee Family Development Center, which receives proceeds from the Steeplechase. “In this day and age, it’s a special way for families to spend time together.”
Folks compete in the Tailgate Contest, for instance. They deck out reserved parking spaces with food- and drink-laden tables decorated in styles that range from the elegant, such as silver candlelabra, to the flamboyant, such as pink flamingos. (Those who don’t have reserved parking spaces on the rail can still bring lawn chairs and coolers.)
Then there are the Terrier Races, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Terriers run races over their own little course, complete wtih fences over which they sail.
And there are stick horse races for children ages 2 to 4 and ages 5 to 7. Kids can bring their own stick horses, or parents can buy stick horses at Western Way, one of the vendors which will be at the race. (Vendors range from arts and crafts to fine jewelry.)
For other children’s activities, check out the Junior Jockey tent. Activities include All Tied Up, in which kids design their own horse necklaces or horse puppets; Silk Racing, a game in which kids race like jockeys; Horsetales, stories about horses and information about horse care; and Horse of a Different Color, using water-based colorful tattoos for branding.
Times and locations for activities for children can be found at the Junior Jockey tent.
For more information, visit jubilee
family.org/steeplechase. J
— From staff reports
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