The next morning Tony woke up with a bruised and painful fetlock courtesy of Colorado 2. As Colorado got a concussion and a busted snout, Tony considered he still got the better of it.
The ponies were off today and the horses were center stage. As a result the pony barn was quiet. Tony munched his breakfast of pellets and wished he had some Tylenol or something. The pain wasn't that bad, but standing on it sure wasn't helping. Having nothing to distract him from it made it worse.
Liz walked into the barn about 7AM to check on Tony. He waved when she came into view. "$6000", Liz stated.
"That the fine?", Tony asked.
"Your actions were not considered beyond the infraction level, so the fine was low, but you had 3 targets," Liz explained.
"Would it be better in the future if I stuck with one target and beat the crap out of them?" Tony was smiling and actually joking. The paint across the way got the joke and laughed through his gag.
Liz however did not get the joke, "Not funny Tony. You don't want that reputation. As it is I've had several of the other trainers approch me to ask about you. I've told them you olny lash out defensively. Don't make me a liar."
Tony nodded and looked serious, "Don't worry Liz I'm down with the plan. I've made the statement I needed to make."
"Max told me to tell you 'Job well done. Now win.' The entire barn heard the play-by-play of your fight. You have the respect you need to run. You'll still get hit occasionally, but many penal ponies will even steer clear." Liz was frankly relieved the first race was over."
"Well I want to turn this body loose next time. I intend to win." Tony had been distracted from his pain by the conversation, but it intruded on his consciousness again. "Liz, you letter have a look at my right leg. I got clipped by a hoof and it's hurting."
Liz immediately took Tony from the stall and examined the leg. "It appears to be just bruised, but you bought yourself a day off training. I'll be back." Liz returned in a few minutes with an icepack she strapped around the fetlock. She also fed him some Tylenol. "Prop that leg up as much as you can. It should be better by morning."
Tony nodded his acknowledgement.
"Amaranth is in the 6th today. Would you like to watch the race?" Liz was pretty sure she knew the answer.
"Can I? Of course!", Tony responded.
---
Liz came and collected Tony that afternoon. She put him on a lead and took him to the horse barn. When they arrived at Amaranth's stall the pony boy jockey Tobias was there tending to her.
She was already saddled and Tobias had his Tony farm silks on.
"Tony! Good to see you!", Tobias ran over and hugged Tony, who reached down and scritched his head. "What happened to your leg?"
"Let's just say it was a racing incident", Tony responded. "I'll be fine."
"You should see the other guys", Liz commented dryly. That got a laugh from Tobias.
The groomsman showed up to lead Amaranth out to the track. Liz, Tobias, and Tony followed behind. Once at the paddock next to the track, Tobias mounted and the horses were sorted in post order. They were then lead onto the track, much like the ponies had been.
Liz and Tony moved trackside by the finish as the horses were loaded in the gate.
The bell sounded and the gates slammed open. The horses sprinted onto the track. Tony couldn't see much as the race started. According to the commentators Amaranth was mid-pack at the first turn. Down the backstreatch Tobias made his move and gave Amaranth a slight touch with the crop to urge her on. She moved up and was 4th by the clubhouse turn. The horses were thundering towards the finish. Liz and Tony were yelling, urging Amaranth on. In the end, she finished 2nd.
After a brief celebration at Amaranth's stall, Tony was returned to the pony barn.
As Liz closed Tony in his stall she told Tony about his next race. "The track is closed tomorrow. You'll be in race 2 the following day out of post 5. Only 3 penal ponies in the field."
Tony nodded as a grin slowly spread across his face. "Time to run."