No one knew what a stake race was in the main office when I registered. Velvet thought she would be staked out to eat grass. When I asked her what kind of race that would be, she just snorted and told me that she was going to eat really fast!
We had a break while the speed fox trot class ran on. The versatility day would be ending with the stake race and jumping event back in the versatility arena. I loosened Velvet’s saddle and let her practice eating grass fast.
Soon the announcer called the contestants of the stake race to the arena. It was Duane Scott. To make certain everyone understood just how to run the race, Duane ran the pattern for us. Luckily the creators of the versatility event anticipated horses and Duane running in humid heat and set the arena besides a big shady tree.
After Duane ran the stakes in a “hot time”, I asked Velvet is she understood the game. She replied that it was pretty tough for a mere horse brain to figure out to run down to the end of the arena and turn around a stake and then run to the other end of the arena to turn around a stake. “Whoopee big deal”, she nickered.
I figured real stake racing horses would be practicing their sudden bursts of acceleration and supple turns by now. Accordingly, Velvet performed some speed bursts and blinding turns in the arena hoping for some admiring attention from the onlookers.
Velvet and I sat around the arena and watched the participants speed zoom their horses around the stakes. I discovered who Stacy Bowman was. Oh sickening. She is thin and cute and really nice. I’m positive that she looks younger than I do. I hate that combination. Oh, even worse…she did really well in the Stake Race. She looked like a seasoned Stake professional as her horse galloped like a speed demon around the stakes.
At last the announcer called our name. Velvet perked up as the spotlight shone down upon us. We were magically transported into the arena. I didn’t even feel us move. Suddenly, we were there, looking down the throat of THE STAKES. The crowd was staring at the two hot chicks wondering what surprises this heat would bring.
Suddenly, Velvet was transformed into a STAKE RACING CRAZED HORSE! Away we went, “down the alley”. (I just made that up…it really makes it sound exciting). An amazing transformation came over the “horse of no impulsion”, who, during the year before performed her highest speed…a one legged canter-three legged trot in the arena.
We galloped down to the far stake. We did a great speed check and wrapped our body around that stake with a great hindquarter spin. We galloped off again and did an even better exhibition of suppleness turning the 2nd stake. We pounded across the finish line. Whoppee!!
My hero, Rick Watson came over to tell me that we did exactly right. He was amazed at our gallop! I grinned, with all my dimples and freckles turning upwards. It’s a good thing that I didn’t know he was watching. My focus might have been a little too far outside the arena!
We went back over and stood and watched the other contestants. They all did great. It was over. Our last event was finished. We waited patiently for the winners to be announced. I did hear my time, but I hadn’t paid any attention to the other times except for the obvious winner, Erin Stevens. Her time, on an obvious right off-the-track fox trotter/ thoroubred mix, was a mere 9 or 10 seconds less than our time.
First through seventh places were called. Then: “8th place: Velvet, ridden by Susan Engle and owned by Susan Engle-!”
Velvet snorted and tossed her mane. I screamed really loud, frightening both horses and people innocently standing next to us. We galloped into the arena, stopping when I noticed the 6th and 7th place winners were still there getting their ribbons. Finally it was our turn. Our ribbon was beautiful. It was half as tall as Velvet and brought out the undercolors in her coat. She was happy to be so adorned. So was I!