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Grazioso 2-year-old season

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Go Gracie! This is a picture of my thoroughbred filly Grazioso (whom I call Gracie). Gracie was designed and given to me as a gift by ~CopperdragonArt.

I used a tablet for this picture (no, I don’t own a tablet, I just was allowed to use my friends), and I must say, my tablet drawings turn out way better then my mouse drawings. I wish I could get a tablet. Anyway, the jockey is Errol Jinks. :)


So here is Gracie’s two year old season! That means there is a story! :w00t:

Gracie’s 7f Maiden Race
Gracie stood still. The metal clanged shut behind her. The horses pawed the ground. The crowd was holding its breath. Suddenly the gates opened, a loud sound clanged in the air. Gracie burst forward, her muscles rippling. She galloped out of the starting gate, horses surrounding her.

“And they’re off!” the announcer shouted.

Gracie fell to the back of the group, galloping steadily, just enough to keep up. Then, as she rounded a turn, she began to fall behind. Snorting, she continued her steady pace. Her breathing came heavily, her hooves pounded on the ground. Dirt flew into her face, spraying the air with reddish brown clods. The wind whipped passed her. Gracie felt the boy on her back shift in position slightly.

“Jungle Party in the lead, Beautiful Night just behind her, and it’s Dangerous Thief coming up to challenge!”

Around another turn the horses galloped, and Gracie picked up speed. Her legs moved faster, her snorts were louder. She was breathing hard, but she enjoyed the feeling of racing into the wind. She passed a big black filly. Gracie forgot about the small boy on her back and charged forwards. She was flying now; flying passed the little red horse and passed the larger bay one. While other horses were losing speed, Gracie was gaining speed.

“And Grazioso is quickening her pace!” shouted the announcer. “Grazioso passing Greenlightgo! It’s Grazioso, making her way to the front. Thomasina and Grazioso battling for the lead!”

Gracie knew she must win. She tried to go faster. She galloped onwards down the track. The dirt no longer flew into her face. Snorting, she pulled herself forward, passed the bay horse beside her and galloped on, picking up speed. Faster, faster.

“And it’s Grazioso!” shouted the announcer.


Caroline Tobias whooped with excitement. Gracie had won her first race by three lengths! She had looked great, running out there, and Errol had done very well with her.



Schuylerville Stakes (G3 6f dirt)
There was much excitement for Caroline Tobias and her husband and son on a hot day in July. Myles Hilton, Gracie’s trainer, and his daughter were also present at the Schuylerville Stakes that day. Diggory, Caroline’s adopted son, and Jordan, Myles’s daughter, were both quite confident in Gracie’s ability to win, but Caroline and Myles were worried. After only competing in one race, Gracie had been entered in a grade three stakes race. Everyone’s hopes were high, but Myles had his doubts. These horses would be much faster.

Six-year-old Diggory clutched his seat in excitement as he watched the horses get loaded into the starting gate. There was Gracie, walking in calmly, Errol perched on her back.

“Mom, why do the stirrups have to go so high?” Diggory asked. It seemed ridiculous that the riders would have to sit so high up; it must be easier to balance if they could actually sit in the saddle.

“I’ll explain later, honey, the race is about to start, and I don’t want to miss anything,” Caroline murmured, putting an arm around Diggory’s shoulders.

Suddenly the starting gates burst open and a loud bing! echoed through the air. The horses sprang out and began galloping down the track. Diggory could not tell which horse was which. They all looked so similar when they were farther away, and so many were brown colours.

“Mom, which one is Gracie?” Diggory demanded in excitement.

“You know what are silks are like,” Caroline told him, “but Gracie is the one at the back.

“Time For Speed has a good start, Jungle Party on the outside, at the back, Grazioso,” shouted the announcer. “Kelly’s Destiny is now third, Red Devil just behind.”

The horses were charging around the track. Races were so exciting, but so short! Diggory also thought that race horses had such silly names. Grazioso was much better then Kelly’s Destiny. What kind of a name was that? Then Diggory noticed that Gracie was going faster. She was charging passed several horses, the announcer shouting excitedly.

“Grazioso is speeding passed Back Attack now, Midnight Sprint is in second, Lord of Thorns running at the front!” called the announcer. “Grazioso has caught up to Eyes of an Owl now, Grazioso has now passed Midnight Sprint but Eyes of an Owl is in the lead now, Lord of Thorns running in second, Grazioso in third, Midnight Sprint now in fifth -”

“How come Gracie didn’t win yet, dad?” Diggory shouted, standing up now.

“It’s not quite the end of the race yet,” Zachary, Diggory’s adopted father, said.

“Lord of Thorns is now in third, Grazioso in second, and in the lead, Eyes of an Owl! Grazioso is picking up speed, she is passing Eyes of an Owl! Eyes of an Owl now in second, Grazioso in first – and Grazioso wins the Schuylerville Stakes by three lengths!”



Adirondack Stakes (fillies only, dirt, 6 1/2f, G2)
Gracie tensed, like a hare in danger, ready to spring forth and away from the pursuing bobcat. The bell pierced the heated air and echoed across the flat ground. Gracie sprang forward and settled for a spot at the back of the pack. Horses galloped just ahead of her, snorting with the effort. The jockeys let their arms be thrust forwards and backwards with the horses’ necks, and some were being smacked with crops. Gracie was glad that Errol never smacked her when she wasn’t going fast enough. She kept running steadily, dirt flinging into her face from beneath the other horses’ hooves. As she rounded the final turn, Gracie felt Errol give her more length in the reins and she sped up, pressing past the other horses. Near the end of the race, Gracie gave a final effort and galloped beside the horse in the lead. Then she forced her legs to move even faster still, and soon felt herself slowing down.

“Good girl, Gracie, good girl,” Errol murmured, patting Gracie’s sweaty neck. “We won the race! Just by a head, but we won!”



Sapling Stakes (dirt, 6f, G3)
On a crisp September morning, Gracie walked calmly into the starting gate and waited for the loud ring. As it sounded, Gracie tensed her muscles and sprang forward, but nearly collided with a large black gelding. Surprised, she slowed, only a few seconds later realizing that she was going to slowly and was about to be left behind. Hearing Errol urging her on, Gracie charged forward, and around the final turn, caught up with the rest of the pack. A little late on her regular schedule, Gracie was alarmed to realize that the race was almost at an end. She galloped forward, speeding up at a high rate, but finished in second place. It was the first time that Gracie didn’t win a race.


Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (fillies only, dirt, 1 1/16-mile, G1)
The air was that of winter, although there was no snow on the ground. Gracie could sense excitement building as she stepped onto the track and let herself be walked into the starting gate. The bell rang. Gracie sprang forward, prepared for the long race she had been training for. She settled at the back of the group of charging horses. Fog clouded the air as Gracie heaved herself forward as she rounded the final turn. These horses were faster then what she was used to! She galloped down the track and passed several horses but as she crossed the wire she came fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Name: Grazioso
Stable Name: Gracie
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age: 2 years
Birthday: February 6, 2009
Gender: Filly
Colour: Bay
Markings: large white star and snip, rear stockings, sock on right fore, pastern on left fore
Genetics: EE Aa
Physical Description: Gracie has her mother’s slender build and her father’s good bone and balanced body. Her legs could be a tiny bit straighter, but she has a well rounded barrel and a broad forehead.
Height: 15.2hh
Sire: Vivace
Dam: Storm Bells
Owner: Triple Arrow Stables
Breeder: Climax Stables
Trainer: Myles Hilton
Exercise Rider: Craig Coburn
Jockey: Errol Jinks
Discipline: Flat Racing
Ideal Distance: 9-12 furlongs
Running Position: Closer
Surface: Dirt
Race Record: 03/02/0(05)
Big race wins: Schuylerville Stakes, Adirondack Stakes
Race Entries: –
Earnings: $289,000
Personality: Gracie is affectionate and optimistic. She can be fearful in new situations and gets anxious when left alone, but with a trusted human or equine companion at her side she will take on anything. Her intelligent mind needs constant stimulation, or else she will quickly invent her own game, often at someone else’s expense.
History: Climax Stables bred Gracie and gave her to Triple Arrow Stables when she turned 1 year old.

Characters and Art (c) to me, :iconskyarrow:
Gracie's Design (c) :iconcopperdragonart:
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Comments15
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DeadMenace's avatar
Wonderful action shot! I love the sand being kicked up. :D