HANDS DOWN, IT’S ZENYATTA
While Ray is traveling back from Osaka (hopefully we won’t have to hear too much about jet lag once he returns to the United States), he wanted to reignite the debate over Horse of the Year. The following piece was submitted by Jeff Shapes, a marketing communications consultant, freelance writer and horse racing enthusiast, not necessarily in that order.
By Jeff Shapes
There’s one overriding reason Zenyatta should win the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year over Rachel Alexandra, and it has nothing to do with their comparative records on the racetrack. No, Zenyatta has earned the honor because her electrifying performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic flew in the face of the general negative assessment of her chances to win the event, while at the same time capping off a brilliant, undefeated career that put her into the discussion of who is history’s greatest female race horse. Now, if that doesn’t make her Horse of the Year, they might as well retire the award.
Yes there had been speculation that if Zenyatta ran in the Classic and won, there’d be a Horse of the Year debate. But in their heart of hearts, not to mention their racing opinions, those speculators, whether in public or not, didn’t believe Zenyatta had what it took to beat the “big” boys in the big race. Indeed, there were some who said she shouldn’t even run in the Classic, since there wasn’t really anything to gain. Better to protect her legacy as an undefeated champion with another romp in the Ladies’ Classic, than to go out with a loss chasing an unattainable goal.
Need some proof of how little regard the experts had for Zenyatta in the run up to the Classic? Despite being tabbed the pre-race wagering favorite, not one of the 11 media members whose selections were published by USA Today in its Breeders’ Cup preview picked Zenyatta to win. And east coast bias wasn’t in play. Joining writers from the New York Daily News, New York Post, Lexington Herald-Leader and Albany Times-Union in giving Zenyatta the thumbs down were the national correspondent of the Daily Racing Form, horse racing writers from the Associated Press and USA Today, an editor of the Thoroughbred Times, an on-air personality from HRTV and racing writers from the Los Angeles Daily News and San Diego Union-Tribune, in whose backyard Zenyatta ran all except one of her career races.
Want to bring in some more exulted names? Joe Drape of the New York Times did not pick Zenyatta, and neither did Steven Crist of the Daily Racing Form. The Washington Post’s Andy Beyer, inventor of the Beyer Speed Figure, the acknowledged statistical method for comparing racetrack performances under different race conditions? He labeled Zenyatta a throw out.
Luckily, Zenyatta’s connections had much greater faith in their magnificent mare than the experts. Questioned for not shipping Zenyatta to a traditional dirt track to take on Rachel Alexandra head-to-head, team Zenyatta stuck to their guns of getting her ready for the Breeders’ Cup the best way they thought how. If that meant staying in Southern California and competing exclusively on synthetic surfaces, well that’s how it would be done. And though they never stated it, the guess here is that winning the Classic as a finishing touch on a Hall of Fame career, not to mention the historical achievement such a win would represent, was probably the long-range goal of those who guided Zenyatta’s career.
Of course, Rachel Alexandra’s connections, like most others in the racing world, assumed their filly had a stranglehold on Horse of the Year when she concluded her 2009 season with a win in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga in early September. It was Rachel’s eighth victory in eight races, accomplished at seven racetracks in six states, with three coming over male competitors. Her campaign encompassed eye popping performances in such keystone events as the Kentucky Oaks, Preakness Stakes, Mother Goose Stakes, Haskell Invitational and the aforementioned Woodward, and was highlighted by either record breaking victory margins or historical firsts just about every time she left the starting gate.
With such a resumé, who could blame Jess Jackson for putting Rachel away for the winter, especially since she probably needed a rest after an exhausting year (visible in the Woodward). But, had the Breeders’ Cup Classic not been held on a synthetic surface, there’s little doubt Rachel would have continued her season and run at least one more race to conclude a campaign for the ages. After all, it was Jackson himself who announced his intention to run Rachel in next year’s Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs at the same time he said he would not run her this year on Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride because of his distaste for synthetic surfaces (or plastic as he labeled them).
Can we know how a Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra showdown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic would have played out? Is there a certainty that had Rachel been entered in the race, Team Zenyatta would have taken her on? Would Rachel have performed as poorly on the synthetics as last year’s Horse of the Year, Curlin, and as other “dirt” horses seem to? These questions can never be answered. But what is fact is that Zenyatta showed up on Championship Saturday and won the most important North American race that’s open to all Thoroughbreds regardless of age or sex. This was no Raven’s Pass swooping in and leaving nothing behind but a few footprints.
Copyright © 2009, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Albany Times-Union, Andy Beyer, Associated Press, breeders' cup classic, churchill downs, daily racing form, eclipse award, haskell invitational, horse of the year, HRTV, Jeff Shapes, jess jackson, Joe Drape, kentucky oaks, ladies' classic, lexington herald-leader, Los Angeles Daily News, Mother Goose Stakes, New York Daily News, new york post, new york times, Osaka, Paulick Report, Preakness Stakes, pro-ride, Rachel Alexandra, raven's pass, Ray Paulick, San Diego Union-Tribune, santa anita, saratoga, steven crist, thoroughbred times, USA Today, Washington Post, woodward stakes, zenyatta
December 7th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Zenyatta won the Super Bowl…..easily. Rachel Alexandra may have had better numbers, but many times horses that are on the lead or close to the pace against easier will pull off better speed numbers.
In 2007 New England had a perfect season going into the Super Bowl. The Giants beat them after being 10-6 in the regular season. Who were the world champs that year?
I know, I know Rachel didn’t show up for the BC so the comparison isn’t perfect.
I didn’t think Zenyatta had a shot in the BC, but she proved she was the 2009 World Champ.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I have a vote for Eclipse Awards and I just want to remind you, and everyone else voting or emoting, that Eclipse Awards are won by what the horse, owner, trainer, has done in that particular year. While I realize that subliminally, voters may be swayed by an undefeated career, that’s not what a year-end award was intended to entail. Both horses will win their respective divisions, but sometimes hard decisions have to be made. We’ve all been through that in our daily lives at some point. Respectfully, Paul Daley, Racing Writer, Lowell Sun
December 7th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Jeff Shapes is a moron who writes “the general negative assessment of her [Zenyatta's] chances to win the event” ; Jeff Shapes loses any shred of crediblity with that statement as Zenyatta was the 5-2 favorite in the Classic. Zenyatta was a Poly Crap specialist facing a field of turf horses in the Classic. Jeff Shapes is delusional.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Let me start by saying I have complete and unwavering respect for Jeff Shapes. Now let me say I think he’s picking the wrong horse. The general negative assessment of Zenyatta, while encompassing notables, couldn’t have extended very far. She paid $7.60 to win. In my well-considered decision on who to vote for Horse of the Year (there’s almost an entire month left to have something change my mind . . . ), I ranked Zenyatta’s Breeders’ Cup Classic as the best performance by a horse in a major North American race this year. I’ve seen just about all of them. Being an ex-boxing writer, I called this the Fight of the Year. Fight of the Year, however, does not make Fighter of the Year.
In Jeff’s list of Rachel’s accomplishments, he left out the Martha Washington, Fair Ground Oaks and Fantasy, which all came before her electrifying blowout in the Kentucky Oaks. After her sale to Jess Jackson, she did the brazen and brash — beat the boys in the Preakness. With that, she began to penetrate the consciousness of sports fans beyond the race nuts. The Mother Goose was a gimmie, like a new heavyweight champion getting a deserved creampuff in his first title defense. But the Haskell win came under brutal conditions, against a Munnings who at the time appeared to be developing into one of the fastest horses in the country and against the colt, Summer Bird, who will win the Eclipse as best 3-year-old male. She crushed them both in a miserable slop. Rachel didn’t need to beat older horses, too, but why not? After much back and forth at Saratoga, she landed in the Woodward, which drew a very salty field of males. She did all the work on the front end and held on in a breathtaking finish.
The Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness, the Haskell, the Woodward, every one a thrilling challenge that captured the imagination. Zenyatta only would have made news in her California campaign had she lost at 1-5. The one big filly she beat was her stablemate, who then showed she is very good by winning her own Breeders’ Cup race. But the rest of the time was AllIcansay is Wow and Briecat.
Without guidelines from the overseers, I always factor in what a horse did for the sport of racing in the realm of the general public when considering my Horse of the Year vote. Rachel was that lightning rod in 2009. She ran a Horse of the Year campaign; Zenyatta ran a Horse of the Year race. I consider the Breeders’ Cup critically important yet compromised as a definitive championship by the divisions over dirt and synthetic surfaces. I gave a top horse like Summer Bird no chance to win the Classic and would have had the race been on dirt. Rachel didn’t even show up. That is not Zenyatta’s fault, of course, but it makes the Classic a race that, as a voter, I’m not throwing all my chips in for. I’m going with the better overall body of work, and that belonged to Rachel. With all due respect to Jeff, of course.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Wow!, Yes I saw it too. It was what our sport is all about. Take nothing away from the great Filly Rachel, but “Z” left hoofprints in the minds of fans that can not be washed away by the wind of time. I saw something very special,and it will be remembered. Thanks for a great article by Jeff Shapes
December 7th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Coming on the site and calling a knowledgable contributer a moron gets you a timeout in the corner facing the wall until you’re ready to behave like a grown-up.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:42 am
“Zenyatta has earned the honor because her electrifying performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic flew in the face of the general negative assessment of her chances to win the event”
A) She was the wagering favorite!
B) Even if she was a longshot, how would that have anything to do with Horse of the Year credentials???
“while at the same time capping off a brilliant, undefeated career that put her into the discussion of who is history’s greatest female race horse. Now, if that doesn’t make her Horse of the Year, they might as well retire the award.”
A) Rachel Alexandra is also in that discussion of history’s greatest female horses. In fact, her list of historical achievements in 2009 was far longer than Zenyatta’s.
I stopped reading after that first paragraph…
December 7th, 2009 at 9:45 am
QUOTE: Would Rachel have performed as poorly on the synthetics as last year’s Horse of the Year, Curlin, and as other “dirt” horses seem to? -
Well let’s see,I believe not one dirt oriented runner did win that weekend.Is that not proof that the surface is subject to scrutiny?Breeder’s Cup the last 2 years at Santa Anita was not to cater to The Americans,but to cater to The Europeans.
QOUTE:But what is fact is that Zenyatta showed up on Championship Saturday and won the most important North American race that’s open to all Thoroughbreds regardless of age or sex.
Open to all thoroughbreds.Ya’,if you nominate your stallion and then nominate your weanlings and less they are open to all at a hefty price that is to those unnominated stallions and foals.In state bred programs thats called restricted stakes.In the Breeders Cup it’s called open to the world with a fee attached.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Ray,
I respectively disagree with your assessment.
Zenyatta won a home game over a gimmicky surface, defeating two turf horses in the process with none of the dirt horses firing again for the second consecutive year on Poly in the Classic. On top of that, the only time she attempted to run outside of California they scratched her (Derby weekend) because things weren’t perfect. I’m also not sure about the “negative assessment of her chances to win the event” claim…she was the favorite if I recall correctly.
Meanwhile, Rachel defeated boys not once but three times at three different tracks, including a classic race in the Preakness where she pressed a fast pace, and against older horses where she also was pushed through a crazy pace and still held up in the stretch to win. Not to mention winning the most coveted 3yo fillies race by a rare margin of 20 lengths, changing barns days after and still shipping to Baltimore to beat the boys two weeks later. Incredible. Zenyatta on the other hand had great set-ups and really didn’t face a significant test until the Breeders’ Cup in her backyard.
In my opinion, if Rachel doesn’t win Horse of the Year, they might as well retire the award. The reality is that what she accomplished was greater when you truly compare the two 2009 records with an unbiased view. You mention Zenyatta was undefeated and one of the greatest mares and that is a mistake, Ray. You should not take into account anything she did prior to 2009, which is why it’s Horse of the Year and not Horse of the Career. Both of these great horses were undefeated in 2009 and that’s all that really matters. No knock on Zenyatta, she’s tremendous and great for our game…but Rachel deserves Horse of the Year and I can only hope that the recency of Zenyatta’s BC win and the momentum that generated doesn’t cloud voters when it comes to deciding an award that should be about the body of work from ONE year…not a career and not how they finished the year.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:56 am
She is the horse of the year. I stood in a room full of non-believers (B.C. race) and we all were standing and screaming as she sailed into history. Hard-boots included. They most exciting race we have ever seen in recent history. From her dance to the starting gate, to the winners circle she is pure class. All you had to do was look at the crowd at the track, they were so over the top. She came to race and left with a “perfect” career.
December 7th, 2009 at 9:59 am
I read a quote somewhere after the Breeders Cup that says it best
“Rachel beat up the boys
Zenyata beat the MEN”
Plus I think Rachel after the Woodward was empty Zenyata had plenty left.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I’m baffled that a key premise is being made that Horse of The Year should be awarded to a horse who won a race despite a selection of pundits thinking the horse would not. And that means what?
Even the ardent Rachel fan should be willing to say she defied speculation - I too thought she’d falter - which is wonderful, but I cannot see how that should be even one factor of merit whatsoever in the HOTY.
Presumably some thought Rachel couldn’t win the Preakness, The Haskell, etc … but I’d dismiss that right along with the BCC with Zenyatta as being just noise and not worthy of a single ounce of weight.
This HOTY debate is getting utterly silly with folks grasping at straws to justify one horse over another. What’s next an opinion piece that said the clouds this afternoon spelled out ‘Zenyatta’ for a moment and its a sign from above? Please.
The strength of the field with horses faced and defeated, speed figs, margins of victory, stakes records (if any), the frequency of racing, and field sizes - those are real factors!
December 7th, 2009 at 10:07 am
I stopped reading after this:
“Zenyatta has earned the honor because her electrifying performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic flew in the face of the general negative assessment of her chances to win the event.”
She was the 5-to-2 FAVORITE in a field of 12!
Yeah, people picked against her publicly. She wasn’t my “TOP PICK” either, but I didn’t leave her off ANY of my tickets, and I seriously doubt many other people did either.
Go back to all the brouhaha before the Preakness, and you’ll find that supposed same “negative assessment of [Rachel's] chances to win the event” even though she was the 9-to-5 favorite.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Wasn’t part of these end of the Year Championships designed to identify the Champ
It seems in some other categories, the new Breeders Cup Champs vaulted themselves forward, why not Zenyata?
The old days of three Racing Sec’s deciding are long over but letting the uneducated vote is awful (for either side
December 7th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Who cares that the media did not pick Zenyatta to win? They don’t pick many winners. Heard of Mine That Bird in the Derby? Rachel’s campaign was testing and unprecedented. Zenyatta did not have much of a campaign. And no one in their right mind can say the Classic field was that stellar. If you think so, you’re not being realistic. Summer Bird did what he did in the Jockey Club because the older horses were not that talented. Heck, that’s probably why Rachel did what she did in the Woodward. But Rachel did other things that were tremendous.
Synthetics are proving to be the great equalizer. I think Baffert said it last year … those surfaces move up slower horses and take something away from the best horses. Like a fast football team having to play on a muddy field … their speed is negated.
The award is not about a career. It’s about 2009. Rachel was brilliant. Zenyatta was fantastic. It’s a shame one of them will not win HOY, but I vote Rachel. Oh, I don’t have a vote.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:18 am
You start your article:
“There’s one overriding reason Zenyatta should win the Eclipse Award as Horse of the Year over Rachel Alexandra, and it has nothing to do with their comparative records on the racetrack”.
> Really? Are you sure you want to preface your argument by saying we shouldn’t look at the record? Because the record favors Rachel Alexandra, of course.
“No, Zenyatta has earned the honor because her electrifying performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic flew in the face of the general negative assessment of her chances to win the event, while at the same time capping off a brilliant, undefeated career that put her into the discussion of who is history’s greatest female race horse”.
> As if parades, renaming races, or even track administrations emotional pleas are not enough to get her elected, NOW you want to add in that although going off the favorite, THAT somehow wasn’t enough, and what handicappers FEEL should somehow be added into the mix of what constitutes a HOY?
I guess it’s ANYTHING but look at the facts, huh? I love Zenyatta, but it’s getting really REALLY overdone out there. We all keep forgetting: in Zenyatta’s shortened “campaign” THIS year (because this IS Horse of the YEAR after all), she was 1) unwilling to leave the home court advantage even once and 2) she was unwilling to leave the surface advantage, even once. To me, that speaks volumes, and no amount of deflection is going to wash that away. Rachel, as a three year old, raced more, won more, beat more, on multiple tracks in multiple states. And in Zenyatta’s defense, Zenyatta enthusiasts would rather discuss Rachel’s shortcomings than admit there is a glaring omission, a question mark. Zenyatta ducked, continually, to be ready for one race. And to some, that one race should be enough to Crown her HOY?
In my opinion, that would be a remarkable disservice to the sport itself, to pass by the accomplishments of a, younger, tougher, ballsier filly during the course of a year, the likes we may never see again, because of a single, emotional win. And if you are right, and Zenyatta is awarded for THAT type of campaign, why race good horses until September?
December 7th, 2009 at 10:22 am
Jeff -
1. Your main argument seems to be that the experts were wrong about Zenyatta. So what? They were wrong about Mine That Bird on Derby day. They’re often wrong, in case you haven’t noticed.
2. Yes, the BCC is a VERY important race - but it’s only 1 race. Rachel A took the tougher road all year - won more races at more tracks in more states. Zenyatta was lightly raced and only in California.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:24 am
Why wasn’t Raven’s Pass HOTY in 2008?
December 7th, 2009 at 10:31 am
I love what Peter Kirwan wrote. That sums it up pretty well in my opinion. And one of Z’s best races was on the dirt, even if it wasn’t this year, it proves she wasn’t a synthetic wonder. Zenyatta deserves HOY without a doubt.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Anybody with an appreciation fpr the history of Thoroughbred racing in North America and a clue as to what constitutes performances of a championship nature would have to vote for Rachel Alexandra.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I’m surprised this letter was presented as a Paulick Report original. There is some terrible logic in it.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:43 am
I think Zen deserves horse of the year because I believe she’s the better horse. If Rachel wins horse of the year, I’m not upset because she was astounding and deserving too.
Btw, I don’t believe it was the surface that did in the east coast horses. I don’t think they were good enough. Summer Bird was a 3YO facing elders — pre-Breeders Cup (and pre-Woodward) Gio Ponti was discussed as an outside shot for HOY. He’s got a great shot at older male. He’s a darn fine race horse (and Zen ran by him and Summer Bird while laughing).
Who else shipped from the east that was of Summer Bird’s quality? Careless Jewel wrestled with her jockey in the backstretch. Music Note is a one-turn specialist.
Beside that, east coast horses traditionally have not run well when the BC is on the west coast.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:47 am
This is COMPLETE nonsense. Zenyatta had more G1 wins on that surface this year then all the other horses in the race combined. She has no wins at Belmont, Saratoga, and Churchill which are the FOUNDATION tracks that all the prior champions raced at and won.
Zenyatta is a poly specialist that won NOTHING all year on dirt or turf.
She is a great California poly rubber horse and nothing more since she never proved all year she was anything more.
Stop with all this Zenyatta nonsense she won 1 race all year that means anything.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:56 am
The Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year is for performances during 2009. On that basis, Rachel Alexandra towers over Zenyatta. There shouldn’t even be a discussion. Zenyatta had one magnificent performance and four other races no one will ever remember. Rachel won the Kentucky Oaks by 20-plus lengths before 100,000-plus fans. She then became the first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years. Her record-breaking peformance in the Mother Goose was breathtaking. She finished the year beating older males in the Woodward Stakes after having defeated sophomore males in the Haskell.
We wouldn’t even be having this discussion if it weren’t for the fact that Rachel hasn’t raced since early September and Zenyatta scored a brilliant win in November and is undefeated in her career…although only five of these races were in the year were are talking about — 2009.
As to surfaces, Rachel won in the slop and on fast tracks. Zenyatta shipped to Churchill Downs and was entered on Oaks Day, but her trainer chose to cop out because the track was wet in the morning. Any different that Jess Jackson choosing not to run on plastic surfaces.
Horse of the Year is not a lifetime achievement award. Voters did that once in 1954 when Native Dancer was voted HOTY off only one stakes win for the entire year. High Gun was clearly the one who should have been voted 1954 HOTY.
Zenyatta does not deserve HOTY of the year for 2009. If voters go that way, they will be doing so based on a career record, which is a shame.
Ron Hale
December 7th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Oh Draynay, don’t be silly. Champions have been named without racing at Belmont, Saratoga and Churchill. Eclipse champions have been named after racing just once in North America. Heck, Daylami apparently was so impressive that he was just 17 votes shy of beating Charismatic for HOY.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Rachael Alexandra did win the Preakness at 1 3/16 miles (barely), the Woodword against older males at 1 1/8 miles (barely) and has won on Keeneland’s polytrack in the past. Zenyatta has won the Breeders Cup Classic at the classic distance against the best field of older horses assembled in one race on a North American track this year and has won the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn on the dirt in the past. I think that Rachael may be the best of the two at 1 mile, both are pretty equal at 1 1/8 miles, and at 1 1/4 miles it is Zenyatta hands down.
I think that in a match race at 1 1/8 miles maybe Rachael is the best because she has the tactical speed (remember Typecast and Convenience). However, in an open field of horses at the 1 1/4 mile classic distance, Zenyatta appears to be the best and I don’t think that the surface would matter that much. Therefore, Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year!
Both did so much for racing this year that I think it is a shame one of them has to lose Horse of the Year honors.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:54 am
What ? Name all the HOY winners with no wins on dirt or turf all year and no wins at Belmont, Churchill, or Saratoga…. I’ll wait …..Tiznowbaby you don’t know what you are talking about.
Zenyatta performed well on a surface that plays like turf and females have been beating males on turf forever.
But here in America we have 150 years of DIRT history that tells us females rarely beat the boys in top level competition and 3 year old fillies never beat the older males except Rachel. She defied 150 years of history.
California poly racing has been going on for what 4 years ? You dare to compare ? Whatever.
Comparing a poly specialist to Rachel is an insult. Let Zenyatta win a race where all the greats have won like at Churchill or Saratoga then tell me she is great. But the facts are she is little more then a California poly specialist.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Draynay, re-read your post, dear. You wrote: “She has no wins at Belmont, Saratoga, and Churchill which are the FOUNDATION tracks that all the prior champions raced at and won.”
Champions include more than HOY. Now, if you want to clarify, then by all means do so.
And Dray, brush up on your history and check out Miss Woodford and Beldame. Beldame was beating OLDER MALES in February of her 3YO year. Perhaps it’s you who don’t know what you’re talking about….as usual.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Ed:
I believe John Gosden has another opinion re: syn’s…get a chance to check out his recent HRTV interview. His experience and opinion goes into reasonable logic and detail regarding dirt v. turf/syn horses and distance. His perspective, coming from both sides of the pond with accomplished experience was very interesting. I walked away with his input thinking it’s more about training skill sets, horse ability.
Knew this blog post would bring out the best and worst of race fans and the comments don’t disappointment that expectation….2 superb horses and I’m glad I got a chance to witness. I’d reel in the best fillies ever comments, though. They are certainly up there, but some of you either can’t remember history or just can’t take the time to bother checking up stats….particularly if you go way, way back and internationally. Whatever.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
um, tiznowbaby. I never addressed you in any of my posts. what do you mean: “And Dray, brush up on your history and check out Miss Woodford and Beldame. Beldame was beating OLDER MALES in February of her 3YO year. Perhaps it’s you who don’t know what you’re talking about….as usual.”?????? I thought we were talking about horse of the year, not horse of last year. What does those races have to do with this topic?
December 7th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Anyone who has ever played sports knows that playing on ones home field is advantageous likewise playing on your opponents field is dis-advantageous Rachel Alexandra ran over 7 different track surfaces in 6 different states Zenyatta basically stayed at home in California
December 7th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Wow Jeff, thanks for saving my time! I didn’t have to go past the first paragraph. It’s horse of the YEAR. Stop counting her entire race resume, which was light in 2009. You degrade this award.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Zenyatta won with one of the cleanest trainers that has ever trained a horse, can Rachael and her connections say the same. I am confident Big Z was clean, however not so confident about her nemesis.
December 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
dray33, not you. Draynay, another poster. Draynay posts other places, too, and I tend to shorten his name to Dray. Sorry for the confusion.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
But Zenyatta was trained through to the BC; RA wasn’t and didn’t (and I don’t want to argue surface because it’s a waste of time…they do syn’s all the time in Europe and they also train differently as a rule). It’s not a dis against RA, it’s an observation on trainer and owner (both very good, btw). I still think Curlin’ could have been a syn/turf horse with the proper and patient training applied. That he went to stud is perfectly understandable and not a knock.
And Mr. Shapes, the “hands down” comment is lacking some serious thinking skills. The choice is going to be tough for many voters, for many reasons. It is just not that easy of a choice for me, but I’m not a vote holder…just a fan of a 5yo mare and a 3yo filly/mare that gave me some joyous memories..
December 7th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Rachel Alexandra will NEVER win a race going a mile and a quarter.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Chilli Most:
If she is trained properly and given the necessary patience…she may be able to do it.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Horse of the year aside, I suppose now we need champion dirt. turf, and synthetic.
December 7th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Very tough choice, but I believe Zenyatta would have beaten Rachael in the BC Classic. We’ve never seen the bottom of Zenyatta. Her ears told the story in the stretch - she has never been laid down in a race. Life is Sweet won the Ladies Classic by six, and she had been second to Z all year, so her competition has been solid.
It’s tough not to go with the connections that are “hands down” more likable. That one is easy.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
The suggestion Rachel won’t win at 1 1/4 is utter nonsense. Further I won’t be surprised if in 2010 Jackson, like he did with Curlin, tries her on the turf as well.
What is irksome is that there is an underlying sentiment towards Zenyatta that somehow this year’s vote should be based upon her entire career. Further that having not won HOTY last year that something is owed. (She wasn’t even close whatsoever in the final Eclipse tally for that honor last year.) It would be a travesty if that skewed line of thinking was used by voters.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Noelle, I think you’re exactly right, but there is something inherently wrong with a sport that goes out of it’s way to make competing in the “super bowl” even a thought.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Noelle, sorry NOT competing.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
The problem with Zenyatta was that her trainer did not expose her brilliance till the Breeders Cup. She came in undefeated beating the same mares. The big knock is that Turf horse’s ran 123. Kodiak Cowboy after working on pro ride would of run last in Sprint. They picked up on it and they win Cigar Mile. It’s a tough call but you have to give Rachel the edge only because she put on multiple shows everywhere she went. Zenyatta was the best kept secret in racing till Breeders Cup. That will hurt her a little. Both great race horses. Tough call for voters. Which ever one wins deserves it.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
@ Priscilla Peabody said: It’s tough not to go with the connections that are “hands down” more likable. That one is easy.
I’m no fan of JJ however that has to be the most futile suggestion of all.
In the history of the sport you’ll find many sensational horses running for less then loved owners. You be hard pressed to find a legion of Sam Riddle supporters. However could anyone discard Man O’War or War Admiral because he owned either?
The sport will always have owners with dubious financial fortunes, rascals, colorful characters, out and out SOBs and everything in between. To deny a horse their rightful place because the owner isn’t as beloved as a Penny Chenery is asinine.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Hey Glimmerglass, you’re right BUT………..
December 7th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
“But we’re supposed to be objective about it”, has been my reply in every discussion where the connections have been mentioned, but that argument always falls on deaf ears. Face it, bias counts. If my friends could vote, they would not be objective.
The award won’t help either filly like it would a stallion. The award, in this case, is really for the people. The one who would benefit the most is the trainer for having trained a HOY. No one can say enough good things about the Mosses or Sherriffs. Their filly deserves it, and they deserve it.
It may be ‘assinine” to let personal prejudice play a part, but this is not a court of law. It’s a vote, not a verdict, and people vote for who they like. People are often assinine. How else did Bush get elected? TWICE?
December 7th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Hey Ms. Peabody, no way around it it’s a people world. And unlike the Bush’s Obama won’t get elected twice!
December 7th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
One race doesn’t make a year. Should Arcangues have been the 1993 Horse of the Year.
Please it was great to be there and witness it but it didn’t have the same feeling as Saratoga did when Rachel, a 3-year-old filly, won. There is no debate. Rachel is Horse of the Year.
December 7th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
We all owe Arcangues an apology for him not being HOTY after his “electrifying performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic that flew in the face of the general negative assessment of his chances to win the event.”
December 7th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Why pick on Raven’s Pass? At least he — and stamina-bred Zenyatta — can run 1 1/4 miles without dragging home with their tongues hanging out (like some horses we know).. Distance is the great reason for voting for Zenyatta — and don’t forget we are passing a health care bill in Congress despite the efforts of lobbyists and Republicans to kill it. — Nancy P
December 7th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Glimmerglass; Rachel will NEVER win going a mile and quarter. Never has, never will.
Mr. Jackson’s ego will force him to run her the BC Classic next year barring any setbacks, and she will get eaten alive.
December 7th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Ron Hale - Thank you. I’d forgotten about Zenyatta being withdrawn from the Oaks because her connections didn’t want her running in the mud.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
@Chilli Most said “Rachel will NEVER win going a mile and quarter. Never has, never will.”
“Never has”? Please do educate us all on that race missed where she was already asked to go 1 1/4 mi. Was this some phantom race on the Oklahoma track against the ghost of Secretariat seen only by a barn cat and two drunk people walking home from the Parting Glass?
December 7th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Rachel wins Horse of the Year. Zenyatta wins Race of the Year.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Don’t knock a quality front-runner. Signed, Seattle Slew and Dr. Fager
December 7th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Why are Chilli Most and others so convinced that Rachel Alexandra won’t be able to win going 10 furlongs next year? She won at 9.5 furlongs this year. There’s no reason to think she won’t be able to get 10 furlongs as a 4yo.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Thank you Mr Shapes for a great article.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Zenyatta is a poly rubber specialist from California with no wins all year on dirt or turf.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Then be up front on the Eclipse awards they are the Breeders Cup awards from now on and it does not matter what the horse does as long as they win one race in the year.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Tiznowbaby sorry to break it to you but no horse has EVER won HOY with no wins all year on dirt or turf and no wins at chuchill, saratoga, or belmont….none !!! Never.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
This “Rachel won’t get the distance, shortening strides, or ran with her tongue dragging” is hilarious. Remember please, Zenyatta only raced over 9f ONCE (and that was as a 5 years-old).
I guess when you Zenyatta fans say Rachel is talented but wont handle anything over 9f or, she wont run “without dragging home with their tongues hanging out” you simply forget to add, but probably meant to say:
The one time Rachel ran over 9 furlongs came after a barn and trainer switch, 15 days after winning the Grade 1 Oaks at Churchill in record time, by a record 20 ¼ lengths, after which she shipped to Pimlico, where she won the Preakness, running 1 3/16ths.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
dray33 - The barn switch being the key factor. Asmussen knows all kinds of tricks to keep a horse from getting tired, to the tune of 20+ medication violations.
1 3/16ths is not 1 1/4. If that race were 10 yards further, she would have lost. She will NEVER win going 1 1/4.
and I’m not a Zenyatta fan either. Just stating the facts.
This entire Zenyatta/Rachel debate is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Regardless of who wins HOTY, everything stays the same, nothing changes. Just one guy accepting a trophy and not the other. And one group of fans can taunt the other group like 6th graders. Anyone waiting for the opportunity to say ‘I told you so! NAH NAH NA NAHH NAAAHH” is a fool.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Zenyatta had one important race, the 2009 BC Classic. Had Sea the Stars ran, she would have been entered in the Ladies Classic.
Rachel won the Kentucky Oaks by 20 lengths
Rachel won the Preakness by one length starting from the 13 post
Rachel won the Mother Goose by 20 lengths in Stakes Record Time
Rachel won the Haskell beating the Belmont Winner by 6 lengths and nearly beating the track record.
Rachel won the Woodward Stakes, beating older, male horses and repelling four separate challenges.
Clearly, Rachel is the Horse of the Year.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Draynay, dearest, quit changing your qualifications. In your original post it was champions. Any Eclipse award is a championship, and they have been awarded off one race in North America.
Now your qualifications are HOY, plus must be on turf or dirt. Fine. I agree with you there.
And btw, please address Miss Woodford and Beldame. Since you brought up 150 of history, it’s so interesting that you just skipped right over them and refuse to acknowledge those two glorious fillies who beat older males multiple times.
December 7th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
It is called “Horse of the Year” not “Horse of the Day”
December 7th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
KTQ make’s a smart statement. Zenyatta schould get an award for race of the year. Rachel HOY
December 7th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
Chilli Most, if the Preakness had been run at 10 furlongs, Calvin wouldn’t have had her that close to the speedy Big Drama through a sub :47 opening half. The fact that she was able to break from post 13, sit close to Big Drama through that quick pace, and still fend off Mine That Bird on his preferred surface was an eye-popping, sizzling performance.
Hopefully, we will find out next year if she can go 10f and that will answer the question for us.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Josh, not that I disagree with your assessment of the Preakness, but how was that track Mine That Bird’s preferred surface?
December 7th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Tiz, I meant that it was run on dirt not synth.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
We never got to see the bottom of Zenyatta.
Rachel was all out to win a couple of her races this year.
ZENYATTA is the better horse.
ZENYATTA is HOY.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
All I know is that ZENYATTA about brought down the entire grandstand during the Breeders Cup ltd. Classic. The roar of the crowd was tremendous. Almost 60 thousand came to see the Breeders Cup that day,and also to see ZENYATTA and cheer her on. To watch her come from behind and show such courage was awe inspiring. It was absolutely breath-taking !!!!!!!
The Moss’s clearly LOVE that mare and they took care of ZENYATTA. These are good people with a realness about them that is most refreshing.
This was great for the sport of Thoroughbred racing.
What the Moss’e gave to all of us by bringing ZENYATTA is well deserving of HORSE OF THE YEAR. I saw a lot of exciting races, like VALE OF YORK win the Juvenile in race #5.and have wonderful memories all the way around. There is a special aura about ZENYATTA and she has made history. To the Moss’s and their esteemed trainer, John Sheriff-
THANKS FOR EVERYTHING & BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU !
For these reasons, it is ZENYATTA who should reign as HORSE OF THE YEAR.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
HELLO MR DRAYNAY u say that the foundation has to be CHURCHILL,BELMONT,SARATOGA for a HOF’er..well i will give u a few examples if i may.
1939 HORSE OF THE YEAR> CHALLEDON> DID NOT WIN AT CD..DID NOT RUN AT SARATOGA OR BELMONT
1940 HORSE OF THE YEAR> CHALLEDON (again) won 1 race at SARATOGA >did not run at BELMONT OR SARATOGA
1944 HORSE OF THE YEAR> “TWILIGHT TEAR” SHE HAD 17 RACES OF WHICH SHE WON 14 OF WHICH THREE WERE AT BELMONT..
1949 HORSE OF THE YEAR>> “CAPOT” HAD 16 RACES>>WON 3 AT BELMONT,DID NOT WIN AT CHURCHILL….DID NOT WIN AT SARATOGA…
1956 HORSE OF THE YEAR>> “SWAPS” 10 STARTS >8 WINS– ONE AT GULFSTREAM
FOUR AT HOLLYWOOD & ONE AT WASHINGTON PARK..DID NOT RACE AT BELMONT,
SARATOGA OR CHURCHILL
ALSO THERE WERE DUAL WINNERS IN THE PAST
==========================================
1952 ONE COUNT / NATIVE DANCER “TRA”
1954 NATIVE DANCER (again) / DEDICATE “TRA”
1965 ROMAN BROTHER / MOCCASIN “TRA”
1970 FORT MARCY / PERSONALITY “TRA”
ANOTHER NOTE: THERE WERE MAJOR RACE TRACKS IN THE PAST THAT DONT EXIST
ANYMORE..ie:”WASHINGTON PARK”, “JAMAICA” , “LINCOLN FIELDS” , & VERY , VERY FAMOUS “HAVRE de GRACE” , “TANFORAN” etc…..about ” HAVRE de GRACE” EVERY ONE AT THE TRACKS BACK THEN & EVEN NOW SOME PRONOUNCE IT WRONG…ITS PRONOUNCED ” HAR DA GRA” ..
THERE HAVE BEEN QUITE A FEW FAMOUS FILLYS & MARES IN THE PAST THAT I BELIEVE COULD BEAT THE PRESENT TWO OF TODAY…”PRINCESS DOREEN” WHO STARTED 94 RACES & RACED 82 TIMES AGAINST THE BOYS…i named my 54 yr old daughter after her……”TOSMAH ” , “DAHLIA” , & THE GREAT “GALLORETTE…TO NAME A FEW….HOWEVER I CAME TO A CONCLUSION>>AT FIRST I THOUGHT “RACHEL” WAS A SHO IN UNTIL i SAW “ZENYATTA” THATS IT
.
December 7th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
And to all those say it’s HORSE of the year, not RACE of the year:
I say yes, it is HORSE of the year, not CAMPAIGN of the YEAR.
And Zenyatta was the best horse of 2009. (See preceding post.)
December 7th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
And btw draynay, how does a “synth specialist” win a gr. 1 on the dirt? Ever hear of the Apple Blossom?
(Not saying this 2008 performance should be considered for HOY, simply that his characterization of Z as a synth specialist is clearly wishful thinking.)
December 7th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
ACTUALLY SHIRREFFS & MOSS REALLY SAY TTHAT SHE IS BETTER ON THE DIRT….
THE ‘apple blossom” G1…THEY SHOULD KNOW….not the wannabe handicappers that know everything..most of them wouldnt know a HORSE if they slepted in bed with one.
December 7th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Yes, we realize that Zenyatta possesses a win in the ‘08 Apple Blossom and that her connections have indicated she is better on dirt than synth. So, Zenyatta can run on both synth and dirt. We understand that.
But here’s the thing … take Gio Ponti for example. He is a world class turf horse. But is he a world class horse on synth? His Strub would indicate that he is not a world class horse on synth.
So, the reason those of us who are supporting Rachel Alexandra for HOY keep harping on surface has less to do with Zenyatta, and a lot to do with her competition in the BC Classic. Gio Ponti, Twice Over, Rip Van Winkle, Einstein, Summer Bird, Mine That Bird, and the rest had no real synth form to point to.
So, yes, Zenyatta beat a field of great horses, but none of her competition were on their preferred surface. If Zenyatta had to face Gio Ponti on the turf, do any of you seriously believe she would win? If Gio Ponti did beat her on the turf, it wouldn’t make him a better horse necessarily - it just means he’s better on the lawn than her. That’s all.
December 7th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
The surfaces Zenyatta raced on were actually slower than the dirt raced on by Rachael for the most part. Big Z showed up and Rachael ducked the race. The Moss’s bought their horse for 65k as a relatively unknown and billionaire Jackson carpetbags his way into the sport buying made horses. Jackson is bitter because Curlin did not perform in the BC last year and swears not to race on what he calls plastic. The reality is Curlin could not run drug free as the testing process changed prior to the BC. When Jackson starts breeding his own horses and uses a trainer that is clean then he deserves the right to knock racing surfaces. I was in the barn both before and after the BC and Zenyatta did not take a breath. Just because a horse does it easy does not diminish their talent. You never saw the bottom of that filly and never will because the owners take care of their horses and retire them sound. There is no doubt Zenyatta will be Horse of the year, she is the better horse. By the way Jackson plans on breeding Curlin to Rachael a mating that will never work but he is too ego driven to know that.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Zenyatta was at Churchill to run this year and no one even knew. They scratched because of the mud and was afraid she would not perform. They should of run but did not because of surface. Rachel did not run at Santa Anita because of surface. I think Zenyatta should get HOY but she won’t because when they sit down and see all those starts and wins on the ballot next to Rachel name, she will have huge edge. The voters don’t care who own the horses, they just look at record.
December 7th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Chilli Most Says:
“dray33 - The barn switch being the key factor. Asmussen knows all kinds of tricks to keep a horse from getting tired, to the tune of 20+ medication violations”.
> can’t base HOY honors on your accusations. They didn’t buy her because she was just a decent horse they made great with meds. When she does win at 1 and 1/4, you’ve protected yourself from having to admit she is better than your opinion. Its a great fall-back for you, you can always chalk her wins up to medication. She ran 15 days after the Oaks, and gets blamed for being “short”, after winning! It’s disgraceful.
“1 3/16ths is not 1 1/4. If that race were 10 yards further, she would have lost. She will NEVER win going 1 1/4.”
> Disagree.
“and I’m not a Zenyatta fan either. Just stating the facts”
> Sure your not. You certainly don’t sound like a Rachel fan.
“This entire Zenyatta/Rachel debate is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. Regardless of who wins HOTY, everything stays the same, nothing changes. Just one guy accepting a trophy and not the other. And one group of fans can taunt the other group like 6th graders. Anyone waiting for the opportunity to say ‘I told you so! NAH NAH NA NAHH NAAAHH” is a fool.”
> Agreed. I’m hoping for sanity in our sport, having nothing to do with NAh NAH’s. I could care less about what the naysayers say if she wins or loses. I know the records, I understand what’s at stake.
Erin Says:
December 7th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
“And to all those say it’s HORSE of the year, not RACE of the year:
I say yes, it is HORSE of the year, not CAMPAIGN of the YEAR.”
> I think what we are saying is it’s “Horse of the YEAR”, not “Horse of ONE SPECTACULAR RACE this Year”.
Josh, VERY good/valid points about GIO PONTI (my favorite horse this year, btw). His best surface is obviously turf. Won 4 Grade 1’s in a row on the turf, and then a second. He won a grade 3, and came in 5th in a grade 2 on the synthetics. Zenyatta simply beating him on synthetics is expected. She was the favorite after all. I believe this year, her connections crafted a synthetics only 5 race season that leaves us with more questions then answers. But she is a spectacular filly that should have race when called, rain or shine.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:52 am
I agree with Pam of Sunnybrook, there is a special aura that Zenyatta possesses. I know she captured my heart the first time I saw her prancing around before a race. And when she won the Classic, she made it look easy, like it was nothing more than a claiming event. I don’t think there is any way even Rachel could have beat her, especially after watching Rachel in the Woodward. She was exhausted after that race. It only makes sense that Zenyatta should be HOY.
December 8th, 2009 at 11:40 am
To the guy above who made the irresponsible comment inferring Rachel Alexandra has “drugs” connections, I’m not sure if he’s accusing Hal Wiggins and Steve Asmussen as both being unclean trainers who would have illegally advanced her performance, but that’s ridiculous to suggest that it’s why she’s been so brilliant and that Zenyatta deserves HOY because of his she’s-more-likely-to-be-clean theory.
Rachel’s performance never changed from her last race at two up until now regardless of who trained her, where she ran, and who she faced. Once she hit two turns she showed she was special. Stop the stupid drug inferences please. Taking away from what this great filly did in 2009 by carelessly using the drugs card is ridiculous and uncalled for. It does not belong in this debate.
December 8th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Rachel is the better horse…. period. They will not race unless it becomes a point of honor… but Rachel would outrun the “other” mare by daylight, probably at any distance…
December 8th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Joel,
Chili Most is just stating the obvious. When you have that many violations for drugs it does put a question mark on the horse. It is unfortunate but if it walks like a duck. Zenyatta ran on hay, oats and purified water.
December 8th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Who would have beaten who is a pointless arguement. Would anyone have said that Onion could beat Secretariat? But he did. Does that make him the better horse that year? The only statement that can be inferred from their failure to meet in head to head competition is that racing as an industry has a long way to go to promote and improve the sport (how can you have a 3 yr old filly do something never done before without any mainstream media recognition?). My only wish is that we could expand beyond that Derby/BC concentration and focus on so many other wonderful stories throughout the year - and encourage the public to attend.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
To JR Says:
I’m not aware of trainer Hal Wiggins, who just retired, having a problem with test positives during his long training career. And since this filly was brilliant in several straight starts under his care, including a record-breaking Oaks win, I don’t see how drugs are even in the conversation as it pertains to this horse.
This is a cheap shot at Steve Asmussen, who in my opinion is an ambassador of this game, and it’s uncalled for in this debate. Rachel’s performance was great all year and did not change no matter who trained her. Because you assume Zenyatta ran clean her entire career you are suggesting that assumption should give her the edge in HOY voting. That’s simply ridiculous to make that suggestion in my humble opinion.
December 9th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Eugene are you nuts ? Swaps won the Derby in 1955. That race is held in Kentucky at Churchill by the way. Zenyatta in her entire career never won at Churchill, Belmont, or Saratoga. Name any top 50 horse in American history with no wins at any of those 3 tracks in their careers.
Zenyatta is a poly rubber specialist that never stepped out of California all year and didn’t race on dirt or turf all year. We have never given HOY to a horse with no wins all year on dirt or turf and I hope I never see the time we do.
Rachel ran against the best dirt horses and that is a much larger pool of horses then those who run on poly fiber and recycled rubber.
December 9th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Let me make this real easy for all of you.
Rachel went undefeated at 3 winning at Saratoga, Belmont, and Churchill. Name another horse in history that has done that.
December 9th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I just can’t believe some of you are applauding a 5 race campaign as championship worthy. Zenyatta is frigging brilliant, and brought tears to my eyes in the Classic, but doesn’t it set an awful precedent that all you have to do is point a horse toward BC and be done with it? I was so excited last year when they said they were going to bring her back, but then, I was SO disappointed all year with the unwillingness to race her or at least give her a challenging spot or two outside of the Classic. She didn’t start until May, and then there was a 60 day break in there somewhere as I recall. Rachel ran what 8 times, in 7 months (after having been in training since November of her two year old year at the latest, but I won’t include last year as an argument)? And I wouldn’t be so sure Zenyatta would just sweep right past her at any distance, Rachel has heart in spades, she’d put up one hell of a fight, of that I am sure. RA deserves this award…she left it all out there on the track, more than once. I’m more impressed by her will to win than her 20 length victories. She may lose next year, but I guarantee you, she will never just spit the bit unless something is physically wrong with her and even then, she still may not spit it, and that scares me.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
So out of curiosity Draynay, because Man o’ War, Count Fleet, Sysonby, and War Admiral, who were all undefeated at three, did not win races at all three of the tracks you named, does that make beautiful Rachel a greater race horse than each of them?
December 9th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
MR DRAYNAY
YOUR IN THE WRONG YEAR…SWAPS DID WIN THE DERBY IN 1955 THAT WASNT THE HORSE OF THE YEAR..SWAPS WON HORSE OF THE YEAR IN 1956.SWAPS NEVER RAN AT CD OR BEL OR SAR THAT YEAR… .NASHUA WON THE HORSE OF THE YEAR IN 1955
December 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
The two greatest 3 year old campaigns ever are by Citation and Rachel Alexandra. Feel better now Tiznowbaby? If I had to pick at 3rd and 4th it would be Man o War and Alydar. Yes, 5th would be Secretariat.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:47 am
So you are saying that Rachel, at three, was a better horse than Man O’ War?
And btw, you lose any credibility you may have had if you put Alydar’s 3YO campaign over Affirmed’s.
December 10th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Sorry Tiz I meant Affirmed I can’t believe I typed Alydar. It was late. I did watch a few of their races on Youtube last night and it was like being there all over again.
Should Rachel go undefeated again this year and win the Breeders Cup Classic she will be the greatest ever in my mind. Undefeated at 3 and 4 and the Classic winner too. Best ever. We will see.
December 16th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
So Paul–if this is true-why was Curlin HOY last year?? I seem to remember several voters saying they gave an extra credit to Curlin for being brought back to race and that his all time money earnings played a large part–that all was not just what he did LAST YEAR only was it? and let’s see–5 graded races and 3 wins, a second and a fourth -wow so impressive last year! World Cup not graded and can’t count a whole lot except for huge purse or Well Armed should be being discussed. And who he beat in Jockey Gold Cup or Woodward not all that impressive. So why was he HOY?? and by Jackson’s own testimony Curlin ran on steroids until Dubai. Wow–a trainer with massive drug violations pages long and an owner embroiled in court battle to own the horse–oh that did so much for racing in 08 didn’t it?
and to those who say drugs not part of this–really?? Wiggins is indeed wonderful and trained her for 3 races this year(2 of which were grade 2’s) but Asmussen is no ambassador of clean racing with his rap sheet and he had her for the 4 races most of you are talking about. The Woodward? not very impressive really with the 8lb weight advantage and the 20+hits with the whip in last few yards-another step or two she was beaten by Macho Again–when was his last win?
Paul Says:
December 7th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I have a vote for Eclipse Awards and I just want to remind you, and everyone else voting or emoting, that Eclipse Awards are won by what the horse, owner, trainer, has done in that particular year. While I realize that subliminally, voters may be swayed by an undefeated career, that’s not what a year-end award was intended to entail. Both horses will win their respective divisions, but sometimes hard decisions have to be made. We’ve all been through that in our daily lives at some point. Respectfully, Paul Daley, Racing Writer, Lowell Sun