Ducking And Jiving With The Weather

Friday I left the office with every intention of taking four under tack, but was considering this scene:
You may left click any photo to enlarge. 1.25 inches of much needed rain in the buckets when I got to the farm. Part of the track has been washed out.
I like this shot of the boys walking to the barn to do their work. Do they look eager?
Pre-workout, everything is cool. Notice the condition of the ground compared to last photo after we get done.

There's a little too much water on the ground for productive tack work. The decision is made to go riderless.
The 12 year olds galloped with Art and Ace through about 8 minutes of hard gallop 3f at a time between rests. Art was given as much work in the mud as I dared just short of pulling a check ligament or worse, a splint. Art was removed and the two 12 year olds then ran 9 furlongs continuous as fast as conditions allowed. Aylward below post w/o, The last heat was a fast 1 1/8 riderless mile, deep mud leaving Al blowing a bit.
Wind, on the other hand had hardly a hair out of place. He' closer to racing than Al.
Below the paddock track after we're done--"drenching" rain forecast tonight for Eureka, so tomorrow's Eureka breezes are bye, bye. Possible Sunday if there's a lot of sun tomorrow. We'll see.