Pardubice

Attracting an international field of adrenaline maniacs, one of the most famous, and most dangerous, horse races in the world takes place, on the second weekend in October, 80 km to the east of Prague in Pardubice. Velká Pardubická (Big Pardubice) is a cross country steeplechase meeting that first took place in 1874 and, gaining from the 'Rollerball' effect, has been extremely popular ever since. Come here to watch both human and equine limbs being crushed and snapped as they crash into the Eastern Bohemian turf. Do the risks not worry the organisers you ask? Well, lip service to the forces of health and safety is of course required, however, the marketing advantages of pain, anguish and death are pretty much kept not too far from the surface, to quote: "[they] have been able to … make the fences safer…while retaining the unique atmosphere and spectacle of racing in Pardubice."