Page 21 (1/2)

I’ve never been to the second floor of the manor house before, but I know from Cindy that Mr Goodwin’s office is up here She vacuue, closed, double wooden doors I peek inside the stallthelass chandelier that looks like it’s fro Mr Goodwin’s personal assistant is typing on the co on the phone She pointsfor Gael, I discover that Jack has his own office too

What seventeen-year-old has his own office?

I peek inside to find hi through a large book at the same time His office is very…clean And tasteful Jack has a flat-screen TV that’snetwork Pictures of his fa with faraphed photo of Ron Turcotte, the jockey who rode Secretariat and had over three thousand wins…until he got hurt in a race He’s in a wheelchair now

I leave Jack to his work and knock on the door to Gael’s office His office is very…lobe exploded in here Paper is everywhere Red Bull and Diet Coke cans litter every available surface

Gael leaps to his feet like he’s on a pogo stick "Barrow! Sit right here" He clears a spot for me on his sofa and plops down next to me with a re over at me "You ready for toreat on a horse and great during practice, but racing in a race is a whole new ballgaotta respect it If you’re not careful and you don’t knohat you’re doing on the track, you could die"

My stomach jumps into my throat when I think of what could’ve happened the other day What if the horse’s hoof had strucka 1,200-pound anierous rush

"This footage will help you learn what to expect and kno to deal with any contingencies that ht come your way," Gael says

He pushes play and I spend the next two hours watching races Elite races, smaller races, really fun races, really horrific races I want to cover et hurt, but that would shoeakness, so I stare straight ahead, trying to keepthe Preakness Stakes where Barbaro pulled up, broke his hind right leg, and had to be euthanized

Saturday , as usual, I’m up before dawn

But today is different Today is the annual Kentucky Downs Handicap Normally people train for years before their first race, but Jack fast-tracked me I hope I do okay today…I kind of feel like a poser

Gael toldlater in the day--at noon sharp But I couldn’t stay asleep thanks to prerace jitters I’h I haven’t drunk a drop Kentucky Downs is about thirty miles north of Cedar Hill In the past week, Kentucky Downs has held eight races Over 1 iven out, but today’s three races are the biggies

Star is co in the Juvenile Downs, a race for two-year-olds The purse is 75,000, and the winner willto the runners-up That et 5 percent of 52,500 2,625 That’s more money than I’ve seen inLucky Strikes in the Kentucky Turf Cup, which has a purse of 200,000 In the Goodorld, these races are s I can help him with that I don’t have any illusions I in my very first race, but I pray on’t coot what it takes, that I’ve got so on, I sit on a stool in the barn, breathing in and out, talking softly to Star, who’s busy eating grain

Then all of a sudden the Marathonhis hands together as he keeps his distance froray suit, white shirt, no tie, and cowboy boots The no-tie look le of tanned skin exposed at his neck Jesus Lord, all this anxiety over the race isme a perv

"Hey" Jack takes off his hat to ood?"

"Pretty good A little tired I’ve never been in the sweatbox before" The o in this super hot room called a sweatbox and sweat all the extra fluid out so they’ll weigh less for the race "It was so relaxing I felt like I was on a beach soaze, his blue eyes pierce into mine, and I e could have a repeat of last weekend’s kissing session That would help lance at his lips makes it hard to tell where ins

"You’ve read all the notes Gael gave you? You know all about the other horses, their jockeys, and their trainers?"

"Yes" I straightento look impressive, which is hard when Jack stands a full foot taller than ether again "Thanks for doing this"

"Thanks for letting ood in the Goodwin colors," he says, scanningsilks

"I look like a dahs, looks around, and takes a step closer, wetting his lips He gently pecks s and down ood luck," he whispers in my ear He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a purple swirl lollipop

"Yaaaaaay" I take the sucker, and before I knohat I’, I slip my arms around his waist He sucks in a breath Clenches up

Crap He doesn’t want this I take a step back, pissed at ave in to instinct

"I’

He looks away "I need to tell you soonna be press here today Press specifically for you"

"Me?" I blurt

"Yes, you" Hisdeal This race is nothing co Kentucky races, but still You don’t see girl jockeys all that often at races in general Especially ones so young"

I was already nervous enough I drag a hand downit to my mouth to chew on it I pull a deep breath

"Thanks for tellingelse"

"Oh yeah? What?"

"Nothing," I say, shaking rasping my hand for a sec The heat froht back into his ar?