Kentucky Rich by Fern Michaels

Author:Fern Michaels
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.
Published: 2011-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

15

Derby Day!

Nealy sucked in her breath and moved quickly. She hadn’t had one moment to herself since she, Hunt, and Danny had pulled in at the back gate of Churchill Downs at two-thirty that morning. From then on she’d had an endless stream of things to do, not the least of which was getting Flyby and Stardancer comfortably settled in their assigned stalls in barn number twenty-six.

Now, finally, everything was done. Flyby and Stardancer were resting from their midnight run from the media hounds and would soon enjoy a good breakfast of clean white oats. Nealy had brought Stardancer along to be Flyby’s lead pony. Normally only geldings escorted the runners in the post parade, but because of Flyby and Stardancer’s unusual relationship, father and son got special permission to ride together to the post. Another unorthodox note in the long list of unorthodox notes.

From there on in, the horses could be left in Danny’s capable hands. He still had to brush away the accumulated sawdust from the trailer ride, bathe them both, then braid Stardancer’s mane and tail with purple and white ribbons. It was a long-standing Derby tradition for the lead ponies to be decked out in their finest livery.

During the ride to the track, Nealy and Hunt had talked about taking Flyby out to the track for a morning workout, but decided against it because of the media. Instead she would walk him around the barns, talking to him softly, trying to explain what these new goings-on were all about. Later she swore he understood everything she said.

With Charlie leashed and at her feet, Nealy hurried down the length of the long shed row toward the racetrack. These few minutes, just prior to sunup, might be her only chance to get a good look at the famed twin spires of the venerable Churchill Downs.

Mist rose from the tubs of warm water the grooms were carrying to bathe their charges. A cat meowed, and a hen clucked. The smells of leather and liniment, straw and manure filled the air. A wonderful memory to tuck away and cherish.

Then she saw it. Churchill Downs. The white spires shone like beacons in the predawn light. A light breeze moved the American flag that rose over the rooftop. She looked upward into the grandstand and imagined it as it would be later that afternoon, filled with more than a hundred thousand people. The thought made her feel light-headed and weak in the knees.

The sound of thundering hooves caught her attention. She looked to the left and saw a dappled gray horse galloping out of the clubhouse turn, toward her. She smiled as she watched him race past. Steam rose in foot-high vapors off his heated shoulders. Whoever he was, he was a plucky little colt, 15.3 hands max, with legs barely long enough to keep his tail off the ground. Yet he didn’t lack for speed, and Nealy knew he would be a serious contender.

As of late the previous night, Flyby was still a long shot, though the odds had dropped from eighteen to one to ten to one.

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