by T.J. Burkett, Executive Editor, Hoof Beats

Columbus, OH — While Hoof Beats is your home for stories about the stars of harness racing, both famous and not-so-famous, the Hoof Beats website will host a work of harness racing fiction.

Award-winning harness writer Bob Carson, who writes for Hoof Beats, Trot and the USTA website, has penned The Strange Journey of Midnight Magic, a story told in 29 chapters, with illustrations by Hoof Beats web graphics designer Autumn Ryan.

On Monday, April 4, visit www.hoofbeatsmagazine.com for Chapter 1 of the adventures of Midnight Magic, a taciturn trotting mare with trouble finding her gait. Each day, a new chapter will be released. Here’s an excerpt:

Autumn Ryan graphic

Calvin McLooney flatly refused to train Midnight Magic for Tiny Gilmore. When Rick phoned Calvin and asked, as diplomatically as possible, if the trainer would give Gilmore another chance, McLooney answered with a single word, “Nope.”

Rick reported to Tiny that a deal for Calvin to again work with Midnight Magic could not be struck. Tiny, who always preferred to get his way, was determined to change Calvin’s mind. Saturday morning, the owner appeared unannounced at the McLooney barn to call a truce.

He found Calvin harnessing a pacer named Purrfectly Polite for his morning jog. Gilmore’s first tactic was to apologize for their misunderstanding.

“McLooney, I was out of line. No question, way out of line. Sometimes I embarrass myself; I get home and think what a big baby I must look like. We both know that you know horses better than me. This time, if you get the damn horse going, you make the calls.”

Then, very nicely he asked Calvin, “How about we forget the past and you take another crack with Midnight Magic.”

Calvin said, “No.”

“McLooney, let’s not screw around, we are businessmen. I’ll give you three grand a month and three more if you qualify the horse.”

“No.”

“I’ll give you fifty percent of her purses.”

“No.”

Gilmore pleaded. He threatened. Calvin curtly said, “no,” several more times, including once in Spanish and once in French.

The hatchet would never be buried; McLooney did not appear remotely tempted.

The resulting profane diatribe by Tiny Gilmore sealed any future dealings and was interrupted when Calvin hopped into the jog cart behind Purrfectly Polite and purposefully steered the horse towards Tiny.

Backing away, Tiny momentarily lost his footing as he skated on a manure spot and plopped awkwardly to the pavement.

Calvin laughed.