Steeplechase

Steeplechase (about: steeple chase ) is a United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, the USA, France and Ireland used type of horse racing. With a wide variety of Steeplechase natural obstacles such as fences, ditches and other types of obstacles have to be skipped.

The name is derived from early forms of the race in which the riders were based on prominent location points, the " steeples " ( steeples ). The term is commonly used today in England for distance steeplechase. The official English name is " National Hunt Racing ." The most famous is the " Grand National " race at the Aintree Racecourse in Liverpool, which is already being carried out since 1837.

Since 1874 takes place in Pardubice in the Czech Republic every year (usually mid-October) the infamous because of its numerous falls Horse Racing Velka Pardubice ( Pardubice Steeplechase ), although the toughest horse race across the European continent.

Steeple Chase as the Grand National and Pardubice are controversial because of the high injury rates among horse friends and regularly go with a protest by animal rights activists associated. From 1997 to 2003, nearly 30 horses died in the race. Despite now reduced number of participants, emergency exits for riderless horses, and defused obstacles had in 2003 two horses to be euthanized due to serious falls. Despite often spectacular falls from horses and horsemen, however, should not be forgotten that many horses repeatedly come to the starting line in this race. Red Rum, the three-time winner of the Grand National from Liverpool, has also occupied 2x second place in the National and has never fallen. Until his natural death in old age he carried as a living legend in the parade of the participating competitors of the Grand National.

History

The first steeplechase races took place in 18th-century Ireland and led by church tower to church tower. One of the first documented Steeple Chase took place due to a bet in 1752 in County Cork. Only two riders competed against each other, Cornelius O'Callaghan and Edmund Blake. The race went on a four and a half mile stretch between the St. John 's Church in Buttevant and the St. Leger Church in Doneraile. The name of the winner is not known.

The first steeplechase races were mostly cross country held, similar to today in the UK races held. 1810, the first steeplechase was on a racetrack, which was prepared with obstacles discharged.