Jockeying for You Read Free Page A

quickly, more for the distraction than to ease hunger. Geez, what is wrong with me?
    At least the subsequent downturn in her conversation hadn’t hampered his meal. The thick steak he’d ordered was disappearing at a fast clip. A man who could relish a good meal and still maintain a physique like his was a man to be admired. Judging by the envious stares from several women at a nearby table, Ryder wasn’t alone in this theory. Through his oxford shirt, she could make out a sleek, muscular body. If Jake had been a horse, no doubt he would have been a thoroughbred.
    She glanced at him and swallowed through a tight throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been curt. You were polite about my riding past. More than you should have been, given the outcome.”
    He put his fork down. “Sorry our conversation got off-track.”
    Despite her tension, she laughed. “Good pun.”
    He cocked his head for a minute, as if he were trying to catch her meaning. A moment later, he grinned. “It was inadvertent. Glad you’re quick witted. Handsome Dancer’s trainer will have to be. That horse is going to be a handful.”
    “I’ll be happy to take on the challenge. Tell me more about him.”
    He shoved his empty plate aside and leaned toward her. “To be honest, he’s a conundrum. He’s got great lineage. His sire is Handsome Winner, who won the Belmont Stakes. His dam is Dancing Wind, who did exceptionally well in three-year-old-and-older mare races.”
    “Which one of his parents do you own?”
    “Neither. I don’t pay for breeding rights. Too much risk in what the foal is going to be like. Besides, I don’t like to race them until they’re ready, nearer to their third birthday, like Handsome Dancer. Waiting that long for my investment to pay off is too risky. Besides, the foal may not have any racing ability, and then I have a lost leader.”
    Ryder felt her tight lips relax and a slight smile break out. A man who refused to race young horses was not only a good owner but a good person. Racing horses barely at their second birthday was way too young for the majority of these animals in her opinion. Unfortunately, some owners were tempted to race horses as soon as possible, regardless of the animal’s condition, for the potential of fast returns. Horseracing was an expensive business. And buying a breeding session was one of the most dangerous. A few thousand dollars for the breeding, the vet bills for pregnancy and birth, plus the costs of the foal’s upkeep for years until it was ready to race.
    Assuming the foal would ever be ready to race. Like human babies, foals could be born with any type of physical issue. With horses, however, the tiniest little imperfection could mark the foal as a lost cause.
    “When did you get Handsome Dancer?” she asked.
    “I bought him four months ago from Barney Smythe.”
    She could feel her nose wrinkle.
    He let out a sharp laugh. The masculine sound was beautifully baritone. “I guess you know him.”
    I hate that my face is so easy to read. She hesitated for a second. “I know of him.” The most she was going to admit.
    “Yeah, he doesn’t have the best reputation. But I got Handsome Dancer for a song. Barney was ready to give him away. But Handsome should be ready to get down to business now. Though his prior trainer got nowhere with him.”
    “Why not?”
    “Handsome is wild. Barney thought he was untrainable and I understand why. Handsome didn’t want to be broken. Still doesn’t. He likes to throw riders off of him. And when he does allow someone to ride him he is very obstinate. He’ll start, then stop. Won’t increase his speed. Things like that.”
    She could feel her forehead wrinkle. “If that’s that case, what makes you think he has potential?”
    “The few times he’s been willing to practice on the track, his time is outstanding. He can easily do six furloughs in a minute-point-nine. And that’s with him completely unconditioned and untrained. Imagine what