Josef Bartoš, Italian Jumps Jockeys Champion for 2018

The Italian jumps jockeys’ championship was decided on the last day of the season. Josef Bartoš entered the final day, at Pisa, just one win behind another Czech jockey, Josef Váňa junior. The battle between the two Josefs, who for several years rode as a duo for trainer Josef Váňa senior, was won by the older of the two. Josef Bartoš rode two winners in the final afternoon, and that was enough to leave him one ahead of Josef Váňa at the end of the day, and for him to win his fourth Italian jumps jockeys’ championship.

 

“The deciding moment was when I won the first race, by a nose. It was a lucky win on Padrinho, but after that race turned out well my nervousness went away and I started feeling confident. I hadn’t felt too sure about Mezajy. He was set to carry 75 kg, but he showed that he’s really a good horse. After all, he’d been placed in a group race at Milan.”

 

Bartoš got off to a poor start this year. “In the spring, the title seemed to be beyond my reach. In the early months of the year, things didn’t go well. Then we started winning, and I got into a battle with Josef junior. Winning this title is something that I really value, because we got off to a bad start, and we didn’t have horses in the yard that seemed likely to win big races. When I compare with the horses that Josef Váňa got to ride, I am even prouder of winning the championship,” Josef Bartoš says.

 

Italian jumps racing will resume in January at Pisa.

 

Josef Váňa senior has retained his title as Italian champion jumps trainer.

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Based on an article by Petr Guth, on our Czech language pages. Photo of Josef Bartoš, by Petr Guth.