Posted in Black Knight
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The announcer said, “All riders are now in their starting post. The race is about to begin. Light Fleet is in the first post on the inside… Victory’s Heart is in the fourth post, Black Knight is in the fifth post…” the announcer went on announcing the places of the horses until the tenth place. Lily waited impatiently for the sound of the bell to ring, meaning that the race had really begun. She thought the announcer would never stop talking. Then he said, “Now the race will begin, folks!”
Alan sat on Black Knight’s back, holding tight to the stallion’s mane. He’d never been in this kind of race before. He’d always raced the mine boys by the seashore. Never had he been to a real racetrack. Suddenly he heard the starter say, “Boys, hold on!” and he dug his hands deep into the stallion’s mane and held on tight. The gates burst open and the crowd screamed. The horses charged from the gate in one great speeding line. Black Knight started remembering how he’d raced so long ago and began to slow a little behind a horse on the inside. Alan, not knowing exactly how to race in the big race, urged Black Knight to go past the horses, but he wouldn’t move out from behind Light Fleet. Directly to the right of them was Victory’s Heart and directly behind them was the Thoroughbred favorite, Swift and Deadly. Alan continued to urge Black Knight until they passed the eighth of a mile post and the crowd continued screaming. Alan stopped urging Black Knight and sat down to ride. Black Knight continued racing behind Light Fleet while Swift and Deadly began pulling up beside him and then past Light Fleet and far out in front of all the horses by three lengths. They kept these positions past the half mile post and then Light Fleet began to pick up speed. Black Knight began to push past him on the inside since Light Fleet had strayed from the inside enough for Black Knight to squeeze through. Victory’s Heart charged forward with extreme speed and began to catch up with Swift and Deadly. Black Knight began pushing forward slowly, yet surely. Victory’s Heart began to falter and Swift and Deadly completely stopped dead. He was only a sprinter, a horse whose speed never lasted long. A horse that was last in line began flying forward in such blinding speed that he passed all the horses until he reached Black Knight. There he was neck and neck with the sweaty horse. That horse’s jockey was beating on him with his whip and urging the horse on with such force and cruelty that it made Alan want to knock him off his horse to free it from that. But, soon, the horse, Sunset Danger, lunged forward once more for the last time. He galloped a little way and, as soon as he reached Victory’s Heart, he stumbled and fell. As Black Knight raced past, Sunset Danger breathed his last and his jockey became a cripple for life. Victory’s Heart kept going in front of Black Knight, but it was evident that she wouldn’t be much of a threat to him once Black Knight went faster. Another horse, Jet Black, arose from the back of the line and caught up with Black Knight. He galloped with grace and speed that matched Black Knight’s. Black Knight knew the horse and it’s rider from when he lived in Arabia. That horse had been his worst enemy in Arabia and had nearly killed him on the way to the finish line. It was that stallion’s habit to try and eliminate the one who was in his way by killing him. He’d done it in the past when he was almost a year. He’d raced in Arabia against the finest and had beaten them using his habit. Black Knight knew he was in danger, but he stayed calm. Then, the horses passed the mile post and neared the finish line. Black Knight bolted then and Alan whooped. Black Knight galloped with all his might and felt as though he were back in Arabia running against the finest horses. Suddenly he lunged forward again as, in his mind, he saw the finish line in Black Knight had just won the Saratoga Springs race! |
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Posted by Storygirl11
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