The raceday at Karlovy Vary on July 22^nd was highly successful for Martina Havelková, our most successful female jockey in recent years. She drew level with and then overtook the record of Miloslava Hermansdorferová – Schulzová for the number of winners ridden by a female jockey in Czech horseracing. Martina Havelková now leads the table, ahead of Míla Hermansdorferová and Vendula Korečková. Of course, this achievement cannot be left without some further comment. However, that will not be the only topic in our conversation. We went on to talk about Martina Havelková’s second undertaking in Czech horseracing, as a professional trainer.

On Sunday at Karlovy Vary, you rode a hat-trick of winners and, at the same time, you broke the long-time record number of winners ridden by Míla Hermansdorferová – Schulzová. But according to the Jockey Club database you still need three winners. For the sake of completeness, can you tell us about them?

All three winners missing from the database were in Poland. Last year, I had two winners at Wroclaw, and some years ago I won at Warsaw.

The day at Karlovy Vary must have been unforgettable for you. What was it that made you particularly happy?

I enjoyed all three wins on Sunday, because I was able to win on horses that had been waiting for a win for some time. I was happiest with Herbebois, and I think the owners were happy too. He’s 8 years old, and I’m his regular rider. It was our 29^th race in a row together. It was Herbebois’s 51^st race in his life. It has all been teamwork, and that is why Herbebois brought happiness to everyone at the yard. I’m also just as happy with Twinky’s win for Mr. Jelen and with Savage’s win for Dr. Kantek.  

How important for you is the record for the number of winning rides by a female jockey working in the Czech Republic? Was this one of the targets in horseracing that you had set for yourself? And do you know Mrs. Hermansdorferová personally?

I don’t follow statistics at all. At the end of last season, Mr. Josef Bečvář, the owner of Herbebois, drew my attention to the 150 winners barrier. At that time, I thought it could come up this year. I don’t know Mrs. Hermansdorferová personally, but I take off my hat to her, because, at the time when she was riding, 150 was a real record for a woman. I can’t claim it was my target, but they say that records are there to be beaten, and I was lucky enough to do it. But the biggest joy for me was when my children said “Congratulations, mummy.” And when little Štěpán said: “Mummy is now the best of all.” But straight after that, he asked who this Kubinová and Mouchová were [Eliška Kubinová and Hana Mouchová have ridden more winners than Martina Havelková, but they ride in the USA and in Germany].

This year you’ve joined the ranks of racehorse trainers. What led you to the decision to take the course for trainers and then apply for a trainer’s licence?

It all came about together, as it were – applying for the course and above all the support from  the owners, for which I thank them. Getting a trainer’s licence was the next logical step after my career working with horses. I’ve been riding horses since I was a child, and that is already some time ago, and to get fulfilment from this work, why not try being a trainer!

Apart from the two older thoroughbreds, Ella and Herbebois, you are also training three two-year-olds. Can you give us an introduction to them? Is any of them near to the beginning of her racing career?

All three two-year-olds are owned by PURENUTRITION, and were bought in Ireland last year. The first to be born is the bay filly Boruvka (Casamento - Better To Love). Hanaha Inthejungle (Bungle Inthejungle - Hawaiian Star) seems to be more forward, and I plan for her to be the first to run. The third filly is Derequinta (Requinto - Dunne Grand). All three fillies are working well and are coming along. I’d like all three to race this year.

Do you have a target for the second half of the season?

I should say that my aim for the second part of the season is to get the best possible results, and for the horses to be healthy.

Michaela Zemanová

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This interview by Michaela Zemanová first appeared recently in Czech language on the Fitmin – Turf web pages https://dostihy.fitmin.cz/domaci-dostihove-deni/smekam-pred-pani-hermansdorferovou-rika-martina-havelkova.html. Michaela Zemanová is the assistant editor of the Fitmin – Turf web pages, for which she contributes interviews, which are frequently with girls and women in Czech racing. Translation by Robin. Photo by Petr Guth.