| The sport of Steeplechase racing dates back to | | | | sport popular in the US and help it grow across |
| 1752 in Ireland when two, half-crocked, friends | | | | the Atlantic. For membership details and other |
| settled the argument over who owned the best | | | | small tidbits about the Association, you can visit |
| horse by racing to the nearest Church steeple | | | | their website at |
| after returning from Fox hunting. The winner | | | | Steeplechase races are held at 12 states across |
| actually rode right through the church where the | | | | the country and the cumulative purses for these |
| vicar was holding a solemn funeral. Soon it spread | | | | events are $5 million annually. The horse races are |
| to England, where in 1792, the first recorded race | | | | a place to see and be seen at. It's seen across |
| was held. This sport then crossed over from the | | | | the country by millions of fans and admirers and |
| Atlantic to the US, where it has became very | | | | is a major sponsored event where corporate |
| popular. | | | | sponsors vie with each other for sponsorship of |
| In the early 19th century nine prominent men | | | | the events. It attracts the best talent for horses, |
| from New York - August Belmont, H. DeCourcy | | | | horse owners, and riders and also raises millions of |
| Forbes, Samuel S.Howland, James O. Green, | | | | dollars in charities. Thus it also attracts the most |
| Frederick Gebhard, A.J. Cassatt, Foxhall P. Keene, | | | | powerful and the influential men and women. If |
| John G. Follansbee and Frederick H. Prince founded | | | | you have seen Pretty Woman, you pretty much |
| the National Association for Steeplechase. When it | | | | have got the idea. |
| was first founded, its mission was to make the | | | | |