Lily and Samuel walked to the grandstand to their seats near the front so they could watch the action. Lily could hardly wait for the race to begin! She looked around at the crowds of people sitting in the grandstand. So many and all were there to watch the race that she’d been longing and dreaming of all her life. Samuel was tapping his foot nervously on the metal step and gripping his water bottle so hard that his knuckles turned white and the bottle threatened to burst. Lily smiled and then looked out at the race track. A mile and a half to be run. It really wasn’t very far, but she felt like it was a thousand miles. Lily knew that most horses took a minute to cross the distance, but she felt, at that moment, that it would take forever. She’d waited so long for this!

            Finally, Alan guided Black Knight into the starting gate. All the other horses were acting up, but Black Knight was patient for he knew what to expect. He’d been trained in the gate so well that he was used to the closeness of it. Alan felt nervous and he was glad that Black Knight was so calm. Conquistador reared several times and wouldn’t stay in the gate. Victoria’s Ebony was bucking and nearly unseating the jockey. Then the grooms and starters brought the horses under control and led them into the gate.

            “Three, two, one…” The gate burst open and the bell rang. Lily stood up to see the horses. Everyone around her was screaming and whistling. Black Knight was third from the back. He knew that this was only the beginning. Alan sat down and let Black Knight do what he knew was right for the race. The horses passed the finish wire for the first time. Jet Black was in the lead by a good five lengths. Victoria’s Ebony was next with Conquistador pressing close to her side. Samuel sat back with a satisfied sigh and said, “Watch Ebony and Conquistador. They’re sprinters. They won’t last very long.” Lily wasn’t so sure. They certainly looked fast and she thought, how can they be so fast and just be sprinters?

The racers passed the half mile post and Black Knight picked up speed. He stretched his legs out far as he ran with his tail and mane flashing in the wind. Lily held her breath as, one by one, he passed each horse. Samuel stood up and watched. He started squeezing the water bottle again. Black Knight passed the race favorite, Mr. Speed, and charged up behind Conquistador and Victoria’s Ebony. The crowds of people grew so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The only sound you could hear was the pounding of the horses’ hooves and the creaking of the saddles.

            At the mile post, Conquistador stumbled and fell. His rider was thrown and the other race horses galloped by. Victoria’s Ebony was slowing down and Black Knight was speeding up. He raced up the track and closed in behind Jet Black. Then, he was beside him. Lily pinched her lips shut and watched breathlessly. Suddenly, she heard a loud, “POP!” She turned and saw that the lady in front of Samuel was soaked. Luckily, it was  a hot day and the lady just smiled, “Thanks” she said. Samuel smiled and quickly looked back at the track. Black Knight and Jet Black were neck and neck.

Once again, Black Knight was in Arabia on the desert racing against the very same opponent. The only difference now was that the jockey wasn’t trying to kill Black Knight’s jockey. His former jockey was the prince of princes and the opposing jockey wanted that place. But, now, Black Knight had a mere former miner on his back. Everyone knew that now.

           Black Knight felt the hot sun beat down on his back and felt the hot sand beneath his hooves. He heard the creaking of the leather saddles and the sound of the horses’ breath coming out in quick spurts. Jet Black glanced sideways and saw Black Knight, his former enemy. He stretched forward and threw himself forward. He was determined to beat Black Knight. But, it was not to be. Black Knight had saved his strength for a long time, but Jet Black hadn’t. So, Black Knight soon passed his opponent and beat him by sixteen lengths; winning in 52 seconds.

Black Knight was the conqueror of the race once again!

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