Chapter 2: Fly, Black, Fly
DEADLY COLLISION
Another Tragedy Hits Hopeful
Farm
Everyone remembers the loss Hopeful Farm, and indeed the entire Racing Community, felt when Henry Dailey passed away.
However, no one expected that tragedy would hit the same barn so soon, or so hard.
Yesterday morning, in an exhilarating workout, came the sudden halt of two horses' careers when they had just begun to hit their peak.
When Tommy Boy, a five year old grey gelding from Glaybridge Farm threw his rider (probable reason: a loose shoe) he collided with Hell Hath No Fury the bay mare by Satan, which caused a chain reaction. She jumped away from Tommy Boy and hit her half-brother the three year-old, Satan's Fury.
All three horses and both of Hopeful Farm's riders were taken to the hospital. Richard Penfield, who rode Hell Hath No Fury that fateful morning, is stable and will be released in "a few days." George Garrison who rode the colt, Satan's Fury, is "critical but stable"; while under close observation, the doctors are confident he'll make a full recovery.
However, Satan's Fury was not as lucky. The veterinarians did everything they could do to save the promising colt, but the fire we saw in him during his brief career on the tracks burned out during the first hour of surgery. Hell Hath No Fury made it out of surgery, but her racing days are done and she will be sent to Hopeful Farm where she will live out her days as a broodmare.
It looks like Hopeful Farm just lost their two best racing horses. Alec Ramsey, trainer, said, "We are sorry about the entire incident. While we will mourn the passing of Satan's Fury, we are thankful that Rick and George are both ok."
How will this young trainer rebuild his stable, will he be able to bring Hopeful Farm back into the spot light, will Alec Ramsey be able to cope with so many obstacles? We'll have to wait and see.
By: Jamison Kay
The death of a best friend was enough to send any man back to his home, but then to lose a promising colt and prematurely retire a grand mare is too much for any man. Alec Ramsey retreated to the only place he found solace; Hopeful Farm with his black stallion.
A week after the accident Alec moved back to the farm for a break from the tracks and the reporters. Billy Watts, who was a long time friend of Alec and manager of the young stock (and old) at Hopeful Farm, came back to the tracks and continued training the racing horses. Alec had complete faith in Billy, there wasn't a doubt in his mind that Billy would face any trouble; he was in charge of breaking all of the colts and fillies back at the farm and getting them ready for Alec, who would continue their training in hopes of racing them against the best.
As Alec drove up the long drive back to his farm, he stopped at the large pasture that was made specifically for his stallion, the Black. He was the lone champion; from his glorified racing days to the day that he was retired he was the reason that Hopeful Farm thrived. Had it not been for the Black, Hopeful Farm would not exist nor would they have been able to produce world class champions. Most of his get were raced on the flat, but a growing number of his get and grand-get were champions in harness, steeplechase, and endurance racing. Most recently a grand-get of the Black was crowed the national dressage reserve champion. The Black's blood was making a profound influence in many disciplines world wide.
Though, the Black still acted like a young colt, he was getting old, and Alec knew it. His book is not longer open to the public, only by request could you have a breeding to the great black stallion. Each year they offer only a limited number of breeding services available for Satan, which always sold for a high price. Though the Black and Satan's services are still the highest in demand, Hopeful Farm's leading stallions are the younger stock by the Black and Satan; Black Out, the Derby and Preakness winner, by the Black, always had a full book; Desert Fury the two time Breeder's Cup winner was by Satan and was growing attention with his three year old colt Wrath of the Desert; Summertime, a stallion by Wintertime out of My Magic (by the Black), was a young stallion whose first foal crop became of racing age this year; including Salt N' Pepper a promising grey filly out of Black Pepper; and the newest addition, Black Legacy, who was recently named Horse of the Year, was unexpectedly retired after winning the Handicap Triple Crown.
Alec climbed out of his truck and whistled the special whistle reserved for one horse, the Black. After a moment Alec heard the thundering of hooves as the Black galloped down the grassy hill towards the boy he loved. The Black still moved with all the grace and nobility of his younger days, even though he was far past his peak, he was still the king of Hopeful Farm; and like all kings they knew that they held the place of honor.
He vaulted the fence and ran to his horse, which he had not seen in many months. The Black happy to see the 'boy' which he loved lowered his head down to his face so that they both could breathe in each others essence.
"Oh, Black," cried the boy, "How is this going to work? Nothing will be the same anymore… it was always the three of us, no matter what the problem was we fixed together."
Alec cried with the Black and instinctively he found himself astride his great stallion. Only when the Black began to move out of his slow canter did Alec realize that he was riding his horse, it seemed so natural for him to ride the Black, even though these special rides were stopped two years before when Alec thought it would be too much of a strain for the aging horse.
With every stride the Black's movements became faster and faster, and Alec urged him on to go ever faster and faster. "Take me away from his place, Black; together we will escape this horror. Fly, Black, Fly! Fly farther and faster than every before and we will escape."
With Alec urging him on the Black strained his muscles to please his master, but those muscles were not part of the sleek well oiled racing machine that they had once been. Though his fiery spirit would never go out, his body had aged and he could not keep up the swift gallop he so wanted to run for the boy on his back.
Soon Alec realized that he was not a boy anymore and no longer was the Black a young stallion with speed to burn, and he eased the Black out of his gallop and brought him to a stop. One look at the Black and Alec was brought completely out of his fantasy world; the Black was blowing hard and was sweating harder than he ever had before.
Glancing at the house he knew that his mother was waiting to see him, but he had to take care of his horse first. Leading the Black to the barn Alec wondered how Billy was handling the press' reaction to his 'vacation'.
As it were, Billy Watts was being, for the lack of a better word, attacked by reporters trying to figure out where Alec went; though many of them guessed correctly.
"This is the only statement you will be given, so listen closely," Billy told the reporters, "To put it simply, Alec Ramsey has taken a vacation. Don't ask me where, I am not a liberty to say. You must understand what an emotional strain he is going through, even before the… er… accident Alec was planning on taking a short break. He is on no timeframe and will be gone until further notice. With that said, Alec does not have plans to leave permanently. However, while he is gone, Alec has given me the responsibility of lead trainer for Hopeful Farm, and I assure you that all of the horses will be kept on schedule." He paused before continuing, "Thank you gentlemen, that'll be all."
However, they would not let the ex-jockey get away so easily.
"Billy," one asked, "Has Alec gone back to the Farm?"
"With the loss of Satan's Fury, do you have plans for the Derby?" another shouted.
"Billy!" yet another reported called, "Is there any truth to the rumor that Black Legacy will be brought out of retirement?"
Billy held up his hands in defeat, "I have already stated that I can not say where Alec has gone. We have 7 other promising 3 year olds… anything can happen at the Derby. And…Alec and I have talked about the chances of Legacy doing well if we brought him back. But no decision has been made either way… it was just stable talk. Now please gentlemen, if you'll excuse me I have a lot to do."
A/N: Sorry this is such a late update (and a short one at that!), summer has been very hectic and I haven't been able to write much. Thank you for reading and don't forget that the little button in the bottom left hand corner is meant to be used!
Please note that some of the horses will be real; and others will be the creation of Walter Farley; and still others will be of my own creation.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters created and used in the "Black Stallion Series" created by Walter Farley and continued on by his son, Steven Farley. I am in no way making any profit in this fictional creation; it is pure "fan-fiction." The names in this story are in no way a reflection of any real person, and any similarities is pure coincidental.