[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 may not be very high. Please forgive me.]
Mindu was bitterly cold at the end of January, but the grand hall of the Min Province Local Racing Association was warm and inviting.
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, as well as reporters and racing commentators from various racing publications. People chatted in small groups, discussing the performance of Min Province local racing over the past year.
"Jun, relax a little." Luo Heng, seated beside him, nudged Zhang Jun's arm.
Luo Fei and Liu Li had gone to attend West River Moon's central Best Horse selection ceremony as representatives of the breeding ranch. Luo Yong had gone as Jian'an Club's legal representative to attend Jianzhou Warrior's selection. That left Luo Heng to represent both Jianzhou Ranch and Jian'an Club at the Eight Min local racing awards.
"You've got two horses shortlisted. You'll definitely be going onstage to collect awards later."
Zhang Jun took a deep breath and nodded.
This year's Best Horse selection covered every category of 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-Up Turf/Dirt Mare/Horse, 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-rate jockey and trainer, most wins by a jockey and trainer, Best Breeder, and so on—more than forty awards altogether.
Shadow Hunter had been shortlisted for Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse without any suspense, thanks to winning the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship: Dirt Classic in December and boasting a perfect three wins from three starts.
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. Her victory in the Eight Min Mile Race had earned her a place among the nominees 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, named Mindong Oriole, had been shortlisted for Best Three-Year-Old Colt and Eight Min Horse of the Year, so he had come as the representative of both the ranch and club.
"Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse should be fine. Shadow Hunter's advantage is obvious. But Cloudstream Flying Shadow's two categories have some strong opponents."
Zhang Jun nodded. He had done his homework over the past few days as well.
Among the nominees for Best Turf Miler 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 afterward, and his form plummeted in the second half, losing all three of his starts.
Although Cloudstream Flying Shadow had won the Eight Min Mile Race, she only had the Eight Min Mile Race and Jian'an Fillies' titles to her name. Her accumulated honors 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," who had won the top race for three-year-old fillies in Eight Min, the Eight Min Local Oak Championship: Turf Championship. Her honors surpassed Cloudstream Flying Shadow's.
"Please be quiet. The selection ceremony is about to begin."
The host's voice carried through the hall over the microphone, and the noisy chatter gradually died down.
Mu Fei, president of the Eight Min Local Horse Racing Association, stepped onto the stage. The elderly man, now past sixty, wore a dark gray Zhongshan suit. 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, Min Province local racing has produced many outstanding racehorses. They fought bravely on the track and brought us one thrilling race after another."
Warm applause broke out below the stage.
Mu Fei raised a hand to quiet the crowd and continued, "As usual, we will present the awards for each category in order. The first award is—Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse. Please turn your attention to the big screen."
Zhang Jun's heartbeat began to quicken. He unconsciously clenched his hands and swallowed.
Lin Zhi, Zheng Xing, and Shan Yao pressed their palms together. "Jade Emperor, Buddha, Guanyin, Jehovah... gods from every corner, please bless us."
[Ning Fei did not come because none of the horses he rode had been shortlisted. As mentioned before, Eight Min local racing was now dominated by the three top jockeys. Ning Fei might be a genius jockey, but he was still a little behind them. Shan Yao was also here because of Zhang Jun; Flying Cloud Colt's honors were still too limited.]
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. He had finished third in the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship and had also won a CN2 race.
The second was Jiahe Storm. He had won two CN2 races but had been injured and missed the Two-Year-Old Championship.
The last to appear was Shadow Hunter.
Onscreen, the chestnut colt charged through the rain. After breaking poorly, he fought his way back and finally tore through the curtain of rain to cross the finish line first.
The commentator's impassioned voice echoed through the hall. "Shadow Hunter! He's caught up! He's torn through the rain above the racetrack! Torn through the shadows shrouding the track! Shadow Hunter charges toward the sunlight! He's passed Southern Township!"
Zhang Jun watched the screen, his eyes growing slightly hot as a tear slid from the corner of one eye.
That had been Shadow Hunter's most glorious moment, and his proudest moment as an owner.
"After a vote by the association's one hundred and eight judges, the horse receiving seventy-two votes and winning the 2022 Eight Min Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse award is—"
Mu Fei paused, his gaze falling in Zhang Jun's direction.
The video on the big screen also froze on the voting results for Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse. Shadow Hunter stood first with seventy-two votes, Jiahe Storm second with twenty-four, and Longxi Mad Shark third with twelve.
"The champion of the Eight Min Two-Year-Old Championship: Dirt Classic—Shadow Hunter! Congratulations!"
Applause surged like a tide. Zhang Jun finally relaxed, only then realizing that his palms and back were soaked with sweat.
Zhang Jun took out a tissue and wiped away his tears, then stood, straightened his suit, and walked down the aisle toward the stage.
He could feel countless eyes upon him—some envious, some curious, and some offering kind encouragement.
"Congratulations, Owner Zhang Jun." Mu Fei handed the trophy to Zhang Jun. It was a gilded sculpture of a galloping horse, its base engraved with the words: "2022 Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse—Shadow Hunter."
"As a newcomer who only became an owner this year, you won Best Two-Year-Old Dirt Horse in your debut season. Is there anything you'd like to say?"
Mu Fei handed the microphone to Zhang Jun.
"Thank you, President Mu. Thank you, Association. And thank you to all the racing fans who supported Shadow Hunter." Zhang Jun delivered the remarks he had prepared beforehand.
"I also want to thank Jianzhou Ranch for breeding 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 words "Shadow Hunter" engraved on it, he could not have liked it more.
Luo Heng leaned over from beside him. "Jun, let me touch it! Let me touch it!"
"Get lost. You've got so many trophies at home—haven't you touched enough already?" Zhang Jun laughed, batting away his hand and hugging the trophy to his chest.