Mariydi wins the President of the Republic's Prize

In spite of the dull, grey November afternoon, the penultimate afternoon of the Czech horse racing season at Prague Velka Chuchle on November 1st was a major occasion. A good crowd turned out and saw a fine afternoon of racing.

The main event was the President of the Republic's Prize (National Listed, 3200 metres, 400 000 crowns), and the President of the Republic, Vaclav Klaus, was there in person to present the magnificent cup, manufactured by Rueckl, to the winning owner, Dr Jiri Charvat. Irish-bred Mariydi, by Kalanisi, trained by Tomas Satra and ridden by Vaclav Janacek, which had won the Pardubice St Leger in great style three weeks earlier, won fairly comfortably from Oligarch and Savignon.

The other major races were also won by the favourites, American-bred Skarabeus in the Category I race for 2-y-os, and Charccari in the Category I hurdles race.

Champion jockey Vaclav Janacek rode two more winners, and has now ridden 79 winners this season - the previous record was just 48!!

The final meeting of the Czech horseracing season will be at Prague Velka Chuchle on Sunday, November 8th, first race at 12 midday. There is plenty of shelter at the course for all racegoers to celebrate the end of a season in which, it seems, the sport has survived the economic downturn rather well.