What IS This Shit

This took longer than my Kentucky Derby entry ;_; But it was so worth it because I LOVE the outcome! I'm inspired to do more traditional work again- I hated every step of working on my KYD entry but I enjoyed every moment of drawing this <3
I poured my heart and soul into it so you better like it fam

Registration Number: 2
Show: 2017 TS Preakness Stakes
Horses Name: WBS Blackbeard's Ghostly Sails
Riders Name: Abhijat Devar
Extra Images: Practice and The Calm Before The Storm
Previous Experience: 
2017 TS Holy Bull Stakes - 1st Place
2017 TS Fountain Of Youth Stakes - 1st Place
2017 TS 2000 Guineas Stakes - 1st Place
WBS Weekly Races - 1st Place
WBS Weekly Races - 1st Place
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Prizes Donated: Ribbons to all places, trophy and wreath to 1st

Dallas had decided to have Sail train two days prior to the running of the Preakness Stakes in a light work out. She was met on the track by JA's White Wonder who seemed determined to show off for the mare as he passed her like a bat out of hell during their training session. Abhijat settled the filly back into their easy gallop, just letting the blood flow and allowing her a feel for the new track. Dallas and Abhijat knew what was to come- an absolute shit storm smack dab during race day. With the sloppy mud that would be of consequence thanks to the storm, their training style was tactfully altered. Speed was no longer a viable weapon. The horses would all be slowed in the mud, and too much speed in too little time could result in an injury. What the WBS team needed to work on was strength. Dallas instructed Abhijat to work Sail at an easy pace for longer than usual- the lower speeds over longer distance would work her muscles in ways that they hadn't been worked before. A hopeful result would be that after a day of rest to allow her muscles to strengthen and recover, Sail would be able to tackle the mud with less effort. This would allow Sail to conserve energy while the other horses would try to barrel through the mud and waste their energy early- allowing the filly to blast through with a strong finish. That was the theory, anyways. So Abhijat didn't mind when the white horse barreled past him because he was going to play the game as intelligently as possible. Just as Sail was the first of WBS Ghost Hour's offspring to compete in the Kentucky Derby, Sail was aimed to finish the Crown races in her dams hoof prints. And so, Ghost's legacy continued.

A day of rest followed the training day, where Sail was fed and walked around the race grounds to stretch her healing muscles, they had to be sore from the workout completed the day prior and the WBS team wanted Sail to recuperate properly before race day. So, her muscles were stretched during a few walks throughout the day and she was then settled for the night. It rained that night all the way through, and though the WBS team didn't get much sleep, they hoped that their filly was soundly dreaming of her victories to come.

Race day hit the staff like a truck on roadkill. Disturbed by the rain the night before, as well as by the nerves that raked them, they hardly slept a wink. However, in the life of racing every day starts early, so they were up on time and preparing Sail for her big day. She was fed and groomed, then walked after her feeding was completed to aid in her digestion. The rain hadn't seemed to bother her through the night, and her stool seemed healthy. Later in the day she received a vet check and passed with flying colors. So, all that was left to do was tack up and head out. There was a brief relief from the rain for those few hours until the riders were mounting. As soon as the first horses hoof touched that track, a deep rumble of thunder barreled through the sky like a holy freight train. Like clockwork, following the thunder came a bright flash in the sky and it was almost instant downpour. The scene went frantic for a moment as horses spooked and some people in the crowd pulled out umbrellas- other unlucky people trying to inch their way unsuspectingly under a neighbors' umbrella for relief from the sudden flood cascading from the heavens.

The horses hooves sloshed in the mud as the neared and entered the gates, splashes of watery mud striking upwards with every step of protest by the mounts. Finally the horses were loaded in the gates and ready to go, and the only thought crossing the fillys mind as chaos surrounded her was.. What the hell was this shit?!

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Featured: JA's White Wonder , Gaelach Guarantee

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