Survival of the fittest

It's endured communism, war and Brigitte Bardot but, Dominic O'Reilly asks, has the Velka Pardubicka become too tough for horses?

Having outlasted two empires and survived two world wars, the world's toughest horse race is suddenly facing a new challenge to its future. Entries for today's Velka Pardubicka, run at Pardubice - an hour's drive from Prague - are half the usual 30 with just one foreign runner, Scotland's Celtic Giant, trained by Ken Lungo, compared to the customary half dozen.

The return of the Czech Olympic team has further overshadowed the build-up to the 110th running of the event which takes in 31 fences stretching over a convoluted course of 6.8km.

It is a far cry from two years ago when the field was packed and Sean Connery entered a horse ridden by Richard Dunwoody, the most successful jockey in National Hunt history. There have been problems before, including a succession of protests by animal rights protesters led by Brigitte Bardot, but they were unable to reduce the field to this year's level.

It was the stringent qualifying standards that were to blame. A horse has to be at least seven years old and finish one of four races at Pardubice during the season or complete a steeplechase elsewhere of not less than 4.8km.

With many horses having died over the years, such a tough entry programme is entirely justified but it has taken its toll on the field. Five foreign horses were originally entered, but one French entrant died and the other failed to qualify.

The two other English horses probably would have made it but the petrol crisis meant they could not get to their qualifying races.

It is the lowest turnout of foreign horses since the Velvet Revolution of 1989 which swept the communist regime out of power and opened up the race. The problem for the British horses is that their National Hunt season runs from October to May but the Czechs do it the other way round. There is no way the Czechs can change because their racecourses are under snow during the winter.

British trainers have also complained that the route is too twisting. Any jockey taking part must be experienced and have a good sense of direction because of the way the course loops back and forth around trees and fences.

Even the best fall foul of the course and one year no less a rider than Dunwoody missed a turn and had to pull up. The simple response to the complaints is that it is all part of the charm of the event.

The Velka Pardubicka or Grand Pardubice Steeplechase came about at the end of the nineteenth century through the European aristocracy's passion for hunting in the area. A prince and a duke dreamed up the idea of a race for non-Czech horses and it soon became an integral part of the European racing calendar.

During the interwar years some Czech horses began to take part but, after the communists came to power in 1948, only horses from the eastern bloc could participate. Even then it carried great prestige and Russian jockeys were promised a flat in Moscow if they managed to complete the course.

Such a reward brought many volunteers whose courage greatly outstripped their ability and they would tie the reins around their wrists to ensure that they got round.

IN the 11 years since the communists were thrown out, the race has become a multi-national event with horses from Britain, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy taking part and jockeys seeing it as one of the greatest challenges of their sport.

Dunwoody, twice winner of the Aintree Grand National, is said to have called it the most terrifying thing he has ever done and there are plenty of others who would share this view.

The Velka Pardubicka is unique because it takes place on a variety of surfaces including ploughed fields, turf and a road. Since virtually every running of the race takes place in driving rain and a bitter wind, the spongy surface drains the strength from the horses.

It means that for much of the race the horses are barely cantering and it is not the pace of the steeds but their courage and stamina that matters.

And the fences are no less demanding. Forget Becher's Brook or The Chair, the Taxis Ditch is regarded as the toughest obstacle in the world, a 1.4-metre hedge followed by a wide ditch a metre deep that has brought about the end of many horses.

One year Brigitte Bardot chained herself to it in protest only for a Czech jockey to shrug and say, "so we jump over her", demonstrating the ability to improvise needed by any who wish to take part.

In an era when sporting danger is being artificially created and packaged as a marketing opportunity here is one event where the risks are all too real and riders take part to test themselves to the limit.

The atmosphere is more Cheltenham than Ascot, one of cheerful camaraderie as the racegoers keep out the cold with thick sausages and cups of hot rum, knowing that a love of racing rather than posing has brought them there.

It is one of European sport's great institutions and racing fans will be reassured to hear that Dostihovy Spolek, the race organisers, are taking steps to overcome the problems the event is facing.