Iroquois Steeplechase

What Iroquois Steeplechase does

Iroquois Steeplechase is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit event organization operated by the Volunteer State Horsemen's Foundation (dba Iroquois Steeplechase), headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee and anchored since 1941 at Percy Warner Park in Nashville. Its core product is an annual one-day world-class jump horse race held the second Saturday in May, featuring the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois as the headline event; in 2025 the event hosted seven races with a record $575,000 total purse, the largest on the National Steeplechase Association's spring circuit, and attracted a record crowd above 30,000. The 85th anniversary is scheduled for May 9, 2026 and the 86th for May 8, 2027.

Revenue is generated from three streams: (i) ticket sales across a tiered hospitality ladder — general admission ($78/person), Paddock Club ($338), Magnolia Garden ($343.20 adult), Iroquois Society ($468), Royal 615 VIP ($197.60 individual or $3,432 for six), private Hillside tents ($11,440-$15,444), Railside tents ($4,284.80-$13,754), and tailgating spots such as Infield ($405.60) and Stirrup Club ($780); (ii) corporate sponsorships, led by Bank of America as presenting sponsor and supplemented by TVV Capital and tiered partners reaching a stated digital audience of 45 million; and (iii) charitable donations via the same channels that, since 1981, have directed over $11 million to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and other local nonprofits. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the organization's Squarespace website backed by Agile Ticketing and a toll-free line, with no intermediaries in the ticketing or sponsorship chain.

Commercially, the organization is extending its product surface beyond horse racing into adjacent entertainment and digital engagement: the 2026 iHeartMedia Nashville partnership introduces The Big 98 Stage for live music, the renewed Jockey Club UK partnership creates a Cheltenham Festival pathway for Grade 1 winners, and the Action 24/7 sportsbook integration enables a $100,000 Freeplay Pick contest. The operation is lean — staffing is reported as 1-10 employees under President Marianne Byrd, Race Chairman Dwight Hall, CMO Autumn Eklond, CFO Holly Hirschman, Director of Events Benton Swann, and Track Superintendent Zac Lovett — relying on a volunteer Race Committee and a long-tenured sponsor/vendor network rather than scale headcount.

Name

Iroquois Steeplechase

Legal name

Volunteer State Horsemen's Foundation (dba Iroquois Steeplechase)

Website

https://iroquoissteeplechase.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iroquois Steeplechase is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces an annual Grade 1 jump horse race at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, generating revenue from tiered tickets, premium hospitality, and corporate sponsorships to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Event Management

NAICS

Amusement and Theme Parks (71311)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Racecourse Hospitality, Sponsorship & On-Track Experiences (MPAEADAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Steeplechase horse racing
• Equestrian event management
• Corporate hospitality experiences
• Charity fundraising events
• Premium tailgating venues

Headquarters

HQ city

Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from direct ticket sales including individual admission, tailgating spots, hospitality tents, premium experiences (Royal 615, Magnolia Garden, Iroquois Society, Paddock Club), and private tent rentals.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Presenting sponsor (Bank of America) and multiple tiered sponsorship packages for brands to reach 30,000+ spectators and digital audience.
3. Charitable Donations: As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, funds are raised through ticket sales, sponsorships, and donations to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and other local nonprofits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Iroquois Steeplechase organizes and produces an annual world-class steeplechase horse racing event at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee, held on the second Saturday in May. The event features multiple Grade 1 races including the flagship Calvin Houghland Iroquois, along with tiered hospitality experiences (Royal 615 Lounge, Magnolia Garden, Iroquois Society, Paddock Club), tailgating areas, private tents, live music, and individual admission tickets. All proceeds benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and other local community nonprofits.

Product overview

The Iroquois Steeplechase is an annual world-class horse racing event held at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee. The core product is the steeplechase race itself, with the flagship Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois as the featured race. The company offers a tiered hospitality and entertainment portfolio including premium lounges (Royal 615 Lounge, Magnolia Garden, Iroquois Society, Paddock Club), tailgating experiences (Infield, Stirrup Club, RV, Family Area), and private tent options. Additional offerings include The Big 98 Stage for live music performances and Party in a Box for remote celebration experiences. The event generates charitable donations primarily benefiting Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Iroquois Steeplechase Annual Race Event
• Royal 615 Lounge (VIP Experience)
• Magnolia Garden
• Iroquois Society
• Paddock Club
• Tailgating Experiences
• Private Tents (Hillside and Railside)
• Individual General Admission Tickets
• The Big 98 Stage
• Party in a Box
• $100,000 Freeplay Pick 7 Challenge
• Louis Brown McMillan Memorial Race

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $11 million for Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt since 1981
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered key - entertainment partner, core - international partnership, primary - presenting sponsor, core, primary - mission-aligned beneficiary and minor.

• iHeartMedia Nashville / The Big 98key - entertainment partnerGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 February 2026iHeartMedia Nashville partnered with Iroquois Steeplechase for the 85th anniversary, debuting The Big 98 Stage with live music performances by Nashville-based artists.
• The Jockey Club UKcore - international partnershipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026International partnership renewed to strengthen trans-Atlantic ties in jump racing. Winners of the Grade 1 Calvin Houghland Iroquois are eligible for invitation to compete in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Supported by TVV Capital.
• Bank of Americaprimary - presenting sponsorGTM or Marketing PartnerBank of America serves as the Presenting Sponsor of the Iroquois Steeplechase. The sponsorship provides Bank of America with prominent brand visibility at Nashville's premier equestrian event attended by 30,000+ people.
• TVV CapitalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerTVV Capital supports the international partnership with The Jockey Club UK and the Iroquois Steeplechase, providing funding for travel incentives for winners to compete at Cheltenham Festival.
• National Steeplechase AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Iroquois Steeplechase is part of the National Steeplechase Association, the official sanctioning body of U.S. steeplechase racing. NSA licenses participants, approves race courses, and coordinates the sport.
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbiltprimary - mission-aligned beneficiaryOthersPrimary beneficiary of Iroquois Steeplechase proceeds. The event has raised over $11 million for the hospital since 1981. Hospital selects child ambassadors to represent patients at the race.
• Action 24/7minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTennessee-based sportsbook partner hosting the $100,000 Freeplay Pick 6 Challenge during race day, engaging fans with prediction contests.
• Volunteer State Horsemen's FoundationcoreOthersThe nonprofit 501c3 organization (dba Iroquois Steeplechase) that runs the race meet. Created from the original Volunteer State Horsemen's Association founded in 1941.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Churchill Downs Incorporated: Operator of the Kentucky Derby and a portfolio of U.S. horse racing venues (Churchill Downs, Derby City Gaming, multiple regional tracks). Comparable as a racing-event-driven organization monetizing a marquee annual race through ticketing, hospitality, sponsorships, and pari-mutuel wagering, though at materially larger commercial scale.
• New York Racing Association (NYRA): Operates Belmont Park, Saratoga Race Course, and Aqueduct Racetrack, including the Belmont Stakes. Comparable as an organization monetizing elite horse racing events through ticketing, premium hospitality, sponsorships, and on-site experiences.
• Del Mar Thoroughbred Club: Operates the Del Mar summer racing meet in California. Comparable as a seasonal U.S. horse racing operator monetizing through admissions, premium hospitality, and corporate sponsorships.
• 1/ST Racing (The Stronach Group): Operates the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico and several regional U.S. racing venues. Comparable as a racing-event operator combining ticket sales, premium hospitality, sponsorships, and on-track experiences tied to a flagship annual race.
• Keeneland Association: Operates a renowned Kentucky racecourse and horse sales venue, monetizing seasonal racing meets through ticketing, hospitality, sponsorships, and auctions. Comparable model combining a racing event with premium hospitality and corporate partnerships.
• Breeders' Cup Limited: Operates the annual Breeders' Cup World Championships, a marquee U.S. horse racing event with extensive sponsorship, hospitality, and ticket revenue. Comparable as a signature annual racing event with similar premium-experience monetization model.
• Virginia Gold Cup: Long-running NSA-sanctioned steeplechase held annually in The Plains, Virginia. Comparable annual jump-racing event with tailgating, hospitality, and sponsorship revenue, sharing the steeplechase-specific operating model.
• Colonial Cup: Annual NSA-sanctioned steeplechase event in Camden, South Carolina. Directly comparable as a U.S. steeplechase / jump racing event monetized through admissions, tailgating, hospitality, and sponsorships — the closest functional peer to Iroquois.

Others

• National Steeplechase Association: Sanctioning body for U.S. jump racing and a listed Iroquois partner. Comparable as an ecosystem participant governing course licensing, rider eligibility, and purse structure — not a direct commercial competitor but a relevant industry peer given the structural dependency.

Broad incumbents

• Royal Ascot (Ascot Racecourse): The most prestigious international horse racing event, operated by a globally established organization. Comparable as a premium annual racing event with deep sponsorship and hospitality economics, though at substantially larger commercial scale than Iroquois.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/live/19-zvUjoNVY?si=5FsxA8DqtwI0OXA1
• Xx.com/tnsteeplechase
• Facebookfacebook.com/IroquoisSteeplechase
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iroquoissteeplechase

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iroquois Steeplechase