What Is Steeplechase Racing? A Guide for Charleston’s Premier Fall Event
Picture a thousand-pound Thoroughbred thundering across a course at 30 miles per hour, launching itself over brush fences while a jockey in bright silks guides every move. That’s steeplechase racing, and it’s nothing like the track and field event with the same name. South Carolina has embraced this thrilling sport, with the Steeplechase of Charleston drawing thousands each November to experience it firsthand.
From Irish Countryside to American Tradition
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The story goes that two Irish horsemen made a bet in County Cork back in 1752. O’Callaghan and Blake agreed to race from one church to another across the countryside, about 4.5 miles of open ground. The towering church steeples were the only landmarks visible from a distance, so riders chased toward the steeples they could see on the horizon.
That spontaneous race became a tradition, and the name stuck. Today the sport is sometimes called jumps racing, but steeplechase captures something about its origins that flat track racing never could.
The Jockeys
Parker Hendriks is sprayed, by fellow jockeys, with champagne for winning Champion Jockey of the 2022 Steeplechase season at the close of the Steeplechase of Charleston at the Plantation at Stono Ferry in Hollywood Sunday, Nov. 13, 2022. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
Steeplechase jockeys weigh around 135 pounds minimum, slightly heavier than their flat track counterparts. Many come from England and Ireland, where the sport has deeper roots and longer traditions. They gain experience on European courses before competing in American races.
Those colorful racing silks aren’t fashion statements. Each pattern represents the horse’s owner and has to be unique and registered. No two owners can share the same design, which means the silks you see thundering past are as distinctive as fingerprints.
For safety, every jockey wears a padded vest and approved helmet. These aren’t suggestions. The speed, the distance, and those obstacles make protection mandatory. While most riders are professionals, talented amateurs still compete alongside seasoned veterans. More women have joined the sport in recent years, though it remains predominantly male.
The Thoroughbreds – The Real Athletes
Every horse running steeplechase is a registered Thoroughbred with documented lineage through the Jockey Club. Many are geldings extending their racing careers beyond flat track competition. These horses can race from age 3 to 12, a remarkably long span compared to other racing disciplines.
The secret is frequency. Steeplechase horses run about 6-8 races per year instead of the grueling weekly schedule that flat racers endure. This lighter load lets them compete for nearly a decade while maintaining their health and performance.
Steeplechase horses are called chasers, and they earn the name. Watching one clear a fence at full speed shows why we measure engine power in horsepower. The combination of strength, timing, and courage required is extraordinary.
The Course
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Steeplechase races run 2 to 3 miles, far longer than flat races that typically cover under a mile. The number of obstacles and the distance between them varies by race, adding strategic complexity that makes every course different.
Most jumps are National Fences, portable obstacles developed by the National Steeplechase Association. They consist of a steel frame packed with plastic brush. The takeoff side features a foam rubber roll covered in green canvas. They’re engineered to challenge both horse and rider while prioritizing safety.
Distance matters. Strategy matters. A jockey can’t just push hard from the start. They have to pace the horse, gauge the competition, time each approach to every fence, and save enough energy for the final stretch. That’s what separates steeplechase from shorter races. It’s not just about speed. It’s about endurance, timing, and trust between horse and rider.
Quick Facts About Steeplechase
How fast do steeplechase horses run? Steeplechase horses reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour while navigating obstacles.
How long is a steeplechase race? Races typically run 2 to 3 miles, significantly longer than flat races which cover under a mile.
What age are steeplechase horses? Horses compete between ages 3 and 12, racing about 6-8 times per year.
What do jockeys wear? Jockeys wear colorful racing silks representing the horse’s owner, plus mandatory padded vests and approved helmets for safety.
What are the jumps made of? Most obstacles are National Fences: portable steel frames filled with plastic brushes, with a foam rubber roll on the takeoff side.
See It For Yourself
Understanding steeplechase is one thing. Watching a field of Thoroughbreds clear a fence in perfect succession is something else entirely. The ground shakes. The crowd roars. And for a few breathtaking seconds, tons of muscle and momentum become flight.
Join us November 9, 2025 at Stono Ferry Racetrack in Hollywood, South Carolina to experience it firsthand.
Get your tickets at SteeplechaseOfCharleston.com