• Quivering with anticipation, they break.
    Top-speed, head-first, down a long field of unforgiving turf.
    The duh-duh-dum duh-duh-dum of many legs striking soil.
    The pack leaves no room for mistake.

    One breaks ahead! The leader!
    Another follows, trying hard for the other.
    The rest are still knit tight, breathing hard.
    Their muscles are straining and some of the weaker are falling behind, only to get warnings to not give up.

    The leader tires, leaving room for the other to catch up.
    The silent spectators stare, mesmerized.
    The leader gets warned and the duh-duh-dum speeds up again.
    The silent spectators stare open-mouthed, shocked.

    The leader---the loser!---continues on, striking hard ground with all her might.
    The other and the pack are trying to reach her.
    The leader stumbles slighty.
    The silent spectators gasp as one, as a single person.

    The leader looses ground.
    The other and the pack gain.
    The leader get warned yet again.
    The leader gains---oh, does she gain!

    The leader pushes her body to the brink.
    The leader forces her body to take more.
    The leader gains more ground.
    The other and the pack fall behind so very far.

    The leader throws the last or her strength into her strides.
    She passes the wire.
    Silent the spectators are no more.
    Silent is the leader as she collapses.

    Silent is the field again as a loyal, hard-working soul leaves.
    The leader---the winner!---breathes no more.
    Such strength is not to be forgotten on the field and all admire it.
    The other, the pack, the silent spectators, the rider.

    They weep.