Deviation Actions
Description
Silks: Northridge Stud Silks
Extra: Early to Rise
Experience:
First Storm - 1st Place
Storm Approaching - 1st Place
Who Me? - 1st Place
Show: HRA Kentucky Derby 2020
Placement: PENDING
Matthew sat quietly in the grandstands of Churchill Downs watching as horses worked early in the morning. A newsletter in his hand and his ball cap pulled down over his face as he watched the various bays, chestnuts, and greys take their turns around the track. Checking his watch occasionally as their designated time slot approached to do a practice run one last time before the oaks.
“Who are you hiding from?” A voice called out that made Matthew lift his head up and look around. Alex was walking towards him with two coffees in hand and his own ball cap on. He sat down beside Matthew and handed him the warm beverage.
“The press. Or anyone for that matter.” Matthew muttered as he took a sip of the warm liquid and watched a grey slowly trot to a stop down on the track.
“What time is she slotted for?” Alex asked as he tapped his phone to look at the time.
“7:05 am. Andrew should already be standing down there.” Matthew answered as he adjusted in his seat. Alex nodded and leaned back far more casual than Matthew.
“She’s going to run fine. She ran faster yesterday and Andrew had to wrangle her in. She’s going to push it today.” Alex calmly explained and Matthew sighed.
“That’s the issue, I don’t want to push her. But I don’t want her to burst and act up in the race. I told Alex he could let her gallop at the end to burn some off.” Matthew answered and Alex nodded. This was not his realm of expertise, he was a dressage man. Matthew was the racing man. He was born and raised in this world, and Alex trusted his judgment.
“There she is.” Alex gestured with his head as the dark bay appeared just under one of the lights. Her coat was shiny even though she hadn’t had her bath yet this morning. Matthew waited as he pulled out a stopwatch to keep track. As soon as she took a step forward, he started it and watched as the mare took off in a breeze down the track.
“Andrew seems to just be sitting up there drinking it all in.” Matthew noted he trusted his jockey to handle the mare. After all, he rode Delta to his victory, surely he could do it again on this track.
“It’s not like she hasn’t been doing this since she was two…” Alex joked and Matthew rolled his eyes as he watched the mare around the first turn. She ran a little close to the rail but she had always been a railbird. Something her and Delta had in common unlike some of the other horses in the barn. They were just lucky they got the number two post rather one father down the gate. Andrew let the reins move a little more as they turned down the backstretch. The mare dropped her head more as she lengthed her stride and ate up the track below her. Matthew squinted to keep track of the dark mare in the dark morning light, luckily he caught a glimpse of her just as she started the last turn for home.
“Andrew is still holding her tight,” Alex commented and Matthew agreed as the turn was crucial to line the mare up for a good position at the end of the race. Within a handful of seconds, they were on the home stretch and Andrew lifted up a bit as he let the mare gallop all the way to the final pole before pulling her back. Matthew clicked the watch and looked at the time. She had ran well at each of the poles and Matthew felt confident going into the race.
“See nothing to worry about. Expect maybe the press. They seem kinda mean.” Alex joked and Matthew nodded knowing they picked apart every trainer, horse, and jockey when it came time to the Derby. Luckily this year, they really weren’t the main spotlight. The Oaks was significant but not nearly as theatrical and important as the Derby. While everyone else was stressing over the Derby, they would already be headed home to rest and celebrate regardless of the outcome.
“Just wait until the Olympics, you’ll be this stressed.” Matthew joked as the men stood back up and fixed their caps as they walked back towards the barn. Horses, trainers, and jockey moved like a machine on the backstretch.
“I already am. Just flying those horses across the water is enough to make a blood vessel burst for me.” Alex chuckled and Matthew nodded as they stopped and sat down in the folding chairs by Storm’s stall.
“That’s why we don’t race in Ireland or Europe or Australia, too much stress,” Matthew explained as they sipped on their coffee. Soon Matthew’s mother rounded the corner with Storm beside her. A drying blanket over as steam rolled off the mare from her bath and work out. “Here’s the pretty lady.” She cooed as she led the mare into the stall and gave her breakfast and some water. Andrew soon followed with the equipment in tow.
“What do you think Andrew? How was she?” Matthew asked as Andrew leaned against the fence surrounding the stalls.
“She was biting at the bit. She wants to run. But I don’t think we should take her out again. It’s too close and I think she would be better if we save it up and just have a hot walk until then.” Alex explained and everyone turned to Matthew for his answer. He paused and debated within himself what to do with his mare he had raised and trained. He glanced back up to see her sweet face hanging over the stall with some hay she was working on.
“Tomorrow, we hot walk her and get her ready for the Oaks. Clean her up and get her to bed. Make sure to ice her legs and no extra treats, got it, mom?” Matthew joked as he looked up to see his mother rolling her eyes as she stroked over the white marking on Storm’s nose.
Featuring:
FHF Scotch and Chocolate (GB) owned by CapNRCubey
HTS Nuclear Shadow owned by TheEndlessHourglass
References:
Kentucky Oaks Logo
Kentucky Oaks Morning Line Graphic
Bottom Left
Amazing piece! Love the three views.