October 20^th, 2022 is the 70^th birthday of Josef Váňa, the most successful jockey and trainer in the history of the Velka Pardubicka. He won the race 8 times as a jockey, and he has also won it 11 times as a trainer. His first win as a jockey was in 1987 on Železník, on which he won the race four times. His other wins were on Vronsky and three times on Tiumen. His last win on Tiumen was in 2011, shortly before his 59^th birthday. His first win as a trainer was in 1996, with Cipísek, and his most recent win was in 2017 with Theophilos.

Vendula Jirčáková is the trainer of Dulcar de Sivola, the biggest outsider in the field for the 132^nd running of the Velka Pardubicka. In this interview with Jana Šejnohová, which first appeared on this website on October 7th, Vendula Jirčáková answers questions about her career in equestrian sport, and how she sees Czech horse racing in these difficult times

(provided by Dostihový spolek, organiser of events at Pardubice racecourse)

By tradition, the second Sunday in October belongs to the Velka Pardubicka, and this year is no exception. Fifteen horses will go down to the start of our greatest race, including last year’s winner, Talent. He is the current favourite, but according to the odds offered by Tipsport, the high point of our crosscountry steeplechase season  is a very open race.

Chris Simpson has been working on his Unofficial Velka Pardubicka website Velka Pardubicka Steeplechase - (webs.com) for thirty years, and it is a goldmine of accurate and eclectic information about the great race, in English language.