- Type: Art Audio File
- Collection: American Art
- Culture/Region: America
- Subject Area: Visual Arts
- Grade Level: 9-12, College, Adult
Audio courtesy of Gary Kairn.
Listen to broadcaster John Hunt’s call of a record-breaking harness race by the Australian champion pacer Village Kid:
And so the amber light goes on and Village Kid readies himself one final time. Warms the massive engine and tunes his mind to the task ahead. What wonders might he leave us with tonight? More world records perhaps, to go with his cluster of cups and championships? The seemingly ageless marvel, scores up well. Concentrate now Willie, concentrate. One final time, the blue light is on. They’re off in the time trial! And the machine-like gait of Village Kid immediately hops into full stride, traveling as smooth as silk as he settles into his rhythm. Fred Kursley keeping the galloping pacemaker Romeo’s Ace up on his outside, doing a very good job, about a half to three quarters of a length behind him, that’s where you’d want him… as they head down the back straight… they’re about to cut through the first quarter, and Lewis has a pretty good hold on Village Kid at the moment, he’s going to save him up for a big sprint home, well it looked that way, have a look at that, 0:27.9! That’s a blistering quarter, he’s well inside two minutes, he’s well inside everything at the moment. As they come down towards the top of the straight, this powerhouse dynamo of speed and sheer will to win, Village Kid, traveling beautifully. Now he’ll start to shoot the lights out as they come down the straight, the red light on, about to get the bell. That’s it, cheer him on, he’ll respond to that! Down to the winning post they come and he comes through the second quarter in 0:29.3, that’s the half in 0:57.2! now if he only comes home in 60 seconds from there he’ll nearly break the all-…, the world-record of [1:]56.6, so he only needs to come home in about 59 seconds or so from here and he’ll break everything. With about 600 meters left to run, Village Kid, Lewis starting to urge him on, Romeo’s Ace doing a great job on the outside, Village Kid painting an inspiring portrait of equine gallantry, what a horse! He cuts the third corner in 0:28.9, this is going to be very special indeed! He’s coming to the turn now, about 200 meters left to run, Village Kid – with the wind in his hair, he’s flat out, 150 to run, into the straight they come now. Village Kid 1:44… 45… 46… 47, one last giant effort, one final heartrending lunge to the line, go Willie go! They split the line in 1.55! Unbelievable! It’s the fastest he’s ever gone! Village Kid has run the fastest time of his life, at the age of 13! It’s beyond belief, he’s gone 1:55 unofficial. 0:28.9 and 0:28.9 the last quarter, is a half in 0:57.8, after going 0:57.3… and unofficially, it’s 1:55.