Forest said. To get to Forest’s private box, they had to climb up three flights of stairs. Throngs of people filled the grandstand. Music was playing, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. The viewing box had a row of seats under a little roof. On both sides were other private boxes. Straight ahead was a perfect view of the starting gate and oval racetrack. “How long is the race?” Josh asked. “Twice around the track,” Forest said. A stack of race programs was on one seat. Forest handed them out. “Whirlaway’s on page two,” he said. The kids quickly checked and found Whirlaway’s name. Sunny was listed as Whirlaway’s jockey. “This is so exciting!” Ruth Rose said. She set her camera on the floor under her chair. A waiter wearing a white jacket came and took their lunch order. They made it simple for him: five cheeseburgers, five lemonades. “Where do the horses end up?” Josh asked. “At the finish line,” Uncle Warren said, “down there behind the starting gate.”
