Fans of steeplechasing should experience the Velka Pardubicka at least once in their lifetime, and there are also two other big autumn steeplechasing events in Central Europe that are well worth considering.

The Velka Pardubicka will be run on October 12^th, 2014, and there is also a flat race meeting at Pardubice on October 11^th. Pardubice is a one-hour train ride from Prague.

Steeplechasing at Wroclaw racecourse, in Poland, was revived last year. The main meeting of the season will feature the Wielka Partynicka, over hurdles, on Saturday, Sept 6^th and the Wielka Wroclawska Steeplechase, on Sunday, September 7^th. Chris Pitt’s article in the Jan/Feb 2014 issue of BOS magazine will tell you better than I can why you should decide on an extended weekend in Wroclaw this September http://torpartynice.pl/dt-prod_img/edytor/Angole-o-Partynicach.pdf. Wroclaw Partynice racecourse has good English-language web pages http://torpartynice.pl/english/. Unfortunately, I cannot find the entries for the two main races. The prizemoney is high enough to attract good Czech-trained horses. Last year, the two main races were won by Polish-trained horses, which beat better-fancied Czech horses.

One of the most beautiful racecourses in the world is Merano, in northern Italy, directly beneath the Dolomites. This is a wonderful spa town that specializes in serving valetudinarians, i.e. (wealthy) old people who are excessively anxious about their health. The Gran Premio Merano still offers the best prizemoney in Central Europe for a steeplechase. Last year’s winner was Alpha Two, trained by Josef Váňa senior and ridden by Josef Váňa junior. The race will be run on Sunday 29 September.

Each of these three race meetings is held in a region that is well worth a long weekend visit, and should be planned to include more than just horseracing.