On a miserable wet day there was for a change some incident before the Taxis. The blinkered LAHIRE dug his toes in and refused to start, LILAC unseated at the second and MALACHIT took a heavy fall at the small water. It was Vaclav Chaloupka, sporting headgear that looked more at home on a speedway circuit who led the way towards the Taxis. LANCASTER this year was trying to keep out of trouble and positioned himself in the middle of the field with clear daylight either side of him. There was the usual predictable carnage at the Taxis with nine fallers but once again there was no serious injury. Several horses were quickly on their feet but they were not quick enough for the sprightly jockeys this year and six were remounted. LANCASTER once again found himself in front from MONZA, VAT and CONTINENTAL who were all prominent. There were no more fallers until the "snake ditch" where VAT came down and suddenly the race appeared to be between LANCASTER and a newcomer SIMON who looked a very quirky individual sporting his spectacular red and white spotted blinkers. MONZA sudddenly dropped back on the approach to the Big Water where there was more trouble but for some reason the Czech TV cameras decided to concentrate on the two leaders and all the incident behind was ignored. For the rest of the race only SIMON and LANCASTER were shown on camera as they raced alone in splendid isolation with LIMIT a very distant third. LANCASTERs challenge folded after Havels jump and SIMON went on to record a very easy victory. Quite how the TV audience reacted to the coverage of the latter stages of the race is not recorded.

VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KC (1st 110,000kc, 2nd 51,000kc, 3rd 33,000kc, 4th 15,000kc, 5th 11,000kc) 21 runners (29 entries)

1st SIMON - V.Knapek 9, 66

2nd LANCASTER - J.Kasal 8, 70.5

3rd LIMIT - Frantisek Zobal 12, 70.5

4th CONTINENTAL - J.Safar 12, 70.5

5th NOMER - N.Milev 6, 70.5 (fell 4th remounted fell 27th remounted)

6th VAT - S.Beranek 8, 70.5 (fell 17th remounted unseated rider remounted)

7th LIPIZZA - Jiri Hurt 9, 70.5 (fell 4th remounted)

8th DON II - Mr R.Bambuch 10, 70.5

9th MONZA - Vaclav Chaloupka 8, 70.5 (refused 9th continued fell 18th remounted fell 27th remounted)

Also Ran : ODA - J.Brecka 9 (fell 4th remounted fell 18th remounted - disqualified for finishing outside allotted time), FLORET - P.Baracek 12 (fell 18th), LAMPAS - V.Vinklarek 7 (fell 4th remounted fell 18th), VERNE - J.Zlatnik 7 (fell 4th remounted fell 7th), ENARA - A.Vogel 6 (fell 4th remounted pulled up 7th), ARTEMIS - V.Pekny (unseated rider 5th), TICIAN - J.Chaloupka 6 (unseated rider 4th), LIMINA - J.Puspoky 6 (fell 4th), RASID - Mr J.Kapusnak 8 (fell 4th), MALACHIT - J.Palicka 8 (fell 3rd), LILAC - F.Grassl 6 (unseated rider 2nd), LAHIRE - P.Liebich 6 (refused to race)

Trainer : Kvetoslav Mocek. Time : 11 minutes 47.53 seconds. Distances : distance-distance-18-distance-3/4-distance

A massive field of twenty five went to post this year (one less than the record set in 1967). SAGAR was once again a hot favourite and once more the Soviets had come out in force to try and stop him. Youngsters VEK and NABOR were their main challengers both making their Velka debut whilst DIAF who had had such a hard race the year before returned. Veterans CONTINENTAL and FLORET now both fourteen years old were back for one final try. But these were babies compared to one entrant who did raise some eyebrows. FLANG, so unlucky in 1975 was making an incredbile seventh appearance in the race at the venerable age of sixteen some five years after he had chased Vaclav home in 1977. The Brits were also making a welcome return having been away since 1977. Their entry was PAHANG ridden by an enthusiastic (and rather portly) amateur called Saunders. The larger than normal field did cause starter Jiri Sindlar some problems but after one false start the field were dispatched at their usual breakneck pace. DIAFSs race had ended before the field had reached the Taxis but his compatriot ALGIR flew the ditch in the lead where there were the usual high amount of falls (including LAMPAS for the third year running) although thankfully most of the horses and riders were quickly on their feet and a larger number than normal were remounted. Whilst the Taxis had thankfully spared the horses there was tragedy at the Irish Bank where PAHANG and Saunders perhaps not used to such an obstacle tried to jump the fence and, clipping the top of the bank the horse came down clearly injured. The Soviets as usual were ensuring a fast pace with VEK, NABOR and ALGIR disputing the lead. VEK led at the "In and Out" but took the fence far to fast running out carrying others with him. ALGIR then took over until he slipped up on the flat on the turn approaching Poplars rails. Then it was NABORs turn, clearing the Snake Ditch in style followed by VEK and SAGAR who was as usual running his patient race. By the second "In and Out" the race was between these three although the Soviets still had a twenty length advantage as they entered the final phase of the race. VEK, perhaps showing signs of tiredness was untidy over the Big English Ditch and NABOR made the final Soviet bid for glory after the third last hurdle. It was clear however that SAGAR was toying with the Soviets who once again had gone too fast too early and were simply unable to last home. Sweeping past NABOR after the second last hurdle Liebich pushed SAGAR to his second victory which is genuinely considerd to be the finest moment of his great career.

VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KR (1st 110,000kr, 2nd 51,000kr, 3rd 33,000kr, 4th 15,000kr, 5th 11,000kr) 22 runners (41 entries)

1st SAGAR - Pavel Liebich 7, 70.5

2nd VEK - N.Chludejev 6, 69 (ran out 9th continued)

3rd NABOR - Ch Kasajev 7, 66

4th ODA - Mr Jaroslav Brecka 11, 71

5th JAMAHA - Jaromir Stohanzl 6, 70.5

6th FLORET - Mr P.Baracek 14, 67.5

Also ran : GUSYRA - Libor Stencl 7 (fell 4th remounted fell 6th remounted fell 17th remounted pulled up 25th), FLANG - M.Zajicek 16 (fell 17th remounted fell 18th remounted refused 20th continued pulled up 25th), MONZA - P.Hytych 10 (ran out 9th continued fell 19th), ALGIR - M.Tokov 7 (slipped up bend after 13th remounted fell 18th), POLLY EXPRES - Josef Bartos 6 (fell 18th), KLOTILD - Karel Vit 7 (unseated rider 17th), BOMBAY - J.Zajicek 11 (fell 4th remounted pulled up 14th), LAMPAS - Vladimir Vinklarek 9 (fell 4th remounted refused 10A continued fell 12th), CONTINENTAL - Jan Havlicek 14 (unseated rider 10A), AMBROZIJA - Petr Vozab 7 (fell 4th remounted fell 7th remounted pulled up 10th), MANGALIA - P.Valkony 7 (pulled up 8th), VEMJAN - J.Hala 9 (fell 4th remounted pulled up 9th), SZEPITO - A.Vogel 6 (fell 4th remounted fell 7th), PAHANG - Mr George Saunders 10 (fell 5th), AGABA - N.Sevcenko 7 (fell 4th), VERNE - J.Zlatnik 9 (fell 4th), CAHUNA - J.Blabolil 6 (fell 4th), DIAF - I.Verovkin 10 (pulled up 3rd), HANACKA - J.Kasal 7 (fell 2nd).

Non Runners : Batu, Chan, Limit, Nemtudom.

Trainer : Vaclav Cermak. Distances : 18-6-distance-8-16. Time : 10 mins 12.4 secs. Time : 10 mins 12.4 secs

Eighteen horses sought to try and lower SAGARs colours. Of the Soviets only ALGIR returned yet there were high hopes for a newcomer, EROT who was one of a smaller than usual three strong Soviet contingent. Mr Saunders clearly not put off by the tragic events the year before was back with another horse, FRENCH POP and two other English amateurs a Mr Goring and Mr Roberts were inspired to take up the challenge aboard BEGINAGIN and WELLS FARGO respectively. WELLS FARGO was one of the first away and disputed the lead at the Taxis with JAWAN. For a fourth striaght year LAMPAS and Vladimir Vinklarek were amongst the fallers and for a fourth straight year he was one of those remounted although they were only to get as far as the sixth fence this year. Whilst the Taxis has posed WELLS FARGO no problems he had been reluctant to get over the Irish Bank yet despite this he held a clear lead at the "In and Out" but he refused at both parts of the obstacle and although he was eventually coaxed over his chance was lost. BEGINAGIN was running well but as was becoming a regular event a Soviet horse was in front. EROT was clear of JAWAN, BEGINAGIN and POLLY EXPRES with SAGAR in mid-division. Despite his clear lead EROT seemed to be ridden with slightly more restraint than the Soviets of previous years. EROT remained in front with a larger than normal number behind him albeit many (including brave FLANG at seventeen) were furlongs behind ! Approaching the twenty third fence EROT was still clear of JAWAN. For the first time in his magnificent Velka career SAGAR was appearing to be struggling in third place and Liebich was seen to give SAGAR a couple of "reminders". Approaching the final three hurdles EROT still led but once again the burden of making most of the running was beginning to tell yet it was JAWAN who looked the most likely of the pursuars to prevail as SAGAR was still some way behind the leading pair. Inevitably EROT folded and JAWAN took the lead. SAGAR made his customary late challenge at the second last and whilst JAWAN stayed with him as they entered the home straight for a third year runing SAGAR was able to sweep past his opponent with contemptuous ease. This year Liebich allowed his emotions to show and he raised his arm in triumph acknowledging the stunning feat of probably the greatest ever Czech horse to grace the Pardubice turf. JAWAN in his first Velka was a gallant second whilst EROT who had perfomed with more restraint and dignity than some of his compatriots finished a distance behind in third place. SAGAR was still only eight years old. Who was to say he would not win another three or even more Velkas ?

VELKA PARDUBICKA STEEPLECHASE 220,000KR (1st 110,000kr, 2nd 51,000kr, 3rd 33,000kr, 4th 15,000kr, 5th 11,000kr) 19 runners (42 entries)

1st SAGAR - Pavel Liebich 8, 70.5

2nd JAWAN - Jaromir Stohanzl 10, 70.5

3rd EROT - N.Chludejev 9, 70.5

4th POLLY EXPRES - Josef Bartos 7, 70.5

5th MADIA - Karel Kuchovsky 12, 70.5

6th DUKAT - Mr J.Skopek 6, 70.5 (fell 17th remounted)

7th FESTIVAL - Petr Vozab 9, 69 (fell 4th remounted fell 6th remounted refused 10A continued)

8th BEGINAGIN - Mr George Goring 12, 66

9th WELLS FARGO - Mr Michael Roberts 11, 70.5 (refused 5th continued refused 9th continued refused 10A continued)

10th ALGIR - M.Tokov 8, 71 (fell 4th remounted refused 10A continued fell 27th remounted)

Also Ran : KLOTILD - J.Puspoky 8 (pulled up 30th), FLANG - P.Kantek 17 (fell 6th remounted fell 17th remounted pulled up 20th), AZAT - Vaclav Chaloupka 11 (fell 17th), LINGUA - M.Kantek 8 (fell 4th remounted refused 17th), BORG - M.Vlcek 6 (fell 4th remounted refused 16th), VEMJAN - J.Hala 10 (fell 4th remounted pulled up 10th), FRENCH POP - Mr George Saunders 9 (refused 6th continued & fell at same fence), LAMPAS - Vladimir Vinklarek 10 (fell 4th remounted fell 6th), KAPELLAN - Ch Kasajev 6 (pulled up 4th).

Non Runners : Geraklion, Hubac, Lysander, Durman

Trainer : Vaclav Cermak. Distances : 20-distance-20-distance-distance. Time : 10 mins 28 secs.