learn to BLAZE

[S u N f r O s T ~]

The light bay thoroughbred filly trotted almost lazily at my instructions to do so. I sighed quietly to myself but patiently asked for a bit more speed. Fire accelerated only slightly, preferring a slower pace at the current time. It was the viewpoint of the two year old filly that if there was no horse to challenge her, she could take her time. She didn't waste her time during workouts exerting herself. It was only during mock races that she really showed her heart, and just how courageous she was to run her hardest even when it was obvious she would lose. A filly with such courage and heart was a true gift to ride, and I felt privileged to ride Fire instead of Amber or Krystal. Then again, Fire had bonded with me the most, so it was only logical that I get to ride her.

Fire pranced slightly as she trotted onto the dirt track. Her ears were pricked, her eyes searching for competition. Finding none, she snorted and slackened her pace lazily, determined to put up a fight if there would be no horse to race. Look girl, over there I instantly commanded. Her ears pricked at my voice, but she obviously didn't understand. I sighed and focused my gaze on the dark bay stallion that was roaring through the backstretch at a healthy gallop. You couldn't hear his hoofbeats - he was too far away - but Fire needed her eyes checked if she couldn't see him.

There was a sudden clatter of hooves on the sidewalk behind me, and Fire turned herself around of her own accord, coming face to face with a showy dark bay filly with a naturally wavy mane and tail. I snorted to myself in disbelief. How could Krystal be working Mona out this morning? Fire was supposed to race True for at least eleven or twelve furlongs today, and the race would be intense. Unless Amber had told Krystal something different? Struggling to wipe the disbelieving expression on my face, I nodded to Krystal and trotted Fire a bit away so we weren't blocking the exit.

Fire's reaction to the visitor, however, was totally different. She snorted eagerly and pranced in place, finally letting her energy show as well as showing the appropriate enthusiasm for a workout. I patted her neck and muttered We're not racing against her, though. Look at him coming down the stretch! Fire's ears had pricked before the end of my sentence, and she had turned by the time I finished to watch the muscular True Enough roar down the stretch at a finishing pace unbelievable for a nine year old. I saw Amber on his back, her crouch perfect, urging the Hall of Fame inductee on.

I suddenly became aware of the intense concentration from my mount. Fire was watching True Enough intently, making observations of his strides and no doubt planning to use it later. I sighed as I realized the obvious truth; I was racing against Krystal and Moondance, not Amber and True Enough. Well, at least Fire would have her wish. I watched as Amber slowed True and cantered the thoroughbred back to us. They dropped down to a trot, then a walk, then finally a stop as they reached us. Amber was panting slightly, her hand massaging True's neck while the bay took in deep breaths. A light sweat covered his body, but it looked like he could take another run and run just as well, if not better.

So, girls, I want you two to race against each other. Do you want to go with the gates or without? I glanced at Krystal, waiting for her reply first. Fire was fine with the gates, but might need a bit of modeling. We'll go with the gates said Krystal confidently. I nodded in agreement. Beneath me, Fire danced excitedly, her eyes fixed on her opponent. Mona happened to be her half sister - they were both daughters of Dancing In The Moonlight - so the race would be interesting.

Amber nodded, looking happy. These two will be making their debuts soon. The sooner they race out of the gates, the better. Seeing as they're siblings, this should be an even more interesting race. Krystal nodded, looking excited, and picked up the reins. I copied her after five seconds, wanting Mona to load first in case Fire needed a demonstration to learn from. Mona was a really showy bay, gorgeous and muscled. She was our prospect miler, while Fire was more of our classic distance to endurance runner. Both raced on the dirt, but their distances were hardly compatible. Speaking of distances, I should probably find out the one for today. I glanced inquiringly at Amber, who looked confused for a moment but then understood. Ten furlongs girls! she called. I gritted my teeth. Ten furlongs was smack dab in the middle of Mona's preferences, while for Fire is was one furlong over her smallest. But we would still win, or go down trying.

Mona had already loaded into the simple wooden gates without a fuss. I walked Fire over into slot two, and she loaded easily as well. I grabbed the reins and a bunch of mane, leaning forward in a perfect crouch and bracing for the first stride. After about five seconds, the gates burst open with a load clang from a bell somewhere, and we were off.

I glimpsed Mona about a length in front of us. Man, that filly breaks fast! I thought fleetingly, and then asked for some more speed from Fire. The light bay filly responded, lengthening her stride and closing the distance. I kept Fire back a bit, not wanting to pressure Mona to increase the pace, and we hung around about a half length back. This position, I realized, had been established through one furlong. We now had nine left, and a couple before the turn.

Fire's feet touched down lightly on the foamy dirt course. Her ears were pricked and alert, and her eyes focused on the empty space in front. I concentrated on her hoofbeats and how her strides felt, and found her relatively quiet and with a bouncy, energetic stride. Settle down girl I murmured to her. The filly pricked her ears, but once more didn't listen. She didn't know human language, after all, so what else could I expect?

We blew through another two furlongs, one of which was the turn. Fire curved around the turn like she'd been born doing it. She took the outside because she now had her head at Mona's girth and wanted to keep this position. Mona gained a few inches using her inside position, and when we came off the turn and entered the backstretch Mona was leading by one. Fire felt no pressure to move up. We still had seven furlongs to go. I quickly thought about when to make my move. Mona wasn't a front runner. She usually stalked the pace in practices, and was very good at that. Fire, however, was in her preferred position, and that meant we had an advantage. Furthermore, Mona didn't have as much stamina as Fire - she couldn't race up to two miles like Fire could. Once more, we had an advantage. I grinned as I found my strategy, and released Fire.

The light bay two year old blew forward, her strides still energetic. We caught up easily, but then I pulled to a stop alongside Mona. Now we would see what Mona would do. The dark bay filly didn't react at first, but was we ran past the halfway point of the backstretch she darted forward, not liking the pressure. I smiled and let the filly race ahead and lead by two lengths until Krystal pulled her up. Hopefully that would take a bit out of the filly.

We had about four furlongs left to go, or at least I thought. It was time to gain a length. A healthy sweat covered Fire's coat by now, but she was still breathing easily. Up ahead, the bay blur that was Mona was motionless, not moving forward but simply maintaining her position. I urged Fire with one hand movement, my heels touching her sides once. Go girl I whispered, focusing her head on her half sister's tail. Fire reacted instantly, digging in and shooting forward. We easily made up the length, and I pulled her in again. Mona didn't seem to be pressured yet - perhaps Krystal had learned?

Another furlong gone, three to go. We were at the final turn. I positioned Fire on the outside, letting Mona have her preferred position, and then urged Fire a bit more. The two year old extended her strides, unwilling to risk greater speed on the turn lest she injure herself by mistake. I knew that she still had plenty left, and so I didn't urge her overly much. She could turn up the heat quickly in the stretch, but perhaps Mona could as well. They were related, after all.

We finally came off the turn, and I crouched lower, dropping the reins slightly and urging her on. Fire put on the speed and drew level with Mona, but then Krystal began to urge her mount on. Mona extended her stride and dug in, spurred on by the thought of worthy competition and proving herself. Fire's ears were flat to her head, and her legs reached forward, covering more ground in less strides and once more catching up to Mona. The two were neck to neck, neither giving an inch, both powerful and the best in different respects.

The final furlong was here! I crouched lower, taking as much weight as I could into myself in an attempt to lighten up Fire's load. The light bay was pushing herself, digging in and using the firm surface of the dirt track to push herself forward with her hooves, but it wasn't enough. The light bay blur that was Moondance suddenly surged ahead, and I briefly saw the filly's hindquarters heaving before we were under the wire. I sighed unhappily. We had been beaten by a length.

Fire's eyes blazed like open flame. Her light bay coat was darkened with sweat, and she panted with exertion. Her gaze was steely and determined, and I knew nothing would stand in her way the next time she raced. Her wide nostrils flared as we dropped to a canter. She still had plenty of energy left, and could have gone on for long. Her half sister was ahead of us, prancing slightly under Krystal's hushed praise. I slowed Fire even more, now down to a trot, as Krystal turned her mount and joined us in coming back to Amber.

That was good praised the other jockey. I nodded, but then added Twelve furlongs, next week, same day, same time, same place? Krystal's sportsmanship disappeared, and she became serious. You're on she said grimly, and then smiled once more. Amber was walking towards us, looking proud of the two fillies that she had bred, and as she talked about what races the two could debut in I listened, only half attentive, reveling at how Fire could run, how she blazed across the track, dashing across the brown, loamy surface. We only had to work a bit harder so she could learn completely how to blaze to the winners' circle once we started racing for real.