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 |