Did you hear the news? Jumps Racing is BACK at Royal Windsor Racecourse this Sunday 15th December 2024. For the first time in 20 years, you can relish the thrill of National Hunt racing.
It’s time to switch out your summer linens and get the tweed and gloves out for a wintry day at the races. We might be the Home of Monday Night Racing, but the wintertime promises something truly special here at the racecourse.
Tickets to our Jumps Racing Returns fixture are available now. Can’t make it to the December fixture? No problem! We are also hosting jumps fixtures as part of the Berkshire Winter Million 17-19th January 2025, in partnership with Ascot. Tickets are on sale now. Why not take advantage of our incredible multi-day pass tickets: Saturday-Sunday just £35, or the full three days for £40.
For those looking to learn or strengthen their National Hunt knowledge, read on for all the key information to know.
What is National Hunt racing?
In National Hunt racing, horses jump over obstacles known as hurdles and fences. Where flat racing begins from starting stalls, jump racing begins with the horses and jockeys behind a starting tape. The starter drops their flag and the tape drops, starting the race. There are many notable differences between jump and flat including race distance, horse age and racing industry.
At Windsor, the jumps track will follow a different part of the course in comparison to flat racing. You can read about the ground and course here.
Types of Races: Chases, Hurdles and Bumpers
Chase Races, also known as Steeplechases, feature the tallest fences which must be a minimum of four-and-a-half feet high. Steeplechases are usually for experienced, older horses.
Hurdle racing mixes the fast pace of flat racing with the thrill of chases. Hurdles are three-and-a-half feet high and are made from a padded foam.
Bumper races are designed to introduce inexperienced horses to big events, crowds and national hunt racing. A bumper race follows the rules of National Hunt racing, but on flat ground. There are no jumps, hurdles or obstacles, but run along the hurdle course.
Other Jumps Racing Terms
A conditional jockey is the jump racing equivalent of an apprentice jockey in flat racing. A conditional jockey is a young, inexperienced rider who is beginning their future horseracing career.
A novice refers to the experience level of a horse. Novice horses are young, inexperienced horses who have not yet won a National Hunt race in the previous season. There are two types of Novice races: Novice chases are over fences, and novice hurdlers are over hurdles. Novice hurdlers are more common as the hurdlers are smaller than fences.
Within national hunt racing, a Staying Racing is a race held over three miles plus. Horses running in these races are considered to be better over a further distance.
A handicap race means horses have been allocated a weight, in relation to their ability, so all horses running in the race have the same chance of winning.
People to Follow
If you’ve visited Windsor in the last 20 years, you’ll be used to seeing flat jockeys around the course. Jump Racing has a whole different host of jockeys competing in the Jump Jockey Championship, running from April to April.
To date (of article) the top five leading jockeys are:
- Sean Bowen
- Harry Skelton
- Sam Twiston-Davies
- Gavin Sheehan
- Harry Cobden
Not only should you familarise yourself with jump jockeys, but also new trainers. Whilst there are many dual trainers (train flat and jump horses), the majority of the time they train one or the other.
To date (of article) the top leading jump trainers are:
- Dan Skelton
- Paul Nicholls
- Olly Muprhy
- Nigel Twiston-Davies
- Nicky Henderson
Fun Facts
Whilst flat horses race from about 2 years old, jump horses start racing from 3-4 years+. The main reason for this is jump horses are bred for stamina rather than speed, like flat horses are.
Jump horses tend to be bigger and stronger than flat horses, mainly due to the matter of weight. As jump horses are bred for stamina, they have to carry more weight to match the tempo of jumping over hurdles and fences.
Like horses, jump jockeys also carry more weight than flat jockeys. Flat jockeys tend to weigh around 8 stone, whereas jump jockeys weigh 9 stone.
The world record for the highest obstacle cleared for a horse and its rider is set by Huaso and his rider, Captain Alberto Larraguibel. The record was set in 1949.
On average, horses can jump about three times their own length; that’s roughly 23 foot and six inches!
Sir AP McCoy is considered the greatest jumps jockey of all time, having won in almost all major Jumps Races including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Chase, and Grand National. By the time he retried he has 4,358 wins to his impressive name.
That's it! You're a jump racing pro, all the more ready to join us this Sunday 15th December at Jumps Racing Returns. Get tickets now, and KIDS GO FREE!
