The result of the appeal against the extraordinary decision by the stewards at Cologne to take away Czech-trained Meandre's victory in last Sunday's Preis von Europa (Group 1) is expected on November 2nd.
Among the Irish- and UK-trained entries for the Velka Pardubicka, the most likely runners are Shalimar Fromentro and Zest for Life. 7-y-o Shalimar Fromentro, owned by Jane Williams and trained Nick Williams, finished 5th in the Crystal Cup race at Craon on September 8th.
25 Czech- and Slovak-trained horses are both qualified and entered for the 2013 Velka Pardubicka. Half a dozen other horses are qualified and could be supplemented for the race. The horses are given below with their handicap rating in brackets. The rating represents a theoretical weight in kg.
I am far from understanding what has been going on in trotting in the Czech Republic.
In the last two seasons there have been very few race meetings. Last weekend, a meeting was announced at a brand-new racecourse at Bravantice, not far south of Ostrava. This racecourse is variously described as exclusively for trotting or predominantly for trotting, and it was originally announced that it would open in 2014. Some website sketches indicate that our type of horseracing might be held at Bravantice.
Trainer Greg Wroblewski had 6 winners at the weekend: four at Prague Velka Chuchle on Sunday, one at Divonne (on the French side of the French-Swiss border) on Saturd
Czech trainers will be stretched this weekend, with a more than usually difficult decision on where to go in person, and where to send a trusted assistant trainer. The problem of finding a good rider, or any rider at all, has been acute.
Racing returns to Prague Velka Chuchle on Sunday, after a three-month break due to the major flooding that inundated the course at the beginning of June. Big efforts have been in the summer months to make the course fit for racing in September and October, when there will be meetings every Sunday afternoon except October 13th, which is Velka Pardubicka day.
