Page 108 - April 2017

2017 WORLD CHARIOT
CHAMPIONSHIP
by Heather Ridgway
LS Little Sam and One Famous Secret of the Gibson & Wright team with driver Bob Pence are the 2017 World Chariot Champions.
The 2016-2017 Chariot & Cutter World Championship was decided on March 26 at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden, Utah. The teams ran in their respective divi- sions, with the top three teams from the first division competing for the title of World Champion.
The top three teams competing for
the World Champion title were defending World Champion Kelly and Kyle Cook’s
Sierra Racing team from the Nebo Chariot Association, the Jenson, Ropelato & Padgett team from the Skyline Chariot Association, and the Gibson & Wright team from the Wasatch Slopes Chariot Association. These three teams were a rematch from last year’s tro- phy dash in which team Sierra Racing took the World Championship title, Jenson, Ropelato & Padgett finished second, and Gibson & Wright were third.
The three teams were once again led to the gate by their drivers for the Championship run. Each broke well and fought a close race, but
it was the Gibson & Wright team who won
the World Championship title this year while clocking the fastest time of the day of :21.86 for the 440 yards.
Second place went to the Jenson, Ropelato
& Padgett team of Kingly Walk (Walk Thru Fire-Queen Of Secrets) and To B Atticus (Fredricksburg-Mega Dashablity), who finished in a close :21.92. Third place went to Sierra Racing with Maniac Zac (Mighty Invictus-Cindy Strawford) and Spur N Dirty (Feature Mr Jess- Chivatos Secret) crossing the line in :22.02.
Winning their first World Championship title, the Gibson & Wright racing team is owned by Gregg Gibson and Steve Wright, conditioned by Monty Arrosa Racing, and they were driven by Bob Pence.
In the gates were: 7-year-old sorrel geld-
ing LS Little Sam (Cashin Man-A Special Wonder, Special Effort), who had seven wins on the flat track including a victory in the 2012 Wyoming Bred Futurity, a career high 106 speed index, and earnings of $30,760 before moving to chariots; and 7-year-old bay gelding One Famous Secret (One Famous Eagle- Secretively, Special Leader), who is a five-time winner including a victory in the 2014 Treasure Valley Racing Bonus Challenge and a second in the 2013 Hadtobenuts Derby, a career best 109 speed index, and cumulative earnings of $45,582 before moving to chariots.
Gibson & Wright earned their way to the World Championships by winning their state championship in their division through the Wasatch Slopes Chariot Association. They can now add the title of World Champion to their list of accomplishments.
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The Gibson & Wright team and their connections in the winner’s circle after scoring their first World Championship title.
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© CDRP Photography Phoro by Richard Chamberlain