True to Their Names

[summer]

CHARLIE MICHAELS & LUMIERA

Charlie lifted up his hand and stroked Lumiera on her lean, muscled neck. The mare looked at him with her deep brown eyes before lifting her head to look at a few of the various farm animals in the pens down the road. Charlie mounted Lumiera quickly and gently, taking care not to slam down on Lilly's back. Lumiera walked over the soft dirt with a quick pace.

Charlie waved to the clocker who was off in the distance before he spotted a few of the other horses and jockeys waiting for the workout session to begin. Charlie hadn't been working with Lilly for very long but he felt comfortable around her. She had been quiet a handful when the owner first paired them together and it had taken a few months to finally sync up.

Charlie led Lumiera to the gate and as soon as they were in the filly was tossing her head and snorting. Normally Charlie would have patted any other horse's neck in reassurance but he had learned that this was just one of Lilly's routines. She was a hot horse but she knew what she was doing. Charlie glanced at the other horses approaching the gate. There were a few who entered calmly while others through a bit of a fit.

Charlie tightened his grip on the reins as the last of the horses was in the gate. He kept his eyes trained on the track in front of them; peering out between the tips of Lumiera's ears. Seconds later the gates swung open and Lumiera shot out to the front of the group.

Charlie could feel the pounding of the filly's hooves in the soft dirt and he could just barely see the dirt flying up from the corner of his eye. He knew the horses weren't far behind but they weren't close either. All he could hear was the sound of his horse breathing and the rush of his pulse behind his ears. His hands were practically numb from Lumiera pulling herself forward, faster and faster. Even now he was still bewildered at her impressive speed and endurance.

The horses rounded the bend and came to the backstretch approaching the finish line. Lumiera was still holding her own but a few of the other Vale horses were closing in. One by one they all started to get closer and closer to one another but Lilly didn't show any signs of decreasing her speed. Her breathing was loud and he could feel the filly getting tired.

It was then that Charlie started estimating the remaining distance left. He would count down until Lumiera crossed the finish line. Just as Fast & Furious started to close in on Lumiera the tired filly mustered up her last bit of energy from who knows where and closed the distance. She crossed the finish line just seconds before the colt, closely followed by Tazzmanian Devil.

Charlie could feel Lumiera's chest heaving as her pace slowed. He gave slack on the reins and let the mare stretch her neck long and low. She let out a content snort and then reached down to rub her head on her outstretched leg. Charlie gave her a warm pat on the neck before urging her on to go cool down.

[summer]

KATARINA ISE AND FAST & FURIOUS
ARMAND JULIUS & TAZZMANIAN DEVIL

Katarina sized up the track with the colt as usual. She wasn't the most experienced of jockeys and neither was her horse. Katarina held the reins in one hand as the colt walked along the fence line at a slow walk. At first glance he seemed lazy despite his lean figure. In fact, Finlay was lazy when it came to anything other than racing. He hung out in the pasture and ate most of the time but he also kept himself fit when he wasn't being worked by running around with a few of the other horses.

Katarina turned around to the sound of her name being called and she looked over her shoulder to see Armand trotting up to her with Tazz. As usual, the jockey had a wide grin on his face. The filly whinnied as she approached Finlay and he let out a low nicker back. Thanks to Armand, Katarina was having a much better time as a jockey. She had been nervous at first but now she felt right at home.

Katarina and Armand walked along side one another until they caught sigh of Charlie and Lumiera. Both riders looked at the filly in secret awe. She was a gorgeous horse and a fabulous racer. Kat and Armand didn't have to say anything about being jealous of Charlie because every other jockey at Vale Racing was. Vale was a new establishment and most of their horses were just beginning to race, all except for Lumiera. Katarina kicked Finlay gently and moved him into a more forward walk. She said goodbye to Armand and headed for the gait.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

ARMAND JULIUS & TAZZMANIAN DEVIL

Armand had finally gotten Kat's attention and he and Tazz trotted up to the jockey and colt. Tazz and Finlay had shared pens as foals and they still seemed to be okay with one another. Tazz wasn't the nicest when it came to other horses but she was a mare and Armand didn't really mind.

Tazz walked alongside Finlay but she kept up her fast pace and continued to move a few feet ahead of the colt. Armand had his body turned half way to look at Katarina as they talked about how they thought the workout was going to go. As usual, they both put Lumiera first and today Armand was feeling lucky and he felt that Tazzmanian Devil was going to come in second today and of course, Kat disagreed.

Armand waved down Charlie as soon as he spotted him and he stopped to wait for the other jockey while Kat continued on to the gate.

Kat was the first in the gate and Charlie second. Tazz was very energetic and it took a bit of coaxing to get her into the gate. But once they were in the mood changed and Armand and Tazz seemed to be in the moment.

The gates opened and Lumiera was the first out. Tazz and Finlay followed closely but the distance was already growing in between them. Tazz was a front runner and she soon began to pass Fast & Furious. Armand didn't even look at Katarina although he could imagine her gritting her teeth at the sight of the gray filly's hind quarters.

Tazzmanian Devil pushed herself to move faster and faster. He gray neck was dark with sweat and her dark mane was sticking to her neck. There was dirt flying up and sticking to her chest but Tazz didn't seem to care.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

KATARINA ISE AND FAST & FURIOUS

Katarina hardly ever remembered coming out of the gate. It all happened so quickly she didn't really have time to think about it. Kat watched as the gray filly passed her and Finlay but she didn't allow herself to give up on the colt. He might not have been a front runner but as long as she continued to believe in him, he delivered.

Katarina moved Finlay out of the way of all the dirt flying and began closing in on Tazzmanian Devil. She could feel the colt moving faster and see the distance in between them closing. At this point she wasn't focused on catching up to Lumiera because for now that wouldn't happen. However, Tazz and Finlay were good racing partners and they constantly got better working together as well as other horses.

Kat watched the gray blur disappear behind her and she smiled triumphantly as the finish line came into view as well as the other bay filly. Fast & Furious had begun to catch up to Lumiera and now Kat's focus had turned to the filly. She didn't think that Finlay would beat her today but she knew that one day Finlay would.

Lumiera crossed the finish line and shortly after wards Finlay too. Katarina let out a gentle laugh and she reached down and gave the colt a long hug. They were still moving and Kat had to slow Finlay down to keep from landing on his neck. "Good job." Kat said to Charlie.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

ARMAND JULIUS & TAZZMANIAN DEVIL

Armand frowned slightly as he crossed the finish line third. He was still proud of Tazz. Not every day was perfect and he certainly didn't expect her to have a perfect run every time. Tazz tossed her head and a few drops of sweat went flying. Armand headed over to a smiling Katarina and they both headed out to cool down their horses.

"I guess I owe you lunch then, huh?" Armand said with his light accent. Kat nodded cheerfully. There was never any hard feelings between the two of them when they raced. Over the year they had become good friends and he never liked making enemies.

"I'm thinking pizza." Kat said with a low huff. It seemed Finlay was returning back to his laziness and despite Tazz's effort she still managed to pass him at the walk. Armand looked back at Kat and gave her a solute.