In an unprecedented turn of events, the prestigious Velká Pardubická steeplechase in the Czech Republic ended in a dead heat for the first time in its 150-year history. After a dramatic photo finish, the judges declared that there was no separating the two local challengers, Sexy Lord and Godfrey, at the finish line.
This year's race, the 134th since its inception in 1874, saw Sexy Lord's jockey, Jaroslav Myška, secure his first victory in the event. It was also a triumph for Sexy Lord’s trainer, Martina Růžičková, marking her second win in the race after a previous success in 2016 with Charme Look.
Meanwhile, Godfrey, who surged in the final stages to challenge Sexy Lord, earned his trainer Dalibor Török his maiden victory in the race. For jockey Jan Faltejsek, it was a notable seventh win in the Velká Pardubická.
Many pundits had expected a foreign-trained horse to claim the title for the first time since 1995, with strong Irish contenders Coko Beach and Streets Of Doyen in the mix. However, both Irish horses fell short when they unseated their riders during the race, paving the way for the two local champions to share this historic moment.
