World Equestrian Brands Helmet Cam: The Queen’s Cup Steeplechase

To be held this year on Saturday, April 25, the Queen’s Cup brings the thrill of the ‘chase to Charlotte, North Carolina. Let’s flashback to the 2013 edition — hang on tight for a very rainy ride!

Being a jump jockey may have been on my list of potential careers for about a day–and then I actually got to stand next to a steeplechase fence at Punchestown in Ireland and thought better of that life choice. Steeplechase fences are huge, solid and taken at a gallop, and since none of those things are really in my wheelhouse I decided to stick with tamer equestrian pursuits. Fortunately, this helmet cam takes we armchair jockeys along for the ride with none of the hazards:

Despite the fact that our Irish jockey Willie McCarthy would lead you to believe that we are in Ireland, the Queen’s Cup actually takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina, every April (it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, on Saturday, April 25). The original race in 1995 was held on leased land outside of Charlotte, and the Price family purchased 260 acres to give the meet a permanent home. It’s now become a key spring attraction in Charlotte society as well as a major fundraiser.

Races go off at the Queen’s Cup come rain or shine, which explains how we got this very damp helmet cam of McCarthy’s trip aboard El Cuadro for the #6 race. No matter if he’s jumping alone or in tight quarters with the rest of the field, El Cuadro gets the job done with plenty of encouragement from McCarthy! (I love how McCarthy tells the gelding to “have fun” and “enjoy yourself.” El Cuadro, according to his Blood-horse record, usually runs on the flat.)

Check out the Queen’s Cup online and on Facebook.

Go World Equestrian Brands, and Go Riding!