About Us

The National Steeplechase Foundation (NSF) was created in 1995 with the objective of preserving steeplechase horse racing in the United States. Its areas of focus are safety, education, amateur participation and the overall promotion of steeplechasing or, what many call it, American jump racing.

In 2018, the National Steeplechase Foundation merged with the Temple Gwathmey Fund, forming the Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Foundation (TGSF).

For more than 200 years, American jump racing has been about people’s experiences. Owners’ dreams, spectators’ interest, trainers’ knowledge, organizers and officials’ vision, and jockeys’ skills have continually intersected to create possibilities.

The mission of the TGSF has long been to preserve and advance the sport through programs that promote education, health and safety and the spirit of amateurism.

Who is Temple Gwathmey?

Temple Gwathmey was an avid horseman and sportsman. In the Mr. Cotton partnership with friend E.M. Weld, he won the 1904 American Grand National with St. Jude. He owned an English ’chaser that twice ran in the English Grand National.

When Gwathmey died after a long illness at age 57 in 1924, E.M. Weld and other friends swiftly joined to fund a memorial steeplechase, the Temple Gwathmey handicap at Belmont Park. Weld commissioned a silver Tiffany trophy for the race; it’s still awarded today.

The seed money provided by Gwathmey’s well-heeled friends carries his legacy into the 21st century.

“The memorial foundation has done a lot of good in jump racing,” says Gwathmey great-grandson Ned Grassi. “It’s amazing that it’s still going, but … what a tribute to the endeavors of that great man who loved jump racing.”

Read more about Temple Gwathmey and family HERE.

The future depends on your foresight and generosity so that the TGSF can create new opportunities that will advance American jump racing long past this era.

TGSF’s Values

With foresight in mind, be inclusive, collaborative and innovative

TGSF’s Vision

Inspire people to have a passion for American jump racing

TGSF’s Work

Convert the shared passion into shared support

The TGSF is a 501(c)3 so your donations to this publicly supported organization are deductible within the limits of current federal and state tax law. The TGSF is exempt from federal income taxation.