Foxfire's Triple Crown - the Preakness Stakes

Results: 4th Place

putting it out there that I did this - as I do all my art on DA - on my iPad with an app and my finger. I am a poor pauper who has no access to the fancy programs of nowadays XD 

Show: 2018 Preakness Stakes

Horse: AS Foxfire
Jockey: Amalie McKenzie 
Stables: Antrium Stables 
Extra: Training Misstep
Image on the screen 

Featured horses (right to left): ERS Jack The Ripper, RSS Hot Shot, BTs Mustard Blue, AS Ryukotsei 

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Story: (1,537 words - because I got carried away...) 

The thunder and pounding rain had abated and time enough had passed that the track was once again firm. The white colt took in a deep breath as the remnants of the humid air filled his lungs. Back home, in Scotland, if a thunderstorm had past the air would be damp and tinged with a light chill, yet fresh and rejuvenating. Here, at the site of the Preakness, the air was still warm but it was light and strangely comfortable.

Perfect for working up a sweat in his upcoming race.

The overcast sky was familiar and comforting, back home it was the most common type of weather next to rain, and the cloud covering was almost like nature draping him in a soft blanket. Dare he say it, it felt as though nature was favouring him in this race.

Fox had been overconfident in his training the other day. He’d felt Amalie pulling on his reins, felt as much as heard her tell him to slow down and he knew he should have but he was on a roll! He could almost taste the victory of smashing his record, if he could just push through her commands... of course, he’d lost his footing and was incredibly lucky that he hadn’t broken his legs when he swerved all over the track, losing his rider and nearly colliding with the railing. Oh, the scolding he’d gotten from Percy for that, if he’d been any slower at dodging the furious little Shetland he’d have lost an ear. Percy really did make good on his threats and when he said he’d pound it into Fox he really pounded it into him... now Fox didn’t think he would ever try taking corners too fast ever again for the rest of his career.

There was a familiar face on the track this time around, ERS Jack The Ripper. Fox had raced the colt back at White Blood Stables for the Quality In Colour. So far that was Fox’s only defeat, though it wasn’t to the flashy tobiano. He remembered Ripper to be an absolute monster - and he was stationed right alongside him.

Ripper was the textbook definition of a headstrong, unruly colt who believed himself already a stallion - and the best of the best at that. He was intense and aggressive, throwing his weight around and daring everyone to defy him. Fox completely and utterly ignored him.

He momentarily wondered if his mother would be disappointed in him for his ‘poor manners’, as she had always made a point of being kind and greeting every horse on the field but his Sire, oh Abyaz would be proud. Abyaz was notorious for his unbreakable icy cool before a race and Fox was doing his damnedest to imitate that.

“Wow, now this is a pleasant surprise! You look chill as ice, brother!” Came the voice of the one who not a day ago had tried to rip his ear off. Percy came trotting up, a chewed-through lead rope trailing behind him. “Now that’s an improvement from the Derby. Ready to take those corners slow-and-steady?”

Fox laughed and stood on the lead rope, causing Percy to bow his head against his will before trying to yank his head back. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll mind those corners. I’ll keep with the pack until the final stretch, then I’ll show everyone why it’s called a ‘killer stride’.” He said with a grin as he released Percy, who jerked back as he was freed. “How many ropes have you gnawed through now? Is that the fifth?”

“Sixth. They should learn by now that I won’t be contained.” Percy shook himself down and glared at him. “Don’t do that again.”

“Stop trying to rip my ear off and we’ll talk.”

“Stop taking corners so fast!”

“Stop being so bossy!”

“Then grow a brain!”

“Grow a few inches!”

Oooh, that did it. All that could be heard then was the two brothers’ mock battle, Fox merely sidestepping a murderous Shetland pony and laughing as he did so. Percy wouldn’t dare hurt Fox right before the race, he invested too much in the White Streak, but nor was was he letting the comment on his height go unavenged.

Just then Fox caught sight of another, more friendly face. Ryu, a colt that had been sold to Fox Harber Farms, was being led past, looking in a good mood meaning that he’d had a good night sleep - the light bay would be a serious dragon if he was grumpy. Fox, during his little scuffle with Percy, had pinned Percy by his lead rope again and, without really thinking, lifted his leg to trot after Ryu. Percy, not expecting the sudden weight to be lost, went flying back again, landing on his back with a yelp.

“Ryu! Long time to see!” Fox greeted as he skidded to a halt at the gate. His old stable mate turned to see him and offered a flick of the head in greeting.

“Yo, Fox. See you made it, heard you took a fall.” Ryu noted. Fox blushed bashfully and chuckled.

“Y-Yeah...” he muttered, earning a smirk from the now orange-donned colt.

“Ah, you took the corner too fast again, didn’t you?”

Fox puffed up his chest in indignation. “H-hey! What do you mean ‘again’?!”

The two talked a bit, the man with Ryu even giving Fox a pet or two, until Percy came up from behind and rammed into him. Ryu laughed as the two brothers started arguing again but soon he was being tugged away.

“Sorry, mates, but looks like I’m off. See ya on the track, Fox?” He called over his shoulder.

“Yeah! See ya!” Fox called as he watched Ryu leave. Percy reared up and placed his front legs on the lowest bar of the fence, head cocked to the side.

“Speaking of, shouldn’t your human be coming to get you ready?”

“They’re probably looking for a runaway Shetland.”

“... Oh Sh*t!”

-

It was all a bit of a rush, they weren’t late but they were behind everyone else thanks to Percy’s Houdini act. Fox was dressed and ready to hit the track, his jockey mounted and as eager as he was. He was pleased to see her previously injured shoulder seemed recovered, probably with something to do with the many medicines humans had for such injuries, really, the two leggeds thought themselves to be the beings that ruled the world yet they were so fragile... it was rather terrifying to think of that all Fox would have to do was accidentally stand on them and their bones would be broken.

He would have to take extra care of his human during this race.

The clouds were thick and heavy, as though each was clamouring to get closer to spectate the race. Fox grinned in anticipation for the show he’d put on for them. In the distance there remained some dark, threatening clouds, dramatic and nothing short of impressive, much like the temperaments flying around right now, as the horses were put to the gates.

There were many colts in this race and Ripper didn’t seem to like any of them, his male pride flaring dangerously only more so at the presence of the fillies present. Fox would’ve ignored him but he was right next to him, if it weren’t for the bars of the gates they’d be touching.

‘Some horses are just violent. Don’t give them any room. Be sure to be aware of them, they’re the ones to pay attention to, the ones that might pull tricks.’ His father’s words, mostly referencing Eclipse, his rival throughout his career. Well, Ripper was not Eclipse, no matter how much he threw his weight around and if he wanted to kick up a storm he could, no one was going to stop him wasting his energy.

The gates burst open and all the racers charged out, Ripper blasting ahead of the lot. Fox pulled in a few lengths behind, settling nicely in third. He battled for a while with RSS Hot Shot between third and fourth, both keeping pace nicely. Ryu also joined them in fifth, keeping to the outside They never let Ripper stay too far ahead, though.

Fox could hear the pack behind him and could hear the familiar friendly goading of Ryu behind him. “That the best ya can do, sissy-boy?” He called as Fox slowed down for the corner, letting Ryu catch him. “Still can’t master corners, huh?”

“Shut up,” Fox retorted with a grin, “let’s see you keep that lead on the Final Stretch!”

“Looser has to eat a dandelion!” Ryu called as he pulled ahead of Fox, who slowed slightly as the shock of the bet settled on him.

“WHAT?! Oh, like hell, grumpy-dragon!”

There was no way Fox was getting even close to those evil things. The heat was so on. Ryu was going down.

They rounded the final corner and Fox flared into life, his stride lengthening, his speed upping immensely. He pulled to the outside and tore up the track, his long legs eating up the dirt as the roar of the crowd filled the air, cheering for the racers, the names of their preferred favourites on their lips. Call it arrogance, call it pride, but it felt to him like they were all shouting his name. Because of the blinders on his hood he couldn’t see who flanked him, all his could see was the finish line, getting closer and closer...

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Refrences: I did use some but I don’t know where they are BUT I saved them to gallery so if I can’t find them I’ll upload them to stash so you can see. None of them were race horse images though so it’s mostly without a reference.