National Steeplechase Association

What National Steeplechase Association does

The National Steeplechase Association (NSA) is the official nonprofit governing body for jump racing (steeplechase) in the United States, headquartered at 400 Fair Hill Drive in Elkton, Maryland, with approximately 8 employees. The organization sanctions approximately 28 race meets annually across at least seven states — Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, New York, and New Jersey — and licenses the participants (jockeys, trainers, and owners) who compete on the circuit. It coordinates the national racing calendar, sets rules and safety standards (including ImPACT testing and helmet requirements), maintains official results, standings, and historical archives, and provides live streaming of events through its website and select broadcast partnerships (e.g., NYRA/America's Day at the Races on Fox Sports).

In 2025, the NSA distributed a record $7.6 million in purses across the sanctioned circuit, the highest level since the pandemic-era low in 2020, with signature events including the Iroquois Races (estimated 35,000 spectators at the 85th running), Far Hills ($795,000 across six all-stakes races), and the Virginia Gold Cup. The 2026 season marked the return of jump racing to Fair Hill Racecourse after a seven-year hiatus, headlined by a Memorial Day weekend "Fair Hill Turf Showcase" co-hosted with the Maryland Jockey Club. The NSA distributes its racing photography, news, and schedules through nationalsteeplechase.com and active Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels (@JumpingwithNSA), with Eclipse Award-winning photographer Tod Marks as official photographer.

Revenue is generated through a tiered membership program (Historian, Patron, Member — pricing undisclosed), an annual $250 jockey license application fee, owner/trainer license applications, race sanctioning arrangements with venues, and donations to the Steeplechase Fund. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by President Dr. Al Griffin, Director of Racing Bill Gallo, and Assistant Racing Secretary Keith O'Brien (hired October 2025 in a newly created role). Operational partners include the Maryland Jockey Club, Maryland Racing Commission, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Fair Hill Foundation, Cecil County Breeders' Fair, Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation, and Great Meadow Foundation.

Name

National Steeplechase Association

Legal name

National Steeplechase Association

Website

https://nationalsteeplechase.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Steeplechase Association is the official nonprofit governing body for jump racing in America, sanctioning approximately 28 race meets annually across seven states and licensing owners, trainers, and jockeys who compete on the circuit.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horse Racing Governance & Steeplechase Sanctioning

NAICS

Racetracks (711212), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Tour & Circuit Operators (MPAKADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Jockeys, Drivers & Officials (Licensing/Representation) (MPAEADAK)

Keywords

• Steeplechase racing governance
• Jump racing sanctioning
• Jockey licensing services
• Race meet coordination
• Equestrian sports regulation

Headquarters

HQ city

Elkton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The NSA generates revenue through three membership tiers (Historian, Patron, Member) offering exclusive benefits to supporters of jump racing in America.
2. Jockey Licensing: Annual jockey license application fee of $250 for unrestricted or restricted licenses to compete in NSA-sanctioned races.
3. Owner/Trainer Licensing: Application fees for owners and trainers seeking to participate in NSA-sanctioned steeplechase racing.
4. Race Sanctioning: NSA sanctions race meets at various venues, with the 2025 year setting a record with $7.6 million in purses distributed across the sanctioned circuit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The NSA sanctions and manages a national circuit of approximately 28 steeplechase race meets annually across at least seven U.S. states. It issues licenses for jockeys, trainers, and owners; operates a three-tier membership program (Historian, Patron, Member); administers purse structures (record $7.6 million in 2025); provides live streaming of races; and maintains official results, standings, and historical archives for American jump racing.

Product overview

The National Steeplechase Association (NSA) is the official governing body for jump racing in America, operating as a membership-based organization rather than a technology product company. The NSA's core offerings include sanctioning and managing race meets, providing licensing services for jockeys, owners, and trainers, and facilitating membership programs. The organization also offers live race streaming, publishes race results and standings, and operates the Steeplechase Fund for donations. All services are oriented around the administration and promotion of American steeplechase racing rather than software products or technology platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NSA Race Meet Management & Sanctioning The NSA serves as the governing body for steeplechase racing in America, sanctioning approximately 28 race meets annually and establishing rules and standards for jump racing at venues across multiple states.
• NSA Membership Program Three-tier membership program (Historian, Patron, Member) offering exclusive benefits to supporters of jump racing in America, with annual billing cadence.
• Jockey Licensing Application System Online application system for jockey licensing with classifications for unrestricted, flat-only, flat & hurdle, and timber racing licenses, including amateur declarations. Annual fee of $250.
• Owner/Trainer Licensing License applications for owners and trainers seeking to participate in NSA-sanctioned steeplechase racing.
• Live Racing Stream Live streaming of NSA races for remote viewing by racing fans, available via the NSA website and through broadcasts on America's Day at the Races (NYRA/Fox Sports) for major events.
• Race Results & Archive Comprehensive race results, current standings, and historical archives of NSA race meets, available to the public via the NSA website.
• Steeplechase Fund Donation program to support and advance steeplechase racing in America, complementing the organization's membership revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record $7.6 million in purses distributed in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Maryland Jockey ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Partnership for the Fair Hill Turf Showcase held Memorial Day weekend 2026. TMJC and NSA co-hosted a day of top-class racing at Fair Hill, with the Maryland Jockey Club providing racing officials and operational support for the two-day event.
• Cecil County Breeders' FairminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Partner in the Fair Hill Turf Showcase, contributing to the regional racing event at Fair Hill in Elkton, MD.
• Maryland Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Government partner in the Fair Hill Turf Showcase, providing regulatory oversight and support for the racing event.
• Fair Hill FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Nonprofit foundation supporting the Fair Hill Turf Showcase and the preservation of the Fair Hill racecourse and grounds.
• Maryland Racing CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Regulatory partner providing official racing commission oversight for the Fair Hill Turf Showcase and NSA-sanctioned events in Maryland.
• Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation preserves and advances the sport by funding programs that promote Opportunity, Growth & Change. NSA proudly features the foundation on its website.
• Great Meadow FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation that improved the irrigation system at Great Meadow Race Course for the 101st Virginia Gold Cup races, enhancing racecourse conditions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (Horse Racing Ireland): Horse Racing Ireland governs Irish National Hunt (steeplechase) racing, the largest jump racing jurisdiction in the world. The most direct functional peer to NSA as a national governing body for steeplechase/jump racing, but operating in Ireland rather than the US.
• British Horseracing Authority (BHA): The BHA is the official governing body for horse racing in Great Britain. Highly comparable to NSA as a foreign regulator/sanctioning body for horse racing, but operating in the UK rather than the US market.

Broad incumbents

• Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI): FEI is the international governing body for equestrian sport. Comparable to NSA as a higher-level governing body for equestrian disciplines, though it covers a much broader portfolio (show jumping, dressage, eventing) than NSA's narrow jump racing focus.
• The Jockey Club: The Jockey Club is the breed registry and broad governing body for Thoroughbred racing in the United States. Comparable to NSA as a nonprofit regulator of American horse racing, though it covers flat racing rather than NSA's steeplechase/jump racing niche.
• National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA): NTRA is a broad-based industry group that promotes and lobbies for Thoroughbred racing in the US. Comparable to NSA as a collective industry organization for horse racing, but addresses flat racing interests at a national level rather than specializing in jump racing.
• 1/ST Racing (Stronach Group): 1/ST Racing operates major US racetracks including Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita. Comparable to NSA as a major player in the US horse racing ecosystem, though it operates tracks rather than governing steeplechase racing.

Direct peers

• New York Racing Association (NYRA): NYRA operates major US racetracks including Saratoga, Belmont, and Aqueduct, and broadcasts America's Day at the Races. It is a direct peer as a core partner of NSA — broadcasting NSA races and providing operational support, operating in the same horse racing ecosystem.
• Maryland Jockey Club: Maryland Jockey Club operates Pimlico and Laurel Park and is a strategic partner of NSA. The two organizations co-hosted the Fair Hill Turf Showcase in 2026, making it a direct operational peer in staging sanctioned Thoroughbred racing events.
• Breeders' Cup Limited: Breeders' Cup organizes the premier Thoroughbred racing championship event in North America. Comparable to NSA as a race organizer and sanctioning body within the US Thoroughbred racing ecosystem, with a parallel brand-led event portfolio strategy.

Emerging players

• American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA): AQHA is the breed registry and governing body for Quarter Horse racing in the US. Comparable to NSA as a US nonprofit governing body for a specific horse racing discipline, though focused on a different breed and discipline.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JumpingwithNSA
• Facebookfacebook.com/nationalsteeplechaseassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/jumpingwithnsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-steeplechase-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Steeplechase Association