Steeplechase horse racing first began in England and Ireland, with the first recorded steeplechase occurring in County Cork, Ireland in 1752. Since church steeples were the tallest and most prominent landmarks, they were used to mark the finish line for the course; hence, the term steeplechase evolved from the simple idea of a "chase to the steeple." The sport evolved from the European pastime of fox hunting, and gave hunters a way to test the speed of their mounts during a cross-country chase.

The first steeplechase courses were often over rough terrain, which meant that horse and rider were forced to deal with whatever unforeseen obstacles might be in their path. The only goal being to get to the steeple first. Both horse and rider had to be very skilled, and able to jump, wade water, and cleverly maneuver their way to the finish line. Needless to say, it was a difficult and dangerous proposition.

As the sport progressed, however, the basic steeplechase course evolved into a pre-determined route, with reasonable obstacles, and a set length. The first organized steeplechase racing began around 1830, and a basic steeplechase course is now 2-4 miles (3.2-6.4 meters) long and consists of a combination of obstacles such as stone walls, water jumps, brush fences, and timber rails.

A form of steeplechase racing known as Hurdling is often used to train horses for more strenuous steeplechases. The obstacles usually consist of hurdles that are 1 to 2 ft (0.3 to 0.6 m) lower than the obstacles on a steeplechase course, and the races are usually less than 2 miles in length.

The sport of steeple chase racing quickly spread to America, where the National Steeplechase Association was created in 1895. This association is responsible for keeping records, governing promotion, holding races, and licensing individuals and race meetings. Steeplechase races are held at several Thoroughbred race tracks throughout the country, the most significant race being the U.S. Grand National Steeplechase at Belmont Park. Steeplechasing is also still very popular in England, and the most famous steeplechase in the world, England's Grand National, is held annually in Aintree.