Chapter 10: Match Race
For two weeks now I have been training on the track. Nicki made sure that I wasn't there everyday so I could also have time to gallop in the fields. Those days always went perfectly. There was no better feeling than when you are free to fly for miles in the wide open fields. For now I cantered in the paddock. I waited patiently for Nicki to come. At least it wasn't as bad today, I had Fury to keep me company in the pasture close by. Her mother disapproved and took her away most of the time but she gave up when she wouldn't stop coming around. I loved that little filly. I hated that I could never be close enough to her to actually make any contact.
I was so caught up on little Fury that I didn't even notice Nicki's presence in the paddock. I whinnied at her in greeting. I immediately trotted up to her.
"Hey bud," She rubbed my muzzle. "You can't tell me you've missed me that much."
I sniffed her hair.
"Okay!" Her laughter caused me to smile. "So you did. So what's this I hear about you damaging the place?"
She moved my face towards a broken board I had made in the fence. I nickered when I knew what she was talking about. I had been getting a little restless lately in the paddock. With the new attention I was getting, it was hard being alone. She strapped my halter on and lead me out of the paddock.
"Alright apparently they set up a race for you today. So do me a favor and kick Riley's butt for me. That stupid stud tried biting me when I passed his stall."
All I heard was Riley's name and I shivered with anger. Not towards Nicki but just the thought of that ignorant stud.
Fury's loud whinny cleared away my anger and I noticed we were passing her pasture.
"Fury!" I stuck my head over the fence to touch her muzzle. "I've missed you little squirt."
"Ace, have you seen me lately! I've been running in the pasture just like you!"
"That's great Fury." Nicki tugged on my rope.
"Aw, who's your friend?" Nicki stuck her arm through the fence to pet her. Fury looked at me for assurance that she was safe. I nodded to her and she sniffed her hand. "Well aren't you cute. Sorry Ace but I'll let you see her when were done, I promise."
After receiving the death look from Fury's mother I obeyed Nicki and nuzzled Fury goodbye. I followed Nicki back to the barn. As always, she groomed me and then saddled me. Minutes later Scott came with Jeff trailing behind him. Jeff was leading Riley who was already saddled.
"I still don't think this is a good idea." The jockey argued with Scott. "He's going to attack my horse as soon as we get running together."
"Nicki, good to see you." Scott seemed to be ignoring the jockey now. "You remembered about the match race right?"
"Yeah, how could I forget." She didn't act too excited with her words. I was focused on Riley.
"Jeff why don't you get down to the track and start warming him up." The jockey obeyed and lead Riley in front of me. With no warning the thick headed stud threw his teeth at me. Thinking of Nicki I did not respond in violence and instead I stepped back. He had nipped my neck but it was not enough to break the skin. Scott yelled something to the jockey and he then trotted Riley away.
"Even the professionally trained can be thick headed. Sorry about that Nicki."
"It's ok, Ace seems ok."
"Alright then, bridle him up and head down." Scott walked off just as Nicki softly put the bit in my mouth.
We walked past the pastures down the path that we normally took to get to the track. Riley was cantering on the track warming up. Nicki swooped herself onto my back and kicked me into a trot before we even got to the track. I sensed a little bit of nervousness that radiated from her. We passed Scott without talking to him and she started to canter me on the track.
After a few minutes of cantering she slowed me to a walk and we continued back towards Scott and Riley. Scott was talking with Jeff.
"He hasn't been in the gate yet so we'll just start ahead of it." The jockey nodded and steered him away. Scott walked to us. "Alright Nicki, we'll start gate work if Ace can show me a good performance."
Nicki nodded and lead me to the start where Riley was. I glowered at Riley but it was nothing as bad as his glare.
"So you think just because you have a human now you think you can beat me?"
"No man of course not. I could've beaten you even without a human. Just strap a robot to my back."
"Your nothing but a hypocrite, I recall you said racing was a horrible sport."
"No you must have misheard me, I must have said that you were horrible at the sport."
He glared his teeth but I just laughed. I was so focused on Riley that it startled me when Nicki kicked my sides. Riley burst out and I shied to the right before realizing what was going on. As soon as I caught on I was in a gallop and chasing after him. It took me up till the first turn to reach his behind but at least now I could stay with him. The sprint took a lot from me but I didn't want to disappoint Nicki so I kept going.
We were halfway home and my lungs felt as they were going to burst. I felt myself falling back further and further every stride. I kept myself at a smooth pace until we reached the final turn. The long stretch had given me small time to recover. Though my lungs still burned I had the strength to increase my stride slightly. Halfway through the final turn I was three strides away. There's no way I can beat him, not now.
"Come on Ace!" Nicki encouraged me with two furlongs to go. I saw the last stretch and excitement took over my body. I felt my legs digging deep into the dirt and the pain had gone. My body moved next to Riley's. we were side by side gutting it out. I kept my fast pace and shot right by him. There was half a furlong to go and I only increased the distance between us. We passed the finish line and Nicki tugged on the bit. I slowed my pace to a canter. The exhaustion had caught up to me. Nicki was furiously patting my neck. By the time we were turned around Scott had sent Riley away and was walking towards us with a smile on his face.
"So how'd he do Scott?"
"This horse is going to be great."