The dates and details have been announced for three well-sponsored classical steeplechases that will go under the name Josef Vana Cup. Each race has prize money of just over one million crowns, about EUR 40 000. The cost of entry+declaration is to be 2% of the prize money (very low by Czech standards), and the prize money will be distributed among the first seven finishers.

The races will surely attract the best non-crosscountry chasers in the Czech Republic, and, we hope, some contenders from abroad. In recent years, some of our best Czech-trained chasers have run exclusively abroad. The introduction of these races should mark the beginning of a new era in Czech steeplechasing, in which there will be better provision for so-called classical steeplechasing and less exclusive concentration on cross-country chasing.       

Josef Vana Cup

30. 6. 2013 Karlovy Vary – steeplechase, Listed, 4200 m, CzK 1,050,000

28. 7. 2013 Pardubice – steeplechase, Listed, 4400 m, CzK 1,050,000

31. 8. 2013 Most – steeplechase, Listed, 4500 m, CzK 1,050,000