The whole write paints a picture of race horses and the people so well but its the last stanza that really stood out for me.

Watch the dark horse - the remorse,
jump hurdles of pain to be the first
to harness joy while serpent-tongues
gamble not money but their souls!

^^A sport for many yet for some including the horses themselves its life and death. I love this!

I have to agree with Meena. I can see the horse race thanks to images shown on television and with your words. You have captured the scene well. The last verse did strike a cord and it is true that the horses are gambling their souls. If they get injured they may be put to death, other injuries or illness from racing could hurt future earnings for stud fees. So of all the horses have the biggest gamble. Good job.

Judges comments

This poem is expertly crafted and was the stand out poem for me by a good furlong...
How it starts with the dark horse is clever, The outsider is the one we all want to win because it will have the biggest return, the whole point of gambling is to win and win big. I like how the last line is a warning, not only to those that gamble but it warns us that the horse is gambling with its life also. Throughout this write there is some clever word usage that is all very horsey. I love the 'hoarse chants' what a nice play on words. There is so much that is strong in this poem, 'benches of teeth' and 'harness joy' the use of 'clanking' and 'centrifugal'. All very powerful narrative words. Not just a poem but a great story as well. Perfection.