There are three meetings in the Czech Republic in the next few days. On Thursday, May 23^rd, the first of the four PMU racedays to be organized this year in the Czech Republic will be held at Prague Velká Chuchle, first race at 11.35 a.m. The PMU racedays are all about midday betting opportunities in France, or do I mean midday opportunities for the totalisator operators. Last year, the PMU racedays went well, and Velká Chuchle, Most and Pardubice racecourses were able to meet the requirements imposed by PMU. We are not exactly surprised that we were able to comply with French standards, but the approval of PMU and PMU’s willingness to increase our participation this year is pleasing. The races on Thursday are nothing special, but a pleasantly warm, sunny day is forecast.

On Saturday, May 25^th, there is a meeting with races over fences. The first race is at 2 p.m., and the main event is the first of the four Velka Pardubicka qualification races. Josef Váňa has four runners in this race, including last year’s valiant VP winner, No Time To Lose. His jockey, Jan Kratochvil (picture) told Dostiohvý svět editor Petr Guth, “Of course, as winner of the Velka he has to set high ambitions, wherever he runs, and of course we’d like to win. On the other hand, I’ll be happy if we get round the first race of the season quietly as planned. No Time To Lose is usually pretty keen to go first time out, and I’ll be happy if we get through the race without any unnecessary problems. Nobody has any doubt about the horse’s quality, and I think he’ll show how good he is on Saturday.” Váňa’s three other contenders on Saturday are Power Zar, to be ridden by Patrick Boekhout, Ange Guardian (Jaroslav Myška) and Theophilos (Marek Stromský). 2015 VP winner Ribelino is in the field, and several of the 13 runners in the qualification race, especially Vicody and Tzigane du Berlais, first and second in the Labe Stakes at last year’s VP meeting, might send out an indication that they can be strong contenders for the big race on Sunday, October 14^th. There are several interesting races at Pardubice on Saturday, and this is a meeting that fans of Czech steeplechasing will want to attend or, at least, watch on video.

On Sunday, there is a race meeting at Slušovice. This is one of the limited opportunities for Category III and lower horses trained in the eastern part of the country to race at a local track, in seven races on the flat and two over hurdles.  

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Photo of Jan Kratochvíl by Petr Guth