Owners of the McGhees’ Mile Standardbred Training Centre in Aiken, South Carolina have announced that they are resurfacing the facility’s mile-long clay track, the latest in a series of upgrades aimed at providing patrons the finest training experience possible.
“We want our guests to do more than just train great horses at 'McGhees’ Mile.' We want them to train champions,” said track owner Bruce McGhee. “Providing a premiere track surface is the sort of edge true competitors want, and that’s what they’ll get here.”
In addition to a new track, the barns, stables and paddocks at McGhees have been constructed in recent years to provide guests the amenities they need. Also, the track’s website has been redesigned to keep patrons updated on track changes and stable leasing.
“I intend to reestablish Aiken and this track as the premiere harness racing training centre in the south,” Bruce McGhee said. “We’re going rekindle what Dunbar Bostwick started here more than 70 years ago, and then take it even farther.”
Originally known as the Aiken Mile Track, legendary harness racer Dunbar Bostwick constructed what is today known as McGhees’ Mile Standardbred Training Center in 1936.
The track has been home to some of the sport’s most acclaimed horses, including Greyhound, Rodney and American Winner. Industry experts agree more champion horses have trained in Aiken than any other winter training ground in America.
Among current champion trainers at McGhees’ is Jimmy Larente, a native of Montreal, Que. who trained Scully, the World Champion Double-Gaited Horse; Mr Wright, the Horse of the Year in 1978; and Idle Love, the World Champion four-year-old trotter in 1979, among others.