Josef Bartoš, who hurt his knee while performing a Dettori dismount after winning the Gran Premio di Merano a week ago on L’Estran, has had a knee cartilage operation and will not be able to ride Theophilos in the Velka Pardubicka. At the same meeting at Merano, Jan Kratochvíl hurt a knee in a fall, when his mount rolled over onto his leg. Jan hopes to be able to ride at Pardubice on October 11^th.

Czech-trained horses, Czech-based trainers and Czech jockeys have again dominated the Gran Premio di Merano, the biggest steeplechase run in Italy. The prizemoney for this year’s race was the highest that will be offered in Central European horseracing in 2020.

This interview with the trainer of the winner of the 100^th running of the Czech Derby, held at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse on September 7^th, was taken by Petr Guth and first appeared on the Czech-language side of our website. Translated by Robin.

The 6^th annual European Jockeys’ Cup meeting is due to be held on Sunday, October 4th at Prague Velká Chuchle racecourse. Nine jockeys from 8 countries have been nominated for the competition.

2 September 2020, Prague – This year’s season at Velká Chuchle racecourse in the suburbs of Prague is gradually moving into its second half. After the CSIO3* international showjumping competition, in which the Czech showjumping team qualified successfully for the Olympic Games in Tokio, September 6^th will feature the Czech Derby, the absolute high point of the Czech horseracing season. This will be the 100^th running of the race at Velká Chuchle racecourse, the home of the Czech Derby.

Jaroslav Myška and Štěpánka

It really is not getting any easier to write these monthly newsletters. I have not been racing this year, as my wife and I are in the over 70s age group (without a pre-existing condition). Neither of us is personally awfully scared of catching the virus – but neither of us wants our partner to be infected.

There was some good rain in Pardubice on the day before the last of the four qualification races for VP2020. The race was run on a cool day, and the going was 3.2 (good to firm). In this exceptional year, all four qualification races were run in July and August. There were hot, dry spells in these months in Pardubice, as usual.