stee·ple·chase 
(stēpəl-chās′)
(stēpəl-chās′)n.
1. Sports
a. A horserace across open country or over an obstacle course.
b. A footrace of usually 3,000 meters over a closed track with four hurdles and a water obstacle.
2. A course of action containing many obstacles.
[From the use of church steeples as landmarks.]
steeple·chas′er n.