by Karsten Bonsdorf, USTA web newsroom correspondent

The German Trotting Derby, raced at the historic Mariendorf track in Berlin, was won by Dream Magic Be with Josef Franzl, who actually was second past the post. The winner was disqualified for being owned by the same owner and trained by the same trainer as another horse in the race that made a break at the last corner.

Do you think this sounds strange?

Yes it is.

Here is what happened.

Going around the last corner Indigious with Erik Adielsson in the bike was in command followed by Chapeau with Thorsten Thietz driving; both horses are owned by The Express Stable and trained by Stig H. Johansson.

Suddenly Indigious went off stride and Erik Adielsson left the inside lane and made racing room for Chapeau, who went on to be first past the post. Indigious was disqualified for making a break.

At first everybody thought that Chapeau was the winner of the 117th Deutsches Traber-Derby, but then the judges posted the inquiry sign. They deliberated for more than 20 minutes before it was announced that Chapeau was disqualified and placed last because of the relationship with Indigious.

It was in fact a correct decision according to the German set of racing rules.

But after the race Stig H. Johansson was verbally attacked by a horse owner, who also made threats to driver Erik Adielsson. It was a very serious situation and the police were called in to assure that Johansson and Adielsson could leave the racetrack unharmed.

Adielsson was set down for no less than 37 days and fined 500 Euros ($625).

But in the books it’s Dream Magic Be who is the winner of the 2012 German Derby. He is sired by Dream Vacation, he by Pine Chip. The purse for the winner was $140,000.

You can watch the race on YouTube at this link. The incident takes place around 2:10.