"Maybe deciding to exercise-ride for Vince Jones was a big mistake, sixteen-year-old Melanie Graham told her cousin, Christina Reese The two girls were walking down the gravel drive that wound through the rows of barns, at Turfway Park. It was early in. the morning, and except for barn lights, the backside area was dark.
But even at five A.M. the racetrack's backside was teeming activity. Trainers such as Vince Jones employed dozens of grooms, stable hands, hotwalkers, and exercise riders, and they, all started working before the sun came up.
"A mistake!" Christina repeated. Just like Melanie, she carried her exercise saddle and helmet. "'Are you crazy? Vince is the best trainer in Kentucky. The best on the East Coast. Probably the best in the whole United States!"
Melanie rolled her eyes. "I don't care if he's the best trainer in the galaxy. He's got more rules than the teachers at school, and he's at, big grouch."
"He just likes things his own Christina explained. But you wait. When you ride for him this morning, I bet you'll learn lots."
"I guess," Melanie responded, feeling unconvinced.
When they reached Vince's row of stalls, Melanie looked around. Dozens of gorgeous Thoroughbreds were being fed, walked, groomed, and saddled. Thearea was as spotless, the workers quiet and calm. It was very impressive, and very intimidating.
Christina's right, Melanie corrected herself. She could learn a lot from Vince. She just hated someone barking orders at her. Christina had been riding for Vince for several weeks, so she'd adjusted to his gruff ways. Melanie preferred trainers who told her to use her own judgment and let her learn from her mistakes.
Not that there have been that many trainers clamoring for me lately, Melanie thought ruefully. After a bad accident in a race on a colt named Fast Gun, winning had eluded her. Fortunately, Christina's parents, Ashleigh and Mike Reese, owners of Whitebrook Farm, had continued to believe in Melanie.- Over the summer she had raced several of Whitebrook's horses. But it wasn't until several weeks ago, after shed won the Breeder's Futurity on Wonder's Stat one of the farm's top two-year-olds, that Vince Jones had brusquely told Melanie to come exercise-ride for turn, too
And that's what she was doing this morning. Secretly Melanie had to admit that shed been thrilled when Vince had asked her. to ride for him. After he watched her ride, maybe he'd ask her to jockey for him, too.
I'd better ride well, Melanie thought, biting her bottom, lip. That. wasn't going to be easy, since she had no idea what sort of horses Vince would give her to ride.
A groom walked by leading a handsome bay colt. Morning, Chris. He nodded at Christina, then glanced at Melanie as if wondering who she was.
Melanie felt a pang of jealousy. This weekend Turfway was holding its big Labor Day weekend races. Christina would be racing Gratis, a colt Vince trained, as well as Wonder's Star. Both were super two-year-olds and possible Kentucky Derby contenders. Christma's name had even been mentioned in several newspapers, and Vince Jones had, been quoted as saying, With jockey Christina Reese on Gratis, the colt has a better-than-average chance of winning." Not exactly glowing praise, but it was about as enthusiastic as- Vince ever got.
I Melanie sighed. She would be racing several horses at Turfway, too, but none was as outstanding as Gratis or Wonder"s Star. Most of them would be hardpressed to even-place in a race, let alone win.
Oh, quit feeling sorry for yourself, Melanie thought as she followed Christina toward the office. She needed to stop telling herself she couldnt win. Ever since she'd come to live with Christina's family at Whitebrook Farm in Kentucky, she'd dreamed about becoming a jockey. As soon as she had turned sixteen she'd gotten her apprentice jockey's license. Now, just as in her dreams, she'd spent the spring and summer riding and racing as many horses as she could. So what was the problem? Was she just worn out from pushing so hard all summer, trying to prove she could be a winning jockey?
"Let's check the schedule to see who we're riding," Christina said when they reached the office. "I hope Vince didn't put me on too many horses. I want to spend some time with Star this morning." Her cousins expression brightened when she said the big chestnut colt's name. "He docked great yesterday, did I tell you? He's definitely ready for tomorrow's race."
Hearing the affection in Christina's voice, Melanie felt another pang of jealousy. She thought about Pirate, an ex-racehorse who had gone blind, and Trib, the pony who had taught her how to ride. They were the only horses Melanie had ever felt a bond with the kind of bond that Christina I had with Star This summer she must have ridden or worked at least a hundred different horses, and many of them were special. But none had been special to her. That was what- she wanted more than anything -- one special horse to love, and to love her back.
The office was empty except for one other exercise rider looking over the schedule.
"Uh-oh, you've got Fortune's Way." Christina said to Melanie when she saw the list.
The other rider chuckled. Vince puts all the new riders on Yankee.
Melanie looked confused. "Yankee? But I thought you said his name was Fortune."
"We nicknamed him that because he yanks Your arms off," Christina explained. Turning, she pulled a protective vest from a hook on the wall and handed it to Melanie.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
