Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page i Gabriel’s Triumph Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page ii Gabriel’s Triumph ALISON HART Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page iv To hard-riding jockeys and their fast-racing mounts, from past to present. —A. H. Published by PEACHTREE PUBLISHERS 1700 Chattahoochee Avenue Atlanta, Georgia 30318-2112 www.peachtree-online.com Text © 2007 by Alison Hart All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Cover design by Loraine M. Joyner Book design by Melanie McMahon Ives Photo credits: p. 155, courtesy of the Library of Congress; p.156, courtesy of the National Archives; p. 160, courtesy of the Historian’s Office at Hilton, NY. Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hart, Alison, 1950- Gabriel’s triumph / by Alison Hart. -- 1st ed. p. cm. Summary: A thirteen-year-old newly freed slave faces the challenges of freedom and horse racing as he pursues his dream of becoming a famous jockey in Civil War Kentucky and New York. ISBN 978-1-56145-410-5 [1. Jockeys--Fiction. 2. Horse racing--Fiction. 3. Freedmen--Fiction. 4. African Americans- -Fiction. 5. United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Fiction.] I. Title. PZ7.H256272Gd 2007 [Fic]--dc22 2007001430 Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page vi List of Characters KENTUCKY Gabriel Alexander—a 13-year-old former slave, now a groom and jockey at Woodville Farm Lucy Alexander—Gabriel’s mother, a former house slave at Woodville Farm Isaac Alexander—Gabriel’s father, a trainer at Woodville Farm who enlisted in the Union army and is now stationed at Camp Nelson. Jase and Tandy—grooms at Woodville Farm Annabelle—a 13-year-old house slave at Woodland Farm and a friend of Gabriel’s Mister Winston Giles—owner of Woodville Farm Mistress Jane Giles—mistress of Woodville Farm Renny—a coachman at Woodville Farm Old Uncle—a slave who cares for the yard and garden at Woodville Farm Major Wiley—owner of a neighboring farm One Arm Dan Parmer—a Rebel (Confederate) guerilla and head of an outlaw band Butler and Keats—Rebel guerillas Newcastle—a trainer from the North who once worked at Woodville Farm Captain Waite—captain of the Company D cavalry from Camp Nelson Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page viii SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK Mister Baker—stable manager at the Saratoga Race Course Chapter One Short Bit—a young worker for Mister Baker Cornelius Jeremiah—a racehorse owner Hooks and Cuffy—grooms for Mister Jeremiah Gordon and Danny—workers at the stables Jackson—Gabriel’s friend and a former jockey at Woodville Farm, now riding for Doctor Crown Abe Hawkins—a famous African American jockey July 1864 Gilpatrick—a famous Irish jockey uff…huff…huff… The colt gallops toward the grandstand, puffing like a steam engine arriving at Hthe Lexington depot. It’s the final mile of the second heat, and Captain Conrad’s running so fine, I can’t quit grinning. I peer over my left shoulder. Jane’s Delight is a nose behind, but the mare’s tight against the rail and coming on. Chirping, I urge Captain ahead. Don’t want Jane’s jockey hooking my stirrup and flipping me off. A rider who falls in the middle of a race might likely be trampled bloody. Shouts pummel us as the horses race past the grand- stand: “Ram the spurs into Lord Fairfax! Rowel him up!” “Come on, Grey Eagle!” “Pull Jane steady!” “Use the whip, boy!” I don’t hear Mister Giles hollering. Before the race he told me to ride Captain smart, and that’s what I’m doing. Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page 2 ALISON HART Gabriel’s triumph Crouched low, I canter Captain around the turn and mane. “Run on, fine colt,” I croon hoarsely. “Run on like down the backstretch of the Kentucky Association track. As we’re chasing those Rebels.” we head into the dip, I note the rest of the horses falling I purse my lips and squeeze my boot heels into his sides. behind. My fingers are bloody from holding the reins so Captain springs forward, righting his gait. His front legs tight, my throat’s dry, and my legs tremble from the strain of stretch high and long, grabbing the track as he thunders galloping three and a half miles. But pride’s swelling in my around the homestretch bend, pelting that no-account chest. Ain’t no horse going to eat up that distance. Ain’t no Adam with clumps of dirt. Roars erupt from the grand- horse about to beat me and Captain now! stand as we fly past the finish-line pole. Mister Giles says he’ll pay me fifty dollars if I win. I raise my fist in the air. It’s my second race—and my Fifty dollars! second win! That’s a dream come true to a colored boy like me. How I wish Pa and my friend Jackson could see me. But My mind’s on the purse money when I see a blur of both are far away. Jackson’s racing Thoroughbreds in a place motion to my right. Lord Fairfax is charging from out of called Saratoga. Pa’s in the Union army at Camp Nelson. nowhere! Captain slows to a trot, and I’m deafened with cheers. Foolish thoughts of money may cost me the race. The men who placed bets must be pleased with the results Adam, Lord Fairfax’s jockey, flails the whip brutally of the race. When I turn Captain, I spot Mister Giles hurry- against his horse’s flank. Adam’s got a wild spark in his eye, ing down the grandstand steps. One hand secures his top and I figure that whip will soon find me. I hunch lower to hat against the wind, the other holds his cane. drive Captain on. Then I feel a rough bump, and Captain Then a yahoo rends the air, and Jase shoots from between lurches left. Grabbing mane, I barely keep from pitching the men hanging over the track’s railing. He lands in the off. dirt, beats his bare black feet on the ground like a victory I glance to my right. Lord Fairfax is neck and neck with drum, and runs to my side. Captain. Our stirrup irons touch, and Adam yanks his left “You did it, Gabriel!” he cries as he loops a rope through rein, forcing Lord Fairfax to bump Captain again. Captain’s snaffle ring. We hit hard, throwing Captain off his stride. “We did it.” I lay my palm against Captain’s slick neck. I frown. Adam ain’t going to bump me again. The colt’s nostrils are flared, but his breathing’s clear, so I I ain’t going to lose fifty dollars because of no cheating know he ain’t too winded to enjoy his victory. “Captain jockey, neither. and me. And you helped, too, Jase.” Gritting my teeth, I perch my hands high on Captain’s Jase is little and skinny. He’s Captain’s groom, but when 2 3 Gabriel's Triumph INTERIOR:WHERE IN THE WORLD final 2/22/10 3:03 PM Page 4 ALISON HART Gabriel’s triumph he’s thirteen—as old as me—he’s going to be a jockey, too. colored jockey’ or ‘the darky rider.’ I don’t let it get to me, “I did help, didn’t I?” Jase throws back his bony shoul- and you shouldn’t, either.” ders and struts over to the judges’ stand, leading Captain. That’s one reason why Jackson left Kentucky for “Ain’t no horse can beat my colt.” Saratoga, New York. He’s hoping to find fame in the North. I chuckle. I don’t want to stomp on Jase’s bragging, but One day, I vow, I’ll find fame, too. I know one horse that can beat Captain: Aristo. That colt’s Jase leads us outside the track railing. I slip off Captain’s so fast he can outrun the wind. And soon I aim to race back. My legs buckle, and when the colt rubs his sweaty him—and win, too. head on my shoulder, he tumbles me clean off my feet. Mister Giles strides to the judges’ stand. “Well done, I land hard on the ground and my racing cap falls into Gabriel Alexander!” He reaches up to shake my hand. my lap. Jase twitches with laughter, but I’m too tuckered to Like I’m a man, I think. yell at him. If Pa were here, he’d have caught me before I I shake back, my fingers leaving bloody smudges on his fell. doeskin gloves. Mister Giles joins the track president and Jase loosens Captain’s girth and walks him toward the the mayor of Lexington, who present him with an barn.