Crystal Cup (steeplechasing)

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The Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge is an annual series of steeplechase horse races in Europe. The series was introduced in 2010 although most of the individual races are much older. [1]

Steeplechase (horse racing) Horse race form originally from Ireland, featuring jumps over fence and ditch obstacles

A steeplechase is a distance horse race in which competitors are required to jump diverse fence and ditch obstacles. Steeplechasing is primarily conducted in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, United States, Australia and France. The name is derived from early races in which orientation of the course was by reference to a church steeple, jumping fences and ditches and generally traversing the many intervening obstacles in the countryside.

Points are awarded to the first six finishers in each race, with bonuses for horses from abroad and for the final race. The main prize is for the trainer whose stable's horses have accumulated the most points, with additional trophies for the top horse and top jockey. [1]

Horse trainer person training horses for racing, riding, show or work

A horse trainer is a person who tends to horses and teaches them different disciplines. Some of the responsibilities trainers have are caring for the animals’ physical needs, as well as teaching them submissive behaviors and/or coaching them for events, which may include contests and other riding purposes. The level of education and the yearly salary they can earn for this profession may differ depending on where the person is employed.

Races in the Crystal Cup series [2]
RaceCourseCountryDatePrize fund (€)Notes
Grand Cross de Pau Reverdy (Prix Gaston de Bataille) Pau FranceFebruary70,000
Cross Country Chase [3] Cheltenham EnglandMarch74,000During the Cheltenham Festival
Grand Steeple-Chase Cross Country de Fontainebleau Fontainebleau FranceApril40,000
Anjou-Loire Challenge Le Lion-d'Angers FranceMay112,000
Crystal Cup Partynice Wrocław Wrocław PolandJune40,000Associate member 2016, full member 2017
Grand Steeple-Chase des Flandres Waregem BelgiumAugust/September100,000
Grand Cross de Craon Craon FranceSeptember75,000
Gran Premio Merano Merano ItalySeptember40,000
Velká pardubická Pardubice Czech RepublicOctober178,000
Grand Steeple Chase-Cross-Country de Compiègne Compiègne FranceNovember40,000
Cross Country Handicap Chase [3] CheltenhamEnglandDecember48,000During the International Hurdle meeting
Races formerly part of the Crystal Cup
La Touche Cup Punchestown IrelandApril28,500 (2016) [4] Member 2010 [1] –2016 [5]
Crystal Cup Cross-Country Challenge Frauenfeld SwitzerlandMay33,000 (2015) [6] Member 2015 [7] –2016 [5]

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In horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and the Republic of Ireland, National Hunt racing requires horses to jump fences and ditches. National Hunt racing in the UK is informally known as "jumps" and is divided into two major distinct branches: hurdles and steeplechases. Alongside these there are "bumpers", which are National Hunt flat races. In a hurdles race, the horses jump over obstacles called hurdles; in a steeplechase the horses jump over a variety of obstacles that can include plain fences, water jump or an open ditch. In the UK the biggest National Hunt events of the year are generally considered to be the Grand National at Aintree and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually in late October or early November at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships. The current purse is $2,000,000, making it the most valuable race for two-year-olds in North America. It is normally run at a distance of ​1 1⁄16 miles.

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The Arkle Challenge Trophy is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham, England, over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are thirteen fences to be jumped. The race is for novice chasers, and takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

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The Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Cross-Country Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 6 furlongs, and during its running there are thirty-two obstacles to be cleared. It was originally run as a handicap race before being changed to a conditions race from the 2016 running, and it is scheduled to take place each year on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Schlesinger, Victoria (9 November 2009). "Launch of European jump racing series". International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. ↑ "Crystal Cup 2018 Meetings". Crystal Cup. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Four nations represented in tomorrow's Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase as Crystal Cup concludes". The JockeyClub. 8 December 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Punchestown (IRE) FBD Cross Country Chase for the La Touche Cup". Racing Post. 28 Apr 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge 2016". racingbetter.co.uk. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Prix Crystal Cup Cross Country Challenge 2015 Partants et Pronostics - FRAUENFELD - Réunion n°5 Course n°6 - Lundi 25 Mai 2015". turfomania.fr. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. ↑ Müller, Christoph (May 2015). "Trois questions à..." . Jour de Galop (in French). Retrieved 21 March 2018.
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