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Chris
Hope stands in the winners circle after winning the second annual
Tom Hope Sr. Memorial
Saturday night at the Great Darke County Fair.
CNO Photos by Brad Conrad
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They call it a
family affair
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- It was one year ago that Chris Hope won the inaugural Tom
Hope Sr. Memorial.
Saturday night, in the 11th race, Hope drove Premier Flash to the
winners circle in a time of 1:59.4.
After the race, the young driver was very emotional.
“I really can’t even explain the emotions,” said Hope. “This race means
so much to me and my family. This is the second time for that race and
it’s a huge thing for the whole family.”
When Hope the memorial race in 2013, his eyes were filled with tears.
In 2014, the tears flowed again but this time it was for different
reasons.
“The first time I was so emotional because my grandpa was only gone for
a short amount of time. It was really overwhelming. I think I was
crying when I made the final turn coming down the front stretch,” said
Hope. “This time, it really never hit me until after I won the race and
was coming into the winners circle. My dad (Tom Hope Jr.) met me on the
track then it really hit me.”
When Hope was headed for home, he had little time to think about what
was awaiting him.
“I could feel the field behind me and there was a couple of times I
could feel then getting close,” admitted Hope. “Once I came out of the
turn, I looked over my shoulder and even though I knew they were back
there but I couldn’t see them.”
As with any horse race, it all starts and ends with the horse.
“The horse was great,” said Hope. “I had never drove the horse and had
never heard of him until Tim said he found me a horse to drive. I
looked at him in the program and he looked like a good horse but he
hadn’t been making a whole lot over at Scioto but then again, as fast
as they’re going over there, it’s kind of hard. He warmed up really
easy and he is an older horse. He set the pace and did the work for me.
I didn’t have to keep his attention the whole time. Once he got going,
he stayed that way. When I needed more, he gave it to me. Whenever I
called on him he knew what to do. He’s a good horse and he knows what
he’s doing. ”
Once everything was completed with the horse, the Hope family was
presented with a tapestry. On the tapestry was a photo that was taken
the previous year after Hope won the race. The picture was of him
hugging his grandmother, Patricia Hope.
“That tapestry was a surprise to all of us,” said Hope. “It was really
special to get that and grandma will keep the tapestry.”
Hope said that not only him and his grandmother was had the teas but so
did his dad.
“My dad was very emotional and he is my biggest critic.”
On the tapestry the words 'It's A Family Affair' really says it all
when it comes the Hope family and harness racing.
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Hope
drives Premier Flash to the victory Saturday night.
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