(This press release from the organizers of events at Pardubice racecourse was issued on October 2^nd.)  

The 130^th running of the Velka Pardubicka will take place, but without spectators

Pardubice, 2 October 2020 – The organizers of the oldest and toughest steeplechase in continental Europe have managed to find a way to stage this year’s running of the Velka Pardubicka. The current epidemiological situation in the Czech Republic and, above all, the measures that are being imposed, recently set stricter conditions for holding sports events. The 130th running of the Velka Pardubicka with Slavia pojišťovna insurance company will therefore be held without spectators, but it will take place.

The legendary race is such a great, significant and is, above all, such a traditional event, with a history reaching back almost 150 years, that Dostihový spolek has taken extensive measures to ensure that that it can be held again this year. The organization of the event has been consulted with and approved by Dr. Jarmila Rážová, head of the public health services of the Czech Republic,. The details will be negotiated in the course of next week with the Regional Public Health Services of the Pardubice Region,

The fact that the Pardubice racecourse area covers 56 hectares was a key factor in the negotiations. Dostihový Spolek is ready and able as organizer of the event to ensure that all the regulations that have been imposed will be upheld. “We have proposed a way to organize the Velka Pardubicka in compliance with all the regulations of the government and the Ministry of Health. We are pleased that this has been successfully done, although it will mean limiting to the most essential the number of people needed to put on the event, as concerns the organizers and also each of the horseracing teams. We are ready to do what it takes to convey the atmosphere of the festivities as well as possible to the millions of spectators watching on television,” says Jaroslav Müller, manager of Dostihový spolek, a.s.