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The Big Race
By Donna Christie, Ramir Quintana Trafford Publishing
Copyright © 2013 Donna Christie
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4907-1103-4
CHAPTER 1
It was the beginning of June, and everyone was getting really excited about the big race on Saturday.
Archie had been preparing very hard for months. John took him and Bobby out to the tracks every day to practice, except on weekends.
Archie's race time had improved a lot, and he was now running faster and stronger. He had become quite comfortable and familiar with the ground under his feet. Bobby was always there, looking on, to support Archie.
Saturday morning came. John, Tracy, and Adam got up very early, preparing for the day ahead of them. John was very nervous but tried not to show it. He wanted to show off his new horse, but most especially, he wanted Archie to win more than anything. So he kept himself busy, making sure that all the other animals were well fed and had clean and fresh water to drink. He also made sure that the horse trailer was clean and ready to go.
Tracy and Adam were inside tidying up. Tracy wanted most of the chores done before they left for the race. She knew that it would be a very long day at the track and they would all be tired afterward.
At 1:00 p.m., John carefully loaded Archie into his trailer. He put Bobby into his cage and strapped it down on the back of the pickup truck. It was time to go, so they all climbed into the truck and drove off to the racetrack. The race was to begin at 3:00 p.m. John wanted to leave early so that he would have a lot of time to drive down, set up, and be ready for Archie's race.
For a short while, everyone was very quiet and not talking. Tracy looked at John then at Adam sitting in the backseat and asked, "Honey, do you know how many horses are racing with Archie today?"
"Archie is set in the fourth race, so there are eight other horses racing with him," replied John.
Sensing John's nervousness, Tracy assured him that Archie will do just fine.
"There are two other horses much faster than Archie in this race. This is Archie's first race, and I am nervous," stated John.
"Don't worry, Dad, Archie will do just fine. You'll see!" said Adam.
John glanced quickly at Adam and then looked at Tracey and smiled as she gently touched his right arm.
After arriving at the tracks and unloading the trailer, John walked with Archie and Ryan, the nineteen-year-old jockey. They walked over to the stables where all the horses go before they are led to the gates for their final race. John hired Ryan to work with Archie. Ryan had been practicing with Archie every day over the past year.
Tracy, Adam, and Bobby went to find good seats. The stadium was very empty except for about five or six other spectators. So they had a lot of seats to choose from. They decided to sit out in front, where they could see everything. This was the first time Adam had ever been to a real-life horse race, and he was excited. Adam and Bobby played next to the fence while Tracy sat, offering a small prayer for Archie.
As they waited, more and more people came and took possession of their seats. Very soon, the entire stadium was filled with spectators. Everyone was chatting away, with the race schedule in their hands. They were talking about their favorite horse and who was going to win in whatever race. Adam attached the leash to Bobby's collar ring just as the gates opened and the horses took off down the tracks. He then stood on the bench next to his mother, watching the horses galloping really fast. People were yelling and shouting out their horse's number: "Come on, boy," "Come on, number 6, number 3, number 2," etc. On and on it went until the race was over. This continued on for the next two races.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from The Big Race by Donna Christie, Ramir Quintana. Copyright © 2013 Donna Christie. Excerpted by permission of Trafford Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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