On Nov. 8, friends and family of the late R. Bruce Duchossois unveiled plans for a new horse park in Aiken, S.C., and broke ground on what was a longtime dream for the horseman.

Duchossois, who owned top horses in driving, jumpers and eventing and rode as an amateur himself, purchased a 66-acre field and steeplechase track in August 2000 with the goal of preserving it from residential development. He hoped to turn it into South Carolina’s premiere horse park.

In June 2013, Duchossois formed the Aiken Horse Park Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) charity and worked on planning the Aiken Horse Park until his death this year due to cancer. Aiken was a special place to Duchossois, who was a member of the Aiken Hounds for more than 30 years and a former Aiken Steeplechase Association officer.

The park has been named Bruce’s Field in his honor. There are plans for three all-weather arenas, schooling areas, a grass grand prix field, hunter derby field and 300 permanent stalls.

The Aiken Horse Park Foundation hopes to carry out Duchossois’ dream with construction planned to start this winter. The Horse Park will feature the Aiken Steeplechase and the Aiken Charity Horse Show, as well as other horse shows and charitable and educational events in 2015.