Harness racing -- Fiction; Horse racing -- Fiction; Mate selection -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
"Leave it all down, miss, please," he said; "put the lot on our 'oss
for the final. We shall win outright now, for the best field was
behind me in the first heat. You understand the market 'ere, sir,
don't you?" he asked Carlton Mackrell, "so don't forget to distribute
the money among the bookies. A quid 'ere, an' a couple there, you
know, sir, though you won't get such a nice price again. It's
wonderful 'ow they pinch the price for a heat winner for the final."
Together Gay and Carlton watched the next four heats, Gay taking
particular interest, naturally, in the heats which concerned her
race, and when the horses turned out for the eventful final, Carlton
Mackrell walked down the rails to speak to Tugwood, for he had seen
something in the second heat that he knew would be valuable knowledge
to the driver, and this he told him. He had barely time to get back
to the stand before the bell rang to announce the start. But Silver
Streak did not get off so well this time, and for the first circuit
of the course only improved two places. Passing the stands he was
fourth, the heat winners and two fastest losers being qualified to go
in the final, and Gay's expressive face looked the picture of despair
as the horses sped past to the turn.
"He'll never catch the leaders," she exclaimed; "they're all going
well, faster than they went in their heats, it seems to me. Whatever
does Tugwood keep looking round at that crimson jacket behind him
for? I don't see any sense in it; it's those in front he has to
beat, not that one."
Carlton Mackrell laughed.
"He's doing what I told him," he answered. "The crimson jacket is
the real danger. Look!"
As if to prove his words, the pacer mentioned suddenly increased his
speed in a great effort to pass Silver Streak. Tugwood instantly
responded, and a great race for supremacy began between the pair.
The terrific speed they were going at, took them past first one
leader and then another, while from the enthusiasm among the
spectators on the stands, it was apparent that they regarded the race
as a match between Silver Streak and the crimson jacket.
Rounding the home bend into the straight in the last lap, there were
still three in it--the trotter which had led throughout, Silver
Streak, and the pertinacious crimson jacket. Each driver was doing
all he knew, but Tugwood had the inside position, which he kept with
a bit to spare, thus compelling the other two to go wide at the turn,
and Carlton Mackrell and Chris both appreciated his fine and
legitimate driving.
A great race ensued up the straight, all three horses' names being
shouted in turn, each exhorted by their respective backers to "go on."
Amid a storm of cheers and encouragement the three flashed past the
box, but Carlton Mackrell, from his intimate knowledge, knew that the
one, two, Tugwood had given Silver Streak a few yards short of the
judge, had done the trick, and snatched a bare victory.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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