 Jerry of the circus and he's just as good as any racehorse you ever saw the only trouble with blaze is he's got a reputation to live down And what do you mean mr. Rogers? Oh the fact that he was with fire department. Well, I don't see why that's so bad Firehorses have to be fast. I'll say they do now that blazes as fast as any of them Just look at his long leg long and powerful Jerry you should see him break Well, what do you mean by that dad? I mean break away get started when he starts to go He goes right now. That's extra good and racing isn't it you bet it is well that way you can get out in front of the rest Of the horses and get a head start. You're right that time. My dad and I used to take care of some race horses out west a couple of years ago Oh, is that so uh-huh, and you must know something about them No, I was littler than and I didn't pay much attention to them, but I sure liked them They were just like children. That's a pretty fair way to explain them Jerry more like babies sometime how true a good Race horse is sensitive all right you have to handle them with care and pamper them if you want to get the best out of them Is blaze sensitive dad you bet he is just like Jerry said sometimes he acts just like a baby Oh, how do you mean oh sometimes he refuses to eat and then again? He'll stir around when I'm trying to brush him down and well just act up in general But why did they do that? Oh for many reasons Jerry they're intelligent these race horses, and they're even fussy about the way You talk to them there's times when you don't know exactly why they act up But they've got a reason for it and it might be that you said one word a little cross to them really sure thing You have to be very careful with them. Well blaze old fella. We'll just talk real nice to you Yes, we will He's a nice old horse. Yes, he is. Maybe you better not call him old Jerry He might be sensitive about his age You can't tell how old is he mr. Rogers eight years That's not old well it is for a race horse, but there's lots of horses eight years old that are racing Yes, that's true Jerry some of them last a good long time and keep up their speed Well, how old are all the other race horses in the breath in the big race? Oh, they're all ages son the big handicap races for four year olds and upwards are most of them around for that's right There's a couple around six years old But blazes the oldest in the race with eight long years to his credit Well, do you want me to just stand here and hold him? Yes, if you don't mind Tom Oh, I don't mind in fact, I like it It's good for him to stand out here in this morning sun and get good and warm before I take that blanket off him Aren't you gonna feed him? No not until after his workout. You couldn't run him just after eight Well, you're gonna let him work up an appetite for breakfast, huh? Well, that's one way of putting it but no matter how big his appetite. He won't get much breakfast Why not cause his big races tomorrow and I don't want blaze to be putting on any extra weight That's one thing I have to watch very carefully. Can't overfeed him Maybe you know we're talking about something to eat. Maybe Funny Warren isn't here yet Warren. Who's he mr. Rogers? That's the jockey that's going to ride blaze Oh, and he's gonna give him his workout this morning, huh? Yes, he should have been here 10 minutes ago You said he was a good jockey, didn't you? Yes, one of the best I was lucky to be able to get him to ride blaze. Is is he a regular jockey or for somebody from around for them? Oh, no, he's a regular jockey Tom. He's famous. He wrote it all the big race tracks at some time or other Yes, sir. I'm very fortunate in getting him. In fact without him I don't think blaze would have a chance why not well Warren seems to know the horse and all his little whims He knows just when to hold him down and when to let him out and how to talk to him and all that Oh, I see what you mean here. Let me take that blanket off. There. You're warm enough now. Aren't you boy? Well, I mean to put it in stable. No, never mind Tom. Just lay it over there on the bench She blazes. You're pretty all right. Yes, you can see more of them now with the blanket off. Can't you? I'll say he sure is a beaut mr. Rogers. Come on Tom We'll walk over to the track with blaze Warren will be along any minute now. Here comes somebody now Yeah, sure enough, and it's Warren. He's a little fellow. All right. Say how old is he dad? Oh about 19 or 20 I'd say morning Warren morning. This is my son Tom. How'd you do and this is Tom's friend Jerry glad to meet you I am we were just going to take blaze on to the track. Are you ready for the workout? I am if you are well come on then come on blaze. We'll go ahead and open the gate to the track Come on Tom. I'm right with you Jerry. It's matter with you this morning Warren get up on the wrong side of the bed No, why you look kind of down in the mouth. Don't you feel good? Sure. I feel all right, but what? Come on the gates open. We're coming boys. You're gonna try blaze on the mile this morning if you want me to I will Oh, do you think he's ready? He's not now. He never will be whoa blaze. Oh boy You know Tom blaze acts just like he knows he's going to run a race notice the way he shakes his head Uh-huh. Oh, that's cause he's so spirited. Well, he's all yours Warren. Okay. I'll put him around until I get him warmed up All right blaze let's go take it easy I haven't seen all the rest of the horses yet, but I'll just bet there aren't any better looking than blaze Oh, that's a matter of opinion Jerry, but I'm inclined to think the same as you just look at that form He's a pretty animal all right. How long will warren try to marron before he tries him off for speed? Oh, just long enough to get him limbered up and warm there is sure is a lot to train and race horses Isn't there you bet there is more to it than I ever figured. Oh, I'll bet it doesn't seem like work though No, that's true son, but it's all very fascinating Here he comes back and look he's just itching to run warren sure is holding him back. Yeah Looks like he's raring to go Warren. He's all set. You ready to clock him. Yes. I'm already Warren I'll take him up to the line and come on Say, yeah, how do you time him mr. Rogers? Well I time him with this stopwatch I have in my hand. I love you boys. It better stand back off the track Well, how does it work? Well just as blaze gets in front of us. I start timing him with the watch once around the track Is one mile. Oh here he comes now Oh You're sure right mr. Rogers. He sure gets away quick. Yes. He sure does See look notice the way he gets right over to the rail Sure does say he's making good time. Let's see if I can get his time at the quarter now Is that the quarter mile post he's coming to now? Yes, that's it Jerry now wait wait. Let me watch this close He just passed it 25 seconds flat say that's really wonderful. That's the best time. He's made yet for the quarter Gosh now if you can only hold that speed how long will it take him to run the mile if he does well Let's see that it'd be a minute and 40 seconds Say that it'd be just about perfect. Well, what are some of the other horses run the mile in well The best time so far is a minute and 46 seconds and it looks like blaze will do better than that Oh, we can't tell yet Jerry. He may tire when he gets to the stretch You mean just before the finish. Yes, just before he crosses the finish line. There he goes past the half mile post. Let's see 52 that means he did the second quarter in 27 seconds. Oh gee he's slowing down already. No not necessarily Tom Warren may be holding him back until he gets around the back stretch And starts for home then he may let him out and make up a few seconds boy He sure runs pretty well looks almost like he's flying now. He's running the back turn. Just look at him go Yes, he looks mighty fast today. Now watch him close boys. Watch him. He's coming down the stretch Say that's funny. What's funny mr. Rogers Warren doesn't seem to be letting him out He should burst out with a lot of speed right now. Come on. What's the matter with him? Is something wrong? Well, here he is coming down the stretch and no more speed than he had when he rounded that far turn Now he's going a lot faster see Yes, but it's too late now. He's about to cross the wire Well, that's that well, what was the time dad not as good as I expected so how long did he take? One minute 48 and a half seconds. Oh, I sure thought he'd do better than that He got off to such a good start here. He comes now. Oh boy Hey, what happened Warren nothing why what did we do it? That's just it the time is off. You took a minute and 48 and a half seconds. Sorry, that's all he had He's got to do better than that in the race tomorrow. We won't have a chance Say are you sure you let him out in the stretch Warren? Of course I did you kind of tell me how to ride Oh Warren don't take that attitude. I only asked a question Well, that's all blazes got in him just what he showed right then then that's as good as telling me We haven't got a chance here get out for yourself. Come on Well, maybe when he gets in there with the other horses in the race, it'll make a difference. That's the only hope Well, all right, take a saddle off and throw the blanket over him till he cools off Okay, close that door after me somebody. Yeah, what's the matter dad? Oh, don't worry mr. Rogers Maybe blaze will surprise everybody tomorrow. Well, I certainly hope so Jerry. We've got to win that race tomorrow It means everything to me and the Tom too $1,000 is a lot of money Jerry golly. I'll say it is hey look look at there's a fire down there at that lunch stand Wow, and that is a fire. Come on. Let's see if we can be of any help. Hey Warren hurry up There's a fire in that lunch stand over by the entrance. Let's get over there. You're like Lydia Come on Tom run faster Hurry it up boys. We're coming Warren Oh say this is liable to be bad. Most parts of flying pretty high Hey, anything we can do to help I'll be here in a minute. I'm gonna turn in the alarm as soon as the fire started golly That's a hot bar all right Just roll water on it, but it doesn't seem to do any good Hey, how did it start kind of runs the place just got in there when it broke out Maybe with light and still Well, they'll get it out and hurry What do you know about that he broke out of his stall Warren Warren red please Oh, why did he have to break out that way? The fire Don't you care dad let her make fun of you and blaze don't find out tomorrow What kind of a horse he is I've got him a swell horse to break away just cuz he here's a fire bell And this is the horse I have to ride in the big race It's only natural for him to want to run when he hears the fire bells. He's used to doing it I don't you care what they say mr. Rogers. Oh, but oh, this is awful. Oh, no, it isn't dad Hey, wait a minute. I just got an idea what Jerry are nothing you'll see when the time comes