Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Florence — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 15:10:46 GMT

So, as we now know, Zenyatta is THE horse of the year!

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Jhorse — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:02:13 GMT

Co-hoty was so much the way to go, too bad the stodgy old powers that be killed that idea. The controversy is only good for racing up to a point. Without CO-HOTY a lot of racing fans are going to feel robbed.

The arguments seem to boil down to two points of view. Is it the Best HORSE this year or the horse that had the Best YEAR? I'm sure you could find some claimer that won more than 8 times and ran about 20 races so the quality of competition has to be taken into consideration. Ghostzapper only ran four times for HOTY so 8 vs. 5 races doesn't mean much. How much weight should you give to restricted (3yo, F&M) races vs. open competition? What RA did against 3yo, female and male was remarkable. Secretariat won HOTY as a 2YO and never faced older horses, why shouldn't RA's spectacular 3YO campaign alone qualify her for HOTY?

Zenyatta is a fully mature 5yo and the top of her game and should be expected to beat a 3YO early in the season. Later when RA is almost 4 and Zenyatta almost 6 it would be a great match and I would still like to see them race each other at least once. Both Z and RA had great seasons and both capped them off with a real challenge. RA against tough older males in a G1 race and Z in the BCC against a field loaded with most of the best G1 winning males from around the world. That's what I'll remember from this year, the great races; Rachel Alexandra's run in the Haskell slop and amazing game race in the Woodward and Zenyatta's equally game BCC race overcoming trouble and winning with an unbelievable stretch run. Bottom line on HOTY - who cares? I'll still be a racing fan next year, looking forward to seeing RA run in 2010 and Z's and RA's foals in future seasons.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

LAZMANNICK — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:42:21 GMT

CaliforniaRacingFan

Try the fact that Zenyatta's 112 Beyer in the Classic is the highest rated Beyer on synthetics anywhere in N/A for a route race.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

carolyn — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:28:08 GMT

Lets see after next year is RA can be as good as Zen in her retirement. Lets see is she has amassed what Zen has. People keep speaking of Post 13, what the crap has that got to do with and significance, the darn finish line is still in the same place right? Why would it matter what darn post you leave from, you're still in the same race.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Nancy — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:15:48 GMT

KYFan, you say "I don't think the Haskell rates as a historical race. Also the Woodward has been shuffled around, changed distances etc so there goes that historical perspective."

Since the BC has been held at various venues, using your logic then Zenyatta's win in the Classic lost its historical perspective too.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

CaliforniaRacingFan — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:11:08 GMT

KYFan -

Which records exactly did Zenyatta break this year? Beating Personal Ensign's 13 wins was already bested by Pepper's Pride with 19; so Zenyatta didn't beat that record. Being the 1st female to win the BCC? That's not a record, it's a historical first, just as Rachel Alexandra being the 1st horse to win the Preakness from post 13 or the 1st female to win the Woodward. None of these are records per se. Thing is, Zenyatta set no records, Rachel Alexandra did.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

carolyn — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:18:04 GMT

Leon, the Mosses could care less about that award, if they were chasing it, they would have shipped her all over, They love that horse, they could care less about an ego boost like JJ. After the BCC, they wrapped themselves in Zenyatta's saddle blanket. Annie cried everytime she won her race, now thats love. believe you me, all the publicity and rewards and awards that they are getting because of Zen, they won't lose any sleep if they don't get that piece of paper and statue for HOTY. California and history itself will garner Zenyatta her place in history, she don't have to have that award to be remembered by. Actually, I had to look up what horse won the 2007 HOTY. It doesn't matter as much as someone thinks. Furthermore, I can't tell you which horses won what HOTY's but I can tell you who was the first female horse to win the BCC, I'll never forget that.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

LEON — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:29:26 GMT

Shiznik:

The award is Horse of the Year, not BEST horse.

To win best horse, they would have to run against each other. Since they did not, you only have the campaigns they had over the year.

The Mosses did not have HOTY in mind, because if they did, ZEN would have run against males before. It is really too bad they didn't, because it is gonna cost them.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

LEON — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:39:57 GMT

To Eloise:

Another fact I did not include:

Avg days between races: Zenyatta: more than 70 RA: 42 days

Zenyatta ran an average campaign, with one atypical race for a 5-year old female (BC-Classic); RA and won the Preakness just 14 days after winning the Ky Oaks, and won 3 completely ATYPICAL races for a 3-year old filly, over fast and sloppy tracks.

I'd like to know what I left out in the tale of the tape post.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Slew — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:31:02 GMT

I love Rachel Alexandra; I love

Zenyatta. I cannot dismiss either

in the awarding of HOTY. Time to

skip out of the box and go for a dead heat. Fans have been extremely vocal and, despite too many aspersions, are still deadlocked on HOTY. It's a dead heat as far as I can see. Let them both win. They deserve it even more so than the fans who also deserve this one.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

ThePixiePoet — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:32:26 GMT

In this 2009 year alone, Rachel Alexandra:

1) has set TWO stakes records for time in: Martha Washington, Mother Goose.

2) has set TWO stakes records for largest winning margin in: Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose

3) was the ONLY horse (male or female) ever to win the Preakness from the far outside gate

4) was the ONLY female EVER to win the Woodward

5) TWICE, came within 1 second of breaking the TRACK RECORDS (at Belmont and Monmouth)

6) had the HIGHEST Beyer Speed rating this year of 116. (The Haskell)

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

diastu — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:52:49 GMT

All this "bias" crap: I am a 3rd generation Californian and watched my first horse race at SA nearly 60 years ago. I live in Arizona. I drink KJ wine. I subscribe to the NYT. Sheesh! I'm so conflicted - NOT! I love the HISTORY of horse racing. Folks, we've seen history big time this year in so many ways. We've seen two extraordinary female TBs turn everyone's head around. Think outside the stupid box for once! GIVE THEM CO-HOY!!!

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Ragsy — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:26:33 GMT

Co-Champions.....both are superb winners, do not take anything away from them...

Rachel wins heartbroken for Zenyatta,

Zenyatta wins heartbroken for Rachel...

CO-CHAMPIONS.........

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

ZENYATTA RACHEL IN DUBAI — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:25:07 GMT

RACHEL ALEXANDRA 2009 HOY

ZENYATTA PEGASUS AWARD

2009

As a team, Rachel and Zenyatta and connections should take on the world together in Dubai in 2010. A race for the ages.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

carolyn rogers — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:24:04 GMT

Charlie, you said it exactly right!! I agree 100%, Zenyatta don't have to have it, she is already getting awards for her outstanding career. And there will be more. Furthermore, her connections were not after a HOTY award, if so they would have ran her all over the place like JJ did, for his ego boost.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

IRISH — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:19:13 GMT

I think that Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year.

I thing that Rachael should be 3 year old champion.

She is suppose to race next year. Lets see what she does next year.

If she stays undefeated like Zenyatta her day will come.

I also thing they are both great horses and earned the respect of all.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

dcCA — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:19:15 GMT

With all due respect, Mr. Waldrop's opinions on this subject are symptomatic of why the fan base of horse racing has shrunk and continues to shrink. He's stuck in an outdated mindset that doesn't serve the sport or the fans. How is it "fixing" the vote to allow people to vote for either of them OR a co-championship? It isn't. If co-championship were the only option, that would be a fix. I agree with everything Steve Haskin said in his article on this issue. Terrific analysis. Race outcomes are determined by the physical fact of which horse is ahead at the finish line in an actual and physical head to head competition. Horse of the year is determined by opinion and how individuals choose to interpret certain facts (and perhaps ignore others). For once, why can't the people in charge think outside the box and do something that is so clearly in the best interests of the sport? Take the braces off the brains and allow a vote for co-championship. Each of these great fillies deserves to win, neither of them deserves to lose. For the fans of each, it will leave a bad taste in their mouths if their heroine loses. And that's a loss that horse racing can't afford.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

bsea2000 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:28:42 GMT

HOY should go to Zenyatta. Before the BC Classic I wasn't sure who I'd vote for if Zenyatta won, but after that performance, she still had so much left in the tank, she totally deserves it, with Rachel Alexandra as close a 2nd as you could possibly get.

And just in case, if for some reason Zenyatta's owners decide on 1 more race to race against Rachel, NO MATCH RACE! Remember Ruffian and don't let her death be in vain.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

charlie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:01:29 GMT

GIVE IT TO RACHEL ALREADY! Zenyatta is already regarded as one the great thoroughbred of all time! I don't see Rachel winning any Breeders cup race in the future. Well, maybe the sprint or dirt mile. Forget the Ladies or Classic. That's not happening. They might even retire Rachel if she gets HOTY. Too many quality horses in 2010 male and female that could beat Rachel and diminish her lustre. Besides, she has no undefeated record to protect. I mean she is good but she IS NOT Zenyatta good. Know what I mean? That's my opinion and I am sticking to it.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Jess1210 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:29:58 GMT

KYFan - EXCELLENT posts. Some repeating posters won't allow anyone to have a differing opinion without restating their own as fact and they can get down right insulting about it. Nicely stated and thank you for voicing what so many of us feel.

Richard - I hope I don't throw off your theory (I can't say I disagree entirely), but I'm a 26-year-old female who is fairly new to racing and I agree with you about the HOY debate. I've been following Rachel since the Oaks and Zenyatta since the beginning of her career. In my humble opinion, for the reasons already stated by so many posters, Zenyatta deserves to be named Horse of the Year. It's exciting and a little disappointing to know that the first horse I ever seriously followed from career start to end was one of the best horses I'll see in my lifetime. Zenyatta is my Ruffian - thankfully with a happier ending.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Phony JJ — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:44:16 GMT

Give RA the HOTY, she needs it worse than Zenyatta. Zen has completed all she needs to do and did it gracefully and looking like she was still ready to keep on truckin another few furlongs. Zen will get plenty of awards, she don't have to have the East Coast Biased HOY, she is already starting to get her REWARDS and AWARDS. One of the same awards that Secretariat's owner received. If I'm not mistaken Cali, has their own HOTY awards.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

ZENYATTA NADA — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:12:42 GMT

ECLIPSE VOTERS- Repay your privledged right to vote for Horse Of The Year by using reasoned analysis based on FACTS. Please think with your heads and not your hearts. Compassion for your emotional favorite, or the mob's emotional choice, is CRUEL when it steals achievement from a superior performer.

In no way should this award ever be subject to public vote. Internet organizing would have too much sway.

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

Mike S — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:08:44 GMT

I have no problem stating that ZENYATTA is the best horse in training in 2008 and 2009 and that she should win Horse of the Year in 2009. After all, she cannot be robbed of that award two consecutive years!

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

cyrus1975 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:49:33 GMT

The point is Rachel didn't show up and Zenyatta did for the classic .... Kudos for her and her owners ! Zenyatta #1 Rachel #2 .. if they raced Zenyatta would have ran her down in the classic so would have Gio ponti !!!! Rachel's good but Zenyatta is better !

re: Rachel v. Zenyatta - Two Champions and the Race for Horse of the Year

KYFan — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:13:58 GMT

Oh and Mary in VT? It isn't just the California trainers who were amazed by what Zenyatta accomplished. Aidan O'Brien? Christophe Clement, Tim Ice?

Baffert is Cal based but I would more or less say he runs all over the place.

By the way? What kind of Church do you go to that supports gambling?

Or a guy who's fighting a 6 month suspension for violating a drug policy yet again? Sounds like my kind of Church......