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Description
Fade is entered in the Thoroughbred-Society Triple Crown! I'm entering all three races and planning on doing an extra arrival/training image for each race, so I've got my work cut out for me over the next month. But I've vowed that if Fade doesn't take home the grand prize, it sure won't be for lack of trying.

This is the arrival image for the Kentucky Derby, showing Fade and his rider Alex arriving at Churchill Downs. I'm assuming horses are allowed in this particular area of the venue, but if they aren't, I don't care because I've already drawn it and I like the idea of a new up-and-coming racer visiting the statue of a historic one.

Also I want extra credit for that background, because normally I loathe architectural backgrounds and will do anything in my power to avoid them.
I did use a photo reference - here for just the image, here if you wanna go the actual site.

--

Show form: (not sure if I need to include for an extra image but I figure better safe than sorry)
Show: 2023 TS Triple Crown
Race: 2023 TS Kentucky Derby (G1)
Post Position Number: #2
Horse: 687 Fade
Jockey: Alex Guerra
Training/Arrival: [you are here ]
Extra(s): I think N/A since this isn't the main entry

--
Story:

"Alex, hold him still!"

Alex just chuckled, nudging Fade back a step. The storm-colored stallion had his head up and ears pricked, taking in everything around him. Considering that his entire job was to run like a maniac on command, he was actually an impressively calm horse. He just struggled to stand still for long periods of time.

He'd adjusted to Churchill Downs pretty well, not seeming fazed by all of the hubbub going on. Race day was coming up fast, and spectators were already coming by to get a look at the contestants before then. Fade had taken it all like a champ. Alex was glad he wasn't getting to worked up - he was less likely to hurt himself before race day, or wear himself out.

It was exciting to be here. Fade was going to race for the Triple Crown! And Alex was going to ride him! Even if he lost every race, it would be an experience he would never forget. And if any of their Thoroughbreds could pull this off, it was Fade. Alex would readily admit to being partial to Goldie, their playful golden bay stallion, but he definitely knew that Fade was the best runner they had.

Eliza had really, really wanted to be there to watch him run, but Aidan was still dealing with Joker's escape and figuring out how to handle any possible ramifications of it, and as the stable's owner, she kind of had to be kept in the loop on that. If something went sideways, she'd rather be there to help herself than order someone to take care of it for her. Alex respected her for that, though he was upset that she couldn't see Fade make his run for the roses. She'd promised to try and make it to the next races.

Who Alex really wanted here, though, was Aidan. His boyfriend had been working on the Joker issue for a few weeks now, and they still had no idea where he was or how to find him, or the little Capall he'd chased back into the sea either. Aidan was clearly stressed about it, but was trying not to show it too much. Alex could read him like an open book, though. They were running out of leads and hadn't had any new ones for a while - Aidan was getting more and more frustrated, and was struggling to accept that their potentially crazy murderhorse might be truly lost with no hope of finding him before he did something particularly violent. Alex wished he'd been able to convince him to come to the races with him - maybe it would've distracted him for a while, let him relax a bit. But he knew his boyfriend - he wouldn't let himself rest until he'd done absolutely everything in his power to solve a problem. With how dangerous Joker was, and the baby filly he'd potentially driven off into the wild, Alex could definitely understand Aidan's worries. But he also wished he would take a break, even just a short one, just to relax for a while.

So, instead of Eliza and Aidan, Cate and Naomi had accompanied him and Fade to represent their stable. Naomi had brought a little journal to write their experiences in, and Cate had brought a camera. Which she was trying to use - somewhat unsuccessfully - now.

"Alex, I can't take the picture until he stands still," Cate reminded him. Behind her, Naomi was giggling softly.

"I know, I know," Alex chuckled. "But you know he's not gonna hold still for more than a few seconds. If you haven't snapped a pic yet, it's your own fault for being slow."

Naomi "coughed" into her hand, and Cate rolled her eyes. "I've been trying, but none of them have turned out any good yet. I just wanna get one good one!"

Cate had wanted a picture of Fade's arrival, but it was Naomi who had suggested taking him to visit the Barbaro statue. Something about honoring past racers and celebrating the next generation. At least Fade was being mostly cooperative, other than struggling to stand still for the picture.

Finally, Fade paused for a moment with his head generally facing the camera, and Cate snapped a pic. She held up the camera to check it and smiled. "Got it! Thanks for holding him, Alex."

Alex smiled and gave Fade a pat on the shoulder. The stallion stood proudly, giving Alex a friendly nuzzle. Whatever the next few weeks of traveling and racing held, at least he knew he had a good horse with him.

Word count: 764 words
--

XP count:

Thoroughbred-Society XP:
    Extra show image - +1.5
    500-999 word story - +1
        Total: 2.5 XP

rail-birds XP:
    Fullbody - +5
    Detailed background - +2
    Detailed shading - +2
    Detailed handler - +2
    HARPG race entry - +3
    1 point per 100 words - +7 for 700 words
        Total: 21 XP

Description
Fade is entered in the Thoroughbred-Society Triple Crown! I'm entering all three races and planning on doing an extra arrival/training image for each race, so I've got my work cut out for me over the next month. But I've vowed that if Fade doesn't take home the grand prize, it sure won't be for lack of trying.

This is the arrival image for the Kentucky Derby, showing Fade and his rider Alex arriving at Churchill Downs. I'm assuming horses are allowed in this particular area of the venue, but if they aren't, I don't care because I've already drawn it and I like the idea of a new up-and-coming racer visiting the statue of a historic one.

Also I want extra credit for that background, because normally I loathe architectural backgrounds and will do anything in my power to avoid them.
I did use a photo reference - here for just the image, here if you wanna go the actual site.

--

Show form: (not sure if I need to include for an extra image but I figure better safe than sorry)
Show: 2023 TS Triple Crown
Race: 2023 TS Kentucky Derby (G1)
Post Position Number: #2
Horse: 687 Fade
Jockey: Alex Guerra
Training/Arrival: [you are here ]
Extra(s): I think N/A since this isn't the main entry

--
Story:

"Alex, hold him still!"

Alex just chuckled, nudging Fade back a step. The storm-colored stallion had his head up and ears pricked, taking in everything around him. Considering that his entire job was to run like a maniac on command, he was actually an impressively calm horse. He just struggled to stand still for long periods of time.

He'd adjusted to Churchill Downs pretty well, not seeming fazed by all of the hubbub going on. Race day was coming up fast, and spectators were already coming by to get a look at the contestants before then. Fade had taken it all like a champ. Alex was glad he wasn't getting to worked up - he was less likely to hurt himself before race day, or wear himself out.

It was exciting to be here. Fade was going to race for the Triple Crown! And Alex was going to ride him! Even if he lost every race, it would be an experience he would never forget. And if any of their Thoroughbreds could pull this off, it was Fade. Alex would readily admit to being partial to Goldie, their playful golden bay stallion, but he definitely knew that Fade was the best runner they had.

Eliza had really, really wanted to be there to watch him run, but Aidan was still dealing with Joker's escape and figuring out how to handle any possible ramifications of it, and as the stable's owner, she kind of had to be kept in the loop on that. If something went sideways, she'd rather be there to help herself than order someone to take care of it for her. Alex respected her for that, though he was upset that she couldn't see Fade make his run for the roses. She'd promised to try and make it to the next races.

Who Alex really wanted here, though, was Aidan. His boyfriend had been working on the Joker issue for a few weeks now, and they still had no idea where he was or how to find him, or the little Capall he'd chased back into the sea either. Aidan was clearly stressed about it, but was trying not to show it too much. Alex could read him like an open book, though. They were running out of leads and hadn't had any new ones for a while - Aidan was getting more and more frustrated, and was struggling to accept that their potentially crazy murderhorse might be truly lost with no hope of finding him before he did something particularly violent. Alex wished he'd been able to convince him to come to the races with him - maybe it would've distracted him for a while, let him relax a bit. But he knew his boyfriend - he wouldn't let himself rest until he'd done absolutely everything in his power to solve a problem. With how dangerous Joker was, and the baby filly he'd potentially driven off into the wild, Alex could definitely understand Aidan's worries. But he also wished he would take a break, even just a short one, just to relax for a while.

So, instead of Eliza and Aidan, Cate and Naomi had accompanied him and Fade to represent their stable. Naomi had brought a little journal to write their experiences in, and Cate had brought a camera. Which she was trying to use - somewhat unsuccessfully - now.

"Alex, I can't take the picture until he stands still," Cate reminded him. Behind her, Naomi was giggling softly.

"I know, I know," Alex chuckled. "But you know he's not gonna hold still for more than a few seconds. If you haven't snapped a pic yet, it's your own fault for being slow."

Naomi "coughed" into her hand, and Cate rolled her eyes. "I've been trying, but none of them have turned out any good yet. I just wanna get one good one!"

Cate had wanted a picture of Fade's arrival, but it was Naomi who had suggested taking him to visit the Barbaro statue. Something about honoring past racers and celebrating the next generation. At least Fade was being mostly cooperative, other than struggling to stand still for the picture.

Finally, Fade paused for a moment with his head generally facing the camera, and Cate snapped a pic. She held up the camera to check it and smiled. "Got it! Thanks for holding him, Alex."

Alex smiled and gave Fade a pat on the shoulder. The stallion stood proudly, giving Alex a friendly nuzzle. Whatever the next few weeks of traveling and racing held, at least he knew he had a good horse with him.

Word count: 764 words
--

XP count:

Thoroughbred-Society XP:
    Extra show image - +1.5
    500-999 word story - +1
        Total: 2.5 XP

rail-birds XP:
    Fullbody - +5
    Detailed background - +2
    Detailed shading - +2
    Detailed handler - +2
    HARPG race entry - +3
    1 point per 100 words - +7 for 700 words
        Total: 21 XP