Jump Racing Essentials

Jump Racing has a long tradition in the United Kingdom and each year the Cheltenham Festival features an exciting line up of Jump Races and Cheltenham betting. To learn more about the beginnings of Jump Racing, some of the vocabulary terms connected with it, and the Cheltenham Festival, there are a number of informative resources available online. Here are some excellent places to start your search.

Two hundred years ago in its earliest version, Jump Racing was simply two or more horses and their riders out on a hunt in the countryside. Hedges, fences, creeks, and fallen trees were just some of the barriers that horse and rider had to learn to conquer in order to be a successful pair in the hunt. Jump Racing, or National Hunt Racing, in its refined version today, features a jockey stealthily guiding his horse over a two or four mile course full of hurdles or fences, at full speed. An excellent resource in which to find more information about the finer points of Jump Racing is located at, Go Jump Racing. Two more sites that offer perspectives on Jump Racing and racing in general are, News BBC Co UK, and Mr Mike.

As with any sport, there are vocabulary terms used that are particular to the Jump Racing world. For instance, when a horse is said "to ping," it means that he is jumping in good style. Or, if someone refers to the "stiff track," it means that the particular racetrack will require a lot of stamina from the horses. If a horse is referred to as "handy," it means that the horse is holding a prominent place during the race. For a website with a full list of racing terms, including the three examples here, travel to Cheltenham Festival.

The Cheltenham Festival features Jump Racing and takes place each March, in the town of Cheltenham, in England. Hundreds of thousands of people travel to the Cheltenham Festival to watch the horses fly over the hurdles--in the hopes of spotting a future champion. In the midst of the crisp, expectant atmospere of the Festival, visitors can easily imagine the five time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner (1932-1936), Golden Miller, being led across the grounds by his jockey. Musical events, delicious food, spectacular sites, and horse racing history can all be enjoyed at the Cheltenham Festival. Whether you are a Jump Racing enthusiast or you just enjoy watching the beauty of a horse's stride, the Cheltenham Festival holds something for you. You'll find a wide range of helpful material from an illustration of the New and Old Courses at Cheltenham to a quiz to test your race knowledge at, Cheltenham Co UK.

Here are some additional sites where you will find more information about Jump Racing and its history:

Extension This site offers a concise summary of Jump Racing and other horse races.

Racing Post Chase A collection of history and information about National Hunt Racing is featured at this site.

T B Heritage You'll find a list of horses who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup, statistics, and information about their bloodlines at this site.

Scottish National Betting This site features photographs of National Hunt Racing champions accompanied by interesting descriptions.

Jump Racing This site offers different perspectives on the sport of Jump Racing.