“I’ll have to watch him,” thought the girl.
She gazed at the other eight entries. Noble-looking animals they were, the best of Kentucky stock. She noticed several of the jockeys eyeing her queerly.
“Yes, I shall have to be careful,” she said.
The signal to line up at the barrier was given.
The high-strung horses moved about nervously. A pistol cracked, and they were off down the track. But the starter called them back. It was a false start.
Shirley showed superb horsemanship. She maneuvered for position as well as any of the rest, and just before the pistol cracked the second time, she was but two removed from the inside rail.
Next to her, closer to the rail, was Jupiter.
The cry came from the grandstand, and was followed by a prolonged cheer.
Shirley found herself slightly behind the leaders at the first jump, but she did not worry. She knew what Gabriel could do, and she was perfectly satisfied with her position.