'In the end, the slowest but strongest horse won - which was mine'

Hana Jurankova has recently been appointed as Arqana's Eastern European representative following the death of Chris Richner last year. Born and raised in the Czech Republic as the daughter of a trainer, she has been a long-time resident in Austria, where she works as a self-employed racing manager and secretary. Jurankova has had a very successful spell riding in the Fegentri races around the world and in 2021 was crowned champion lady rider in the amateur series.

Can you tell us a bit about what you will be doing at Arqana?

Together with Guillaume Cousin, I will be supporting and consulting with clients from Eastern Europe, especially the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary, with their investments in thoroughbred racing and breeding.

You come from a racing family. Have you always had an interest in the sales?

The sales interest has developed over the past few years as I got more into the management of a racehorse. That is where I began to discover their pedigrees and understand their potential.

How is the racing and bloodstock scene in Eastern Europe now? And are there any countries or people we should look out for?

Eastern Europe has some prominent personalities, investors and several strong owners. The Eastern European-trained horses are becoming increasingly competitive in an international context, which is certainly a motivation for owners and breeders, because they value prestige.

You’ve been working as a racing manager and secretary in Austria. Is this something you are continuing to do? And what is the racing like there?

Mr Markus Geisler, with whom I work, is forced to run outside Austria as there is just one raceday a year here.

It was transferred from the traditional track in Freudenau, Vienna to Magna Racino, built by Mr [Frank] Stronach about 20 years ago. Lack of both investors and a generation which could take over has led almost to the extermination of racing over the past decade. The traditional Austrian Derby is held in September, the only thoroughbred raceday in Austria. The day features three or four other thoroughbred races and trotting races.

With the languages I speak I can support searching for the best options for the horses in the neighbouring countries, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Germany, but since 2020 also strongly focusing on France. Depending on the workload ahead, my role might shift to a consulting one.

You were world champion lady rider in the 2021 Longines Fegentri Championship. Was that a big ambition of yours, and what did it mean to you?

Coming from a non-racing country, Austria, it is probably the biggest achievement I could have attained, in my eyes. It is frustrating when racing is running through your veins but there is nothing going on. I was very lucky to be able to compete on such an international level.

You ride as an amateur around Europe. Is that something you’re continuing with? Any other ambitions?

As mentioned previously, my job is done with the world champion title, there is nothing more I can achieve and turning professional is not an option due to time limits. I’ll be happy to have some nice spins for the owners who supported me throughout the past few years, but will concentrate now on the opportunity I have got at Arqana. I want to make the best of it.

What’s the funniest thing that has happened to you in your riding career?

Probably the funniest and the best was to ride the biggest outsider in St Moritz in the Fegentri Longines Champions Cup in 2019. The day before it snowed so much that they couldn’t even roll the stalls out of the parking position. In the end, the slowest but strongest horse won. Which was mine.

Who’s your favourite ever horse?

In racing there is a lot of turnover, so I try not to stick to one horse. But of course there are some who create unforgettable memories. I had lovely moments with Jeck Yeah, coming from Austrian training and winning twice in France with me, just to name a recent one.

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