utton and Jackie

ometime ago Baron Von Lodge was the head of a small country near Switzerland known as Lilliland.

The Baron and Lady Angela of Alpine Castle had a mild interest in racehorses. The Baron had several that were received as gifts. Some had been entered in races but they didn’t win very often.

One gift horse was Sutton who showed great promise for the big race. When it came time to find a suitable rider, there was a problem; Sutton did not learn how to respond to the whip, even a gentle whip. The more the whip was applied, the slower the horse ran. One famous jockey was asked to practice riding the horse but when the whip was applied, the horse began not to run faster, but walk slower and slower. Trainers at the stable were about to give up on Sutton as a racehorse.

Finally, an expert was brought in to solve the problem in time for the next race but if Sutton did not run well in the race, he would be sent away.

The horse expert looking at Sutton quickly realized that the only handler who might work well was a young girl named Jackie. Jackie was given the opportunity to be the jockey in a trial race over the course that Sutton would have to run in the big race.

Jackie was allowed a trial run and an officially timed run. It was quickly noted that Jackie did not use a whip at all but just called to Sutton in a firm but pleasant voice. The official time was not bad and good enough to qualify Sutton and Jackie to be in the big race. Jackie had never ridden in as big and important race as this one. Jackie knew that this race was very important for Sutton. Sutton seemed to sense this importance by the way Jackie handled him.

The day of the race came and the talk at the track was that Sutton was inexperienced and did not have a chance of finishing high in the race. Everyone said that the only reason Sutton was permitted to run was as a special favor to the Baron. After all, the Lilliland Race Track was owned for generations by the Von Lodge family, but they rarely won a race.

The race started and Sutton was in fourth place around the first turn. Sutton moved to third place, and then on the back stretch he moved up to second place. It was clearly noted that the other jockeys used the whip while Sutton only received words of encouragement from Jackie. Going into the final turn, Sutton pulled ahead of the pack. At the end, in the winner’s circle, Sutton was seen giving Jackie a thankful nuzzle.