Flaxmead

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Little Lindy Cumberland sixteen years old from Scone was an avid horse enthusiast, her entire family had worked with horses all their lives but tragedy had scarred the families hearts. Her elder brother also only small was a local successful jockey made it to the big time with catastrophic consequences. He fell in a major race and was killed, the family was devastated and only just managed to hold together. Her parents forbid Lindy becoming a jockey fearing the same fate but time showed this affected her social development and as hearts healed Graham Harper was able to assist. Her brother had sometimes raced horses for Harper and Lindys parents through regular contact with Harper as a vet eventually hatched a plan acceptable to Lindy and her parents. Harper took Lindy on as an apprentice jockey promising her parents to shield Lindy from high risk situations but still live the life she so much wanted.

  Harper entered Flaxmead in a fifteen hundred metre maiden handicap at Scone races for Monday two weeks away a TAB covered event Flaxmead would come up on the radar and begin to develop public form. Lindy Cumberland was well past her twenty barrier starts and had just scored her first points in the New South Wales jockey premiership. Riding well chosen horses in low risk events around Scone and Muswellbrook the youngster had just had her first wins and two in one day in recent weeks. The family was well respected but Harper had heard the rumblings in race circles that the girl was favoured by certain people and her success was due to the careful management by Harper. Harper knew Lindy's heart was set on becoming like her brother and he had seen she had outstanding talent. Harper planned to put Lindy on Flaxmead this had major advantages but just as many pitfalls. Lindy had never ridden a thundering speedster like Flaxmead not even Meadow and he knew if he put her on it she would be hooked. He had promised her parents that he would never put her in such a position but time had shown that she would be a waste of talent riding pony size horses out of the spotlight. Attempts to get a male jockey on Flaxmead had been disastrous he would have none of it and his career would have to start with a female jockey or not at all. He hatched a careful plan your toe in the water wont make a splash.

  Lindy worked Scone and Muswellbrook tracks of a morning for several trainers and owners, Harper seldom bothered her even though she was an apprentice registered at this stable. This financial and social help was much appreciated by her father and mother, out of the blue he requested Lindy attend his property after track work in nearby Muswellbrook and mid morning Lindy's mothers beat up four wheel drive pulled up in Harpers compound. Lindy was still wearing her riding gear and Harper greeted her and said he had something she might like to look at. Lindys mother Susan was close friends with Harpers wife and left the two in the compound joining Harpers wife Liz for a chat in the house. So far so good. Harper led Lindy into the covered stables stopping at Flaxmead's stall and Lindys face lit up like a Christmas tree. Flaxmead grunted shaking his head and approached Lindy muzzling her at the stall barrier, Lindy stroked his forehead.

  She noticed Flaxmead's brand was Harpers. "Is he yours he's beautiful?"

  "He belongs to the Fields next door,"

  "What's he's name?"

  "Flaxmead."

  "Can he run?"

  "Why don't you find out?"

  Lindy looked at Harper then back at Flaxmead rubbing the side of his face, her little delicate hand dwarfed by his magnitude. "Id love to but Mum."

  "You ride I'll manage mum."

  Flaxmead now tolerated Harper near him and Lindy helped saddle and adjust straps to suit her size not much was needed she was the same size as Anna. Lindy retrieved her helmet and whip from the vehicle. Harper instructed her to put her helmet on in front of him, Flaxmead reacted immediately strutting and grunting pulling at Harper holding the reins. Lindy had a look of horror as Flaxmead reared up with a whiney her first time near such a monster. She swallowed the lump in her throat determined to succeed. Flaxmead stood by the saddle rail himself for Lindy to mount and she looked puzzled how the strutting monster suddenly calmed.

  Harper took her whip. "You won't need that, get on his waiting." She climbed aboard. "Trot him to the back of the barrier come round the barrier and when he gets level hell break. Run him three thousand when you want him to kick laugh."

  "What?"

  Harper let go of the bridle Lindy was trembling with fear suddenly it was as if Flaxmead picked her up and carried her like he had arms around her. He cantered to the back of the stalls at the test track run off some three hundred metres away Lindy turned him he trotted level with the stalls broke straight to the rail and Lindy tucked in behind his ears. Lindy had never experienced such thing, it was as if she had been launched from a catapult and shot along the inside of the rail. Her eyes began to water and she had the widest smile and couldn't help but yell "Yes!"

  Liz Harper and Susan Cumberland were gossiping casually looking out the kitchen window from the table and chairs next to it when Liz noticed the flying horse. She put her hands up to her face stood up and yelled. "Oh my god Lindy's on Flaxmead." She race out the house followed by Susan running to the side of the track then to her husband adjacent to the barn on the rail with Susan in close tow. "What are you doing," she asked her husband he remained emotionless looking watching the digital timer in front of him. Susan Cumberland watched helplessly in horror as her only daughter streaked round on the thundering monster. There was silence as they watched her second lap a look of horror from Susan Cumberland turned to one of inquisition Harper looked at the timer as she thundered by he looked up in amazement "Wow!"

  Susan Cumberland began to smile with pride. "She's laughing out loud I can't believe it," said Susan. Flaxmead kicked under Lindy and she felt the power of a champion. The silence at the rail continued as all eyes watched the spectacle Flaxmead screamed past the three thousand two hundred metre timer and Harper looked up in disbelief. "Bingo."

  Flaxmead slowed to a canter and Lindy let go of the reins put her arms in the air up and down from one side to the other and dropped her rump to the saddle, she shouted in time to her arm lifts with v fingers. "Yes Yes Yes Yes I love you!"

  Her mother was full of mixed emotion and tried to work out if she was going to chastise or praise Lindy, Flaxmead pulled up in front of them with his usual prancing and head tossing routine and Harper took the bridle as Lindy slipped from the saddle she then began doing cart wheels and laughing shouting and Susan's emotion leaned towards support. She had never seen her daughter so happy. Lindy finally gained control and led Flaxmead to the wash down pad. She tended his every need and the horse loved it. Graham Harper Liz and Susan had a yarn in the kitchen watching Lindy and Flaxmead bond then with Susan Cumberland settled he asked the question.

  "Susan Flaxmead is in his first race Monday week in Scone with your permission I'd like Lindy to ride him."

  It took a while for Susan to respond. "Her father would never allow it, but he hasn't seen what I have. Don't tell him and let her ride."

  "Glen will be there if there's any flak I'll swear you didn't know, don't feel obligated because of the past." replied Graham.

  "No, we have to face this at some time," replied Susan. "We hoped she would run at the back of the field in no danger of being trampled if she fell. Time has passed It makes no sense she's wining anyway. She's all we've got left. I don't think that horse would let anything happen to her."

  "They have to catch her before there's reasonable risk, slim chance," replied Harper.