According to the website of the Jockey Club of the Czech Republic, the 96th running of the Mercedes-Benz Czech Derby will be held on Thursday, June 23rd, at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse.

The race is normally run on a Sunday afternoon at the end of June. However, it is understood that the sponsor wants the race to be shown on Czech Television.  Thursday June 23rd falls between the end of the preliminary round of the European Nations Cup and the beginning of the last 16 matches. Both the Czech Republic and Slovakia qualified for the final stages of this competition.

The first race will be run at 4 pm or later. In midsummer, there is much to be said for evening racing at Velká Chuchle, which is very accessible by public transport for city workers and for tourists.

The fourth Sunday in June often clashes with the beginning of the school holidays and with other events, and has not been an ideal date for our top flat race meeting.