Velká pardubická (Grand Pardubice Steeplechase) is a cross-country (point to point) 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 , 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 World War II.
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.
Obstacles Horses must negotiate a total of 31 obstacles. 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. 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) 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 - Popler'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 died on this jump in 1932. In 1991, Železník fell here, but jockey Josef Váňa 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 hangar hedge" Hedge. (Named after it closeness to hangars 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)
Curiosities Historically, the most successful horse in the race was Železník, winning four times (from 1987 to 1989 and again in 1991).
Josef Váňa Sr. is the event's most successful jockey, with eight victories.
The first (and, as of 2025, only) woman to have won the race is Countess Lata Brandisová, 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.
The 1937 Velká pardubická 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 YearWinning HorseAgeHandicap (kg)JockeyTrainerOwnerWinning Time 2025 Stumptown 8 70 Keith Donoghue Gavin Cromwell Furze Bush Syndicate 9m 06.55s 2024 Sexy Lord 8 70 Jaroslav Myška Martina Růžičková HC Amphora-Hora 9m 40.00s Godfrey 8 70 Jan Faltejsek Dalibor Török DS Pegas 2023 Sacamiro 10 70 Jan Faltejsek Eva Petříková Jezdecký oddíl Beňov 9m 28.27s 2022 Mr Spex 8 70 Lukáš Matuský Luboš Urbánek Lokotrans 9m 31.24s 2021 Talent 10 70 Pavel Složil ml. Hana Kabelková DS Kabelkovi 9m 12.79s 2020 Hegnus 12 70 Lukáš Matuský Radek Holčák Ševců 9m 22.99s 2019 Theophilos 9 70 Josef Bartoš Josef Váňa sr. Dostihový klub iSport-Váňa 9m 28.76s 2018 Tzigane du Berlais 7 70 Jan Faltejsek Pavel Tůma Dr. Charvát 9m 05.56s 2017 No Time To Lose 8 70 Jan Kratochvíl Josef Váňa sr. DS Paragan 9m 39.98s 2016 Charme Look 9 70 Jan Faltejsek Martina Růžičková Orling 9m 42.86s 2015 Ribelino 7 68 Pavel Kašný Stanislav Kovář Lokotrans 8m 56.01sR 2014 Orphee des Blins 12 66 Jan Faltejsek Grzegorz Witold Wroblewski DS Pegas 9m 08.25s 2013 Orphee des Blins 11 66 Jan Faltejsek Grzegorz Witold Wroblewski DS Pegas 9m 33.22s 2012 Orphee des Blins 10 66 Jan Faltejsek Grzegorz Witold Wroblewski DS Pegas 9m 13.39s 2011 Tiumen 10 68.5 Josef Váňa sr. Josef Váňa sr. Köi Dent 9m 15.29s 2010 Tiumen 9 68 Josef Váňa sr. Josef Váňa sr. Köi Dent 9m 03.73s 2009 Tiumen 8 68 Josef Váňa sr. Josef Váňa sr. Köi Dent 9m 19.56s 2008 Sixteen 8 66 Josef Bartoš Josef Váňa sr. Jaroslav Bouček Buc-Film 8m 58.99sR 2007 Sixteen 7 66 Dušan Andrés Josef Váňa sr. Jaroslav Bouček Buc-Film 9m 18.66s 2006 Decent Fellow 11 67 Josef Bartoš Josef Váňa sr. Dr. Charvát 9m 20.60s 2005 Maskul 11 67 Dirk Fuhrmann František Holčák Nýznerov 9m 11.25sR 2004 Registana 8 65 Peter Gehm Čestmír Olehla Wrbna Racing 9m 15.48sR 2003 Registana 7 65 Peter Gehm Čestmír Olehla Wrbna Racing 9m 30.14s 2002 Maskul 8 67 Peter Gehm Radek Holčák Nýznerov 10m 22.07s 2001 Chalco 9 67 Peter Gehm Josef Váňa sr. Viktor Komárek 10m 04.52s 2000 Peruán 12 67 Zdeněk Matysík Lenka Horáková DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna 9m 29.00s 1999 Peruán 11 67 Zdeněk Matysík Lenka Horáková DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna 9m 16.00sR 1998 Peruán 10 67 Zdeněk Matysík Lenka Horáková DC Zámrsk - MUDr. Bruna 10m 10.01s 1997 Vronsky 9 67 Josef Váňa sr. Josef Váňa sr. Viktor Komárek 10m 33.30s 1996 Cipísek 8 64.5 Vladislav Snitkovskij Josef Váňa sr. Stáj Luka 9m 35.10sR 1995 It's a Snip 10 67 Charlie Mann Charlie Mann The Icy Fire Partnership 10m 03.43s 1994 Erudit 8 65.5 Vladislav Snitkovskij František Holčák Pěník Vlachovice 10m 06.07s 1993 Rigoletto 9 70.5 Libor Štencl František Holčák Valstav-Paschal 10m 29.0s 1992 Quirinus 10 70.5 Jaroslav Brečka Pavel Kalaš Pôdohospodárske družstvo Senica 10m 09.1s 1991 Železník 13 70.5 Josef Váňa sr. Čestmír Olehla Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora 10m 01.0s 1990 Libentína 7 70.5 Karel Zajko František Holčák ŠPP Motěšice 9m 49.4sR 1989 Železník 11 70.5 Josef Váňa sr. Čestmír Olehla Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora 10m 16.3s 1988 Železník 10 70.5 Josef Váňa sr. Čestmír Olehla Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora 10m 59.8s 1987 Železník 9 70.5 Josef Váňa sr. Čestmír Olehla Státní statek Bruntál - Světlá Hora 9m 56.13sR 1986 Valencio 9 Karel Zajko František Holčák JZD Velké Karlovice 10m 39.4s 1985 Festival 11 Petr Vozáb Václav Čermák PP Kladruby 10m 36.4s 1984 Erot 9 N. Chludějev G. Chajanin Hřebčín Voschod 10m 48.9s 1983 Sagar 8 Pavel Liebich Václav Čermák PP Kladruby 10m 28.0s 1982 Sagar 7 Pavel Liebich Václav Čermák PP Kladruby 10m 12.04s 1981 Sagar 6 Pavel Liebich Václav Čermák PP Kladruby 12m 46.37s 1980 Simon 9 Vlastimil Knápek Květoslav Mocek JZD Pokrok Otice 11m 47.53s 1979 Legenda 6 Jiří Chaloupka Jiří Chaloupka JZD Družba Čebín 11m 07.10s 1978 Lancaster 6 Jiří Kasal Harry Petrlík sr. PP Šamorín 11m 30.60s 1977 Václav 9 Václav Chaloupka Václav Chaloupka Státní statek Židlochovice 12m 15.20s 1976 Limit 8 František Zobal František Janík PP Albertovec 10m 59.40s 1975 Mor 11 Karel Benš František Janík PP Albertovec 11m 01.70s 1974 Mor 10 Karel Benš František Janík PP Albertovec 10m 42.70s 1973 Stephen's Society 7 Christopher Collins Arthur Stephenson Christopher Collins 10m 04.90sR 1972 Korok 13 Václav Chaloupka Václav Chaloupka Státní statek Židlochovice 10m 55.20s 1971 Korok 12 Václav Chaloupka Václav Chaloupka Státní statek Židlochovice 11m 02.80s 1970 Vezna II 6 Nedělko G. Milev Petko Vladimirov DZS Štefan Karadža 11m 41.20s 1969 Korok 10 Václav Chaloupka Václav Chaloupka Státní statek Židlochovice 11m 01.20s 1968 cancelled 1967 Dresděn 8 A.N. Sokolov JO Avangard Lvov 11m 34.70s 1966 Nestor 7 Tibor Kňazík Tibor Kňazík ŠPU Prešov 12m 22.60s 1965 Mocná 7 František Vítek Stanislav Bárta Státní statek Benešov 10m 39.60s 1964 Priboj 7 Valentin Z. Gorelkin Ivan Avdějev DSO Urožaj 11m 33.60s 1963 Koran 12 František Vítek Václav Čechura SPÚ Tlumačov 10m 47.20s 1962 Gaboj 6 Rostislav P. Makarov Ivan Avdějev DSO Urožaj 10m 05.10sR 1961 Grifel 8 Ivan L. Avdějev Ivan Avdějev Hřebčín č. 158 10m 21.30sR 1960 Grifel 7 Ivan L. Avdějev Ivan Avdějev Hřebčín č. 158 12m 32.00s 1959 Epigraf 10 Vladimir P. Prachov Valerian Kujbyšev CKSK MO 12m 05.20s 1958 Epigraf 9 Vladimir P. Prachov Valerian Kujbyšev CKSK MO 13m 11.00s 1957 Epigraf 8 Vladimir N. Fedin Valerian Kujbyšev CKSK MO 11m 27.90s 1956 Letec 11 Josef Vavroušek Josef Dobeš Státní statek Xaverov 13m 14.80s 1955 Furioso XIV 7 Josef Čajda Emil Šulgan ŠŽ Topoľčianky 11m 32.10s 1954 Unkas 14 Ludvík Raimond Jiskra Moravský Beroun 13m 08.00s 1953 Junák 10 Ferdinand Palyza Ferdinand Palyza DSO Slavoj Opava 11m 13.50s 1952 Vítěz 13 Miloš Svoboda Družstvo Kalich 11m 25.30s 1951 Salvátor 10 Vladimír Hejmovský (Vladimír Alexandrovič Gejmovskij) Vladimír Hejmovský (Vladimír Alexandrovič Gejmovskij) Sokol KP Opava 10m 58.00s 1950 n/d Var 11 Josef Jungmann Sokol Borek 11m 17.20s 1949 Učeň 11 Oldřich Dostál VSJ Pardubice 10m 55.30s