OGDEN, UT—MARCH 29, 2011—In one of the biggest upsets ever in the history of chariot racing, Owen Udy’s M&M’s Racing defeated two-time defending world champion Wasatch Pallet to win the World Championship Cutter & Chariot Racing Association’s world title meet on Sunday, March 27, at the Weber County Fairgrounds in Ogden, Utah.

Driven by Owen’s son Mike Udy, the team of Fast Rythum and Royal Mystic Miracle got a great break, sprinted along the rail and toured the quarter mile in :22.58, to win by about three-quarters of a horse length.

Meanwhile, Tye Vane drove Dave Neilson’s Wasatch Pallet team of Dominant Cash and SM Summer Love, the defending champions. An 8-year-old gelding by First Down Dash, SM Summer Love broke in the air, and then Dominant Cash, an 8-year-old gelding by Straight Talker, stumbled. The team got left by 2 lengths out of the gate but by the 220 mark had made up much of the deficit. However, the horses then hung and were unable to further close the gap. The Wasatch Pallet team had not been defeated in a single race over the past three seasons and won the world title in 2009-10.

Allen Hale’s Star A Ranch team finished third.

“Gee, I don’t know what to say,” Mike Udy admitted while cooling out his team. “I’m numb.”

The Udys represent the Bear River Valley chariot association at Tremonton, Utah. An earner of $62,953 on the flat track, Fast Rythum is a stakes-winning 9-year-old gelding by Winning Rhythm out of the Vital Sign mare Vital Investment. A $30,163 earner on the flat track, Royal Mystic Miracle is a winning 6-year-old gelding by Royal Miracle Dip out of the Dash For Cash mare Last Of A Royal Line.

“Hey, we got beat by a good team of very good horses,” said Vane, whose team races for the Skyline chariot association at Smithfield, Utah. “The Udys are good horsemen and they are a great family. Our hats are off to them. But we’ll be back next year.”

So will the Udys. Owen Udy has been racing chariots for 51 years, and this is his first world championship.

“My dad, Veral, got me started racing chariots,” said Owen, with tears in his eyes. “I know he’s looking down right now, smiling and watching us. This win is for him.”

Watch for the complete story in the May issue of The American Quarter Horse Journal.

Courtesy of www.aqharacing.com