Horse

Scott paints a small portrait of Darley for Jarret to show his appreciation. In his diary, Scott admits that though he considers himself opposed to slavery, he would purchase Jarret’s enslavement if he could, impressed by Jarret’s talents with horses and his ability to anticipate Scott’s needs. Scott realizes, upon giving Jarret the painting, that Jarret’s “condition afforded him few possessions he might claim as his own” (72).

Scott observes the tension in Dr. Warfield’s family. At dinner, the animosity toward Cassius Clay is palpable. Cassius, though friendly and affable, is not treated with reciprocal warmth. Despite their common socio-economic standing and shared affinity for breeding fine horses, Cassius and Dr. Warfield are at odds over the issue of slavery. When Mrs. Warfield insults Cassius, Mary Barr abruptly leaves the dining room.

As Jarret feared, Harry uses the funds he was saving to purchase Beth’s emancipation. Harry believes that Jarret’s position is secure, so he is not worried about deferring his son’s liberation in favor of his new wife’s. Harry anticipates that Darley will earn Harry significant prize money in his upcoming races which will replenish Harry’s savings.

One night, Jarret notices Mary Barr working her horse in the indoor ring. Dismounting, she confides that she is avoiding going back to the house. Cassius appears in the barn, intoxicated, demanding to know who Jarret is. Cassius snaps at Jarret for addressing him as though he were an enslaver. He demands to know what Jarret is doing alone with his daughter. Mary Barr explains that Jarret, who taught her to ride as a little girl, was ensuring her safety. Cassius changes his tone, thanking him. Jarret is left confused by the eccentricities and inconsistencies in white people.

Jess peruses Catherine’s research on the skeleton. She is struck by the relationship conveyed in a stereoscopic photo card. A Black man stands beside the horse, his hand on its withers, using no lead rope to ensure the stallion stands in place. Jess realizes there are discrepancies between the way the horse was in life and how his skeleton was articulated. Catherine concurs, pointing out specific placements inconsistent with the image. Jess wants to take the skeleton apart and rearticulate it, so that it might be appreciated authentically and perhaps be given the recognition it deserves. They decide that when Jess disassembles the skeleton, Catherine will scan the bones individually, use software to replicate and analyze the horse’s gait, and create a 3-D resin replica of the entire skeleton.

Despite wind and rain, an enormous crowd gathers on the morning of Darley’s first race. Excited and inexperienced, Darley jumps forward ahead of the official start, galloping two miles before his jockey can regain control of his head. Jarret is distressed and embarrassed. When they line up again, Darley waits for the signal, and easily outpaces all his competitors, charging to a victory by several lengths. Jarret is overcome with emotion, the rain hiding his tears of joy.

In the second heat, Darley takes an immediate lead, none of the other horses ever in a position to challenge him. Afterward, Dr. Warfield introduces Jarret to Richard Ten Broeck. A northerner residing in Louisiana, Ten Broeck is a horse owner, breeder, racing promoter, and owner of a racetrack called Metairie. Once alone with Jarret, Ten Broeck starts asking questions about Dr. Warfield’s racing operation. Jarret, made uneasy by the inquisition, answers vaguely and diplomatically.

Outside the museum, Jess sees a tall Black man standing over a bicycle nearly identical to her own. The man is Theo, though she does not know him. She charges up to him, about to ask what he’s doing. When she realizes she is mistaken, she changes her tone, backpedaling and hoping to gloss over her initial suspicion and confrontational approach. Theo firmly gestures to Jess’s own bike, attached to another rack, and she rides home in shame, mortified by her actions.

At Jess’s house, Catherine explains why she stopped practicing veterinary medicine in the world of horseracing. Catherine was disillusioned and conflicted by the exploitation of the horses. She hopes her research will influence future breeding practices to the horses’ benefit. Turf horses in the 19th century possessed a level of strength, endurance, and stamina that 21st-century participants lack. By understanding the features that made these legends so remarkable, Catherine aims to discover the key to their success.

Working on his portrait of Darley, Scott watches Jarret’s interactions with the stallion, marveling at the remarkable bond they share. Scott is deeply troubled by the events of the previous evening, when he watched Viley and Ten Broeck extort ownership of Darley away from Harry. Ten Broeck and Viley had offered to purchase Darley. Dr. Warfield explained that he could not sell the horse because he held him in name for Harry. Ten Broeck and Viley threatened Dr. Warfield, citing the Kentucky Association bylaws, on which Dr. Warfield himself collaborated. The laws mandate the exclusion of persons of African descent from having any stake in the entry of a horse into a race. Ten Broeck and Viley threaten to expose Harry’s ownership of Darley, which would also cause trouble for Dr. Warfield. The doctor feels that he has no choice but to capitulate. As a feigned consolation, they promise to race Darley as the representative for the state of Kentucky in Ten Broeck’s Post Stakes.

Having overheard the fateful conversation, Mary Barr tells Jarret about Darley’s sale, urging Jarret to warn Harry. When he does, Jarret is surprised by his father’s reaction. Despite his anger, Harry is resigned to the reality of his position, having experienced a lifetime of ill-treatment. Jarret insists that his father must assert his position as Darley’s rightful owner, but Harry fears retaliation. Harry still hopes that his share of Darley’s winnings will expedite Jarret’s emancipation. With one race left before the sale is final, Harry feels he must not incite animosity. Jarret is overcome with heartbreak as he contemplates his separation from Darley.

Mary Barr appears at Darley’s stall. She assumes Jarret will try to escape and has come to discourage him. Jarret reminds her that Darley rightly belongs to him and his father. She agrees: “I know that. But they won’t see it that way. They’ll see stolen property, a runaway slave. You could die” (121). Jarret asks if she will write a pass he can present if stopped. Reluctantly, she provides it, and causes a diversion so that Darley and Jarret can slip away.

Mary Barr arrives home, disheveled. Cassius presumes Jarret made advances toward her. Mary Barr corrects him, explaining her role in Jarret’s escape. Cassius fears the consequences for Jarret, certain he will be found. He insists Mary Barr ride out with him to convince Jarret to return. He believes Jarret will listen to her, but he also expects her to take responsibility for the role she played. They find a point along the road and hide in the trees to await Jarret and Darley. Ten Broeck appears, revealing that he has had Darley watched and knows of Mary Barr’s role in Jarret’s escape. Ten Broeck claims that while he holds some of Cassius’s views, he does not intend to let Jarret get away. Cassius gestures toward his sidearm, ready to resort to violence to protect Jarret. Ten Broeck clarifies that he plans to purchase Jarret’s enslavement, so he can continue to work with Darley. Satisfied Jarret will not be harmed, Cassius persuades Ten Broeck to depart so that he and Mary Barr can compel Jarret to return.