Fans of steeplechasing should certainly experience the Velka Pardubicka at least once in their lifetime. Pardubice racecourse, 100 km east of Prague, was opened in 1840, and was based on the way Aintree racecourse was at that time.
June is always a big month in our short, seven-month racing season, with a lot of last-minute activity and talk about the Czech Derby. For those whose interest in Czech racing is mainly in jumps racing, there are two meetings at Pardubice, one headed by the Pardubice Gold Cup and the other headed by the second qualification race for the Velka Pardubicka.
It has been announced that Icar has had a minor injury, and will not run in the Czech Derby. The connections hope that he will be fit to run in the Slovak Derby at Bratislava.
There will now be 14 runners in the Derby, which is due off at 3.05 on Sunday afternoon, at Prage Velka Chuchle racecourse.
Last Saturday’s meeting at Pardubice attracted a small crowd on a very hot afternoon. The thunderstorms that were forecast held off until after the fifth race.
The German dominance of the Swedish Grand National continues. On Saturday, German-trained Ländler, ridden by Czech jockey Lukáš Sloup, won Scandinavia's most prestigious steeplechase.
Runners and riders for the 95. Mercedes-Benz Czech Derby will be declared by 11.00 on Monday June 15th. For those of you who cannot wait until then, it is thought that British jockey Steve Drowne will ride Aldzarb, and French champion jockey Ioritz Mendizabal will ride Dumnonia.
Strömsholm in Sweden is the most northerly destination that horses from the Czech Republic have set out for in recent years. The home of the Swedish Grand National is again this year the target for an expedition from the Czech Republic. Trainer Stanislav Popelka has this year sent out the biggest Czech expedition ever to have headed north. Last Sunday, four horses set off on an almost two-day journey.
Most of the runners in the Czech Derby will have had their final preparatory race either at Prague Velka Chuchle on May 31st or at Bratislava on June 7th. Half a dozen horses ran well enough at Velka Chuchle to suggest they have a real chance in the 95th running of the Mercedes Benz Derby at Velka Chuchle on Sunday June 21st. At Bratislava, there was a 10-horse field, and seven of them were entered for the Czech Dery.
I particularly want to finish the June newsletter on time, before the end of May, for two reasons. Firstly, the last two newsletters have been delayed, it is good to restore a bit of self-discipline. Secondly, the main trial for the Czech Derby will be run at Prague Velká Chuchle on May 31st, and I do not want to write about that race here.
