by Annerleigh Harrison

Created on: March 17, 2009

A steeplechase is a horserace for Thoroughbreds, run over a grass course that includes a number of natural fences to be jumped. It is an exhibition of speed, strength, athleticism, stamina and amazing courage. It is an occasion for gut-twisting anxiety, rushing adrenalin, roaring crowds, triumph, tragedy, and wild elation. It is a way of life. And it's glorious.

Steeplechasing originated in the UK and Ireland during the eighteenth century, when huntsmen and cavalry officers, at the end of the hunting season in spring, would race their hunters across open country from one church steeple to another, leaping hedges, ditches, streams and whatever else was in their path. The first recorded steeplechase was in 1752 in County Cork, Ireland when, for a wager, Mr O'Callaghan raced Mr Blake on horseback the 4.5 miles between the church steeples of St Buttevant's and St Leger's.

(Or possibly St Mary's. The records are uncertain. Neither is it clear who won. No doubt the great steeplechasing tradition of alcohol-sustained spectators also started around this time.)

Steeplechase racing is still predominantly a British and Irish sport, where it attracts enormous crowds during the autumn and winter months. These days, though, there are no church steeples involved, and the races take place on expertly maintained licensed courses with all the best public facilities; huge grandstands, restaurants, betting rings, press offices, car parks, helipads, and all the fun of the fair. It's come a long way, and many of the courses are world famous : Aintree, Cheltenham, Kempton, Chepstow in England , and Fairyhouse and Punchestown in Ireland, amongst many others. The essential element, though horses galloping across country over natural obstacles during the winter months remains, and reflects the sport's roots in the English and Irish hunting fields.

Over the years other countries have adopted the sport, in different ways. The US now has a flourishing steeplechase season, especially popular in the eastern states. Some of these cross-country races are over hedges, whilst others, like the prestigious Maryland Hunt Cup, has post-and-rail fences that are not seen in traditional British steeplechases. In Europe, a little racing over natural country takes place in France, and in the former Czech Republic the Gran Pardubice is run across country over formidable natural jumps. Recently steeplechasing has begun in Japan, too. None of these countries, though, do steeplechasing on such a scale, with

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