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Steeplechase Racing

Paddock Area during the Maryland Hunt Cup 2025

Steeplechase races are different from flat races in that the riders jump their horses over obstacles, while completing a course that is generally two to four miles long. This is opposed to the better-known, common flat races are generally under one and one-half miles (12 furlongs) in distance.

Winner of the 2025 Hunt Cup Maryland-bred Road to Oz,
ridden by Conor Tierney, owned by Daniel R. Baker and trained by Mark Beecher

There are two forms of steeplechase racing: timber racing and hurtle racing. The term jump racing encompasses both types. Timber racing, over fixed jumps, is very popular here in Maryland and the annual Hunt Cup race is a local tradition that draws huge crowds. The race itself does not last so long, but the spectators arrive early for the inevitable tail gate and socializing. When its is time for the race they gather on a hillside and watch the race unfold in the scenic Worthington Valley below. It is best to have a pair of binoculars and focus on the next jump to get a feel for the action. First run in 1894, it is considered one of the most difficult with 22 jumps and a distance of four miles. You can expect to see a rider or two come off and often a riderless horse loose on the field. However, these competitors are gentlemen and the safety of their fellow riders and of the horses are their prime concern.

The second type of jump racing is hurtle racing. The major difference is that the jumps are not fixed but are mostly of a standard type, typically 52 inches tall and mostly of the brush jump type. There is also an occasional obstacle of a different type, such as a water or open ditch jump. Hurtle races are shorter in distance, but much faster in speed.

Steeplechases were first run in rural Ireland in the mid-18th century and soon spread to England and later the United States. It was given the name steeplechase because they were run between two towns, whose orienting points were their church steeples. Local fox hunts often were involved in sponsoring and running the races and they are still involved in many aspects of the races today. The sport has since spread to many other counites around the world.