Keeping Tomorrow's Promises

Third Start

Kenneth leaned on the stall door as Denise Thompson, one of the backside vets, went over Express Line. The colt had been moving fine, but with a race looming that afternoon he wanted to make sure that the horse was sound to run. Denise ran her hands down his right front and shook her head.

"He's sound enough to run," she said, "but I dont know how long he will hold up."

"Matt Destin warned me about this horse," Kenneth sighed, "I don't want to run him but I can't go against his owner."

"You always take good care of these horses Kenneth," She stepped out of the stall, "He'll be fine."

"You're the doc," Kenneth motioned for a groom then walked with the vet to her truck, "thanks for everything. Let's hope this horse can come through for me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenneth walked down the path from the receiving barn to the paddock with his groom leading Express Line. The colt was on his toes pulling on the groom as he danced down the path. Kenneth just kept an eye on the horse's movements looking for any inconsistent step. They reached the paddock oval and just before the horse crossed from the chips to the rubber tile walkway, he went straight up in the air. Express Line pawed the air looking as if he was trying to climb an invisible wall. The colt then slammed his front feet into the ground and kicked out with his hind legs. Kenneth grabbed the lead from the groom trying to regain control of the high-spirited colt. Express Line flew backwards scurrying like a mouse.

"Hey Easy!" Kenneth yelled at the horse.

"You need help Kenneth?" called Tom from the saddling paddock.

"Tom, get out here!" Kenneth called back.

The assistant trainer came out with a second lead and managed to catch the colt. The two men practically dragged Express Line into the saddling barn as the horse refused to head into the building. Kenneth took the horse to the saddling box at the end of the row hoping that it would mellow him out. The horse sat there dancing the entire time, his feet never stopped moving, and Kenneth knew the horse was tiring himself out.

"Get him out of here and walk him," he ordered Tom, "If he starts acting up put him in a saddling stall."

Tom nodded and led the colt away. Kenneth looked out and to his dread, saw the colt's owner standing there watching the horse go by. His attention turned to Kenneth and the trainer felt his heart stop.

"How's my colt Valdez?" called George Hartman.

"He's full of himself today," Kenneth replied, "trying to get him to relax."

Tom brought the colt back into the saddling box and backed the colt into the corner. Kenneth got the colt saddled and Tom continued to walk him. The colt jumped to the side and planted his feet bracing against his walker. It took both Tom and the groom to walk the horse from the saddling barn to the paddock oval. Kenneth stood watching in case he had to intervene dreading talking to the owner. He walked over to the area designated for horse number six and waited for the jockey to arrive.

"Think we have a chance?" George asks, walking up to Kenneth.

"If the rider does her job," Kenneth replied.

"Her job?" George looked at him confused.

"You should have read your program Mr. Hartman," Kenneth laughed, "I put Ms. Markus on the horse."

"That inexperienced excuse for an exercise rider!" George hissed through gritted teeth.

"She is a great rider and IF you have a problem with who I get to ride your horses then pull them from my barn!" Kenneth snapped, "Won't hurt me any."

"We will be having a discussion later," Mr. Hartman snapped as Connie came into view.

"Mr. Valdez," she shook the men's hands, "Mr. Hartman."

"You know the drill," Kenneth nodded to her, "Just let him run his race and if he has some run, let him run."

"You got it Mr. Valdez," Connie walked up to the edge of the grass as the horse approached.

Kenneth gave her a leg up then watched as they were led down the path to the track. His heart picked up pace as the colt disappeared from view. After the last horse had left, he headed up to the clubhouse to get a good viewpoint from which to watch the race.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The big grey broke from the gate like a rocket just as Connie had expected. The horse settled into stride in front of the field as they rounded the first turn. Connie just sat content on her horse letting him race on his own. She felt his stride shorten as they made it onto the backstretch. She looked back at the field to see that she was two lengths in front of the field.

"Easy Express," she tried to pull him up.

The colt slowed down but when the field caught up to him he shot away like a rocket. Connie realized he was rounding the final turn and wasn't sure what to do. She just sat on him letting him set the pace praying Kenneth wouldn't be mad. The horse entered the straight and sprinted down the track tearing away from the field. Connie looked back at the field as they all gave chase not being able to keep up with the speedy grey. She was impressed with the colt's abilities as they raced away down the track. The duo were halfway down the stretch when she felt his stride go from normal to off. Connie stood up in her saddle guiding the colt to the outside rail motioning to a pony rider that she needed help. The colt came to a stop at the rail and the pony rider rode over.

"I think he's hurt," Connie informed him.

She jumped off then bent down feeling the colt's legs. She tried to walk him forward and he had a hard limp. She gritted her teeth looking at the pony rider.

"We need the trailer," she informed him, "he's got something going on."

"Connie!" she turned to see Kenneth running across the track to her.

"He was fine then I felt his stride change!" she called to him.

"Just get him on the truck and we will deal with the what, when, where, why, and how later," Kenneth looked at the colt with a sinking feeling, "but now I have to avoid George Hartman."

"You go on the truck with him," Connie rested a hand on his shoulder, "I can sneak by a lot easier than you can."

"Thanks Connie," he gave her a quick hug then went to greet the track vet who had just pulled up in the rig.

The rider took her gear from the horse and headed back to the jock's room to change.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenneth walked Express Line into the trailer followed by Denise who had been the responding vet.

"I knew this horse would break down one day," she let out a sigh.

"Thought I could beat the odds," Kenneth looks over at her, "he's just too fragile. He shouldn't be here."

"I'm truly sorry Kenneth," her gaze sincere, "he's a good horse."

"Thanks Denise," he shoots her a small smile, "I just hope it's nothing major."