Free The Significant Seven by John McEvoy Page A

nightcap. Joe Zabrauskis stopped them, holding his big arms wide and smiling. “Honest to God, you guys, can you believe this? We’re stallion owners? The seven of us, who could hardly scrape up $2 daily double bets with bookie Doherty back in Madison. Unfucking believeable?”
    ***
    Ira Kaplan’s story appeared two days later in
Racing Daily
.
    CHICAGO, IL—One of thoroughbred racing’s most popular performers of recent years, The Badger Express, will race no more, this publication has learned exclusively. The four-year-old multiple stakes winner suffered a career-ending leg injury following a workout earlier this week, according to Arnie Rison, spokesman for The Significant Seven, the syndicate that campaigned The Badger Express
    The Significant Seven acquired The Badger Express at the Keeneland January Sale of 2003 after winning a huge Pick Six at Saratoga the previous August. Their story, involving old friends who were veteran horse players who hit a pari-mutuel bonanza, became a familiar one to the racing public. Trained by Ralph Tenuta, “The Badger,” as he was known to his many fans, was named in honor of the owners’ alma mater, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
    Under Tenuta’s guidance, the chestnut colt won thirteen of his twenty-four career starts over three seasons, including eight graded stakes, for total earnings of $3,213,048, a remarkable return on his purchase price of $95,000. This model of consistency finished in the money in all but one of those two dozen starts.
    Said Rison, “We’ve had a remarkable run, me and my friends, first hitting the Pick Six jackpot, then buying this wonderful racehorse, who gave his all in every start he made. We will retire him to stud. We hope he can pass on his physical attributes and his will to win to his offspring. That’s the idea, anyway. No matter what happens, The Badger has already given us more fun and money than we ever could of hoped for.”
    Details of The Badger Express’ future are expected to be made public in a few days. “We are finalizing a contract with a major Kentucky farm,” Rison said. That farm is rumored to be Fairborne, home of some of the world’s top stallions.

Chapter Ten
    April 27, 2009
    “Damn,” Doyle said, admiringly, “who’s that fine-looking girl with the Doc?”
    Ralph Tenuta was standing next to Doyle in front of his stable area office on this bright summer morning. The veterinarian for the Tenuta-trained horses, Ron Jensen, had gotten out of his truck and begun walking toward them. Accompanying Jensen was a tall, slim blond woman carrying a medical satchel. She wore jeans, a yellow tee-shirt that revealed her tanned arms, and a black ribbon tied to hold back her long pony tail. She smiled and said, “Good morning, Ralph. I’m back.”
    “Always good to see you, Cindy,” Tenuta said, “early or later. This is Jack Doyle. He’s my new stable agent. Jack, say hello to Cindy Chesney and Doc Jensen. After Cindy works as an exercise rider, some mornings she helps the doc on his rounds.”
    Doyle said hello to the two of them. Tenuta asked Cindy, “How did that black filly go for you today?”
    “Good mannered, just not much interested in running along with other horses. She’s kind of an out-of-place baby at this stage.”
    “That’s what I’m starting realize,” Tenuta said. “We might have to send her back to the farm to grow up a little. How did the other three go?”
    “Went great.” Cindy moved off with a wave to join Doc Jensen down the shed row.
    Doyle watched intently her graceful, athletic walk. “
Damn
nice-looking woman,” he said. “Tell me about her.”
    Tenuta said, “She’s one of the best exercise riders around here. She’s worked for me first thing in the morning, five-thirty or six o’clock, for the last three years. Then she has other trainers she rides for. Some days of the week, she assists Doc Jensen.”
    “Hard-working woman,” Doyle said.
    “That’s for sure. And one