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."

 

DAVIES led over the first few fences and then lay second or third for the rest of the race.

Teddy Davies on Gentleman de Reve, the greyThree fences from home, Gentleman de Reve had a bad fence and stumbled on landing.

"He's a small horse,"said Davies.  "Not so small but small in relation to the other horses in the race. Other horses were bumping him, and between his getting tired and being bumped he made a little mistake. That took his momentum out.

"It takes a lot out of a horse, running over those plowed fields.

"It was cool to finish the race and get to be on the podium," he said.

An Irish horse, Stumptown (Ire), trained by Cromwell Gavin, won the race, with High in the Sky (Fr)  second and Caryjape third.

Gentleman de Reve is a Selle Francais, which of course means he's not qualified to race in America, where races are only open to thorougbreds.

"He's a really cool horse," said Davies. "I've never ridden that type of horse before, but I figured him out pretty quick. I never hit him in the mouth, so he trusted me."

"He went to Ireland, and he's with Peter Maher, a very successful trainer of cross country horses," said Joe Davies. 

"It's a tough race, but I saw a video of him running around a field today," said Davies. "We'll give him a little time and then he might go to Punchestown. "Maybe he'll go in the cross country race at Cheltenham.."

"I get a pretty long winter break, and my teachers are good about my missing classes, so I should be able to go to Punchstown. Riding at Cheltenham would be an amazing experience."

"His Mom (Blythe Miller Davies) rode a winner at Punhestown," said Joe. "Last year Maher gave Teddy a ride at Punchestown."

Joe said he was amazed at the condition of the course.

"They had a team of 20 repair men that replaced the divots during the race." said Joe. "They're very sensitive to the welfare of the horses, The course is just as challenging as it was 50 years ago, but it's not as dangerous. Horses seldom get hurt now because the ditches and water are munch shallower."

"We stayed in the village, and there was a fair." said Joe. "It was fun to be immersed in the culture of Czechia. We went to Prague for a day before coming home."

 

 

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