Jump racing is one of the two most popular horse racing varieties. In the UK it is officially referred to as the National Hunt Racing. Its origins go back to Ireland as far back as the 18th century. According to tradition, the very first recorded race of such kind took place between the Irish towns of Buttevant and Doneraile in 1752 over the distance of 4.5 miles (7.2 km).
The history of jump racing in the UK begins from 1839 when the first Grand National race was held at Aintree in Merseyside, England. Initially its distance was the same as the original race of 1752, however in 2013 it was changed to 4.3 miles (6.9 km).
Traditionally, jump races are held between the months of October and April, as the ground is softer in this period, making it safer for horses to jump. Most major races are held in this season. However, some races are available all year round.
The popularity and the cultural importance of horse racing in general and jump racing in particular in the United Kingdom goes beyond being just a sport or entertainment. Not only does it hold a significant place in the country’s economy, but it has also long become a social happening that shapes the country’s culture.
Famous Jump Racing Events in the UK
Throughout the jump race season, various major events are held across the country. However, two most famous ones that are probably well known even among those who don’t know a lot about the racing world are the Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.
The Grand National
Run every April in the ceremonial county of Merseyside, the Grand National is the highest profile National Hunt race conducted in the UK. Its fences are remarkably bigger and some of them include a significant drop. Becher’s Brook is one of the race’s most known obstacles. With a height of 5 ft (1.5 m), it has a 7 ft (2 m) drop on landing, often regarded as the most chellenging obstacle on the course.
Some of the noteworthy Grand National winners include:
- Red Rum (1973, 1974, 1977)
- Mr Frisk (1990; the last winner to date led by an amateur jockey)
- Aldaniti (1981; ridden by famous Bob Champion not long after he recovered from cancer)
- Foinavon (1967, won at odds of 100/1 after a mêlée put out most of his competition)
Cheltenham Festival
The four day festival takes place annually in the third week of March. One of its highlights is the Gold Cup race held over the distance of 3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards (5,294 m). One interesting feature of the Cheltenham Festival is the so-called “Cheltenham roar”: an enormously loud noise coming from the cheering crowd as the first race of the festival is about to begin.
Some of the noteworthy Gold Cup winners include:
- Dawn Run
- Arkle
- Golden Miller
- Best Mate
- Desert Orchid
- Kauto Star
Other major jump racing events conducted in the UK include:
November
- The Open (Cheltenham)
- Betfair Chase (Haydock Park)
- The Winter Festival (Newbury)
- Fighting Fifth Meeting (Newcastle)
December
- Tingle Creek Meeting (Sandown Park)
- BGC Family Raceday Meeting (Ascot)
- William Hill Winter Festival (Kempton Park)
- Coral Welsh National (Chepstow)
January
- Victor Chandler Chase Meeting (Ascot)
February
- Betfair Ascot Chase Meeting (Ascot)
March
- The Cheltenham Festival (Cheltenham)
April
- John Smith’s Grand National Festival (Aintree)
- Scottish Grand National Festival (Ayr)
- Bet 365 Gold Cup (Sandown Park)
Key Components of Jump Racing
It’s all in the name — the main element of any jump race is, well, jumping. Most jump races (we will talk about the only exception later) include obstacles that horses and jockeys have to jump over. These obstacles are divided into hurdles (smaller ones) and fences (bigger ones). Some types of jump races can include additional obstacles like water jumps and others.
Unlike flat racing, where the horses get into the race from starting stalls, in jump racing an elasticated tape is used. Upon the sign of a starter, jockeys lead their horses to the tape. Once the tape is released, the race has officially started.
While in flat racing speed is in the forefront, in jump racing the focus is on stamina. This happens because flat races are usually shorter than National Hunt racing. In its turn, this is stipulated by the origins of both types of racing.
Types of Jump Races
Jump racing unites several types of races that all have one thing in common, that is, jumping over a course of obstacles. However, they differ greatly in other aspects, like size of obstacles, course distance, additional handicaps and more.
Below let’s take a look at four types of jump races.
Hurdle Race
A hurdle race includes relatively smaller obstacles called hurdles. These are panels of at least three and half feet (1.1 m) high. They are made of brush and are also flexible. A hurdle race must include at least eight hurdles.
The distance in hurdles starts from 2 miles (3 km), with the maximum distance usually not longer than 3.5 miles (5.5 km). Compared to steeplechase, the hurdle races run at a faster pace, as the obstacles are much lower than fences.
Very often, horses who run in hurdle races are former flat race horses. Otherwise, hurdle races are used as training for those horses who later will go on to participate in steeplechase.
Steeplechase
The first thing you will notice about a steeplechase is the variety of obstacles. They come in the shape of fences, open ditches, or water jumps. When it comes to fences, they are much larger than common hurdles. Usually made of birch and spruce, they start at a minimum of four and a half feet (1.3 m) high.
The distance in steeplechase starts from 2 miles (3 km) and can be up to 4.5 miles (7 km). The name of this type of jump race comes from its origins in Ireland, where young men used to race each other from one church steeple to the next one, jumping over all natural obstacles that the landscape would throw in their way.
In the US, the name “steeplechase” sometimes refers to any jump race, but in the UK and some other countries it only means one particular type of a jump race and is also often called just “chase”. Most horses participating in steeplechase are older and some of them have previous experience participating in hurdle racing.
Handicap Race
Of course, not all horses entering a race have the same skills and abilities. So to make it more exciting for the audience, horses are assigned different weights to carry during the race. Faster and generally better prepared horses carry larger weights.
The idea behind a handicap race is that weight affects the speed. Ideally, the weights should be assigned in such a way that all horses finish in a dead heat (a straight line). However, we are still to see this phenomenon in a handicap race!
Handicapping can be used both in jump races and flat races.
Bumper Race
A bumper race is a flat race run according to the jump race rules. The main objective behind this type of racing is to give the horses who have previously only participated in jump races an experience of running a flat race. Correspondingly, horses who have run flat races before are not eligible for bumper races.
Bumper races can also be referred to as National Hunt flat races. If a flat jockey wants to participate in bumper races, they need to obtain a jump jockey license first. In the UK, horses participating in bumper races can’t be more than seven years old.
Training and Preparation for Jump Racing
Two main figures involved with a horse are a trainer and a jockey. While they have different responsibilities, their common main goal is to turn the horse in their care into the next champion.
So which parts of a horse’s training are a trainer and a jockey responsible for?
Role of Trainers
A horse trainer is basically a strategist. From the horse’s diet to exercising routine and methods of schooling, a trainer makes decisions to give the horse its best form for the next jump race.
Together with the horse’s owner (or their expert representative), the trainer builds a strategy on race participation. They decide which National Hunt races the horse will take part in during the season, so that it gets the best chances to win. This is an important part of the trainer’s job because the horse’s training plan will also depend on which races it will enter.
On the day of the race, trainers often assess the conditions of the racecourse and discuss the final tactics with the jockey to ensure the horse has the best chances to win.
Role of Jockeys
The role of jockeys in National Hunt Racing is similar to that of jockeys in flat racing, that is, to try and lead the horse they are riding to a successful finish. However, due to the different ways these races are conducted, both their conditions and skills might differ.
Of course, the jockey has to understand the horse they are riding and be able to guide it. On a more practical side of things, jockeys have to maintain a great form. Most of the time their day is divided into two parts: training and schooling the horse in the morning and participating in the races in the afternoon and evening.
Jump race jockeys are usually taller and, as a result, heavier than their flat race colleagues. There are several factors that play into this. National Hunt races tend to be longer and slower than flat races, that’s why not only the horse but also the jockey needs to have a stronger stamina. Besides, most horses participating in jump races are older and can carry bigger weights.
Race Day Experience
Every visit to a horse race is a vibrant and unique experience, and you have to try it in person to fully understand the excitement.
However, if you are a first-time race spectator and don’t know what to expect at the racecourse, here is what happens on race day in jump racing.
What Happens on Race Day
Race days are an exciting and vibrant experience that offer lots of unforgettable memories! They include several races, 30 minutes apart from each other, and plenty of other activities for the audience.
The gate opens about two hours before the first race begins. The schedule and starting times for each race depend on the time of the year and the sunset. You can buy a racecard that includes all the information about the scheduled races, racecourses, and everything else to help you have a good time.
Take your time to explore the venue and embrace the uplifting vibe that surrounds races. Make sure you check the Parade Ring about 20 minutes before the race starts. You will see the horses all ready for the race and jockeys and trainers having last minute discussions. The sound of a bell announces the time when jockeys should mount their horses and head to the start. Find a good place to watch the race from and get ready for the spectacle.
The most interesting place to see right after the end of the race is the Winners’ Enclosure. This is where the winner and three runners up get their awards. If you placed a bet on any horse, you will need to wait until the jockeys go through a “weigh in” to confirm that their weight is the same as at the start of the race. This means the race was run fairly, the results are verified, and the bookmakers can start giving payouts.
Spend the rest of the time until the next race getting some refreshments at the food stalls, buying merch, and mixing with the crowd. And if you are lucky, there might be a master class or a signing session with your favourite jockey!
Differences Between Jump Racing and Flat Racing
In this article we have already discussed some of the most obvious differences between jump racing and flat racing. But is there any difference regarding what happens on a race day for these two race types?
One of the key differences you will immediately notice at the racecourse is the starting line. In flat races, horses come out of the starting stalls. In National Hunt, racehorses gather behind a “flip start”, which is a strong elastic tape. Once it is released, the race begins.
Another difference is the seasons when these two types of races are conducted. Of course, nowadays with the introduction of all-weather tracks both flat and jump races are conducted all year round. But the traditional season for the former is from the middle of March till the end of October, while for the latter it is from late October to April.
Other than that, jump races and flat races follow a similar protocol when it comes to jockey weigh-ins, bet payouts, celebration at the Winners’ Enclosure, and general entertaining activities taking place off the racecourses.
Reaching the Finish Line
National Hunt races are an indispensable part of the horse racing scene in the UK. Gathering large crowds of spectators and attracting high profile horses and jockeys from all over the country, they are the highlight of the winter season in horse racing.
If you are an ardent race viewer or are just now gaining interest in this sport, keep learning and exploring to enhance your spectator experience. And of course, to feel the excitement of a racing day yourself, visit some of the most interesting National Hunt events!
FAQs
What is the difference between hurdle races and steeplechases?
The main difference between hurdle races and steeplechases are the size and variety of obstacles the horses have to jump over. In hurdles, the obstacles are lower and only come in the form of panels. In steeplechases, obstacles vary from fences to water jumps and open ditches. The fences are much higher than hurdles.
How are weights determined in handicap races?
Weights in handicap races are determined according to the abilities and skills of each particular horse. Faster and better prepared horses are assigned more weight to level their speed down to that of slower participants.
What is the purpose of bumper races in National Hunt Racing?
The main objective of bumper racing is to give horses who have previously only participated in National Hunt racing an experience of running a flat race. That’s why horses who have run in a flat race before aren’t eligible for a bumper race.
How do jump racing horses differ from flat racing horses?
As jump racing requires more stamina rather than speed, jump racing horses tend to be older and stronger. The current minimum age for jump racing horses is 3 years old, while for flat racing horses it is 2 years old. On the other hand, flat racing horses are usually faster. Based on this, training techniques for National Hunt racehorses and flat race racehorses differ.
What are some of the most famous jump racing events in the UK?
There are a number of large jump race events taking place throughout the season. Two most well known ones are the Grand National (taking place every April in Aintree) and the Cheltenham Festival (taking place every March in Cheltenham).
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