SENSATIONAL EFFORT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 23

SENSATIONAL EFFORT

INDIANAPOLIS WINS WITH FLYING HOPPLES

(Special from "Rangatlra.")

CHEISTCHURCH, This Day.

Probably never in the history o£ the trotting sport in New Zealand has there been such a sensational winning performance as Indianapolis recorded in the Christehurch Handicap at the Metropolitan Trotting Club's Meeting. at Addington yesterday. When the champion raced past the stand the first time it was seen that his off ■ hopple ;had dropped and was being flung menacingly underneath him and round his hind legs, but.his driver allowed him to continue, on, and, amidst cheers that rent the welkin, hqmeiie came down the final stretch to win in time that' was . only two-fifths of a second slower than his own race winning record established in the New Zealand; Trotting Cup last Tuesday. ' '':.'.'■'' '."'-.V '; •:..". For two complete rounds spectators of the race were kept agog with suspense and subdued excitement. "Pull him up," even the dourest backers; of ,the favourite were shouting as he came past the stands the second time, with eight horses; in front

of him, b.iit-yhis',dijiver; ijEujiOi , McDermott, tool?'*iio. fie^df '6f.Sthe*i'imprecations. On' the:' chttmpioff rebntiiued^ 'obviously. a little "tr^Ubl^jby^Ke^iinuSual-' impedim.en;t,''buSVn^verrfalte?ihgV'',and;(ready' to ■go ■,'on!iwhen s' as^kedr ']'D6wn .the back .he followed ;Koi • I'Or* along;" tKe outer Of the leaders, was' in yet more earnest pursuit at the straight' entrance, though four horses yet from the front, but then completely ■buried his opponents for ..speed, and .easily , won amidst tremendous cheering."" .: ■■/■,.■,' '; ; ; : '.. ■.:'■•! !•'■■'...: , ..■: •■.;;':

With the suspense over the huge crowd renewed its cheers, and peal after peal of acclamation followed .till, the champion was safely back in the enclosure and ensconced in the winner's stall. ' He poised his noble head, and gazed around, seeming to know that all had!not been quite right, but obliyious 'of the great danger in "which he had been.. No eulogy indeed could be too extravagant for the wonderful performance of horse and driver.

After the race >it wis ascertained how the' trouble had. occurred. Indianapolis went off slowly,- failing to strike his gait at Once, .and apparently, in finding his gait, he-strained his front hopple carrier. After the field had gone about, three furlongs the hopple - carrier-broke; - letting down the off hopple, but as luckhad it he : stepped' his off fore leg 'immediately out of the: straps^ The hopple thereafter swung perilously underneath him, striking his hind leg and under parts at .every stride, but, though patently incommoding him, neither unbalancing him nor throwing him out', of his gait. ' :

Each, time passing the stands -McDermc/tt, was locking down ,at the. swinging straps, but at the commencement of the final lap he decided to take no more, notice of, the danger and to drive the race therfeafter to win, ..Allowed the reins the big" pacer, lengthened his stride, and: soon he was gathering ;in the field,in front. ~He was' flying past everything.■rounding'",the horne v;tui;rij the strap's 'fiercely crashing into.his.flanks and legs,:.biit on and oh he came; and''the race was'all pver, afurlpng from the post.1 ' ; ; '■ ■ ■•■■.■•■• ■; - j The real gameness. of the act was that of | the driver, for the'horse had only to do, what he ; ,wa3 required.?, Had the' flying hopple tangled his legs, there must have been a serious ; crash. " McDermott flung criution to the winds. He drove his horse as■ if, there was ■!nothing;. amiss,". and in triumph he gained his reward. ' .-■■-.'- When the race was finished McDermott pulled up the horse and unstrapped the dangling hopple, holding, it up. for the public to 'view as 'he "drove back to the enclosure. The near hopple: had remained intact, • and the greatest of all' wonders ■■is'- 'that "Indianapolis never at any point looked, like going into a break, even when he was'at'the top of his speed. I Actually he ran'and won the race, practically aH the way,; with his pear, side I hoppled and his off side free, an" astOund- , ing performance in itself without "con-, I sideration of ;the ■ serious: iritefrferenee of (the flying straps. .. ■,•' :■ •

McDermott was succinct in his comment afterwards. ■ "He was- belting himself all the way,", he said, "and itsaved me from having to use the whip. I was afraid, however, that he might lash out at me, but he didn't, so sail! was well."