Moving Parts for a Moving Day

As any of the Queen’s Cup faithful will be aware, the grounds on race day are a sight to behold. There are flags and banners, hats and bow ties galore and the Brooklandwood Racecourse looks spectacular to say the least. With all that noted, there are some interesting facts about the venue that may interest you.

The infield which is a full 40 acres or the equivalent to 12 blocks of uptown Charlotte. That’s a lot of grass that needs mowing. Not to mention that the race track itself is a full 13.1 acres and can take up to 3 hours to mow and it is irrigated by a 4-acre pond with over 1 million gallons of water in it at any one time.

Members Hill or what was once known as Bill’s Hill is what was created when over 1.8 million cubic feet of dirt was moved to create the landscape that we are so proud of today.

The fences that the horses jump take over 5 hours to assemble and ground maintenance will take place up until dark the night before the races.

Over 270 tents are erected before race day. In fact, the grounds start being prepared a full 3 weeks before the last Saturday of April. Some of the other equipment needed include, 20+ golf carts, 6 ATV’s, 4 4×4 trucks, 3 ambulances, 75+ radios and well over 100 flags. All our vendors will also have use of over 150 bathrooms.

There are some 1,000 name plates put out around the grounds to identify one space from another and all of these are put up by our wonderful “Staplechase” committee.

All in all, the Queen’s Cup is our pride and joy. It moves us beyond words and nothing gives us more pleasure than seeing 10.000+ happy people enjoy the last Saturday of every April. I guess it’s fair to say that there are quite a few moving parts needed to make it happen.

See you at the races #thegreatestshowonturf

Come be part of the team.

It is funny how The Queen’s Cup just happens year after year. We very often chat about the hard work that goes in behind the scenes and how the hours of work continue to add up. It is funny but the truth is that we could put together the best line up of horses, the most purse money, the finest food and beverages but none of it would work without the greatest set of volunteers in the world.

Our team of volunteer’s numbers nearly 300 on race day and they range in age and lifestyle from an 18-year-old soccer player to a 70+ year old veteran. And to be honest, we need them all to have so many different skills that a range like that is exactly what is needed.

That said, have you ever thought about pulling on the Queen’s Cup t-shirt on race day? It is a very easy thing to do and it will become one of the best experiences of your life. Knowing that you get to be part of a charitable day and be around one of the best events in the region. Volunteering at The Queen’s Cup is a really neat thing to do.

We have jobs to suit everyone. From aspiring sales men and women selling raffle tickets to parking directors, we have ushers and helpers as well as crossing guards and souvenirs to be sold. It’s all in there.

Honestly, if you have the day free on April 28^th next year, hit us up on the website under the volunteer page and we’d be glad to hear from you.

Thanks all and see you at the races.

You know I had written this blog last week but had to turn around and re-write it all because I totally underestimated what was about to happen. Just imagine for a second if you will, you are air-lifted to hospital in another state and you arrive at the ER with severe head injuries, a lacerated neck, broken cheek bone, broken eye socket and a shattered jaw. Now I want you to imagine that a little over 8 weeks later you are back to work in full flow and just to complete the picture, imagine that your job was the reason that you got hurt in the first place and you’re a steeplechase jockey. Well, I’m not one to exaggerate so I had to cut the picture building at that point because you might not believe the story I was telling. In truth, it got even better. Michael Mitchell not only returned to race riding at Parx in Bensalem, PA on Saturday, July 8^th – He only went and won the race.

The term “you couldn’t write this” is often over used but really, you couldn’t write this. I mean, I actually tried last week and had to redo it because, well, I couldn’t write this.

I don’t know if I can go on any more about the toughness of this young man. He never lost his grace or class during, what was a horrific experience. Never once did Michael consider not riding again. But what stands out more was his ability to prepare and perform straight out of the blocks. Think about a pitcher or quarterback coming back from a similar injury. They would spend weeks and months rehabbing and having spot starts here and there to get them up to speed. Michael literally gets back on the horse and hits the right notes on day one. Incredible.

The Queen’s Cup sends its congratulations to Michael and all the team with Arch Kingsley’s who of course prepared Show Court to win last Saturday. We think this would make a good movie.

See you at the races. Your newest tradition.

Far away hills are green

I am writing this blog from Ireland and I can tell you that it is true, it is very green over here. As a native Irishman and one that spent all of my developing life here, I didn’t appreciate it enough when I was here all the time. It is spectacular here with a wonderful pace to life.

The green, the wildlife, the scenery and the hills are just taking my breath away.

I am sitting in the front room of my brother’s house and I can look out at the Commeragh Mountains and think, wow! I can’t believe I took this for granted for that long. The green, the wildlife, the scenery and the hills are just taking my breath away.

But leaving that behind for a moment and I sit upright for a second and realize that no matter where somebody is, if they are there for long enough, it becomes normal. No matter how good or bad something may be. For someone to drive past the Grand Canyon every day for work, I am pretty sure that they don’t give it a second look. That’s where The Queen’s Cup comes into my head. Everything I have just mentioned with regard to Ireland is relevant and appropriate to say about Charlotte’s Jewel. It is nothing short of spectacular and more people should see it than do see it.

The rolling hills and amazing scenery are within touching distance of so many. Each and every person deserves to see it in all its glory on race day, April 28^th, 2018.

Bring a friend to #yournewtradition

See you at the races.

As some of you are aware, jockey Michael Mitchell had a fall at the last fence in the first race at this year’s Queen’s Cup. For the most part, it looked a normal type of fall but the horse Michael was riding had a trailing hind leg swing round and catch him on the side of his face and jaw. It was one of those things that neither horse nor jockey could have been blamed for. Knocked out on the spot, Michael, 26, had suffered a pretty severe concussion and the EMT’s on the scene were very quick to get the situation stabilized.

Upon assessment of all the injuries Michael had suffered, it was considered the best option to airlift him from CMC Waxhaw to CMC Main in Uptown Charlotte. There, Michael was to become a member of the ICU unit for a short while. The injuries he sustained were a broken eye socket and cheekbone as well as a shattered jaw. Michael himself would be the first to admit that the helmet he was wearing probably had a lot to do with limiting the injuries to just that.

To put things in perspective, the kick Michael got to his face and head would have been like Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frasier hitting you with their best shot all at one time. Young Mr. Mitchell however is tougher than most. I sat with him at his hospital bed around 36 hours after his fall and he asked if there was a chance he could be racing again in 2 weeks. Although that was a lofty goal, it does show very clearly how tough this guy is. Never one to let a situation get him down, Michael has been a model of pleasantness and good humor all while having a metal plate around his eye socket and his jaw wired shut.

Although Michael is on the road to recovery and in good spirits, there is a saying in this business that “good will won’t pay a bill” and unfortunately that is where we are at now. Michael will be out of work for 6-8 weeks and does have continuing hospital bills to pay along with international flights for his mother, Di Mitchell. Di came over on the first flight she could and has been an absolute rock since landing in Charlotte. Jump jockeys in the USA are considered independent contractors and do not have a fund in place to pay them while they are out with injuries or illness.

Rallying Together to Support Michael

In order to counteract this, The Queen’s Cup and The American Steeplechase Injured Jockeys Fund are starting a fund to raise money for Michael and his family to cover as much of his costs as possible. If you would like to help Michael, tax deductible donations may be made through the American Steeplechase Injured Jockeys Fund’s PayPal account by CLICKING HERE which for now is not currently mobile phone compatible. Please check out American Steeplechase Injured Jockeys Fund on Facebook. Please make sure you add Michael Mitchell’s name under “add special instructions to the seller”.

These types of things don’t happen too often thankfully, but when they do we find a tremendous response from the public and community. Thank you in advance for your thoughts, prayers and generosity. See you at the races.

UPDATE: May 18, 2017 – Michael will be flying down to Charlotte at the end of May for several days to meet with surgeon Dr. Stanley Getz to have his jaw scanned and repair to his jaw, cheekbone and eye socket intensely reviewed. If everything is ok, they will unwire his jaw. Michael still suffers from headaches both in the morning and evening. The doctors will continue to monitor his temple where an aneurysm formed from the blow to the head and subsequent concussion.

So, I think it is fair to say that The Queen’s Cup is a great day out. It has wonderful horses and good money on offer. In that, there are plenty of other things and activities on the day to keep people interested. Take all that into consideration and we feel we represent a top-class day out but maybe not one that will be heard around the world – yet.

However, there is one part of the day that is a world leader and you will, quite literally, hear it around the world. That is our race caller, Mark Johnson.

For anyone who was in attendance at the 22nd Queen’s Cup, I’m sure you heard the maestro in full flight and can attest to his brilliance. For those of you that have heard Mark Johnson before, he takes the calling of a race and brings it close to an art form. Mark has the ability to control the audience and their attention just like a conductor at a symphony. You could turn your back to the action and still know exactly what is happening. Mark can make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. Mark is that good!

A Voice Heard Around the World

Honestly, we could go on about how magnificent Mark Johnson is, but we don’t have to. His record speaks for itself. Mark is the first and only non-American to call The Kentucky Derby, which he has done 5 times. “The Voice” has called many Epsom Derby’s too, that is the oldest and most prestigious of all the derby’s. His reputation and talent meant that he has called the English Grand National many times with all 40 starters. He has called races all over the world including France, Spain, Qatar and the tiny island off the coast of Britain, Jersey. Mark is even on the board of directors for the horse racing in Jersey, such is his love for the sport.

In the end, we are the lucky ones to hear him at his best at The Queen’s Cup and we simply cannot wait to hear him at it all again next year. Don’t miss out. See you at the races.