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Velká pardubická is a famous cross-country steeplechase 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.
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History
The race was first run in 1874 in Pardubice. The town of Pardubice had long been known in the horse racing world. Even some trainers and jockeys from England came here to work. The current steeplechase course was established in 1856. However the course first took its present-day form in the years just after the Second World War.
The course of the race has been changed several times. The most recent change was in 1998 when the direction of the final phase of the race was changed. The reason was the location of the new grandstand. The surface of the racecourse is mainly grass, but one quarter of the race is run through ploughed fields, which used to take almost half of the race in the past. Some obstacles have also been changed, mostly to improve safety, although the difficulty of the race is said to have suffered as a result.
Curiosities
Historically, the most successful horse in the race was Železník. The horse won the race four times (from 1987 to 1989 and again in 1991).
Josef Váňa Sr. is the most successful jockey, having achieved eight victories. Josef is also a very well known celebrity in the Czech Republic. There is a 2012 movie about him (Váňa, directed by Jakub Wagner). He has also trained 8 winners of the Velká Pardubická and 6 horses which have finished in second place.
The only woman to have won the race is Lata Brandis. Lata won in 1937 with a mare named Norma.
In 1909 no horse finished the race (only 3 horses ran that year and none of them made it to the finish).
Taxis Ditch
This is the most famous obstacle in the race, and it is jumped just once. It is the fourth fence. 28 horses have died at this obstacle. In the past it consisted of a 2 m deep and 5 m long ditch hidden behind a 1.5 m high hedge. Nowadays, it is a 1 m deep and 4 m long ditch with a 1.5 m high hedge.