The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-09-07
O'HARA

Thunderhead when we train him, or
by herself"
"Mr. Sargent" said Howard, "our
two-year-olds are going to be gelded
right away and dad says Thunder
heads got to be gelded too, Do you
think he ought to be?"
At this unpleasant reminder Of
the one thing that was preying on
his mind, the happiness went out OF
the day for Ken.
Nell's cheeks colored with anger
and she turned away and walked
over to the "grandstand." "Come
along, Howard, give me a hand up
here! We'd better get started"
Sargent looked at Ken's white, sui
len face.
whats the matter, SOM"
Ken gave a little jerk of his head
toward Howard. "What he was say
ing there. Dads going to have all
the two-year-olds gelded."
"When?"
"Some time this week. He's sent
word to Doc Hicks to come and do
it whenever he's in this neighbor-
hood. Then dad won't have to pay
for his driving out and back just for
our horses"
SIS he going to geld Thunderhead
too?"
"Yep."
"Well, what if he does? He won't
be the only one. They all have to
be gelded, you know"
'But he's going to be race
horse!"
"What's that got to do with it?
Race horses get gelded too-most of
them. It won't hurt him. And it
may improve his appearance. I
wouldn't like to see that neck of his
get any thicker"
"But he might die!"
ooh, nonsensel It won't hurt him.
But maybe, if he runs well enough,
we could get your father to change
his mind"
Ken shook his head. "He never
changes his mind"
"Never does?"
"No."
swell, anyway, let's see what the
colt can do now. Up with you" He
clutched the seat of Ken's pants, and
the boy went lightly up into the sad
die. He hitched his feet into the lit
tie short stirrups and grinned down
at Sargent. 81 don't usually ride
with these short stirrups. I ride
bareback a lot. It's kind of hard to
get used to. But I can do it,
He squeezed his knees together,
and bent over the horses withers
like jockey.
Sargent's long brown face was
twinkling with enjoyment. "Give
him bit of workout first to warm
him UP. Remember, I've an inter-
est in this colt too!'' ~e--.
This was very cheering to Ken as
he gave the signal to Thunderhead
and the colt started forward. Per-
haps, if Mr.. Sargent had an interest
in him too, he might say some
thing to his father about the gelding.
Sargent stood looking at him as he
cantered down the course, noticing
his action. Then he climbed up on
the grandstand beside Nell and How
ard. There was ledge quite high
up from which they could overlook
the whole track.
Howard held the stop watch In
his hand.
Touch And Go left her grazing
and cantered playfully beside her
big brother, down to the end, around
the curve, and back again. The
white colt moved slowly and easily.
After ten minutes or so, Sargent
shouted to Ken, sect him going
now, son-Let him out"
Ken swung around to the starting
line and flung the horse over it in a
gallop.
For a half-hour then, Ken strug-
gled to make the colt give a good
account of himself. He had very
little success. Thunderhead cut a
corner once, Ken pulled him UP,
made him go back and outside the
post. Suddenly the colt got ugly
fought for the bit-Ken spurred him
and refined him back, then lifted
him forward into run. Touch And
Go ran with him.
BY turns Howard and Charley Sar-
gent held the stop watch. Finally
they climbed down and Ken rode up
to them. His face was flaming, his
eyes wild, the horse nervous and
pacing.
"Can he run, Ken?" said Sar-
gent. "What have you been giving
mel"
"Oh, yes, he can-if he wants!"
answered Ken passionately.
"I'm beginning to think he's too
much horse for you," said Sargent.
"You know" said Nell thoughtful
". she really can run. It's quite
different from this hard galloping.
It's a different gait. Do you re-
member that black mare-Rocket-
his grandmother"
81 sure do-she was almost my
mare"
eyes. That one. You remember