Riding High Page #13

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- How did you find that out?

- I saw it on the bulletin.

They got Bobby North aboard.

Somebody smelled a rat.

This is a mess. Come on.

I knew this was too good to be true.

The horses are now in the paddock.

I'm only interested in one horse.

Sun Up, number five.

Beat him and you win this race.

You're up against some

tough customers.

That jockey on Sun Up

might try anything.

Don't let him get away with it.

Gallant Lady must win this race.

Now, there's only one horse

you've got to beat. It's Gallant Lady.

But you've got to beat her.

I don't care how.

You've ridden lots of races and won.

If you win this, there's a 5 G bonus

for you, if you do.

Use your head or anything else

that's necessary,

but you've got to beat Gallant Lady.

Understand?

Listen, son. Bill don't like to run in

behind horses. See?

If you get boxed or pocketed,

take him back and go around.

Don't worry if you lose a little ground.

He'll make it up for you.

There's one thing, though.

You've got to remember this one thing.

- Are you listening to me?

- Yeah, sure.

This is a free-running horse, see.

Don't hold him back.

Give him his head.

Give him his head, or he'll go crazy.

I got to win this race, son.

I got to.

I don't want to give you the house-and-

mortgage or the sick-mother routine,

but my whole future depends on it.

I can't explain, but that's it.

- Good luck to you.

- Good luck to you.

Jockeys up.

Now, remember, it's up to you.

If you're smart, you'll cop this race.

Remember, it's up to you.

Well, Bill, it's up to you, boy.

Must be nervous.

What are you shaking for?

Who's shaking?

Come on, Skeeter,

let's go see a good race. Come on.

The horses are on the track.

Here he comes.

- Dan.

- Well, it won't be long now.

Dan, Dan, I stand

at the crossroads of destiny.

If we don't win,

it's goodbye, professor.

- Why, what's the matter?

- I got 50 from Edna this morning,

but I had to promise to marry her

if Broadway Bill loses.

Well, a fellow can always

change his mind.

Not with vinegar-puss.

She made him put it in writing.

Confidentially, Dan, it can't be done.

I'm slightly married already.

- Well, who to?

- To another vinegar-puss in Latonia.

In a moment of carelessness.

He thought he had a sure thing

that time too,

but the horse forgot

what he came for.

Dan, on my bended knees,

win this race.

- All right, professor.

- So long, fella. Good luck.

But your horse just don't figure.

Any guy that puts his dough on him

just naturally believes in fairies.

Come on, Stupe.

Don't pay any attention to him, Dan.

- Good luck.

- Thanks, princess.

If Happy's right, I'm on my way

to Higginsville in the morning, huh?

Don't even think about it.

You'll win.

Thanks, princess.

Hey.

You're not supposed to cry

till after the race. Come on, here.

- What's the matter?

- Nothing.

Good luck.

Now, now, go watch the race. Go on.

I wish I knew how this thing

was going to end.

That Broadway Bill looks all right.

What's Doc Poole worried about?

- I don't think he was ever sick.

- He looks all right today.

Come right on in, miss.

Did you place a bet on number six,

Broadway Bill?

Sure crazy if you didn't.

Two dollars on Broadway Bill.

- Number six.

- Thanks.

Well, goodbye, sawbuck.

Might as well go crazy

with the rest of the world.

Oh, come on, come on.

Broadway Bill, number six,

on the schnozzola.

Who'd you bet on, Happy?

Gallant Lady, of course.

- Me too.

- Smart boy.

Which horse is going to win?

Will it be Gallant Lady,

the temperamental favorite,

Sun Up, the great money horse,

- or will it be Broadway Bill?

- Sit down.

A colt that's never raced before

and who threw his jockey

the last time out and was

literally laughed off the track.

The wise ones say that his owner,

Dan Brooks,

has a screw loose somewhere

for entering him.

But we're going to keep our eyes

on Broadway Bill.

- For some mysterious reason,

- Sit down.

This unknown horse

has been receiving terrific support.

Almost overnight, the odds went down

from 100-to-1 to 6-to-1.

- Yes, sir?

- Any whiskey in the house?

- No, sir.

- Get some.

Get some!

The horses are at the gate now

and ready for the bell.

And what excitement.

Sit still on Gallant Lady there.

Keep your eyes open, boys.

Anything's liable to happen

in this race.

Don't you forget to break fast, Bill.

There they go.

He's in the vanguard.

Broadway Bill takes the lead

by two lengths...

...by a head, and Gotham Kid...

At the clubhouse turn,

Broadway Bill is in the lead

by four lengths.

Gallant Lady is second by one length.

Great Arab is third by two lengths,

and Sun Up...

Quit pulling that horse.

Quit pulling him.

...by one length,

and now dropping back,

as Gallant Lady takes the lead

by one length.

Gotham Kid is second...

Give him his head, you little thief.

Let him go.

Bill.

Make way,

or I'll throw you over the fence.

Nuts to you.

We got a chance now.

Come on. What are you trying to do?

Let go of that bit.

Oh, he's got his tongue

over the bit now.

He can't stop you, Bill.

He can't stop you, Bill.

Let go of that bit.

Go, go, Bill. Go.

- It's Gallant Lady and Sun Up...

- Head for home, Bill. Go, boy.

And here comes Broadway Bill,

moving between horses.

Look at this horse go.

Come on, Broadway Bill.

Come on, Broadway Bill!

- Friend to the downtrodden!

- Come on, Broadway...

Come on!

Bill. Bill. Come on.

Come on, Broadway Bill.

Come on, Broadway Bill!

Yes, Broadway Bill! Come on.

Come on. Come on, Broadway Bill.

They're coming into the stretch.

It's Gallant Lady, Sun Up

and Broadway Bill, head and head,

- all three together.

- Come on, Bill. Come on! Come on.

Stay back there, will you!

Stay back, you rat.

He's got the bit.

I can't hold him, you nit.

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill.

It's Gallant Lady and Broadway Bill.

Sun Up is dropping back.

Come on. Come on, Bill. Come on.

It's Gallant Lady and Broadway Bill.

It's Broadway Bill and Gallant Lady.

They're coming down to the line

of finish, and Broadway Bill wins it!

He did it. He did it.

Oh, he did it.

Oh, he did it. He did it.

Bill.

Bill.

Back off that track, will you,

please. Now, don't get excited.

And keep back.

Everybody keep back.

Officers, see that everybody

keeps off that track.

You know how dangerous it is. Horses

will be getting back any minute.

Fellows, can I get through?

Let me through, will you.

- Who are you?

- This is my horse, fellas.

Officers, keep those people back.

Keep off the track, will you, please.

Mr. Brooks.

Back it up, people. All right...

Let me through. Gangway.

- How's the boy?

- The boy's OK.

- Are you a doc?

- Yes, sir.

- Are you a veterinary?

- Yes, sir.

The race was over.

He won and then he dropped.

Too much for him.

Burst his heart.

He was dead, you might say,

when he hit the dirt.

Too bad.

A great horse.

Bill.

Will you hold it for a shot,

Mr. Brooks, please?

Officer, get those men out of there.

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