On VP day, Czech Television beats The Virus by 20 lengths

For the first time since 1994, I did not go to the racecourse for the two-day Velka Pardubicka meeting. It was of course sad to miss the great occasion, but there was plenty to be grateful for. Pardubice racecourse made great efforts, and successfully put on a high-quality day of racing (only one day, this year). The Town of Pardubice and the Pardubice District gave plenty of support, as did sponsors and the state authorities.

Hegnus wins the Velka and Czech Television viewers have a great day at home

12-y-o Hegnus has won the 130th running of the Velka Pardubicka, after four horses had run side-by-side for a while after the last fence. In the end, second place went to Player, Vandual finished third, and the remaining prize-money winners were Talent, Tzigane du Berlais, Casper and Lodgian Whistle.

Hegnus is owned by František Ševců and trained by Radek Holčák, and was ridden by Slovak jockey, Lukáš Matuský.

Chris Simpson's introduction to runners and riders in the Velka Pardubicka

Every year, Christopher Simpson posts his pre-race analysis of the Velka Pardubicka on his website https://www.freewebs.com/becher123/

 

Although Chris has not been to Pardubice for far too long, he is able to follow Czech racing via the website of the Jockey Club of the Czech Republic and via YouTube. 

He tells me that someone has now posted complete Czech Television coverage of Velka Pardubickas since 2002, but he did not give me a link.

October 2020 newsletter

In the second half of September, the COVID-19 data for the Czech Republic were heading in the wrong direction. The numbers of people being tested and testing positive were rising, though the numbers in hospital and the numbers dying with the virus remained fairly low (but, admittedly, rising).

The Velka Pardubicka will take place behind closed doors

In connection with the coronavirus situation in the Czech Republic, stricter measures will come into force in the Czech Republic on October 5th that affect the organization of the Velka Pardubicka raceday on October 11th. The new regulations seemed to state that not more than 130 persons can meet for an outdoor event.

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