Post by LK on Oct 8, 2015 21:35:14 GMT -5
HANDSOME TABBY && MAVERICK HARRIS
with MAJESTIC HERO as breezing partner
with MAJESTIC HERO as breezing partner
The barn watched with respect as the two veterans made their way out to the practice track one last time. Jester's bay coat was glowing with health as he strolled through the grounds, his muscles rippling from their build up over the past year. He danced alongside his handler and nearly knocked his scowling jockey over in the process. The stallion was as energetic and wild as ever before a run. Clinton surely had his hands full today since warm up was likely to be an event to watch. Everyone wondered how Jester would behave once his retirement settled in. He was likely to pace in his paddock and spend his hours challenging other horses, daring them to try and be more dominant than he was. Majestic Hero had finished with his last race weeks ago and today would be his last day setting foot on the grass track. He finished with a well accomplished record of fifteen wins and ended his four year old season with an impressive seven victories, upgrading from Grade Three to Grade One through the year. The bay horse walked with pride, eyeing everyone around him with slight disdain. Clinton Ward climbed up the mounting block and claimed Jester's attention for one last time. It took a couple tries before the racehorse would inch close enough for him to lung across the saddle and gather his reins. Jester threw a couple of crow hops in contempt before Clinton got him to move out at a brisk trot, his attention secured for the moment.
Behind them a great chestnut had appeared on the side of the track with an escort of barn workers who were determined to watch the horses run one last time. Handsome Tabby rarely got riled up around crowds but did not like his personal space being confined. The stallion was weary of everyone closing in on him and flicked his tail in irritation. A tall brunette wedged her way through the workers and scolded them for crowding the stallion. Felicity shooed them to the observation stands before addressing the jockey who was now attempting the mount the leggy chestnut. Tabs melded back into his caring self as the trainer rubbed his forehead and playfully flicked his ears. Felicity was clearly proud of how he had turned out after being given to them by another barn. They had considered retiring him a year ago but decided to run him in the upper division races after how well he had done. In return, the stallion had granted them with nine wins, over half of them being major races. His tumbled through the Senior Superstars Turf Series was less than stellar but he bounced back to win the World Turf Cup a few weeks later. With a fantastic year under his belt, Handsome Tabby was headed into his last race, the Breeder's Cup Turf.
A week before the races began the barn was looking at three fearsome competitors for their all-star to go up against. Ode To Glory and Abastor had become regular rivals throughout the year and would be a familiar challenge for Tabs. He had beaten both of them before and could do it again. The fourth horse in the race was a somewhat surprising entry, Pandora from SOPS. The three year old was no easy competitor with a hefty winning year under her belt. Being another variable runner like Handsome Tabby, she could prove to be the most challenging horse to figure out. But would her experience hold out?
The two great turf runners rotated through their warm up routine, each getting more visibly relaxed as they stretched their muscles and became attuned to their riders. They were going to be running a mile today, just enough to get Tabs's head into running but not enough to wear him out for the big race coming up. Their secret weapon was the distance of the race as nine to ten furlongs was his sweet spot. A mile was not enough for him to get his competitive side working, but yet longer than ten and he never was able to hold off the other horses. Odds were in his favor and it was guaranteed to be a test of his abilities from start to finish. Felicity knew the stallion was able to do it and she was betting on him in the end.
Loading into the gate went smoothly and without a hitch, both horses already focused on their task to come. The small loader was only designed to hold four horses and was lightly made to transport across the small workout track. Jester snorted, sending a spray of droplets across the sunlight between the doors. He nudged the door, getting more and more impatient the longer he was forced to wait. He always was one to get aggitated if he sat in the gates for too long. Tabs was in the second stall rolling his bit between his teeth, sending a twitch across his withers every now and then. Both jockeys were poised for the launch they had experience a hundred times before. Up in the stands Felicity held her breath in habit. The start was always the deciding factor for the race. A horse could make or break his race by how well he broke from the gate.
The gates flew open with a familiar clang and both horses bounded from its depths. Tabs was a lion on the hunt, looking for that front position that he so favored. With Jester wanting to stalk, he had no other competitors to take the front from him. The chestnut settled into his spot and flicked his ears back and fourth. Behind him Jester was a hairs width off of his flank and determined to push his old rival to higher speeds than before. Clinton and Maverick knew their job was to keep the pace steady and regulated. Wearing Tabs out was not on the top list of priorities at the moment.
Tabs continued to lead on the back stretch with Jester hot on his heels. Neither horse was ready to make a move yet and they had managed to stay at a steady rhythm thus far. Mav was satisfied how well the stallion felt underneath him. He was running without any sign of a snag and seemed rather happy to be running after a few weeks off. His long year of running in upper division course had left him beautifully in shape and prepared for the Breeders Cup. Everyone was sad to see the turf runner retire as his performances on the track always proved to be stellar.
As they rounded the last turn Jester finally decided to make his move and started creeping up on his stablemate. Tabs was prepared for his change in pace and met it with determination. Both horse and rider were determined to stay ahead of the younger stallion at whatever costs. Every step forward Jester took, Tabs kicked it up another notch to stay just ahead of the bay. By the time they were running down the homestretch they were nearly neck and neck. Maverick made sure the chestnut was not expending all of his energy on staying so far ahead that he would be worn out when it came down to the last few lengths. It was working as Jester was eating up all of his energy trying to get his nose in front of the other horse's.
They were less than a furlong from the wire when Maverick showed the crop to Tabs and he gave it his last push. Beside him Majestic Hero was fighting to keep up but in the end he was sliding behind ever so slowly. Maverick kissed to his mount to bring some more effort and Tabs responded beautifully. Stretching out with more effort he was able to get first a nose and then a neck in front of his competitor. They flew across the finish line with Jester on his flanks, still attempting to gain on the older stallion. Mav slowed the chestnut to a walk and cooled him out before returning to the side lines where Felicity was waiting. She smiled and rubbed Tabs's sweating neck before motioning for him to be hosed off and rubbed down. With a sigh she returned to the barn for the next runners to go out but couldn't help but be proud of the barn's first turf winner.
Behind them a great chestnut had appeared on the side of the track with an escort of barn workers who were determined to watch the horses run one last time. Handsome Tabby rarely got riled up around crowds but did not like his personal space being confined. The stallion was weary of everyone closing in on him and flicked his tail in irritation. A tall brunette wedged her way through the workers and scolded them for crowding the stallion. Felicity shooed them to the observation stands before addressing the jockey who was now attempting the mount the leggy chestnut. Tabs melded back into his caring self as the trainer rubbed his forehead and playfully flicked his ears. Felicity was clearly proud of how he had turned out after being given to them by another barn. They had considered retiring him a year ago but decided to run him in the upper division races after how well he had done. In return, the stallion had granted them with nine wins, over half of them being major races. His tumbled through the Senior Superstars Turf Series was less than stellar but he bounced back to win the World Turf Cup a few weeks later. With a fantastic year under his belt, Handsome Tabby was headed into his last race, the Breeder's Cup Turf.
A week before the races began the barn was looking at three fearsome competitors for their all-star to go up against. Ode To Glory and Abastor had become regular rivals throughout the year and would be a familiar challenge for Tabs. He had beaten both of them before and could do it again. The fourth horse in the race was a somewhat surprising entry, Pandora from SOPS. The three year old was no easy competitor with a hefty winning year under her belt. Being another variable runner like Handsome Tabby, she could prove to be the most challenging horse to figure out. But would her experience hold out?
The two great turf runners rotated through their warm up routine, each getting more visibly relaxed as they stretched their muscles and became attuned to their riders. They were going to be running a mile today, just enough to get Tabs's head into running but not enough to wear him out for the big race coming up. Their secret weapon was the distance of the race as nine to ten furlongs was his sweet spot. A mile was not enough for him to get his competitive side working, but yet longer than ten and he never was able to hold off the other horses. Odds were in his favor and it was guaranteed to be a test of his abilities from start to finish. Felicity knew the stallion was able to do it and she was betting on him in the end.
Loading into the gate went smoothly and without a hitch, both horses already focused on their task to come. The small loader was only designed to hold four horses and was lightly made to transport across the small workout track. Jester snorted, sending a spray of droplets across the sunlight between the doors. He nudged the door, getting more and more impatient the longer he was forced to wait. He always was one to get aggitated if he sat in the gates for too long. Tabs was in the second stall rolling his bit between his teeth, sending a twitch across his withers every now and then. Both jockeys were poised for the launch they had experience a hundred times before. Up in the stands Felicity held her breath in habit. The start was always the deciding factor for the race. A horse could make or break his race by how well he broke from the gate.
The gates flew open with a familiar clang and both horses bounded from its depths. Tabs was a lion on the hunt, looking for that front position that he so favored. With Jester wanting to stalk, he had no other competitors to take the front from him. The chestnut settled into his spot and flicked his ears back and fourth. Behind him Jester was a hairs width off of his flank and determined to push his old rival to higher speeds than before. Clinton and Maverick knew their job was to keep the pace steady and regulated. Wearing Tabs out was not on the top list of priorities at the moment.
Tabs continued to lead on the back stretch with Jester hot on his heels. Neither horse was ready to make a move yet and they had managed to stay at a steady rhythm thus far. Mav was satisfied how well the stallion felt underneath him. He was running without any sign of a snag and seemed rather happy to be running after a few weeks off. His long year of running in upper division course had left him beautifully in shape and prepared for the Breeders Cup. Everyone was sad to see the turf runner retire as his performances on the track always proved to be stellar.
As they rounded the last turn Jester finally decided to make his move and started creeping up on his stablemate. Tabs was prepared for his change in pace and met it with determination. Both horse and rider were determined to stay ahead of the younger stallion at whatever costs. Every step forward Jester took, Tabs kicked it up another notch to stay just ahead of the bay. By the time they were running down the homestretch they were nearly neck and neck. Maverick made sure the chestnut was not expending all of his energy on staying so far ahead that he would be worn out when it came down to the last few lengths. It was working as Jester was eating up all of his energy trying to get his nose in front of the other horse's.
They were less than a furlong from the wire when Maverick showed the crop to Tabs and he gave it his last push. Beside him Majestic Hero was fighting to keep up but in the end he was sliding behind ever so slowly. Maverick kissed to his mount to bring some more effort and Tabs responded beautifully. Stretching out with more effort he was able to get first a nose and then a neck in front of his competitor. They flew across the finish line with Jester on his flanks, still attempting to gain on the older stallion. Mav slowed the chestnut to a walk and cooled him out before returning to the side lines where Felicity was waiting. She smiled and rubbed Tabs's sweating neck before motioning for him to be hosed off and rubbed down. With a sigh she returned to the barn for the next runners to go out but couldn't help but be proud of the barn's first turf winner.
