Race With the Wind

Chapter 28

I'm going to rule this race course. We are driving through the gates of the Curragh. The Grandstands are huge. The course is about two to three miles. I have to race two laps of it. I stare out into the distance. It's like a desert. My mother told the Irish army trained here. The weather is looking dry. Thats a bit of a problem. The ground will be as dry as bone. I hope my training will come in handy.

We come to a stop. I hear horses neighing to eachother. People giving orders their grooms. I hear the door of the horse lorry opening. It falls down with a bang. Leona walks up the ramp. ''Right girl! Lets get tacked up. You're racing soon''. She orders. She takes me out and we enter a stable. She grabs my new tack. The tack is red and black. The saddle has a black seat and red flaps. The bridle is black and has red and black reins. It also has cushions on the cheekpieces. It has a snaffle. The snaffle is comfortable and soft in my mouth. The tack is very comfortable. Leona heads off to lorry to grab more items. I stick my head out of the top of the door. I see a familiar horse. Actually, two familiar horses. ''Everest! Astro! It's me, Scooter!''. I call. The two of them are tacked up and they look over at me. They neigh towards me. I neigh back. ''Hey! Good to see you! Good luck!''. Everest shouts back.

Leona is back with supplies. She grooms me and she makes sure I look very presentable. She pulls my mane and tail. She picks out my feet. She oils them too. I chew calmly on my new snaffle bit. She looks at her watch. She squeals. I guess it's time. She grabs a leadrope and she clips it onto my snaffle bit. I walk alert behind her. We reach the parade ring. It has black tarmac on the perimeter of it snd it has freshly cut, green grass in the centre. A little shed is in the middle. It's where the winner stands. Sarah will  stand there after this race. We walk into the parade ring. The commentator starts to present us. ''There is number 1. The Sky Princess. She is marked as a favourite in the racing booklet. She has a pretty high odd. 1/12. She has a chance of winning today. As we move onto number 2. Bold Runner. A beautiful black gelding. He has a low odd. 1/3. You never know he might have a chance today. Ah yes! Number 3 is Destination S. A brilliant mare. She has a pretty good odd too. 1/12 also. She is marked as one of the favourites today''. The commentator explains. I stay calm beside Leona. I walk beside her. The jockeys walk out. All of them jump onto our backs. Sarah springs on with no help. I'm pretty small. We walk out of the parade ring. ''Now Sarah. On the last lap. You better let Scooter have a nice, long look at The Sky Princess. It's about time that mare knows who's boss''. Leona says coldly. Sarah nods. It's time to go out. Leona unclips the leadrope. Sarah blesses herself. She then pats me. ''Come on Scooter!''. She says and with that I'm cantering down to start of the race that will show everyone what I can do.

We all line up. The grandstands are crowded. ''We would like to remember the legendary mare, Dawn Run! She died almost two months ago. Please may we have a moment of silence''. The speakers boom. The crowd goes quiet. The air is still. This here is the course she died on. I will avenge that. I will win this for her. You actually can't hear the crowd for once. I can hear the birds tweeting as they fly by. We stand for almost a minute. My legs shake with excitement. I can feel my adrenaline is high and Sarah's too. Sarah has her goggles up. ''Thank you very much''. The speakers boom. The crowd starts clapping and cheering. I see the man with the green flag at the grandstands. I see the white line raise. Sarah pulls her goggles down over her eyes. We all stand behind the line. I concentrate ahead of me. Sarah wraps her fingers around my mane. She sits tight. She knows that I will leap into action. The other jockeys and horses don't. Everything slows down. I wait for the slightest movement of the flag and white line. I feel Sarah give me rein. The flag is dropped. I'm off and beside me is The Sky Princess.

''It's Destination S and The Sky Princess that are stealing this race. They leap over the first jump. Jockeys are sitting tight. Bold Runner and The Railway Girl are neck and neck two lengths behind the leaders''. The commentator screams. I gallop a nose behind her. ''Come on Scooter! Come on! Come on! Sarah coaxes. I leap into an even faster pace. We gallop by The Sky Princess. We are about two lengths in front. The Sky Princess gallops up by my side. We are jumping over the fences at the same time. We are twelve lengths in front of the herd that are galloping with no chance of catching us. The Sky Princess gallops on ahead.

The Sky Princess leads the herd as we gallop by the grandstands. ''Come on girl! This is our race!''. Sarah shouts. I leap into action. Galloping as fast as I could. I race around the corner and I meet The Sky Princess. ''You're racing against the wrong mare!''. The Sky Princess shouts. I stare at her coldly. Sarah lets me look at her. We gallop over the jumps quietly. We reach the last bend. Sarah gives me rein. ''No! You're racing against the wrong mare!''. I shout. Sarah loosens her leg and I leap. I push with my hind legs. I stretch with my forward legs. My adrenaline high. We gallop three lengths ahead of The Sky Princess. We still gallop ahead. ''It's Destination S as she leaves The Sky Princess galloping by herself! Destination S gallops around the last turn and she nears the last jump!''. I hear the commentator scream. I gallop around the corner. Sarah sits low. ''Woohoo! There it is girl!''. Sarah shouts. I gallop up to next jump. I count my stride. I take off. As I fly midair I notice a hole in the ground. I'm heading straight into it. I close my eyes tight. I feel my hoof land straight into the hole. The hard ground locked my hoof in. I scream in pain. I feel my back flip over. Sarah's weight is gone. She is falling. I feel my back and head hit the ground. Everything is blurry. I try to keep consciousness. ''Scooter! Scooter!''. It's Sarah. She is clutching onto her shoulder. ''Please miss. Step away from horse. Please miss. I know you're worried''. It's a paramedic. ''Please. One second. It's alright Scooter. I'll see you soon. Be strong. Please''. Sarah whispers as she kneels down and holds my head in her hands. ''Sarah! Go. Now. I'll take care of Scooter. I'll see ya in the hospital. Sean is will go with you''. Leona orders as she helps Sarah up. Sarah. Hospital! Oh no! I start to struggle. Sarah! No don't go! I neigh and neigh. I feel pain down my right front leg. Leona calms me down. I see a green blanket that is held by vets. It surrounds me. ''I'm sorry miss Smyth. She wont make it. She has a big problem with her leg. We'll have to euthanise her immediately''. A man says. That is not any man. That is not a stranger. It's the man that has been snooping around the stud. It's the shady man. ''You'll know I won't allow that. I want you to properly take her back to your clinic now! I want you to get her checked! Properly! Ya hear me!''. Leona shouts at him. She kisses me on my star. ''Be strong''. She whispers.  I feel dozy. I close my eyes. Blackness surrounds me.

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NOOO!!!!!!!!!! SCOOTER!!!!!!!!
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