Why the Great Pardubice Steeplechase is one of Czechia's most enduring events

This afternoon, the 135th running of the Great Pardubice Steeplechase (Velká pardubická), one of continental Europe’s oldest and toughest races, takes place in Prague. More than a race, it is a national spectacle, a test of courage, endurance, and skill, and a living symbol of Czech sporting heritage that has endured for over 150 years.

Held every October since 1874, with wartime exceptions, the race challenges both horse and rider across a 6,900-meter course with 31 obstacles, including the notorious Taxis Ditch, and serves as a cultural ritual that connects generations of Czechs. Its fame rivals Britain’s Grand National, blending athletic drama with controversy and tradition.

The Great Pardubice Steeplechase predates organized Czech football and hockey, making it the country’s longest-running sporting event. Its longevity, steeped in history, gives it symbolic weight: the race is both a community celebration and a showcase of national perseverance.

The race originated from noble hunting traditions in the 19th century, when horsemen in Pardubice would follow par force hunts across challenging terrain, jumping fences, ditches, and other natural obstacles.

This lineage shaped the modern course, combining endurance, agility, and courage. Generations of riders have trained specifically to master its unique demands, and the event remains a rite of passage for Czech equestrians.

The Great Pardubice Steeplechase has also produced legends. Josef Váňa, a rider and trainer, holds eight wins in the saddle and nine as a trainer, often aboard the record-setting horse Železník.

In 1927, Countess Lata Brandisová, supported by the Kinský family, became the first woman to compete in the race. Ten years later, in 1937, she became the first woman to win the race, riding the mare Norma. To date, she remains the only woman to win the Great Pardubice Steeplechase.

The course itself is unforgiving. Horses must navigate grass, mud, and sweeping turns, culminating in the Taxis Ditch—a jump historically feared for its height and distance. Though modified over the years for safety, it remains a defining moment: misjudging it can end a race, a career, or worse.

Experts emphasize that every aspect of the track—from water jumps to tight turns—demands precision and endurance, testing stamina, agility, and trust between horse and rider.

Over its long history, the Great Pardubice Steeplechase has witnessed dramatic finishes and near disasters. In 1909, not a single horse completed the course, and in 1920, the only horse to finish was disqualified for exceeding the time limit.

Such episodes underscore how the event is as much a battle against the course itself as against competitors. Modern riders approach the challenge with meticulous preparation: each horse undergoes qualifying races and training tailored to this exact course.

Controversy has followed the Taxis Ditch and the race as a whole. Animal welfare advocates and media have scrutinized the danger it poses, citing fatalities. Organizers and equestrian experts emphasize course modifications and strict qualification rules to ensure that only experienced horses and riders face the steeplechase.

This year, the race features sixteen horses, including three international competitors. Among them, Ireland’s Stumptown, trained by Gavin Cromwell and ridden by Keith Donoghue, represents a key foreign challenge. The defending Czech favorite, Sexy Lord, returns to test both experience and stamina.

The main event starts at 3:30 p.m., following a morning of races and a ceremonial opening that includes Kladruber horse-drawn carriages and the Czech national anthem. Spectators can watch in person or via national broadcasts and online streams, making it accessible beyond Pardubice.

For Czechs, the Great Pardubice Steeplechase is more than athletic competition; it is a cultural touchstone, compressing 150 years of history, risk, and national pride into roughly ten minutes of racing drama.