Track Condition: Muddy  

Weather Conditions: Rain showers, Windy. 64 degrees Fahrenheit  

Workout: 4 Furlongs, Breezing  

    It was exactly 5:30 AM as the two new additions to the racing roster were led out onto Crimson Haven's training track. The current rain showers had caused the track to become slightly wet, and the horses and their riders covered in a thin coat of water. Myra shivered as the gray colt lengthened his stride, bringing a fresh new gust of rain drops pelting against her face as he sped up. Mason laughed as he saw the older jockey's slightly annoyed expression. "Oh, cheer up Myra. It's just a little rain shower." He urged Monarch's Journey into a canter, the younger jockey enjoying the rain and letting the bay stallion warm up before the workout.
    "You know I hate the rain!" Myra said back in an irritated tone, her eyes narrowing as she too asked Rev for a canter. The two pairs continued their respective warm-ups in silence, only occasionally interrupted by a chuckle from Mason when Myra cursed the rain.

    "Okay, I think we're ready," the female jockey said over the wind, halting Rev squarely. Mason followed close behind, keeping the nervous horse under good control. The Raven snorted his disapproval at being so close to another horse and quickly side stepped, leaving Myra to calm him down again. "Tony told me about his aversion to other horses. I didn't know it was that bad," Myra said quietly. She redirected him into a halt, but this time a small distance from Arch and Mason.

    "Yeah, I guess I'll just stand here all by myself." The younger male jockey said playfully, reaching down and patting Arch's neck, a fake hurt expression on his face. "It's just me and you now, bud," he said to Monarch's Journey, leaving Myra to just roll her eyes.

    "Come on, let's focus. Tony should be here any minute now to time us." As soon as she muttered the words, Tony appeared with a rain coat and a coffee in his right hand, a stop clock in his other. "I guess I just summoned him." Myra said.

    "Uh, no fair. I want a coffee," Mason complained, eyes locked on Tony's coffee. "You know, a mocha sounds really good right now."

    "Tell you what, Sawyer. I'll buy you and Myra a coffee if you can keep your mouth shut for the whole entire workout and cool down. Deal?" Tony's eyebrow raised, waiting for Mason's reply.

    "You know I can't do that."

    "That was the point, Sawyer. Anyways, let's go. On three." Tony waited a moment before counting off. "1...2...3!" Both jockeys urged their horses forward, asking for a start that would give them an advantage in the workout. Rev took the lead speeding away from Arch, his dislike to the bay stallion made clear. Monarch's Journey trailed behind, settling his own pace and cooperating with Mason. The furlongs passed by in a blur; before she knew it, Myra and Rev had already gone halfway through the two furlong mark. She felt the colt still going strong, but she knew he would be overpowered by the older stallion who was now beginning to make his move. The last two furlongs were a battle from start to finish, The Raven desperately fighting to keep his lead. In the third furlong was when Arch finally conquered the gray colt, pulling farther away with every stride. The bay stallion crossed the four furlong mark with a margin, at least a horse-length away from Rev. The workout seemed easy for Arch, his breathing light and coat wet only from the rain. Even with the battle, The Raven was in the same condition as Arch, though he seemed to be just a bit winded.

    Mason turned his head over to where Tony was standing, two stopwatches in his hand and a smile on his face. "51 and 54 seconds, not bad for wet conditions. We can always improve though." The two horses were splattered with mud, and so were the jockey's goggles. Mason took his off, then dismounted, giving Arch a quick pat on the neck. He grabbed a bag of apple slices from his coat pocket, then offered one to Monarch's Journey, who gladly took the treat. "I'm going to love being his jockey this year. I wouldn't mind filling in for you when you can't ride Rev, Myra. He put up quite the fight."

    "Yep, he did great. Considering he was running on the dirt. I have to get him and Constitution out on the turf, they could be best of friends." The jockey started to walk back to the stables with Tony and Mason, though the other jockey and his mount was kept at a distance to keep Rev from acting up.

    "Considering that I am walking apart from you so he doesn't throw a tantrum is a pretty sure sign that he won't be 'best of friends' with any horse." Mason said with a smirk.

    "You are right," Myra said with a sigh, while Tony laughed.

    "Come on, guys. We're on a schedule." The three humans and their horses continued to walk, the rain letting up and the sun starting to shine through. This was just the beginning of another exciting, bright journey for Crimson Haven.