Velká pardubická
![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2013) |
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 (4 miles 506 yards), with 31 obstacles. It usually takes 9–10 minutes to finish the course; the record is 8:56.01 set by Ribelino in 2015.
Horses starting in the race must be at least six years old (before 2009, the minimum age was seven years); Czech horses must qualify by finishing at least one of four qualifying races during the season.
History
The race was first run in 1874 in Pardubice, a town long known in the horse racing world, as some trainers and jockeys from England came there 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.[1]
The course of the race has been changed several times, most recently in 1998 when the direction of the final phase of the race was changed to accommodate 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.[1]
Obstacles
Horses must negotiate a total of 31 obstacles.[2] These are:
- 1 - Hedge (1.2m)
- 2 - Hedge with ditch (1.3m, with a 60 cm ditch on the other side)
- 3 - Small water jump (3m long)
- 4 - Taxis ditch. (This is the most famous obstacle in the race, and it is jumped just once. 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. It was changed before the 1994 race to be a 1 m deep and 4 m long ditch with a 1.5 m high hedge. For the 2021 race the obstacle will have a 0.75 m deep ditch and 5 m long ditch with a 1.35 m to 1.45 m high hedge.[3] This obstacle is used only for the Velká pardubická, and horses are not permitted to use it for training.)
- 5 - Irish bank. (This unusual obstacle requires the horses to shimmy up and down a steep artificial bank.)
- 6 - Popkovic ditch. (1.3m hedge with a 2m long ditch on the other side)
- 7 - French jump. A pair of closely spaced hedges, 1.2m and 1.3m in height, which must be jumped as one.
- 8 & 9 - Small gardens. A pair of hedges, 1.25m and 1.3m in height, which are jumped in quick succession.
- 10 - English jump. (1.2m hedge with a ditch on the takeoff side)
- 10a - Extended taxis ditch. (Small hedge, about 1.1m tall, which joins with the main taxis ditch)
- 11 - Hedge with ditch. (1.3m, with a ditch on the landing side)[4]
- 12 - Hedge. (1.2 m high and 1.3 m wide hedge with a 60 cm. The landing side is 0.5 m lower than the takeoff side)
- 13 - Hedge. (1.3 m high and wide hedge that's 0.8 m high)
- 14 - Polper's Jump. (0.8 m high double railing. It is named after the famous interwar rider and two-time winner of the Grand Cpt. Rudolf Popler, who tragically perished on this jump in 1932. In 1991, the phenomenal Železník fell here, but jockey Josef Váni senior, remounted and Železník went on to claim his fourth victory.)
- 15 - Drop Bank. (In front of the stands. It is a two-meter drop.)
- 16 - Stone Wall. (Stone wall in front of the stands 0.8 m wide and 0.85 m high wall, which is approached from a plowed field.)
- 17 - Water Trough. (The largest water obstacle in the race. It is used to be 2 m deep but since the 1990s it has been changed to be 4.5 m wide and 0.7 m lower rebound compared to the original rebound.)
- 18 - Large Moat. (In the past the second most feared obstacle behind Taxis Ditch now 4 m wide and 0.45 m deep.)
- 19 - Mini Taxis drop. (The last of the three 'Taxis' ditch on the course. The hedge is 1.5 m high, 2 m wide and there is a 1.7 m ditch on the landing side.)
- 20 & 21 - Small gardens. (A pair of hedges, 1.25m and 1.3m in height, which are jumped in quick succession.)
- 22 - Open Brook. (A simple ditch with a white bounce beam which in the past where not there which lead to horses not seeing the brook. The brook is 3m wide and 0.9 m deep.)
- 23 - Steeplechase obstacle. (Steeplechase jumps have replaced wicker obstacles, which are no longer jumped. This fence is 1.3 m high and 0.6 m wide.)
- 24 - "At the hanger hedge" Hedge. (Named after it closeness to hangers by a nearby airport. It is a 1.3 m high and wide hedge. 0.6 m in front of it is an 0.8 m high bouncing crossbar.)
- 25 - Big English jump. (0.5 m high and 1.6 m wide hedge, 0.6 m in front of it stands an 0.8 m high bounce beam. The difficulty of the obstacle is the landing, because the landing area is 40 cm higher than the takeoff side. Often causes problems in the wet.)
- 26 - American post and rails. (2.4 m wide ditch with a 0.5 m high bounce beam.)
- 27 - Havel's Jump. (1.4 m high and 1.9 m wide hedge with an 0.8 m high bounce beam at a distance of 0.5 m in front of the fence, followed by a 2.5 m wide shallow ditch. The difficulty of the jump is mainly due to its closeness to the end of the race.)
- 28 - Steeplechase obstacle. (1.3 m high and 0.6 m wide)
- 29 - Steeplechase obstacle. (1.3 m high and 0.6 m wide)
- 30 - Steeplechase obstacle. (1.3 m high and 0.6 m wide)[5]
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, and he 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 10 winners of the Velká Pardubická and six horses which have finished in second place.
The first (and only woman) to have won the race as of 2019 is Countess Lata Brandisová (1896-1981), who won in 1937 with her mare, Norma - seven lengths ahead of the professional jockey Willibald Schlagbaum in second place. Only 10 of the 15 runners finished. She was the first woman to enter the race in 1927 (falling five times and remounting to finish fifth). In later years she came in fourth, third and second on Norma.[6]
The 1937 Grand Pardubice was the last race held for nearly a decade. The 1938 race was called off following the Munich Agreement and not run during World War II.
Winners
Year | Winning Horse | Age | Handicap (kg) | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Winning Time |
2022 | ![]() |
8 | 70 | ![]() |
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Lokotrans | 9m 31.24s |
2021 | ![]() |
10 | 70 | ![]() |
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DS Kabelkovi | 9m 12.79s |
2020 | ![]() |
12 | 70 | ![]() |
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Ševců | 9m 22.99s |
2019 | ![]() |
9 | 70 | ![]() |
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Dostihový klub iSport-Váňa | 9m 28.76s |
2018 | ![]() |
7 | 70 | ![]() |
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Dr. Charvát | 9m 05.56s |
2017 | ![]() |
8 | 70 | ![]() |
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DS Paragan | 9m 39.98s |
2016 | ![]() |
9 | 70 | ![]() |
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Orling | 9m 42.86s |
2015 | ![]() |
7 | 68 | ![]() |
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Lokotrans | 8m 56.01sR |
2014 | ![]() |
12 | 66 | ![]() |
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DS Pegas | 9m 08.25s |
2013 | ![]() |
11 | 66 | ![]() |
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DS Pegas | 9m 33.22s |
2012 | ![]() |
10 | 66 | ![]() |
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DS Pegas | 9m 13.39s |
2011 | ![]() |
10 | 68.5 | ![]() |
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Köi Dent | 9m 15.29s |
2010 | ![]() |
9 | 68 | ![]() |
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Köi Dent | 9m 03.73s |
2009 | ![]() |
8 | 68 | ![]() |
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Köi Dent | 9m 19.56s |
2008 | ![]() |
8 | 66 | ![]() |
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Jaroslav Bouček Buc-Film | 8m 58.99sR |
2007 | ![]() |
7 | 66 | ![]() |
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Jaroslav Bouček Buc-Film | 9m 18.66s |
2006 | ![]() |
11 | 67 | ![]() |
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Dr. Charvát | 9m 20.60s |
2005 | ![]() |
11 | 67 | ![]() |
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Nýznerov | 9m 11.25sR |
2004 | ![]() |
8 | 65 | ![]() |
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Wrbna Racing | 9m 15.48sR |
2003 | ![]() |
7 | 65 | ![]() |
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Wrbna Racing | 9m 30.14s |
2002 | ![]() |
8 | 67 | ![]() |
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Nýznerov | 10m 22.07s |
2001 | ![]() |
9 | 67 | ![]() |
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Viktor Komárek | 10m 04.52s |
2000 | ![]() |
12 | 67 | ![]() |
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DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna | 9m 29.00s |
1999 | ![]() |
11 | 67 | ![]() |
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DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna | 9m 16.00sR |
1998 | ![]() |
10 | 67 | ![]() |
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DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna | 10m 10.01s |
1997 | ![]() |
9 | 67 | ![]() |
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Viktor Komárek | 10m 33.30s |
1996 | ![]() |
8 | 64.5 | ![]() |
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Stáj Luka | 9m 35.10sR |
1995 | ![]() |
10 | 67 | ![]() |
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The Icy Fire Partnership | 10m 03.43s |
1994 | ![]() |
8 | 65.5 | ![]() |
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Pěník Vlachovice | 10m 06.07s |
1993 | ![]() |
9 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Valstav-Paschal | 10m 29.0s |
1992 | ![]() |
10 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Pôdohospodárske družstvo Senica | 10m 09.1s |
1991 | ![]() |
13 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora | 10m 01.0s |
1990 | ![]() |
7 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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ŠPP Motěšice | 9m 49.4sR |
1989 | ![]() |
11 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora | 10m 16.3s |
1988 | ![]() |
10 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora | 10m 59.8s |
1987 | ![]() |
9 | 70.5 | ![]() |
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Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora | 9m 56.13sR |
1986 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
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JZD Velké Karlovice | 10m 39.4s | |
1985 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Kladruby | 10m 36.4s | |
1984 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
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Hřebčín Voschod | 10m 48.9s | |
1983 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Kladruby | 10m 28.0s | |
1982 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Kladruby | 10m 12.04s | |
1981 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Kladruby | 12m 46.37s | |
1980 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
![]() |
JZD Pokrok Otice | 11m 47.53s | |
1979 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
![]() |
JZD Družba Čebín | 11m 07.10s | |
1978 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Šamorín | 11m 30.60s | |
1977 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Židlochovice | 12m 15.20s | |
1976 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Albertovec | 10m 59.40s | |
1975 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Albertovec | 11m 01.70s | |
1974 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
![]() |
PP Albertovec | 10m 42.70s | |
1973 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
Christopher Collins | 10m 04.90sR | |
1972 | ![]() |
13 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Židlochovice | 10m 55.20s | |
1971 | ![]() |
12 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Židlochovice | 11m 02.80s | |
1970 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
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DZS Štefan Karadža | 11m 41.20s | |
1969 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Židlochovice | 11m 01.20s | |
1968 | cancelled[c] | ||||||
1967 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
JO Avangard Lvov | 11m 34.70s | ||
1966 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
ŠPU Prešov | 12m 22.60s | |
1965 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Benešov | 10m 39.60s | |
1964 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
DSO Urožaj | 11m 33.60s | |
1963 | ![]() |
12 | ![]() |
![]() |
SPÚ Tlumačov | 10m 47.20s | |
1962 | ![]() |
6 | ![]() |
![]() |
DSO Urožaj | 10m 05.10sR | |
1961 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hřebčín č. 158 | 10m 21.30sR | |
1960 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
Hřebčín č. 158 | 12m 32.00s | |
1959 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
![]() |
CKSK MO | 12m 05.20s | |
1958 | ![]() |
9 | ![]() |
![]() |
CKSK MO | 13m 11.00s | |
1957 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
![]() |
CKSK MO | 11m 27.90s | |
1956 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
![]() |
Státní statek Xaverov | 13m 14.80s | |
1955 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
![]() |
ŠŽ Topoľčianky | 11m 32.10s | |
1954 | ![]() |
14 | ![]() |
Jiskra Moravský Beroun | 13m 08.00s | ||
1953 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
![]() |
DSO Slavoj Opava | 11m 13.50s | |
1952 | ![]() |
13 | ![]() |
Družstvo Kalich | 11m 25.30s | ||
1951 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
![]() |
Sokol KP Opava | 10m 58.00s | |
1950 | n/d Var | 11 | ![]() |
Sokol Borek | 11m 17.20s | ||
1949 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
VSJ Pardubice | 10m 55.30s | ||
1948 | n/d Var | 9 | ![]() |
![]() |
Vojenský útvar 2108 | 11m 03.30s | |
1947 | ![]() |
12 | ![]() |
Centre National des Sports Equesters | 10m 30.80sR | ||
1946 | n/d Titan | 9 | ![]() |
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Vojenský útvar 2228 | 11m 56.40s | |
1938–1945 | cancelled[d] | ||||||
1937 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Karel Šmejda | Zdenko Radslav Kinský | 10m 47.00s | |
1936 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
Kerpen | Oskar Lengnik | 10m 47.00s | |
1935 | ![]() |
10 | ![]() |
Oskar Lengnik | 10m 41.40s | ||
1934 | ![]() |
11 | ![]() |
H. Wiese | H. Wiese | 12m 44.00s | |
1933 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Dr. Alfred Tonelles | 11m 24.60s | ||
1932 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Dr. Alfred Tonelles | 12m 48.80s | ||
1931 | ![]() |
5 | ![]() |
Karel Šmejda | Zdenko Radslav Kinský | 14m 47.80s | |
1930 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
Rudolf Popler | Cpt. Rudolf Popler | 12m 00.00s | |
1929 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Gustav Schwandt | Gustav Schwandt | 12m 37.00s | |
1928 | ![]() |
8 | ![]() |
![]() |
Feldwebel H. Nünninghoff | 12m 03.90s | |
1927 | ![]() |
n/a | ![]() |
![]() |
Cpt. J. Charous | 14m 00.00s | |
1926 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Lufta | Stáj Popler-Formánková | 17m 44.60s | |
1925 | ![]() |
7 | ![]() |
Stáj Max | 19m 19.20s | ||
1924 | Herero | Eduard Stärz | Eduard Stärz | Stáj Sankt Georg | 13m 10.00s | ||
1923 | ![]() |
5 | 66 | ![]() |
Martinkovich | Stáj Max | 13m 29.00s |
1922 | Baldur | 5 | 60 | ![]() |
Buřival | Lady Huntingghost | 15m 27.00s |
1921 | Periwig | 7 | 68 | ![]() |
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A. Vaněk | 15m 32.00s |
1920 | Jonathan[e] | 11 | 70 | ![]() |
Jan Pálffy | 20m 15.00s | |
1914–1919 | cancelled[f] | ||||||
1913[g] | Hurain | Cpt. Wilhelm Reimer | Capt. Johann Buzinkay v. Buzinka | ||||
Dick Turpin | 10 | Ferencz Janek | Martinkovich | Lt. Friedrich Rosenthal | 11m 11.50s | ||
1912[g] | Hurain | 1Lt. Wilhelm Reimer | Capt. Johann Buzinkay v. Buzinka | ||||
Jamagata | 6 | ![]() |
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František Bartosch | 11m 39.40s | ||
1911 | ![]() |
6 | 73.5 | ![]() |
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Count Frankenberg | 10m 22.00s |
1910 | ![]() |
5 | 70 | Max Seiffert | Maj. Karl Adam von Wuthenau-Hohenthurm | 14m 26.50s | |
1909 | race void[h] | ||||||
1908 | cancelled[i] | ||||||
1907 | ![]() |
6 | Josef Birghan | Rottman | P. Mecklenburg | 11m 24.60s | |
1906 | ![]() |
4 | ![]() |
Wheeler | Anton Dreher | 12m 10.60s | |
1905 | ![]() |
10 | 71 | Max Seiffert | Feldwebel Knesebeck | not measured | |
1904 | Dennis | 6 | ![]() |
![]() |
Count Karel Kinsky | not measured | |
1903 | Jour Fix | 7 | 67.5 | ![]() |
van Ness | Emil von David jr. | 12m 04.00s |
1902 | Jour Fix | 6 | 62.5 | ![]() |
Hough | Emil von David jr. | not measured |
1901 | Chorazy | 6 | 62 | ![]() |
1st Lt. Eduard Koller | not measured | |
1900 | ![]() |
8 | 68.5 | ![]() |
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Count Zdenko Kinský | not measured |
1899 | Sláva | 5 | 63.5 | ![]() |
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Count Zdenko Kinský | not measured |
1898 | ![]() |
n/a | 80 | ![]() |
H.Brown Jr. | Gustav Beit | not measured |
1897 | ![]() |
5 | 71 | ![]() |
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Count Zdenko Kinský | not measured |
1896 | ![]() |
10 | 80 | ![]() |
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Jacques Schawell | not measured |
1895 | ![]() |
4 | 74 | ![]() |
John Pache | Robert Lebaudy | not measured |
1894 | ![]() |
8 | 77.5 | ![]() |
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Jacques Schawell | not measured |
1893 | Hadnagy | 7 | 69 | ![]() |
Hansi Fries | General Count H. Lamberg | not measured |
1892 | Alphabet | 7 | 63 | ![]() |
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Count Rudolf Ferdinand Kinský | not measured |
1891 | ![]() |
5 | 64 | ![]() |
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Jacques Schawell | not measured |
1890 | Alphabet | 5 | 62.5 | ![]() |
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Count Rudolf Ferdinand Kinský | not measured |
1889 | Parisis | 6 | 61.5 | ![]() |
1st Lt. Alex Kutchenbach | not measured | |
1888 | ![]() |
4 | 66.5 | ![]() |
Count Nicolo Esterházy | not measured | |
1887 | Woodman | 9 | 70 | ![]() |
Hector Baltazzi | not measured | |
1886 | ![]() |
4 | 62 | ![]() |
Ferdinand von Schosberger | not measured | |
1885 | Abracadabra | 6 | 73 | Hansi Fries | Hansi Fries | Count Nicolo Esterházy | not measured |
1884 | ![]() |
6 | 75 | ![]() |
Oscar Oehlschläger | not measured | |
1883 | Victoria | 10 | 80.5 | ![]() |
![]() |
Jacques Schawell | not measured |
1882 | ![]() |
5 | 71 | ![]() |
Baron Ernst von Falkenhausen | not measured | |
1881 | Victoria | 8 | 83.5 | ![]() |
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Jacques Schawell | not officially 10m 45.20s |
1880 | Good Morning | 4 | 66 | ![]() |
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G.F.J. Smith (Zd. Kinský) | not measured |
1879 | Rudi | 5 | 73.5 | I. Hanreich | John Beeson | Count Nicolo Esterházy | not measured |
1878 | ![]() |
8 | 84 | ![]() |
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Count Tassilo Festetics | not measured |
1877 | ![]() |
7 | 80 | ![]() |
![]() |
Count Tassilo Festetics | not measured |
1876 | cancelled[j] | ||||||
1875 | ![]() |
5 | 78.5 | ![]() |
![]() |
Count Tassilo Festetics | not measured |
1874 | ![]() |
6 | 80.5 | ![]() |
Baron von Cramm | not measured |
- R – track record
- ^ In 2015, Nikas finished first but was disqualified for doping.
- ^ In 2008, Amant Gris finished first but was disqualified for taking the wrong course.
- ^ The 1968 race was cancelled due to the Soviet Union occupation of the Czechoslovakia Prague Spring.
- ^ The race was not run in 1938–1945 due to Nazi occupation and the Second World War.
- ^ In 1920, Jonathan was disqualified for not finishing in time limit.
- ^ The race was not run in 1914–1919 due to the First World War.
- ^ a b In 1912 and 1913 there was also a steeple-chase race for army.
- ^ The 1909 race was declared void as none of the three horses that ran finished.
- ^ The 1908 race was cancelled due to snow.
- ^ The 1876 race was cancelled due to frost.
References
- ^ a b http://www.vpcp.cz/en/history.html History of the Velká Pardubická České pojišťovny
- ^ Obstacles
- ^ "Váňa: kvůli "novému" Taxisu nepřítel. Upravenou překážku čeká premiéra". Blesk (in Czech). 6 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ https://i2.wp.com/equineink.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/course.jpg?ssl=1[bare URL image file]
- ^ "131. Velká pardubická se Slavia pojišťovnou". Blesk (in Czech). 10 October 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ a b Richard Askwith (2019). Unbreakable: The Woman Who Defied the Nazis in the World's Most Dangerous Horse Race. Yellow Jersey Press.
External links
- CS1 Czech-language sources (cs)
- All articles with bare URLs for citations
- Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022
- Articles with image file bare URLs for citations
- Articles lacking in-text citations from October 2013
- All articles lacking in-text citations
- Coordinates not on Wikidata
- AC with 0 elements
- Steeplechase (horse racing)
- Horse racing in the Czech Republic
- Sport in Pardubice
- Recurring sporting events established in 1874