Guide to Jump Racing

• Types of race and the difference between Hurdles, Steeplechases and Bumpers
• Race Grades and the pyramid structure of British racing
• The Order of Merit competition
• Equine Welfare

Jump racing in the UK is divided into three distinct branches: Hurdles, Steeple Chase and National Hunt Flat races.

The Jump Racing programme runs on turf from Autumn through to Spring and takes advantage of a variety and geographical spread of racecourses.

Timber obstacles of a minimum 3’6” in height are cleared.

Hurdles races are divided into the following categories, determined by age, experience and distance:

• 2 mile Novice
• 2 mile Open
• 2½ mile Novice
• 2½ mile Open
• 3+ mile Novice
• 3+ mile Open

Where there are a variety of obstacles to be cleared which can include:

• Plain fence: which are a minimum of 4’6” in height on the take off side
• Water Jump: where the horses clear a fence of at least 3’ in height followed immediately by a small pond on the far side of the fence
• Open Ditch: Are a minimum of 4’6” in height with the horses clearing a turf ditch on the take-off side

Again, Steeplechasing is divided into the following categories based on age, experience and distance:

• 2 mile Juvenile
• 2 mile Novice
• 2 mile Open
• 2½ mile Novice
• 2½ mile Open
• 3+ mile Novice
• 3+ mile Open

Each category has a Championship race at either the Cheltenham Festival or the Aintree Grand National Meeting, if not at both.

Each of the above categories are then divided into Grades based on the quality of the horses involved

Generally the last race on a Jumps card, Bumpers allow young and inexperienced horses to race on on a flat section of ground, without having to jump obstacles, in order to become accustomed to racing before facing the challenge of jumping.

All Jump races, whether Hurdles or Steeplechase, are divided into Classes and Grades.

All ‘Pattern’ (i.e. major) races carry Class 1 status which represents the highest class of race-type. The Pattern races are so called because theoretically they provide a pattern of events (Grade 1 and 2 races) for the best horses to run in without having to tackle handicaps. 

Some major handicaps such as the John Smiths Grand National or the Hennessy Gold Cup are categorised as Grade 3 to reflect the quality of horse running in them.  This is assessed by using the handicap ratings of the highest rated horses which run in the race.

Visit the British Horseracing Authority website for more information about Handicap rating. Class 1 races are sub-divided further into Grades:

Championship races where the weight carried by each horse is determined by age and sex with no penalties for previous wins. (Weight-for-Age). They are generally the top races and attract the best horses and biggest prizes.

There are 30 Grade 1 races in the Jumps season:

Either Weight-for-Age races (like Grade 1), but with penalties for previous wins, or Limited Handicaps which feature narrow weight ranges.

Valuable Open Handicaps where the weight carried is determined by a horse’s Handicap rating. Visit the British Horseracing Authority website for more information about Handicap ratings.

Are just below Graded races but are still recognised as high quality competition because of the standard of the horses involved.

All other races below Class 1 are divided simply into the class of the race, again based on the horse’s rating. Class 2 races are worth more prize money than Class 4 races, but your horse needs to be of a higher rating to be allowed to race at this level, and so on.

Throughout the Jump racing season there are 69 races which are listed as Order of Merit races.

These races are the highest quality races on the Jumps calendar and attract the best horses all hoping to be Order of Merit champion.

Points are awarded for the first 4 finishers, which are then accrued over the season to create a league table. The horse who picks up the most points over the course of the 69 races is then crowned Order of Merit champion.

Visit our Order of Merit area for more information about the competition and how you can book tickets to watch the very best of Jumps racing.

Like most sports, Jump racing carries risks. However, the safety and welfare of the horse is of paramount importance to everyone involved in racing.

The British Horseracing Authority has an extensive and highly dedicated Equine Science and Welfare department, the main focus of whom is to make sure that no death or injury takes place which could have been prevented.

Visit the British Horseracing Authority website to learn more about the research we have carried out and the measures we have taken to make racecourses safer, enhance veterinary care and work with animal welfare groups.

In the last five years, despite a substantial increase in the number of runners, the average number of fatalities in a year has decreased. We hope to see that number reduced still further. Our objective is that there should be none.

• Guide to Going Racing
• Guide to Betting
• Guide to Flat Racing
• Guide to Jump Racing
  • Types of Race
  • Race Grades
  • Order of Merit
  • Equine Welfare