The Arlington Million

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(WBS Moves Like Jagger) leased from angry-horse-for-life by
Sunday Memory by
(4SS American Rouge) by :iconPalominobrumbyfilly


Registration Number: 8

With a few more practice rides under his belt Tash was able to talk Thom into giving Cowboy a chance convincing him to confirm his registry for two upcoming races in America. Thom had been hesitant but Tash had worn him down, she’d even called Opal, admittedly not her best idea in hindsight.
Opal had been supportive sure, but she was also sounding seriously strung out. Tash tried to question what was going on but all Opal had replied with was “I thought it was hard keeping up a relationship when there were only two of us, how are we meant to manage now there are four?!” Then she had called out to someone which had been met with a loud growling meow and the sound of something smashing then Opal had hung up with an angry shout. 
Tash had just looked at Thom wide eyed and mouthed ‘Four?’
Thom had just shrugged in reply, “The four of them seemed to be doing okay when I left. I mean it was kind of weird to watch but Opal hadn’t frozen or burned any of them which is pretty damn good by her standards.”
Still odd as the short phone call had been it had been enough to reassure Thom that getting the heck away, far far away, was the best option and why not use that excuse to get out into the world with Cowboy? So Tash had helped him book their flights, pack up the float and catch the night ferry to Melbourne before they loaded Cowboy into a travel box and boarded a flight headed to Illinois USA via Sydney and Los Angeles. All three were exhausted when they finally unloaded Cowboy from the hired float and got him into a box at the Arlington.
They gave the colt an easy ride the next day in preparation for the race since he was already fit simply letting the colt get used to being somewhere other than home after another long trip. He’d been imported from the US when Opal had bought him so he wasn’t new to the plane flights and lots of travel.
What Thom did do in preparation for the race however was wash the chocolate roan colt until his coat gleamed then he took a pair of sharp silver scissors to the colt’s long silvery mane trimming it neatly. Then he snipped the tip off his long silver tail as well so that it now evenly swished just below level of his hocks.

The day of the race Cowboy swung his head nervously against the cross ties as Tash saddled the colt. Thom had come to see Cowboy quickly before weigh in but now he was waiting for the call to head to the paddock and mount up with the other jockeys. Tash patted the colt’s muscled neck and tightened the girth another hole before pinning a large number 8 onto the blue and gold saddle blanket beneath the light weight racing saddle. A call came over the loud speakers and the saddling yard became a flurry of last minute activity as horses were bridled and led around the yard, waiting to be called forward to the mounting yard.
Cowboy tossed his head and nickered nervously as Natasha led him around the courtyard following the other horses and trainers milling around the yard. When the first horse moved to walk out to the cheering of the crowd Tash circled Cowboy and then led the now trembling colt under the pass and into the mounting yard and the eyes of the cheering crowd. Cowboy reared eyes rolling white at the commotion, then he dropped onto all fours nostrils flaring as he snorted at all mayhem around him. Tash managed to get him calmed down settled in behind a white filly Tash recognised as WBS Ghost Hour, an impressive filly with several placings under her belt. Looking around them Tash recognised several horses who had placed well in previous races. This was going to be a tough field for Cowboy’s first race.
“Don’t worry about them,” Tash murmured to the colt as she rubbed his neck more for her nerves than his, “Go give Thom a good run okay big boy.”
The colt just snorted and stamped his hooves not impressed at the lack of speed they were moving at currently.
There was a sound and the crowd parted turning slightly to watch as the jockeys streamed from a door weaving their way through the throng of people and horses towards their own mounts.
Thom made his way straight to them flashing Tash a tight lipped smile as she triple checked the girth before legging him up onto the bouncing colt. Within moments a Steward took Cowboy’s lead from her their steel grey walking calmly as Cowboy jigged and half reared his way onto the track. Following the rest of the parade they made their way down the grassy track towards the starting gates.
Natasha was happy to watch Cowboy load into the starting gate without too much of an issue. She held her breath as the last horse was loaded and the flag went up. Silence descended over the stands as they prepared for the start.
Then in a sudden flash of green the gates sprang open and the horses shot out. Cowboy had been fussing during the start and had reared as the barrier gates opened leaving him a pace behind the field as the horses pounded down the turf. Rocky start aside Cowboy wasted no time in fighting to make up lost ground. Thom pulled the colt to the outside holding him in as they started to make their way up the field.
Thom didn’t know quite what happened but Cowboy found a gap and drifted back towards the rail in front of a black stallion in red and gold chasing down the horses in front of him. They were closing in on the bay in black and purple before them, Cowboy fighting to chase the pack ahead of them but Thom could feel the young stallion beginning to tire. Hands tangled in the soft silver mane Thom called encouragement to the colt urging the young horse faster, to keep going and so the colt tried. He poured his heart into every hoof beat and Thom could only hope that in the end that would be enough to see them past the post.


Water colours and Copic markers, 2 hours
References:
Background -  doubletree3.hilton.com/resourc…
Horses - From watching the horse races yesterday