Skip to:

Steeplechase

National Steeplechase Association
Address: 
400 Fair Hill Drive
Elkton, MD 21921
United States
Phone: 
(410) 392-0700

Steeplechasing, popularly known as jump racing, is a Thoroughbred racing sport that has been steadily growing over the past several years. In 2016, races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association offered record purses exceeding $6 million. Steeplechase differs from flat racing in several regards. First, the distances of the races are longer, with the jump races varying in length from two miles to four miles, all on turf courses. Also, the horses generally are older. Steeplechase horses tend to specialize in either hurdle races, over artificial brush fences, or in timber racing over post-and-rail fences. Many steeplechase horses had careers on the flat, and a sizable number of horses are imported with overseas jump-racing experience.

Steeplechase racing is featured each  summer at racetracks such as Saratoga Race Course, but most races are held at approximately 30 weekend race meets in the spring and summer. Steeplechase meets are major social and sporting events in their communities and attract large crowds. A few meets attract crowds exceeding 70,000 in a season extending from late March through mid-November. Most race meets are charitable events, and they have contributed millions of dollars to their communities.

To find out more about steeplechasing, visit the National Steeplechase Association's website, www.nationalsteeplechase.com, or explore the websites of the race meets listed below.

Race Meet Location Meet Date
Aiken Fall Races 931 Powder House Road, Aiken, SC October 26, 2019
Aiken Spring Steeplechase 931 Powder House Road, Aiken, SC March 23, 2019
Carolina Cup 200 Knights Hill Road, Camden, SC March 30, 2019
Fair Hill Races 402 Fair Hill Drive, Elkton, MD May 25, 2019
Far Hills Race Meeting 50 US-202, Far Hills, NJ October 19, 2019
Foxfield Fall Races 2215 Foxfield Track, Charlottesville, VA September 29, 2019
Foxfield Spring Races 2215 Foxfield Track, Charlottesville, VA April 27, 2019
Genesee Valley Hunt Races 3320 Nations Rd., Geneseo, NY October 12, 2019
Georgia Steeplechase 502 Bass Ferry Rd., Rome, GA April 06, 2019
Grand National Steeplechase 2838 Butler Road, Butler, MD April 20, 2019
High Hope Steeplechase 4089 Iron Works Parkway, Lexington, KY September 22, 2019
International Gold Cup 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, VA October 26, 2019
Iroquois Steeplechase 2500 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN May 11, 2019
Maryland Hunt Cup 2700 Tufton Ave., Reisterstown, MD April 27, 2019
Middleburg Spring Races 107 West Federal Street, Unit 9B, Middleburg, VA April 20, 2019
Montpelier Hunt Races 11407 Constitution Highway, Montpelier Station, VA November 02, 2019
My Lady's Manor 3403 Pocock Road, Monkton, MD April 13, 2019
Pennsylvania Hunt Cup Newark Road, West Marlborough Township, PA November 03, 2019
Queen's Cup Steeplechase 6103 Waxhaw Highway, Mineral Springs, NC April 27, 2019
Radnor Hunt Races 826 Providence Road, Malvern, PA May 18, 2019
Shawan Downs 1401 Shawan Road, Cockeysville, MD September 28, 2019
Steeplechase at Callaway 1747 Warm Springs Road, Columbus, GA November 09, 2019
Steeplechase of Charleston 5000 Old York Course, Hollywood, SC November 10, 2019
Tryon Block House Races 6881 South U.S. Highway 9, Columbus, NC April 13, 2019
Virginia Fall Races 36787 Glenwood Park Ln., Middleburg, VA October 12, 2019
Virginia Gold Cup 5089 Old Tavern Road, The Plains, VA May 04, 2019
Willowdale Steeplechase 101 E. Street Road, Kennett Square, PA May 12, 2019
Winterthur 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, DE May 05, 2019