1st Series Chronicles of a broke horse trainer "It's a Small World"

I arrived at the Missouri State Fair Grounds midday on Thursday since the races were scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. When I pulled in for the gate guard to check my license and my horse papers, I noticed a lanky, somewhat gaunt, young man standing by the guard shack. I took him to be in his thirties and he was staring somewhat hopefully at me as I checked in. After the formalities, I leaned out my window and asked if he was looking for work. His reply was "mister, I need work bad". I asked if he knew anything about horses and he immediately informed me that he was the best I would ever find. I had no real reason to believe him, but his demeanor and his confidence seemed to make him worth trying. As we headed to the horse barns, he told me his name was Jack and asked if I minded swinging thru the trailer parking area for a second. We did and when he got out of the truck he headed for an old red trailer and banged on the side of it. To my surprise, his cute little red-headed girlfriend came out of the back of the trailer. He offered a quick explanation that he and her had come to Sedalia with a trainer from Georgia on Tuesday. This trainer had brought in about 20 head of horses and was planning on "setting the world on fire" at Sedalia. Jack and Jan slept in the old horse trailer Tuesday night and when they went to the barn Wednesday morning the stalls were empty, the trainer was gone and these two were left there with no money, no job and only a few chips and soft drinks to survive on. More than likely this trainer had spotted someone already there that he either owed money to or had crossed paths with in a not so friendly manner. When we made it to the barn, it became obvious that Jack had been around horses and was experienced in racetrack procedures. Him and I together had the stalls bedded, the horses put in for the night and feeding completed in very short order. When chores were done, I asked them if they were hungry and if they had a place to stay. The hungry part brought an immediate, urgent "YES" and the place to stay