Re: Do you have what it takes?

[Man O' War Lover]

"I know you would be a great Thoroughbred breeder." I said smiling, I took hold of her hand as we walked. "Maybe I can help you train your horses and you can ride mine." I said. Suddenly Steve came out of Fireflight stall "So Maria is she stayin over night here, the track, or going stright home?" He asked looking at the mare. "I have a feeling she know's what's up." He smiled and patted Firflight's neck.

[redhead14]

maria
"i would like that very much" she said as he took her hand into his, which fit like a glove. as steve came out from fireflights stall she smiled " she can stay here and then my grandfathers workers will come get her in the morning and bring her back to the farm" she sadi as she smiled at fireflight

[Man O' War Lover]

"Ok I will that she get's conferdable tonight." He said going to the tack room. "You want any help?" I asked. "Nah just need to get her and the other's beeded down-

[redhead14]

maria
she smiled at steve and looked around her as the horses inside knew it was close to time to go to bed

[Man O' War Lover]

I went to help make sure the stall's where locked and the water bucket's filled. Lights where turned off and blancket's where placed on the horses backs. When Steve was done he said "You kids wont to go home or stay a little longer?"

[redhead14]

maria
she looked up from petting fireflight and said " its late but what do you think ray"

[Man O' War Lover]

"well I think we could stay a little longer but we need to get up early to get the horses ready to ship out." I said remembering that Ronny wanted to get Storm Stride to Churchill Downs in a few days."

[redhead14]

maria
" oh right queen needs to be ship there too. my grandfather is taking lights and warrior back to your farm after thier races onces he pickes up fireflight tomorrow" she said with a tired smile

[Man O' War Lover]

"Sounds all settled then." I said looking at Steve for a minute "Thank's for letting us visit." I said "No problem you and Maria are welcome anytime to show." He said-

[redhead14]

maria
she msiled " ill keep you too that steve" she said then looked at ray and smiled

[Man O' War Lover]

"I guess it's time to go and get some sleep Sammy and Ronny are probably waiting and wanting to know where we are." I said. Setve walked us out and said goodbye. As I walked to the truck I said to Maria "You going to race Queen at Churchill Downs?" I asked-

[redhead14]

maria
she waved and said good bye to steve as the headed for rays truck " yah i was going to race her there get her and me soem attention out there" she said before getting into the truck

[Man O' War Lover]

"I thik Ronny has made his mind up about racing storm stride in the Kentucky Derby." I said getting in the truck and buckling myself in.

[redhead14]

maria
" thats good was thinking about racing queen in one of the big races down there as well. im trying to find a ride for the kenticky derby" she said as she put her seat belt on

[Man O' War Lover]

I looked at her "That will be hard I might not even ride storm stride myself in that race, even if I mostly ride him Ronny wants a skilled and more exsperianced jockey for him." I said. "But I know you will do pretty good I might ride in the Kentucky Oaks but not the Derby." I said-

[redhead14]

maria
" i mean i already have a few trainers adn owners wanting me try out thier horses to see if i waant to ride for them but i thought id talk to you and your father and ronny about it first since i tecnically do work and ride your farm but i do have a few other races that day as well" she said as she looked out her window

[Man O' War Lover]

I siled a little. "I know my dad wont mind nor will ronny what you do as a jockey is non of our bissnuse really just as long as your there to help with horses in training then that will be fine with us." I said-

[redhead14]

Maria
" alright " she. Said she had a lot to think about she wondred when they would ask. Her to ride for them

[Man O' War Lover]

I kept driving feeling disapointed on how I could not ride in the Derby. Ronny said maybe next year. Maybe...two years kid....not a chance Ray....to unexsperianced.....still wet beahind the ears. I heard these phrases before I'm sure Maria has to. She could be riding our races horses in the Kentucky Derby some day and I will still be riding graded 3 race horses at small tracks. Looking at her I asked "I know this will sound a little rude but I'm just curius. Have trainers ever given you a hard time...beacuse your a girl?" I asked. She was doing better than I did so she must have worked twice as hard-

[redhead14]

She. Looked over at him as he asked her " yes they don't think. Would eb able to ridce but once they see me ride and race they have no words to say " she sighed " I've always had to work hard then the boys or anyone for the matter because not only am I a girl but my familys nam.e is huge so peole thought I only got the best of whatevr I wanted." She turned and looked at him " I've worked hard to get the title ice queen and I haven't told any one but my name has been but in towards receiving the jokey of the year award" she finally said

[Man O' War Lover]

"You know out of hundreds of good jockeys who go for that award there are only four who end up in the final vote." I said "Most jockeys are voted not just beacuse of there wins or how much money they get it's also based on skill to." I said "And there paformance in races just like the horses." I said. "I got aprentace jockey of the year last year but I don't think I will be in the Eclipse awards this year." I said. We where driving through the gates now that lead to the stable area. "I have not raced much this season, but that's beacuse of all the things happning at home." I said-"I think you raced more than me, but you have the choice to roam around and ride." I said-

[redhead14]

maria
she listen to ray talk and took everything in as she looked out the window " yah i know that but aparently in in the top 4 out of the top ten right now, at least thats what the letter said" she said as she watch them enter the front gates. she sighed " it wasnt a chioce really my grandfather always told me if i get asked to ride by any trainer for any owner i should just take but ride the horse the way i ride and handle the horse on how i read the horse" she finished as they parked the car

[Man O' War Lover]

"well thre is more than just riding a horse around a cercile and think there the best." I said "Storm Stirde lost his very first race and that was his only loss." I said "I look at the racing form before a race and look at evrey horses race recored, and I try to learn more about the jockey." I said. "I actully try to keep notes of there tatics and things they do most so I know what to look out for. Also I try to have a good whip hand, most grass jockeys are better with changing whip hands than others." I say "It's funny but for some reason I do better on older horses, maybe beacuse they have more exsperiance than myself." I laugh a little "I think horses have more exsperiance and understanding for the sport than we do." As get out of the cab to open the door for her "I can't think of one race that my dad did bad in." I say almost to myself. "What about your grandfather his he like your mentor?" I ask "I don't have one." I said shruging some jockeys had them-

[redhead14]

Maria
" yah I understand what your saying but let's face it that's how lots of owners even trainers see their horses" she said " when I was younger I would watch the older jockies on how they rode but once I got older I realized yes you can learn many helpful things from them but you also have to trust yourself and what feels right to or basically instinct" she said " I really do care for using a whip but I will carry one just to please the owner and trainer but I only tap the horse if they start to fall alseep on me. My grandfather had me able to switch my whip from one hand to another in under a two seconds or less by the time I was 17" she said." I like riding young ones and older ones its great seeing a young horse challenge the other right off and watching the older ones know what todo and when todo it" she said with a smile." I guess you could say that" she said to him as she got out of the truck and leaned against it rapping his jacket tighter around her body." I love him to death. I use to watch his racing videos and everyone says I could be his twin cause we ride the same"

[Man O' War Lover]

I smiled a little "I guess your grandfather was a good teacher, I learned from pretty much racing and riding horses." I said. "My dad does not talk much about beeing a jockey infact I think he wonts to forget it my garndafther was a jockey but a lot like me he was more secseful." I said "It's good if a person you know teaches you I think they work better with a person if they know them." I said. "I think if you stivck around long enough Ronny may ask you to ride some of the youngesters." I said-

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