CAMDEN, S.C. — The Carolina Cup is back in Camden this Saturday, and organizers are preparing for the beloved horse racing event with all hands on deck.
"We're putting the finishing touches and generally just sprucing the place up so it all looks good," says Carolina Cup Executive Director, Toby Edwards.
He says they are in the final stretch of preparation for an event that takes months to prepare for.
"We don't have a big staff but we do a lot of planning in the summer months, we've got a lot of preparation done and then we move into what I call, full-steam race mode," says Edwards.
The horse race draws on or around 30,000 people each year, that's a number he anticipates to hit again this year as they prepare to offer a day full of activities.
"Paddock shops wonderful vendor area behind the grant stand, an in-field vendor area, and TruVista kids zone, remember kids 12 and under are free and all the events in the kid zone are free, so there are lots of things to do before the race starts at 1:30 pm we have hat contest, a tailgating contest, so I really strongly suggest that you people try to get here early," he adds.
While it's a day of excitement law enforcement says pack your patients and don't drink and drive…
"It's a good family-oriented event, We've got the Kershaw County Sheriff's Office helping the Camden Police Department, South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, State Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security, so we've got a lot of first responders there, so people will be very safe, and it should make for a long day but a very fun day for people coming to attend it, and like the Sheriff said traffic will be a bear so plan your schedule accordingly," says Interim Police Chief for The City of Camden, Darren Norris.
Sheriff Lee Boan also spoke with News19 and said they plan to have plain-clothed officers working the event as well to ensure it remains family-friendly.
Tickets are still available, and gates open at 9 am.