Cot Campbell Tribute

The late W. Cothran “Cot” Campbell was a visionary who changed the sport of Thoroughbred racing when he developed the concept of syndicated ownership. Campbell was born on September 27, 1927, in New Orleans, and passed away October 27, 2018, at his home in Aiken.

Campbell began forming racehorse partnerships in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1969 while at the same time heading up .one of the South’s leading advertising agencies, Burton-Campbell. He moved the operation to Aiken in 1987 after he and his wife Anne fell in love with the town and the quieter pace of life. He was from the very beginning one of Aiken’s biggest fans and he was quick to praise the Aiken Training Track as “one of the best places to train a horse in the world.” Among the outstanding horses that carried Dogwood’s green-and-yellow silks were 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, 1990 Preakness winner Summer Squall and 1996 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Song, who won the Eclipse Award as the nation's champion 2-year-old filly. Another Dogwood horse, Inlander, won an Eclipse Award as 1987's champion steeplechaser. Dogwood also raced graded stakes winners Nassipour, Southjet, Smok’n Frolic, Cotton Blossom, Dominion, Limehouse, Trippi and Aikenite.

Campbell, who loved to write, authored three books (“Lightning in a Jar,” “Rascals and Racehorses,” and “Memoirs of a Longshot”), and wrote for numerous publications such as The Blood-Horse and the Paulick Report. He was been honored numerous times over the years on the local, state and national level. Awards included:

• Aiken Standard Person of the Year in 2003
• Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce Man of the Year in 2006
• Inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007
• Eclipse Award of Merit in 2012
• Inducted into the Saratoga Walk of Fame in 2016
• National Racing Hall of Fame Pillars of the Turf in 2018

Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum
"Home of Aiken's Racing Champions"
HomeAbout UsHall of FameHorse of the YearPermanent Exhibits & RoomsSpecial Events and Temporary Exhibits
LinksVolunteerVisitor Information

Information: 803-642-7631
[email protected]
Hours of Operation
Tuesday - Friday 2 pm - 5 pm
Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Sunday 2 pm - 5 pm
Free admission