This Sunday, 5th July, the Służewiec Racecourse will host the most prestigious, alongside the Great Warsaw Race, event of the horse racing season in Poland – Derby for the President of the Republic of Poland Cup. On this day, so much sports-related excitement will be accompanied by many other attractions, including a contest for the most beautiful hat for the ladies.

The Blue Ribbon Race, a race for 3-year old English fullbloods with the distance of 2400 m, draws the attention and presence of many citizens of Warsaw each year. This year, 15 horses have been registered for the race (12 steeds and 3 mares), including one foreign horse – Sanok, trained in a Czech stable by a Pole, Mr Grzegorz Wróblewski. In addition to home jockeys, the competition between whom can be watched at Służewiec Racecourse every week, jockeys from the Czech Republic, Ireland, France and Italy will compete in the race. The total prize pool this year is 175,000 PLN (including 100 thousand for the first place). Horses trained by Mr Andrzej Walicki won the race in the last two seasons: in 2013 – Patronus under Piotr Piątkowski; in 2014 – Greek Sphere under a Czech jockey, Tomáš Lukášek. Coach Walicki is an absolute record-breaker in this regard. He triumphed 13 times during his rich, 46-year long career (12 wins scored at Służewiec and one in Vienna, in 1985).

A total of 9 races will take place during the Derby Gala on Sunday which starts at 2 pm. In addition to the Derby race itself, two races are worth mentioning, a race for the National Lottery Chairman Award for the best 4-years old and older fullbloods (2600 m, Sunday at 5:30 pm) as well as Fryderyk Jurjewicz Memorial (1600 m, Sunday, 7:15 pm).

– We want the Służewiec Racecourse to regain its status of a popular location on the map of Warsaw and to become a permanent element of weekend plans for citizens of Warsaw – stresses Mr Wojciech Szpil, the National Lottery Chairman.

A traditional contest for the most beautiful hat will take place among the ladies during the Derby Gala. Each year, the ladies try to outbid one another in flamboyant hats and caps, which provide an additional attraction on the day.

A special zone will be provided for the youngest ones, where the children will be able to take a ride on a merry-go-round, test their skills in horseshoe throwing, jump on a mini-bungee or ride ponies. Between races, the fans will be able to partake in a wide culinary range and offer provided at the racecourse by popular food trucks.

The best way to get to Służewiec is to travel by car (entrance from Puławska 266). Public transport may be used as well, the 300 line bus operating on race days between Wilanowska Station of the subway system and the Służewiec Racecourse every 30-45 minutes is particularly convenient.

A B-zone ticked on a Derby day costs 12 PLN. Children below 13 enter the racecourse for free.