On Saturday, July 15^th, there is a modest race day at Mimoň racecourse (see picture). This rural racecourse about 100 km north of Prague has plenty of charm and atmosphere. The first race is at 1.30 pm. There are 9 races, five on the flat and four over jumps. Five of the races are at Category V – the lowest category.

There is also a meeting at Dresden on Saturday. This an unfortunate clash, since the trainers in and around Mimoň often send their horses to run at this course just over the border from them in Germany.

Sunday, July 16th, is Slovak Derby day at Bratislava. Plenty of Czech-trained horses will run at the meeting, and plenty of our jockeys will be riding. However, we have only two representatives in the Derby: George Boole, which finished 3rd in the Czech Derby, and Aeneas, which finished 6th in that race. George Boole is currently co-favourite for the race on Sunday. Czech Derby winner Joseph is not expected to run again until European Jockeys’ Cup at Prague Velká Chuchle on Saturdaz, Septmber 2nd.

The following weekend we have racing at Most on Friday, July 21^st. This is PMU day, the second of the two PMU meetings this summer. The first race at Most will be at 11.10 am, and there will be seven races on the card. The first five races are for the benefit of people, particularly in France, who roll out of bed on a Friday morning needing to bet on handicap races in the faraway Czech Republic.

On Sunday, July 23^rd, the Czech Oaks will be run at Karlovy Vary. The favourite for the Oaks will be Polyanta, which gave a good German-trained filly, Fashion Queen, a close race in the Czech One Thousand Guineas, and then finished a close 4^th in a competitive race at Maisons Laffitte. This will be a good day’s racing at a good-quality racecourse.