Outsider wins the VP qualfying race - VP favourites warm up satisfactorily 28.08.2010
The meeting at Pardubice on August 28th featured two races in which well-fancied entries for the Velka Pardubicka met up. However, at the end of the afternoon we were little wiser as to which horse might win on Ocotber 10th. In the Category II Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic Prize, over 5200 metres, VP 2009 winner Tiumen, ridden by Josef Vana jnr, came up against impressive June qualifying race winner Bremen Plan. However, the race was won, rather impressively, by Mastman (which is entered for the VP, but not yet qualified). Tiumen's owner, Ivo Koehler, was well pleased win his horse's performance, and thinks he will not need another race before October. Isar finished third, ahead of Bremen Plan, which also appeared to have a fairly satisfactory warm-up run. more ...
Bremen Plan wins the 2nd VP qualification race 12.06.2010
The second of the four Velka Pardubicka qualification races is the Paramo Grand Prix, Milos Svoboda Memorial, 5800 metres, crosscountry, which was run at Pardubice on June 12th. To fit in with the football World Cup on television, the meeting began at 3 pm, and the main race was after 7 pm. This was just as well, as the heat of a very hot and humid afternoon had died down a little. After several hot days, the going was firm (officially, good to firm). 15 runners lined up. Amant Gris, first past the post but correctly disqualified in VP 2008, was not qualified to run because trainer Radek Holcak, and I, had failed to notice that the race was for horses that in 2009 or 2010 had been placed in a Category III or higher race.
more ...Mandarino wins the first VP qualifying race 22.05.2010
After plentiful rain and cool weather in recent weeks, and serious flooding in many parts of Moravia, the meeting at Pardubice on May 22nd took place on softish ground, which became definitely soft after a sharp shower just before the main race. The ploughed fields were testing in places. The feature race was the 18th running of the Town of Pardubice Grand Prix (Dick Francis Memorial), the first qualification race for the 120th Velka Pardubicka.
more ...64 entries for the Velka Pardubicka 15.05.2010
Entries for the 120th running of the Velka Pardubicka, sponsored by Ceska pojistovna, closed at midday on May 13th. Sixty-four horses are named, nine of which are trained abroad. more ...
Velka Pardubicka 2009 - The Vana legend is extended even further 11.10.2009
The 119th Velka Pardubicka, run on October 11th 2009, will go down in history as one of the great renewals of this great race. However, before beginning on a description of the drama, I must begin with an unconditional apology for being one of many who said and wrote that Josef Vana, at the age of almost 57, with a body severely impacted by numerous major racing-related injuries, and having ridden just two races this year, should not have been riding in the race. I also apologise to the horses for suggesting that, with the exception of Sixteen, they were a moderate lot, and also for saying that 25 runners was far too many. In the event, 18 got round and all contributed to a dramatic race. The first five past the post all put in very fine performances, and several others did really well. more ...
sponsored by Česká pojišťovna
