Eleven were declared to run this morning, in the Big Race on Sunday September 29th

For the first time in Czech racing history, we have three horses rated at more than 100 kg.

Dux Scholar, by Oasis Dream (GB) out of Alumni (GB) (Selkirk (USA)) was rated at 101,5 after his impressive win last Sunday in the Martin Tour Prague Grand Prix. Dux Scholar is owned by Ramzan Kadirov, and is trained by Arslangirej Savujev.

The result of the appeal against the extraordinary decision by the stewards at Cologne to take away Czech-trained Meandre's victory in last Sunday's Preis von Europa (Group 1) is expected on November 2nd.

Among the Irish- and UK-trained entries for the Velka Pardubicka, the most likely runners are Shalimar Fromentro and Zest for Life. 7-y-o Shalimar Fromentro, owned by Jane Williams and trained Nick Williams, finished 5^th in the Crystal Cup race at Craon on September 8^th.

I am far from understanding what has been going on in trotting in the Czech Republic.

In the last two seasons there have been very few race meetings. Last weekend, a meeting was announced at a brand-new racecourse at Bravantice, not far south of Ostrava. This racecourse is variously described as exclusively for trotting or predominantly for trotting, and it was originally announced that it would open in 2014. Some website sketches indicate that our type of horseracing might be held at Bravantice.

 Trainer Greg Wroblewski had 6 winners at the weekend: four at Prague Velka Chuchle on Sunday, one at Divonne (on the French side of the French-Swiss border) on Saturd

Czech trainers will be stretched this weekend, with a more than usually difficult decision on where to go in person, and where to send a trusted assistant trainer. The problem of finding a good rider, or any rider at all, has been acute.