The Black and Sugar

CH12: Race Day Revelations

Alec and Hope were back before I even got up, and were finished cleaning stalls and turning out the horses by the time I stepped outside. They were sitting on one of the straw bales laughing when I finally saw them. Hope seemed a lot happier than before, the shine in her bright eyes had returned, her bright white smile planted firmly on her face once again. Whatever happened yesterday really shook her up. But she seemed a bit more like herself today.

Sugar had his head low hanging over the door, the Black regally looking around through his with an arched neck and perked ears.The pair were the most elegant looking horses he'd ever seen, and they were both in his own stable. The pair of cheerful young people sat between the stalls, it was fitting. Almost a picture-worthy moment.

"Alec, I want you to work the Black with Gramps today. I'm thinking about entering them both in a race here soon. The Black needs to be ready for the big invitational if anything happens to Sugar, and Gramps I'd say is about ready to start competing with big dogs. The pair nodded, standing up and walking past him into the tack stall, grabbing halters and lead lines.

It didn't take the pair long to saddle the big black stallion and the smaller sorrel colt. They laughed and talked as they brushed and tacked, I sat on the bale reading the day's paper. There was only a small article about racing today, the majority of the paper was consumed with other forms of news. Nowhere could he see anything written about the grey stallion who had lit up the world already, but he doubted that this horse would only have one shot at fame.

After the two left yesterday I went ahead and entered Sugar in the handicap I'd mentioned to them, but I didn't think to bring it up until after their ride. I also had entered the Black in a six furlong easy breeze for him, just to get him out there a bit, and Royale in a futurity sprint for first time runners. Might as well spend the time they had at Belmont wisely, and give all the horses an out. He wasn't sure about Prince just yet, the colt hadn't quite found his stride just yet.

I gave Alec a leg up, as Hope swung herself over the back of her horse. Alec needed help usually getting on the Black at the track, because every time he had someone on his back, he thought he was going out to run. I watched them walk away, then meandered my own way to the rail to watch them work. Along the fence were the usuals, trainers and reporters looking for the next story.

"Hey, old man, what's the story? You running the Black in that big invitational or that grey beast you got?" I turned to see an old friend of mine, Greg Biggs, asking. I shrugged, even though right now I knew it was going to be Sugar. "Did you hear? Everyone's been saying they want to open another slot and have you run both. Isn't that something!"

"Sounds like a lot of fees to me," I grunted, leaning against the pole. The two horses cantered alongside each other on the far side of the track, the Black looking agitated at the horse next to him. Henry saw him savagely turn his head and nip at Gramps, and the sorrel colt jump away, breaking stride. Hope rode it out of him, cantering him back to the side of the Black, who was now angry at Alec for holding him back.

"And Alec's got himself a girl now we see," a reporter I didn't recognize yelled to me. I just shrugged.

"She's a good rider, a great hand. What Alec does off the track is no business to me," I responded, my eyes still watching the two horses. Hope pulled Gramps to a stop, and Alec continued on, giving the Black a notch of rein and letting him have his head a bit. The strong stallion lurched forward in a smooth gallop, striking out playfully. Hope worked in the back corner on the colt, then let him follow about half a mile behind, so he knew he had no competition with the Black. The stallion was much more horse than the colt, and Henry didn't plan on letting him break the young horse's spirit.

The trainers continued their speculation, but I ignored them, watching the rest of the horse's workouts, then returning to our barn. I beat the other two there, and watched them silently as they unsaddled the horses. When they finished, I decided to tell them about my racing plan. "Sugar is entered in a pretty big handicap tomorrow, but I think it'll be easy for him to take. The Black will run a short one for him, but I want just a breeze, it's not against much. And Royale will run a futurity for first timers Saturday, then I think we should start getting ready to move down to Florida." They both nodded without argument, and went on with their chores.

***

I was definitely excited to finally see Sugar work against other horses, and I could tell the others were too. Henry left later than usual, and Alec hardly slept. I could only tell because neither did I. I'd looked at the race lineup, and it was a fair field, but none of them would hold a torch next to Sugar.

All my time spent awake gave me the opportunity to think, too. It felt like a giant burden off my shoulders after I told Alec about why I kept away from Jerry, and why it had me so shook up when he came back around, and touched me. He understood, and somehow, made me feel so much better about being here, like I was safe from Jerry Volence.

It was earlier than usual when I pulled on my sweatshirt and went outside to see my stallion. I sat with him in his stall for a long while, stroking his silky dappled coat, braiding and unbraiding his long, flowing mane. I was running my hands through his thick forelock when I heard rustling, and saw Alec standing at the stall door. His deep eyes were on me peacefully, his chipper smile half heartedly on his tired face.

I went out and he hugged me, his warm embrace so welcoming. We went for a walk around the track, too early for working horses or wandering eyes, but for the first time really, we were quiet, just admiring the chilly morning. A heavy fog had settled on the track, and the sun hadn't quite gotten over the horizon. I could tell he was just as nervous as me.

We went and spent the rest of the idle time doing our usual routine. We cleaned stalls, turned out horses, fed and watered, and cleaned tack. Today, though, we also got out the racing bridle and the black and white Hopeful Farm racing silks. We took our time, and by the time we'd finished up, the racing was about to begin. Sugar was in the third race of the day, but we'd spent a good portion of the morning grooming and preparing the stallion for his debut.

Henry came around finally, and told us to get ready. Since this was a race for young horses, no handicap was enforced, but we all knew his next race would have one. He already had impressed everyone in the racing world, and he didn't have a single race under his belt yet.

We went through the process, to the paddock, where reporters snapped pictures, and people yelled and conversed about the immense horse. He was in the six slot today, Alec on his back. With special permission, I was allowed to get on the pony horse to lead him to the gate when the post parade started.

Sugar fed off the crowd yelling around him, something he hadn't yet gotten to experience. He pranced, stepping high, and arching his thick neck, kicking out with his hind legs a couple times. All Alec had to do, though, was touch the reins to get the horse back in line.

We were both silent walking to the starting gate. The palomino gelding I was on plodded along, not a care in the world for the people-filled stands or the excited stallion beside him. A veteran, he lived to be the relaxed horse on the track.

After what seemed like an eternity, we got to the gate, and I turned my boyfriend and my horse loose, staying behind the gate with the other, legit pony riders. I could tell he was probably nervous, but somehow I knew, I was worse off.