{"id":30725,"date":"2023-09-22T12:13:36","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T12:13:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bettingsites.co.uk\/?page_id=30725"},"modified":"2024-04-25T14:09:05","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T14:09:05","slug":"what-is-a-steeplechase","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bettingsites.co.uk\/what-is-a-steeplechase\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a Steeplechase Horse Race? – An Explanation of Chases in Horse Racing"},"content":{"rendered":"

A steeplechase is a type of horse race from the National Hunt code where fences, rather than hurdles, are jumped. BHA regulations that apply to all events contested under Rules in Great Britain say there should be six such obstacles for every mile. There’s plenty more to what is a steeplechase besides that, though. Our horse racing expert takes you through all the details.<\/p>\n

History of the Steeplechase<\/h2>\n

While it’s easy to get confused with the long-distance hurdling event from track and field athletics, the steeplechase in horse racing is quite different. Back in the days before organised horse racing and betting<\/a>, people liked to race their mounts, which were primarily a mode of transport, against each other as well as take them hunting.<\/p>\n

With no racecourses mapped out in the countryside as we know them today, they needed landmarks as places to race to. According to The Jockey Club, the origins of the steeplechase were in Ireland<\/a> where no buildings in that era were taller than the steeples on village parish churches. These could be seen for miles around. That is where the name comes from. When asked what is a steeplechase horse race, the answer is a contest between horses and their riders that originally developed from one such place to another.<\/p>\n

There were plenty of natural obstacles between villages on agricultural land. These included banks and ditches for drainage, but also hedges that served as boundaries between different fields and farmers\u2019 lands. In order to got from church steeple to church steeple as quickly as possible, they had to be jumped. With the exception of them running in Cross Country Chases, a steeplechase horse won\u2019t face such obstacles on the track today. Instead, they tackle fences.<\/p>\n

What Obstacles Will a Steeplechase Horse Face in the Race?<\/h2>\n

\"what<\/p>\n

There are different fences on the course for chase horse racing events. Some are wider jumps than others and different heights. Part of getting your head around what is a steeplechase race, is knowing the obstacles the horses face:<\/p>\n

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