The first of the four qualification races at Pardubice racecourse for the 124^th running of the Velka Pardubicka will be run on Saturday, May 24^th. The 16 declared runners include three of the six finishers in the 2013 Velka: Nikas (2^nd), Klaus (3^rd ) and Peintre Abstrait (5^th). Klaus will probably start as favourite, but several of the others might be good enough, including three horses trained by Josef Váňa: Zarif, Ready for Smile, and Grilias.

Orphée des Blins, the runaway winner of the VP in 2012 and 2013, will start her year 35 minutes before the qualification race,in a Category II race over 5 100 metres. She is one of 18 declared runners, including several that have to be beaten.

Atack, winner of both the Czech St Leger and the Slovak St Leger in 2012, was an impressive winner of his first race over hurdles at the meeting at Pardubice on May 8th. This time he will take on the experienced Gejzir and some other good horses over the classical steeplechase course.

The first race at Pardubice is at 1 pm on Saturday. There are ten races on the card - seven over fences, two over hurdles and one bumper, and each race has at least 10 declared runners.

On Sunday there is a flat race meeting at Prague Velka Chuchle, with 8 races, first race at 2 pm.