The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department has recently announced the 2023 Aiken Trained Horse of the year – the same horse that won last year’s award.
The Aiken Trained Horse of the Year award, created in 2002, honors local thoroughbreds who have had an excellent racing season. Nominees must have trained in Aiken County, and must have won at least one graded stakes race during the year or exceeded $500,000 in career earnings. The Hall of Fame Advisory Board then approves the winner.
Private Creed, a foal of 2020, was once again named Aiken’s winner.
Private Creed also won the 2023 Franklin-Simpson Stakes Grade 2 race, which was run at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky.
Throughout his career, Private Creed has won a total of $1,329,166 in earnings, and has raced seven times in 2023. Overall, Private Creed has two wins, two second place finishes and $729,853 in earnings for the year.
Originally bed in Kentucky from Sierra Farms, the brown colt was born from Jimmy Creed and South Andros by Sky Mesa.
Mason Springs, a thoroughbred training facility located in Aiken, S.C. that is owned and operated by Marcus and Crystal Ryan, purchased Private Creed at Keeneland’s 2021 September Yearling Sale for $45,000.
Current owner, Mike McCarty, then purchased the colt for $155,000 from Mason Springs at the Fasig-Tipton 2022 Midlantic Two-Year-Olds in Training Sales.
Private Creed was then trained by Steven M. Asmussen at Mason Springs and the historic Aiken Training Track under the tutelage of the Ryan family.
Open to the public, an induction ceremony to celebrate Private Creed’s win will be held on Sunday, March 17, at 1:30 p.m. at the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, located at 135 Dupree Place inside the historic Hopelands Gardens.
An exhibit about Private Creed will also be on display.
Past winners of Aiken’s Horse of the Year award include: Congaree (2002), Wando (2003), Limehouse (2005), Bob and John (2006), Country Star (2007), Midshipman (2008), Quality Road (2009 & 2010), It’s Tricky (2011), Alpha (2012) Palace Malice (2013 & 2014), Curalina (2015 & 2016), Dickinson (2017), Still Having Fun (2018), Concrete Rose (2019), Madone (2021) and Private Creed (2022).
For more information on Private Creed or Aiken’s Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame, visit: www.aikenracinghalloffame.com.
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education, lifestyle and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
