Cheltenham Festival Horse Racing Terms

If you’re new to National Hunt horse racing it is easy to get confused by the horse racing jargon used by fans and punters. Here are definitions for some Cheltenham Festival horse racing terms that will help you get the most from you Cheltenham Festival experience.

Furlong: The furlong is a unit of measurement used to describe race distances. A furlong is an eighth of a mile or more specifically 66 yards.

Chase/Steeplechase: Steeplechase or chases are a National Hunt racing format. Unlike flat races (the more familiar format of horse racing) steeplechases require horses to clear obstacles during races. Obstacles can come in the form of fences over 4½ feet high, ditches and water obstacles such as streams or ponds. Steeplechases are also the longest races in horse racing and can cover distances of up to 4½ miles.

Hurdle race: Hurdles are a less severe National Hunt format than steeplechases. Like steeplechases, hurdle races require horses to clear obstacles during the course of a race; however these obstacles are comparatively low with a minimum height of 3½ feet. Hurdle races are also relatively shorter at a maximum length of 3½ miles. Despite being somewhat less challenging than steeplechases hurdles still require significant concentration, skill and effort from both jockeys and racehorses.

Bumper: ‘Bumper’ is a horse racing term used to describe the National Hunt flat race format. This race format is the starting point for many horses new to National Hunt racing and is identical to a flat race in every way except the distances run. Both hurdles and steeplechases are long races, and the 2½ mile bumper limit allows trainers to accustom their horses to long distance races without having to confront obstacles.

Novice: The Cheltenham Festival horse racing term ‘novice’ is used to describe a horse new to a specific format of horse racing. When horses are first introduced to jump racing it is usual for them to make mistakes as they learn, and during this period they are only raced against horses with similar levels of experience.

Once a horse has secured a win in a novice race in any format it is free to compete against more experienced racehorses. Not all novices are new to horse racing, as successful flat racing horses are still rated as novices when they make the shift to hurdles or chases.

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