last.
Allie chewed her fingernails as she and her friends listened to the blared and distorted voice on the loudspeakers.
âThe disqualified Teddy Boy has moved ahead of Whitey and Kaydin. They are three fast horses stirring up the dust.â Then in a different voice. âKaydin has taken exception to the parrots. Young Allisonâs having trouble holding him on course. Silly as a wet weekend, that Kaydin! Heâs on the track anyway, so heâs still in with a chance. Captain John is now neck and neck with Melinda, with Candy behind.â
The horses moved into sight from around the clump of trees. Teddy Boy was leading, as the loudspeaker told everyone, with Whitey, Melinda, Captain John, Candy, and Bilco strung out single file behind them, with Kaydin coming up in the rear.
âStill fifth in the race,â Allie said with a groan.
âCaptain John making his run,â blared the loudspeaker.
Captain John moved ahead of Melinda, and Whitey and caught up with Teddy Boy. Captain John moved sideways and veered into Teddy Boy who spun around and bucked. His rider fell off. The other horses flashed past.
Allie watched in admiration as a teenage boy swung a picnic rug over Teddy Boyâs head and clung grimly to the blinded horse as the horse swung his head around trying to get free.
âJohnno should have used the heavier bit,â Mr. Marybone said. âFancy falling off!â
âWhitey in the lead, Melinda second, then Candy, and Kaydinâs coming up fast,â the loudspeaker blared.
The horses vanished out of sight around the hill. Everyone waited tensely. Allie listened to the loudspeaker as it blared out the horsesâ positions. The caller sounded breathless and excited. The horses appeared around the curve of track. Allieâs heart sank. Whitey was still ahead, and the other horses in the same position behind him.
It was impossible to hear the blare of the loudspeakers over everyone yelling. Kaydin moved up and was racing neck and neck with Caliph. Melindaâs rider spurred her. She caught up with Whitey.
âMelindaâs making her run for it,â blared the loudspeakers.
For several seconds Melinda was neck and neck with Whitey, and then fell behind again.
âTold you so,â Mr. Marybone said. âOld George shouldnât have pushed Melinda early in the race.â
The horses galloped down the track and towards the turnoff to the edge of the oval and the finish line. Allie unclenched her fists with an effort and remembered to keep breathing. It was the most exciting race she had ever watched.
The loudspeaker blared into incoherence. Everyone yelled louder. Caliph moved ahead of the taller grey. The crowd roared.
âAnd Candy the Arab wins by a neck,â blared the loudspeakers. âWhitey second and Kaydin third. Teddy Boy disqualified. Still waiting to hear how Bill Jackson is and this has been the most exciting race Iâve ever called.â
âGood horses, them Arabs,â Mr. Marybone was saying as they crowded down the hill and across to where the three horses were being walked across to the wooden dais that had been used for the line dancing.
The two Rangers waited with rosettes and white envelopes. There were speeches and Ahmedâs hand was shaken as he was given the envelope, the ribbon and rosette. Everyone cheered, Allie and Jenny as loudly as anyone. The second and third prizes were handed out to Billy Jones and Allison West.
âIâm heading to the Pound,â Ahmed said out of the side of his mouth as he nudged Caliph through the cheering crowd. âMeet you back at Mon Repose.â
He moved Caliph over to the edge of the oval in an easy walk and vanished behind the curve of the hill.
âCaliph will have to take his time getting there after that race,â Marilyn said thoughtfully. âHeâll be tired.â
âSo?â Allie asked.
âNothing,â Marilyn said. âSee you at
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