Read Live and Let Growl for Free Online

dam?”
    â€œLucky Mary, by Storm Bird.”
    â€œNice cross. Did she race?”
    â€œTen starts with four wins.”
    â€œStakes caliber?”
    â€œI’m afraid not.”
    They might as well have been speaking Greek for all the sense the conversation made to me. Wisely I kept my mouth shut and sipped my tea. It was very sweet.
    â€œDon’t worry about that,” said Miss Ellie. “A winning mare from a good family can still be a valuable commodity as a broodmare. Who is she in foal to?”
    Aunt Peg consulted a sheaf of notes she had pulled from her purse. “The stallion has an odd name. Let me look to be sure. Ah, here it is. Medaglia D’Oro.”
    Miss Ellie clapped her hands happily. “Well done!”
    Peg looked up. “That’s a good thing?”
    â€œIt’s a very good thing. Medaglia D’Oro is an excellent sire. And also a very handsome horse.”
    â€œDoes that matter?” I asked, surprised.
    â€œBut of course.”
    I shook my head. “But we’re talking about horse racing. So the fastest one wins, right? No matter what they look like. So why would it make a difference?”
    â€œYou’re assuming that Peg is going to want to race Lucky Luna’s foal when the time comes,” Miss Ellie told me. “But doing that would necessitate a large commitment of time and money. Under the circumstances, she might want to consider other options.”
    â€œLike what?” Aunt Peg asked with interest.
    â€œOne possibility is that Lucky Luna’s offspring could be offered for sale to a racing home next year when it’s a yearling. Peg, take a moment and think back. When you initially heard about this mare, I’ll bet the very first thing you wondered about was her pedigree. Am I right?”
    â€œYou are,” Aunt Peg agreed. “Of course I was curious.”
    â€œThat’s because after all your years with Standard Poodles, you approach things from a breeder’s perspective. But there are plenty of racehorse owners who have no interest in that side of things. All they want are horses that are ready to go to the track and run.”
    â€œSurely not as yearlings,” I said.
    â€œNo, but that’s the age when the majority are sold. And a handsome, successful stallion sires the type of offspring who have all the qualities that capture the buyers’ attention at the sales.”
    â€œI hadn’t even considered something like that,” Aunt Peg admitted. “I’m afraid I hadn’t thought very far ahead at all. All I meant to do was come and assure myself that Lucky Luna was being well cared for until I can decide what to do with her.”
    â€œYou had better start considering things like that,” Miss Ellie said briskly. “This time of year there are all kinds of decisions to be made. Is Lucky Luna booked to a stallion for this year’s breeding?”
    â€œShe hasn’t even foaled yet,” Aunt Peg protested. “She isn’t due until next month.”
    â€œThat doesn’t matter in the slightest. The books for the popular stallions fill up quickly. Many are already closed. And if you want to maximize your investment—”
    â€œGood Lord,” said Aunt Peg. She didn’t sound happy. “I thought I was going to need to buy Lucky Luna a warm blanket. Or inquire about the quality of her hay. But now you’re telling me that a mare I haven’t even seen yet is in need of a suitable mate and I’m already behind in procuring one?”
    â€œYou asked for my advice,” said Miss Ellie. “And you’d be foolish not to listen to it. Fortunes have been won and lost with horses. Not only that, but the Thoroughbred industry has a way of steamrolling right over beginners. I should hate for you to be one of its victims.”
    â€œI would, too,” Aunt Peg replied. She pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and prepared to take notes.