Camden’s Carolina Cup canceled due to growing number of coronavirus cases
The day after organizers said the event would go forward, the Carolina Cup has been canceled for 2020.
The annual steeplechase in Camden was called off Thursday because of concerns about the rising number of coronavirus cases in South Carolina, and in Kershaw County in particular.
The horse race had been scheduled for March 28. It will not be rescheduled, said John Cushman, the executive director of the Carolina Cup Racing Association.
Cushman expects the decision will be a financial blow to the town, but “That’s secondary to the safety of our customers and patrons.”
The racing association had said as recently as Wednesday that the race planned to go forward, although group noted it was staying in touch with public health officials and continued to monitor developments.
“We get advice from KershawHealth and the CDC,” Cushman said, referring to Camden’s local hospital and the federal Centers for Disease Control. “They decided it was not a wise decision to have a big event, and we’re going to heed their advice.”
Kershaw County has been at the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in South Carolina. Seven of the 10 reported cases of COVID-19 in South Carolina so far have originated in Kershaw County, starting with a Camden woman in her 80s who was hospitalized last week.
The event is a major economic draw for the county centered on Camden, a city of 7,000 northwest of Columbia. The annual race can draw up to 70,000 spectators to the race course, The State previously reported.
“It’s certainly a major disappointment, socially and economically,” said Camden City Manager Mel Pearson. He said he expects any other gatherings or events scheduled around the steeplechase are also likely to be canceled or postponed.
“Our community is very resilient, and we certainly agree with the decision” to cancel, he said. “All will be well.”
Thursday’s decision came as other events are being canceled across the Midlands. On Wednesday, the annual St. Patrick’s Day festival in Columbia’s Five Points was postponed. The Southeastern Conference, which includes the University of South Carolina, has also canceled all spring sports events for the rest of March and ended its men’s basketball tournament.
Columbia City Council voted Tuesday to discourage people from attending its meetings, and allowed for council members to call in. The University of South Carolina also extended its spring break by a week to avoid possible infections.
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MOREWhat you should know about the coronavirus
The coronavirus is spreading in the United States. Officials are urging people to take precautions to avoid getting sick, and to avoid spreading the disease if they do contract it.
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Coronavirus is an infection of the respiratory system similar to the flu. Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that regularly cause illnesses among adults and children, but this outbreak has spawned a new disease called COVID-19, a particularly harsh respiratory condition that can lead to death.
Health officials believe COVID-19 spread from animals to humans somewhere in China. It spreads among humans by physical person-to-person contact, including via coughs. That’s why health officials urge sick individuals to avoid contact with other people.
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This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 12:32 PM.
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