Battlefield - Saratoga

Show: The J.C Monthly

Horse One: AS Cardinal Blaze 
Jockey One: Ben Castion 

Horse Two: Madamoiselle De La Fer
Jockey Two: Amalie McKenzie  

_______

Ben hadn't been in many races since Dragon was sold and since Abyaz retired Amalie had taken over riding Epona. When Amalie approached him about racing some horses in New York, he was up to it. Until he saw who was getting loaded into the trailer two pods away from Epona. 

"Amalie, I'm not racing that horse." He said, trying to put his foot down. 

"Ben, you don't have a choice." Amalie shot him down without even looking at him. "I've raced him plenty - but I'm the only one. I'm tiny, Ben, he gets away with murder with me and Scott is frankly too rough. So unless you're going to hire me another jockey out of your pay, you're going to race him." She said, walking past him and round the other side of the trailer van (van they said, more like lorry) and checking that the various containers contained everything they'd need. 

"He's Evil! Truly! He's not got manners enough to race!" He exclaimed, following her. With this, Amalie stood up, whirled around, face like thunder, and pointed right at him. 

"He's fast enough to race - and win, as he's been doing. I get it, you're upset about AS selling Dragon - damn it, we all are! But you need to stop being such a baby, grow up, grow a pair, realise that not all horses are well behaved gentleman and sit in that saddle and race!" She yelled, fed up with his attitude and moping ever since his favourite was sold. "Maybe if you loved him so much you should have stopped spending your money on whatever rubbish you spend it on and actually bought Dragon yourself, like all of us have done." Her words stung. She knew they stung, she chose them for that purpose. She watched as Ben clenched his fists and bent his head. 

"Yes, ma'am." He mumbled. She nodded and turned away. 

"At least Dragon is enjoying his retirement in the warmth of the USA instead of the rain and snow with those casual rides he loved so much. Unlike Chairon." She added as an afterthought before walking off. "Now get in the van." 

-

Two days later they were getting the horses ready for the race. Amalie had stayed stressed and grumpy and Ben was learning to avoid her. She had been almost like an adopted sister to Sou and oh boy, she could mimic her temper excellently. 

Ben went and tacked up Blaze who instantly shook his head, bearing his teeth. At that moment Amalie walked by. "DON'TEVENTHINKABOUTIT!" she growled at the black stallion. Blaze instantly lifted his head, standing perfectly, whites of his eyes showing. When she walked away he followed to his stall door, leaning out to watch her go. Ben chuckled as he took the opportunity to tack him up. 

"She scares me too, Devil. She scares me too." 

-

During the race Ben often found himself behind Epona but Blaze didn't take kindly to it. He would reach forward to bite and he would have to deliberately steer him away. He hoped the stallion would behave enough that they wouldn't be docked points or disqualified for his actions. 

Abyaz and Dragon were turf racers. They tended to do much better on turf. Epona didn't seem to care, but seemed faster on dirt. Blaze didn't give a damn. He would tear up either, dirt; he created a pillar of dust behind him or a mountain of mud, in wet weather. With grass he tore that up like ribbons, he ran as violently as he behaved. Epona was a very dominant mare, she often bossed others around, but she wasn't violent. Having the black stallion behind her seemed to urge her forward more out for fear than out of stubbornness, which was unseen as of yet for the young mare.