Why no gate for steeplechase?

Question

I've seen some steeplechase and hurdle races in U.K or so, and I wonder why they don't have any starting gate as they have for flat races. Anybody knows it?

Answer 1

Great question try to answer as best as I can,

1. The races are 2 miles plus, a level start is not as important as it would be in a 5 furlong sprint.

2..In  jump races over the longer distances, jockeys are not always looking for a good/fast  start, the jockey is trying to relax the horse so he/she(horse) will last the distance, that is why you see some horses  walking up behind the main pack at the start (it doesn't mean they are not trying!).

3. Most of the horses you see in jump races have raced on the flat so obviously have experience of the starting gate, as I  said the jockey is trying to relax his horse to get the extra distance, starting stalls would only fire the horses up and in a race like a 3yo hurdle, when the gates  opened it would be like the Charge of the Light Brigade going to the first hurdle

4 A starting gate or gates big enough and wide enough

to hold 15 to 20 plus,  three-mile steeplechasers would not fit on  most of the tracks in UK or Ireland.

Answer 2

mostly because it's a completely different mentality from horse racing and thoroughbred behavior. Thoroughbreds are often so hot (excited) that they are barely controllable, hence the need for the gate system.

Answer 3

They use thoroughbreds for steeplechase bladecrimson.  It might be traditional because it's an older racing style or just their preference for training.  For Crosscountry you start from a large open box marked on the ground.