A Greatness of Her Own

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Jeison — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 00:31:05 GMT

I'd tell RA to kiss Zen's big butt, but she'd never catch it.

I met Zenyatta a week ago. She was very self aware and I think she knew we thought the same of her. She loved being loved on. She is what legends are made of. I teared up when she rested her head against me. Talk about feeling honoured.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Ragsy — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:31:38 GMT

Horswld so very right...you are..teach that youngster everything you possibly can...love of the horses is so good....

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Horswld — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 06:50:10 GMT

Far Right Wing-Nut,

So are you saying it's wrong for me to take my 6 yr old nephew, Tristen, to the race track? Are you saying that I'm sinning? I'm quite offended by your post. Many people have been introduced to horse racing and all that goes with it, including gambling, at a young age. I was and I turned out quite alright. Seeing that my nephew loves horses and horse racing and is learning about handicaping, I intend to teach him the responsibilities of the sport and of horses in general now. This is a sport to be relished by young and old alike and I will not deny my nephew this. He is raised in a loving and responsible home. The more he wants to learn about horse racing the more I will teach him about horse racing in a responsible way. That's just the way it is.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Ragsy — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:11:18 GMT

Abbie Knowles, I tried facebook but am unable to access it but, thank you for the offer...

God Bless...

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Catbird — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:23:48 GMT

Total agreement, Steve. We have two greats; let's just enjoy them.

Also, inasmuch as each filly prefers a different surface, what would a match race actually tell us, unless one of the two won over the other's surface? If they race on poly and Zenyatta wins, Rachel fans can say, 'yeah, but . . .' Same story vice versa. So the real test would be a series of match races---which is certainly on no one's cards.

Sure is fun having two heroines.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

TexSpect — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:38:42 GMT

Those few drops of Forli blood in both of their pedigrees is what did it.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

LDP — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:49:41 GMT

Matt,

If Zen comes to NY and RA beats her, she is HOTY no matter what. Also if RA goes and beats the top older horses, SB, MTB, and QR in the JCGC, HOTY is over. If RA does the second option she will have 3 tries against males, beating them at 1 1/4, and beating the derby, belmont, and possible Travers winner. She does this she wins hands down.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Far Right Wing-Nut — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:27:37 GMT

Who's this draynay promoting gambling in the schools? Teach classes for credit on a sport that lives off of the receipts of gamblers? What is this world coming to? Kids could learn just as much about animals and their care by working on a farm. Why expose them further to the sins of gambling?

For the record, both Zenyatta and RA deserve all the accolades being tossed thair way. And yes like many of my peers I do not practice what I preach. I love the challenge of handicapping and the high I get off winning.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Terra — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:26:52 GMT

Great article Steve! My mind is blurry from reading all the blogs but liked hearing everyones thoughts. I personally love watching RA's neck break front running wins -she's beautiful! I am brought to tears by watching Zen 'chase butterflies' then decide to come from 13+ lengths behind (ridden hand & irons mid-track) to close like a freight train while building her perfect picket fence of wins. If they ever meet you know I'll be watching, if not so be it. I'm currently overseas punting in Au & next stop is NZ, (still managed to streamline in RA & Zen's races so I could see them live in the wee am hours here), where they also give you the opportunity to wager/watch the Singapore, UK, Hong Kong, & French races - not that I'm a fan of the sport or anything lol!!! Btw Au just opened their 1st cushion track & the horses are loving it. I noticed several bloggers commented on the lack of respect the US gets in the racing world & have found that's not truly the case. Other places breed more for stamina with their 2400m+ (12 furlong+) races, they don't allow Lasix/drugs of any kind, the girls are always mixed with the boys only getting WPA allowance as long as it's not a huge cup race where both are even in weight, (take note RA & hats off to Zen for carrying 129lbs so others would enter), it's just a little different than US racing. The horsemen here respect our stand-outs especially RA & Zen otherwise why would they ship their horses all the way over just to compete in the BC? They do seem to prefer the pro-ride surface at Santa Anita so am hoping we get a good turnout of foreigners again this year to liven things up -bring on the competition! I wish RA were going to be there too so US odds of winning were even better but it doesn't look like that's going to happen. My question for you bloggers is instead of Sea Bisquit vs War Admiral/east vs west arguments shouldn't we be thinking about challenging the world with our best horses? 'For the love of racing' is my motto =D

To the person who said Zen hasn't set any track records did you check your form? She set it last year in the Hirsch.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Will W — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:31:09 GMT

I think I'll keep clamoring. Let the two meet not only this year, possibly in the Clark at Churchill in November, and next year as well if Moss is sporting enough to keep the mare in training and on the track. Who cares about perfect records ? Zenyatta has already proved her greatness, and it would be no knock on her to lose a time or two to a filly who could have won the Triple Crown if she had been in Jess Jackson's hands. How much luster would it add to Zenyatta's renown if she did best Rachel Alexandra on occasion ? Let the two hook up next year many times, give thoroughbred horse racing an electricity and excitement the sport has rarely seen since the 1970s, and let the racing fans have a year of memorable competition they'll never forget. By all means should Jackson send Alexandra the Great to the Dubai Classic, and what a race it would be if Zenyatta stayed in training and joined her.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Matthew W — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:29:45 GMT

Steve, if Zenyatta runs down Gio Ponti in the Classic, is there a race Rachel can win/a horse Rachel can defeat that would compare to that?

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Matthew W — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:27:47 GMT

My plans if I owned Big Z: Lady's Secret....Ladies Classic (1 1/8) then Clark v males AND Rachel if they're willing...otherwise I close her out in the Classic, but if you're gonna go one more in the Clark at 1 1/8, ya gotta stay at 1 1/8 in the Breeders Cup---no use shortening for the big match up---like they did with Easy Goer, going 1 1/2 in JC Gold Cup then shortening/losing their edge vs the great Sunday Silence...but, yes, they need to talk it out and make it public, what their plans are--I'd love to see her go after Gio Ponti in the Classic Stretch---but I'd also love to see her dirt again, v no less than the great Rachel!

re: A Greatness of Her Own

rhoward — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:37:58 GMT

ESPN is reporting that communications are taking place between the owners of Zen and RA for the Beldame at Belmont. I think it's going to happen!!!!!!!!!!!! Why NY? It should be Oaklawn Park, meet halfway>

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Steve Haskin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:05:02 GMT

Daina, the closest we ever had to a tie was John Henry beating Slew o' Gold by one vote.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Ranagulzion — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:38:50 GMT

Diana Ryan,

Any possible tie for HOTY will be featuring Quality Road and Rachel Alexandra, that is, after the former goes on a rampage in the Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeders Cup Classic. Stay tuned folkes.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Karen in Indiana — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:17:27 GMT

Zookeeper, if people want to know what happens to the California horses experiencing a sloppy track for the first time, all they have to do is look what happened at the Derby. Pioneerof the Nile is the only one that ran decently, the others didn't do so well.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

MonicaV — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:42:03 GMT

Steve,

Once again, a marvelous and heartfelt column. Thank you for that.

Zenyatta and Rachel do not have to race against each other. We get to enjoy both of them and each has their own special way of thrilling us. How often does that happen? Not very often. These types of horses usually come only every so often. How lucky we have two to enjoy.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Daina Ryan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:35:03 GMT

Steve, thanks for staying up as late as you did to write this wonderful article. About the Forego comment - my goodness that is exactly what I was thinking as Zenyatta was barreling down the homestretch in the Hirsch. Glad you saw that too and mentioned it. I often tell people she reminds me of Forego (I was at Belmont when Forego won the Marlboro and WOW!). Anyhow, I love Rachel and Zenyatta equally and don't wish to see them run against each other ever. I'd rather them each bask in their own glory. They're both phenomenal horses and I am so priveleged that they are here in my lifetime. We wait a long time for horses like them to come along. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the year plays out. Would be cool to see a tie for Horse of The Year. Has that ever happened?

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Matthew W — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:20:46 GMT

LDP I ran track all through high school--high hurdles mostly, ran on crushed brick, cinder, then when I got pretty good I got to run on rubber, another natural substance found in mother nature---beat the same persons/was beaten by the same persons on each different track---It's really ok, ya know, if we try to get them together instead of just pretend talking about who would've beaten who...ya know?

re: A Greatness of Her Own

LDP — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 04:01:04 GMT

Monica,

Again a huge thanks, i had no idea anyone on these blogs, except for maybe a couple like Mike Relva, really thought much of me other than that i was some irritating kid. I do LOVE horse, i don't care whether they are racers, jumpers, western or dressage horses, i love them all. I love to write too, a few weeks ago i just wrote a kind of tribute piece on BB. He may not be my fave horse, but he IMO deserves more respect than he gets. It takes one heck of a horse to do the things he did with so little experience. Then after dazzling all of us, he may not have been so dominant but he showed us that pure heart and will to win. If i could have a job writing about horses i would. I'm just glad to see that somebody on these can see through my stubborness and hot headed arguments, to see that i really do love horses, and when you get right down to it, it doesn't matter who i'm rooting for, i just still love the horse. Thank you.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Wiseguy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:05:04 GMT

Geez...Why even bother running the races? The wussification of todays society is reflected in the posters here that don't want to see these two amazing horses compete against each other. With that mentality why bother playing the games in any other sport? The pre-season poll for should decide the NCAA Football Championship. Tiger Woods shouldn't play any more tournaments, he lost this weekend so his record is irreparably harmed. We certainly don't want to see Federer and Nadal compete against each other or the Williams Sisters. Each loss just tarnishes their place in their sports history.

Affirmed - Alydar. Thankfully the Mosses and Jess Jackson didn't own either of those horses.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

Shoppegirl408 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:42:28 GMT

Amen! I really hope that they Rachel and Zenyatta don't match up. There have been dire consequences of match races in the past. I would hate to see anything happen to either of these great fillies. It doesn't matter,they are both great in their own right and that is the way we should remember them in the future. Afterall, it could be just the right circumstances for one on a particular day and different on another day.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

MonicaV — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:37:31 GMT

LDP,

I meant every word. You continually amaze me with your knowledge and your ability to write

so well but most of all your passion for horses.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

TexSpect — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:43:20 GMT

Good article on Forli.

sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.../index.htm

Thie doesn't let you off the hook Steve, I just like the way you tell a story.

re: A Greatness of Her Own

TexSpect — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:29:20 GMT

Great evaluation of the situation of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyetta. I have spent a "Racing Lifetime" pining over a horse that I thought that could have been the best of all. Due to an injury in a race, he never made it to the arena to prove his meddle. He did however sire one of the greatest horses of all time.......Forego. I am speaking of, as Steve will attest to my bugging him to produce an article about.........Forli. Forli was a champion horse from Argentina that liked a front running style. I mention this because I feel if a horse is the fastest and has the most stamina, he should not be beat. If a rabbit was used against Forli, he simply outran the rabbit and as the saying goes, extended his lead. Normally, speed and front running horses are brave on leads and only class catches up with them. Now the other part of the story is when changing racing tactics, tracks, and jockeys become part of the scenarios. Even in the best of conditions, the best horse do not always win because of those factors. It would be great to see Rachel Alexandra and Zenyetta hook up, but if one beat the other, it would only prove which was best on that day and there is the possibility that neither would win. That's horseracing. In the end, we will all be left to our own opinions.