Theophilos, one of the declared runners trained by Josef Váňa, is a non-runner in the Velka Pardubicka. It is a pity - the horse is owned by a large syndicate of racing fans, and was to have been ridden by young Patrick Boekhout, for whom this would have been agood opportunity.
The Pardubice weather forecast for the next week is dry and with clear skies. I understand that the course is being watered to prevent the race being run on firm or hard ground. However, the course for the VP is well over 4 miles long, and no part of it is repeated. Watering such a large area is no easy task, though at least it is no longer a task being taken on - metaphorically speaking - by two men fighting over a single watering can.
I try to remember to report on good news about Czech and central European horseracing, as this website mainly aims to present our sport positively and to leave the reader feeling slightly less desperate.
The weather forecast for Pardubice is for clear skies, no rain and 20°C daily maximum temperatures for the next week. However, do not rely too much on this. The weather normally changes rather abruptly from autumnal to wintry some time in mid to late October, and we very often seem to get an inaccurate weather forecast for the Velka Pardubicka weekend. Please chech again later in the week. Remember that the evenings will be cool or chilly, and the grandstands at the racecourse face north.
Veteran Czech jockey Jan Rája reached a total of 500 career wins at Karlovy Vary last Friday, and went on to 501 at Prague Velká Chuchle on September 30th.
The heat wave that had begun before the Derby and lasted until after the St Leger finally gave way to mild weather at the beginning of September, and the oppressive heat became just an unpleasant memory. September in Prague is usually a month with pleasant, mild weather and lovely autumn colours, as it was again this year. In the course of the month, the days shorten and the mornings begin to be chilly.
Legendary Greek jockey Panagiotis Dimitsanis, who has won over 4 000 races in his career, including a famous day when he won all 7 races on a raceday in Athens in 2014, accepted an invitation to come to Prague for a second time for EJC 2018.
Saturday, September 22nd will be the eagerly-awaited 4th European Jockeys Cup day at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse. Sixteen jockeys are on the list of nominated riders, see below.
For the Fourth European Jockeys Cup day at Prague Velka Chuchle racecourse on Saturday, September 22nd, the organizers are expecting top jockeys from Greece - Panagiotis Dimitsanis - and from Cyprus - Konstantinos Kapodistrias - to participate. Panagiotis Dimitsanis took part in the 3rd European Jockeys Cup day, a year ago, winning one race and impressing everyone not only with his riding skills but also with his charm.
