Page 17 - Contrast1964Spring
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,ALso RAN
'(He was the 'class' of that field. I only the stretch toward the clubhouse turn to the II
wish I had more money on him. He won't pay gap which opened on to the stable area.
much." I didn't see which one of the raii nird's ii
was talking. It didn't matter since they all She was hot, her black hide covered with'
look the same. I admit they're physically dif- a Layer of gritty sand and lo am+the race track.
ferent. It's their collecti ve attitude that makes Foam covered her chest and her nostrils were
them seem like a milling herd. All they care blood red as she breathed like a runaway steam
about is what flashes on the tote board when engine. Defeated and tired, she still contained
it's "offi ci al". the nervous energy which is characteristic of
the Thoroughbred. I had to walk fast to keep
I didn't have time to ponder those words up with her.
of wise hindsight of Mr. Average Racing Fan
whose mania for gambling made my job pos- "Horse coming through! Horse coming
sible. 1 quickly slipped through the metal gate through!" the guard warned the rail birds as
and onto the track, leaving my unseen commen- we went through gate and along the tanbark
tator to look over his "Form" and dope out path to the paddock.
that sure thing in the next race. I was now a
part of the "inside", that group which is at "Oh no you don't. That can wai r until you
the track because they like to wo rk wi th horses win again," I said as she almost instinctively
and who have all the inside information. At seem ed to head for the stall where the .sal iva
least that's what Mr. Average Racing Fan test was taken.
thinks.
With a clink andscTaplng 'of aluminum
Suddenly, out of nowhere, or so it seemed shoes on stone, we crossed the road "and en-
to me, stepped the jockey's valet and together tered the maze of .shedrows and upstairs dorm-
we waited. Not long, since the farther back a itories which occupied the stable area.
horse finishes, the sooner his jock will pull
him up tq return to the front of the stands. "Who won?"
Neither one of us said a word, merely waiting.
In a matter of seconds the filly, Number One "I don't know. She was the only one 1 was
today, came galloping around the clubhouse watching," I answered one of the "guineas"
turn and,slowing down to a jog, was pulled as we passed by
up before us. With the wave of his whip to the
stewards, the jockey jumped off of the horse. "Where did you finish?"
"This is the holiest damn track I've ever "Next to last," I answered. No other ex-
seen!" he said. "She hit one the second time planation needed, for sh e was an "also ran".
around the backstretch and nearly went down!"
Through the maze of stables we hurried.
By this time I had slipped the brass chain Horses and men were everywhere. Here is
of the shank through the rings of the bit and where the real drama of the track occurs. The
under the filly's chin. As soon as the jockey land of hopes and shattered dreams that Mr.
had pulled off his saddl e and had gone to Average Racing Fan never sees.
weigh-in, I hurriedly led the filly back down
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