This started out as an article on the race itself, which is run this Saturday, but the more I looked into it, the more I became aware of the remarkable Josef Vana. The trainer/jockey, who will celebrate his 60th birthday later this month, has won the legendary cross-country race an incredible 8 times as a jockey and 9 times as a trainer, including 2 "hat-tricks" on ŽeleznÃk (1987-89, following up in 1991 to become the only horse to win the race 4 times) and on the reigning champ, Tiumen, who has won the race for the last 3 years and is attempting to become the first horse ever to win in 4 consecutive years. His victory on ŽeleznÃk in 1987 was the first time the famous course had been completed in less than 10 minutes. The jockey, the son of a plumber, was kicked out of apprentice school as a boy and worked in mountain rescue in Moravia until returning to racing aged 28. In the 1991 race he remounted Zeleznik, the Czech equivalent of Red Rum, after being brought down at the 14th fence and still went on to win. However, he considered his 1997 victory on Vronsky his greatest victory. âThe year before I was clinically dead for 15 minutes after a fall at Baden-Baden,â recalled the jockey. âI lost three quarters of one lung and some ribs on my right side. I am only here thanks to the racecourse paramedics.â There is no question of Vana ever passing any sort of trot-up. He has broken what appears to be his straight leg eight times and the other has an uncomfortable looking bend in it. What an unbelieveable character!! Imagine the scenes tomorrow if he can get Tiumen over the line to become the first horse to complete the 4-timer. Best of luck Josef - I salute you as one of the greatest sportsmen who has ever walked the earth Here my original article: Firstly the preliminaries, lifted directly from Wikipedia: "Velká pardubická is a famous steeplechase cross-country run in Pardubice, Bohemia (now 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 9â10 minutes to finish the course; the fastest time: 8 min, 58.99 sec (Sixteen, 2008), and the slowest was over 13 min. 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." The race hasn't actually run every year - 1968 saw it abandoned as the Russian military flexed its muscles in Prague, and between 1938 and 1945 the Nazi occupation meant no race. In 1909, according to Wiki, there was no winner (no idea why) and the race was also cancelled in 1908 and 1876. A couple of items make this year's race of particular interest: 1) Tiumen, trained and ridden by the remarkable Josef Vana, has won the race for the past 3 years and, now aged 11, is looking to become the first horse ever to win the race in 4 consecutive years. Only 1 horse has won the race 4 times, ŽeleznÃk (1987, 1988, 1989 and 1991), also trained by Vana. 2) A number of British and Irish runners this year - Wille Mullins sends over Uncle Junior (ridden by Emmet), Nick Williams runs Maljimar (ridden by Danbo's mate James Reveley) and Enda Bolger has entered Doctor Pat, who will be ridden by Richie Mclernon
The saying of 'They dont make them like that anymore...' couldn't be more apt to Josef here... He sounds hard as nails and has had his troubles in life from it... What a man by the sounds of it... No doubt all of the Czech public will be cheering him on for his attempt at a 4-timer... Good luck in deed... Cheers Oddy, nice read...
Not on UK TV but Czech TV is showing it live and via the internet here. Josef should be wearing his usual claret and white diamonds, white sleeves and white cap on Tiumen Race starts at 2.25 UK time
Just to get you in the mood, here are Tiumen's last 3 victories in the race. Watch for the 4th obstacle, the dreaded Taxis, (makes Bechers look like a schooling hurdle) and the double fence with about 20 yards between fences. A real jumping test. There are a couple of things Aintree could learn from the race - first fence very close to the start and plenty of run-out opportunities for loose horses: 2009 2010 2011
Cheers OddDog, i only watched the last link, as they are quite long. I've known about this race but never watched it before. it looks quite unforgiving and that Tiumen is one hard, gutsy horse. I shall cheer him on without having a bet. I especially liked the part where they have to run through a ploughed field(wtf). Regarding Aintree, they have moved the start closer to the first fence now, so hopefully it will work. i think the people who could learn from this are the jockeys who manage to take the wrong course!
I know, I kept wondering how the bloody hell they knew where to go I suppose the UK & Irish jockey will be happy to have the local lads lead them right up to the last bend
Jan Faltejsek lead throughout on Orphee Des Blins to an easy victory, who won at the course in June and was 3rd in a qualifying race in August. September's qualifier winner Ronino finished 2nd, last years winner Tiumen finished 3rd, Maljimar finished 4th and last years 5th Valldemoso finished 5th.
