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Description

it's. finally. done.

This has undoubtedly been one of the most ambitious pieces I have ever done...
The setting proved difficult for me to draw and the lighting and sheer number of horses was unexpectedly time consuming.

I'm honestly very happy with myself for finishing this and even enjoyed writing the story this time around! Glad I had fun with this entry and got to try new things like drawing the track during dusk.
Seeing everyone's beautiful entries definitely encouraged me to finish mine as well ^^
If anyone's interested here's a version without snow because I feel like it distracts from the details...BC Entry

Also Taizai finally get's to make her big racing comeback

Race: Breeder's Cup- Longines Turf [G1]
Horse: Taizai
Extra Image: Early Mornings
Featuring: Trojan's Wish , RSS Hot Shot , FHF Agent of Hell , The Gremlin

Story (1005 words)

Richard gripped the phone tightly to his ear, his deep breaths synced to the steady beeping of the closed line. He had received a call. An unexpected invitation. At best it would shroud the small racing stable with gleaming lights and fame, at worst it could bring about bankruptcy and a bad reputation.

He gazed up at Sean who entered the kitchen followed by the smell of horse and hay. He loved that smell. It was sweet and comforting with warm undertones and a long grassy finish. He didn’t want to risk losing it over some race. But then again, this wasn’t just some race.
“There’s been a call.”
Sean plopped down in a seat across from him.
“Who was it? If it’s that trainer again tell him we’re sorry, but we simply can’t hire him. We don’t have the money.”
“It’s from America” Richard said quietly. “They have an open spot in the Breeders Cup. They’re asking if we want it.”
“The Breeders Cup…” Sean stuttered. “The Breeders Cup? Who would you even send Richard? We’ve only got a handful of green three-year-old’s to choose from. And Disillusioned- there’s no way we can run him on that track.”
Richard knew he was right. Their youngsters had only a few races under their belts, and after Disillusioned missed his chance at the Derby due to a lack of funds it would just be an embarrassment to bring him now.
“What about Taizai?” Sean said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“What about Taizai? She hasn’t even run this season. You want her to run against half a dozen colts twice her size?”
“She could do it.” Sean said firmly. “Sure, we might not win, or place, but it’s worth a shot. Those colts will be so preoccupied with each other they won’t even see her coming!” he giggled.
Richard couldn’t help but foolishly smile. It had been almost a year since Taizai had run her last race. First the first time in a while he was overcome by the slightest feeling of hope. Maybe this was the breakthrough the filly needed. The breakthrough they all needed. Maybe, just maybe she would surprise them all.
***
The hour had come. It was cold and windy as Richard walked to meet his horse and jockey. The icy wind seemed to graze his bones and he jogged hurriedly towards the barn. The horses were just getting ready to make their way to presumably one of the biggest races of their career.
Richard mumbled familiar names as he gazed over the competition. All big names. All with respectable careers, and backed by even more respected stables.
Trojan’s Wish, an impressive dual racer who was showing a lot of potential on the track. Although his bloodlines did not prove it, the colt had an undying eagerness to run. Something that was difficult to find and even more difficult to harness.
Agent Of Hell, who, as the name suggested, was a relentless force to deal with. Whilst only a three-year-old his race record consisted almost exclusively of G1 wins. His success on the track and wide spoken foul temper had led him to be of one of the most well-known names of the year.
The Gremlin, probably the most experienced horse of the lot. He’d made his mark on almost all the major tracks on an international scale. Aside from his incredible speed his aggressive temper made him difficult to forget for both horse and rider. He was not one to mess around with.
Hot Shot, a fellow Australian trained horse who seemed to be at the height of his career. Boasting all first place wins this season his success surely did not go unnoticed by anyone.
And then there was Taizai. A filly in a sea of colts. Richard couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place.
Even Taizai, who was usually unaffected by the race day hustle was restless and fidgety. She swayed nervously in her stall and poked her out far out to catch glimpses of the other horses.
They were equally nervous and were making quite the fuss through a series of high pitched whinnies. The Ballenclieff’s grey colt was causing a ruckus and had sent waves of unease radiating through the barn.
Richard could only hope that they would calm down once on the track. The icy weather, snowfall and already nervous horses seemed like an accident waiting to happen.
He did not need his precious filly to sustain another racing injury. The repercussions of her last injury on the stable both financially and emotionally were still clear in his mind.
Perhaps they shouldn’t have come. Perhaps they should have stayed within their comfort zone. This was all too new and too far away from home.
Richard was starting to doubt himself. In the end it had been his call to bring them here. If anything went wrong, he only had himself to blame.
No, we had to come here. We need to be here. We need to try.
This was without a doubt the biggest race Mullura Stud had ever entered. After passing on the Derby last year with their top colt, this felt like a chance at redemption. A chance to remind the world of a name that had disappeared from the big screen.
Sean turned the corner with a smile across his face. He took the reins and hopped onto the bay filly, who grunted softly as if to greet him.
No words were needed between the three as they made their way towards the track. Richard’s steady footsteps, Sean's shallow breaths and Taizai’s soft snorts were all the reassurance they needed to know that they were ready for this.
Richard watched the pair walk off into the dusk and out of sight. The light snowfall blinded him and seemed to engulf the two in a sea of gentle swirls.
Whatever the outcome, this was an opportunity they had fought long and hard for, and they were not going to let it go.

References

Thoroughbred racehorse stock
Stock - Racehorse 8
www.drf.com/sites/default/file…
www.horsesales.com/photos/pric…
www.churchilldowns.com/assets/…
11s1ty2quyfy2qbmao3bwxzc-wpeng…

Description

it's. finally. done.

This has undoubtedly been one of the most ambitious pieces I have ever done...
The setting proved difficult for me to draw and the lighting and sheer number of horses was unexpectedly time consuming.

I'm honestly very happy with myself for finishing this and even enjoyed writing the story this time around! Glad I had fun with this entry and got to try new things like drawing the track during dusk.
Seeing everyone's beautiful entries definitely encouraged me to finish mine as well ^^
If anyone's interested here's a version without snow because I feel like it distracts from the details...BC Entry

Also Taizai finally get's to make her big racing comeback

Race: Breeder's Cup- Longines Turf [G1]
Horse: Taizai
Extra Image: Early Mornings
Featuring: Trojan's Wish , RSS Hot Shot , FHF Agent of Hell , The Gremlin

Story (1005 words)

Richard gripped the phone tightly to his ear, his deep breaths synced to the steady beeping of the closed line. He had received a call. An unexpected invitation. At best it would shroud the small racing stable with gleaming lights and fame, at worst it could bring about bankruptcy and a bad reputation.

He gazed up at Sean who entered the kitchen followed by the smell of horse and hay. He loved that smell. It was sweet and comforting with warm undertones and a long grassy finish. He didn’t want to risk losing it over some race. But then again, this wasn’t just some race.
“There’s been a call.”
Sean plopped down in a seat across from him.
“Who was it? If it’s that trainer again tell him we’re sorry, but we simply can’t hire him. We don’t have the money.”
“It’s from America” Richard said quietly. “They have an open spot in the Breeders Cup. They’re asking if we want it.”
“The Breeders Cup…” Sean stuttered. “The Breeders Cup? Who would you even send Richard? We’ve only got a handful of green three-year-old’s to choose from. And Disillusioned- there’s no way we can run him on that track.”
Richard knew he was right. Their youngsters had only a few races under their belts, and after Disillusioned missed his chance at the Derby due to a lack of funds it would just be an embarrassment to bring him now.
“What about Taizai?” Sean said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“What about Taizai? She hasn’t even run this season. You want her to run against half a dozen colts twice her size?”
“She could do it.” Sean said firmly. “Sure, we might not win, or place, but it’s worth a shot. Those colts will be so preoccupied with each other they won’t even see her coming!” he giggled.
Richard couldn’t help but foolishly smile. It had been almost a year since Taizai had run her last race. First the first time in a while he was overcome by the slightest feeling of hope. Maybe this was the breakthrough the filly needed. The breakthrough they all needed. Maybe, just maybe she would surprise them all.
***
The hour had come. It was cold and windy as Richard walked to meet his horse and jockey. The icy wind seemed to graze his bones and he jogged hurriedly towards the barn. The horses were just getting ready to make their way to presumably one of the biggest races of their career.
Richard mumbled familiar names as he gazed over the competition. All big names. All with respectable careers, and backed by even more respected stables.
Trojan’s Wish, an impressive dual racer who was showing a lot of potential on the track. Although his bloodlines did not prove it, the colt had an undying eagerness to run. Something that was difficult to find and even more difficult to harness.
Agent Of Hell, who, as the name suggested, was a relentless force to deal with. Whilst only a three-year-old his race record consisted almost exclusively of G1 wins. His success on the track and wide spoken foul temper had led him to be of one of the most well-known names of the year.
The Gremlin, probably the most experienced horse of the lot. He’d made his mark on almost all the major tracks on an international scale. Aside from his incredible speed his aggressive temper made him difficult to forget for both horse and rider. He was not one to mess around with.
Hot Shot, a fellow Australian trained horse who seemed to be at the height of his career. Boasting all first place wins this season his success surely did not go unnoticed by anyone.
And then there was Taizai. A filly in a sea of colts. Richard couldn’t help but feel slightly out of place.
Even Taizai, who was usually unaffected by the race day hustle was restless and fidgety. She swayed nervously in her stall and poked her out far out to catch glimpses of the other horses.
They were equally nervous and were making quite the fuss through a series of high pitched whinnies. The Ballenclieff’s grey colt was causing a ruckus and had sent waves of unease radiating through the barn.
Richard could only hope that they would calm down once on the track. The icy weather, snowfall and already nervous horses seemed like an accident waiting to happen.
He did not need his precious filly to sustain another racing injury. The repercussions of her last injury on the stable both financially and emotionally were still clear in his mind.
Perhaps they shouldn’t have come. Perhaps they should have stayed within their comfort zone. This was all too new and too far away from home.
Richard was starting to doubt himself. In the end it had been his call to bring them here. If anything went wrong, he only had himself to blame.
No, we had to come here. We need to be here. We need to try.
This was without a doubt the biggest race Mullura Stud had ever entered. After passing on the Derby last year with their top colt, this felt like a chance at redemption. A chance to remind the world of a name that had disappeared from the big screen.
Sean turned the corner with a smile across his face. He took the reins and hopped onto the bay filly, who grunted softly as if to greet him.
No words were needed between the three as they made their way towards the track. Richard’s steady footsteps, Sean's shallow breaths and Taizai’s soft snorts were all the reassurance they needed to know that they were ready for this.
Richard watched the pair walk off into the dusk and out of sight. The light snowfall blinded him and seemed to engulf the two in a sea of gentle swirls.
Whatever the outcome, this was an opportunity they had fought long and hard for, and they were not going to let it go.

References

Thoroughbred racehorse stock
Stock - Racehorse 8
www.drf.com/sites/default/file…
www.horsesales.com/photos/pric…
www.churchilldowns.com/assets/…
11s1ty2quyfy2qbmao3bwxzc-wpeng…