Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

willie — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:27:38 GMT

Rachel showed up everywhere against ok horses but skipping the big race that really counts. Yap, this is where the best horses in the world are showing up THE BREEDERS. Eh, she is outclassed there anyway. Ladies? No chance if Zenyatta is ther. Classic? Yeah right! lol. I'd rather bet the giant mare than this 3 year old filly. Rachel has no business being in the classic even if it was dirt. Oh Rachel in the 2010 Classic? Yeah sure! Please!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

LDP — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:49:41 GMT

Raybird

RA showed up at the Oaks in KY, she showed up at the Preakness in MD, she showed up at the Haskell in NJ, in mud, and she showed up in the Woodward against OLDER MALES! She has run no matter the condition of the track and won, she has been to six states and seven tracks and still showed up and won. She's been showing up, where have you been, on the moon?

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Raybird — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:44:45 GMT

I'm sorry but RA still has lots to prove before she can be crowned Horse of the Year. IMO she needs to prove she can beat older mares. she needs to prove she can show up (ANYWHERE) on the biggest race day of the year and beat the best the world has to offer. by the same token i think Zenyatta still has alot to prove this year too. i doubt any Zenyatta fans would disagree...it's obvious. but she did prove last year that she IS the reigning Queen by beating the best mares in the world. If she runs in this years BC Classic and beats the best horses in the world, that IMO would trump anything RA has done this year. Zenyatta would definitely deserve Horse of the Year.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

ruffian316 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:32:06 GMT

Mr. Waldrop,

Thank you for providing the explanatory links of which I read both.

I think all these exclusivity rights with TVG and such are good for those companies but not good for racing as whole. If they make attaining national coverage more difficult, and from my own experience prevent me from betting on certain tracks over the phone or internet, then why can't something be done?

I thought the NTRA had more control than it seems it does. Now maybe I'm wrong, and by all means correct me if that's the case, but without more regular national exposure and a hungry audience, you can kiss the NTRA and thoroughbred racing goodbye.

Please understand I am a huge fan of horse racing and would never want the sport to die. While I may not know much about the specifics of your job, I can speak from a fan's perspective.

So if there is anything possible you could do to help create more coverage and fewer contractual limitations, that would be great.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Racingfan — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 03:07:32 GMT

Well written article Alex. I would have loved to see Rachel run at the Breeders Cup (just because it is so exciting to watch her race!) but I am glad that she is not. If she were my horse I would not run her on synthetics either. I have now read a couple articles indicating that horses switching from dirt to synthetic appear to, at least initially, be more prone to injury. I would never take that chance with my horse! The only safe way to switch it appears, is slowly and over a considerable period of time - which is a waste of time when there are perfectly good dirt tracks ready to run on today. I personally hope she is done for the year & I hope they send her to a farm and not keep her at the track, but if not, I would like to see her in the Beldame if she is her old self. I don't feel it necessary to face the boys again this year - she has all next year for more great things. I also feel she has earned HOTY - regardless of what the rest do they cannot top it. I especially hope that this year and in ALL future years - no horse that comes to this country just for the Breeders Cup, wins any year end championship award here (the awards in their own countries are for their campaigns). The Eclipse awards are for American based campaigns and 1 race here no matter how spectacular - does not override the entire seasons of all the rest! In fact - I think that should be a rule that is added to govern the voting!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Beverly Donahoo — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 23:36:30 GMT

Let Rachel have the rest of the year of to rest. She's run 8 races this year and has been in training for months. Let her have the Fall and Winter months to grow and develop more. She's only 3 and has a lot of room to grow. She may be even better next year. Why race her agains a horse that has only raced 3 times this year? "sides if someone paid 10 million dollars for her, I would guess that he could do whatever he wanted with her.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Rechelle — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:40:50 GMT

Curlinlover, Zenyatta is being retired at the end of this season. That's why she was never taken out of California. Ok, yeah, she went to Kentucky, but because the track MIGHT be off, they scratched her, even though the track ended up fast. Zenyatta's career is done and I promise you, she will not run in the BC Classic. They won't risk her unbeaten streak by running against boys, even though, I still feel confident that she will lose at the Breeders Cup.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

CURLINLOVER — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:36:59 GMT

AS great as Zenyatta is, we all know Rachel has done lots more this year to lock up HOY. She will not race in tbe BC; but I'm sure we'll all enjoy bot Zenyatta's and Rachel's races wherever they race. And who knows? Next year, the BC will be at Curchill Downs on dirt. Rachel might still race then, although Zenyatta will likely not race on dirt there. Sure, it's too bad the two super fillies won't meet; but we can still enjoy them! And I, for one, can't wait to see Rachel's and CURLIN's colts and fillies some 4 years from now!!! Wow!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

MikeM — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:37:12 GMT

If Zenyatta wins the Breeders Cup Classic she deserves SERIOUS consideration. Beating the best colts in the world in a race of that magnitude is far tougher than any race RA has run in and thats saying alot. You are blinded by Rachel worship if you think otherwise.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

CURLINLOVER — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:41:43 GMT

Rachel Alexandra has been so much more impressive this year than any other horse - male of female, younger or older. She should get HOY! Zeniatta is great too; but she has barely raced this year, and her record doesn't match Rachel's. It would be wonderful to find out who of the two is truly the greatest; but that won't happen; so be it! We have two exciting wonder fillies on each coast. Why not enjoy both?

I can hardly wait for Rachel's and Curlin's colts and fillies in a couple of years. Something to look forward to. Meanwhile, let's enjoy the races these two super fillies run in the rest of this year and hopefully next as well!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

wildblueroan — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:47:25 GMT

Rachel has done enough this year; her connections should owe nothing to the BC, esp. after Jackson sent Curlin last year. I for one hope he resists pressure and temptation and does what is best for the horse. She has had a long and successful campaign and deserves a break. Shes HOY already.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Hawkeye — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:24:11 GMT

When you work with a horse daily you learn from each other. Why does everyone continually insist on having owners and trainers run their horses where they want them to run? I certainly wouldn't run my horse where I did not want. Sure some avoid tough spots and try to plan out easier places for their horses to run, but no one can say that the RA connections have run from anything. RA's last race was a very tough one. Would any of you want to see a great horse injured for one more race when the animal had a very strenuous season already? RA has nothing to proove at this point and the smart thing is doing what is right for her not what everyone else wants. I really wish some of you would stop pushing. The Breeder's Cup races are not the end all of racing in this country. Dirt is dirt and Grass is grass, but synthetic is not biodegradable. It may be an advantage when it rains but what does it do with a lot of manure on it?

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Pam S. — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:11:35 GMT

Rechelle and everyone else, I agree that Zenyatta will not be Horse of the Year. The award, as we all know, is for the horse's body of work, and Zenyatta's campaign has been lacking. But were she to win the BC Classic, it would be a huge and unprecedented accomplishment. I have heard all the criticism swirling around the BC since Jackson's purchase of RA (oddly, much less criticism before that transpired), but still, a Classic victory would perhaps deflect the light from Rachel for an ever-so-brief moment and shine it on Zenyatta.

Not that I know if the Mosses plan to contest the Classic, but just sayin'.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Rechelle — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:00:34 GMT

Kim in KY wrote: "The only way Zenyatta would deserve to be in consideration would be for her to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic"

Kim, even if Zenyatta ran and won the Classic, she wouldn't deserve to be considered for Horse of the Year. She has done nothing amazing or outstanding this season. She's run 3 races so far, 2 of which were G1 on 2 different tracks in 1 state. Even Summer Bird would deserve more consideration for HOTY than Zenyatta. Einstein should be a consideration for HOTY over Zenyatta, but no one other than Rachel Alexandra will win it. No other horse has done what she's done this season. 8 races, 7 tracks, 6 states, 5 Grade 1's. No other horse has that record this season.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Pam S. — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:12:13 GMT

No one is questioning that Rachel has completed a stiff campaign, while the lightly raced Zenyatta is fresh. Rachel is tired, Rachel has nothing more to prove -- true, true. The point is that Rachel, with some adjustments, could have pointed to the BC to end her stellar year. Likewise, Zenyatta, who was always pointed to the BC, could maybe have participated in a tougher race or two, such as the Hollywood Gold Cup, on her way there.

RA's tough schedule and avoidance of the Breeders' Cup, and Z's soft path to get to it, does not mean it is heroic not to run in the Breeders' Cup and somehow second-rate to participate. Some of the comments, if you read between the lines, almost give that impression.

Rachel could have had an historic campaign that included the BC. A different surface would have been far more likely to embellish her legend rather than ruin it. And she does have fans west of the Missisippi.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

da3hoss — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:02:44 GMT

Suck it up and plan better, don't blame the owners.

Darn right he gets to race his horse where he sees fit. I'm glad he bought her so we could see her run PERIOD.

She/He has nothing to prove by running on plastic and tires.

It's a SEASON of running that proves how great you are, the BC may be the deciding factor between two horses' season, but it is not THE end all.

It's ONE race on ONE day.

Personally I think the BC folks have lost a lot of fans, lost me when you put all the distaff horses on Friday and decided to refer to them as 'ladies'. As pathetic as calling MTB and SB 'gentlemen'...

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

nina — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 12:01:26 GMT

Right on Kim. RA has nothing else to prove. She has already done it at the track.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Kim in KY — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:20:06 GMT

Rachel doesn't need to run again this year. Zenyatta on the other hand has a LOT of catching up to do if she wants Horse of the Year. The only way Zenyatta would deserve to be in consideration would be for her to run in the Breeder's Cup Classic, not against the fillies and mares. She is just not anywhere near in accomplishments where Rachel is, and Zenyatta is hampered by narrow-minded, overly conservative owners. Zenyatta proves NOTHING running on the same California tracks against the same vanquished horses. This will not reserve her a space in the history books, even if she does equal the same number of wins as Personal Ensign. It's sad because I honestly believe Zenyatta has a lot more to show us and she will never ever get the chance. What a shame and a waste of a wonderful, gorgeous mare. As to Rachel and Zenyatta ever meeting, you can count it out unless someone is willing to carve out a dirt track in the middle of North Dakota... neither of these owners is going to budge. Jess Jackson has made his feelings well known and has great reasons to back them..The Moss' are just going to play it safe (and dull) so that they can say their horse is "undefeated"...whatever. Until she truly proves it once and for all, she's vulnerable. What happened to the good old days of racing???? Genuine Risk's owners would have laughed..

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

NoWhoa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:53:36 GMT

I agree with Jess Jackson's decision to not run Rachel in the BC. She has more than earned a well deserved rest and should have nothing to prove. If there are still nay-sayers as to her ability and worth now, they will always be that way. She is an outstanding filly and Mr. Jackson should stick to his gut feeling and original decision ... no matter what the purse! Go Rachel!!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Rachel Crazy — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:49:01 GMT

Raybird, I don't understand your comments. Rachel beat the "bottom of the barrel 3-year old boys" and should have run in the Travers to really prove herself against the good colts. Am I mistaken or wasn't the winner of the Travers one of those 'bottom of the barrels" that she beat rather easily in the Haskell?

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Alex Waldrop — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:46:38 GMT

Some comments on my blog entry above question why there was no national television exposure for Rachel Alexandra’s historic win in the Woodward Stakes. At the request of the NTRA, ESPN was fully prepared to televise the race on ESPNews (65 million households) despite the short notice, but couldn’t because MSG+ held the exclusive rights beyond airings on HRTV and TVG. A similar exclusive rights arrangement prohibited ESPN from airing the Haskell on ESPNews. For a better understanding of the process by which the NTRA televises horse racing, read my earlier blog on the subject at www.ntra.com/blog.aspx. For more on the NTRA’s overall efforts to publicize Rachel’s historic campaign, read Eric Wing’s blog on the subject at www.ntra.com/blog.aspx.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

TerriV — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 20:32:32 GMT

I totally agree with Draynay - Stop wasting time on lamenting the Breeders Cup and figure out a marketing strategy for Rachel (and the Birds too, MTB is very popular) that will bring the best in horseracing to people outside the sport. ESPN, BRAVO, all sports news stations, magazines, newspapers and the internet. Put her beautiful self out there!

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

JM — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 18:35:36 GMT

I believe your analogies between the BC cup and the French Open etc. is completely off base. Just look at the Del Mar meet and the Saratoga. There was something like 12 breakdowns at Del Mar and 1 at Saratoga. I like the stand Jess is taking and it's not a traditionalist approach it's the natural approach. Rachel doesn't have anything more to prove this year she has taken on the best, Zenyatta on the other hand can't say the same.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Pam S. — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:51:46 GMT

Paco is right about one thing -- Curlin was over the top last year. So what was the great tragedy that occurred in his finishing fourth?? None that I can see, and win or lose, many fans were thrilled that they got to see him.

I'll also agree that Rachel is likely tired and over the top as well, thanks to her grueling (by today's standards) campaign and not ever having had a real break. Was it the optimum schedule for her? Well, everyone is real impressed with it, so I guess so. IF she were to compete at the BC, like Curlin, she might not win after such a long year, so from that standpoint it makes sense not to be there.

After all, you don't want to not win. Just ask the Mosses. Whether it's politics or an undefeated record that is the priority, yes, it sure is the owner's prerogative where to run his or her horse. I get that.

re: Rachel's Connections Should Keep An Open Mind About the Breeders' Cup

Saratoga AJ — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:04:01 GMT

Paco:

"what if the horse formerly known as The Other Bird runs in and wins the BC Classic? Doesn't a Belmont-Travers-Classic trifecta outshine a Preakness-Haskell-Woodward"?

Not when the "Other Bird" was trounced by 6 1/2 lengths by RA in the Haskell.