Horse racing is one of the most popular sports around the world, and although flat racing is probably the more famous of the two racing codes, jump racing also has a huge following. Flat racing is huge in most parts of the world, with prestigious races being held in the US, Japan, Dubai, Australia, Britain, Ireland, and France each year.
Jump racing, on the other hand, is mainly seen in Britain, Ireland, and France, but it is beginning to become a welcome alternative to flat racing in the US.
So what exactly is jump racing, and how does it work?
Different Types Of Jump Races
Jump racing has two main types of races – hurdle races, and chases. The best way to find out which types of races are on offer on a day-to-day basis and to check out the betting odds such as Noble Yeats being 8/1 for the Grand National, is by visiting https://www.paddypower.com/horse-racing, where you will find everything you need including the day’s runners, betting odds, and expert tips.
If you are having a bet on some of the jump races on show throughout the day, Paddy Power also supplies quick horse race results, so you don’t have to wait to see if your selection has crossed the line in front, or if they have proven to be a disappointment.
What Are Hurdle Races?
Hurdles are the smaller of the jumps that are faced by jump racing horses. Made of timber and having some give in the structure, hurdles are a great starting point for horses that are beginning their jump racing careers. They have proven to be a great stepping stone toward facing larger fences later in a horse’s career.
The minimum distance that a hurdle race is competed over is 2 miles, whilst the maximum distance is usually somewhere near the 3-mile mark. With smaller obstacles being jumped, hurdle races are usually run at a much faster pace than the chasing equivalent, so quick and accurate jumping is key to success.
The most prestigious hurdle races in the world include the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle, the Stayers’ Hurdle, and the Irish Champion Hurdle. The 2023 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle was won by arguably the best horse in jump racing at the moment, Constitution Hill. Visit https://www.bbc.com/sport/horse-racing/64958336 to find out more about the ‘horse of a generation’.
America’s biggest jump race, the Grand National Hurdle Stakes, is also run over the smaller obstacles.
What Are Chases In Jump Racing?
A ‘Chase’ is a name given to a race in which horses must tackle much bigger fences than hurdles. Usually made out of stiff birch, the fences are a much more challenging task for jump-racing horses. Chases are also competed for over distances of 2 to 3 miles, but one of the most famous jump races in the world, the https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/the-grand-national/, is run over a stamina-sapping 4 miles.
Other famous races over fences include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Champion Chase, King George VI Chase, and the Aintree Bowl. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is considered to be the pinnacle of the jump racing sphere and is the race that every owner, trainer, and jockey, dreams of winning.
Flat racing may pull in more viewers and attract the attention of millionaire owners, but for a little more excitement, and far more thrills and spills, jump racing is a wonderful spectacle in its own right.
