The 23^rd annual Czech horseracing gala evening was held on Saturday, January 13^th in Národní dum in Prostějov.In accordance with tradition, the presentation of prizes for the best horse and jockey in the previous season formed the official part of the evening. The host for the evening was Czech Television sports commentator Marek Svačina, and the high point was the announcement of the Horse of the Year for 2017. The winner was the long-distance stayer Trip to Rhodos, which gained 28.9% of the votes. The prize was presented by Marián Šurda, general secretary of KMET and former manager of Bratislava racecourse to the horse’s owner, Jiří Charvát, president of the Jockey Club of the Czech Republic. Trip to Rhodoswon this year’s Italian St Leger and finished third in the Gr. 1 Prix du Cadran. He is trained by Pavel Tůma at Dvorce, in the Bruntál district, and was declared the best stayer and the best older horse.

Winners in each of the categories:

Best 2-y-o colt: Sagar (IRE) – 73.2% of the votes

Best 2-y-o filly: Love Connection (GER) – 84.3% of the votes

Best 3-y-o colt: Nagano Gold (GB) – 39.2% of the votes

Best 3-y-o filly: Polyanta (ITY*) – 86.6% of the votes

Best older horse: Trip to Rhodos (FR) – 56.3% of the votes

Best miler: Venillia – 20.8% of the votes

Best sprinter: Ultimate Fight (FR) – 58.3% of the votes

Best stayer: Trip to Rhodos (FR) – 66.0% of the votes

Best hurdler: Arkalon (FR) – 40.9% of the votes

Best steeplechaser: Capferret (FR) – 71.9% of the votes

Best cross-country chaser: No Time to Lose (GB) – 90.5% of the votes

FITMIN CUP:  DAR – CzK 136 300

Best Czech-bred: Venillia – 56.4% of the votes

Horse of the year: 1. Trip to Rhodos (FR) – 28.9% of the votes; 2*. Venillia – 19.6% of the votes; 2*. Capferret (FR) – 19.6% of the votes

Prize for a long-term contribution to horseracing: Ing. Jan Vaňourek, senior

Best apprentice on the flat: David Liška - 18 winners

Best apprentice over fences: Pavel Složil junior -  3 winners

Champion amateur rider on the flat: Jindřich Fabris - 5 winners

Champion amateur rider over fences: Michal Mikšovský - 4 winners

Champion jockey over fences: Marcel Novák - 25 winners

Champion trainer over fences: Helena Vocásková - 16 winners  (picture)

Novice of the year over fences: Medic

Champion jockey on the flat: Jaromír Šafář - 29 winners

Champion trainer on the flat: Ludvík Haris - 23 winners (no award was made because of the ongoing investigation before the Horseracing Court into the positive doping test on Lagaro)

Novice of the year on the flat: Love Connection (GER)

Owner of the season – on the flat: DS Pegas – winnings of CzK 2 299 650

Owner of the season – over fences: DS Paragan – winnings of CzK 2 176 000

Breeder of the season: Napajedla stud