You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart Radio and Grimm and Mild

from Aaron Manky.

Eddie Sweet had a nightmare.

The racehorse he'd groomed and lovingly cared for for the past couple years was running

and running hard.

Big Red, as Eddie affectionately called him, had opened up a large lead over the other

horses.

And then, without warning, the chestnut horse fell.

The next day, Eddie nervously watched the horses step onto the track for the running of

the Belmont Stakes.

In the infield, people stood shoulder to shoulder holding up signs.

Good luck, Secretary, on Red.

In sports bars across the country, people stopped to watch.

Others gathered around their TV sets at home.

The Red Colt, whose jockey war, white and blue silks, was America's horse.

One by one, the horses were loaded into the starting gates, and Eddie and the enormous crowd

in the stands around him collectively held their breath.

The starting bell broke the silence, and the gates flung open.

Horses surged forward, their hooves thundering on the track.

By the time they reached the first turn, Secretary and another front runner had set mind-boggling

times for the first quarter.

Head to head, they galloped, leaving the rest of the field far behind.

...