Free The Black Stallion's Courage by Walter Farley

cut up from previous races and muddy water filled the depressions made by many hoofs. Near the inside rail was an untouched path about four feet wide. Jockeys kept off the rail in wet going, for as a rule the mud was deeper there.
    Alec’s eyes remained on the unmarked inner lane. If this track was well graded the going there might not be as bad as jockeys in previous races had thought. He wondered if the Preakness riders would stay off the inside too. If so, he just might try …
    The bell rang, the front doors slammed open and the horses broke from their stalls. The Preakness was on!

B LACK -E YED S USANS

8
    Black Minx grabbed for the bit, but Alec kept it from her. He wanted to be able to help her in case she slipped before settling into stride. She wobbled when she was a few feet away from the gate but he got her out of it. On their left Eclipse skittered as though sliding on ice and almost went down, his legs flaying wildly. Black Minx pulled away from him.
    Maybe Henry was right, Alec thought. Maybe they wouldn’t have to worry about the big horse today after all!
    Mud and dirty water splattered all around Alec but did not hit his face. Not yet. It wouldn’t at all if no horse got in front of them. Alec didn’t urge the filly to go faster. He wanted her to settle into stride first.
    â€œNo hurry,” he called softly. “No hurry. Take your time.”
    Mud suddenly began flying at his goggles, filling them so he could hardly see. Now he was getting it.From whom? It wasn’t Olympus. Olympus was coming in on his right and sliding!
    Alec yelled at Olympus’s jockey and had to climb all over Black Minx, trying to get a hold on her to keep from going down. Suddenly the filly jumped ahead, her hoofs for the first time secure in the sloppy footing. They pulled clear of Olympus but the mud kept coming at them from in front.
    Alec saw that it was Rampart and Lone Hope who had crossed ahead of them. Racing from the far outside, the two colts went to the lead and swept under the finish wire for the first time with a mile still to go! Just behind them raced Wintertime and then came Golden Vanity and Silver Jet both under a snug hold and to the filly’s left. The last two colts were going to be kept off the pace this time, Alec decided. Their riders were letting Rampart and Lone Hope go to the front, content to make their bids later in the race.
    Alec heard a tremendous roar from the stands and wondered if anything had happened to Eclipse. The burly horse had been having so much trouble that he might have gone down!
    Black Minx hated the mud flying in her face. She shook her head and tried to avoid it. Alec took her a little more to the right of the front runners as they swept into the turn at the old clubhouse. They were all staying away from the rail, he saw. But he didn’t want to take Black Minx over there yet. It was too early to make his bid. Like most of the others he was rating his mount, saving her for the grueling run down the longbackstretch and then around the far turn headed for home!
    The field had straggled out but the positions remained unchanged. Rampart and Lone Hope were still running as a team and had increased their lead to three lengths. They had a lot of early speed in this mud but Alec was certain they didn’t have the stamina to keep it up.
    Wintertime was next and running a little to the leaders’ right. He was going under wraps, his strides like the filly’s coming effortlessly and very secure. He was in an excellent position to take the lead without much trouble. Alec decided he’d be the colt to beat if Eclipse was already out of the running.
    He took Black Minx a little higher on the turn, ready to let her out a notch going down the backstretch.
    Golden Vanity and Silver Jet were directly behind the two leaders, saving ground. Their jockeys were sitting quietly in their saddles. It wouldn’t be long now before they’d make their