Read Online The Black Stallion's Courage by Walter Farley - Free Book Online

his worn hat despite the light but steady drizzle.His lips moved as he drew himself up a little straighter, and his eyes were full.
    To the tune of the Preakness Hymn he sang to himself in German, “
O Tannenbaum … Du grünst nicht nur zu Sommerszeit, Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit.…
”
    When the horses turned before the old clubhouse and came back in front of the grandstand, the band ended the hymn and broke into the rollicking strains of “Dixie!”
    Now there were no more clogged throats or tear-filled eyes, nor was there reverent silence. Spectators called to horses and jockeys, while others sang at the top of their voices, “Oh, I wish I was in Dixie, away! Away! Away down south in Dixie.…”
    The old gentleman in the infield had replaced his hat and was singing with those around him. And his eyes were bright with expectation as he said confidently to the stranger next to him, “It will be Wintertime today. He’s a little horse but a very great one.”
    â€œOh, no!” the stranger protested. “There’s only one
great
horse in this race and that’s Eclipse!”
    The band stopped playing when the parading field reached the head of the homestretch and the announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, the horses are now in the hands of the official starter.”
    Alec took Black Minx far behind the starting gate. He expected Henry to leave but the trainer stayed alongside on Napoleon.
    â€œDon’t be nervous,” Henry said. “We’ve got nothing to worry about. Her strides are suited for this kind of going. It’ll be Eclipse who’ll have trouble in the mud.Don’t worry none. I don’t need to tell you how to ride her. Use your own good judgment.”
    Napoleon lashed out with his hind legs at another stable pony who had come a little too close to Black Minx. The other pony kicked back and Alec let out the filly another notch, taking her still farther around the turn.
    Henry continued talking, giving Alec many instructions despite his earlier orders to use his “own good judgment” in riding Black Minx.
    Henry was the one, Alec knew, who was nervous and worried. The trainer was contradicting himself repeatedly and that wasn’t like him at all.
    â€œIt’s going to be all right, Alec. She’s ready today,” Henry said, keeping Napoleon close to the filly.
    Alec didn’t listen to Henry any longer. There was nothing anyone could do for him now. Like Black Minx, he was ready and eager to race. He just wanted to take his time going back to the starting gate. He didn’t want to rush her. She was upset enough as it was. Let the others go to their starting stalls first and then he’d take her back.
    He saw that he had almost reached the corner of Rogers Avenue and Old Pimlico Road. The wire-mesh fence was only a short distance away. He could see people standing on second-story porches of the houses across the street, watching him. Taxis and cars passed, their wheels sloshing the wet pavement. Black Minx watched everything that went on beyond the fence and Alec kept her attention there. There’d be time enough later for her to take in other things.
    The light drizzle had stopped and the sun was beginningto break through the gray overcast. It wouldn’t make any difference in the condition of the track, Alec knew. After last night’s heavy rain, the strip was heavy and holding.
    Alec heard the starter’s metallic voice through the amplifier calling him. “Bring your horse back, Ramsay.”
    Turning the filly around, he saw that the other horses were making their way toward the gate. None of them seemed to be in any hurry, though. Henry, still alongside, was silent. Alec turned the filly’s head toward the infield so that she could watch the crowd there.
    The sun’s reappearance would make the afternoon a lot more pleasant for all those people, he thought. They