Best Horse of Eight Min Selection

[These past few chapters were written while I was back in my hometown for the New Year. I had a lot going on, so the quality might not have been very high. Please forgive me.]

Mindu at the end of January was bitterly cold, but the grand hall of the Min Province Local Racing Association was warm and welcoming.

Zhang Jun sat midway down the hall, wearing the dark blue suit Liu Li had helped him pick out. It was his first time attending an official horse selection event, and he could not help feeling a little nervous.

The hall was already packed—horse owners, trainers, jockeys, reporters from various racing papers, and racing commentators. People chatted in small groups, discussing the past year's local racing in Min Province.

"Jun, relax." Luo Heng, seated beside Zhang Jun, nudged his arm.

Luo Fei and Liu Li had gone as representatives of the breeding ranch to attend West River Moon's central Best Horse selection ceremony. Luo Yong had gone as Jian'an Club's legal representative for Jianzhou Warrior's selection, leaving Luo Heng to represent both Jianzhou Ranch and Jian'an Club at the Eight Min local racing awards.

"You have two horses shortlisted. You'll definitely be going onstage to accept awards later."

Zhang Jun took a deep breath and nodded.

This year's Best Horse selection covered every category in Min Province local racing.

There were eighteen racing awards in total: Best Two-Year-Old Dirt/Turf Horse, Best Three-Year-Old Turf/Dirt Filly/Colt, Best Four-Year-Old-and-Older Turf/Dirt Filly/Colt, as well as Best Turf/Dirt Sprinter, Miler, and Middle-Distance Horse.

There were also awards for breeders, owners, trainers, and jockeys, such as highest win-percentage jockey, highest win-percentage trainer, most-winning jockey, most-winning trainer, best breeder, and more. All told, there were around forty categories.

Shadow Hunter had won the Two-Year-Old Championship Dirt Race in Eight Min in December and gone undefeated in three starts, so it had been an obvious choice for the Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse shortlist.

Cloudstream Flying Shadow was even more remarkable. After being transferred under Zhang Jun's name and moving to local racing, she had won both of her Graded Stakes starts. With her victory in the Eight Min Mile, she had successfully made the shortlists for Best Three-Year-Old Filly and Best Turf Miler.

"I heard the competition is pretty fierce this year." Hong Yun turned around from the front row. A racehorse bred by his ranch, Minxi Pegasus, had been shortlisted for Best Three-Year-Old Colt and Eight Min Horse of the Year, so he had come as the ranch and club's representative.

"Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse should be fine. Shadow Hunter's advantage is obvious. But Cloudstream Flying Shadow's two categories both have some strong opponents."

Zhang Jun nodded. He had done his homework over the past few days as well.

Among the Best Turf Miler nominees was a four-year-old colt named Longxi Glory. Last year, he had won a turf mile CN1 in the first half of the year, as well as a central G3. However, he was injured after that race, and his form collapsed in the second half of the year, losing all three starts.

Although Cloudstream Flying Shadow had won the Eight Min Mile, she only had the honors from the Eight Min Mile and the Jian'an Fillies race. Her accumulated achievements still fell slightly short of Longxi Glory's.

The Best Three-Year-Old Turf Filly category was even more uncertain—besides Cloudstream Flying Shadow, there was also a filly named Mindong Oriole. She had won Eight Min's premier race for three-year-old fillies, the Eight Min Local Oaks Turf Championship, giving her a stronger record than Cloudstream Flying Shadow.

"Please quiet down. The selection ceremony is about to begin."

The host's voice spread through the hall over the microphone, and the noisy chatter gradually died down.

Mu Fei, president of the Eight Min Local Racing Association, stepped onto the stage. The man was over sixty, dressed in a dark gray Mao suit, yet he looked vigorous and sharp-eyed.

"Colleagues, welcome to the 2022 Min Province Local Racing Best Horse Selection." Mu Fei's voice was steady and powerful. "Over the past year, many outstanding racehorses emerged in Min Province local racing. They fought fiercely on the track and brought us one thrilling race after another."

Warm applause erupted from below the stage.

Mu Fei raised a hand for silence, then continued, "As usual, we will present the awards for each category in order. The first award is—Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse. Please look at the big screen."

Zhang Jun's heart began to race. He clenched his hands without realizing it and swallowed.

Lin Zhi, Zheng Xing, and Shan Yao clasped their hands together. "Jade Emperor, Buddha, Guanyin, Jehovah... all gods and immortals, please bless us."

The big screen began playing highlight reels of the nominated horses. There were not many—only three in total.

The first was Longxi Mad Shark. It had finished third in the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship and had also won a CN2 race.

The second was Jiahe Storm. It had won two CN2 races, but an injury had kept it from competing in the Two-Year-Old Championship.

The last to appear was Shadow Hunter.

Onscreen, the red-chestnut colt charged through the rain. After getting off to a poor start, it clawed its way back and finally tore through the curtain of rain to cross the finish line first.

The commentator's passionate voice echoed through the hall. "Shadow Hunter! He's caught up! He's torn through the rain over the racetrack! Torn through the shadows shrouding the track! Shadow Hunter charges toward the sunlight! He has surpassed Naxiangzi!"

Zhang Jun looked at the screen, his eyes growing hot as a tear slid down from the corner of one eye.

That had been Shadow Hunter's most glorious moment, and Zhang Jun's proudest moment as an owner.

"After a vote by the association's 108 judges, the racehorse that received seventy-two votes in favor and has been named the 2022 Eight Min Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse is—"

Mu Fei paused, his gaze falling in Zhang Jun's direction.

The video on the big screen had also frozen on the voting results for Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse. Shadow Hunter ranked first with seventy-two votes, Jiahe Storm came second with twenty-four, and Longxi Mad Shark was third with twelve.

"The champion of the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship Dirt Race—Shadow Hunter! Congratulations!"

Applause surged like a tide. Zhang Jun finally relaxed, only then realizing that his palms and back were drenched in sweat.

Zhang Jun took out a tissue and wiped away his tears, rose to his feet, straightened his suit, and walked down the aisle toward the stage.

He could feel countless gazes resting on him—envy, curiosity, and kind encouragement.

"Congratulations, Owner Zhang Jun." Mu Fei handed Zhang Jun the trophy. It was a gilded sculpture of a galloping horse, with the words "2022 Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse—Shadow Hunter" engraved on its base.

"As a newcomer who only became a horse owner this year, you won the Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse award in your very first year. Is there anything you would like to say?"

Mu Fei handed the microphone to Zhang Jun.

"Thank you, President Mu. Thank you to the association, and thank you to all the fans who supported Shadow Hunter." Zhang Jun delivered the remarks he had prepared in advance.

"I also want to thank Jianzhou Ranch for raising him, as well as Trainer Lin Zhi and Jockey Shan Yao for all their hard work. Shadow Hunter is a very intelligent and hardworking racehorse. This honor belongs to him, and to everyone who has worked for him."

Camera flashes went off one after another as reporters rushed to capture the moment.

Zhang Jun returned to his seat holding the trophy. Looking at the gilded award in his hands and the three characters for Shadow Hunter engraved on it, Zhang Jun liked it more and more.

Luo Heng leaned over from beside him. "Jun, let me touch it! Let me touch it!"

"Get lost. You have so many trophies at home—haven't you touched enough already?" Zhang Jun laughed, swatting his hand away before hugging the trophy to his chest.