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Pardubice is known to be not only a city of industry and sports, but also a city of horses. The culture of horses has been developing here for more than four centuries and undoubtedly plays a key role in the cultural background of the whole region.
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The first traces of a strong tie between horses and the locals date back to the the second half of the 16th century, when the Royal Chamber (Maximilian II), founded a stud farm, laying the foundations for today's famous and respected horse-breeding centre in Kladruby nad Labem. Another breeding farm is also located in the area, in Slatinany. Since 2002 the Kladruby horse has been recognized as a national monument.
The Pardubice Racecourse is a central location for many horse-related activities. In the late 1850s Pardubice built a unique and extremely difficult English-style steeplechase course. Velka Pardubicka Steeplechase was first held on its premises in 1874. Thanks to an extraordinary response to the race, it was then organised quite regularly. It is still run the same way today, despite a few inevitable breaks. During the decades of the Communist regime, Velka Pardubicka lost much of its international renown, but after the revolution of 1989 the city took over the Racecourse and the organisation of the event, and ever since the Pardubice Racecourse has been steadily regaining its prestige. Velka Pardubicka Steeplechase, now one of the major races in Europe, is always held on the second Sunday in October.
Since 1999, the international breeders fair called "Horses in Action" has been held annually at the Racecourse to introducé various breeds of horses and put them through their paces to show their abilities. Around 300 horses representing up to 30 different breeds are exhibited during this event. The programme also includes the most popular joint exhibition of Old-Kladruby horses from the National Stud in Kladruby nad Labem and the Lippizanner horses from the Slovenian stud in Lipica.
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