The hurdle and steeplechases: the difference
Horse racing has to be one of those entertaining sports that stays around throughout the year, almost all the twelve months. Once the flat racing season is done with, there is still way more to look and hope for. The races take form of hurdles, chases and
steeplechases. All three are distinct, but can be confused due to the differences that are not highly significant.
They all fall under the broad flagship of National Hunt racing which are specifically famous in the UK, France and Ireland. The races are a combination of jumping fences or overcoming ditches, basically intruding the way of the horse to the wire.
UK known for being one of the richest countries when it comes to horse racing has the latter season of the year divided into hurdles and steeplechases. The two most famous and prestigious are the Aintree Grand National and the Cheltenhem Gold Cup.
The hurdles are pretty standardised with obstacles that serve as hurdles, while the steeplechase comprises of fences, water jumps or even open ditches.
These are far dangerous from the flat style, and the number of contestants in these races are way more. The participants do not break from any designated stalls rather they just run in for it.
The sad and most depressing part about the hurdle and steeplechase season is the frequency of injuries and subsequent deaths. Ten or usually even more in number when jump over a hurdle, water jump or a ditch, the chances of accidents increase many folds.
Already fallen down horses present a more challenging situation for those who are waiting to jump through, who eventually become the part of ‘the entangled’. Many famous stables lose their best shots in deadly races like these. Not only the horses, the jockeys
get injured miserably too, and for many if the race did not end the life it did surely put an end to the career.
At some race courses there are natural growing branches and ‘bridges’ that serve as hurdles. The British Horse Racing Association takes disciplinary and cautionary steps each year, and somehow they fall insufficient when the candidates lose their life. How
will the 2012 season end is not long away.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent bettor.com’s official editorial policy.
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