Race With the Wind

Chapter 4

Today is the day my racing career starts. I will race until I reach my goal. The buzz in the yard was exciting. It was making my tummy twist and turn in all directions. Sarah grooms me and she cuts my mane and tail. 'Now Scooter at least you look presentable'. Sarah says smiling at my new make-over. I have to say she did a pretty good job.

Once the truck was ready and everything was packed up and ready to go. Leona arrived and she put my travelling boots on and my sweat rug. 'Safety always comes first'. Leona chanted to Sarah. 'Yes thats true Leona, just like what Suzanne used to say'. Sarah says sadly. 'I know you miss her Sarah, because I do to'. Leona answers sadly too. Leona put an old brown leather headcollar on me. It's in good condition for an old headcollar.'Now Scooter, this used to be Suzanne's. Its up to you to mind it now. It's also for good luck'. Sarah says to me confidently. I wonder who this Suzanne person is. She must be a friend of Sarah and Leona. Leona clips a clean dark blue leadrope to my new leather headcollar. I'm then loaded and secured in the big red truck. I neigh to my friends while the truck departs from the stud. I hear everyone neigh back to me.

The travel there was as relaxing as usual but I'm still pretty nervous. Just calm down Scooter, everything will be O.K. Hopefully.

Sarah's P.O.V.
I'm so excited. Everyone is quiet in the cab of the truck. 'Sarah. I just want to say, good lick and don't forget to enjoy yourself out there'. Leona instructed. 'Don't worry Leona, I'll be fine'. I answer confidently. 'You might be. The jockeys will do anything to stop you'. Leona tells me worryingly. I didn't say anything. I know how to ride. Suzanne trained me to everything automatically. Tighten the girth, stirrups are level, everything that has gotten to do with safety. Especially out on hunts, when risers are galloping by and cutting in front of you. It's dangerous but overall it's great craic. I hear something hit the table that brought me back to the real world. 'Whats this'. I ask Leona who is staring at me. 'It's Suzanne's fathers hunt pin. I want you to pin it on to your race shirt. It's special and good to use, like what Suzanne said, always try to look your best on an occasion like this'. Leona says to me. I can feel tears swell in my eyes. Leona is always caring, and is always looking out for me. 'Thank you '. I answer sadly

Dad slows the truck to a stop. We all hop out. It feels good to get a stretch after being cooped up in a cramped and stuffy area for two hours. I love the South of Ireland. The smell of the sea air is refreshing. Our first race is in Tramore Racecourse. The Tramore races are held a few times a year. I love seeing everyone dressed up for an occasion like this. The look of the rippling equine muscles. The thudding of the horses jumping and galloping at high speed. The screams and cheering of the crowds in the grandstands. It's so exciting.

I go to look around before my race starts. I go to buy a coffee. Mmm coffee. 'Hello deary. How can I help you'. The woman says in at the counter. 'Hi, one coffee please'. I say as politely as possible. I'm waiting a minute before she gives me a freshly brewed coffee.'Here you go, €2.50 please'. I hand her the exact amount of money. I take a sip of the warm smooth coffee. I go to turn around I see someone who I haven't seen in a few years. Oh-no. Please, not her. It's Miranda Hart. Leona and I didn't get along well with her when we rode at the same yard. She really hates us. I'm terrified of her icy glare she gives me. 'Well, well, well if it isn't an old... Friend'. Miranda says coldly. 'Hi Miranda'. I say bluntly. Man this girl is annoying. It looks like her little troop is here. Its like they're her girly servants that walk around and go everywhere with her. 'Are you racing today?'. Miranda says. 'Yes, I am'. I say with no interest. 'Thats nice because your about to go down, Sarah!'. Miranda says looking for a fight. I'll give her one, out on the track. But how about I finish her sentence. 'Oh ye Miranda, well your about to go down the score board'. I say calmly. Miranda's servants started to softly say ,ooh! 'Looks like you get that attitude from your friend Leona'. Miranda says with a smirk on her face. 'I will beat you Sarah'. I look at her blankly. 'Oh ye and Sarah, I'll see ya in the winners ring collecting my first prize'. Miranda says laughing. Dammit! She always gets the second score.

I go back to the truck and I find Leona there grooming Scooter. 'Hi '. She says when she looks up at me. 'Hi Leona, guess who's here'. I say bluntly. 'Who'. Leona says confused. 'Miranda Hart'. I say calmly. Leona didn't look surprised. 'Oh ye, the annoying one who made fun of you and I, a few years ago'. Leona says her voice sounding dull. 'Yep'. I answer. 'She told me that I'd be seeing her at the winners ring'. I say. 'Just don't mind her'. Leona says sounding annoyed.

Scooters P.O.V.
Sarah and Leona were talking about some girl named Miranda Hart. Must be an arch enemy of theirs. Cool! When everyone went to get something to eat, Sarah came in. 'Oh Scooter you can't let her win and you know that'. Sarah says quietly. Oh Sarah, I'll try. I don't know if I'm ready yet. I wish she could understand me. Sarah takes out a leaflet. It looks like the racing timetable. It shows what race is on, the time, the jockeys name, the horses owner, the trainer and it shows the colour of the jockeys wear. 'Oh Scooter, it looks like we are number 8. Miranda mis number 7. Ugh! She's on her dad's best racing mare. The mares name is The Sky Princess. Their jockey's colours is a bright yellow with dark blue checkers'. Sarah says worryingly. I nudge her to comfort her. She laughed. Look Scooter we're in it. There's Leona she's marked as the trainer! Sarah sounded excited.

'Can all eight competitors, for the fourth race of the day, please bring all jockeys and horses to prepare for the parade ring'. The commentator sounded hoarse from all the shouting and talking he's been doing throughout the day. It's funny. 'Well Scooter thats our race!'. Sarah says. She sounds excited and looks nervous. Leona comes in.'Right Sarah, thats your race. You go on and get cleaned up. I'll take care of Scooter in the parade ring'. Leona says carefully. I'm led out of the truck and onto the new black concrete parking area. I'm led into a yard and we straight out onto what is obviously the racecourse. The grass here is neatly cut. There are two lanes. A lane where the small racing jumps are and the other on the inside is the bid racing jumps. I don't know what I'm jumping today, but I'll be ready. Leona is patting me and talking to me. The crowd are looking at the horses walking out onto the racecourse. We walk for two hundred metres. Men are shouting 'do you think that beauty will win', at Leona. She just ignores them and says 'Destination S'. A little girl wanted to pet me. Leona stop and let her have a look. Her mother asks for my name. Leona says 'Destination S, number eight'. I like Leona. She knows how to handle things. We walk to the end of the racecourse and into another yard. In this yard, the horses in my race are waiting to be checked by the vet. They were all given the all clear. It was my turn. He felt down my legs, my back and my muscles. I was given the all clear. Thank god! We were waiting to enter the parade ring. Suddenly a horse starts to talk to me. It's number seven! The Sky Princess! 'Hi'. She says quickly. She has a chestnut coat and a white snip on her muzzle. She has four white socks. 'Hi'. I answer shyly. 'Good luck'. She says cheerfully. 'Yeah you too'. I answer back.
The gate opens to the parade ring. We are entering in order of number. I better look good for people to bet on me. 'Be good Scooter!'. Leona says. I lift my head high and prick my ears. Here we go!

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