Strength in Numbers

[Kenren]

Felix Hernandez & Handsome Tabby
Alicia Fox & Grey's Wisdom

Two jockeys walked side by side down the path in the early morning light, helmets under arms and whips in hand. Neither were especially talkative people, but they shared some quiet words as they made their way to the track, where they would greet their prospective mounts in the upcoming Boondoggle Maiden - a race name that had caused Felix to laugh outright, where Alicia simply quirked a brow. As it was, the two Valkyrie colts were extremely well-matched. In size and strength, they were almost identical. If they were the same color, they would be nearly impossible to tell apart. Mentally they were quite different, but putting everything together it was hard to tell who would come out on top. Charlie was level-headed but inexperienced at the track, though it wasn't forseen to be a huge problem. Whisper was more experienced at the track, but he was also a nervous horse, a little unsure of things still. Hopes were that both horses would come into their own, starting with this workout.

Kent Jackson stood near the two horses, but he was looking at the other horses on the track until the two jockeys were upon him. He then turned, looking them both over for a moment. "Take them seven. Whisper should be in front, but don't let him run away until the end. Keep Charlie close, but don't let him push." And with that, Kent was done talking. He trusted the jockeys to know their jobs, so he didn't feel the need to instruct further. Felix smiled, moving to the big chestnut horse, getting a leg up from one of the attendants and moving toward the turf track. Alicia followed a moment later on the grey, who moved a little less calmly forward - he pranced lightly, but didn't pull on Alicia's hands. He just had too much energy to be comfortable going slow.

The two took to the grass surface, opening into a canter toward the middle of the track to warm up. The two horses stayed a couple of lanes apart, Felix loosening up the strong chestnut, Alicia convincing Whisper to relax. By the time they brought the horses to a slow gallop, both animals were ready for the task ahead. When they reached the pole that marked seven furlongs from the wire, they reached breezing speed at the rail, Whisper running a length ahead of Charlie. Whisper, to his credit, seemed completely relaxed now, keeping an easy, yet quick, pace. Charlie only fought once, part of him wanting to pressure the grey colt more, but Felix held his head and the chestnut settled. They went easily along, coming up toward the turn.

Just as they entered the stretch Felix began to make his move. He urged Charlie to push just like he had wanted to and the colt responded in kind. However, Whisper was being pushed as well, though his acceleration did not seem to be as drastic. Charlie kept moving forward, reaching Whisper's hip, his ribs, his shoulder. However, about that point Whisper seemed to realize exactly what was happening, and something in him fought back. The realization was a little late, but the fact that the colt fought back at all was a huge leap. As it was, Charlie crossed the wire about a neck ahead. The jockeys urged their horses into the gallop-out, Whisper cruising past the chestnut with his too-late second wind.

Eventually the jockeys steered the horses back to the gap, where hotwalkers were waiting with the trainer. As the two jumped off and the horses were led off, sweating but both looking good, Kent moved up to them. "I think Whisper has found his fire. Remind him of that a little sooner and he'll give Charlie a real run the next time." A warning, and encouragement. However it worked out, it was obvious that these horses wouldn't go down without a fight.