The Running Horses

There were few horse breeders in the West to equal Lee Banner: the man was a born horseman who took any job he could find to keep his small Oklahoma spread going and to help him fulfill his lifelong dream of seeing one of his two-year-olds in the All-American Winners Circle. A few years back Banner was certain he had a winner in Land Rush; then in mid-season the black stallion went down in a three-horse tangle on a muddy track. It had been a costly, bitter blow, but now Banner had a young filly that showed the same promise. It would take every last cent he had to qualify for the All-American Futurity at Ruidosa Downs, and every bit of faith he could muster. Lee Banner wondered if he wasn't crazy to dream again . . . and knew he had no choice.