In early England, the church was the center of a town’s existence and was usually the largest and most prominent structure.
For travelers on horseback, the first sign of their destination was the lofty church steeple rising above the trees.
To the tired traveler, the sight was exhilarating and inspired the horsemen to quicken their paces, very often racing to see who could arrive at the steeple first.
From this, a horse race became known as a “steeplechase.”
Related Posts
-
Where Did the Term Derby Come From For a Horse Race and What Does the Word Mean?
In England it's properly called a "darby," but everywhere else, including here, it's known as a "derby." In 1780, the twelfth Earl of Derby was having dinner with his friend Sir Charles Bunbury…
-
What Was the Space Race and Which Countries Were Involved In the Space Race During the Cold War?
In short, the space race was, and for some still is, a contest of power between Russia, formerly the Soviet Union (USSR), and the United States. It began with the USSR launching Sputnik…
-
Where does the term “dark horse” come from and What does dark horse mean?
Originally the term "dark horse" was a racing term for a horse about which nothing was known; its abilities had been kept "in the dark", secret, that is, until it appeared on the…
-
Where does the term “sumpter horse” come from and What does sumpter horse mean?
This story goes all the way back to the ancient Sanskrit, in which language was the word sakta, "attached," the past participle of sanj, "to adhere." This led to the Greek sattein, "to…
-
Where does the term “horse chestnut” come from and How did the horse chestnut get its name?
Our English name "horse chestnut" is nothing more than a translation of the sixteenth-century Latin botanical name, Castanea equina. The name, according to a late-sixteenth-century writer, was "for that the people of the…
-
Which Is Faster, a Horse or a Camel, and Which Animal Would Win a 100 Mile Race?
Both the horse and the camel have been clocked at similar racing speeds, between 35 and 40 mph, with the fastest horse running just a little bit faster than the fastest camel. Camel…
