Straining horses pound the turf and vault effortlessly over hurdles, and surrounding their athletic struggle, are clusters of chic ladies and gentlemen drinking champagne out of crystal stemware. Steeplechase blends elegant traditions with racing excitement, creating a concoction of contradictions that is the delight of the event.

History of the Steeplechase

The sport traces its roots to a historic race between the steeples of Buttevant Church and St. Mary's Church in 1752. In the pastoral town of Doneraile, Ireland, Mr. Blake and Mr. O'Callaghan raced their two Irish foxhunters over 4 ½ miles of terrain. During this time, church steeples were usually the most prominent objects in the landscape, but the logical landmarks for this match race unwittingly birthed the title and the sport of steeplechase.

Eventually the sport spread from European soil to American, although its actual beginning here is unknown. However, steeplechase became an official sport on Feb. 15, 1895, when nine men founded the National Steeplechase Association to "keep records; govern, promote and hold races; advance steeplechasing throughout the United States; license individuals and race meetings," according to the NSA. Since then, steeplechase's popularity hasn't waned; it currently exists in 12 states throughout the East.