Sports
Just How Long Is A Furlong? A Steeplechase Glossary
A furlong is an eighth of a mile, or 220 yards.
Steeplechase has a language all its own, and with Radnor Hunt Races coming up May 21, now is a good time to brush up on the basics. Here's a quick glossary of terms to know for race day, courtesy of event organizers:
Allowance: A race restricted to horses with certain records. Example: A “non-winners of two” allowance is open only to horses with one victory or less.
Apprentice: A relatively inexperienced jockey. The National Steeplechase Association gives apprentice jockeys the following weight allowances (deductions): Non-winners of one race, 10 pounds; of 15 races, five pounds. Jockeys must be at least 16 years old.
Claiming: Certain races are designated as claiming races, where a horse may be purchased, or claimed. The claim is made and money put up before the race is run, and the pur- chase must go through, no matter where the horse finishes. Only NSA licensees may claim horses.
Furlong: The standard measure in U.S. Thoroughbred rac- ing. One furlong equals one eighth of a mile.
Handicap: A race in which the horses are assigned different amounts of weight, according to their respective abilities and past performances.
Maiden: A horse that has never won a race.
National Fence: A synthetic steeplechase fence used at most stops in the U.S. Consists of a steel frame stuffed with plastic “brush” at a height of 52 inches. A foam-rubber roll, covered with green canvas, is placed on the takeoff side.
Novice: A horse in the early stages of its steeplechase career. Novice races are held at many meets, to give horses experience over hurdles before they compete with more-seasoned jumpers.
National Steeplechase Association: The NSA, founded in 1895, is the governing body for steeplechase racing in the United States. Based in Fair Hill, Md., the NSA sanctions races, takes entries, approves officials, and inspects courses. The NSA licenses all participants and keeps official statistics.
Paddock: Area where horses are saddled before a race.
Purse: Total money distributed in a race. Winner collects 60 percent of total purse, with shares paid to sixth place.
Stewards: Presiding officials (referees/umpires) at a race meet. They have final decision on all matters pertaining to a race. They may levy fines on owners, trainers, or jockeys who violate the rules of racing. A typical ruling involves disqualifi- cation of a horse who interferes with another in a race. Each race meet has three stewards.
Timber fence: Natural, wooden fence constructed of boards, logs or posts and rails. Timber races are held as part of many race meets.
Wings: The panels on either side of a steeplechase fence which are designed to guide a horse to a fence.
The National Steeplechase Association defines a couple of the more ubiquitous terms:
Steeplechase: A race for thoroughbred horses over jumps. Steeplechase racing is the same as ‘flat’ racing in most respects, except the inclusion of fences to jump over.
Steeplechase Horse: As in other types of professional races, all steeplechasers are thoroughbreds, and most are experienced in flat racing before being converted to steeplechasing, where the necessary talents include jumping ability in addition to speed.
Steeplechase Jockey: Professional jockeys, the human riders in horse races, are traditionally adults of smaller physical dimensions – contrary to popular belief there are no height limits on jockeys, only weight limits. Weight limits for “jump” jockeys, as they’re known colloquially, are traditionally higher than for flat jockeys (roughly 140 pounds compared to 110 pounds), though some well known jockeys, such as Jacinto Vasquez and Jean Cruguet, have ridden in both types of races.
Steeplechase Start: Steeplechase races don’t start from a gate. Instead, horses are lined up in post position order and start from a standstill or a walk.
