- For other meanings, see Steeplechase (disambiguation)
The steeplechase is a form of horse racing (primarily conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, France and Ireland) and derives its name from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside. This article is about the sport For other uses see Horserace (drinking game or Horse race (politics. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The United States of America —commonly referred to as the This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A steeple, in Architecture, is a tall tower on a building often topped by a Spire. In the UK and Ireland the term steeplechase is not used, even though the word originated in Ireland: the term (and formal code of racing) is National Hunt racing. National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom and Ireland where the horses are required to jump over obstacles
It is a term now used to refer to a distance horse race with diverse fence and ditch obstacles; the most famous of these is the Grand National run annually at Aintree Racecourse, in Liverpool, since its conception in 1837. The Grand National is the most valuable National Hunt horse race in the world Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary
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History
The steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th century as an analogue to cross-country horse races which went from church steeple to church steeple, hence "steeplechase". Cross country equestrian jumping is an endurance test and is one of the three phases of the sport of Eventing; it may also be a competition in its own right known A steeple, in Architecture, is a tall tower on a building often topped by a Spire. The first steeplechase is said to have been the result of a wager in 1752 between Mr. Cornelius O'Callaghan and Mr. Edmund Blake, racing four miles (6 km) cross-country from Buttevant Church to St. Buttevant ( Cill na Mullach in Irish or Ecclesia Tumulorum in the Latin) is a medieval market town incorporated by Charter of Leger Church in Doneraile, in Cork, Ireland. Doneraile (Dún ar Aill is a town in County Cork, Province of Munster, Ireland. County Cork (Contae Chorcaí is the most southerly and the largest of the modern counties of Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world An account of the race was believed to have been in the library of the O'Brien's of Dromoland Castle. Most of the earlier steeplechases were contested cross-country rather than on a track, and resembled English cross country as it exists today. The first recorded steeplechase over a prepared track with fences was run in Bedlam, North Yorkshire in 1810. Bedlam is a small village in North Yorkshire, England situated north of Harrogate.
Racing in the United States
Thomas Hitchcock (1860-1941) is known as the father of American steeplechasing. Thomas Hitchcock ( November 23, 1860 -September 1941 was one of the leading American]] Polo players during the latter part of the 19th century and a In the late 1800s, he built a steeplechase training center on his 3,000-acre (12 km²) property in Aiken, South Carolina and trained horses imported from England. Aiken South Carolina is a city in the United States state of South Carolina. No less important are the contributions by fellow Aiken seasonal resident F. Ambrose Clark. Frederick Ambrose Clark ( August 1, 1880 - February 26, 1964) (or more commonly listed as F Clark held many important chases on his Brookville (Long Island) estate, Broad Hollow, in the 1920s and 1930's. Ford Conger Field was built by F. Ambrose Clark and is the site of the annual Aiken Steeplechase, a part of the Triple Crown in March. The first Steeplechase Meet in Aiken was held March 14, 1930 in Hitchcock Woods. In addition to the Aiken Steeplechase, South Carolina is also home to the Colonial Cup and the Carolina Cup, which is the largest event on the circuit. Both of these races are held in Camden, South Carolina. Camden is a city in and the County seat of Kershaw County, South Carolina, United States.
The Virginia Gold Cup is also among the oldest steeplechase races in the United States, with its first running in 1922. Every first Saturday in May, more than 50,000 spectators gather at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia (45 miles west of Washington, DC). Great Meadow is a 250-acre field events center and steeplechase course located in The Plains Virginia. The 4-mile (6. 4 km) grass course with 4-foot (1. 2 m) high timber fences is often referred to as the "crown jewel of steeplechasing. "
The Iroquois Steeplechase event is held in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Starting in 1941, it has been held at Percy Warner Park. Edwin Warner Park and Percy Warner Park collectively known as Warner Parks are two major public Parks in Nashville Tennessee. It is annually held in the spring and it is considered to be one of the great sporting spectacles in Nashville and its surrounding areas. Beginning in 1941, with one year off during World War II, the Iroquois Steeplechase has been running continuously at Percy Warner Park on the beautiful race course inspired by Marcellus Frost and designed by William duPont. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The widely renowned event would not have endured without the guidance of Mason Houghland and Calvin Houghland, who between them lovingly put on the race for half a century. They combined the efforts of the foxhunters and volunteer horsemen with the cooperation and support of the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation to create a great sporting spectacle that has become a springtime institution in the region.
The Queens Cup Steeplechase is another major annual steeplechase event. It is held the last Saturday of April at Brooklandwood, a farm and estate in Mineral Springs, North Carolina, about 20 miles (32 km) from Charlotte. Mineral Springs is a town in Union County, North Carolina, United States. This day long event of racing and social activities attracts over 10,000 spectators, many of whom travel great distances to attend.
During the 1940s and 50s, the Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap, the Brook National Steeplechase Handicap and the American Grand National were regarded as American steeplechasing's Triple Crown. The American Grand National was a United States steeplechase Horse race for Thoroughbreds sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (although sometimes shortened to Triple Crown, the full name is used to avoid possible confusion with other sports consists of three
Kentucky Downs near Franklin, Kentucky (originally Dueling Grounds Race Course) was built in 1990 as a steeplechase track, with a kidney-shaped turf circuit. Kentucky Downs is a Thoroughbred Horse racing track located on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, near the city of Franklin Franklin is a city in and the County seat of Simpson County, Kentucky, United States. At its inception, the track offered some of the richest purses in the history of American steeplechase. The track has undergone numerous ownership changes, with steeplechase races playing an on-and-off role (mainly off) in the track's limited live race meets.
Racing in Australia
Australia has a long history of jumps racing which was introduced by British settlers. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. In the 20th century the northern states of Queensland and New South Wales phased out all jumps racing. Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern corner of the mainland continent Today only Victoria and South Australia hold steeplechases, Tasmania having ceased jumps racing as of April 2007. South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country [1]
The jumping season in Australia normally takes place from March until August (some minor races are held either side of these months). Horses for steeplechasing are primarily former flat racing horses, rather than horses specifically bred for jumping. There is an emphasis on safety in Australia which has led to a reduction in the size of obstacles. As jumps races take place at flat racing meetings there is also a need for portable jumps. Most chasing occurs on steeple lanes but also includes parts of the main flat racing track. From Easter to May the major distance races occur. The Great Eastern Steeplechase at Oakbank is held on Easter Monday in South Australia drawing crowds of over 100,000. The Great Eastern Steeplechase is an Australian Thoroughbred steeplechase Horse race held annually at Oakbank South Australia on Easter Oakbank is a town in the Adelaide Hills, east of Adelaide in South Australia. The Grand Annual, which has the most fences of any steeplechase in the world, is held in May at Warrnambool. The Grand Annual is an Australian Thoroughbred steeplechase for horses run at Warrnambool Victoria during its annual May Racing Carnival Warrnambool is a regional city with a population of 30392 people on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia, located in the municipality City of Warrnambool Each state holds its own Grand National, the most prestigious is the VRC Grand National at Flemington run in the winter. Flemington Racecourse is a major Horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The jumping season culminates with the set weights and penalties Hiskens Steeple run at Moonee Valley. Moonee Valley Racecourse is a Horse-racing track in Melbourne, Australia which hosts both Thoroughbred horse races and Harness racing The Hiskens is regarded as the Cox Plate of jumps racing. The WS Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club in honour of W Steeplechasing has been the subject of protests by activists who regard it as cruel and in general has struggled to maintain its place in the Australian racing scene. Despite this Australia and New Zealand continue to produce quality chasers. The most famous is Crisp who was narrowly beaten by the champion Red Rum in the English Grand National. Crisp was a champion Australian steeplechase horse In his native country he won many important jumping races including the Hiskens Steeplechase in 1969 for Murder spelled backwards see Redrum. Red Rum (bay gelding May 3, 1965 &ndash October 18, 1995. Crisp subsequently beat Red Rum at set weights. More recently Karasi has won the Nakayama Grand Jump, the worlds richest jumps race held in Japan, three times. Karasi (born 1995 is a champion steeplechase Horse bred in Ireland and based in Australia. The Nakayama Grand Jump is a Japanese horse racing steeplechase, held at Nakayama Racecourse every year in mid-April For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.
Eventing
The equestrian sport of eventing has a steeplechase phase, which is held in its "classic" or "long format". Eventing is an equestrian event which comprises Dressage, cross-country and Show-jumping. Unlike the racing form, horses do not race each other over the course, but rather are just meant to come under a pre-set "optimum time. " The fences are usually very similar in type, all with brush that is meant to be jumped through rather than over. Ditches, post-and-rail, and other upright fences are not used. Penalty points are added to the horse's score if he exceeds the optimum time, but there is no reward for an especially fast round.
See also
- Breeders' Cup Grand National Steeplechase
- American Grand National
- Chase (racing)
- Cheltenham Gold Cup
- Cheltenham Festival
- English Grand National
- List of horse races
- National Hunt racing
- Point to point racing
- Velká pardubická
References
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