SECOND PLACE WON’T RAIN ON RACHEL’S PARADE
Kate Hunter wins the prize for traveling the farthest to see Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds in New Orleans on Saturday, coming all the way from Tokyo, Japan. Actually, Hunter, a native of Nashville, Tenn., is an English teacher in Tokyo who was back home on a school break but decided to go forego family and hop in a car for the drive to Louisiana.
Paulick Report asked if she would mind sending us a brief account of her experience at the Fair Grounds, whether Rachel Alexandra won or lost.
Hunter writes her own blog on Japanese racing at www.keiblog.net and takes racing photos in Japan for Bloodhorse.com. Following is her recap of the mood at the Fair Grounds after the reigning Horse of the Year suffered her first loss in more than 15 months. –Ray Paulick
By Kate Hunter
You wouldn’t have known that Rachel Alexandra had lost her 2010 debut by listening to the reaction of the crowd as she made her way back toward the grandstand to be unsaddled. The cheers and applause were just as loud after the race as they had been during the post parade.
People of all ages and from far away places were there to see the 2009 Horse of the Year in action and to cheer her on, no matter what the results were. Racing fans from all around the United States came to the Fair Grounds on March 13tto see the inaugural New Orleans Ladies Stakes and their favorite racehorse. New York, California, Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, and of course Louisiana were there to lend their support.
Between all of the hats, signs, shirts, hoots and hollers, it felt more like a rock concert than a horse race. Track officials hoped for about 10,000 people to visit their dear Fair Grounds, and they might have gotten close. There were so many people in attendance that late comers had to park in the stable area. This ended up delaying Rachel’s return to her stall by almost an hour, since hundreds of race fans found themselves trying to navigate their way to an exit, through the racetracks vast stables.
Even after hearing about Zenyatta’s victory, Rachel’s fans held to their beliefs that their girl would win when she finally does meet trainer John Sherriffs’ other mare whose name also starts with Z. They justify their belief by the 11-plus lengths between second place Rachel Alexandra and third place Unforgotten, and the fact she fought back so hard down the stretch. "Rachel Mania" won’t let a second place finish rain on their parade.
Tags: bloodhorse.com, fair grounds, horse of the year, Kate Hunter, New Orleans, New Orleans Ladies Stakes, Paulick Report, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, tokyo, zenyatta
March 14th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Well, Rachel-mania sure causes some people to come up with some delusional theories. I have heard in the last 14 hours some really interesting ones, but the one that sticks out is the general theory that “they deliberately lost, so as to set up a false sense of security for Zenyatta.”
What?!! If so, then state and federal authorities need to invesitgate Team Asmussen for race fixing. LOL! It’s laughable.
No offense to the writer….she is sincere in her love of all racing, as I have read her blog and especially enjoy how they stake out positions at the track in Japan.
While I think that great competition makes for great racing, sometimes the dependence upon this rivalry goes a bit too far. We’re in full swing on Derby season with some great talent out there and the focus and dependence on Rachel Alexandra vs Zenyatta far exceeds my dependence upon strong coffee. This rivalry has become the “crack cocaine” of the sport & people are finding hard to come down from this high after a non-winning performance by Rachel Alexandra. The “crack” has affected far too many’s sensibilities & now there are people concocting wild theories to explain tthis loss.
Sure, rivalries draw fan interest, but if this great race between Rachel Alexandra & Zenyatta doesn’t happen, what then is racing going to do?? It seems so many have gambled the bank on this “saving racing,” and if it doesn’t happen, does this mean racing is dead?? No… and we shouldn’t act like we’re so dependent on the Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta crack when the Derby has yet to be run….. more racing stars are on their way. You can count on that.
March 14th, 2010 at 11:59 am
I heard on TVG this morning that Fairgrounds had 12,000 fans yesterday.
No disrespect meant to the author, but the horse “11-plus lengths” back was a grossly over-matched filly who has never won a graded stakes and only has one stakes win to her credit.
#1 Paula - the best one I’ve heard so far is a Rachel fan on Bloodhorse accusing Shirreffs of “unsportsmanlike conduct” for entering Zardana in the race - he was wrong to enter the winner of one G2 race against a multiple G1 winning Horse of the Year.
March 14th, 2010 at 12:22 pm
They all took shots at both of these girls. They all felt they were both vulnerable. Zenyatta, although, was spotting her opponents, 11-19 pounds. It doesn’t matter if you are a grade 1 winner or not, your chances are helped by the addition of weight upon the horse you are trying to beat. Why would Smith want to push the envelope and win by A trainer was on one of our stations on Saturday speaking from his barn at SA and stated that he loved his chances of beating the big mare. She was vulnerable and would get beat. No one said that as far as trainers at the Fair Grounds. They knew that her rivals were not as capable or had achieved the status that RA had. She only spotted her field 1-2 pounds. She faced a serious racehorse today whether taken off her game or not. Asmussen said, if she wasn’t fit he wouldn’t have run her. So, he isn’t the one coming up with excuses the general RA fans are. RA was pushed to the limits and her whole career changed with the sale. RA fans were cheated since if that ridiculous campaign did not exist, she would have won against that bunch on Saturday. It is not what is good for the fans at times, it is what is good for our horse. She has never had that much time off before even after a chip was removed. There is more to this story than what meets the eye.
March 14th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
They all took shots at both of these girls. They all felt they were both vulnerable. Zenyatta, although, was spotting her opponents, 11-19 pounds. It doesn’t matter if you are a grade 1 winner or not, your chances are helped by the addition of weight upon the horse you are trying to beat. Why would Smith want to push the envelope and win by 12? That has not been their style from day 1. Remember even in all of her troubles he NEVER went to the whip. A trainer was on one of our stations on Saturday speaking from his barn at SA and stated that he loved his chances of beating the big mare. She was vulnerable and would get beat. No one said that as far as trainers at the Fair Grounds. They knew that her rivals were not as capable or had achieved the status of RA. She only spotted her field 1-2 pounds. She faced a serious racehorse today whether taken off her game or not. Asmussen said, if she wasn’t fit he wouldn’t have run her. So, he isn’t the one coming up with excuses the general RA fans are. RA was pushed to the limits and her whole career changed with the sale. RA fans were cheated since if that ridiculous campaign last year did not exist, she would have won against that bunch on Saturday. It is not what is good for the fans at times, it is what is good for your horse. She has never had that much time off before even after a chip was removed. There is more to this story than what meets the eye.
March 14th, 2010 at 12:37 pm
Let the mania continue!
After watching the Ladies yesterday I recalled the sort-of rhyme - Zardana, Sarava (the game little 70-1horse who beat War Emblem and Medaglia d’Oro, at Belmont in 2002, in a huge TC upset)
Horse racing is so predictable, they even let you bet on it!
March 14th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
I think it’s great 12,000 fans showed up. But, for some of those same fans to allege wrong-doing on the part of trainer or jockey is irresponsible. The fact is, so many are alluding to a wrong idea that Asmussen, Jackson, Borel planned to lose, or that they didn’t want to push her in her first start back. Isn’t that allegation a disservice to the betting public & the fans? On the U.K.’s Racing Post, a commenter is saying the mafia was involved. I am stunned someone would say Shirreffs is a poor sportsman for merely entering a horse in a race. Who was the loon that made that comment??!!!
People are acting crazy & this is what makes me despise the whole match up idea. I liked both horses, but yes, I prefer Zenyatta because her connections have more class & they don’t shoot off at the mouth, pointing out all of the ills of racing & suing everyone who crosses their path. Jackson often comes off as a bit of an eccentric madman & is hypocritical in his words about the ills of racing because he has & does employ a trainer who has had multiple medication positives & suspensions.
God, how I do wish this mania would just go away. Both sides can be a bit disrespectful at times, but truly… why are we not celebrating the 15th win by the Breeders’ Cup Classic champion instead of wallowing in a loss by another champion?!!!
Racing should be about celebrating greatness, not throwing a sissy pity party at every turn.
March 14th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
I’m with you, Paula. I’m reading the opinions on either side and yes, I did write a highly debated case on PR for why I believe Rachel’s 2009 accomplishments outweigh Zenyatta’s, but that never meant I held hatred for Zenyatta and that’s exactly what I’ve encountered in the last several months of this debate. Since, independent of her record, Rachel is also my sentimental favorite because of her tenacity and the emotion with which she has won her races, watching her maligned by every Zenyatta fan with a computer has been sort of overwhelming. They seem to think she’s been “more maligned” in the debate (per one of the posters on today’s headline article), which I’m not sure I can agree with. Even talking one on one with Z fans, I’ve been surprised at how angry they got over the whole thing, even before she was passed over for HOY.
Settle down, everyone! This rivalry, and even the exaggerated media coverage can be great for our sport, but if the insiders let it make us crazy then what’s the point? Can we all just sit back and watch the show?
March 14th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
The whole thing we should be celebrating is a win by a champion, and not wallowing in a loss. My “first love” in racing, Secretariat, suffered a humiliating defeat to Onion, a lesser horse in anyone’s book, and Secretariat was a Triple Crown winner. I was 6 years old then & didn’t cry about it then. And I am not an emotionless robot, as I still get teary eyed watching Secretariat’s Belmont. I can’t imagine that anyone is more of a racing fan and supporter than I am, yet I can put this all in perspective. Perspective is missing in most of the comments elsewhere.
I don’t care to diss either horse, nor act like a third grader on the playground, but that’s what I keep hearing & seeing, petty taunts. I don’t know how or why this is a East vs West rivalry. Jess Jackson is a Californian, so that makes him a “Westie” too.
People keep trying to say that rivalry is good for racing. It’s not good if it’s creating animosity & rumours and lack of perspective. It’s not fans then, they are zealots and you can’t talk sense to zealots.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
Paula…great points and I’m on the perspective train with a nod to 2 great mares and a good day (maybe great except for that ugly breakdown at SA) of racing.
C’mon folks. Great races from Florida, Arkansas, LA and CA.
Don’t count RA out. She is a super filly and may meet her other spectacular competitor either Apple Blossom or BC. Pray for safe trips and long health so we may be able to continue to enjoy.
I’ve always felt that the HOY was a toss up; RA had a tough, tough campaign and Z was no slouch, but I’ve always felt that Z was da’bomb! IOW, Z would always be the better horse on any given day. RA is also great and I wish everyone/horse well.
Arguing is stupid and a waste of time…but who carried the weight?????
God that move by Smith, I swear Z looked like her head turned 45 degrees splitting the horse in front and next to her. I thought she even stumbled and look at what she did.
Gotta love Trevor Denmon.
March 14th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
The hate, angry and stupid comments usually come from folks that have no freaking concept of what it means to produce an ear of corn, a good quality slab of bacon, hang a window (much more make one), raise a steer, handle dung (human or animal), provide water OR raise, through the Grace of God and genetics a spectacular race (or cutting, walker, draft, etc for that matter) horse.
The internet is great…too bad too many people spend time commenting on the world rather than changing it….where’s my gameboy?
March 14th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
Haha I take no offense. Since it isn’t my opinion but that of the Rachel fans I talked to at the Fairgrounds. Everyone had their different reactions to the race. Even if you think they are crazy, you have to admire their devotion (the sport needs it). But to slightly defend them, MANY of Rachel’s past rivals were grossly over matched too. So it might have been a bit of wishful thinking, but it had SOME validity to it.
March 14th, 2010 at 11:22 pm
Racing is just like any other sport, horses like people have their good days and bad. Some don’t take as long to get into “playing shape” and others do. There is no way Rachel was in top form after such a long lay off. But they were pushing her to meet that April date. The entire plan for these two horses to meet so early in the season was a mistake. Instead of pushing both to get fit enough to meet in April, they should have waited till later in the year. Let them meet at Belmont, Saratoga, Monmouth or Churchill. Work it in so that the race can be run on a Saturday. All of those tracks would be easier to get to and crowds will be huge as will the handle on a Saturday vs. a Friday.
However, reading and hearing some of the things that people are saying is plain ridiculous! This is HORSE RACING folks! Enjoy what we are all getting the opportunity to watch because it does not come along too often! There is no need what so ever for the vile stupid uninformed comments that some people are voicing. Go ahead and cheer for your favorite horse, but really what is the point of trying to degrade the other horse or its connections?