The morning newspapers were on the breakfast table. “What is happening at King’s Pyland? Where is Silver Blaze?” they asked. “Who killed John Straker? What are the police doing? Can they find the horse before the big race next week?”
Silver Blaze was a famous racehorse, and John Straker was his trainer. One of the biggest horse races of the year – the Wessex Cup – was next week, and Silver Blaze was the favorite to win. But on Monday night at King’s Pyland two things happened. Someone killed John Straker, and Silver Blaze disappeared.