Secretariat Reborn Read Online Free PDF Page A

floor panels. “I think we should replace this one,” he said, looking down. “I have heard of horses that fell through the floor and arrived at a barn missing half their leg. Very bad.”
    “Jesus,” Christian said, flinching.
    Juan hopped out of the trailer, saying, “There are some two by sixes in the back shed.”
    As evening approached, Juan and Christian had finished replacing several floorboards in the old trailer. Christian tried to pay Juan for his help, but he refused, saying he was doing it for Mr. Roberts. Christian walked to the house hungry and longing for a shower. To his surprise, he smelled food cooking.
    “Bet you’re whipped,” Hank said, standing by the stove. “I cooked up some burgers.”
    “I could’ve cooked.”
    “I ain’t totally useless.”
    That must have taken a lot for the old man, Christian thought. But Hank didn’t appear tired. He seemed invigorated. After cleaning up, Christian joined his father at the table.
    “When you get to Miami,” Hank said, “tell the trainer that Glade Hunter breezed a thirty-five and change and should be entered in a maiden special weight, not a claimer.”
    “Dad, you’ll have to explain some of these racing terms to me.”
    Hank put down his fork and leaned back into the chair. “Okay, your colt is a maiden. That’s any horse that hasn’t won a race. A maiden special weight race is for top horses that are expected to win quickly. Once your colt breaks his maiden, wins a race, he should be entered in an allowance race that has special conditions and weights plus bigger purses. Next is the stake race. Only the cream of the crop can run in those and the races are graded one, two, and three. The Kentucky Derby is a grade-one stake race.”
    Christian noticed his father’s voice was stronger, clearer, and he breathed easier. The importance of teaching his son about racing seemed to improve his health. “What about the claiming race?”
    “In a claimer,” said Hank, “every horse has a price tag and can be bought or claimed for that price. A buyer puts in a request for the horse prior to the race. After the race, he’s the new owner regardless if the horse wins or loses, is injured, or drops dead on the track. The old owner gets any purse, and the new owner gets the horse. But like I said, Glade Hunter has great times and doesn’t belong in a claimer.”
    “I like the colt’s name, Glade Hunter. When will he run?”
    “It’s up to the trainer, but if Hunter adjusts well to the track, probably roughly a month. He’ll also need to come out of the gate and get his gate card and the lip tattoo.”
    “A month, huh?” Christian said and massaged his chin. He wondered if his father would be around to see this race.
    Hank reached over and patted Christian’s shoulder. “Son, I’m excited for you. When you see
your
horse racing toward the finish line, see pure determination and courage on four hooves—” He shook his head. “There’s nothing like it. It gives you goose bumps and can bring tears to a grown man.”
    The rest of the evening’s conversation was lively. Christian feltfor the first time that he and his father had the same goal, getting Hunter to the races. He was enjoying his father’s company and sensed the feeling was mutual. When he crawled into bed, he went over possible reasons why their relationship had changed. Maybe dying, his father was more tolerant, more eager to have a final father-son bond. Perhaps he, Christian, had also changed, no longer a negative, smart-mouthed teen, but a twenty-five-year-old man, time tempered with the knowledge that everyone—himself and his father included—was flawed. Then there was the colt that gave them common ground. He didn’t care if Hunter could win a race, just grateful that the creature had brought them together at last.
    At five in the morning, he woke to watch Juan ride Hunter. He dressed in the dark and pussyfooted outside. Juan’s old pickup was already parked under