RE: THE MOST DANGEROUS HORSE RACE ON THE CONTINENT

Racehorse Sacamiro is standing in his stall, his hind legs trembling. “He is getting himself ready and already knows exactly what is coming,” explains Eva Petřiková shortly before a race. Her protégé is a star in the Czech Republic: in 2023 Sacamiro won the legendary Velká pardubická – the country’s most important horse race and a piece of national cultural heritage since 1874.

Every second Sunday in October, the Czech Republic becomes a nation of horse racing. On that day, the country celebrates the Velká pardubická, the most important horse race in the Czech Republic, with a tradition of around 150 years. But the Velká pardubická is also considered one of the most dangerous steeplechases in the world. Over the course of its history, more than 60 horses have suffered fatal injuries or had to be put down – most recently in 2023, the year in which Sacamiro became the Velká pardubická star.

The petite thoroughbred from Czech breeding has now been trained for nine years by Eva Petřiková and her husband Radim. The fact that they are nurturing a great champion in their small riding club was a surprise even to them, as the gelding seemed too small for the big obstacles in Pardubice. But in his very first start in 2022 he finished third, and a year later he was the star.

After more than a year off due to injury, Sacamiro is now set to start in the Velká pardubická once again. Expectations are high. But Sacamiro is now twelve years old – already quite an advanced age in horse racing. In addition, a new competitor from the family stable of Pavel Odložil is making a name for himself: his two‑metre‑tall gelding Cuwall is only eight years old and crossed the finish line ahead of Sacamiro in one of the qualifying races.

The horse owners are doing everything they can to prepare their animals as well as possible for the Velká pardubická. But how do these two things fit together: their love for the horse and their passion for a sport that is full of risks for the animal?