The Black Stallion Challenged by Walter Farley Read Free Book Online Page A

suits him. His fractions were 23-4/5ths for the first quarter, :47 for the half mile, 1:11 for three-quarters, and the mile in 1:37. Going handily, he was eased out another eighth in 1:51.
    Observers were impressed with the excellent progress the champion has made. He cooled out perfectly with no sign of heat or swelling in the injured leg that has kept him sidelined for almost a year.
    Henry Dailey would not commit himself as to the Black’s first race at Hialeah. “He’s too good a horse to make any definite statement about it,” the veteran trainer said, “but he won’t run until he’s completely ready. I can’t make that too plain. We won’t start him one second too early.” It is believed, however, that Dailey is pointing the Black for the rich Hialeah Turf Cup and the WidenerHandicap. The champion is sure to carry top weight in both events, based on today’s sterling performance.
    The news story added fuel to Henry’s anger, and he lost no time in taking it out on Alec. “In my day, the trainer was the boss. A rider did what he said or he gave him a good boot and sent him on his way.”
    “It’s not always that easy to follow orders,” Alec said.
    “It is if you work at it,” Henry said. “Most of you fellows got it too easy today. That’s why riders like Manizales are winning so many races here. They’re willing to work hard at their profession.”
    “That’s not all there is to it,” Alec said. “Manny was no Grade B rider in Puerto Rico but the best in his country. So were most of the South Americans who are riding here. Send our best riders down there and they’ll do as well.”
    “Not if they don’t work hard,” Henry said adamantly.
    “I work hard,” Alec said, losing his patience and becoming defiant for the first time. “Just because I didn’t rate him right this morning is no reason …”
    “You slip up on one thing and you’ll start doing lots of other things wrong,” Henry interrupted. “I’m going to stop you right now. There are a lot of things I’m going to check you out on.”
    Alec’s homework began that evening. While Henry threw questions at him, he answered as best he could. They covered a great deal in that first session—rating a horse and race strategy, as well as all the tricks Henry had ever taught him as to how to protect himself.The sessions would go on indefinitely, Alec knew, whenever time was available. Henry would try his patience and never give him a free moment.
    When he finally went to bed that night, Alec welcomed the sudden cloudburst that hammered the roof with staccato-like intensity. Perhaps the driving downpour would keep up all night and well into the next morning. If so, Henry would sleep late. Henry’s blood had thinned out, or so he said, and his bones were brittle. He couldn’t take dampness and rain anymore. He had tried to stand it once or twice during the past year but had finally given up. He had gone to bed and stayed there.
    When the alarm clock sounded the next morning, Alec woke up to find that summer was over. The temperature was in the low fifties, and there was a cold dampness that seemed to penetrate his bones. When he went outside, he saw that low and ominous clouds hung overhead. Alec went about his work, knowing that Henry wouldn’t appear until late in the morning, if at all, and that he and the Black were in for a well-earned rest.
    The heavy clouds delayed the approach of dawn and a high wind whipped about the stable area. Horses were being fed and cared for, but few, if any, would appear for exercise unless weather conditions improved. As the hours went by Alec, wearing long rubber pants and a heavy sweater, continued working by himself. This wasn’t exactly his kind of weather either, although he remained grateful for the rest it afforded him.
    The rain was still falling steadily when Henry arrived close to noon. He was blue with cold, despite thefact that he was wearing an overcoat. It had been borrowed and was