After taking second place in each of the first three Czech classics in 2016, owner Jiří Travníček (Pegas) and trainer Dalibor Török went one better in the Czech Oaks at Karlovy Vary on July 23rd.
On behalf of the Czech horseracing community, Dostihový svět expresses its condolences to the family of Stephen Yarborough, an experienced handler at the mobile starting stalls at Haydock Park, who was run over by the stalls in a fatal accident at the racecourse on Friday.
Slovakia had to wait 25 years for the first filly to win the local Derby. This year’s popular winner, German-bred Zoriana, by Jukebox Jury (IRE), out of Zambuka (FR) (Zieten (USA)), is trained by Zuzana Kubovičová and owned PD Senica. The winning owner’s colours were carried to victory in the early 1990s by Quirinus, which then went on the run in the Aintree Grand National.
The biggest topic in Czech racing in June was How to make sense of the Czech Derby? It was a weird race. There were 16 runners, and 7 of the first 8 were total outsiders, offered at 20:1 or more by our miserly on-course bookmaker! Of the first 6 horses at the halfway point, none finished higher than 10th! Of course, there is no clear logical explanation for a result like this, and there is no need to expect one.
By public transport
Six Czech-trained chasers and hurdlers will line up for races on Swedish Grand National day at Strömsholm on Saturday. Three are trained by Stanislav Popelka, and the other three by Radim Bodlák. Both of these trainers have made the long journey to central Sweden before, as have most of the horses.
Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse attracted a remarkably large crowd for Ladies Day on June 4th, despite the rainy start to the afternoon. For most of the afternoon, the ladies’ dresses and hats, laughter and looks, were the main feature of the day, but it was a three-year-old colt, Black Canyon, that took the eye of hardened racegoers.
David Liška will celebrate his 17th birthday in July, but he is already making his mark on our racecourses.
Delight My Fire opened her 2017 season by finishing 3rd, beaten by just a length and a neck by Broughton and Recently Acquired, in the Grande Steeple chase di Milano (5 000 m, Graded I, EUR 60 000) on May 14th. The winner, Broughton, is trained by Josef Váňa senior for an Italian owner, and was ridden by Josef Váňa junior.
The number of entries for the 127th Velka Pardubicka, to be run at Pardubice racecourse on Sunday, October 8th
