Pacers and their cousins, Trotters, are horses bred and trained to race in harness or sulky races. The driver sits on the sulky with the crop, or whip, in hand. A Pacer’s right front and back leg hit the ground at the same time, alternating side to side.
USC Aiken utilizes the Pacer as its mascot because it accurately symbolizes the community. The city of Aiken, S.C. is a prominent winter training ground for racehorses.
Every Spring, Aiken hosts the “Aiken Triple Crown” with the Trials first, the Steeplechase next and then Polo on the final of three successive weekends. The USC Aiken athletic department sponsors the Polo portion of the “Aiken Triple Crown.”
