Page 39 of No Rules
“Yeah, he told us. You’re cleared.” The guard’s voice dripped with disdain as he handed them visitor badges. “Don’t cause any trouble.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Ryan clipped the badge to his shirt. He rolled his eyes at Alex, and they walked through the gates into the heart of the racetrack.
Several jockeys worked out with their horses, galloping around the dirt track with powerful strides as owners and trainers watched intently, timers in hand. The sunlight played off the horses’ sweat-slicked flanks, making them shine, as the equally sweaty jockeys rode them with looks of fierce determination.
“Look at ‘em go.” Alex gestured at the majestic animals. “Such strength and grace.”
“Horses are beautiful creatures.”
A younger jockey riding a skittish horse passed them. Ryan recognized him from the picture he’d found online. The rider’s calming words reached the animal, and gradually, the horse relaxed under his guidance. Ryan nudged Alex and nodded in the direction of the jockey.
“Looks like we found Nathan Harker.”
The horse, calmer now, slowed to a trot, and Nathan dismounted with ease. He patted the animal affectionately, whispering more soothing words while he led him toward a stable. His movements were gentle, a clear indication of his connection with the horse.
They followed at a safe distance, not wanting to spook the horse, and waited until Nathan had handed him over to a groomer. Nathan walked up to them. Like all jockeys, he was small and thin, only reaching Ryan’s shoulder. “You’re Ryan and Alex, I assume?”
They shook hands. “Thanks for meeting with us,” Ryan said.
“Anything I can do to help.” Nathan’s face tightened. “I hope I’ll never have to see something that awful again.”
“Where were you when it happened?”
“At home, but I was watching the race. Saw it happen.” He shuddered. “That poor, poor horse. He was special. Truly one of a kind.”
“What’s your relationship with Marilyn?” Ryan asked, checking Nathan’s body language for any hint of deception.
For a moment, Nathan’s expression darkened, and he hesitated. “Marilyn and I go way back. She’s a good woman. You know, I thought I’d be the one riding Sam’s Promise. Marilyn and I had a great partnership, but she went with someone else.” He ran a hand through his hair. “That would’ve been my ticket to the top, you know? That horse was a winner.”
“Must’ve been tough to see someone else get the opportunity.”
“Damn right, it was.” Nathan gritted his teeth. “But what can you do? That’s life, I guess. And, of course, in hindsight, I’ll be forever grateful I wasn’t riding him. Miguel will have to live with that trauma for the rest of his life.”
“Who do you work for now?” Alex asked.
“A syndicate that owns several horses. One of them is Dolly’s Devil, the horse I just rode. He’s skittish and still has a long way to go, but when he wants to, he flies.”
Despite his frustration, Nathan’s voice was warm when he spoke about his job. “Sounds like you really care about the horses,” Alex said, sharing a glance with Ryan.
“More than anything.” Ryan heard nothing but sincerity. “To me, they’re not just tools to win races. They’re living, breathing beings who deserve our respect and care. And I love this life, love being a jockey. There’s nothing like the rush you get when you’re on the back of a powerful animal, pushing yourself to the limit. And the horses…” He paused, his gaze drifting toward the stables. “They’re incredible creatures. You form a bond with them, a trust. I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than that.”
“Being a jockey isn’t easy, is it?” Ryan asked. What would Nathan’s perspective on the sport be?
Nathan chuckled. “Far from it. It’s physically demanding, of course, but don’t forget the mental aspect. You’ve got to know when to push a horse and when to hold back. Your instincts have to be sharp, and you can’t let fear control you. One wrong move and you could be injured or even killed.”
Yeah, no kidding. Miguel had gotten off with a broken clavicle and arm, but things could’ve been so much worse for him.
“Then there are the politics,” Nathan continued. “Jockeys fighting for rides, owners playing favorites, trainers focused on their bottom line. It’s a constant battle to stay ahead and make a name for yourself.”
“Sounds intense,” Alex remarked.
“Sometimes it feels like you’re walking a tightrope, but when you’re out there on the track, everything else fades away. It’s you and the horse, working in perfect harmony. There’s nothing quite like it.”
The way he spoke about horses reminded Ryan of Caroline. She’d been equally passionate. The dedication and love Nathan had for his job seemed genuine, which made it hard for Ryan to consider him a suspect in the death of Sam’s Promise. Still, he had to ask the tough questions. “If you had been his jockey and he would’ve won, how much money would that’ve made you?”
“Around fifty thousand.”
Ryan whistled. “That’s a lot of money.”