Velká Pardubická 2014

61-year-old Josef Vana, bids for a ninth win in Sunday's Velká Pardubická

Love this race






Velká pardubická is a famous steeplechase cross-country run in Pardubice, Czech Republic since 1874. It takes place every year on the second Sunday in October. The length of the steeplechase is 6.9 km, with 31 obstacles. It usually takes 9–10 minutes to finish the course. The fastest time recorded was 8 minutes and 58.99 seconds by Sixteen in 2008 and the slowest was over 13 minutes. Horses starting in the race must be at least 6 years old (the rules changed in 2009, previously the minimum age was 7 years) and Czech horses must qualify by finishing at least one of four qualifying races during the season.

Thanks Bob...watched it for the 1st time last year after reading your post...absolute scary race...but fantastic at the same time...

Taken from a passionate Czech racing fan's web . He says ORPHEE DES BLINS just has to rock up to win. Both horse and jockey team are going for a hattrick of Velka wins.

#12 1p/11-11 ORPHEE DES BLINS (6/11 - Czech Repubilc only) (cd, 5c) - The reigning champion who has run away with last two renewals and has done nothing wrong in two starts this year. The best Czech chaser by a country mile and the one they have to beat. Jan Faltejesek is having his ninth ride and had no luck in the Velka until teaming up with Orphee des Blins. He has ridden in the UK for Alistair Charlton the highlight being his shock defeat of Big Bucks on Knocakara Beau in this years Cleeve Hurdle. He also rides in France and is the only Czech jockey to have ridden in a Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Fav Wins ( nice call Mac )