This year’s 127th running of the Velka Pardubicka with Česká pojišťovna attracted 700 000 more television viewers than last year’s race. The highpoint of the Czech steeplechasing season was watched by 3 000 000 viewers on Czech Television’s ČT1 and ČT Sport channels. Others watched the transmission on foreign channels and in PMU betting offices in 24 countries. Twenty-two thousand spectators watched the race at the course.

Despite unfavorable weather, twenty-two thousand racegoers made their way to the course, and were able to enjoy the atmosphere of a unique race. The crowd was up to the level of several years in the past. Tickets for the stands were already sold out in September.

“There was a major rise in the number of people watching the race on television. According to figures provided by Czech Television, three million viewers watched the Velka Pardubicka on television, and others were able to watch the racing on the internet. The race was also transmitted abroad – to France, the UK, Slovakia and other countries. I think we’re justified in saying that the Velka Pardubicka is a European phenomenon,” commented Martin Korba (picture), deputy chairman of the board and executive director of Dostihový spolek, a.s., organisers of events at Pardubice racecourse.

French betting office PMU took bets on the Velka Pardubicka for the first ever time. Horseracing fans staked more than EUR 308 000 on the race through PMU. Another innovation was that internet betting on the race was available with Czech betting offices in the Czech Republic. In addition to Betino, which offers betting opportunities at the racecourse, Tipsport, Fortuna and SynotTip offered odds on the race. It is clear that people staked over CzK 14 million rowns with these three companies. At all betting offices, the largest amounts were staked on Charme Look. Betino paid out the highest amount for the Trifecta, where a punter staked 40 crowns and won almost CzK 18 500.

 “Holders of winning tickets who did not manage to collect their winnings from Betino at the racecourse can collect them within 30 days at any course that is holding a race meeting. There is an opportunity to collect the money on Saturday October 21st here at Pardubice, during our final race meeting of the season,” Martin Korba added.

Three percent of the PMU betting turnover is sent from France for the benefit of horseracing in the Czech Republic. The Czech betting offices are not under any legal requirement to make a contribution of this kind.

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This is a press release from Dostihový spolek, a.s., organisers of events at Pardubice racecourse. Translated by Robin Healey.