* * * * *
We got into the stands, just before race time, and they were crowded.
First Hope’s crazy reputation had gotten around, and guys who normally
have been at their local bookmaking parlor had come out to the track to
see for themselves. Dunstan found himself next to a big beefy guy with
a red face and blinking eyes, who couldn’t talk about anything except
“that nutty horse out there.” We kept our mouths shut, of course. If
we’d let on that we owned “that nutty horse,” we’d have been snowed
under with questions and comments.
* * * * *
The starting gate swung open.
First Hope swung wide and came out in front. Dunstan was following her
with the gimmicked binocs, and I had an ordinary pair of my own. Coming
around the first turn, First Hope was a length and a half in front of
the pack, and going away. He hit the far turn two lengths ahead of the
favorite, a wonderful horse named Germont’s Love, who was running his
best that day. But nothing could stop our weightless wonder.
“Hey, will you look at that nutty horse go!” the beefy guy yelled. I
felt like yelling myself. We’d sunk all the profits into this race;
with two wins under our belts we felt pretty safe about it.
First Hope came around the far turn, then Germont’s Love, and then the
pack. The distance was widening between First Hope and the rest of the
field.
“Hey, look at that plug!” the beefy guy shouted, and dug Dunstan in the
ribs.
That did it.
Dunstan, off balance, swayed and nearly fell. For one full second the
gimmicked binocs were off First Hope. Mine were trained right on the
animal--but they didn’t do any good, of course. They were just normal
binocs.
Have you ever seen a horse collapse?
All of a sudden, about a hundred and forty pounds landed on First
Hope’s back. The antigravity machine had no power. First Hope felt all
the weight we’d been holding off him.
He actually went on his knees. I could see Teddy looking frantic
and using his whip, but nothing was going to do any good. I got one
clear look at First Hope’s face. I’ve never seen such a surprised and
discouraged-looking horse.
Germont’s Love passed him almost at once. So did the rest of the pack.
By the time Dunstan managed to get his binocs off the infield and onto
First Hope again, it was too late. Run? First Hope could barely breathe.
So we lost our money. So that wasn’t too bad. But this time the
investigation got us. First Hope’s sudden collapse had looked even
funnier than his previous two runaway wins, and the judges took that
saddle apart with a fine-tooth comb. They found the circuitry.
Dunstan’s working for the government now, and wondering how he’s ever
going to make any money on the lousy salary they pay. Teddy’s down in
Mexico City being a jockey, since he was outlawed here.
Me? I’m a trainer. A good trainer.
You ever go out to the amusement park? Take your kids for a ride on the
Shetland ponies?
Say hello to me, next time. Hell, it’s a living, isn’t it?
But if it wasn’t for science....