The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism will host the fifteenth annual Breakfast at the Gallops on Friday, March 17, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at the Aiken Training Track.

This will be an opportunity to observe juvenile and older campaigners before they leave Aiken for various racetracks throughout the country. In addition, local trainers will be on hand to talk to participants about the various training methods used to train Aiken’s equine athletes. Attendees should enter at the 724 Two Notch Road entrance, closest to Audubon Drive; vehicles must stop for all horses. A light breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m.

This year’s guest speaker is Acacia Courtney. She is a TV host, analyst, and reporter for the New York Racing Association. She also hosts America's Day at the Races and is a paddock reporter for Saratoga Live, both available on FOX Sports.

A native of Connecticut, Acacia began riding at the age of eight and trained in the hunter-jumper and dressage disciplines. In 2011, she founded the 501(c) (3) nonprofit Racing for Home, Inc., which she runs with her mother, Sherrie Courtney. Accredited by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Racing for Home is dedicated to retraining and re-homing Off-Track Thoroughbreds for new careers after the track. Acacia is married to Miguel Clement, assistant trainer to his father, Christophe Clement.

Tickets for Breakfast at the Gallops are $20 each in advance or $25 each at the gate. Space is limited and tickets can be purchased at the H. Odell Weeks Center (1700 Whiskey Road), Folly (116 Laurens Street NW), Meybohm Real Estate (142 Laurens Street NW), Aiken Training Track Office (538 Two Notch Road SE), the Aiken Visitors Center & Train Museum (406 Park Avenue SE) or the Aiken County Visitors Center (133 Laurens St NW). There are no refunds.

Breakfast at the Gallops is sponsored by Aiken Saddlery, Folly, Aiken County Farm Supply, Mosaic Racing Stable, Suzy Haslup - Meybohm Real Estate, The Aiken Horse and the Aiken Training Track.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will support the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.

For more information, call 803-642-7631, e-mail [email protected] or visit the Hall of Fame website atwww.aikenracinghalloffame.com.