For those of us who will put on a hat, well, at the drop of a hat, the spring thoroughbred racing season offers some of the best occasions to spend a day beneath the open sky and a fancy hat. You needn’t attend The Kentucky Derby, The Belmont, or The Preakness to revel in some of racing’s most thrilling moments. At the steeplechase meets, High Hope (Lexington, KY), The Iroquois (Nashville, TN), Virginia Gold Cup (the Plains, VA), to name a few, are chances to trot out your most shamelessly over the top hat as well as savor the vicarious pleasure of hat watching.
Priced at around $15. for general admission, $50. to $75. per carload for tailgating, these 1-day race meets are a relatively inexpensive outing and are eagerly attended by fans of all ages and several species. Since the best seats in the house are to be had by opting to tailgate, that is, viewing the race from your own vehicle track side, it’s the perfect venue for picnic lunches, favorite hats, dogs and children. The inclusion of dogs in race day activities my vary from meet to meet, I suggest that you check first, children are always welcome. By the age of 4 months my daughter was a veteran of as many steeplechase meets and already had her “racin’ hat”.
For the benefit of readers who have not been hanging on the rail since infancy, here are the basics on the sport: Steeplechase is thoroughbred horse racing ratcheted up by running the high speed races over a series of obstacles. The first steeplechase ever run took place in County Cork, Ireland over 250 years ago when a Mr. Blake challenged his neighbor, a Mr. O’Callaghan, to race across country from Buttevant Church to Doneraile Church some four and a half miles distance and so jump stone walls, ditches and hedges as these presented themselves. By keeping the steeple of the church in sight both riders could see their finishing point, thus the name “steeplechasing”.
Since Mr. Blake and Mr. O’Callaghan’s day steeplechase has changed, though none of the excitement or competitive nature of the sport has gone by the wayside. If anything, improvements have been made. The jumps are now man-made, that is to say, safer, and both horse and rider get a look at the obstacles before encountering them under racing conditions. Now days, as in flat racing, the riders are professionals, though for steeplechase riders weight requirements are not as strict; a jump jock may weigh as much as a whopping 140 lbs. and still compete.
Most steeplechase days include five to seven races which go off about every 30 minutes. Spectators arrive a few hours before the first race (usually 1 p.m.) to start their outing with lunch or visiting with friends. In addition to the racing, there are usually other activities such as stick-horse races for children, a parade of hounds, terrier races, even, HAT COMPETITIONS.
Yes, while hats have always been in fashion at the races, it seems that head wear has become such a recognized component of steeplechase activities that many of the meets invite attendees to offer up their head gear to the spirit of competition. The Callaway Steeplechase (Ga.) offers a prize for the most whimsical hat, as well as one for the best child’s hat. The Atlanta Steeple chase a prize is awarded for the most outlandish hat, but then, the Atlanta Steeplechase even features a pig race, presumably pigs are not hatted but, one never knows.
Even if you’re not up to throwing your hat in the ring, I’ll wager, a spring day at the steeplechase is a day you won’t regret. There is no more thrilling sight than a field of exquisitely conditioned horses doing what they are bred to do.
To learn more about the sport of steeplechase and to get a schedule of the 2010 season visit the National Steeplechase Association’s website.
by Jan Masters Yon
