Race With the Wind

Chapter 10

I'm standing in the parade ring. The crowd is looking at me. They admire my conformation, looks and my perfect white star. Sean walks over with a bucket of cold water and he throws it over me. The cool, refreshing feel of water after a race is inviting. Sean scrapes the water of me, using a sweat scraper. He secures a light, cooling rug on me. I look over at The Sky Princess, who is staring back at me. I flick my tail and smirk back at her. She is standing where the 2nd place sign is. Ha! I look at the 3rd place sign and standing there is Bold Runner. He doesn't look to happy. Especially, after I ditched him on the racecourse. It feels like 40 weights hit me. I feel bad for breaking the deal we made. The presenter of the race starts a speech. ''So, Sarah! How does it feel to win a race here in The Galway Races''. He asks interested. ''I'm thrilled with this mare's brilliant progress. I'm hoping, by the time The Grand National Races start, she'll be ready. She's doing a lot for the upkeep of Dolanstown Stud. I believe she'll be ready''. Sarah says confidently. I believe too. If Sarah believes, I believe. ''Sarah. Do you really believe that this mare will survive The Grand National? She is quite a small racehorse. The jumps are huge in The Grand National Races''. He says to Sarah. Sarah doesn't say anything. She looks at me. ''My mare is small but.... she is mighty''. Sarah says staring at me. '' I will be at that meeting for The Grand National Race. My mare is going to be picked for that race''. Sarah says confidently. She looks at me with a smile. I love seeing her happy. It makes me happy. I prick my ears towards her. The crowd cheers. ''Well then, I guess we'll be seeing Sarah for the next few races''. The presenter says cheerfully. I will be ready. We get our pictures taken. I see Bold Runner getting his taken. I wait for the photographers to finish up. Sarah leads me to my stable. We rented a stable. I'll be staying here overnight. I'm put in my stable and I'm given feed. Sean came here with Sarah's dad. He said we had a brilliant race. I snort in agreement. I eat my feed and I poke my head out of the door of the stable.

I look and listen to the buzz of the yard. The stable hands running around preparing their horse for a race, or trying to calm down a horse, who's in an adrenaline rush, after running a race. I see a familiar horse being put in a stable on the opposite side of the stable aisle. After a few minutes of pampering the horse the stable hand runs out of the stable, and off to who knows where. The horse sticks his head out of the stable. It's Bold Runner! Thank God! Someone I kind of know, to talk to! Thats when I remember. I ditched him. Crap! He's staring at you, Scooter. Say something. ''Hey''. I say, trying to stay calm. ''Yeah, thanks back there''. He says brightly. ''Sorry lad, I just really wanted to beat that mare''. I say worryingly. ''No, no, it's grand. I understand. She really is a-''. ''Yeah I know''. I interrupt. He really didn't take it seriously. I ditched him on the racecourse and he didn't give a crap! I wish all horses were like that. ''Yeah, you did a pretty good job back there, making me move out of your way''. He says grumpily. ''Oh. I have my ways''. I say sneakily. Bold Runner chuckles. ''I see your rider wants to make it to The Grand National Race''. He says with interest. ''Yeah. She. Really wants to make it. Well I do to, thats why she bought me''. I say, stumbling over my words. ''Same here!''. He says excitingly. ''My dream is to at least run that course''. He says proudly. ''I want to win that race''. I say lost. ''Yeah. Your rider really believes in you''. He says staring at me. ''It's my dream, it's her dream....it's my mother's dream''. I say quietly. ''I miss her. I hope I'll see her soon at one of the races''. I say positively. ''Well.... Destination S... I believe you'll make it too. Only...if... You don't leave me again. Promise''. He says pleadingly. I stare into his hazel- brown eyes. If I make this promise, I can't just leave him again. That would not be the right thing to do.''Fine, Bold Runner I will run with you in my dream''. I say to him. ''Yes. We can race together!''. He says happily. ''I've got a racing buddy!''. He says jumping in stable. I start to laugh at his reaction. He stops jumping around the stable and he gives a big smile towards me. I smile back.

I spend the rest of the evening chatting to Bold Runner and other racehorses. I met a very bright mare called Tough Kid. She is a tall horse, with a white- not grey- a white coat. It is as white as snow. She has dark grey marks around her dark brown eyes and a dark grey muzzle. She is very pretty. She also wants to make it to The Grand National. She came fourth in a race before me. I told her she can join our group. It seems cool now. The three 'horse-keteers' racing for their farms and to make their dream. I tell them about Dolanstown and how much I love it there. They tell me about their homes. Bold Runner races for Kilrainey Equestrian. He says it's an awesome farm and that he was born there. Tough Kid tells is about her home. She lives in Abbeyfield Farm. She says it's a quiet farm and when her mother was pregnant with her, her mother was moved from County Derry, which is up the north, to the midlands in County Meath. I thought it was interesting.

When it was dark out, Sarah came out and she gave me some hay for the night. She kissed me on my white star and said goodnight. She spent five minutes hugging me tightly. She wrapped her arms around the lower part of my neck and she squeezed. ''You are one special horse, Scooter''. She whispers to me. I snort quietly. She plants another kiss upon my star and she walks out and closes the door with a faint bang. A few minutes pass by and the lights of the stable yards are turned off. Its quiet. I hear the breathing and shuffling of horses. They're preparing to lie down and sleep for the night. I start to shuffle around and kick the straw to where I want it. I lie down in the corner of the stable. I start to doze off. In a small amount of time, I'm running and jumping in the green fields of Ireland, running beside me, is my mother.

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Hey guys hope you enjoyed this chapter.
I'm trying my best.
I'm doing for you guys!😄😄
So I'll see ya's in the next chapter.