The Black Stallion

When Henry and Alec arrive with the horses for the next Belmont training session, they see Joe and Jim waiting at the track. Jim says he is only there as a journalist because he can't believe there can be a horse faster than the two champions he has written about. His doubt disappears when he sees the Black: “‘[H]e is a giant of a horse!’ The stallion shook his head. He was full of life tonight for he knew well that he was going to run” (152-53).

As they saddle the Black, who is fractious, he rears and kicks Henry. When they put Alec on the saddle and he takes off around the track, the Black runs so fast that Alec passes out, yet continues to hold onto the mane. He wakes up lying on the track as the men watch over him anxiously.

Jim goes back to the newspaper and writes a column about how he has seen a horse in New York City that can outrun both Cyclone and Sun Raider. It appears in the paper and Henry and Alec begin to talk about the possibility of the Black racing against the other two horses in a match race. Newspapers call the Black the “Mystery Horse.” People across the country talk about the possibility of the mystery horse joining the race. Over the course of the next week, the controversy continues to snowball. Finally, Jim writes a column in which he says the owners of the other two horses have invited the mystery horse to join the race.

Alec finds it difficult to concentrate on schoolwork or anything else in the days before the race. His mother is in Chicago to visit her sister, but Alec must get permission from his father to race. As he tells his father that the mystery horse is the Black and that he is the jockey, the doorbell rings. Henry enters and speaks with Mr. Ramsey about how important it is for Alec to ride the horse in the race. His father gives permission, so long as Alec finishes his exams first.

At school, Alec converses with his friends Whiff and Bill about the upcoming race without telling them he and his horse are in the race. Bill wonders aloud who the mystery horse will be, while Whiff shrugs off the challenge and stakes his faith in Cyclone winning the race. Bill responds that Sun Raider is sure to win. Alec silently watches the exchange, speaking with irony: “‘Who do you think will is going to win, Alec?’ Alex smiled. ‘Well, the only one you fellows leave me is the mystery horse—so I guess I'll take him” (169).

Jim makes all the arrangements to transport Alec, Henry, and the Black to Chicago for the race. As they load, the Black is unwilling to go unless Napoleon goes as well. Jim talks Tony into allowing them to take Napoleon on the train to Chicago.

Riding through the night toward Chicago in the train car, Alec has a difficult time going to sleep. When he finally falls asleep, he must be roused in the morning by Jim and Henry.

After taking the Black and Napoleon to their stable, Alec goes to look at the other two horses, Cyclone and Sun Raider. Strangers, reporters, and horsemen come to look at the Black, though Henry makes them keep their distance. When they give Henry a bad time, saying the horse may not be championship quality. Henry orders them to leave.

The appearance of the great horse Sun Raider, who is almost as big as the Black, shakes Alec’s confidence. He and Henry talk about which of the two will be the most difficult to beat: “‘They're both going to be tough to beat,’ Alec said. ‘The fastest in the world—take my word for it,’ Henry said. ‘But we knew what we were getting into.’ ‘I still think the Black can beat them,’ Alec said” (181-82).

As the horses go to the paddock, Alec encounters the other jockeys, who mock him. Alec angrily decides they do not own the track, and that he has as much right to be there as they do. Henry gives Alec the riding silks he wore when he won the Kentucky Derby. His shirt carries the number three, the same number Alec will wear.

As the horses leave the paddock, Sun Raider and the Black clash. There are 80,000 people in the crowd watching the horses battle. The Black sustains a nasty cut on his leg. Alex notices and starts to dismount to examine just as the starter opens the gate and the horses bolt forward.

Alec tries to keep the Black at the gate. The Black wants to run and takes off with Alec half in the saddle. The Black is 100 yards behind the other horses when he starts. The announcer describes the way the Black suddenly begins to catch up with the other horses: “You've never in your life seen a horse run like this! He's all power—all beauty. […] I wouldn't believe it if I wasn't seeing it with my own eyes. The Black is running the others down!” (192). As they go around the final turn, the Black catches first Cyclone and then Sun Raider. He wants to fight Sun Raider, but Alec slaps the horse on the side and makes him surge forward to victory.

As the race concludes, Alec dismounts the horse to examine the Black’s leg. The track veterinarian examines the leg and dresses the cut so Alex can ride to the winner’s circle. There, he discovers both his parents watched the race. They are all gathered along with Henry and the Governor of Illinois. The owners of the other two horses show up to congratulate Alec and one offers to buy the Black. Alec refuses, saying they will be hearing a lot more from the Black in the future.