Túto nedeľu sa v bratislavskom Starom háji stretnú priaznivci dostihov predposledný krát v sezóne. Program vyplnia všetky typy zápolení, tentokrát bez vrcholu najvyššej kategórie. Hlavným testom je dvojkový Memoriál RNDr. Juraja Gressnera na 1800 metrov o 3300 eur. Medzi šiestimi aktérmi nájdeme aj dvoch víťazov spred dvoch týždňov Wuelta z Vadualu a Wandukeho zo stajne AUTOOPRAVOVŇA Strnisko, dvojicu kolegov z lotu Michala Ročáka Rheingoldringa a Thunderballa a dve štvornohé dámy Filealanglaise a Meny Bay. 

 The entire Velka Pardubicka racing day is shown on Czech non-commercial television, beginning at 11 o’clock, half an hour before the first race, and ending after 5 pm, when key participants in the great race have all been interviewed, and the curtain is drawn. The whole day is shown on Czech Television’s sports channel, and the main event is also shown on CT1, the ‘serious’ channel.

The winner of the Velka Pardubicka in 1995, and the last Brit to win the greatest Czech race, has no intention of coming back to Pardubice. According to his comments in the Racing Post [on 13.10.2014], Charlie Mann’s visit to Pardubice yesterday was his last-ever trip to the town. “It’s not because of the race, but because of the people running Pardubice racecourse,” Mann is quoted on the pages of the Racing Post as saying.

The 2014 Velka Pardubicka was run on a warm sunny afternoon, and there were three questions before the race. Would Orphée win again? What about Josef Váňa? And would Martina Ružíčková get round for the first time, at the sixth attempt?

While other trainers are busy preparing their horses for the Velka Pardubicka, the first trainer to arrive at Pardubice racecourse has been busy pissing everybody off. On his many previous trips to Pardubice, Charlie Mann - who won the VP as trainer and rider on It’s a Snip in 1995 - has earned a well-deserved reputation for demanding very special treatment and for grossly abusing the generosity of people in Pardubice.

Tradičný sobotný rovinový míting síce už nebude celkom iba rovinový, ale aj tak ťažiskom programu budú rovinové zápolenia. V hlavnej položke - Veľkej cene Pardubíc má Slovensko zastúpenie iba prostredníctvom džokeja Zdenka Šmidu, ktorý povedie favorizovaného Autora. Na míľu a do šprintu však realizačné tímy prihlásili aj štvornohých zástupcov. Zhodne ide o reprezentantov stajne KT OBAL, ktorí ale nie sú tréningoví kolegovia.

Asi polhodinu pred Cenou Víťazného oblúka sa v Bratislave odohral rovnaký scenár ako v Paríži: presadila sa obhajkyňa víťazstva, ktorá sa však v tomto roku nezúčastnila ako favoritka.

Twenty-two horses have been declared to run in the Velka Pardubicka on Sunday, October 12th. All the major Czech-trained contenders have been declared as expected, and there will also be representatives of Slovakia (Cardam) and the UK (Lambro). Josef Váňa senior is expected to ride Tiumen, and Martina Ružíckova, only 11 years his junior, will be trying to achieve her ambition/obsession - to complete the VP course at the eighth time of trying.

Charlie Mann says that Lambro's name will appear among the declared runners for the 2014 Velka Pardubicka today. He is to be ridden by Mark Grant, who rode him at Warwick on October 2nd, when Lambro finally fulfilled the qualification requirements for the race.   

Hlavným bodom programu prvého októbrového mítingu bude Cena ADELI Medical Centra - Jesenný hendikep na 1800 metrov o 5400 eur. Stretne sa v ňom osem štvorročných a starších koní na čele so železnou dámou Yuccou zo stajne AUTOOPRAVOVŇA Strnisko, ktorá tento rok na prvý triumf stále čaká. Najvyššiu hmotnosť ponesie Rakúšan Urgestein zo Stall Immo E.L. Do súboja o triumf určite budú chcieť zasiahnuť tento rok úspešné kobyly Yordana z ELPAM a Estinaad v majetku Wernera Ithalera. Jediným českým hosťom bude Stinger z K-K Metal a.s.