a devil's debut

Finally, I’ve managed to goddamn get this one done.
I really like it in the flesh, but the demon scanner has bleached it so a lot of the details are lost. I had some really subtle dirt clouds that’ve been lost, Gremlin’s shadow falling on the other horse, a more distinct crowd, Gremlin’s bared teeth, hoof marks in the dirt and a hellalot more dirt spray coming up. whey scanner, wheeeyyyyy. So please DOWNLOAD to make sure you get all them deets as best you scan, especially gremlin’s teeth da bastard.

- GREMLIN’S ENTRY FOR THE JUVENILE STAKES, THOROUGHBRED SOCIETY RACES

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The day had come: today, they grey gremlin would set his feet on a professional track and make his international debut into the racing world. It was a day of clenched fists and sweating brows, and a whole lot of tension and excitement filling the air.

They had travelled to Kentucky for this race, and none was more excited than Rob. He had trained this colt perilously, risking life and limb to shape him up, to harness and aim that ugly fire that possessed the colt. He’d put his fate in the hands of his only son, who was so young and barely experienced enough, but the only one who had the light, airless touch Gremlin demanded, yet the courage to coax and press and drive home, enough guidance to keep him on the bit, obsessed with his rider and running, instead of on what was around him. Sam was bold but respected and admired Gremlin, but was not yet the subject of any fondness from the colt. Rob knew that getting on the beast was a daily exhaustion, but once he was up there he had yet to receive the fate of Vinny.

Rob prayed that today the Gremlin would find his focus on the race. They’d put him against Ellie and Plushenko and several other training horses in mock races – not just for him – and he’d yet to truly find his way in the race. He was always too focused on the horses or the crowd or the bit in his mouth or the weight on his back. He’d been getting better, but his aggression towards other horses was a weakness.

But they were here now. The day of the race, and the atmosphere in the stadium blew up as they entered the paddock. Rob led Gremlin firmly by the nose, squeezing it tightly to keep him down. He had a chifney bit in his mouth to keep from rearing, and he was already on edge, grumbling and gripey and attempting to snap at Rob, which nowadays he always seemed to do half heartedly; to keep up appearances. Sam trotted along beside them, keeping his distance slightly from Gremlin, and was glad that Gremlin was too focused on irritating Rob to spend his time trying to eat him.

However, as they entered the ring entirely, Gremlin’s mood suddenly changed. His head was up, and his ears were pricked taking in the storm of people around
him. He tensed up, his head high, and strode along massively, ignoring Rob and Sam – so much that Rob had to jog to catch up with the colt’s increased pace. He was intent now. And as the sudden realisation of where he was and what was going on sank in, he turned away and walked firmly by Rob’s side, his head up, proud like a lion, shaking out his body, showing off the mighty animal he was.

Until, of course, the horse behind him came stupidly too close and with a sudden twist of personality roared and lashed out in a buck. The youngster shied, and the horses around him began to fuss and became restless. A chorus of shouts started up in the crowd, and Rob glared furiously at the colt, who nonchalantly went on, his head high and proud, but his eyes scheming and full of warning.

Rob saw and spoke aloud to Sam, “There is a storm coming, son.” He turned to face the line of horses in front of him, “Damn the devil for the horse.”
**
They reached the end of the entrance paddock, and Rob turned to grab Gremlin and take off his chifney bit. The colt immediately went o rear, and aggressively Rob pulled the colt down, and hissed at him. Nervously, Sam took a lift from a stablehand nearby and flipped himself up into the saddle, the grey colt restless beneath him. Boldly he pushed his fears from his mind, though his heart was in his mouth for what lay ahead. He’d raced Gremlin so many times before now, on their gallops. Now, it was different stakes completely.

Gremlin ignored the horses moving around him towards the gate, and held his grip on his colt and moved his head as close to his head as he dared.

“This is it, you fuck. No playing now. None of your attitude and none of your games. Prove to me your worth my time. Prove to me you’re my horse, and prove to them you are a prince, and you’ll be a king yet.”

Gremlin held his gaze in such a startling manner, still, the white of his eyes showing. He did not react, and he did not make a sound. Rob held him, for a beat, stood back, and with such a touch of love, gave the colt a rub down his face. His anger waned.

“A king”

**

Rob left them, patting his son on the leg as he passed. It was out of his hands now, and he turned to watch Gremlin walk to the gates, hot on his toes, eager and full of excitement. He gave a roar, scattering horses around him, and made his way triumphantly towards the gates. Focus

That was one thing about Gremlin, he was damned fearless. No colt or filly seemed to challenge him, he was a bull, and phased by nothing. He could do it all, with ease, if only he could grow up in five minutes. He was the first in the gate, nearby unaided by shying hands who stayed away from his teeth. The boy who led him narrowly missed a gouging as gremlin’s chest banged against the starting gate. He kicked out one last time as the gate shut behind, and for what seemed like an eternity Sam was alone with the gremlin.

The colt was still, breathing. Time slowed. Sam was full of adrenalin, could feel his heart and gremlin’s too. The colt shuddered, ripples of excitement flowing through him. He could sense he was ready. There was something different here. There was intent. There was focus. There was a steady tranquillity in those moments. Sam had ran a few real races before, grade 3s, no excellors yet, but Sam could feel such intensity in the very core of the colt. Something else was beneath him. Voltage. The colt was charged.

Horses began to file in beside him, and even then Gremlin ignored their hype. A chestnut filly was beside him; she was very nervous, and squealed and panted. Gremlin’s ears were back, and he had his eye on her. He was a predator. She squealed, rearing up and trying to back out, fearful of the colt who moved to bite at her, neighing aggressively. Sam placed his hand on the colt’s neck, feeling the power.

“Good luck, Gremlin.”

The last few horses clattered in, and Sam readied himself, his hands on the reins, waiting.

And then before him the world opened up, and such a clamour overtook him he almost couldn’t contain himself. The grey beast surged beneath him, power and mass and such valour. Horses were around him suddenly, fighting against each other and squealing with energy. Bodies moved in front of him, he was jostled and gremlin was jostled, but with an almighty roar a bubble appeared around him, free of horses. Sam worried, but focused on the colt, and as his pace quickened, resorted himself to becoming as weightless and invisible as possible, save for his hands that rode up the colt’s neck.

He could feel the colt moving beneath him. He wasn’t at the front, far from it. A fair few were before him, and starting to make their moves. There was thunder around him, and dirt in his face as the group pounded up the track. He could feel each of gremlin’s steps, and each one shook him, racing right through him. The glorious drum of hooves on the earth filled his ears. He sank low, and so did Gremlin. Into fourth gear. Time to gain.

He was edging, and brayed low again. His ears were flat, as he started to gain on the chestnut filly he had terrorised before. He was so low. His head was near horizontal from his body, and Sam knew his body would be long like a cheetah, slinking and speeding. He was up to the side of the filly, who could sense the shadow looming upon her, like a tiger at her haunches. She threw her head up, her gallop broken and her body tensed and frightened. Gremlin’s teeth were bared, glaring up at her as if ready to throw his jaws out and take a bite. Sam jabbed at the reins, watching the filly skid and cause distress with those around her.

“Come on you devil, focus. Get going. On.”

Feeling the reins twitch, Gremlin’s attention was back, and Sam hoped it’d been enough to keep him going. He sank as low as he could, and asked for more. There were only a few ahead now. He pressed the colt for that speed. That illusive magical speed that made him feel so alive, the electric might that made him into the unstoppable missile.

Fifth gear, yes. He could feel it. They were into the final third, and horses around him began to close in on the leaders. The space was clear, he had to match the horse at the front. He could hear the crowds roar and sing around him, the announcer blaring their names, hearing Gremlin’s name as the colt’s hooves began to quicken, quicken, quicken, his stride extend and extend. Fifth gear.

“Bring it home”

And jutting out, he shot forward like a hawk, and soared over the ground, eating it up, moving quicker than Sam had felt yet. Soon he was with the leaders, fighting against them, the finish line looming up so much quicker than he expected.

It was coming. A final stretch, and Gremlin was at the head, but he was being pressured by the horses around him, and his ears were flat. Please, he begged. Hold on gremlin, keep flying. We’re almost there.

From the sidelines Rob watched the race, barely reacting, holding himself as the horses moved towards the finish. He spoke again out loud.

“The storm is coming, watch out Sam.”