Debuting Amongst Champions-WoodbineMile 1ST PLACE

    ~~Finnegan~~
    It was finally race day, and Finn had been up since three in the morning just trying to make sure he had everything sorted out for his stallion who would be running later on. It was cloudy and ominous, and he wasn't sure he liked the conditions Stormy would be running his first race in. Especially since this was the kind of weather Finn had been crippled in. He wrung out his hands nervously as he felt a few drops of rain on his arms. It was a bit chilly, but he was so worked up that he only had on a polo shirt and vest to keep him warm. Unlike his trainer, Storm was relaxed in his stall while the team waited to take him up to the paddock and get him tacked up.

    "Just take it easy. Not too fast around those turns Levi, got it?" Finn asked urgently and the jockey nodded up at him. Of course Levi would be careful. That was why Finnegan had chosen him. It was because he was much more careful with the horses and himself than he had been at his age. Though, he really wasn’t that much older than him anyway. If it hadn’t been for his racing accident, Finn would still be riding in races instead of standing on the sidelines.

“I don’t think you’ll need to worry ‘bout me or Stormy, Mr. Vinther.” Levi grinned up at him. “I’ve run on wet tracks b’fore. It won’t be an issue.”

That helped to reassure Finn just slightly, and he forced a tiny smile back at his jockey before getting up with a soft groan. “Alright. Let’s get that horse up to the paddock. The race isn’t going to wait for us.”

Up in the paddock, Stormy was relaxed and had his head down to watch his other competitors as they paraded by. Finn had insisted that Stormy stay out of the commotion. Especially with so many hot horses around. In all honesty, though, Storm was not bothered or concerned by them at all. He had his mind on his jockey and trainer. And as if their nerves weren’t enough, Allison decided to show up, and grabbed onto Finn’s arm nervously. It was almost amusing to look at from a distance, seeing how much larger Allison was compared to the little ex-jockey.

“How is he today?” she asked. She was adorned with a pretty top and skirt that came to her knees, and wore high heels like all of the women at the track that day were. Or at least most of them. He took a glance back at her, bright green eyes exuberant as she ran a hand down Stormy’s face one more time.
    “He’s good.” Finnegan reassured her, lightly brushing her death grip off of his arm and taking a deep breath. “You go sit down and relax. I’ll come find you after I get Levi up.” He explained, and then with that, she nodded and left them be.

    “Remember what I said?” He spoke softly to the jockey as he threw the saddle pad and saddle onto Storm’s back.
    “Steady ‘round the turns.” Levi repeated what he’d told him earlier, maybe not in the same dialect, but the same basic idea.

    “And let him take the lead, but if anyone gets too far up don’t chase them. We know Storm can accelerate. We know he can catch a horse that burns itself out before the homestretch. Just leave him near the front of the pack. If he pulls, let him move up. You’ll worry him more by trying to hold him back.” Finn patted Levi’s shoulder as the groom started leading Storm out to the stone path. It had cleared up with just those big, dark clouds in the sky behind them now. “Just make it around safely. I don’t care if you win. Just make it home.”

    Levi nodded as Finn gave him a leg up, and then, they were led out onto the track along with the other horses to warm up.

    ~~Levi~~
    It was louder than Levi had thought it would be out on the track, all of the racket coming from the stands where the spectators were anxiously awaiting for the horses to be loaded up and for the race to begin. He had his fingers tangled through Storm’s mane as they started out. He was met by the horse that would pony them to the gates. The thoroughbred beneath him was no ball of energy today, but he never was until he started galloping.

    The jockey patted Storm’s neck as a few of the horses around them as they were preparing to load into the gates were bouncing up and down and yanking away from their handlers. It wasn’t too long before they were loaded up and ready to go. Levi had his eyes now on the rump of the stark white horse in the number 2 slot as they were lead forward. That was Ghost Hour. That was the filly Finnegan was afraid of.

    Storm loaded easily and stood quietly, leaning against the back of the gate for a moment to test if he was able to back up any more, as he seemed to be a tad claustrophobic. He edged back up to the front again after he realized he wasn’t going anywhere though.
    Levi knotted his fingers through the stallion’s mane, tense as the crowd from the stands grew silent, all waiting for the gates to rocket open. He took a few deep breaths, and could hear nothing but the sounds of the horses around them. Storm had his eyes on the track ahead of them through the bars. The next few seconds were painful, and began to feel like hours as the time ticked by.

    Finally, the gates rocketed open and Storm flew forward at once, catapulting himself easily from the gates and directly to the front of the pack. He settled in comfortably along the outside of the horses, as he had a big enough stride, no matter how small he was, to be able to gallop comfortably alongside them. Levi didn’t want to get boxed in on the rail. He kept up with the lead horse with bounding strides that felt effortless, his ears perked up after he settled in at a nice steady pace at the front.

    Levi seemed relatively confident as they made their way down the backstretch, and Storm seemed to have relaxed nicely. It wouldn’t be long until they discovered just what Storm was made of…