Race Girl (49 page)

It felt to Tully as though she'd never left Avalon, while at the same time, here she was, arriving home for the first time as an accomplished, rising jockey with two exceptional runners and the man of her dreams.

She pushed the hair from her face and glanced across at Brandon – lounged in the driver's seat, one tanned, muscular arm resting on the top of the wheel. Tully blew him a kiss, then raised her eyes to take in the valley and the glorious bush-covered mountains beyond, searching for home.

An intense pride warmed within her as she spotted the rows of jacarandas, now in full bloom, winding their way up to the main homestead of Avalon Downs. Jacarandas planted by her ancestors, in soil she'd managed to retain, now in brilliant lilac bloom. Flowers that had never smelled sweeter.

Tears rushed down her cheeks as Tully imagined her parents on the front verandah, a verandah she and Brandon planned to fix up and paint in their honour. Her mother and father, welcoming them home.

Acknowledgements

Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the horses. The beautiful, talented, extraordinary thoroughbreds who have touched the lives of so many across the globe and been the object of many a young girl's dreams. This book is for you as much as it is for those young girls – girls, with the world at your fingertips. Girls, who can be anything and find joy and love and passion, even when confined by circumstance or societal ideals and pressures. Shine, love yourself. Believe.

And now, back to the horses ;) While researching for this book I came across some utterly disturbing facts that as a horse lover I felt guilty for being ignorant to. Too many horses are neglected, abused, forgotten. Too many horses don't receive the love and care they deserve. I found a lot of negative stories and comments about the horse racing industry, but despite its reputation, I can assure you that there are trainers who care more about the horses than the bottom line. Wonderful equestrians who live for the animals and treat them with the utmost care and respect. These trainers, jockeys, owners, strappers and breeders do exist, and I salute you. However, there are those who are doing wrong by the horses and I applaud anyone who stands up and holds them to account. A sacred trust is broken when a human abuses an animal and the images and stories I came across still haunt me.

I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the lovely ladies of Equine Action Qld for the energy and time they dedicate to fighting for horse-welfare. Their efforts are truly inspiring. Di, Melissa, Joanne, Lisa, Lizzy, Kerrin . . . Thank you for your work and thank you for helping me to write this book.

Ziggy – you are a superstar. Thank you for your days on the track and thank you for bringing so much joy to Di and the ladies of EAQ. Thank you to Brad (Tontoro) for bringing joy to our farm (and devilishly good looks, hence your nickname – after two of the most handsome men in the world, Brad Pitt and Bradley Cooper ;) lol

Thank you to every thoroughbred who lives to run and brings excitement and pleasure to so many of us humans. Sorry to the horses who are not treated fairly. I pray for you and hope like heck more people become aware.

Thank you to the beautiful Marybeth Lepine and wonderful trainer Dan Bougoure for opening Falvelon Lodge at Eagle Farm to me. Many of the locations in Race Girl are real or inspired by real places; reality in books is crucial to me. As a somewhat reluctant reader myself, nothing loses my interest in a story quicker than when it feels unrealistic. Tully and Brandon's valley is based on an area near Beaudesert and the valley where my family's property is located, also here in southeast Queensland. I hope my love of the land shone through in this book and you were able to experience a little bit of the magic of living here.

To the incredible jockey Sonja Wiseman – a huge thank you for the inspiration and for basically for just being super badass. You rock, gorgeous, and don't you forget it. To Jake and Ruby for being the perfect Tully and Brandon for the cover, to Shae from Fine Velvet Photography for the amazing shot, to my mummy friends and writing buddies for the support and comradeship – you know who you are, and you are all amazing xxx

To the team at Port Campbell Press and Dennis Jones & Associates for believing in me and The Go Girls Chronicles, and to my editors, Jenny and Liz, for your help and guidance in shaping this story. To the booksellers, reviewers and bloggers who support my books – I couldn't do it without you!

To my husband and our three beautiful children, my parents and my sister . . . Thank you! I think Tully would agree that family, blood and found, is everything.

And a huge thank you to YOU, my readers. Love you all to bits. 
Believe in yourself, be kind to the humans and animals in your life, and chase your dreams.

Go Girls RULE!

Also by Leigh Hutton . . .

Book one of The Go Girls Chronicles

Available now in eBook and paperback

Also by Leigh Hutton . . .

Book two of The Go Girls Chronicles

Available now in eBook and paperback

Clockwise from top left: Ziggy; Di, Lizzy & Melissa of EAQ; Rosie & Brad; Leigh at Eagle Farm; Sonja Wiseman at Doomben; Sonja & Leigh.

Leigh Hutton
is a former Courier-Mail journalist, dirt bike racer and horse show jumper. Leigh was born in Canada and lives on rural property in southeast Queensland, Australia, with her husband and three young children. When she isn't writing, managing the relocation and restoration of historic ‘Queenslander' homes, wrangling the kids or swilling coffee, she loves to read, watch smart TV and movies, ride her motorbike and daydream about gorgeous horses. Her family spell racehorses at their property and making friends with each one is also a favourite pastime of Leigh and her children. Leigh is especially passionate about promoting the growing number of girls and women in all action and equestrian sports, and is thrilled to be drawing on her experiences to bring you the exciting novels of
The Go Girls Chronicles . . .