Chapter 1: Introduction
Tom arrived at the horse racecourses early in the morning, his heart racing with excitement and nerves. He had never been to a racecourse before, but the thought of working with horses and being paid to do so made him feel alive. As he walked through the gates, he could hear the sound of hooves beating against the ground, which made his
heart thump faster. He followed the crowd to the grandstands, where he saw the rows of bookies working feverishly, taking bets from excited punters.
There were two types of people here, those who loved the adrenaline rush of betting on the races, and those who loved the horses themselves. Tom belonged to the latter category.
As he made his way to the stables, he passed by several fields where the mares were grazing lazily, enjoying the warm sunshine on their backs. A gentle breeze blew, carrying the scent of hay and horse manure, which wafted gently over him.
He was greeted by Jake, the trainer who would be showing him the ropes around here. Tom felt a surge of nervousness when he saw Jake walk towards him. Jake was a middle-aged man with rough features and a gruff exterior, but he had a kind heart, something that Tom could sense immediately. "Hey kid, you must be Tom," Jake said, extending his hand to shake Tom's.
Tom nodded, feeling his palms sweat. "Yes, sir," he said, his voice trembling slightly.