Pardubice Racecourse

Intro

Horse racing is a noble sport with quite a lengthy history, dating back to medieval England. Despite the fact that people nowadays are predominantly focused on other forms of entertainment, including online casinos, the popularity of this activity is not fading.

As a matter of fact, the most hardcore fans are ready to travel wherever it takes just to experience the thrill of premium quality horse racing. One such destination that certainly deserves to be listed among “must-visit” places is Pardubice Racecourse.

Located in the Czech Republic, in Pardubice, the capital city of Pardubice Region that lies on the Elbe River, this racecourse was established in 1856. Over the decades and years, it has undergone multiple changes, so the present-day look dates back to the post-WWII period.

One of the most recent, and undoubtedly the most notable modifications took place in 1998, when the final phase of the race was altered to accommodate the new grandstand. In addition to this, certain obstacles were changed as well, resulting in increased safety levels, but affecting the difficulty of the race itself.

Looking back at history, it was Pardubice Parforsní Szávetky we should thank for the birth of Velká Pardubická. Although 1856 is considered the official year when this renowned racecourse came into being, the first horse racing meeting was held 14 years earlier, in 1842.

An important thing potential visitors need to be aware of is that this property doesn’t have any accommodation units. The same goes for restaurants, but the good thing is that Pardubice itself offers an abundance of excellent options.

Gaming

Those among you looking for action-packed horse races will surely be thrilled with this place, as Pardubice is a city well-known for sports events. One of the most widely known events that takes place every year on the second Sunday in October is Velká Pardubická steeplechase in horse racing.

Also known as Grand Pardubice Steeplechase, this race has been held since 1874. The length of the steeplechase is 6.9 km. On average, 9–10 minutes should be enough to finish the course; but the record set by Ribelino in 2015 proved that it can be completed even faster, in 8:56.01.

There’s a total of 31 obstacles, set as follows: Hedge, Hedge with a ditch, Small water jump, Taxis ditch, Irish bank, Popkovic ditch, French jump, Small gardens (8 and 9), English jump, Extended taxis ditch, Hedge with a ditch, Hedge (12 and 13), Polper’s Jump, Drop Bank, Stone Wall, Water Trough, Large Moat, Mini Taxis drop, Small gardens (20 and 21), Open Brook, Steeplechase obstacle, “At the hanger hedge” Hedge, Big English jump, American post and rails, Havel’s Jump, and Steeplechase obstacle (28, 29 and 30).

One of the most complicated obstacles to overcome is Taxis ditch, consisting of a deep ditch with a high hedge (the length, depth, and height have been changed a couple of times so far). This very obstacle cannot be used for training, only for the Velká Pardubická (a single jump). A fact that proves that this is the most challenging spot is that so far 28 horses have died at Taxis ditch.

Aside from the Velká Pardubická steeplechase, there are a couple of smaller races, memorials and events, such as:

• Labe Prize- also known as the Little “Great Pardubice”, this one’s held since 1964, it is aimed at horses that have not yet dared to enter or failed to meet the qualification for Velká Pardubická, or for five-year-olds who cannot yet compete at Great Pardubice
• Vltava Prize- running regularly since 1928
• Memorial of Captain Rudolf Popler- established in 1925
• Award of the Czech Steeplechase Association- running since 1965
• Silver Trophy
• Crystal Cup
• Three-year-old gold buckle
• Lata Brandis Award
• The Jan Kašpar Award
• Defunct horse racing - The Volga Prize

If you are a horse racing aficionado, you’ll surely be interested in getting to know some curiosities. To start with, Železník was the most successful horse ever, winning the race four times (from 1987 to 1989 and in 1991). Making the 1991 race particularly interesting is the fact that the horse fell in the Polper’s Jump, but the jockey managed to remount, leading them to the fourth victory.

Crowned with eight victories, Josef Váňa Sr. is the most successful jockey, whereas the first and the only lady rider to tame the “Devil’s Race” was Lata Brandisova with her mare Norma.

Up to 2023, races were cancelled due to weather conditions (1876 frost and 1908 snow), whereas the 1909 race was declared void as none of the three participating horses won the race. From 1914-1919 and again from 1938-1945, races weren’t held due to WW1 and WW2 respectively.

Being an establishment dedicated to horse racing only, Pardubice Racecourse doesn’t feature any casino games. If you belong to fans of slot games, or you want to test your Blackjack and Roulette skills, you’ll have to look for those elsewhere.

Hotel Accommodations

Even though the racecourse doesn’t have an accommodation unit, finding a suitable one won’t cause you trouble. Pardubice has multiple hotels, suitable for all types of budgets and preferences, so check the availability if you’re interested in staying here during the race. Some of the suggestions include Hotel Zlatá Štika, Hotel Euro, Hotel Atrium, Hotel U Zlateho Andela, Hotel Kristl, etc.

Dining

As there’s no restaurant at Pardubice Racecourse, guests visiting the races will have to look for nearby restaurants to dine. Czech cuisine is extremely diversified, sharing similarities with a couple of international cuisines such as those of Germany, France, Austria, and Hungary, so prepare to taste all kinds of mouth-watering delicacies.

According to the world's largest travel guidance platform, the best restaurants in Pardubice include Restaurant U Paluku, Hacianda Ranchero-Restaurace A Penzion, Potrefená Husa, Cinska Restaurace U Bileho Konicka, and La Cabana. Keep in mind that new restaurants open their doors all the time, and some may close or rebrand, so the list we gave you is susceptible to changes.

Entertainment/Nightlife/Attractions

When it comes to entertainment options, everything that’s available on the premises is more or less horse-racing related.

To start with, they offer a tour of the race track with a professional historical interpretation, giving guests a chance to get to know this place’s rich history. This tour also includes stops at the most famous obstacles. Worth adding is that tours are held only on weekdays for groups of 10 or more.

For company events, family celebrations, or friends' gatherings, Pardubice Racecourse offers a lodge rental option. All the lodges have attractive views combined with comfortable seats, for maximum enjoyment. The capacity ranges from 25 to 300 people.

In addition to this, the Racecourse can be rented for a variety of events such as concerts, festivals, sports events, team building events, corporate events, training, and so on. Mobile fencing, party tents, large parking areas, indoor and outdoor spaces of various sizes for versatile uses, and much more come along when renting for some of the abovementioned purposes.

An interesting thing to mention is that when no events are taking place on the premises, Pardubice Racecourse allows the training of horses in line with the established rules. For those who fail to abide by them, financial sanctions are imposed.

If interested in something else, you’d have to look for options outside the Racecourse. Pardubice has quite a solid number of bars and nightclubs, so there’s no doubt that you will easily find something interesting for yourself.

As we mentioned in the intro, Pardubice itself is a city well-known for sports events. Aside from the renowned Racecourse, the city hosts the Golden Helmet of Pardubice in motorcycle racing and the Czech Open international chess and games festival.

In case sightseeing is your cup of tea, you won’t be disappointed, as Pardubice has a lot to offer in that field. One of the must-visit landmarks is The Old Tow, filled with breathtaking houses, some of which date back to the medieval period.

Then, there’s Pardubice Castle which dates back to the end of the 13th century, but it was rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries. Another must-visit point is the Green Gate, a Renaissance-style gate behind which a high lookout tower is located.

Pernstejn Square (Pernstynske Square) is surrounded by houses that have terracotta-framed windows. Let’s not forget to mention the hidden square, located near the main one, as a perfect place to catch a glimpse of the past.

Reward Deals

As this is not a traditional casino, the rewards program it contains is nothing like the schemes in typical casinos where points are collected to level up status and unlock exclusive bonuses and similar perks.

Being an important part of Pardubice Racecourse and Racing Association, the Racing Club has been running since 1994. Allowing members to build prestige and exclusivity over the years, the club is situated on the first floor of the grandstand D.

The possibility of betting directly on the premises of the Racing Club, a bar with a solid selection of drinks and catering services are just some of the perks that come along with the club membership. To join, one must be recommended by two existing members. There are three types of membership- Full, Half, or Maintenance fee.