"S" is for South Carolina Jockey Club

"S" is for South Carolina Jockey Club. In 1758 a group of lowcountry gentlemen founded the South Carolina Jockey Club. By the early 1770s Race week became the most important time of the year for many South Carolinians. During the Revolutionary War, the club suspended activities. Although the club disbanded in 1788 and 1791, it was reestablished. At the turn of the nineteenth century, South Carolina Jockey Club ushered in what would be called the “golden age of racing.” The club’s annual races—usually held in January and February—served as the high point of the Charleston social season. The Civil War and the economic decline that followed led to the demise of horse racing in the state. The South Carolina Jockey Club’s efforts to revive the sport failed and the club disbanded in December 1899.