Post by aurelia on Jun 19, 2017 16:58:22 GMT -6
Sharing the Spotlight
Arrows Away, "Arrow" jockeyed by Eric Lee
Forget Me Not, "Mia" jockeyed by Nicole Wright
Bayahibe, "Bear" jockeyed by Elisabeth Young
The heat out on the dirt track was unbearable. All three jockeys were breathing as hardly as their horses, and the run hadn't even begun yet. Yesterday's frigid rain and sharp winds hadn't exactly prepared to group for today's workout. They would be miserable, especially over the eight furlongs Keegan had planned for them today. That woman could be crazy sometimes, but the jockeys tried not to question her. Last time somebody did that, she didn't let them ride anybody for a week.
Colby watched over the group carefully. Arrow and Mia were debuting at The Wire soon, while Bayahibe wouldn't be racing again until April. He was mostly in with these two to give them a little extra encouragement- and to get the jockeys' butts in gear. The three horses had loaded into the gates, clearly itching to run. Arrow, on inside, seemed to be running in place, his eager snorts ringing across the otherwise quiet track. The palomino mare next to him was shrunk back away from the gate, head held high with the whites of her eyes exposed. Mia was always ridiculously nervous at the gate, hence why Keegan had decided to partner the always-confident Nicole with her. She was smirking as the mare jigged in place, but Colby wasn't worried. Mia would never break well, and no jockey could change that. But she always brought the element of surprise.
The gates opened quickly, and all three horses leaped out, eager to stretch their legs. Arrow, as expected, shot to the front of the pack, a spot that would be difficult to overtake. Bear was moving a bit slower than usual, settling on Mia's inside as opposed to just on Arrow's tail, where Colby would have expected him. He had eight furlongs to catch up, if need be, but today wasn't about him. It was about testing the newbies. And although Arrow was making his mark, Mia was visibly struggling. She looked unfocused and, frankly, afraid of everything around her. Colby was tempted to blame the heat, but the mare was always like this. She wasn't like her people-pleasing father or her sassy mother at all, but everybody had hoped that it was only a phase. With more confidence and experience, she should blossom into a lovely, classy racer.
Eight furlongs was a big workout for any horse on a hot day like this, but these horses excelled on longer distances. They were built to last, and never hit peak speed until the end of the race. This group would hopefully be running ten to twelve furlong races in the future. Mia still trailed behind the two colts, but Bear was not far ahead. Arrow, on the other hand, was surging ahead, unthreatened by the pair of three year-olds. He was truly incredible, and although he was never supposed to pick favorites, Colby hoped the colt would maintain his lead through the full run.
The horses kept steady positions through the first five furlongs, and things seemed to be set. Mia's nerves seemed to have settled, but she struggled in the heat, her speed slowing. She was not easily motivated by other horses, and needed to have her heart set on winning in order to do well. Today, her mind just wasn't there. Bear, however, was beginning to light up. He always had a trick up his sleeve towards the end of the race. He had been peeling away slowly from Mia, and at the six furlong mark, he shot ahead, quickly gaining on Arrow. Arrow's ears pinned, and Eric was visibly pushing him to go faster, but Bear was coming up quick. At seven furlongs, Bear had the upper hand, creeping around Arrow's outside, refusing to quit. Arrow fought hard, however, and just when it seemed Bear would take the win, Arrow surged ahead, making one final push to cross the wire first.
Colby smiled as the three walked over to him a few minutes after the finish. Their nostrils were still flaring, and their entire bodies were cloaked in sweat. The jockeys were not doing too well either, Eric looking especially sunburnt. "That was nice, especially for this weather. Times are a bit down from usual, but that's okay for today. It's too hot to be breezing," Colby began, turning to face Nicole. She was clearly trying to hide a pout, doing everything she could to not lose her temper at the already sensitive mare. "That wasn't her day. Or yours. I think we need to take her out next week and just breeze her alone, let her run how she wants to run. And we need to practice her in the gate. Her sire was excellent in the gate. She has no excuse." Of course the filly's run had been disappointing, but Colby knew she had more in her. With a bit of work, she would be right up there with the colts, surging across the wire with nobody stopping her. Arrow was already there, of course, and had really nailed his run today. He and Eric made a perfect match, and Colby couldn't wait to see their debut. And Bear- Bear was just Bear. He did his own thing, surging to the front at the last minute and putting up a strong fight. Today wasn't his winning day, but his day would surely come. It was well on its way.
The horses kept steady positions through the first five furlongs, and things seemed to be set. Mia's nerves seemed to have settled, but she struggled in the heat, her speed slowing. She was not easily motivated by other horses, and needed to have her heart set on winning in order to do well. Today, her mind just wasn't there. Bear, however, was beginning to light up. He always had a trick up his sleeve towards the end of the race. He had been peeling away slowly from Mia, and at the six furlong mark, he shot ahead, quickly gaining on Arrow. Arrow's ears pinned, and Eric was visibly pushing him to go faster, but Bear was coming up quick. At seven furlongs, Bear had the upper hand, creeping around Arrow's outside, refusing to quit. Arrow fought hard, however, and just when it seemed Bear would take the win, Arrow surged ahead, making one final push to cross the wire first.
Colby smiled as the three walked over to him a few minutes after the finish. Their nostrils were still flaring, and their entire bodies were cloaked in sweat. The jockeys were not doing too well either, Eric looking especially sunburnt. "That was nice, especially for this weather. Times are a bit down from usual, but that's okay for today. It's too hot to be breezing," Colby began, turning to face Nicole. She was clearly trying to hide a pout, doing everything she could to not lose her temper at the already sensitive mare. "That wasn't her day. Or yours. I think we need to take her out next week and just breeze her alone, let her run how she wants to run. And we need to practice her in the gate. Her sire was excellent in the gate. She has no excuse." Of course the filly's run had been disappointing, but Colby knew she had more in her. With a bit of work, she would be right up there with the colts, surging across the wire with nobody stopping her. Arrow was already there, of course, and had really nailed his run today. He and Eric made a perfect match, and Colby couldn't wait to see their debut. And Bear- Bear was just Bear. He did his own thing, surging to the front at the last minute and putting up a strong fight. Today wasn't his winning day, but his day would surely come. It was well on its way.
