What Is Jump Racing? (Explained!)

Someone I know recently told me that they thought jump races are one of the most simultaneously intense and entertaining horse races to watch.

I had to agree with them on that one, and I’m going to share with you some of the reasons why that is!

So, first of all, what is jump racing and what does it involve?

The answer to this question is that, in short, jump racing involves the horses jumping over obstacles throughout the course of the race. These can vary in size, with shorter obstacles being known as hurdles and taller ones referred to as fences. Jump racing requires a lot of strength and precision from the horses involved.

In this article we’ll take a look at some of the other questions you may have about jump racing, such as what the different types of jump racing are, what horses can compete in jump racing, and how high exactly are the jumps.

So, let’s not waste any time and get straight to answering these questions!

What is the difference between a jump race and a flat race?

This question might seem obvious; however, it is useful to make this distinction clear before we talk about jump racing in more detail.

Firstly, a Flat race is run on an entirely level field with no obstacles involved whatsoever.

These are high-speed races aimed at testing a horse’s speed, strength, and stamina.

The only added component to a Flat race is perhaps the addition of a weighted saddle – such is the case with claiming and allowance races.

In comparison, a jump race is perhaps more technically challenging as they are specifically designed to challenge a horse’s precision, strength and stamina at once through the addition of multiple obstacles to the race (hurdles or fences).

What are some examples of jump races?

Having discussed the difference between a jump race and a flat race, we’ll take a look at some examples of different types of jump races, since jump racing is somewhat of an umbrella term for this category of races!

There are two overarching types of jump races – Hurdles and Steeple Chase.

Hurdles are shorter obstacles, and these types of races are usually entered by younger or less experienced horses.

Hurdle events are divided according to the horse’s age and experience and the distances run ranges from 2 miles to over 3 miles depending on these factors.

The other type of jump race is known as the Steeple Chase, which involves much more advanced obstacles such as fences (much taller than hurdles), a water ditch (clear a fence and then land in 3 inches of water) and an open ditch (fence with a longer jump).

Steeple Chases are exclusive to be entered by more experienced and mature racehorses as they are very advanced races, and the distances also range from 2 to 3+ miles.

These two main types of jump race can be further sub-divided into specific categories, such as: juvenile, novice and open.

What horses can compete in a jump race?

You might be wondering at this point what horses can compete in a jump race, and what the requirements are for entering.

The answer to this question depends on the event that they are entering.

For example, if you want to enter a horse into a hurdle event, they should be at least 3 years old as this would mean that they qualify for the juvenile event which takes place between October and December.

You could enter a horse into a novice event if they have not won a race by the beginning of the season, and you can enter any horse into an open event (irrespective of their age or experience).

It is however a rule that Steeple Chase events can only be entered by more mature and experienced horses because the obstacles are far more advanced and dangerous, so it can run the risk of harming the horse and jockey if they go wrong or if the horse is not confident enough.

How high are the jumps in jump races?

The shorter jumps in jump racing are called hurdles, and these are usually around 3 and a half feet tall.

When it comes to Steeple Chase races, the obstacles are usually much taller and more complex for the horse to jump.

A plain fence in jump racing is at least 4-foot 6 inches in height, but they can be as high as 5 and a half feet in some races.

The water jump obstacle that is exclusive to the Steeple Chase event requires racehorses to jump a 3 foot fence and then land in around 3 inches of water on the other side of the fence – disturbing the horse’s balance and making it more challenging for them to land.

Finally, an open ditch requires horses to perform a long jump over a 4-foot 6 inch fence after clearing a ditch.

Are jump jockeys heavier than flat jockeys?

There is a narrative that suggests jump jockeys are heavier than flat jockeys because more strength is required from them to compete in jumping events.

You might be surprised to know that this is a trend that is common among jockeys as flat jockeys try to stay as light as possible so as to not weigh their horses down in high-speed races.

In conclusion, this article has explored the meaning of jump racing in horse racing.

We found that it involves horses either jumping over hurdles (if they are young or inexperienced with jumps) or more advanced obstacles like fences, water ditches and open ditches (if they are more experienced).

Jump races are very different from flat races due to the various obstacles involved.

These obstacles can range in height from around 3ft to 5.5ft, with some having added components like ditches making them more challenging.

Finally, we learned that, surprisingly jump jockeys tend to be heavier than flat jockeys due to different racing requirements.

I hope this article has been helpful in answering all your jump-racing questions!