PROSTO ZE STAJNI
SERIES AND
RANKINGS
AT THE SŁUŻEWIEC
RACECOURSE AUTHOR: MATEUSZ BŁASZCZAK PHOTOS: SŁUŻEWIEC RACECOURSE
The 2021 season at Służewiec and Partynice Racecourses is fast approaching. Similarly to the previous years, the riders, trainers and owners will compete against each other as the competition of mounts is under way. In recent years the rider and trainer rankings each had their leaders. Whilst Adam Wyrzyk has dominated the ranking for trainers since 2014, Szczepan Mazur has been in the lead of riders for several years. Last year they resumed their cooperation and it looks like they have a good chance to keep the streak going in the upcoming season. In the other ranking for owners, Polska AKF was the undisputed winner, winning over PLN 600,000. The Arabian horses running in these colors have not only dominated at Służewiec for several years, but they have also been successful abroad. It is worth noting that it was only the third year for the holder of the second place in the ranking, Sławomir Pegza (less than PLN 500,000 worth of winnings). Watching the competition between the owners in the coming season will certainly be very interesting.
84
NR1/2021
The apprentice ranking, under the patronage of the Polish Racing Club, is already part of the racing tradition in Poland. Every season races for trainees and older students are an opportunity to gather experience for the young and talented trainees of horse racing. As history shows, thanks to the opportunity to show their skills, many of them are given a chance by trainers and owners at later time. The careers of Konrad Mazur and Sanzhar Abaev are the best examples, who finished as the first and second best young riders in 2018 respectively, only to compete for the podium in the general standings two years later, in the 2020 season. The last season belonged to Oliwia Szarłat, who emphasized that “dreams don’t come true - dreams come true with hard work” while receiving the award. It is no secret that it is more difficult for women to break through to the riding elite. It takes much more hard work for women to compete on the race track. The Women Power Series, a series of races held over various distances, both on thoroughbreds and on follies inaugurated last year, aims at emphasizing this determination and appreciating the daily efforts of lady riders. Obviously, the horses are ridden only by women. Last season the participants all stressed the importance of such a competition for them. In the end Daria Pantchev proved victorious, having secured her success in the last race after a fierce battle. Both series will certainly add variety to this year’s competition and provide additional excitement not only for the spectators, but also for the competitors. An important change in the calendar of young riders ranking will be a single ranking for the competition on all tracks and as many as 16 races. As in the case of the Women Power Series, the upcoming season will also see the second edition of the Wathba Stallions Cup, held as part of the HH Sheik Man-
