Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Derby God — Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:44:17 GMT

As good as RA was my memories will always be that her connections feared Zenyatta so much they placed her in races to avoid getting beat. The 3 yr old class that year was pathetic, the KY Derby winner never won another Graded Race, did he ever win again? Has that ever happened b4 with a sound horse who tried for 2 yrs to win again? Win a KY Derby and disappear from the winners circle with no excuses? It took only 1 hard race for her to lose her courage, to burn her out. So many others have experienced the same hard races and had the bottom, and courage to keep on top. I loved watching her race but always knew her competition was suspect. One for the ages? Maybe, but we seem desperate to find one and our standards have lowered.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Mary Zinke — Wed, 10 Jul 2013 03:57:16 GMT

I Want Revenge update. From Buck Pond Farm, "I Want Revenge will be standing at our farm beginning next year(2014)."

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

AnnAhnemann — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:02:29 GMT

The best article I have ever read about our beloved Rachel. Thank you so much!

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

ForTheLoveOfTheHorse — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 20:50:12 GMT

Thank you Steve, for resurrecting the racing community’s memory of the greatness of Rachel! So deserving and so beautifully done! For all the heart-stopping awe, and goose bumps, and thrills; for “knowing that we were witnessing greatness” race after race; for the deafening history she laid on the track, it’s a tragedy that the media and fans and racing industry were not present for her quiet isolated walk away from the track. It’s heartbreaking now, even as it was at the time. So quickly we can dismiss greatness in the wake of a few losses, while not making oneself aware of what she had truly accomplished, and the toll it can take. I do believe she laid it all out on the track every time, but did leave ALL her heart and soul and body on the track at the Woodward. Yet, what she was not able to reproduce in 2010, she did – again - in her fight for survival after two difficult birthings – this last one by far the worst, and her greatest fight and will to win – life! I believe…rather I plead…she has done enough! Don’t breed her again and put her life in jeopardy again!! Perhaps this last round of defeating death was the same as her Woodward win. Perhaps she laid it all out again, and perhaps we still expect more? Let her live out her life comfortable, happy, being a horse. For all of us who continue to love and admire her, beyond what words are capable of explaining, just let her live now, a long happy life. Let us know she is simply present in this world and happy, and not being forced to face again the possibility of losing the ultimate battle.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

grey32 — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 20:14:30 GMT

@Paula Higgins

It's not that Rachel was over raced in 2009, it's that she stood in a stall for 5 months.

Then was rushed into poor training, after gaining to much weight put in some stupid figure 8 contraption to force het to rate, while being put in grade 1 races and expected to magically pick up where she left off.

The fact that she even hit the board is a testament to her good humor and great talent

This horse was so mishandled the whole crew should have been brought up on charges.

If they had worked her lightly for 4 of those 5 months kept and eye on weight, then put her in real training whose to say what she could have done.

She lost the races she lost in 2010 because she was in poor condition and over weight. I for one am so thankful these **&^*& didn't kill her.

She was not broken in 2009 that's absurd. Human bull rather then admit what a joke it all was.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

TerriV — Sat, 22 Jun 2013 00:55:26 GMT

Oh my God how moving was that! I can't stop crying. Rachel was a true phenomenon. I saw her Preakness, her Mother Goose and her Haskell and watched the rest on TV. We may not have had a triple Crown winner but that doesn't mean we haven't had amazing fillies and colts. Rachel stands alone in her glory.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Guiness — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 20:53:34 GMT

No it wasn't Steve. And this is about Rachel. I for the life of me can't seem to see why some people just can't keep the focus on the aforementioned horse in the above article. Let's keep this on Rachel.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Steve Haskin — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:52:57 GMT

This last post was the final one that has anything to do with Zenyatta. I dont believe her name was mentioned in this story.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Guiness — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 19:27:51 GMT

@Ramie, Zenyatta deserved her HOTY in 2010. She ran in all grade One races and she was the limelight of 2010. Can you tell me any other horse from that year that brought so much attention to horse racing than she did? I don't think so? and Blame, he will always be remembered for the horse that beat Zenyatta by 4 inches in her first Breeders Cup on dirt and also, don't forget, the ground she made up considering how far back she was. She ran the best in that BCC than the rest of the field did that day. Blame was on his favorite track and surface but she was right there with him coming on strong only to come up a few inches short. And when they crossed the line, she was already passing him. yeah, she was the best of 2010. And speaking of her 'handling' ,yeah, maybe that's why she was able to run and win for three years because she wasn't all gutted out and run to death in 1 or 2 years. She still had plenty left in the tank.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

RedRose777 — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 16:18:42 GMT

@ Paula Higgins,

You obviously didn't read my comment and see that I was addressing someone else who brought Zenyatta into Rachel's honorary blog post. Furthermore, don't you dare tell me what I can and cannot write...who made you the racing czar?? Finally, tell me which part of my post was untrue, and I will gladly address it! All I conveyed was that Rachel earned the honor in 2009 with her extraordinary campaign, and that Zenyatta didn't deserve the honor based on her subpar campaign (again something I wrote in response to someone else!) Funny how you didn't chastise that person for bringing Zenyatta into Rachel's blog post here, but that is obviously because the comment was sycophantic and thus okay with you.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

greengirl — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:48:50 GMT

Awesome writing, Steve. I can feel the energy just from your words. Every once in awhile I still pull up her races online and watch them for kicks. I tear up when she wins the Woodward every time!

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Paula Higgins — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 17:50:37 GMT

You know I used to think like alot of people do, that if Rachel had not raced as much as she did in 2009 maybe her 2010 year would have been better. That might or might not have been true, but it would definitely be true that she wouldn't have had that spectacular 3 year old record as her legacy. Trainers and owners get dinged by the racing community for A) Running them too much B) Not running them enough. They simply can't win. But I believe they do what they think the horse is capable of, based on their works. Sometimes that translates into the actual race and sometimes it doesn't. Rachel's 3 year old year was so brilliant, that I think we were expecting too much for 2010. It would have been just about impossible to repeat it when you are racing full tilt out for 1 year and you are a female. As someone noted, she was bred for speed and not stamina, which is pretty much standard these days. Personally, I did not feel that Zenyatta was quite the same horse in 2010 either (sorry, forgive me). It has to catch up with them at some point.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

derbylin — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 13:10:26 GMT

Thank you, Pedigree Ann for your explanation. The trainer said he was glad that an experienced jockey was on Itsmyluckyday. I always think back at how the late Chris Antley held Charismatic's injured leg in the Belmont of 1999.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Paula Higgins — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 03:44:36 GMT

RamieF, stop with the nonsense about Zenyatta. This blog IS about Rachel Alexandra but you spent most of your time knocking Zenyatta. The reality is that true horse lovers and racing fans can find plenty to appreciate and love in both girls. Both were spectacular in their own right for different reasons. Comparing them is an exercise in futility and pointless. Loving them both is not.

As for breeding Rachel again, I really wish they wouldn't. I don't think it is worth it to risk it again. I am sure Barbara Banke isn't thrilled about the idea either. Frankly, I wish they would give Zenyatta a rest too, but that didn't happen.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Mookie's Hero — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 22:16:55 GMT

A wonderful article and a little bittersweet . Can't help recalling CW Anderson's line about Alsab " No three year old in years had been asked for so much and had given so generously. If a little less had been asked there would have been more to give."

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Pedigree Ann — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 21:54:02 GMT

Derbylin - Top jocks can feel when things are wrong with a horse; they have ridden so many horses that are 'right' that it stands out to them if to no one else. Remember when Bailey pulled Noble Causeway out of the Jim Dandy after he felt 'wrong' in the warm-up? Nothing showed on the tests, so the trainer wheeled him back in an allowance the following weekend - he broke down before the first turn.

Fortunately pelvic fractures are usually not displaced and will heal well with rest and proper care.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

slee — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:29:54 GMT

Mary - Interesting detective work on I Want Revenge. The Vinery is for sale and many web sites on his trail are disabled. Buck Pond Farms' presence on the web is negligible. I don't see IWR registered as a breeding stallion in KY, FL, NY, Australia or New Zealand. And he's not on a general list for stallions breeding in Europe this spring. Curious (but an interesting way to spend a lunch hour!).

"Luv Gov" was running at River Downs in Ohio in 2011, but I bet you have more recent data than that!

Am looking forward to seeing what you turn up.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Colostate85 — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:40:02 GMT

Thank you again Steve! I just took the time to re-watch a few of Rachel's race replays and I still get worked up! You story was the best!

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Mary Zinke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:05:12 GMT

Wonderful tribute to Rachel. I always enjoy these blogs; I just tend to add to all of the other positive responses late :)

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derbylin — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:59:37 GMT

Just had to comment on the news of Itsmyluckyday. Pelvic fracture. They hope to bring him back in 4mos or so. God Bless Mike Smith for detecting that something was wrong with the horse. Will be praying for a lucky future for Itsmyluckyday.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Mary Zinke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:51:44 GMT

*info also provided by James LaMonica on IWR. Latest search is for Luv Gov,for a teen fan, if anyone has any info. I have a call in to his last trainer. Thanks.

re: Haskin Series Part 1: Rachel Rocks the Spa

Mary Zinke — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:46:16 GMT

slee, One of the blog writers at h r n posted that pre-liminary info. I haven't yet double-checked I Want Revenge's current whereabouts. The search was aided by Mr. Jeffrey Tucker who provided the posted stallion prospect info. There is no longer a website for IEAH, IWR's last owner while he was racing, and as far as I can tell, somehow their archives are deleted, to. So, the search went through Mr.Jeffrey Singer who had a part-interest in the horse. Mr.Tucker and Mr.Singer had also been business partners.

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Pedigree Ann — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:00:52 GMT

Robin -

For a 3yo filly career, try Twilight Tear - she won the CCA Oaks, the Acorn, the Arlington Classic (when it was 10f dirt and a G1-type race; she beat the Derby/Preakness winner Pensive), the Pimlico Oaks, Gazelle, Test, Diana, etc. and finally the Pimlico Special (which was so much more important in those days) over Devil Diver, who was the champion older horse of the year.

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Mary — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:11:45 GMT

slee, thank you so much for the information on I Want Revenge. Others will be very happy to hear the news.

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Mary — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:07:39 GMT

Sorry robinm, yes I Want Revenge. Since IEAH went under and Dutrow is gone, many people are wondering what happened to this horse. I and others can't seem to find him.

As far as the beautiful Rachel, I don't like the Northern Dancer/Mr. Prospector (Native Dancer), on the tail side of her pedigree. IMO, which I think is objective, she was bred for speed rather than endurance. If you look at the pedigrees of Zenyatta and/or Rags to Riches; they were both bred for stamina. I guess that is why Rags had no problem winning the Belmont.