Danger On The Track

• Ashleigh Terlato, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2010

The sound of thundering hooves came from the group of horses. Aboard the most popular horse, Fleet Goddess, jockey Samantha Gooding was riding around the track. It was the Melbourne cup and pressure was on. The crowd was roaring with support and cheering but it couldn’t be heard from Samantha’s point of view. It was all depending on Fleet Goddess now, if she had enough energy to gallop flat chat from the last bend or just save her energy till just before the finish. It looked like Fleet Goddess had already made up her mind; she raced forward pushing off from the bend. Samantha felt the powerful creature under her startle and pull away from the track heading for the rail on the outside. With all her might Samantha pulled to turn Fleet Goddess away from the rail, but the filly wouldn’t turn. Samantha prayed that the crowd outside the rail would realise what’s happening and move, because Fleet Goddess would have to jump it.