Teddy Davies rode Gentleman de Reve to place sixth at Pardubicka
- Details
- By SARA CAVANAGH
PARDUBICKA, Czechia--Teddy Davies on Gentleman de Reve placed sixth in the Velke Parducka, the 4 3/4 mile most challenging steeplechase in the world.
Stumptown, the winner, and Gentleman de Reve, the grey over the fourth fence, the texis Last year, Davies was the first American ever to ride in the Parducka, and this year he is now the first ever not only to finish the race but also earn a place on the podium, reserved for the top eight finishers.
It's a crazy race," said Davies, 21, a senior at Delaware University majoring in business. "There are so many fences you never see in this country, and 40 percent of it is over plowed fields."
The course includes huge hedges, and one, the fourth fence,the Texis, has a huge, wide ditch on the landing side, water jumps, an in and out and banks along with hurdles and steeplechase fences.
"There's a huge ditch after the texis, and the hedge is so big you can't see over it, even sitting on top of a horse," said Davies. "You have to get up as much speed as possible going into it so that you have the momentum to get over it."
"We got there on Thursday.and I walked the course Friday," said Davies, who traveled to Parducka with his father Joe. "I rode Gentleman de Reve for the first time Saturday and skipped over a couple of hedges on him."
"More horses get taken out by loose horses or fallers, so I wanted to get a good start in the race," he said. "I wanted to get out in front, and I knew my horses is a good jumper. I kept him tucked in the rest of the race."