LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, We are very pleased that we can share the next edition of the official Służewiec Racecourse magazine with our readers. We could say that KANAT is celebrating its first birthday. The premiere issue was published last year on the occasion of the Great Warsaw Race. Since then, we have been trying to bring you closer to such events as the Opening of the Season, the Derby Gala and the Arabic Day in subsequent editions. We hope that thanks to reading numerous expert materials, interviews with jockeys, horse owners, trainers and other racing personalities, this world is getting closer and closer to you, and it evokes more and more beautiful, sporting excitement. However, just like the barrier that marks the racetrack, there are two dimensions to our newspaper. One is the focus on sporting rivalry, which distinguishes the Służewiec Racecourse from all other places in the capital. The other one is a unique tradition, culture and fashion. We hope that KANAT will help you find a unique atmosphere of this place, where, among the hats of beautiful ladies, you can observe people who have for years stayed proud of the existence of one of the most beautiful horse racecourses in the world, the Służewiec Racecourse. As part of this issue, we particularly recommend an interview with Andrzej Szydlik, who, after years of working as a race commentator, will see the Great Warsaw Race with the audience at the Służewiec Racecourse. We also recommend interviews with the owners who triumphed in „The Queen of Polish Races”. They tell the stories of their charges and share the emotions experienced by the great winners. Don’t wait any longer! Enjoy the read!
Wydawca: Totalizator Sportowy Sp. z o.o. Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec ul. Puławska 266 02-684 Warszawa Kontakt do redakcji: redakcja@torsluzewiec.pl +48 22 543 95 00
Redaktor naczelny: Jakub Kaczmarek Osoby współpracujące: Mateusz Błaszczak Iwona Chojnowska Magdalena Komarek Krzysztof Romaniuk Annamaria Sobierajska Jan Zabieglik Hanna Zalewska Robert Zieliński
Skład: Stowarzyszenie MIASTOPORT Okładka: zdjęcia z archiwum Tor Wyścigów Konnych Służewiec
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OLGIERD CIEŚLIK President of the Management Board, Totalizator Sportowy
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Like every year, The Great Warsaw Race is the symbol of the upcoming true autumn on the Służewiec Racecourse. For many residents of Warsaw this prestigious race determines their identity, and for Totalizator Sportowy - it’s another reason to be proud that it can organize such a spectacular event. Sports rivalry, the dynamics of the race and above all, the best riders mounting the fastest horses, guarantee great excitement on one of the most beautiful horse racing tracks in Europe. Sport in recent months has been struggling with the difficulties which were caused by the coronavirus. The most important thing however is the fact that we managed to find ourselves in this unprecedented situation and work out solutions which made the start and continuation of the 2020 racing season possible - albeit under new sanitary conditions. Over a hundred years of tradition has been preserved and The Great Warsaw Race will be held for the 75 time on the Służewiec Racecourse, of which Totalizator Sportowy has been a proud patron since 2008. Thanks to our commitment and undertaken investments, racing days are organized on the Racecourse according to the highest world standards, and the audience can follow the struggles of the best horses and riders in comfortable conditions. I hope that from year to year this breathtaking race will attract not only horse sports enthusiasts to Warsaw Hippodrome but also enthusiasts of dynamic and full of excitement sport events. To the fans I wish incredible experiences, and let the best among the riders win!
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BOGDAN PUKOWIEC Member of the Management Board overseeing the Służewiec Racecourse
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, For many years now Totalizator Sportowy has been involved in equestrianism. Since 2008, it has been a proud patron of Służewiec Racecourse. It also undertakes many different various activities for the development of horse sports. I am sure that our support increases the popularity in equestrian disciplines. From May this year we successfully continue the plan of this year’s racing season on the Służewiec Racecourse. Despite the pandemic, we try our hardest to ensure the continuity of the facility, and above all access for all the fans to observe and follow the races. That is why we put a lot of pressure on popularization of the races using online broadcast, thanks to which it’s possible to to watch the most important races using the Służewiec Racecourse website and it’s social media. I would also like to highlight the role of Traf Online platform, which delivers it’s users many activities and excitement related to betting : here we also carry out Internet broadcast and bet on races from foreign racecourses. There are many important horse racing events behind us already. On the Partynice Racecourse, which we also support, we admired the prestigious The Great Wrocław Race and The Great Partynice Stakes of Totalizator Sportowy. In Służewiec, among others, were held Derby Gala and Arabian Horse Day. This year Warsaw Hippodrome became also an arena for the struggles of the best Polish competitors in four equestrian events- during the Warsaw Jumping competition. After The Great Warsaw Race, fans of racing will be able to experience 11 more days full of races. For the racing enthusiasts, it is worth paying attention to the Criterium Stakes races, Sac-à-paper, Efforty, Mokotowska and Porównawcza. According to plan, this season should end on the 22nd of November 2020. This year’s The Great Warsaw Race will be held for the 107th time in history, and for the 75th time on the Służewiec Racecourse. The distance of the race is 2600 m, and horses both from Poland and abroad will compete in it. Participants will receive over 220 000 PLN. Therefore, great sports emotions await us and as always - the unique atmosphere and beautiful nature of Służewiec. I wish all fans of horse racing a real sport experience and the riders - the highest victory.
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TOMASZ CHALIMONIUK President of the Polish Jockey Club
Wielka Warszawska Race - which horse will prove to be the best horse of the 2020 season Although it started with a delay, without an audience, the 2020 season has been very exciting and full of surprising results. A season in which we were the only country in Europe to raise funds and maintain the prize money from 2019. A season in which 24 people passed the exams for future winners of the races. This year there has also been some secondary drama in the races. That is because the winner proved to be a horse that wasn’t what someone had expected, because someone overused the whip or someone else forgot something while weighing. The beauty of horse racing is that everyone has the right to see what they want and judge what they see. As usual, Wrocław delights with its atmosphere and you can see the continuous organizational progress, which is worth emphasizing. Jurek Sawka has created a team of passionate racing enthusiasts and we keep our fingers crossed so that he can make all his plans in the following seasons come true. As usual, Sopot will excite everyone thanks to the sea, the holiday mood of owners, coaches and audiences. I hope that this racecourse will continue to organize races for many years to come, and also that Kaja Koczurowska - Wawrzkiewicz has got that feel for racing, which is something priceless. We also have another body - the National Council for Horse Breeding, which is to work out long-term system changes to support the breeding of all horse breeds, as well as support the development of racing, equestrian sport and all branches of the horse business. Enjoy the read and let the best of the best win the Wielka Warszawska Race.
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The Great Warsaw Race (2,600 m, international cat. A, 3-year-old and older thoroughbreds, prior registration required) The Great Warsaw Race was first held in 1895 and was based on the French Grand Prix de Paris. This historic race saw a victory of the outstanding Aschabad, one of Ruler’s most eminent sons. The race was highly subsidized and considered the most important comparative race of the season. Until 1904 it was held at a distance of about 3,200 m. For political reasons, in the years 1905-1912, 1915-1916 and 1919 there were intervals in the race. In 1913 and 1917 and 1918 (in Odessa) it was held at a distance of 2,667 m. Since 1920 its distance was 2,800 m, and since 1933 - 2,400 m, the same as after World War II in 1946-48. The current distance (2,600 m) has remained unchanged since 1949.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stakes (1,400 m, international cat. A, 2-year-old stallions and mares - thoroughbreds) The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stakes (formerly – Przychówek Stakes) boasts over a hundred years of tradition in the history of Polish horse racing and is the most important race of the season for 2-year-old stallions and mares. It was started in Warsaw in 1894 as Produce, to become known as the Kruszyna Stakes later on. Before World War I it was held at the distance of 1,100 m. In the years 1913-1916 and 1919 the race was not held, and in 1917-18 it took place in Odessa. It was held again in the Mokotów Field in 1920. After World War II the race was held under different names: N. Lanoline (1946), Produce, Przychowek (Produce), Przychowek, Ministry of Agriculture at the distances of 1,200-1,400 m, and finally in 1961 the length of the race was set at 1,400 m. Since 2000 the race has been named the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stakes (Przychowek).
The Moszna Stakes (1,600 m, international cat. A, 3-year-old and older thoroughbreds) Initially (since 1954) the race had a completely different character than today. It was an August handicap race, first for 3 year old and older horses at 2,600 m, and since 1959 it was held a month earlier and was intended only for 3 year olds (mostly at 2,400 m). It featured thoroughbreds from the back of the leading derby yearbook. In 1985 the Moszna Stakes became the most important comparative race (for 3-yearolds and older horses) at a distance of 1,600 m.
Cardea Stakes (1,200 m, cat. B, 2-year-old mare-thoroughbreds) Until 1985 the Cardea Stakes was was held at the distance of 1,400 m, to change into a 1,200 m race the following season. The best time in this race - 1’12.1 - was recorded by Garleon in 2003. The patron of the prize - Cardea was born in 1931 in the Razza del Soldo Stud in Italy. Although the mare had no major racing successes, as a dam she did an excellent job, giving a lot of good offspring, including 5 derby horses: Cedrik, Dagelzja, Dargin, Kliwia and Dancer Life.
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THE PRESENTATION OF HORSE ENROLLED TO
WIELKA WARSZAWSKA STAKES Starting number: 1 Name: Night Thunder, 3 years old, stallion Origin: Nathaniel - Memories of Summer / Rainbow Quest Owner: A. Prytulczyk Trainer: Adam Wyrzyk Jockey: Szczepan Mazur
The stallion boasting strong posture, indicating long-distance abilities, also draws attention to his origin. This is why his good results at the age of two should be considered a positive surprise, although he fell behind the best ones a bit. Adam Wyrzyk had no doubt that long distances would be definitely more favorable for the stallion, that’s why he signed him up for a 2 km distance straight away. He won the races for the Iranda and Iwna Stakes in a good style, this becoming one of the favorites for the Derby. Superbly led by Szczepan Mazur, he won the Blue Ribbon defeating Inter Royal Lady and Timemaster in a fight. After three victories he earned a longer time to rest, pausing until St. Leger. This race did not go well for him, but he had a nice finish and won the second place right after Night Tornado. Despite this quite a considerable defeat, his chances in the Wielka Warszawska Race will be very high, particularly because this race was a priority as regards his preparations after the Derby.
Starting number: 2 Name: Hipop de Loire, 3 years old, stallion Origin: American Post - Louve Rose / Muhtathir Owner: BMS Group S. Pegza Trainer: Adam Wyrzyk Jockey: Sanzhar Abaev By the age of two, he had gathered relatively little experience, with only two starts (the second one a win). This was a great opportunity to quietly introduce him to the season in races of lower groups. After the victories in the third and second group, he faced the leaders in the Iwna Stakes. He took the fourth place under Joanna Wyrzyk. Coach Adam Wyrzyk spoke positively about his chances in the Derby, but unfortunately, it was not the happiest day for the experienced Tomáš Lukášek, who was riding him. Hipop did not start well and being led at the barrier towards the finish line, he got into the other horses and lost his chances. His performance in the Demon Club Stakes was not very successful either; he attacked from behind the stake racing fast at the end. He came third, losing about a length to Petit. In St. Leger his stakes were even higher than Night Tornado’s, but he did not perform sensationally in the last test before the Wielka Warszawska Race, dropping behind three of his peers quite clearly. He does not seem mature enough to play the main role in the most important comparative race of the season.
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Starting number: 3 Name: Plontier, 3 years old, stallion Origin: Planteur - Becbec / Slickly Owner: BMS Group S. Pegza Trainer: Adam Wyrzyk Jockey: Martin Srnec The four-year-old Plontier is having a fantastic season. At the age of three he was a leader for Salasaman several times, but in the autumn it turned out that he has more class than his stablemate. After two easy wins in group races, he did an excellent job in the Wielka Warszawska Race, losing only to Pride of Nelson and Nemezis. He ended the season with a triumph in Korabia Stakes. He started this season by winning two more trophies - the Golejewko and Widzów Stakes. In the race for the President of Totalizator Sportowy Stakes he finished third behind Monpti and Nemezis, which he beat in Widzów. It seemed that the mare, who was getting in a better shape, could not be defeated any longer, but Plontier again proved to be better than her in the competition for the Kozienice Stakes, achieving his first triumph in the top category race. His performance in the prestigious Westminster Freundschaftspreis race was a small disappointment. Timemaster, who had suffered defeat by him in Kozienice, did not give him a chance to finish this time, and he was beaten by an even lower noted Polish Airy Boy. Nevertheless, he must be counted among the main candidates for the game, remembering that he has already proven himself once in the Wielka Warszawska Race.
Starting number: 4 Name: Petit, 3 years old, stallion Origin: Zanzibari - Mimosa / Halling Owner: Borussia Sp. z o.o. Trainer: Krzysztof Ziemiański Jockey: Michal Abík He often competed at the age of two, performing in six races and winning one. After the season, he was moved from Adam Wyrzyk to Krzysztof Ziemiański, who set a secondary training routine for him to prepare him for the Derby. In the competition for the Iranda Stakes he lost only to Night Thunder and then won the Memorial of Jerzy Jednaszewski. He had a pretty good finish in the Derby, finally taking fourth place ahead of Night Tornado. In the second part of the season he won the group-one Demon Club Stakes and won third place in St. Leger, with a small loss to Night Tornado and Night Thunder. He will be a strong candidate to take a lower paid place in the Wielka Warszawska Race, but any surprise on his side is also possible.
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Starting number: 5 Name: Nemezis, 4 years old, mare Origin: Sea the Stars – Rezyana / Redoute’s Choice Owner: AMP Invest Sp. z o.o. Trainer: Andrzej Walicki Jockey: Tomáš Lukášek Nemezis, of great origin, is one of the stars of the Służewiec Racecourse. At the age of two she won in her second race. It was not until the following season that she revealed her talent for racing. After earning two third places in the 1st group races she began a winning streak. She won the following stakes: Solina, Derby, Oaks and Krasne Stud. Hence, she had to be the favorite in the last year’s Wielka Warszawska Race, but a series of difficult races affected her and she was indisputably defeated by her more relaxed peer Pride of Nelson. The 2020 season is not fortunate for her. She came second in the first three races, Widzów, President of Totalizator Sportowy and Kozienice, giving in to Plontier, then Monpti trained in Germany and Plontier again. In the Krasne Stud Stakes, which did not feature so many stars, she easily defeated this year’s Oaks runner-up Mary Elizabeth, demonstrating good form. She seems less tired of the season than a year ago and although she will not be a favorite this time, she will certainly have her followers. The long distance of the Wielka Warszawska Race is to her liking.
Starting number: 6 Name: NAGANO GOLD, 6 years old, stallion Origin: Sixties Icon - Never Enough / Monsun Owner: Syndikat V3J Trainer: Vaclav Luka Jr Jockey: Vincent Cheminaud For a long time there hasn’t been a horse of a class like Nagano Gold in Służewiec. The Britishbred stallion raced in the Czech Republic when he was two and three years old. He won two group races, but came only 14th in the Derby. However, after his outstanding victory in St. Leger in Prague in October (beating the main Derby heroes very easily), a decision was made to test him in the West. In November he won the Prix de Bursard (2,500 m) in Deauville, starting as an outsider. Since then he has been racing in France. At the age of four he won the Listed race in Vichy and came fourth in G2 races twice. In the next season his results were even better - he won in Listed, finished second and third in G2. He participated in the Arc de Triomphe Stakes without success. He seems to be getting stronger with age. This year he did a great job in Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1, 2,400 m), losing only by the neck length to Way to Paris. He also had a surprisingly unsuccessful performance in the highest category race in Cologne (6th), but on September 13th he made an excellent run once again. In the Prix Foy race at Longchamp he finished just behind last year’s English Derby racer Anthony Van Dyck and the classy Stradivarius (3 victories at the Ascot Gold Cup), beating amongst others Way to Paris. He will be very difficult to beat.
Starting number: 7 Name: Delos, 4 years old, stallion Origin: Ecosse - Doyenka / Doyen Owner: Euro-Sport Management W. Engel Trainer: Andrzej Walicki Jockey: Victor Popov He started his career at the age of three. He needed some time to get going he achieved his victories only in the autumn at a distance of 2,200 m. He started the current season in an excellent shape, winning the Opening Handikap and a group 2 race participated in by strong competitors. Afterwards he was registered for the most important race for older horses for the President of Totalizator Sportowy Stakes. His performance was very good against the best, in which he earned the 5th place. However, his performance in the second part of the season is worse. He had an unsuccessful start in the first group race for the Demon Club Stakes and a little better in St. Leger. However, he did not count there, clearly falling behind the four younger rivals. These results are not placing him among the favourites for the Wielka Warszawska Race and instead taking a lower paid place by him will have to be considered a success.
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Starting number: 8 Name: Night Tornado, 3 years old, stallion Origin: Night of Thunder - Tornadea / Sea The Stars Owner: E., J. i M. Traka Trainer: Krzysztof Ziemiański Jockey: Stefano Mura Another remarkable horse in terms of pedigree. This is a type of late maturing horse, but already at the age of two he demonstrated a great talent for racing. In three performances he won twice, winning the Neman Stakes. He did quite decently in the first tests this year, taking paid places at a distance of 1,600 m which is not ideal for him. He performed better in the Iwna Stakes run, taking the second place and being promoted to one of the favorites for the Derby. Coach Ziemiański emphasized that he prefers longer distances. In the Derby Night Tornado was noticeable and took the fifth place, but he was not able to join the game yet. After a few weeks he won the Pink Pearl Stakes race, earning his first victory at the age of three. He joined St. Leger as a dark horse. However, over a long distance he finally showed his talent, which he lacked a bit in the earlier starts, and won the last classic of the season, a well-deserved victory. His winning style looked interesting, which means his chances to score high in the Wielka Warszawska Race are the highest, alongside the Derby competitor.
Starting number: 9 Name: Liaqura, 4 years old, stallion Origin: Le Havre – Striking Creation from Smart Strike Owner: AMP Invest Sp. z o.o. Trainer: Andrzej Walicki Jockey: Konrad Mazur He attracts attention with his excellent origin and amazing posture. He is a beautiful, grown up stallion, which is actually just starting to get better. He did not start at the age of two and in the following season he could not settle his form. He won two races in lower groups. His most important task in the first part of this season was to support Nemezis in the races for the Widzów and the President of Totalizator Sportowy Stakes. He set a fast pace for the mare, but on the straight he fought bravely and was still able to beat some strong rivals. After the summer break he started running for himself and managed to secure easy victories in group runs participated in by strong competitors. Some observers believe that Liaqura is just beginning to show what he can achieve. His chances in the Wielka Warszawska Race will depend on the role he will be assigned. As a leader for Nemezis, he is rather destined to lose, but if he runs for himself, he may turn out to be a dark horse in the race.
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THE GREAT
WARSAW RACE
THE QUEEN
OF POLISH HORSE RACES AUTHOR: Robert Zieliński PHOTOS: : Służewiec Racecourse
The Great Warsaw Race is for Warsaw, Varsovians and all the horse racing community what the Arc de Triomphe Stakes is for Paris and Europe, or even the world, and for the Germans Preis von Europa in Cologne. It is the most iconic of horse races in our country, more important than the Derby. Why is the Great Warsaw Race the biggest, most important, legendary and prestigious? First of all, it is where we can see the best horses of all ages, including many strong rivals from abroad. There is some magic, tradition and unusual drama to the Warsaw Derby because every horse can run in it only once, but it is a race for three year olds only and it reveals the best horse in one age group only. At the Great Warsaw Race we can watch even a few derby riders at a distance of 2,600 meters, the best horses - from three-year-olds to even eight-year-olds, such as San Luis, who came second at the Great Warsaw Race at this age, or German Caitano, who won as an eight-year-old, all at the same time. Why not St. Leger? Because usually not all the best horses are there. Some of the mares run in the Krasne Stakes, some of the stallions that formerly took part in the Korabia Stakes now run in the Westminster Stakes, our stars try their luck on foreign courses and the distance of 2,800 m is also a little too long for some. However, everyone wants to take part in the Great Warsaw Race. That is because it is a race for eternal fame and for the title of the best horse of all age groups, which later on is usually chosen the horse of the year, as was the case with Pride of Nelson last season (although she lost to Nemezis in Derby and Oaks), and goes down in history. It is also the most prestigious because it has the biggest prize pool in the season, bigger than in the Derby. This year it is PLN 220,500 (including 126,000 for the winner), whilst in the Derby it totals PLN 175,000 (100,000 for the rider). In addition, it is the vibe, Warsaw’s atmosphere and folklore, the charm and colors of autumn, and the approaching end of the season, that make the Great Warsaw
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Race unique. It is a day of great excitement, a racing festival, which everyone is waiting for all year long. The lines from Radosław Piwowarski’s series titled Jan Serce, in which a regular visitor to Służewiec, Julian Jabłkowski, played by the unforgettable Wiesław Michnikowski, speaks the frequently-quoted sentence: „For a true Varsovian, there are three most important dates: of wedding, of the Uprising and of the Great Warsaw Race”. You simply have to be at this race, like at the premiere of a famous movie or at the match of Legia in the Champions League. Not attending the Great Warsaw Race is like leaving your mother’s or grandmother’s birthday party. Małgorzata Caprari, an excellent journalist, horse racing expert, a person who introduced me to the fairy-tale world of pedigrees and careers of horses from all over the world (and trained my first horse, Decuria, bought in Krasne Stud), once wrote such a sentence, which perfectly reflects the rank of the Great Warsaw Race: “The Great Warsaw Race is for Warsaw and Varsovians what the Arc de Triomphe Stakes is for Paris and what the Europa Preis Stakes is for Cologne. Prix l’Arc de Triomphe is the most important race of the year in Europe and possibly worldwide. It attracts the best
horses from several continents, recently even the Japanese often try to win the Longchamp. No horse has yet managed to win this race three times. Enable, bred by Saudi Arabian prince Khalid Abdullah, who won ridden by Lanfranco Dettori in 2017 and 2018 and came second behind the German Waldgeist a year ago, has the chance to
However, everyone wants to take part in the Great Warsaw Race. That is because it is a race for eternal fame and for the title of the best horse of all age groups, which later on is usually chosen the horse of the year . achieve it this year (the prize pool was reduced from 5 to 3 million Euros, the Polish Oaks Inter Royal Lady was registered in the first round). There is no one in Poland who has won the Great Warsaw Race three times either. Turysta, Demona, Erotyk, Kliwia and San Luis triumphed twice. The first Sunday of October - that was a characteristic,
symbolic and magical date for decades. Traditionally, that was the day when the Arc de Triomphe Stakes, Preis von Europa and their Polish counterpart, the Great Warsaw Race, were held. This tradition still prevails in Paris. The Germans moved their flagship race in Cologne to September so that it would not interfere with the Arc de Triomphe Stakes, and recently the Great Warsaw Race also took place on the last Sunday of September, this year exceptionally on October 11 due to the coronavirus chaos. All three races are connected by Iwno’s Pawiment, which won the Great Warsaw Race ridden by Andrzej Tylicki in 1978, Preis von Europa two years later, and came ninth in the Arc Stakes. The strength, prestige and legend of the Great Warsaw Race, which overshadows even the Derby, are also reflected in its heroes - first of all, excellent horses (which later were the pillars of Polish breeding), but also famous riders, outstanding trainers and skilled breeders. And the unforgettable performances in which these horses have been performing, are later remembered for decades. Racers often give some dates from their lives saying that it was in 1970, when Driada ridden by Jednaszewski won the Great Warsaw Race, or in 1995, when Wolarz tri-
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umphed with Katarzyna Szymczuk, the only woman in history to have won this race. The Great Warsaw Race is also more important than the Derby from the sporting point of view, because not all great horses are able to make it to the Blue Ribbon race. This is because they mature longer, are not yet in shape in July at the beginning of their career, or have injuries and simply do not take part in the Derby, whilst in the autumn, or at an older age, they are already track champions and prove victorious at the Great Warsaw Race against the derby racers. There have been many cases like this, e.g. Turysta, Dixieland, Dietmar, Kesar, Zagar, Tulip, San Luis, Merlini, Camerun or recently Rain and Sun, who only started her career at the age of three. Turysta was the first of the great legends of the Great Warsaw Race. His career developed like that of an ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan. He came to Poland as a yearling after the war turmoil. At first he was small, unreliable and of unknown origin, he had no documents. He lived in some state farm together with Sygnet. When it turned out that his breeder was the legendary Wizard of Dormello Federico Tesio, his father was the outstanding Italian Cavaliere d’Arpino, and his mother Scuola Bolognese turned out to be the daughter of the famous Blandford, he went for training to Służewiec. He did not make it to the Derby, but managed to win the Great Warsaw Race twice, in 1946 and 47 (in his third attempt he lost to the triple-crowned Ruch and the great Miss Victory) and later became the champion sire. The first mare to win the Great Warsaw Race twice was Mieczyslaw Melnicki’s beloved Demona, chosen as the horse of the 80th anniversary of the Służewiec Racecourse. On the second occasion in 1965, she beat the eminent Epikur from Golejewko Stud, son of... Turysta. Her
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The strength, prestige and legend of the Great Warsaw Race, which overshadows even the Derby, are also reflected in its heroes - first of all, excellent horses (which later were the pillars of Polish breeding), but also famous riders, outstanding trainers and skilled breeders. And the unforgettable performances in which these horses have been performing, are later remembered for decades. achievement was then repeated by Kliwia, bred in Krasne and trained by Andrzej Walicki. Walicki (a record holder 10 triumphs in the Great Warsaw Race) also prepared San Luis for two victories; he came second twice in the Great Warsaw Race. San Luis was the son of Dixieland, boasting a beautiful posture, whose victory in the Great Warsaw Race in 1980 is legendary and was probably the most spectacular one in history. Dixieland won the Great Warsaw Race ridden by Roman Maciejak „zmdom”, i.e. staying in the lead with a great advantage from the start to finish ahead of such celebrities as Kometa, Czubaryk, Dżudo or the Debry hero Sinaja. As far as breeding is concerned, Dixieland gave three derby horses: Bachus, Solozzo and Limak, and his daughter Zagara also won the Great Warsaw Race. This was the position the winners of the Great Warsaw Race had in breeding. Leading from the start to finish, the phenomenal In-
Turysta was the first of the great legends of the Great Warsaw Race. His career developed like that of an ugly duckling turning into a beautiful swan. He came to Poland as a yearling after the war turmoil. At first he was small, unreliable and of unknown origin, he had no documents. He lived in some state farm together with Sygnet
tens won the Great Warsaw Race in 2011, beating Camerun (he won the GWR a year later) by as much as 5 lengths thus setting an unbeatable record of this race - 2 min 40.3 seconds. The GWR 2016 turned out unlucky for Va Bank, previously undefeated throughout twelve races at Służewiec (he won the GWR 2015 at the age of three), who had been successfully raced in the German resort of Baden-Baden a few weeks earlier in the G3 race, where he had defeated the German crack Potemkin (he won the Prix Dollar G2 in Paris and Premio Roma G1 a few weeks later). However, before the Great Warsaw Race he was nervous, the jockey raced too wide after the turn and in his thirteenth race Va Bank suffered a sensational defeat to Caccini. The Great Warsaw Race is also the most important race of the season because it oftentimes features recognized horses trained abroad, which was not the case in the Derby. After the war, American Montauciel, trained in Hungary, was the first such horse. In 1994, ridden by the legendary jockey Paul Kallai, aged 61 at that time, he won against the little and brave Appasionata. He won over 3,000 races in 16 countries and was the champion of the jockeys in Hungary 9 times. Służewiec also saw victories of Vishnu from Germany and Equip Hill from Sweden. Yet the globetrotter Caitano, trained in Germany, who won the GWR in 2002 at the age of 8, was the best of them. He scored 9 victories out of 43 races (including two at G1 and 4 at G2) and won GBP 1.4 million. In Poland, horses of this class would only race in the Great Warsaw Race.
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THE GREAT
WARSAW RACE
A FASHIONABLE
JOURNEY IN TIME AUTHOR: Damosfera PHOTOS: Adobe Stock
„For a true Varsovian, there are three most important dates: of birth, of the Uprising and... of the Great Warsaw Race” - this statement was made by Julian Jabłkowski, wonderfully played by Wiesław Michnikowski in the iconic series of the 1980s, Jan Serce. Many Varsovians still consider this most important autumn race as one of the determinants of the capital’s identity. The Great Warsaw Race is also an excellent opportunity to embark on a fashionable journey in time. This year we are moving to the 1920s. The 1920s was the time when women abandoned corsets for looser dresses and demonstrably cut their hair. The dominant style was flapper girls, the so-called tomboys, liberated women who knew their worth and loved crazy parties. The 1920s was the first step to modernity and a revolution in fashion thanks to the great Coco Chanel, which proved that simplicity is beautiful. Owing to their versatility, clothes of that time are timeless, still present in our styles; for example, a black mini skirt.
What were the trends in the 1920s? ¨¨ A dark skirt with a white blouse, sometimes with a tie tied up manly was a practical outfit. ¨¨ Tunic - jumper: put through the head, loosely tied with a belt, livened up with white cuffs and a collar. ¨¨ Colored scarves - were a very fashionable accessory that added life to simple dresses. Their popularity was influenced by avant-garde directions in art, espe-
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cially abstract painting, as well as oriental inspirations. Long necklaces were an excellent accessory. ¨¨ Loose dresses with shoulder straps as day dress (earlier they were worn as underwear). ¨¨ Hats in the shape of helmets, buckets or pots. A small head with a short haircut required just a small hat, tight on the temples, would no longer be a background for the face, but only for the lips, which would then be the dominant red spot, while the eyes, with their eyelids darkened with black or dark blue, would be hidden in the shadow of the cloche hat worn low on the forehead. A pair of low hanging earrings that vibrated while moving complemented the head look. ¨¨ Picturesque patterns - picturesque patterns appeared on straight cut dresses. For example, black coats were decorated with chain embroidery with chrysanthemum, bird and wave motifs. ¨¨ The sudden unveiling of women’s legs drew their attention to stockings and pantyhose, the sale of which skyrocketed.
¨¨ Tassels and sequins - due to the frenzy of tango and charleston which spread across Europe and thanks to the mentioned tassels and sequins, clothes that demonstrated their full potential in the dance became very popular. ¨¨ Decorated shoes - when the skirts were shortened to the knees, shoes started to play a huge role in the fashion of the 1920s. For this reason, shoe designers, functioning completely independently of ordinary
craftsmen cobblers, came to the fore. They wore red and black silk satin shoes, decorated with beads and buttons. ¨¨ Dresses inspired by tennis fashion - pioneered by the famous player - Susanne Lenglen, who performed in a white knee dress and a hairband. The 1920s was a time of simple cuts, functionality and practical colors: beige, white and gray. The trends to know include the tomboy, bob haircut, short dresses and low-
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ered waist. They were related to the post-war crisis, women saved themselves from ingenuity and alterations: they patched, reworked and joined and fit together. The great tailors tried to resurrect the pre-war fashion, but failed. There was no going back to stiff corsets, instead of them, straight-cut clothes became popular on catwalks.
The designers you should know: Coco Chanel - recognizable items: jersey dresses, twocolor shoes, black mini skirt. She considered functionality to be the main feature of fashion. She rejected superficial decorations and by adapting male fashion patterns, she created comfortable and functional fashion, thus creating a new style of female elegance. Being a working woman herself, she was also the embodiment of tomboy, a new vision of a woman in the post World War I era. She wore the clothes she designed. Jean Lanvin - recognizable items of the company: fine details and bead hems; bright, pure colors and floral patterns. While Chanel and other designers created avantgarde outfits, Lanvin continued the elegant and sophisticated robe de style line in the 1910s and 1920s. The characteristic features of her designs included wrinkled skirts and wonderful, romantic decorations, mainly of embroidery and lace. It was a proposal for a conservative customer who had not got used to the slightly boyish fashion of the new times. Paul Poiret - recognizable items: clear and saturated patterns, contrasting colors. It was thanks to them that he
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was hailed the „king of fashion” of those years. Poiret’s creations were very eclectic. His liking for the Orient was still visible in the models of the coats he designed. He strove to combine art and fashion and paid great attention to contacts with young artists and generously sup-
ported them. Raoul Dufy started working for him as a textile designer, becoming a pioneer of textile design by artists. Jean Patou - was a pioneer of sportswear for women; he designed knitted swimsuits and tennis skirts.
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ANDRZEJ SZYDLIK
THE GREAT
WARSAW RACE
FROM THE VIEWER’S
PERSPECTIVE
After many years of working as a racing commentator Andrzej Szydlik will spectate The Great Warsaw Race together with the audience on the Służewiec Racecourse. AUTHOR: Iwona Chojnowska PHOTOS: : Służewiec Racecourse
Will the emotions connected with the most important comparative race be different than the ones of professional commentary? Emotions evoke situations, which accompany the race, and different races may evoke various emotions. Undoubtedly big races, their prestige and importance intensify this, and The Great Warsaw Race is an example of that for many, many years. The name of the race itself has its own dimension - it refers to a particular city, and as an outstanding journalist, prose writer and publicist, extremely popular Wiech (Stefan Wiechecki) used to say - „only three dates matter in the life of a Varsovian - the date of birth of his first child, the date of the Warsaw Uprising and the date of The Great Warsaw Race”. Furthermore The Great warsaw Race is a massive social gathering on the occasion of a unique spectacle, full of specific charm and appeal. At races, everyone gets more or less affected by the emotions. Mine - now as a spectator and not a commentator, are for sure different, more relaxed - without the weight and stress. Before, different elements were at play. Focus, perfect knowledge of horses and their predispositions, racing colors, immediate reaction to what’s happening at the distance, racing vocabulary and something what i call „controlled emotions”. What did the races look like in the years when you were a part of the Selection Department of the State Horse Racecourses? Those were grand races with an audience of many thousands, and additionally the excitement was enhanced by fantastically working at that time horse totalizer. The races were also in the center of attention of Warsaw press, weekly columns and picks of journalists in „Express Wieczorny”, „Życie Warszawy”, „Słowo
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Powszechne”, „Kurier Polski”, weekly magazine „Stolica” and later in „Gazeta Wyborcza”. Additionally, the transport bringing thousands of fans to Służewiec worked perfectly. Buses with the letter „W” drove from Plac Defilad with a stop at pl. Unii Lubelskiej, the famous tram „19” and many taxis at the stop. Whereas on the track awaited incredible emotions, law and order, bars and tens of cash desks. The races alone were extraordinarily attractive and Polish breeding stood of a high level, there were many great horses, and imported ones very very seldom. Races took part also on Wednesdays, and in 1999 100 racing days were held on Służewiec, making it a unique event on a global scale. Horse celebrities shone not only on Służewiec Racecourse, but also successfully took part in highly subsidized races in Vienna, Budapest, Moscow, Prague or Cologne. I remember the performances of horses like Doris Day, Bostella, Neman, Isaura, Korab, Juror, Diakowa, Kadyks or Czubaryk, because I have been the head of the teams for international meetings many times. I knew all the horses „inside out” because I was among others, a handicapper, manager of horse stables, judge on target as well as the chairman of the Technical and Appeals Committee. Do you remember your first The Great Warsaw Race, exceptional horses and riders? There are plenty of such memories and it’s difficult to put them in order. I remember my first „Great” from my very youthful days - and I remember it very well. It happened in 1951. The 12-horse competition was won by
Skarbnik, of outstanding beauty and pitch-black like, ridden by jockey J. Szczepaniak. I will never forget his killer finish at the end of the field. Once I even wrote an article about that horse. Over the decades The Great Warsaw Race creates new heroes - trainers, riders, breeders and horses. In the years 1964-1965 intelligent and charming Demona (trainer S.Michalczyk), loved by the audience, won The Great Warsaw Race twice in a row as the first mare in history of Służewiec. It was she who paved the way for the future multiple champion, Mieczysław Mełnicki, who for years impressed with his dynamic, powerful and brave riding style and is still placed first in the elite „Club 1000” with the amount of 1662 victories. Five years later three derbists competed in the only one to date The Great Warsaw Race: Trabant from 1967, Erotyk from 1968 and Kadyks from 1969. Erotyk (trainer S.Molenda) won that historical race by the old racing fox, outstanding Romanian jockey Vasile Hutuleac, assimilated in Poland, who followed the motto of Emperor Octavian Augustus - festina lente - rush slowly. In 1973, glorified after his successes in the International Meeting in Warsaw derbist stallion Dargin (trainer S.Molenda) under an excellent jockey, master of elegant riding and tactics, greatly popular among the spectators Jerzy Jednaszewski, confirmed his class in The Great Warsaw Race. It’s important to mention that Jerzy Jednaszewski has won The Great Warsaw Race as a jockey 7 times, and in 1978 everyone was impressed with an incredibly brave and of a truly horse-health Pawiment, trained by Jerzy Jednaszewski. And what was shown to the audience of The Great Warsaw Race exactly
40 years ago by stallion Dixieland (trainer J. Paliński), with Roman Maciejak in the saddle, is mentioned until today. I couldn’t believe my eyes and I was full of admiration. Right after the start, Dixieland, along a highly flexible ground, proposed an incredible pace, which none of the competing horses could match, therefore he won just as he wanted. In the field of the defeated were stars such as : derbist Sinaja, Akcept, Czubaryk or Dżudo. Fascinating year 2000 without doubt belonged to jockey Tomasz Dul, master of nerves of steel, incredible tactics, particular gift of communication with the horse and beautiful posture in the saddle, who lead Dżamajka (trainer B.Strójwąs), as the first mare in history, to achieving a „triple crown”. Subsequently,
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auburn Dżamajka didn’t allow any competitors to stand a chance against her in The Great Warsaw Race. In the same year this incredible jockey achieved a record result of victories in one season. He won 139 races and might be undefeated for a very, very long time. In 2002, born in Great Britain and trained in Germany by A. Schutz, ridden by a French jockey William Mongil stallion Caitano has entered The Great Warsaw Race. He arrived three days before the race, in the night, and I waited for him with his box ready. The moment I saw him, I was impressed. He was distinguished by his amazing musculature, height, log and hooves the size of pans. The interest in his participation in the race exceeded all expectations. Never in Poland participated a horse, who ran on four different continents. He didn’t disappoint, he galloped phenomenally and outclassed his rivals. In the last decade, the eye was pleased looking at a gallop of a typical stayer, „triple-crowned” Intens (trainer K. Ziemiański). This phenomenal horse in a fascinating style, in the record time of 2’40,3” didn’t even for a moment give his opponents a chance. It was a true one actor’s theatre. After a few years, again an unusual horse showed up on the horizon. Born in Ireland Va Bank (trainer M.Janikowski) has won all of the most important races, including winning the „triple crown” and The Great Warsaw Race. To end this charm of old memories, I am convinced that The Great Warsaw Race will continue to provide unforgettable experiences and incredible emotions.
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Before we end, I have a question, which often comes up in discussions within the community. Should the race be held on the last Sunday of September, or the first Sunday of October? What is your opinion? It has been a catchy topic for many
years. It comes down to one kilogram of weight difference. In september 3-year-old horses carry 55 kg, and from October 1st 56 kh, while older horses always carry 60 kg. For me, the traditional date of The Great Warsaw Race is the first Sunday of October.
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THE BEST HORSES
IN THE HISTORY
OF GREAT WARSAW RACE
AT THE SŁUŻEWIEC RACECOURSE
Izan (The Cheetah-Arinaria), bred by J. Broszkiewicz and trained by Aleksander Pacurka, was the first winner in the history of the Great Warsaw Race in Służewiec in 1946. He was ridden by one of the best jockeys in the times before the war, Krzysztof Jagodziński. The race took place at a distance of 2,400 m (in 2’38”), which also saw the victory of the legendary Turysta (Bellini-Scuola Bolognese), bred by the famous Italian breeder Federico Tesio, in two consecutive seasons in the Great Warsaw Race ridden by Walenty Stasiak. Despite being overweight, Turysta, winning for the second time in a row (in 1948), defeated the derby competitor Ruch, who won the Great Warsaw Race a year later by as much as 7 lengths (2,600 m). In total, he won 19 of 23 races between his 3rd to 6th year, three times he came second and was fourth once (in 1949 in the Great Warsaw Race, where Ruch was the winner). Stanisław Kowalski was his trainer.
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AUTHOR: Jan Zabieglik PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
Despite being overweight, Turysta, winning for the second time in a row (in 1948), defeated the derby competitor Ruch, who won the Great Warsaw Race a year later by as much as 7 lengths (2,600 m). In total, he won 19 of 23 races between his 3rd to 6th year, three times he came second and was fourth once (in 1949 in the Great Warsaw Race, where Ruch was the winner). Stanisław Kowalski was his trainer.
Phenomenal Demona
Va Bank hits the jackpot
The second outstanding horse, which also won the Great Warsaw Race twice (1964-65), was Demona (Massis-Dziwożona II) bred at Moszna Stud. Trained by Stanisław Michalczyk, she raced without a defeat at the age of 2. She won the Ministry of Agriculture Stakes and the “Stolica” weekly Stakes ridden by Mieczysław Mełnicki (equivalent to today’s Dakota Stakes). As a three-year-old, she won in Ruler, Iwna and Derby. In addition, she won the Berlin Stakes at the Socialist Party Meeting. Another international success was her victory in St. Leger in Vienna. At the age of 4, in the first part of the season, she won the races for the Stakes of Widzow, Prime Minister’s, and then the Fils du Vent Stakes without any problems. She was unrivaled in her last performance in her career in the Great Warsaw Race, defeating a great three-year-old derby racer Epicur, son of Turysta.
A place on the podium as regards the best horses in the history of Great Warsaw Race should also be given to the sensational Va Bank (Archipenko-Vinales), trained by Maciej Janikowski. As the only thoroughbred in the history of the Służewiec Racecourse, he was invincible in 11 starts. In the twelfth one he won the G3 race in BadenBaden. No other horse trained in Poland has ever done this. It was only in his thirteenth performance that he suffered an unexpected defeat. He could and should have won the Great Warsaw Race for the second time, but Tomáš Lukášek outsmarted Marek Březina in terms of tactics and riding technique. The Great Warsaw Race proved victorious to the triplecrowned Va Bank ridden by Pierre-Anders Graberg on 27 September 2015, as the eighth consecutive race in his career.
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THE INTERVIEW WITH
MARIAN ZIBURSKE
businessman, owner of the Westminster Group, enthusiast, owner and breeder of Thoroughbred horses. INTERVIEW: Iwona Dziobek PHOTOS: Westminster Grup and Służewiec Racecourse
Ahead of us is the culmination of the racing season - the 75th Great Warsaw Race in Służewiec, and after that the season will be coming to an end. Do you consider it successful? Definitely, considering how unusual and difficult this year has been. I am glad that the races are taking place, and the audience in Służewiec is brilliant. I was hoping to keep the prize pools stable and it did. That is why I look to the future with optimism and I have the impression that, as horse lovers and racing enthusiasts, together we have undergone quite a test and we have proven successful. For Westminster Poland it is also another year of very successful cooperation with the Służewiec Racecourse and I am glad that as a sponsor we are continuing this support, especially at a time when many companies are withdrawing from it.
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You are the owner of the Westminster Race Horses stable in Służewiec. Do you have the same positive feelings about the sports results of your horses? In terms of achievements, this season is better for us than the previous one. We have won many races, even though some of our horses have struggled with injuries. I am very pleased with the shape of our two-year-olds, especially Lady Joanna, who has been getting stronger and stronger from one race to another. We’re planning frequent starts for her next season, hoping to keep her streak going. So you bet on Lady Joanna next season? Amongst others. For us, the racing season is about to end and the auction begins. We plan to participate in auctions in Great Britain and France, and we want to keep developing our stable. Like every breeder, I would like Westminster horses to win classic races. If the restrictions
related to COVID are loosened next season, IÂ would also like the number of races with foreign horses to grow in Poland. IÂ also hope that 2021 will allow us to return to full activity on all tracks in Poland.
The 75th Great Warsaw Race is ahead of us. Do you have your favorite? Yes, it is Nagano Gold, which will set the bar really high in this race.
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FULLY
RACING
HAPPINESS
The interview with the owner of the 2017 winner of The Great Warsaw Race Dariusz Jaskólski conducted by Jan Zabieglik AUTHOR: Jan Zabieglik PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
As a horse owner you had a „dragon entrance” into racing. Bush Brave, which you bought individually (previously you purchased horses in cooperation with Zbigniew Górski and Kishore Mirpuri) in 2017 won almost everything (except Strzegomia and Iwna Stakes) there is to be won: Rulera, Derby, St. Leger, The Great Warsaw Race and of course decisively it has been chosen the horse, and you The Owner of The Year. You can say - ultimate racing happiness. What did you experience back then? Euphoria, that you touched the edge of heaven? Something like that, or a bit of everything. I was grateful to my colleagues, Zbyszek and Kishore, that they brought me into the racing company. And I am a social person. However, I didn’t expect that after one fat year will come a bunch of lean years. Were there also buyers? Yes. There were two, from the USA and from Czech Republic, but we decided with the family that we will postpone a possible sale to the next, 2018 year. Why, was the price low? No. We wanted to see what his performance will be like at the age of 4. If he maintained top shape, he would race in the President of Totalizator Stakes, St. Leger, and after that once again in The Great Warsaw Race. The first show seemed to confirm our expectations. Bush Brave confidently won the Golejewka Stakes, clearly beating the Height of Beauty. And then, several days before the race for the Widzowa Stakes, out of the blue an information fell upon us, that, how do you say in racing, Bush Brave “broke off” during a routine ride. And so we had to say goodbye to dreams of winning The Great Warsaw Race for the second time. We made attempts to treat him, but quite quickly the diagnosis has been made that he won’t run any longer. And this is how I got forced into becoming a breeder. Bush Brave is a stud in Moszna
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Stud. The next year his first one-year-old offspring will start. Perhaps I speak about it without much enthusiasm, but the costs of maintaining breeding and horses at races are really substantial. In addition, there were various restrictions related to coronavirus. However, in the autumn of 2018, when it was known that Bush Brave ended his career, there was a light at the end of the tunnel - Arkano won Mokotowska Stakes and gained the name of winter favourite on Derby. Such an event, that the owner would have two winter favourites in three years has not been in Służewiec for a long time. Unfortunately, this time it was a small rain from a large cloud. He was played high, and in addition throughout the entire last season it almost didn’t rain, soft track is his favourite. As a result he finished third only once in the race for the Przedświta Stakes. This season I moved him to Maciej Janikowski’s stable. He gained speed and runs better. He won once in five starts, he took third place three times and once he finished fifth. Judging by the style of victory over very good, experienced Tribunale, maybe in the autumn he will mix some things up in the competition of the leading Thoroughbreds.
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I CHOSE AND BOUGHT RAIN AND SUN MYSELF,
MY HUSBAND TOOK CARE OF THE REST. AUTHOR: Jan Zabieglik PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
Z Katarzyną Kozłowską właścicielką Rain And Sun, zwyciężczynią Wielkiej Warszawskiej 2018 rozmawia Jan Zabieglik First, for several years you were an amateur at races with european license (you won 85 races), and since 2003 you have been a right-hand man in Nova Racing stable, run by your husband Janusz Kozłowski, the best jockey next to Tomasz Dul on Służewiec in 1989-2002. In last seasons you were also a co owner of a few Arabian horses (including Derby and Europe Stakes winner Shannon Queen) and, above all, the owner of extraordinary Rain and Sun, who as the only horse in history of Służewiec won The Great Warsaw Race (2018), debuting at the age of 3.Was it the greatest success of your stable so far?
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The greatest and long awaited. In the first two seasons (2003-04) our horses, Tiarella and Domus respectively, finished second in Derby, but then the somewhat average racing existence sweetened us firstly the results of our horses, which we switched from flat to fence races with great success. Jutrzenka achieved 5 victories in that competition, and Bonsai’s Blade and Test each had 4 victories. I had a great share in preparation of “hurdlers”, because in the 90’s i cooperated with Grzegorz Witold Wróblewski, who is the best polish trainer in this racing competition. He is based in Czech Republic, whereas he exhibits horses equally frequently in fence races in Italy, achieving very good results. In the last four seasons we were pleased by achievements of Arabians, especially those from breeding of Magdalena and Daniel Gromala, with the phenomenal Shannon Queen at the helm, who was
undefeated in 12 races. In this respect, she matched the best thoroughbred Va bank. Shall we return to Rain and Sun? Was this your first horse bought abroad? Yes. Previously I leased from SK Iwno, still bred in Golejewko, Nadworna, which won 4 races, including Novary, Rzeki Wisły and Konstelacji in Wrocław. I made some money from Shannon Queen’s shows, so I’ve decided to give myself a gift. Preferably a horse, which i will choose myself, so that i won’t blame anyone else later. I went to one of the cheaper Arkan auctions in France. I made my purchase on the first day, but on the next day Rain and Sun caught my eye, so I’ve decided to purchase her as well for 3 thousand EUR. And with that, against my husband’s will, I came home with two horses. I got a terrible scolding. The first horse didn’t win the race, and Rain and Sun won in a beautiful style, which was mainly due to my husband and the jockey, Anton Turgaev. First she won three group races, then was second in Novary, fourth in Oaks, first in Krasne and The Great Warsaw Race. As a four-year-old Rain and Sun was no longer able to get into shape at the age of three. Therefore I’ve decided to include her into breeding. She was mated to Ecosse. She is in Krasne. We visit her frequently and we await her offspring, thanks to which I will debut as a breeder.
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PROUD
OF PRIDE
OF NELSON The interview with the previous owners of Pride of Nelson, the winner of The Great Warsaw Race from 2019 Sabina and Salih Plavac conducted by Jan Zabieglik. AUTHOR: Jan Zabieglik PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
Since when have you in Poland and what fate has thrown you to our country? What do you both do? We came here 26 years ago, at that time the Balkans were still at war. I come from Bosnia and my wife is Croatian. We didn’t arrive as refugees, but to conduct business. We were buying livestock in Poland (cows and bulls), which we transported to the Balkans using our own cars. Over time came the idea of producing vehicles transporting animals. We built a facility near Świętokrzyskie Mountains. It is considered to be one of the better functioning ones in Europe. Also there, in Gołoszyce in Opatów County we have a farm of approximately 80 ha, where we breed meat cattle. If it comes to horses, first we bought them abroad and handed them over for training to Adam Wyrzyk. The first mare, River Night, at the age of two got second in races of cat. A, Dakoty and Ministra Rolnictwa beaten only by phenomenal Nick of Memory, and as a threeyear-old she won „Życia Warszawy” Stakes. We have been breeding racing horses since 2008. The sire in our stud for several years has been our property, Exciting Life, who had not only an excellent career on Służewiec (he won, among others, Syreny, Deer Leapa), but also international (I place in Listed race in BadenBaden at 1200 meters and in great time 1’10,26”). At present time there are about 30 horses starting in races. 18 of them has been prepared for the last three seasons in our original stable on Służewiec by Piotr Piątkowski, and 12 are being prepared in Gołoszyce, including also by me, because when there’s a need for it, I take part in rides. After the 2009 season, when Golden Tirol won, among others, Rulera, Derby of Austria and
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Mosznej and he was chosen the Horse of The Year, you received the title of The Owners of The Year. For the next such trophy you had to wait for exactly 10 years. It is true that you were close to happiness (Dolomiti second in Derby 2014), but for the second time you got boosted this high last year by the thear French mare Pride of Nelson, who won Wiosenną, Iwna (in record time 2’13,4”) and after the win in The Great Warsaw Race she was also chosen The Horse of The Year 2019. Your happiness had no bounds, but nevertheless you put her up for an auction in France and when it obtained a satisfactory price, you sold her for 125 thousand euro. Because the logic of breeding racing horses is that sentiment needs to be put aside, when the price is favorable. Horses aren’t just to be loved. On the track they’re undergoing a strict selection. When one of them achieves high shape, you can’t pull the string too much, well, unless you are a moneybag and you can afford it. What did the results of Pride of Nelson mean to you. What is happening to her now? We were very proud of her, because saying so jokingly, she taught us how we should win. Unfortunately she was injured and the wealthy Japanese owner mated her with a renowned stallion.
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A RECIPE
FOR THE STUDIO
When the Służewiec Racecourse opened more than 80 years ago, on 3 June 1939, it was considered to be the most beautiful and modern facility of its kind in Europe, attracting crowds of visitors for years to come. Today, in order to stay connected with the audience, it is not only the architecture and functionality of the place that make it modern, but also a constant contact with the audience, more and more often in a virtual way. AUTHOR: Annamaria Sobierajska PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
This need for dialogue and the desire to raise awareness of racing motivated Totalizator Sportowy to search for a recipe for regular contact with the public. The recipe that served to create an Internet television channel - Służewiec iTV.
Number 1 - a pinch of magic Television is a hypnotizing medium, one that is attractive and intriguing. It provides an opportunity to present everything that is most interesting in races. It is a chance to attract the potential viewer to what racing is and how much emotion it brings. Especially in a year as exceptional as this one, when maintaining the attention of the audience is so crucial. “As long as I have been training racehorses I have not seen such an active promotion of horses and horse races in Poland as in recent years. It is important to educate and show fans what this discipline is all about, so that they can better understand how and why we do it,” says trainers’ championship leader Adam Wyrzyk. It was Annamaria Sobierajska, Jaroslaw Idzi and Tomasz Jasina who brought the magic of the venue, which the Służewiec Racecourse certainly is, to a TV studio. Now we can truly discover the trainers, jockeys and owners as actors and directors of a brilliant theater-like show that takes place both in the stable, on the paddock and finally on the green track. It is not only a breeding trial. It is not only sport. It is emotions, competition and tactics. It is a search for solutions before the race, but also during the race, when you have to find and make use of the momentum. It is about the chance to win, a chance to be remembered. And indeed sometimes magic helps!
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Number 2 - the know-how While envisioning the Studio, as the creators we realized how great a challenge was ahead of us. Horse racing, watched by enthusiasts and players, calls for substantive and reliable information. They require hints and tips on the situation in the stable and the condition of horses. But in order to open up to new viewers, we knew that the relationship must be understandable also for laymen. It must bring them into the extraordinary world of horses. “We decided to create a product that would meet the expectations of both the most ardent fans who can follow the events of horse races in Poland in one place, but also our goal was to speak a language that is understandable to those who come to the races for the first time,” said Dominik Nowacki, director of Służewiec Racecourse. As experts who are with us on a regular basis, we can see Robert Zieliński who has extensive knowledge about the origins of horses, Maciej Pilat, editor-in-chief of the Race Program, as well as Bogdan Strójwąs, an eminent trainer and breeder. As far as races for French trot races are concerned, Witold Sudoł undoubtedly ensures the substantive support. The Służewiec iTV Studio is also a meeting spot, a platform for exchanging opinions, experience and knowledge about racing. Among the invited guests are wellknown and recognized horse breeders representing both large studs such as SK Moszna or SK Krasne and private breeding centers such as the Pegasus stud of the Zieliński family. The program featured private horse owners such as Jerzy Engel, Katarzyna Wolanin and Dariusz Jaskólski. The studio unites people around a common vision of promoting horse races and promoting this idea for weekend
entertainment to the widest possible audience. Developing this passion, or maybe also buying your own racehorse? “Any activity that will encourage new people to buy horses and engage them in this extraordinary passion will contribute to the development of racing. My history proves that horse racing can be an occupation and entertainment for the whole family,” said owner and breeder Robert Gorczyca, a guest of one of the editions.
Number 3 - a little bit of craziness Regular coverage in the 2020 season do not only stand for the 51 race days of the Służewiec Racecourse. It is also horse racing at Wrocław’s Partynice or two days of August live coverage straight from the Sopot facility. Creating the first Polish racing television required vision, passion, commitment and ... obviously a bit of madness. “Since the beginning of the last season, we have been constantly looking for forms that will allow us to popular-
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ize horse races in Poland as extensively as possible. Striving for the attention of new crowds of fans, we have no choice but to act with tools or channels commonly used by the current 20 and 30-year-olds. Hence our activity in social media as well as our determination to build the iTV Studio. However, when we initiated this project (July 2019), no one was in a position to realize how important it would become several months later. Throughout March and April, crowds of horse racing enthusiasts felt anxious about whether the season would start, and when it took off, the existing restrictions did not allow the public to participate in the races. It suddenly turned out that our iTV studio had become the only window to the racing world, not only for potential enthusiasts but... let’s be honest here, for the whole racing world. Thanks to this, together we have survived this difficult time for all of us, and the limitations related to COVID19,” summarizes the Managing Director of Służewiec Track. As a reminder, regular TV coverage of racing days is just one of the elements of Służewiec iTV operations. Another equally important element was the dedicated Q&A sessions bringing closer the daily life of the coaches or jockeys who answered the questions posted by viewers. Yet another category was the “Thoroughbred Race” series - a substantive platform where representatives of horse racing, sports and breeding community as well as people engaged in leisure activities, sharing a common goal of
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strengthening the brand of Polish thoroughbred horses, were invited for discussion. iTV also contains video materials which refer to current events on the track - victories after races or announcements of next race days. All videos are always available on the YouTube channel of Służewiec Racecourse.
Is that the final recipe? From the very beginning, the idea was to build a platform that would allow not only to follow the course of the races, but also to introduce the people who create horse races in Poland. Therefore we invited not only the abovementioned breeders, horse owners, racing experts but also trainers, riders or representatives of sponsors and representatives of other sports disciplines to our studio. The studio has been constantly developing for over a year setting new ambitious goals. Thanks to extensive marketing activities and broadcasts not only on its own channels (Facebook, YouTube, www), but also on its partner’s - the largest equestrian medium in Poland - the Horse World, Służewiec iTV is able to reach a growing number of potential horse racing enthusiasts. It informs, reports and educates. The statistics are clearly demonstrating the growing reach and greater involvement of the audience. However, we are not stopping here yet. We want to constantly build awareness of horse racing in Poland. We want to develop and to make a reference to the wonderful beginnings of the Służewiec Racecourse - to be among the most modern in Europe.
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Relacje na żywo Rozmowy z ekspertami Newsy www.torsluzewiec.pl Oglądaj Służewiec iTV online:
WOMEN
POWER AT HORSE RACES AUTHOR: Mateusz Błaszczak PHOTOS: Służewiec Racecourse
In 1993 Colonial Affair ridden by Julie Krone won the Belmont Stakes. A historical day as it marked the first victory of a lady rider in a race within the American Triple Crown. Thanks to this and other successes on the racecourse, a year later Julie was recognized with the ESPY Award for Best Sportswoman of the Year. Ten years later, in 2003, she achieved another great success, winning the Breeder’s Cup - Juvenile Fillies race. The lady rider is currently in four American horse racing fame galleries. Hayley Turner, on the other hand, is one of the most successful and recognizable lady riders in Europe. In 2011 she was the first woman to win the G1 - July Cup race. In the same season, she also earned her win in the Nunthorpe Stakes. A year later she participated in the Dubai World Cup rally, which was the first such event in history. She is now nearing her 900th victory in her career. There are many more examples of such horse racing careers and they will all prove that the role of women in horse racing is growing all over the world. No wonder that rivalry for lady riders is a permanent element of competitions on foreign tracks. These series are an opportunity for a larger group of women to compete on the track, but also they attract crowds of spectators and popularize equestrian sports among women.
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The last similar initiative in Poland was the Katarzyna Szymczuk Lady Rider Cup, held in 2013-2015. Służewiec was also one of the hosts of the HH Sheikh Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR. This year marks the beginning of a new series - Women Power Series, sponsored by Totalizator Sportowy. It is driven by similar goals as its foreign counterparts. For the organizers, it is important to promote the rider’s profession, which is the reason for the numerous interviews with the participants, which talk about the everyday life of a race rider, or materials related to the racing emotions themselves, to be seen in social media and on channels related to races in Poland. Thanks to such initiatives, the participants themselves can build and develop their „own brand”, which the organizers try to support by, for example, preparing a professional session announcing the series or promoting the profiles of the participants in social media. As an event, the series also allows to attract partners who want to promote women’s sport, which will certainly lead to an increase in the prestige of such rivalry in future editions, but will also positively contribute to the perception of horse racing as a sport for all. The Women Power Series includes five races, held at different distances, for thoroughbreds and purebred Ara-
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bian horses of different ages. So far three of them have already been held - two in June and one in early August. All of them brought what the racing world enjoys - a fight all the way to the very finish. As expected, at equal pace, the first race held at 2,000 meters saw a victory of Pilecki ridden by Joanna Wyrzyk, now considered to be the best lady rider in Poland. The victory was certain, but Velnelis and Design, ridden by Karolina Kaminska and Wiktoria Czwarno, had a fierce fight for second place. The second race featured a brilliant competition between Daria Pantchev with Silver Rock and Joanna Grzybowska with Phillbert. The horses were divided by only a head with the first pair in the lead. The third part was a fight on purebred Arabian horses. There was no certainty who would win until the very end - it was the nose that determined the victory of Ouzbek du Panjshir ridden by the coach Cornelia Fraisl in front of Siruella, ridden by
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There are many more examples of such horse racing careers and they will all prove that the role of women in horse racing is growing all over the world. No wonder that rivalry for lady riders is a permanent element of competitions on foreign tracks. These series are an opportunity for a larger group of women to compete on the track, but also they attract crowds of spectators and popularize equestrian sports among women.
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The Women Power Series includes five races, held at different distances, for thoroughbreds and purebred Arabian horses of different ages. Joanna Wyrzyk. The podium was completed by Purhib with Dominika Stępniak in the saddle (it was the second horse from Cornelia Fraisl’s stable). Thanks to one victory and a second place, Joanna Wyrzyk leads the classification, followed by Joanna Grzybowska, Daria Pantchev and Karolina Kaminska. The final of the championship looks really exciting. So far, 12 lady riders have participated in the first edition of the Women Power Series. There are two races left to be had - October 4 is when the participants will ride a mile race with threeyear-old mares, and the grand finale of the series in which the winner will be selected will be held at a sprinting distance of 1,400 m on October 31. The winner of the series will be awarded at the End of the Season Gala.
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Joanna Wyrzyk: I think the Women Power Series is a cool initiative. It makes it easier for less experienced lady riders to participate in races, because it is very difficult to compete with men, especially at the beginning of their career. I really liked the ingenious photo shoot before the first race, but obviously I remember best the victory with my Pilecki in the first race. Every time I race I want to win, to do my best and in these races I do my best too.
Joanna Grzybowska: Such a series is a chance for us to race with less pressure. We have the opportunity to compete together with the girls in a cool atmosphere, which brings us together. Still every one of us wants to win, as we proved with Daria during the second race of the Women Power Series. It is known that our results also depend on which horses we ride, but I like this concept of women’s championship a lot.
Daria Pantchev: We stick together with the girls, we have a common passion for racing and it is very cool that we can integrate even better by participating in a series like this. Surely such a championship is needed and it would be good if it was held every year. I think it is good that selected races are so diverse - we race on Arabians, thoroughbreds, at sprints and longer distances. I personally have a great memory of my victory after a very fierce fight. I am certain that every one of us wants to fight and win races.
SEE YOU SOON! 51
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THE BEST STYLIZATIONS OF
THE WIELKA WARSZAWSKA STAKES PHOTOS: Damosfera
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IT ALL STARTED WITH
THOROUGHBREDS,
WHICH MEANS ADDING MORE,
BUT DOING SO IN MODERATION AUTHOR: Katarzyna Wiszowaty, PHOTOS: M&R Photo, shutterstock.com
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Talking about the importance and necessity of Thoroughbreds in breeding saddle horses is like discussing if a good drink should contain alcohol. And it will be obvious to everyone that such a drink won’t be authentic without some “percentages”. The same applies to breeding saddle horses. Their history is inseparably intertwined with the history of thoroughbred horses. It can be safely said that 99% of all male saddle horses originated from thoroughbred stallions. Discussions on which criteria should be used in selecting a thoroughbred stallion to breed half-bred horses have been going on forever, and there is no ready recipe which will satisfy everyone. History has shown, that in majority of cases the biggest success in breeding sports horses brought the bravest ones on the track, especially over long distances, but except bravery, since ages there were other features taken into consideration: „From a thoroughbred sire, used for crossbreeding, we must require that he passes onto his offspring good shape, strength, power, immunity, well-developed
limbs, deep chest, positioned levers, natural balance, calmness, gentle disposition, endurance, weight-bearing ability, proper and sliding tread” - this was reported by a well known french hypologist Maj. G. H. Marchal during a Symposium devoted to breeding thoroughbred horses and equestrian sports, held in Munich in 1939. First however, what has to be taken into account is the habit, correctness of build, beauty and proportions, next career and origin, because it is known that certain thoroughbred lines performed positively in breeding sports horses. The races alone will provide knowledge about the horse’s health, speed, endurance, but very little if not nothing at all will be said about it’s mobility and jumping ability, because even obstacle or fence races won’t provide knowledge about what kind of jumper a given horse will be on the course. Despite the fact that it’s not easy to discover a class Thoroughbred, there were some that placed among the world’s best jumpers. It’s worth to remind the sceptics who doubt the jumping abilities of Thoroughbreds of those who reached the world’s highest laurels like Sloopy, Snowbound, Touch of Class or Gem Twist, but also those from their home country that won the titles of Polish Champion and took paid places at major international competitions. In this large group you might find: Brzask, Arcus, Viaczyk, Skylab, Cietrzew, Skarbiec, Labirynt, Koncerz, Madelon, Brynów, Bremen, Ordynek, Via Vitae, Toreadir, Nimb or Norton. The addition of the Thoroughbred’s blood usually happened by using stallions of this breed, but breeders from all over the world highly appreciate the presence of this blood on the maternal side of the pedigree. Not many people take on mating thoroughbred mares with halfbred stallions, and the few of them are the breeders of horses for WKKW and half-bred races. Despite the fact, that the percentage of blood is the same, whether we mate a half-bred mare with stallion xx or vice versa, a thoroughbred mare will transfer the qualities of this breed to its offspring more strongly, because not only genetics but also the influence of the mother - provider and guardian are at stake.The most outstanding horses from dams highly advanced in blood undoubtedly include jumping horses known from international arenas, such as: Authentic (by mother ¾ xx), Nepomuk, Audi’s Paloma, Pialotta, Shutterfly, Quidam de Revel. In Poland, where the addition of the whole blood was at times stronger, in jumping shows took part horses from thoroughbred dams, such as stallion Majdan sp, Mafor sp i wał. Pajac. It’s worth reminding, that whole blood played a significant role also in dressage. On the mother’s side a Thoroughbred is owned by: IPS Lucky Times, Quicksilver, On Top, Chopin, Olympic Corrado or Rubinstein. Whereas in Poland from thoroughbred mares were born such well known dressage horses like Frez wlkp, Rustan poch.trk/wsch.pr and Welur sp. While Nil trk/wsch.pr, Mytrop sp, Szaman wlkp, Hals, Sum xo, Erb, Czcionka wlkp or Ikar wlkp. had a thoroughbred father. Hardly
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anyone knows, that thoroughbred horses born in Poland - Modern and Stempel, competed in dressage at an international level. The number of Polish Thoroughbred offspring competing in jumping shows and WKKW would significantly exceed the scope of this article, and WKKW has always been based on the Thoroughbreds and horses with a significant addition. Due to changes in the rules of this discipline, shortening the field trial, the role of a thoroughbred horse has weakened, especially in lower competitions. However, in high-level competitions, the great majority of horses still have the addition of Thoroughbreds and sometimes at a very high degree. Sport horse breeding wouldn’t be possible without the thoroughbred horses, and for several decades of the
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XX century the role of this breed was dominant in transformation of the farm horse into a competitive athlete. As time passed, thanks to selection of half-bred horses towards the competitive horse, the role of Thoroughbreds becomes secondary, which doesn’t mean that addition of this precious blood should be stopped completely. However, the selection of stallions should be much more careful and thoughtful today, because it’s not only about refining a modern horse, adding an “iron” tissue and vigor, but also maintaining the advantages it received from it’s half-bred ancestors. As said by Maj. Marchal - „Breeding is primarily observational knowledge”, therefore it depends on the breeder and his intuition when and how much thoroughbred blood needs to be added, to correct, not spoil it.