16 Fun in Baltimore: Steeplechase!

If you want a fun weekend in the Baltimore area, consider going to a steeplechase event! Steeplechase is an incredibly exciting form of horse racing, and there’s a surprisingly large community in Baltimore for it.

Take about a 20-minute drive north to Shawan Downs in Hunt Valley to watch the Greenspring Valley Point-to-Point races on March 31st, 2018. It’s early in the steeplechase season yet, so many local trainers are taking their prospective horses out for a test run. This guarantees a lot of horses running and a lot of interesting races! You’ll also see some well-known horses in the area race as a practice run for future, faster races.

The day starts off with the most adorable race ever: Shetland pony races for the kids! The ponies get really excited to race, and so do their young jockeys. Regardless of who wins, it’s a fun few races and the kids have a blast.

The Point-to-Point hosts many different levels of steeplechase races, from flat turf races to hurdles races, and even a fun sidesaddle chase! While there won’t be any betting at the Point-to-Point, you can bet that it’ll be a great weekend for racing. The forecast looks to be sunny in the mid 50s, which will be a welcome change from all the rain and snow we’ve had this winter.

Maryland is a central location for the steeplechase industry, and as such, there is a hub of great trainers and horses who all love the sport. The Baltimore area also hosts the Maryland Hunt Cup, one of the oldest steeplechase races in the United States, with a $100,000 purse. Consider going to a steeplechase event – who knows, maybe you’ll see a future Maryland Hunt Cup winner run!