Jockey legend awarded prize for best sport achievement of the year

Czech jockey Josef Váňa has been presented with the Czech Olympic Committee’s Jiří Guth-Jarkovský prize for the best sport achievement of the year. A legend of Czech horse-racing, Mr. Váňa won the Grand Pardubice steeplechase for the sixth time last October at the age of 56. The country’s most popular jockey was recently awarded a high state distinction by President Vaclav Klaus for his life-long contribution to horse racing. Mr. Váňa said he hoped the awards would help promote the sport he had dedicated his life to.