The Blind Drift

       I shivered. 6:00 in the morning was not exactly the preferred time for me to get up. All around me, I heard snorts, whinnies and nickers. Hay, being dropped into stalls, muck being dumped into wheelbarrows. This was Pine Grove Stables. A racing farm located just inside of Lexington, Kentucky, and one hell of a racing stable. This place had bloodlines that nearly dripped from it's logo, a pine tree surrounded by golden fields. Horses like Secretariat, Man O' War, and Seabiscuit had all passed on their legacy to horses here. Not to mention the new fillies and colts out of sires like Big Brown, Animal Kingdom, and Leroidsanimaux. I marveled at these names as I walked down the stall aisle. It was funny, these horses looked just like normal field ponies, it was hard to imagine in the ring of a bell they would be traveling at around 40 miles per hour. And soon, I would be their passenger. I had come here for the prestigious Pine Grove jockey club. When people asked why I wanted to be a jockey, I never had an answer. I was simply a girl with a passion for The Sport of Kings, a fast paced, you-could-die-in-a-split-second kind of thing. Anyway, back to the story. As I started to pat one of Secretariat's grandsons on the neck, a lanky man with greying-out hair approached me. "Are you Rachel Beriad?" I nodded. Not only had this man pronounced my name completely correct, but he had also taken the time to find me. "You've ridden before, right?" I nodded again. "Aren't much of a talker, are you?" He chuckled and started to walk, gesturing for me to follow. I laughed, too and followed him down the aisle. "Well, now that you're here, I should show you your sleeping arrangements. Follow me up here." He jogged up some stairs off the stable aisle, turning down yet another hallway, and into a dark green door. Through the door stood a four poster bed with green sheets. Above the haven was a row of pictures. I would learn later that they depicted hroses like Secreatariat and Seabiscuit, racing kings. And, I guess since I was a girl, there was Zenyatta. The man appeared again with my luggage, setting it down on the ground next to my bed. "Oh! And of course I forgot to mention my name. It's Dan Mansond, I own a few of the horses here, and I'm also the trainer. I'm excited to have someone new here to teach. Well, why don't you come with me to the stables and we'll get started?" "Sure! Let me just pull on some jeans and boots here." I replied, turning towards my suitcase to find my things in the case. He shut the door behind him, and I could hear footsteps going down the wooden stairs. Just as I said, I quickly pulled on jeans and boots and joined him downstairs, peering at the horse that was in the crossties. "This is Nothing Special, she'll be your teacher for the next week or two until I can see your true skill and potential." I nodded, yet again."Sire? Dam?" I asked, lifting her feet to check for any debris. "Her sire was Johnny's Special, and her Dam, hmmmm" he pondered this for a moment. No wonder, with the nearly 50 horses at the facility, I think I could barely remember 5 horses pedigrees! "Ah! Of course, what was I thinking! It was Nothings Impossible, and not to be funny, but neither of them were anything special." I chuckled. "Stella here will show you the ropes, though. She's one of the most experienced horses here! Anyway, why don't you pull on her bridle and we'll take her onto the track?" I picked up a bridle from one of the hooks hearby, took off her halter, and slipped the bit lightly into her mouth. This mare was a dream, she didn't even flinch when I pulled the bridle strap securely and took hold of the reins, tucking a crop into my back pocket. Dan smiled. "You already know the swing of things, don't you?" "I guess so!" I said, walking towards the track with Dan and Stella. Just as we were going to get on, he grabbed Stella's reins, and gave me a leg up. This was it, I was about to ride a racehorse! He led Stella towards the track, and already she looked excited. Horses galloped by in the morning fog. Dan commented that the other jockeys call this "The Blind Drift." Just as I thought Dan would let me go, a groom gave him another horse, a lanky bay gelding. He winked at me and commented "Just in case, don't worry about it." For the next ten minutes, Dan showed me the racing position, how to hold the reins, when to use the crop, how to use the crop, and different racing strategies. Finally it was time to go. He loaded Stella into the gate, shutting it behind me. My mind flashed back to racing moments, like Zenyatta galloping to the Breeder's Cup finish, Secretariat and Man O' War battling it out. This was it. Ding! DING! DING! The bell screamed out, and the gates flew open. Stella lunged forward, tossing her head at the bit. She moved along at a smooth canter, moving through the sand like a breeze. This was not what I expected. Why wasn't she galloping? Was something wrong. I turned towards Dan, who was cantering beside me. "You're only breezing today, Rach" he laughed. I couldn't believe the bell was all in my head! Anyway, the feeling was spectacular. Stella cantered so smoothly, I seriously questioned the fact that I was riding, and not floating on a cloud in paradise. 

      Later that evening, after helping put the horses out, and mucking stalls, my day was over. I comforted myself with the smell of an old blanket from my home in Pennsylvania, rolling around in my bed, and finally grabbing my phone off my vintage white bedside table. I speed dialed my Mom's phone number.

Mom: SWEETIE!! How was it how was it how was it!? 

(Typical Mom, a bit too exaggerated, a little annoying)

Me: Great mom, I rode a horse named Stella. My room is nice, and the food is great. My trainer, Dan, is extremely friendly, and the facility is pretty much all I wanted and more.

(All of the questions she would ask)

Mom: That's great, honey! I'm so glad for you! 

(The response I was expecting)

Me: So how's everything at home, what did I miss in the past 16 hours?

Mom: Oh nothing, just planning your brother's birthday party, cleaning your room.

(Wasn't sure how to respond to that)

Me: Well, I'd better get to bed, I have a lot of work to do tommorow!

Mom: I love you, honey, I'm so glad you're having a great time! Bye!

Me: Love you too, Mom. Bye!