May 11, 2004
Steeplechasing
I did the Dick Francis thing last Sunday and went to the Steeplechase races at Plumpton. They had three forms of horse racing: hurdles, steeplechase, and flat racing.
Flat racing is the same as we have in America, except the distances are much greater (typically over 2 miles). Also, the course runs counter-clockwise on grass, not dirt.
Hurdles racing is low hurdles, spaced about 1/8 mile apart. The fence is about 3ft high.
Steeplechasing is (I'm guessing here) a simulation of the effort needed to chase foxes. So the fences are brush and are between five and six feet high. About the same spacing, maybe a little wider than the hurdles.
All the different types of races were between 2 and 3 miles (which I think most Americans would find quite surprising). That, and a lot of the horses were raced on only 6 days of rest. I really thought that would be too little but in at least one of the races I won the winner only had 6 days.
Entry fee to the races was £8 (about $16 a current exchange rates) and the minimum bet was £1. I bet in every race and had two winners and one place. I probably spent something like £15 more than I made (including the gate fee) but I had a great time. I could see being a regular at this.
It's a bit different than American flat racing (which bookies over here apparently regard as completely crooked). I couldn't find anyone to take a bet on the Triple Crown though I'll try again as the next race approaches. There is much more of an element of chance in steeplechase (the horse may take the fence badly, balk, or the rider may misjudge the approach). My perception is that there are additional elements of skill required of a jockey (and of a horse) in steeplechase that make it much more difficult than flat racing. I frequently saw horses among the leaders have a dramatic change in their position based on how they took the jump. So it's not pure speed that makes a steeplechaser.
I think it's much harder to pick winners outside the favorites in steeplechase and so that makes it more interesting.
Posted by artandscience at May 11, 2004 10:17 AM