Longshot: A New York Times Bestseller

by Mike Rogers

  An outrider rode up and grabbed the reins saying, "Congratulations!"

  "What?! Who won?" I asked confused.

  Giving me a weird look, "You did."

  As we were getting ponied back, I was in a daze. I had won my first G1 since my first year of riding! Then, I remembered Lucero's furious face. 'My first and my last,' I thought.

  The outrider handed the reins to Lucero. He had plastered a smile on his face, but his eyes said it all. Harry took the reins with a broad smile on his face. "Great strategy, Sarah! You caught them totally off guard! He loafed a bit, but I was never worried!..." He continued to rabble on.

  The rest of the ceremonies were a blur. All I could think about was the next morning when I would go to the barn and be told curtly to leave. Only after two days! No one would hire me now.

  At eight o' clock, I dejectedly walked out of the jockeys room and ran into Arthur Baca. In my doom and gloom, I remembered he was taking me to dinner.

  "You ready?" Arthur questioned.

  I laughed, "If you want to be seen with a person who's going to lose their job tomorrow morning."

  He smiled and put an arm around my shoulders, "Let's go."

  Half an hour later, we walked into this little family restaurant. When we were seated at a table, he asked, "Ok. What's this about losing your job? Spill."

  For a full twenty minutes, I spilled my guts out to Arthur. All he did was nod in such an understanding way. The rest of the dinner was a blur. The next thing I realized was being dropped off at my apartment.

  The next morning everything came rushing back to me. The joy of the Handicap. The sorrow of the realization. Dragging myself out of bed, I took a quick shower and drove over to the track. I slowly walked to the barn. I was a half hour early for workouts. I tried to remain discreet but that didn't last very long because the groom from the first day spotted me. Smiling, she sauntered up.

  "He wants to see you down at the track," she smirked. Figuring that this would be the last time I would have to deal with her, I gave her a blood- curdling glare.

  When I reached the gate to the track, no one was there. Before I had a chance to glance around, someone jumped me from behind. I hit the ground hard. By being forced over onto my back, I spotted my assailant. It was Darling.

  Instinctively, I brought my knee up and kneed him in the stomach. His hold loosened just enough for me to role away and get up. I dodged away from one punch, but I was not quite fast enough for the kick in the knee.

  When I doubled over in pain, I got a punch in the face. I fell to the ground. Everything was in a daze. I saw a foot aimed at my head, but never felt it hit. After that, there was a thud, before everything went blank.

  My rescuer, ironically, was Lucero. He had been coming down to the track to wait for the first flight of horses when he came upon Darling and me. He had tackled Darling right before his foot connected with my head. Lucero had carried me up to the cot in the feed room and laid me down.

  I awoke to a cool cloth being placed on my forehead. Lucero was staring down at me with a worried look on his face. "How are you feeling?" he whispered.

  Trying to laugh, I grimaced in pain. "Like I've been through the spin cycle." Lucero smiled at my little joke, which wasn't a joke at all.

  Getting serious, he said, "I had Darling arrested. He should be punished for what he did. And.I'm taking you to see a doctor."

  I jerked up to a sitting position and cried out in pain. Easing myself back down, I said, "But I need to ride."

  "You won't be riding for a while. I think you have a concussion and a sprained knee." Lucero said all of this cautiously, waiting for me to blow up.

  I looked at him stunned. Then, the ambulance crew arrived. I glared daggers at everyone. Snapping, "One thing I don't' need is to go to the hospital! When I get better watch out!"

  * * * *

  Two days later, against my doctor's orders, I was back at the track. When I limped into the shed row, Harry walked briskly up to me. "What are you doing here? You should be in bed."

  I laughed, "You know how much I listen to doctor's orders. I don't." I continued to hobble down the shed row. I walked down to Longshot's stall. "How you doin' big guy?"

  Longshot was just finishing his breakfast. As I stood, watching him, at least seven people walked up and asked me how I was feeling. I was feeling really popular now. When I was finally left alone, I unlatched the door and entered the stall. Longshot sniffed me and bobbed his head.

  As he turned to his hay, I ran my hand down his body. Longshot was thin. Every time he moved, his skin moved over his ribs.

  I said, "You poor boy. Haven't had a break in a long time, huh?" Suddenly I hear footsteps stop outside the stall door. I turned and saw Lucero.

  He said, "Harry came and hold me that you were here."

  Smiling, I said, "He never could keep a secret, could he?"

  "No. I have an idea. Since you and Longshot seem to have a connection, and since you both need to get back in shape. Why don't you both go to Windy Acres Farm and recover?"

  At first I liked the idea, but I realized that I was broke. Lucero seemed to read my mind. He said, "Here's the deal. You'll be paid to rehabilitate him. But you will also have to help train the yearlings when you're well enough-"

  I suddenly interrupted, "How long do you expect us to be there?"

  Resignedly, "I knew you were going to ask that. I suspect three to four months." He had already started to wince for my rampage.

  "Till JUNE or JULY!?" I didn't shout, but I said it in a heightened whisper.

  Lucero entered the stall and placed an arm around my shoulders. "You both need to heal. Just have fun. It's final."

  Chapter Four

  I was driving the truck and trailer down the driveway of Windy Acres Farm. The road was lined with evergreens and straight white fences. I could see the main house I the distance. It was huge! What had Lucero gotten me into! I had NEVER dealt with people who were rich! I must admit, I was terrified.

  After I parked the truck in front of the house, I walked up to the door. Before I could even knock, the door opened. A woman in muck boots and dirty jeans smiled at me. "Welcome! You must be Sarah. I'm Ann. I own the farm. How's Longshot?"

  I could tell I would like Ann right away. "He seemed to handle the trip well. I.if you wouldn't mind could he run around in a paddock?"

  "Of course! That's no problem at all." She seemed to bounce down the steps to the trailer. She popped the trailer door open, and before I knew it, Longshot was off the van.

  Ann looked at me and said, "Can you hold him while I take off the wraps?"

  I nodded, and took the lead shank. Ann pulled off the blanket and gasped. "He's skinny! Lucero has never sent a horse in such bad shape."

  "He's had a hard life. His owners are very ambitious. They only just accepted the fact that he needs a rest." I continued to scrutinize Longshot. He was skinnier than I had originally thought. He was plain bony!

  "Ok," Ann said, "Go ahead and put him in this near paddock here. It's big so he'll have plenty of room to run around."

  She opened the gate, and I let him go. Longshot took off going full speed ahead. His head was long and low and his strides reached and grabbed the ground in one fluid motion. At the end of the paddock, he wheeled and ran to the middle. Then, he commenced to roll in the muddiest section of the paddock.

  As we watched the extremely happy horse, Ann said, "You must be tired. Not to mention that you aren't feeling well. Let's head into the house." Ann showed me to my room where I took a shower and went to sleep.

  * * * *

  During the course of the next month, both Longshot and I recovered. I was doing some light work with the horses and Longshot was eating and acting like a regular horse. Amazingly, he had gained 150 pounds. Another fifty, and it would be time to get him back in shape.

  It was now early May. The day before I had watched Lucero win his second Kentucky Derby with a horse named Countdown. I wish I had been ther
e because I was starting to get antsy. Today, I decided to do something different. I was time to start working with Longshot.

  Longshot had spent ninety percent of his time out in the front paddock. Because nobody had touched him in a month, he was filthy. So to start out, he was getting a bath.

  This prospect did not go over well with a horse that wants to be dirty. Eventually, actually and hour later, Longshot accepted the fact that he was getting a bath.

  By the time I got done with him it was lunchtime. I stuck him in a stall and went up to the house. I quickly washed up and entered the dining room. Ann had already started to eat.

  She smiled at me, "It looked like you were having fun out there." I laughed, "He enjoys retirement too much. Do you think I could take Longshot to the beach in a couple of days?"

  "Of course! He would probably enjoy a change of scenery. Just tell me when."

  I decided that Wednesday was the perfect day. In the previous days I had lunged Longshot under tack. I thought Longshot would have a good time running in the water.

  Half an hour later, Longshot was tacked up and I hoisted myself up. Longshot was surprised. It had been two months since a rider had been on his back. I urged him into a trot toward the water. He fearlessly entered the water and immediately gave a joyful buck. I was caught unawares and popped off landing on my butt. Longshot jumped away, but I still had hold of the reins. Suddenly, I burst out laughing.

  I staggered to my feet only to fall down again because of a strong wave. Longshot had calmed down enough just to stare at me. I attempted to get up again. This time, I was able to stay on my feet, but Longshot decided that lying in the water would be fun. He commenced to lie down in the water with his tack on. At least he decided not to roll! He sat there for a good ten minutes with the waves rolling off of him.

  Longshot and I, who were soaked, walked out of the water toward the trailer. I was going to dry off the tack. When we reached the trailer, I tied him up and went in the truck to get a towel. I backed out and ran into someone. Screeching, I whipped around. It was Lucero.

  "What are you doing here?"

  He said, "I was in town, so I decided to stop by the farm to see your progress. Ann told me you took Longshot down to the beach." Pausing, he picked at the wet shirt at the shoulder, "Looks like you two were having fun. That was a nice little buck that threw you off."

  Warily, I said, "You were watching the whole time, weren't you?" He nodded. I walked around Lucero and started to untack Longshot. Lucero grabbed another towel and started to dry Longshot off.

  "He looks great! How much weight has he gained?"

  "Oh, about two hundred pounds. All he's done is eat and play!" I said proudly, admiring the horse.

  There was a pause as we silently took care of Longshot. "The rest has done you well, too," Lucero cautiously added, "You've got that old competitive spark in your eye again."

  "What?" I said, confused. "I've always been competitive."

  "Yes." he said, pausing, "but it's not the competitiveness needed for survival. It's the genuine feeling of wanting to win."

  I read a little deeper into his statement. "Do you mean…" I said accusingly, "that even I hadn't gotten beaten up, you would have sent me on a little vacation anyway! I had been doing just fine!" My voice had started to increase in volume. "My financial troubles do NOT affect my riding!"

  "Calm down and listen to me," Lucero said quietly. "I know that you are in a whole different world when you ride. But you need to learn to trust people. You've been so emotionally screwed up that I knew you needed a break. These last few years you've been through a roller coaster, and it's all my-I'm sorry." Suddenly, he unhooked Longshot and put him in the trailer. "You're all set," he said before hastily walking away.

  I was speechless because I was pondering his last sentence, "These last few years you've been through a roller coaster, and it's all my-I'm sorry." Was he about to add that it was his fault?

  * * * *

  When I got back to the farm, Lucero was nowhere to be seen. I was glad because I didn't want to see him right now.

  Twenty minutes later, I went up to the house to get a change of clothes. I didn't run into anyone until I came back down the stairs. Lucero and Ann were discussing Longshot's progress. Ann was praising my training methods. Lucero nodded his head in agreement.

  He said, "She's doing a great job. What are you two planning to do for the rest of the day?"

  "Oh," Ann said, "It's time to work with some of the yearlings. You want to help, Frank?"

  "Why not. Some may come to me anyway."

  For the rest of the afternoon, we taught countless yearlings to walk quietly beside us. They would need to do this when they go to auction.

  * * * *

  By the end of May, I was hacking Longshot over five miles a day. Each day, I felt him get stronger and more enthusiastic. To get to the trails, we had to go by the training track. Longshot was starting to try to pull me towards it. I didn't think he was ready. He needed just a little more muscle tone.

  The second week of June rolled in. On Tuesday morning, I took Longshot to the track for a three-furlong breeze. Ann was timing it for me. I hoped that it would be pretty slow. I asked Longshot for a slow gallop. He easily strode out with long smooth strides, but after going halfway around my arms were starting to hurt.

  We rounded into the turn, and hit the three-furlong pole. When I let him out a notch, he opened up three notches! Immediately, I took a firm hold of him, but I was at the disadvantage because he had momentum. No matter how much I tried, Longshot picked up speed with every stride.

  Suddenly, we flashed by the finish pole. It took me half the track to slow Longshot down. I trotted him down to Ann, "It was fast wasn't it?"

  Ann smiled, "Very fast." She marveled, "Longshot's not even taking a deep breath!"

  I knew then that Longshot was back to his old self. When we get back to the track, it would be hard to keep him hidden.

  Chapter Five

  It was now early July, and both Longshot and I were back at the track. I sighed. It was great to be back. As I looked at the board, I saw I was scheduled to ride five horses. Longshot was the first. Quickly, I grabbed my gear and almost skipped down to the track. I spotted Longshot right away.

  His coat glistened and rippled as he pranced and arched his neck. Suddenly, Longshot reared because he had so much energy. He was so different than he was before his layoff. Lucero spotted me and motioned me over.

  "You ready to jump on this fireball?" he asked. After nodding, he said, "An easy five furlong breeze. Got it?"

  "Sure, boss. I'll do my very best!" Lucero boosted me up on the fidgeting horse.

  I trotted him out onto the track and warmed him up thoroughly. Then, I eased him into a gallop. My arms hurt after half a circuit around the track. Then, we neared the five-furlong pole. Just as we passed it, I gave him some rein.

  Longshot took off like a rocket. The wind whipped in my face as his powerful strides ate up the ground. At about the three-furlong pole, Longshot and I breezed by a pair of working horses. I realized that we were flying, but I could barely hold him back. A few seconds later, we flashed under the wire. With his ears pricked, Longshot slowed himself up. Immediately, I knew we had placed a bullet work.