The Jockey Club of the Czech Republic has obtained a new sponsor for this year for the Flat Riders’ Championship. Lázně Poděbrady a.s., in collaboration with the Jockey Club of the Czech Republic, announces LÁZNĚ PODĚBRADY CUP 2016, the first year of the official championship awards.

We would like to express our thanks for the substantial financial support from the previous sponsor. CK Martin Tour, which in 2015 sponsored its 14th Flat Riders’ Championship. The criteria for evaluating the riders and further details about the awards will be published in the web pages of the Jockey Club of the Czech Republic.

Martina Krejčí

[general secretary of the JCCR]

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CT Martin Tour announced recently that it would not be offering prizes this year for flat riders and for riders over fences, complaining about lack of support and interest from the JCCR.

I have complained frequently in newsletters on this site about the terms of the CK Martin Tour prizes, and I should now state unambiguously that the generous award of over two million crowns of prize money from Martin Tour over a period of 14 years deserves to be fully acknowledged. Nevertheless, I hope that thePoděbrady Spa Cup will be based simply on the number of winning rides, with deductions and disqualifications only for the most serious disciplinary offences. I also hope that a sponsor will be found for a Jumps Jockeys’ Championship.