No sooner does the world come into focus when it zips by you at a breathtaking pace, crowds of people and animals blurring together in a colorful stripe on either side. Excited chatter from the announcer fades into white noise as you concentrate on your gallop. Up ahead, you see that instead of making a loop like a conventional track, this one winds its way across an artificial landscape simulating a natural environment.
Once the wonder dies down, you turn your attention back to your race. Quickly, you lean into the wind, allowing your streamlined body to cut through the air like an arrow. The staccato beat of your hooves adds its rhythm to that of the other horses around you. Your competitors hardly register, but you can sense the thrill that courses through all of you.
Seeing one of the others pull ahead, you redouble your efforts. Around you, other horses start to fall behind, but your new rival maintains his lead, followed close behind by two others. So far, you manage to hold on to fourth position. The track makes a turn, and you veer with it into the second stretch. A few times, one of your other opponents comes dangerously close to tripping you up, but you back off in time, losing precious headway in the process.
By now, your lungs are pumping oxygen fast, hissing like a steam engine. Dust clings to your sweat-soaked fur. You, however, could not care less. Only three horses are ahead of you, only three to beat.
Recovering from your earlier setback, you slip by the third horse. On the next turn, you overtake the second, edging by so close you could feel her tail hairs whipping at your side.
It’s just you and the leader, now. His speckled grey coat gleams in the sun, making a perfect target sign, and you keep pace with him until the right opportunity presents itself. As he finishes his turn, you swing wide to come along beside him. With the finish line in sight, you pour on more speed until the two of you are neck on neck and you can see the whites in the grey’s eyes. The crowd goes wild as only a crowd of animals can. Somewhere in the distance, an elephant trumpets.
Almost there!