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SARGA.CO – On television or YouTube livestreams, horse racing fans are familiar with the euphoric moments of jockeys celebrating a victory — raising their hands to the sky atop their horses or kissing the neck of the animal that just carried them to triumph.
But behind that explosion of joy lies the tense moments experienced by the entire team before the race begins. The pressure is palpable as their champion horses start entering the starting gate.
This intense sight was written all over the face of Slamet Pak Wo — the man behind Triple’S’s victory in the main event, the HB X Cup 2025, at Indonesia’s Horse Racing (IHR) Piala Raja Hamengku Buwono X 2025 at the Sultan Agung Horse Racing Track, Yogyakarta, last weekend.
Wearing a white polo shirt and a matching cap, Slamet Pak Wo stood on the inner side of the track, his eyes locked on the starting gate.
In the middle of a crowded race arena, nothing could distract him from watching his horse.
As the starting gate opened, Slamet’s focus sharpened, following the movement of Triple’S and jockey Meikel Soleran. The 6-year-old chestnut stallion, standing 160 cm tall, launched with a perfect start and took the lead after breaking cleanly from the front group.
Once Triple’S led the race, Slamet began shifting from his original position — but his eyes never moved away. His mouth remained tightly shut.
He only glanced twice to the side, still far from calm. Even after repositioning himself, his gaze stayed locked on Triple’S.
When Meikel Soleran and Triple’S sprinted past him, Slamet clasped both hands in front of his mouth. “Hold the position,” he muttered, giving instructions before falling silent again, watching closely.
On the track, Triple’S continued to lead strongly up to 800 meters before the finish line.
“Push it, push it!” shouted Slamet Pak Wo, clenching his right fist before gripping the track barrier.
Seeing Triple’S running alone through the final bend, Slamet issued more instructions — likely inaudible to Meikel due to the distance.
“Go… go… go…” he said, swinging both clenched fists into the air.
“Go… go,” he repeated, his voice filled with urgency. On the track, Triple’S remained in front, but Naga Sembilan was closing in dangerously.
“Go… go… go… go… go…” Slamet shouted repeatedly, veins visible on his neck as he kept urging his horse on.
In the home stretch, Slamet had already moved his position again — now standing right at the finish line. “Go… go… go,” he continued yelling.
When Triple’S was confirmed as the first to cross the finish line in the Rp200 million feature race, Slamet Pak Wo erupted in celebration. He raised both hands high into the air, as if sharing the victory with jockey Meikel Soleran.
With a small leap, Slamet immediately dropped to his knees and prostrated on the spot, his face nearly touching the paving block of the inner track.
“Wooooooo… Triple… Ya Allah!” he yelled, hugging a young man in a collared shirt nearby.
The face that had been tense for two straight minutes transformed into pure joy. Slamet Pak Wo celebrated Triple’S’s triumph — earning the prestigious HB X Cup 2025 title.
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