Post by LK on Jan 13, 2015 19:42:46 GMT -5
RIDGECREST && KALLY SULLIVAN
SEEMS LEGIT && ISABELLE NOTTINGHAM
MAJESTIC HERO && CLINTON WARD
HANDSOME TABBY && MAVERICK HARRIS
Bella was estatic. It was the beginning of the year and they had new horses to ride and new people at the barn. The stable had dramatically increased in the past six months and they now had their hands full. But that didn't bother her at all. She enjoyed being busy. It kept her entertained and made the days go by faster. Not that she wanted her time with the horses to go by fast. She loved being with them and wished she could be a jockey the rest of her life. Bella loved the races. And she loved seeing her patients win. It was even better when she was atop one of the horses when they won. She could feel the win looming underneath her as they approached to gates. That is what she lived for. That's the reason she was here.
Felicity wanted to try a new kind of workout this morning and she waited as the jockey's joined her in the office before giving her orders for the warm up. I know you guys are used to riding in twos or even threes. But today I want to try out four horses in a warm up. I really think it will help get the younger horses used to the larger fields. So I want you guys to take Ridgecrest, Frankie, Tabs, and Jester out for a spin. They're all distance horses so a mile should not be too much to ask from them. Make sure they are listening and not running away with you. We don't want to run them too fast as they have had a little time off. Good luck.
Bella was surprised. They never worked more than three horses at a time, and even when they did, it was a shorter distance so they would not wear themselves out. Tabs most definitely would lead the race since there was no other front runners. Jester and Ridgecrest would settle somewhere in the middle and Frankie prefers the closing position. Maybe Felicity did have a good point. These four horses would run perfectly with each other, while challenging and giving a rather rigorous workout in the process. She glanced over at the newest edition to the team: Clinton. He was an older jockey with tons of experience in training. Bella did not know what to think about him yet. He was rather stand-offish and preferred to work alone. Recently he had settled in and his true personality was coming out. He could be a jerk. End of story. Bella wondered if this exercise was for his benefit as well.
No longer than thirty minutes later, all four horses and riders were on the turf track. There was something about the wide expanse of green that calmed her nerves and let her settle in on the race. It seemed clean to her. No dirt flying or having to deal with divets from the last warm up. Plus, it smelled amazing after the grounds crew cut it, something that always reminded her of her childhood. Seems Legit was relaxed as usual, all his playfulness long spent in the paddock this morning. He was studying the other horses with a curious expression in his warm brown eyes. He liked to size up the competition before heading into the gate. It was like he could tell who was going to be easy to breeze by, and who would put up a fight. Bella loved the colt already as he was easy to control and was incredibly wise for his young age. Now he just had to prove what he could do.
Kallie and Ridgecrest were having a lovely warm up as they floated through the gaits before joining Frankie and Bella at the gaits. Bella was rather impressed with the two and their progress. It wasn't too long ago that Ridgecrest bolted with the blonde jockey during a breezing session. Ever since then, Kallie was the only one who could ride the colt. No one would have guessed the groom would turn into a great jockey, but man could they girl click with some of the problem horses. The big boned grey sidled up beside Frankie as they waited for the two veteran runners to join them. Tabs was riled up this morning, and Bella wondered if it was the recent cold snap that moved through over the past few days. All the horses had felt it and it wasn't until today that they could start working any of the runners. The big chestnut swung his hind end around at Majestic Hero, threatening to kick when he got to close. Maverick cussed at the stallion and reigned him in the opposite direction, trying to get Handsome Tabby to focus. Jester decided he did not want to help anyone out as he pranced around, his head held high. Clinton was in for a wild ride today, that's for sure.
It took a few tries to get the colts and stallions loaded into the gates and a few more tries before Jester would stop pawing at the door. Clinton was focusing hard on the big bay, most likely waiting for the explosion that was about to happen. It came when the gates suddenly flew open and they sprang onto the turf. Seems Legit was the first to break, as predicted, but Bella let him pick his spot just behind Ridgecrest in the rear. Tabs cruised into the front with Jester right on his tail. Just as they planned, all four horses settled into the positions and put on the cruise control going into the first turn.
The rhytmic beating of the horses hooves soothed Bella's excitement as the first warm up of the season got under way. Frankie was doing really well in a bigger group as a two year old. He was watching the other horses in front of him, ears perked. She smiled as she caught onto his scheme; Wait until the others move, then take them on the home stretch. Bella barely had to touch the reins, this colt was running his own race. The way he wanted to. Ahead of her, Kallie and Ridgecrest were breezing along on the inside, waiting to make their move on the front leaders. Kallie looked a little tense and Bella did not blame her at all. The first run was always nerve racking, and especially on her colt. Felicity hoped the grey would make a great miler and would place rather well against the other juveniles this season. That was a lot of pressure on his young jockey. Bella sympathized with Kallie, especially since one wrong move could send him out of the placings.
Handsome Tabby and Majestic Hero started to battle it out coming into the third turn. Jester wanted the front and Clinton struggled to hold the unruly stallion back. It was still too early to make a move but his mount had a different idea. Feeling the younger horse coming up on his outside flank, Tabs pinned his ears and strained against Maverick's hold, wanting to break away from the looming stalker. But Mav would have nothing of it. He knew it was too early for the chestnut to make his move so he held him. Jester inched up on the leader and soon he was pulling away in front, opening up the gap between the two.
The last turn was approaching quickly and Ridgecrest was the next to make his move. Kallie did not attempt to hold the big grey back as he sped up to catch the leaders. Maverick had let Tabs have his head and he was advancing quickly on Jester and Clinton. Ridgecrest held on and seemed to be firmly planted between the two older horses, waiting for an opening. Bella wondered if they would tire too soon and miss their chance of getting past. She glanced down as she heard a rumbling coming from Frankie. He was lengthening his stride and starting to really gallop. His jockey smiled and let him have his head. Like the gentlemen he was, he waited for her cue before taking off for the front.
They were flying down the track, all four of them gunning for the front. Tabs had gained on Jester and was beginning to pull ahead. Only a few furlongs were left before the wire, so Bella sank down in her heels and coaxed Seems Legit into a faster gallop. The colt was brilliant. His dark bay legs streaking out in front of him, eating up the track. He gained on Ridgecrest and swung wide to get around Majestic Hero. A few strides later they were within reach of Handsome Tabby and of winning. They passed the wire just a few stride short of the chestnut, with Ridgecrest close behind and Majestic Hero next to him.
Later, Bella was hosing off the bay colt when Felicity approached, grinning. He's going to be quite the runner, Bella. He looked amazing out there, like a well seasoned racer, not a two year old. I really want to try and get him in some HOTY races this year, to see what he can do against the big guns. I have faith that you two can do it. The owner winked at the blonde jockey before striding down the hall to the other stalls, chatting with the other jockeys. Bella beamed and patted the big colt. Looks like we have our work cut out for us, Frankie. Me and you. Verses the world. What do you think? The colt snorted and rubbed his head against her side, almost knocking her over. Bella laughed and scratched his forehead. Yea, that's what I thought.
SEEMS LEGIT && ISABELLE NOTTINGHAM
MAJESTIC HERO && CLINTON WARD
HANDSOME TABBY && MAVERICK HARRIS
Bella was estatic. It was the beginning of the year and they had new horses to ride and new people at the barn. The stable had dramatically increased in the past six months and they now had their hands full. But that didn't bother her at all. She enjoyed being busy. It kept her entertained and made the days go by faster. Not that she wanted her time with the horses to go by fast. She loved being with them and wished she could be a jockey the rest of her life. Bella loved the races. And she loved seeing her patients win. It was even better when she was atop one of the horses when they won. She could feel the win looming underneath her as they approached to gates. That is what she lived for. That's the reason she was here.
Felicity wanted to try a new kind of workout this morning and she waited as the jockey's joined her in the office before giving her orders for the warm up. I know you guys are used to riding in twos or even threes. But today I want to try out four horses in a warm up. I really think it will help get the younger horses used to the larger fields. So I want you guys to take Ridgecrest, Frankie, Tabs, and Jester out for a spin. They're all distance horses so a mile should not be too much to ask from them. Make sure they are listening and not running away with you. We don't want to run them too fast as they have had a little time off. Good luck.
Bella was surprised. They never worked more than three horses at a time, and even when they did, it was a shorter distance so they would not wear themselves out. Tabs most definitely would lead the race since there was no other front runners. Jester and Ridgecrest would settle somewhere in the middle and Frankie prefers the closing position. Maybe Felicity did have a good point. These four horses would run perfectly with each other, while challenging and giving a rather rigorous workout in the process. She glanced over at the newest edition to the team: Clinton. He was an older jockey with tons of experience in training. Bella did not know what to think about him yet. He was rather stand-offish and preferred to work alone. Recently he had settled in and his true personality was coming out. He could be a jerk. End of story. Bella wondered if this exercise was for his benefit as well.
No longer than thirty minutes later, all four horses and riders were on the turf track. There was something about the wide expanse of green that calmed her nerves and let her settle in on the race. It seemed clean to her. No dirt flying or having to deal with divets from the last warm up. Plus, it smelled amazing after the grounds crew cut it, something that always reminded her of her childhood. Seems Legit was relaxed as usual, all his playfulness long spent in the paddock this morning. He was studying the other horses with a curious expression in his warm brown eyes. He liked to size up the competition before heading into the gate. It was like he could tell who was going to be easy to breeze by, and who would put up a fight. Bella loved the colt already as he was easy to control and was incredibly wise for his young age. Now he just had to prove what he could do.
Kallie and Ridgecrest were having a lovely warm up as they floated through the gaits before joining Frankie and Bella at the gaits. Bella was rather impressed with the two and their progress. It wasn't too long ago that Ridgecrest bolted with the blonde jockey during a breezing session. Ever since then, Kallie was the only one who could ride the colt. No one would have guessed the groom would turn into a great jockey, but man could they girl click with some of the problem horses. The big boned grey sidled up beside Frankie as they waited for the two veteran runners to join them. Tabs was riled up this morning, and Bella wondered if it was the recent cold snap that moved through over the past few days. All the horses had felt it and it wasn't until today that they could start working any of the runners. The big chestnut swung his hind end around at Majestic Hero, threatening to kick when he got to close. Maverick cussed at the stallion and reigned him in the opposite direction, trying to get Handsome Tabby to focus. Jester decided he did not want to help anyone out as he pranced around, his head held high. Clinton was in for a wild ride today, that's for sure.
It took a few tries to get the colts and stallions loaded into the gates and a few more tries before Jester would stop pawing at the door. Clinton was focusing hard on the big bay, most likely waiting for the explosion that was about to happen. It came when the gates suddenly flew open and they sprang onto the turf. Seems Legit was the first to break, as predicted, but Bella let him pick his spot just behind Ridgecrest in the rear. Tabs cruised into the front with Jester right on his tail. Just as they planned, all four horses settled into the positions and put on the cruise control going into the first turn.
The rhytmic beating of the horses hooves soothed Bella's excitement as the first warm up of the season got under way. Frankie was doing really well in a bigger group as a two year old. He was watching the other horses in front of him, ears perked. She smiled as she caught onto his scheme; Wait until the others move, then take them on the home stretch. Bella barely had to touch the reins, this colt was running his own race. The way he wanted to. Ahead of her, Kallie and Ridgecrest were breezing along on the inside, waiting to make their move on the front leaders. Kallie looked a little tense and Bella did not blame her at all. The first run was always nerve racking, and especially on her colt. Felicity hoped the grey would make a great miler and would place rather well against the other juveniles this season. That was a lot of pressure on his young jockey. Bella sympathized with Kallie, especially since one wrong move could send him out of the placings.
Handsome Tabby and Majestic Hero started to battle it out coming into the third turn. Jester wanted the front and Clinton struggled to hold the unruly stallion back. It was still too early to make a move but his mount had a different idea. Feeling the younger horse coming up on his outside flank, Tabs pinned his ears and strained against Maverick's hold, wanting to break away from the looming stalker. But Mav would have nothing of it. He knew it was too early for the chestnut to make his move so he held him. Jester inched up on the leader and soon he was pulling away in front, opening up the gap between the two.
The last turn was approaching quickly and Ridgecrest was the next to make his move. Kallie did not attempt to hold the big grey back as he sped up to catch the leaders. Maverick had let Tabs have his head and he was advancing quickly on Jester and Clinton. Ridgecrest held on and seemed to be firmly planted between the two older horses, waiting for an opening. Bella wondered if they would tire too soon and miss their chance of getting past. She glanced down as she heard a rumbling coming from Frankie. He was lengthening his stride and starting to really gallop. His jockey smiled and let him have his head. Like the gentlemen he was, he waited for her cue before taking off for the front.
They were flying down the track, all four of them gunning for the front. Tabs had gained on Jester and was beginning to pull ahead. Only a few furlongs were left before the wire, so Bella sank down in her heels and coaxed Seems Legit into a faster gallop. The colt was brilliant. His dark bay legs streaking out in front of him, eating up the track. He gained on Ridgecrest and swung wide to get around Majestic Hero. A few strides later they were within reach of Handsome Tabby and of winning. They passed the wire just a few stride short of the chestnut, with Ridgecrest close behind and Majestic Hero next to him.
Later, Bella was hosing off the bay colt when Felicity approached, grinning. He's going to be quite the runner, Bella. He looked amazing out there, like a well seasoned racer, not a two year old. I really want to try and get him in some HOTY races this year, to see what he can do against the big guns. I have faith that you two can do it. The owner winked at the blonde jockey before striding down the hall to the other stalls, chatting with the other jockeys. Bella beamed and patted the big colt. Looks like we have our work cut out for us, Frankie. Me and you. Verses the world. What do you think? The colt snorted and rubbed his head against her side, almost knocking her over. Bella laughed and scratched his forehead. Yea, that's what I thought.
