Race Girl by Leigh Hutton

Author:Leigh Hutton [Hutton, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young adult fiction, Fiction - horses
ISBN: 9780992495671
Publisher: Port Campbell Press
Published: 2016-03-31T04:00:00+00:00

22

Barriers

Cup day dawned bright, dry and cool, with trainers from all over the state trailering in to try their hand at the historic meet. By mid-morning, what seemed to Tully like half of Brisbane had frocked up and were flooding through the gates, excited to enjoy the on-field entertainment by a popular international DJ, the races themselves, a flutter, or drinks and a laugh with their mates in one of the many themed bars and VIP marquees.

Tully had been to the Cup a few times to watch her mum, but had never strapped officially or even ventured far from the tie-up stalls where she was always helping with the horses. Mr. Barnes even gave her a brand new Curtis Barnes Racing polo in his green and brown colours, before sending her out for pre-race coffees. Tully felt like dancing as she made her way out of the trailer in her new team shirt – taking the whole atmosphere in as a real insider now, nerves and excitement tingling through her fingers and toes. She’d never seen so many guys in suits, or such stunning women in short dresses and longer gowns paired with feathery, flirty, floral fascinators, the more outrageous the better. This is going to be an incredible day!

Tully listened in amusement to a group of dudes next to the coffee line-up talking about the after-party – how organisers were going for a Guinness World record. Not for anything to do with the racing, but for the most people at one event wearing sunglasses at night. Tully stifled a smile as she imagined the guys in their mirrored sunnies, running amok in the dark. They already had beers in each hand and it wasn’t even lunchtime.

She was relieved when she could finally get down to the task at hand, after fetching a stony-faced and nervous Mr. Barnes his second double-shot latte. Fin was up in the second race on the card. He’d been going well all week, but had finished a little stiff and jumpy in his last gallop. His odds were long at 120 to 1 after poor form all season. Tully gave him an extra kiss on the nose and sneaky sugar cube for luck, then ducked over to the Avalon stall to say hi to her dad and Bucko, as Rosie and Jeo were also running.

Tully was hurrying back to get her strapper’s bib with Fin’s number on it when Fia stopped her, wrapping her up in a firm, perfumed hug.

‘Aunt Fia!’ Tully said, gazing up at her with surprise. ‘You didn’t say you had runners in this one!’ Fia had been ringing most weeks to see how Tully was going with her new job, but hadn’t rung for the last few.

‘A good purse, Tully,’ Fia said with a wave of her hand. ‘Like I’ve said before—didn’t get to the top without running everywhere.’

Tully was sure she’d never seen her aunt’s name in the program for any provincial meets before, but now she’d made amends with the Athens’s, it made sense she’d feel comfortable venturing into their territory.

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