Charleston holds a special place in the history of the horse racing in North America. The first jockey club began in Charleston in 1734 (Cassidy, 2007). Moreover, Secretariat's beloved groom Eddie Sweat was born one hour away from Charleston in Holly Hill, SC. Today, South Carolina boasts a variety of Thoroughbred training centers in addition to show barns which provide second careers for retired race horses as hunters and jumpers.
A visit to the Edmondston Alston house contains a variety of equine artifacts. House tours are available most days and the house is a must see for its views of Charleston Harbor. An old measuring stick used to assess the height of a horse hangs in the corner in a room on the first floor. In the library there are prints from early races in America portraying a very different style of match racing than what is practiced today. ( http://edmondstonalston.com/ )
While others might stroll down King Street in downtown Charleston for Louis Vuitton or an 18th century piece of furniture, I recommend bypassing luxury handbags for equestrian antiques and hunt-themed bow ties. A careful look through the many antique shops reveals a variety of equestrian themed pieces including prints of race horses from the early 1900s and a variety of other paintings involving equestrian scenes. Stop by The Silver Vault and you will find an 1865 Doncaster Cup silver chalice and beautiful stock pins from the early 1900s. ( http://www.silvervaultcharleston.com/ )
When you are finished with the old and ready for something new stop by Grady Ervin & Co for a great selection of men's equestrian themed ties. We even saw cute puppies there! ( http://www.gradyervin.com/ )
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