When the horses reached the gate, which was located near the head of the homestretch, only one of them balked while it was being led into its tiny stall; they were so narrow, the horses just barely fit. When the horses were relatively all standing still, their four hooves touching the ground, the bell rang! As they burst out of the starting gate, trying to reach the best position along the inside rail, the announcer in a little booth at the top of the grandstand yelled into the microphone, “They’re off! And as they maneuver for position…it’s Royal Standard taking the lead and drawing away!”
The fans were roaring loudly since the favourite was in front and opening a lead of six lengths on the second horse. Strider Dan, way back in seventh position in a ten horse field looked at the horse next to him that was running stride for stride and nickered, “He might be in front now but by the time we head into the final turn of the homestretch, he’ll be as worn out as a ten year old set of horseshoes.
As the horses sped around the first turn, the jockeys were either trying to hold their mounts back a little or urging them forward, Laurel Wreath was now in second place, the majority of the pack trailing by another 10 lengths. Strider Dan glanced at all the horses ahead of him but he couldn’t see Buckshot Billy; at the moment he was in last position but beginning to pass horses. When he drew alongside Strider Dan and began passing him in the backstretch he nickered, since he was a much younger, “Take it easy old horse – I’m the one you’ll see in the Winner’s Circle with a wreath of roses wrapped around my neck and a gold trophy in my owner’s hands. Eat my dust!”
It was the the second time Strider Dan was told to "eat my dust" and as he watched Buckshot Billy draw a length ahead of him, he thought, we'll see about that and began making his move.
As the horses were pounding around the final turn the announcer exclaimed, “It’s Royal Standard in front by a neck; Laurel Wreath second by two lengths with Buckshot Billy closing fast on the outside of Fancy Mermaid is followed by Strider Dan on the extreme outside; he’d been driven wide at the turn by a tiring horse he was passing.
The jockey cracked Strider Dan once on the ass with the crop and then waved it alongside his head as he hunkered down behind his ears, the mane flowing into his face and began riding like the wind. Man and horse moving in unison made the extra lead in the saddle feel like nothing as they passed Fancy Mermaid and a winded Royal Standard. Laurel Wreath was now in front by a half a length; Buckshot Billy gaining with every stride was now second, his hooves tossing chunks of earth into Strider Dan’s face.
The crowd was going berserk, jumping up and down, clutching their tickets and racing forms tightly in their hands as the announcer screamed, “Coming to the wire, it’s Laurel Wreath by a nose; Buckshot Billy in second place and charging on the outside is Strider Dan! It’s Laurel Wreath; Buckshot Billy now Buckshot Billy takes the lead by a nose with Strider Dan gaining! Buckshot Billy, Laurel Wreath and Strider Dan are all head ‘n head! And as the three horses thundered across the finish line, the announcer excitedly yelled, “It’s going to be a photo finish and your guess is as good as mine, which horse won that race! So be sure to hold onto your tickets until the winning numbers are posted on the Pari-Mutuel board!”
When the three horses were brought under control; the jockeys standing up and pulling hard on the reins, all anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winning horse, they began trotting back towards the winner’s circle together, Buckshot Billy exclaiming while trying to catch his breath, “Sorry to tell you this but I won by a huge nose.
Laurel Wreath answered, “I know it wasn’t me, I was at least a half a head behind you two when we reached the finish line.
Strider Dan wasn’t as cocky as when he went into the race; he had no idea which horse had won, he just knew it had been the best race of his life; it was the fastest he had ever ran. By the time they reached the winner’s circle, the winning numbers still hadn’t been posted. The jockeys dismounted as soon as the grooms took hold of the reins. While they were walking the three horses around in a small circle, a hush came over the crowd as the announcer declared in a loud voice; the winner of the seventh race, The President’s Handicap is Strider Dan, Number 8.
As Strider Dan’s jockey was given a leg back up into the saddle and a wreath of roses was being placed over his neck for the winner’s photograph; the owners, the trainer gathering about him, Buckshot Billy nudged him in the flank with his nose and whinnied, “Good race, but I’m surprised I didn’t beat you.”
“I’m not,” Strider Dan replied, “You were running for money and glory and I was running for love – boy – are those fillies out on the farm ever gonna love me!”
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