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Quinn Mc Laign was the most unlikely person to take care of a racehorse that his aunt Mari, left to him in her will. Mari owned a small but lively racing stable. Quinn had been into horses all his life; in fact his parents owned a small mixed bred farm, raising the horses for pleasure mounts.
Now Quinn owns a barn full of thoroughbreds. One mare in particular he liked. She was a late foal, born July 4. Her name was All American Girl, Girly as she was called had won several stakes races, Breeder's Cup Juvenile for fillies, Ruffian Handicap for fillies, the Kentucky Oaks, and the Acorn. Toward the end of that yeah she also took the Distaff by storm. At the age of six she was a happy retired broodmare. In foal to an outside standing stud, Townsend Pride, Girly was apt to throw a good foal this year. Girly was the only retired horse out of the 12 in the barn that Quinn now owned. Mari had, had a lot of money and had invested it smartly in several horses. She had plenty put aside for every horse. The other 11 horses were between the ages of 2 and 5. Prime racing ages. Four, two year olds, one three year old, and the rest were five years old. Quinn figured that he would keep a few of them around, until he built his own reputation. The five-year-olds were all in the process of being sold. It would stay that way. The three year old was aimed at the Triple Crown races, two of the two-year-olds were aimed at maidens, and the last two were aimed at Breeder's Cup Juveniles. Girly, Quinn knew he could keep, would be just like the horses back home- just worth more.
Quinn, amused with his new horses, looked at the farm in a business perspective. He could rent out stalls, build an indoor/outdoor riding ring for three-day eventer's like himself. Mari had a training track already built in for the people that race. I could keep Girly, two of the two-year-olds, and maybe the three year old.
Quinn decided to take a look at the horses. For two year olds he had, Casual Time, filly, Bring Me Out, colt, Tinker Toy, filly, and Wonder's Legacy, colt. Only Casual Time and Wonder's Legacy were aimed at Breeder's Cup so they would stay. The three year old, Kinky Kyool. 'I dont like horses with funny names they are just too weird. Kyool seemed very well behaved for a maniac- stereo-typed horse.' Quinn thought to himself.
Quinn finally started looking through old files that his aunt kept on every horse. Looking through Legacys he found one entry:
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January
Well I went to that claiming race, never did get Sterling Dream. The young owner of Wonder's Legacy had her eyes set on her. She traded me Legacy for Sterling Dream. What a rip off in her part. Oh, well have to retrain Legacy and race him instead.
Febuary
Well Legacy just won a nice allowance race. I want to aim him at Breeder's Cup and then the Crown. Also picked up scrawny filly, Casual Time. Nice movements, good confrontation. Hope she works out
Just thinking on the matter Quinn thought of selling half interest in Kyool. Not a good idea, they may have other plans than what Aunt Mari set out for them.
Many months passed. It was three weeks before the derby. Quinn had many boarders and had caught the racing bug. He was following the trainer around all day watch what he did and how. Quinn still had the riding ring put in, not that he had used it. His mare back home was never shipped down. Quinn now had high hopes for Kyool in the derby. He had his races in and was racing in the derby. But one day Kyool was getting a breeze to check his time, Quinn's dreams smacked him in the face.
"Take Kyool for a gallop and let's give him one more breeze in today. Four furlongs sounds like a good length for today." Trainer Jon Viall said to the exercise rider. Quinn knew the dangers of having more than one or two horses out on the track at once but he hadn't stopped it before. 'I didn't think that anyone would hurt Kyool though, it never happened before why start now?' Quinn thought. One young horse was going for his first good hard work on the track. There were about five or six other horses on the track. The track was large enough for them though. Kyool moved out in between two other horses. One, the filly, Townsend Mistress, was getting a few good works in before an allowance race and some bigger races. The colt, Wild Canyon Kid, was the one getting his first real work on the track. Quinn got nervous. They seemed fine until the rider let Kyool out a little bit more so he could get ahead of Kid and move over to the rail. It seemed to go in slow motion. Kyool moved ahead a little bit. Kid noticed and gave a hard sharp kick in his direction then, ramming Kyool, kid set off into a series of wild bucks up the track. Kyool, hit hard fell sideways hitting Mistress sideways. Both horses fell to there knees. When the other riders saw the wild horse running rampant up the track they cleared the track. Quinn, Mr. Dinkley (Mistress' owner), Mr. Viall all went running to the fallen horses. Both riders quickly got up to show that they weren't hurt. Mistress started struggling to get up. The rider tried his best to hold her down but she got up anyway. Kyool started to struggle but couldn't get his feet under him. Both rider's came over and held Kyool down until Mr. Viall got over there. He helped hold Kyool down. Mr. Dinkley was not impressed with Mistress' scraped knees that were bleeding. Many other people were coming over to help. Some one came over with bandages and a first aid kit. One yelled that he had called a vet.
"Mr. Mc Laign, why don't you go and get Legacy and Casual out into their paddocks, or go and call our vet for Kyool. I don't think he is as lucky as Mistress for damage. Mr. Viall said to Quinn, obviously he knew that the damage done was bad and didn't want Quinn to hear it off the bat.
Quinn did he went into the barn and sat down by Girly, Legacy's and Casual's stall. He told them all about the accident. All three seemed affectionate towards Quinn even though he was obviously upset. Legacy dropped his nose and gentle blew into his hand, almost like he understood how upset Quinn was. Quinn heard footsteps come up behind him.
"What is going to happen to Kyool, Jon?" Quinn asked without even turning around.
"I had them put him down. He started fighting the vet and kicking out, causing more damage, he was in too much pain. It was the only realistic, humane thing to do." Mr. Viall told Quinn. Quinn now had only the three horses left. He had a hunch that many of the boarders were not going to stay now that a freak accident happened. Now his hopes laid on Legacy and Casual, to do good in their races. Both had some allowance races coming up and several big races to get them ready for Breeder's Cup.
"What happened to Mistress?" Quinn asked hoping that talented young filly wasn't hurt too.
"Scraped, she has to se taken out of training. The owner said he is selling her to Tall Oaks though. She will be moving in two weeks."
'Great' Quinn thought. 'Now everyone must think that I run a reckless stable. Hopefully, This foal of Townsend Pride is a good one, her foal last year didn't make it. This will be her first live foal, I hope. Can I make it without any strong runners? Will I be able to keep these three safe long?' Quinn had many questions, but no answers.
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