The steeplechase originated in Ireland in the 18th century as an analogue to cross-country horse races which went from church steeple to church steeple, hence "steeplechase". The first steeplechase is said to have been the result of a wager in 1752 between Mr. Cornelius O'Callaghan and Mr. Edmund Blake, racing four miles (6 km) cross-country from Buttevant Church to St. Leger Church in Doneraile, in Cork, Ireland. An account of the race was believed to have been in the library of the O'Brien's of Dromoland Castle. Most of the earlier steeplechases were contested cross-country rather than on a track, and resembled English cross country as it exists today. The first recorded steeplechase over a prepared track with fences was run in Bedlam, North Yorkshire in 1810.

In the United States, there are two forms of Steeplechasing (or jumps racing). The most prevalent kind of racing over jumps is Hurdles racing, where the jumps are relatively low (3 foot, 6 inches or thereabouts) and built of boxes filled with brush that may raise the height of the jump to the eye of the horse and rider. In this type of racing, a horse is not severely penalized for lacking an arc to its jump, since it can brush through the top foot or so of the brush jump. In Hurdles racing, the horse is trained to jump low and flat and in as much of a regular stride as possible (Also known as "out of stride". These races are commonly run at distances of about 2 1/2 miles. In the United States, hurdles races are sometimes held at the major tracks such as Keeneland, Saratoga and Belmont, as well as at race meets dedicated solel to jumps racing

Timber racing is conducted over solid and immoveable wooden rail fences that may be approximately 5 feet high or slightly less. The courses are much longer, ranging up to 4 miles in length, and the jumping effort required of the horse is much different. Because of the size of the fences and their solid and unyielding construction, a timber horse is trained to jump with an arc, unlike a hurdle racer. An important factor in success at timber racing is for the horse to land in stride, so that it can carry its speed forward on the flat part of the race course. Timber Races are only found at jumps racing meets.

The three major timber races are The Colonial Cup in Virginia, the Virginia Gold Cup, and the Maryland Hunt Cup, the last of which is limited to amateur jockeys.

Except for the hurdles races at Keeneland and the Iroquois Hurdles at Nashville, jumps racing in America is exclusively an East Coast phenomenon.

Thomas Hitchcock (1860-1941) is known as the father of American steeplechasing. In the late 1800s, he built a steeplechase training center on his 3,000-acre (12 km2) property in Aiken, South Carolina and trained horses imported from England. No less important are the contributions by fellow Aiken seasonal resident F. Ambrose Clark. Clark held many important chases on his Brookville (Long Island) estate, Broad Hollow, in the 1920s and 1930's. Ford Conger Field was built by F. Ambrose Clark and is the site of the annual Aiken Steeplechase, a part of the Triple Crown in March. The first Steeplechase Meet in Aiken was held March 14, 1930 in Hitchcock Woods. In addition to the Aiken Steeplechase, South Carolina is also home to the Colonial Cup and the Carolina Cup, which is the largest event on the circuit. Both of these races are held in Camden, South Carolina.

The Virginia Gold Cup is also among the oldest steeplechase races in the United States, with its first running in 1922. Every first Saturday in May, more than 50,000 spectators gather at Great Meadow near The Plains, Virginia (45 miles west of Washington, DC). The 4-mile (6.4 km) grass course with 4-foot (1.2 m) high timber fences is often referred to as the "crown jewel of steeplechasing."

The Iroquois Steeplechase event is held in Nashville, Tennessee. Starting in 1941, it has been held at Percy Warner Park. It is annually held in the spring and it is considered to be one of the great sporting spectacles in Nashville and its surrounding areas. Beginning in 1941, with one year off during World War II, the Iroquois Steeplechase has been running continuously at Percy Warner Park on the beautiful race course inspired by Marcellus Frost and designed by William duPont. The widely renowned event would not have endured without the guidance of Mason Houghland and Calvin Houghland, who between them lovingly put on the race for half a century. They combined the efforts of the foxhunters and volunteer horsemen with the cooperation and support of the Metropolitan Board of Parks and Recreation to create a great sporting spectacle that has become a springtime institution in the region.

The Queens Cup Steeplechase is another major annual steeplechase event. It is held the last Saturday of April at Brooklandwood, a farm and estate in Mineral Springs, North Carolina, about 20 miles (32 km) from Charlotte. This day long event of racing and social activities attracts over 10,000 spectators, many of whom travel great distances to attend.

During the 1940s and 50s, the Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap, the Brook National Steeplechase Handicap and the American Grand National were regarded as American steeplechasing's Triple Crown.