Standing outside Glory's stall in barn number eight- which coincidentally looked just like barns seven, nine, six, twelve and two –it was easy to become enveloped in the chaos. Grooms rushed between horses, jockeys sized up their mounts and trainers barked orders. It wasn't too much unlike a horse show, but there was a different feeling in the air. It was almost like the pace of events took on the speed of the racetrack- everything happened at a mile a minute. Down the row, Eva spotted Scott walking her way. Setting down the brush she'd been using moments before, Eva grabbed Glory's leadrope off the hook.
"You ready? It's time to take Glory to the paddock to be saddled," Scott asked. Despite all the excitement, he still seemed pretty cool, but Eva supposed that he would be. How long had he been doing this for?
Nodding, Eva snapped the rope onto Glory's leather halter, which had been a good luck gift from her parents. Everyone back home seemed just as excited as Eva for this day. Leigha had heartily agreed to help her friend out with Cozzy and Dante, Terry had sent a few carrots with her for Glory and Blair, in her sheepish way, asked if Eva could call her after the race and tell her how it went, if it wasn't too much trouble.
Following Scott, who juggled their racing gear in one hand and adjusted his sunglasses with the other, all while giving orders to his barn manager, Eva led Glory from the barns. Just like any other day, Glory was full of herself. She danced and flared her nostrils, taking in her surroundings and enjoying every minute of it. Nerves didn't even seem to phase the filly, though they were sure doing a number to her owner's stomach.
Eva held Glory as Scott saddled her, taking a chance to scope out the field. In the seven horse maiden for two year old Appaloosa and Paint fillies, Glory was definitely one of the bigger horses at a hair above 16.3 hands. She was also only one of three Appaloosas and the only colored one at that. The other two- a dark bay filly by the Quarter Horse stallion Darkelly and a sorrel by Zevis Scooter Bug –accentuated both Glory's color and height. The two of the Paint fillies in the field, a bay tobiano and a solid sorrel, came close to Glory's height as they patiently waited to be saddled.
"Watch out for Kelly Go Far and Country Cousin," Scott instructed Glory's jockey, Steven Nelson, as he painted to the dark bay and bay tobiano fillies. Steven had come well recommended from Scott as the rider of many of his better horses, including Circle Six's star, Texas Special.
"Shouldn't be too hard," Steven coolly commented looking at the other horses. "She's a powerhouse, and if we hold her back until the 220 mark, she'll surely kick it into gear."
The distance of the race- a brief 350 yards –was the one thing that worried Eva. They could only taunt Glory so long before she'd need the room to make a move. If they waited too long or didn't have an opening, it could be too late. Steven's confidence, however, consoled Eva the slightest bit. Hopefully he knew what he was doing out there.
"You be good, okay girl?" Eva said to Glory, taking the filly's head in her heads so she could drop a kiss on her velvety nose. Snorting, Glory jerked her head out of Eva's grasp to look at a filly walking behind her. Her back leg cocked, but at Eva's warning she set it back down. "Show 'em on the track, Glory, not in the paddock."
Before she knew it, it was the call for rider's up and Scott was giving Steven a leg up. Although he'd ridden her before, Glory still skittered across the paddock, testing him. Thankfully, he took up the reins and reminded her who was boss as they walked to the track. As Scott departed with them, leading Glory, Eva felt the slightly overwhelmed. Glory was out of her hands now and it was all up to Scott's tutelage, Steven's hand and fate to decide her future.
Retreating to the stands, Eva picked up a program on the way, if for nothing else than to have something to fidget with to calm her nerves. The first two horses loaded into the gate obediently, while the third put up a fuss. Even after she was loaded, the sorrel overo continued to fidget. Glory was next and looked like she was about to go smoothly until right before the gate when the number three horse kicked out, making a big racket. Balking, Glory had to be led around to the gate again before she would go in. Thankfully, the rest of the horses followed without much to do.
"Excited yet?" Scott asked as he sat down next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Going out of my mind with anticipation is more like it," Eva replied, eyes sill fixed on the loading fillies.
Scott smiled. "If Glory has the trip I'm thinking she'll have, she should do pretty well. Maybe at least make you some money to account for the entry fee."
All Eva could do was nod, eyes fixed on the gate as the seventh horse finished loading. This day seemed almost surreal; who would've thought that they'd come this far? When she'd purchased Glory she'd never imagined her a racehorse. In any other situation, Glory would probably be prepping for the same show she'd be taking Cozzy and Dante to tomorrow. In hand classes would suit her well. While Eva would have wanted to point her more towards eventing, there was no denying she was a pretty horse. She could clean up at the hunter in hand classes.
But instead of standing pretty in front of judges, Glory was standing in anticipation in the starting gate. After what seemed like forever, the bell sounded and the gates flew open. Glory's first race had begun!
Its beginning, however, left much to be desired. The sorrel overo filly, the one that had caused all the commotion in the gate, bumped Glory on her way out. After Glory had a bit of a stumble, she bounced back with a vengeance, striding in front of the offending filly. Another filly, the solid sorrel Paint, fell victim to Glory's ground eating strides as Eva's filly easily bounded past her. Just as Glory was about to zoom up the middle, the sorrel Appaloosa and a gray Paint closed the gap in front of her. Throwing her head as Steven tightened his grip on the reins, Glory broke her long strides to prevent a collision. Slowing down was the last thing Glory wanted to do; Eva could read her frustration from the stands as horse and rider idled in fifth place. Seeing horses in front of her and not being allowed to chase them down infuriated the filly. Eva could see her trying harder and harder to grab the bit.
In a last ditch effort, right before the 220 mark, Steven swung Glory to the far outside and away from the congestion. The move gave them a clear path, but all that navigating had allowed a horse behind them to gain momentum. Trying to avoid sixth place, Eva saw Steven finally give Glory her head back. The shift in gears was notable. Glory powered forward, her muscular black and white hindquarters advancing her forward. With ease, she passed the sorrel Appaloosa who was falling back and was neck and neck with the gray Paint as they flashed under the wire.
That was it? Eva could hardly believe it. She had been worried that it would go by all too soon for Glory, but reality sunk in. Glory seemed equally in disbelief. Even though the race was over and the field was winding down to slow gallops and canters, she still continued to strain against Steven, refusing to slow. She knew she wasn't done yet! Only after she passed the gray and two other horses did she finally relent, albeit grudgingly.
"Nobody tell her she didn't win," Scott commented as he started the trek to go collect Glory. "At least she might've had her nose in front for third, eh?"
"That's it?" Eva reiterated to no on in particular, only aloud this time. Flabbergasted, she followed Scott.
It hadn't been the race, but the fight that had taken it out of Glory, or so Steven said. By the time Eva snapped the lead rope on her as they walked off the track, the filly's spotted coat was dark with sweat. Steven said that she could've run a million more miles if he'd asked her too, but a bad start and being trapped had incensed her. Even now, off the track, Glory's competitive drive was still on. She pulled Eva past any other horse and even attempted to take a bite out of an exercise pony.
"Glory, stand!" Eva reprimanded. She didn't have any easier of a time hosing her down. While Glory normally enjoyed her baths, especially on days like this, she skittered back and forth just out of the water's reach. Eva's own disappointment and dissipating nerves probably did nothing for the situation either. She was so sure Glory would win! How could she not? Look at her sire, look at her grandsire! Even her Appaloosa lines, while more modest than the fillies she had been up against, were nothing to be ashamed of. Even her physical structure screamed racehorse- why did fate seem so resistant?
Finally, Glory stood. She held her head high, eyes wide and nostrils flared pink, with her tail flagged, but at least she was still for once. Crooning to Glory, Eva splashed her hot back with water, smiling as she watched the slightest bit of tension disappear from the horse's muscles. "There you go girl. See, isn't that better?" Eva consoled as she gave Glory her bath.
"I've got some good news and some bad news for you," Scott announced as Eva finished hosing her down. Without waiting for her response, he continued, "The bad news is that Glory lost third place by a nose."
Eva, who had momentarily forgotten about the photo finish, groaned. Fourth out of a seven horse field wasn't that great. Glory did have a bad start though, she reminded herself. If the sorrel overo hadn't bumped her, who knows how the race might've ended up?
"And the good news?" she asked, hoping for something substantial as she returned Glory to her stall for the moment. They wouldn't be returning home for another couple of hours.
"I am proud to report that Dark Dawn Glory officially has a lifetime earning of $37.50. Congratulations," Scott remarked as he handed Eva an envelope.
Oh boy, Eva sarcastically though to herself.
"$40?" Leigha asked incredulously, as she helped Eva spray some Show Sheen on Dante's glistening copper coat. "That hardly seems worth it."
Eva, surprised by Leigha's lack of support and still stinging from the previous day, turned to look at her friend. "Well, it could've been worse, she could've been trapped for the whole race."
"Yeah," Leigha admitted. "But don't you wonder if it's really worth it? How much money have you sunk in that filly so far? There's no guarantee that she'll be a racehorse."
Despite the fact that they were at a horse show, Eva made no effort to contain her annoyance with her best friend. "Leigha, you're beginning to sound like Dan! Don't you think I know that?" Dante jumped a little at the harsh sound of her voice, but was placated by Leigha's calming hand on his neck.
"Cool your jets," Leigha advised her as she tightened Dante's girth. "But I do have to agree with Dan, sort of at least. You're spreading yourself awfully thin. Working two jobs and balancing races and shows, I mean. Look at you- you look awful! I can't even imagine how sleep deprived you are."
It didn't help matters any that Eva conveniently decided to yawn at that moment. Although she had a hard time admitting it, Leigha and Dan both had a point. But why was everyone so quick to write off Glory? Fourth place in her first race, that wasn't so bad. It didn't help that everyone, Eva especially, had had such high hopes for the filly. Scott reassured her that it sometimes took a while for a horse to break their maiden.
"And school starts back up soon, not to mention all the big hunter shows you and Cozzy have been working towards are right around the corner. How are you going to do everything at once?" Leigha asked, sounding more sympathetic this time.
"Well, Scott said he was going to take Glory down to Oklahoma with his string to give her another shot. They're leaving in two weeks and will be gone until after we leave for school. That should leave me some time to prepare for the Summer Classic, though I do need to pull in some more hours to pay for her shipping and entry fees…" Eva mused aloud, as she climbed aboard Dante.
"Girl, you're crazy," Leigha said, shaking her head as Eva rode away.
While her head was in the clouds, Dante proved the perfect gentleman in the warm up ring. Although it was the last class, he showed no signs of stress from being cooped up for most of the day. Even when a less than pleased Dutch mare cut in front of him, startling Eva, he plodded along like an old school pony. Shaking her head, Eva put thoughts of Glory aside. The day so far hadn't proved too awful, though she freely admitted that she could've done better. She and Cozzy managed a 2nd in Working Hunter, but Eva's mind wandered in the Hunter Under Saddle class- they'd barely escaped with 6th place. No doubt, Dan hadn't been too happy about that and Eva could've kicked herself for letting an easy class pass by them. She's never qualify for the Summer Classic like this. Fortunately, Open Hunters had gone better, the pair leaving with 4th place.
Dante and Mr. Butler inflicted less pressure on the frazzled Eva. After Mr. Butler reassured her that it was just enough to see him showin, Eva managed to put her nerves aside for the most part. She never got this nervous! What was with that? Taking a deep breath, Eva settled into her seat and asked Dante to pop over a small cross rail. Naturally, he sailed over it. Eva smiled; she couldn't ask for a nicer horse to ride.
Maybe Dan had a point. Eva was good at this. She could negotiate a hunter course on just about any horse you handed her and had done well in jumpers and eventing in her younger years. Sitting in the saddle, navigating a course just felt so natural- it was good to be good at something for once. However, the thought of giving up on Glory put a pang of sadness on her heart. She just needed to find a balance.
"Thanks for the ride, Lei!" Eva shouted as Leigha's Jetta zoomed down the Kavanaugh's gravel driveway. Stepping into the house, she dropped her show gear in the front hall and went to stick the doggy bag left over from their victory dinner in the fridge. Her mother would have something to say about her show jacket lying on the floor, but that could wait until later. It wasn't every day a girl qualified for the Summer Classic and Dante won his first Hunter class! Though the previous day's disappointment was still there, it was nice to have a lucky turn of events now and again.
But as with all good things, it wasn't sure to last. After setting the Styrofoam box in the fridge, Eva grabbed the entry form for the Classic Dan had given her and took it into the living room, shedding her riding clothes along the way. Falling into the soft, cushy couch, Eva's blue eyes perused the form, but stopped at the very bottom.
"$200?! For an entry fee?!" she groaned, falling over onto a throw pillow. "How am I ever going to come up with that?"
By next week, she needed $100 to enter Glory in her race, plus the costs of shipping and keeping her down in Oklahoma for several weeks. She had guessed that the entry fee for the Classic would be steep- only the best riders qualified –but $200 seemed a little excessive. Not to mention that there was no extra padding in Eva's bank account to cover it and it was too late to ask for more hours at the grocery store.
After two days of intense ups and downs, Eva easily flustered over the decision. She wanted Glory to race, but she had worked hard to qualify. But then again, there would be other shows and she figured she and Cozzy could use the time to practice. But after today, it was hard to say no to the Classic. She knew she would do well there. If she really buckled down with Cozzy between now and then, it was a sure bet. Sending Glory to Oklahoma though…It wasn't what the wistful, romantic side of her wanted to do, but Eva knew Dan would be proud. Resigned, she reached for the phone to tell Scott the news.
But just as her fingertips brushed the receiver, the phone came to a raucous life. At first, Eva jumped. How weird was that? Maybe it was Scott calling to say that he'd rather keep Glory in state and try Arapahoe Park again. That would make her life all the easier. And affordable.
"Hello?" Eva said, picking up the phone.
"Hi, is Eva there?" a voice that rang familiar asked.
"Yeah… Griffin, is that you?"
He chuckled. "You're good."
Eva blinked. She hadn't expected him to call of all people. Sure, they infrequently exchanged letters, keeping each other up to date on the horses, but it was more friendly business than anything. "I didn't expect you to call. Good timing though."
"You mean it's not 2 am there? Darn," he teased.
Eva rolled her eyes and while he couldn't have seen it, it was audible through her tone. "No, I mean I just walked in the door."
"That is good then," he replied. "I just wanted to call and see how Glory was doing. I hadn't heard anything from you in a while."
Eva heaved a heavy sigh. "That bad?" Griffin asked.
Eva related to Griffin everything that had happened since the last time she'd updated him. Glory's early success in training, smoking the older fillies in a work out, the excitement over her first race and her rough trip. Even things she didn't mean to mention- like taking a second job to pay for Glory's training, Dan's disapproval, her poor performance on Cozzy as of late –fell out of her mouth. All the frustrations and elations of the summer came pouring through the line.
"Welcome to horse racing," Griffin consoled, his smile detectable even though the phone.
"You mean this is what it's always like?" Eva huffed.
"No, not necessarily," he started, pausing to think about his words. "But be prepared for the downs with the ups. We've had some decent horses over the past few years, but nothing amazing. It's hard when you're used to winning streaks- or want one so bad –to deal with mediocrity for a while. You've put so much into Glory, what with flying out here to badger me, training her and heck, even finding somebody to train her was an accomplishment in and of itself. It'd be a shame to give up on her now, Eva. That'd be like me just up and selling Cartouche."
Nodding, Eva took his advice in. Getting the perspective from someone else involved with racing helped console her. "I don't know… I think I might just running Glory at Arapahoe again when Scott gets back. What's another month of waiting?"
"Your call," Griffin replied. "But just remember that everything will work out how it's supposed to. Don't worry so much about the future that you forget about the present."
Eva's mumbled reply wasn't convincing enough for Griffin. "Hey now, don't diss advice from the owner of the top two year old in the country!"
She had to laugh at his outburst of egotism, though the Daily Racing Form would back up that statement. Cartouche was becoming quite the darling of the racing world. "Oh, that's right. Number one trainer too?"
"Assistant trainer, thank you very much," he playfully corrected.
"Whatever!" she responded with lighter spirits. "I have to go call Glory's trainer. Talk to you again soon, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah. Just remember what I said: take things as they come and don't question it!"
"I'll file that cliché bit of sage advice for sure. Good night Griffin."
Although she felt he wanted to retort to that, Griffin settled for a simple goodbye before they hung up. Prying off her tall boots, which felt like heaven after her long day, Eva looked up at the clock. It was 11 pm already? She and Griff needed to kick their penchant for these late night talks, it was really interfering with her beauty sleep. Calling Scott at this hour, Eva decided, would be quite inappropriate. Not to mention clean pajamas, or at least ones with marginally less horse hair and alfalfa hay on them, and her bed sounded particularly divine. Business could wait until morning.