The  third of the four qualification races for the 134th running of the Velka Pardubicka for 2024 was run on August 3rd. As in the the case of the May and June qualification races, the course was in good condition, thanks to the good efforts of the ground staff. Some considerable rainfall in the days before each of the races and cool weather on the  days of the races also helped considerably.

Horseracing at Markopoulo racecourse in Athens comes to an abrupt end

Trainer Grzegorz Witold Wroblewski will be forever remembered in the annals of the Velka Pardubicka as the trainer who prepared Orphée des Blins for her hat-trick of wins in the race. Before this year’s race, the horses that he trains have produced some good form, but Greg’s name is not to be found in the list of trainers for this year’s race. Nevertheless, he has spent recent weeks preparing two of the participants.

18 horses are getting ready for the 133^rd running of the Velka Pardubicka with Slavia Insurance

The declared runners and riders for the Velka Pardubicka were announced on Wednesday, September 27^th. Three entered horses were not declared. French-trained Polinuit ran in the Gran Premio at Merano last weekend, instead of the Velka Pardubicka, and finished third. Gap Pierji, one of two entries owned by Scuderia Aichner, ran in the Crystal Cup race at Merano last weekend, and finished second. The other non-runner is outsider Paris Eiffel.

Slavia Insurance, now in their fifth year as the main sponsor of the Velka Pardubicka, put up special sponsorship for this year’s second VP qualification race on June 24^th at Pardubice racecourse. Prizemoney of one million Czech crowns (more than EUR 40 000) was a very large amount for a race over obstacles in the Czech Republic, though the Velka Pardubicka carries prizemoney of CZK 5 million this year.