Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Fire Slam — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:53:50 GMT

Camera Gal--

So what if you are an owner, breeder, whatever! Its obvious Zen and Ruffian are in a class by themselves!!

RA set historical marks when she WAS IN SHAPE AND RUNNING CONDITION.

So she lost, the greatest of all time lost, Secretariat--"Big Red." Seattle Slew lost before, its part of the sport.

I wonder what my good friend Harry Trotsek or Dr. Alex Harthill would say about your pathetic remarks??

Please tell us what horses you have bred, so we can make sure not to buy them, because you obviously dont know a runner when you see one.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Pasturelands — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:34:37 GMT

Camera Gal: Not even the best handicapper can gauge greatness in all horses. People can measure them only through their accomplishments-- and Rachel's defeat in New Orleans will not diminish what she has accomplished last year. Rachel deserved to be HOY 2009 much more than Zen.

What you see now is just Zen "catching up" to Rachel-- Zen was NOT THE SAME horse last year, that's why THIS YEAR, she is doing it DIFFERENTLY. She is racing earlier than last year's, and going on dirt too. But in NO WAY is that saying Zen was the "better" horse. You can argue to DEATH, but all the 3 horse orgs voted Rachel and most horsemen (not die-hard fans) agreed that Rachel had the best record of any horse last year. Actually, Rachel's record in 2009 speaks for itself-- she OUTDID Zenyatta in all the key aspects.

RACHEL IS HOY 2009, Camera Gal. Just accept it, and move on. You are not the only horseman in the USA, you know, so your opinion is ONLY as good as anybody else's.

That you're a horseman, and that Zen should be the HOY 2009, cannot be mentioned in the same statement. The former is a fact, while the latter is an opinion, which is NOT RELATED to the fact that precedes it.

For what it's worth, I just hope that Rachel will find her "winning form" again later this year. Hope for the Best!!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Pasturelands — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:12:27 GMT

My feeling is that Rachel will come out stronger, but much later than before. Maybe June or July.

Rachel is already the HOY 2009. No need to press her for more, and I think Jackson is fine in the knowledge that his filly got the HOY ONCE. Jackson isn't gunning for a repeat. But actually, Rachel can do it again. Its just a matter of time..

Right now, they have TONS of catching up to do.

But really, Jackson should FIRE Asmussen or atleast HIRE back Hal Wiggins so he can co-train Rachel.

Honestly, I am disappointed with the way Rachel ran at New Orleans. Evidently, her handlers were TOO SOFT on her, and allowed her too much FREE TIME. At a time when her career is STILL on the rise, the worst thing a trainer can do for an upcoming HOY is to let her "bask in the sun" as she likes to. All that training that HAL WIGGINS gave Rachel gone to waste... how sad.

Now, I have tickets to Oaklawn-- anybody want to take them off my hands?? Zenyatta fans, where are you???

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

MikeM — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:01:44 GMT

Rachel out of the Apple Blossom. My prediction is she will be retired before or after her next race. If you read between the lines I think her connections don't feel that she is the same as last year.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Linda — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:36:21 GMT

I could not get in either, would loved to have seen these races with Randy Moss' commentary.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Camera Gal — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:33:19 GMT

Well, the proof was certainly in yesterday about which of the two mares deserved 2009 Horse of the Year honors. I am an owner-breeder (East Coast) and do not have anti-West Coast bias like many of those, including voters, definitely do. As I expected, Zenyatta continued to prove her greatness in Grade 1 company. All the excuses in the world (you don't run an unfit horse if you are a decent trainer) cannot explain why Rachel Alexandra lost to Zenyatta's stablemate...a West Coast horse. Rachel Alexandra is definitely a wonderful mare. But she isn't in Zenyatta's class. For me, it is truly something to confess that Zenyatta and Ruffian are in a class by themselves! I wonder what my friend Frank Whiteley would have said!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Cyd — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 03:47:24 GMT

Zardana may outrun both, but do not think the Moses will let her run against Zenyatta.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

merlinmerry — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:55:41 GMT

Nice job,NTRA. Even the "Webcast will begin at 6PM," screen was fuzzy. (Of course, it didn't say what DAY or YEAR the webcast would begin.)

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

whitenoise — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:22:10 GMT

They certainly should have tested this before now. I built my whole day around this supposed webcast.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

unmoored — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:19:53 GMT

can't get the ntra page to load though I've never had problems before. I hope this means they've had an overwhelming response, though I hate to miss the races.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Renee — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:09:00 GMT

HELP!!! NTRA.COM will not work!!!! Where else can I watch the race??

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

RachelSatterfield — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:05:08 GMT

And of course...I can't actually get in...seems the site is down.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Zevida — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:01:57 GMT

GREAT idea! I've long wondered why these big races are not broadcast on the internet. Kudos to NTRA.

But, you're going to have to fix the bandwidth issue. I've been trying for five minutes and I can't even get NTRA.com to load!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Emily — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:06:24 GMT

Is anybody else having trouble logging into NTRA.com? I think we have to login to see the races! I reset my password (because I didn't remember it) and it won't accept the reset password. I tried to open a new account, and it says I'm writing the "captcha" wrong (the word to stop computers from spamming), even though I'm definitely not and have asked a new word. Is anyone else having these issues?!

I hope I can see this!!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Sharon M — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:37:09 GMT

This is a wonderful, innovative way to reach a much larger audience to promote this sport we love so much! I'm very excited about this! I do have TVG (and really enjoy it) but I don't live in a state where I can bet races and use their online streaming for races they are not allowed to televise except for replays. Thanks NTRA! Keep up the good work!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Louisa Davidson — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:16:41 GMT

Thanks and kudos ! It's so cool that Zenyatta did not retire and these big, bad girls are racing on . So terrific to get your live coverage!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

delrene — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:52:27 GMT

On my way up to see Zenyatta strut her stuff today at Santa Anita - I just hope both these beautiful ladies come out of these big races safe and healthy! I know they will do their very best. Good luck to them both and Mike and Calvin.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Bob Z — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:42:57 GMT

Is anybody having problems activating their subscription?

I hope they have enough bandwidth for this....

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Emily W — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:53:58 GMT

Thank you so much for doing this! My mom will not get HRTV or TVG!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

kbrew — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:23:01 GMT

thanks ntra cant wait t0 the see the girls get it on go rachael

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Rowner — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:25:10 GMT

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou there are those of us that are unable to get HRTV or TVG. this is a great way to bring people back to the sport.

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

Tim — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:48:45 GMT

Way up here in the hinderlands of Washington state I'm looking forward to it.

Instead of looking out for Bigfoot I'll be looking at America's big hearted racehorse Zenyatta.

Go big Z!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

dustywhipp — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 02:23:01 GMT

Thanks so much for doing this! I don't have HRTV or TVG, so having this live video will be great!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

My Juliet — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:12:20 GMT

I am very excited to be able to see Rachel Alexandra's race live, esp for those of us who don't get HRTV. I really appreciate that NTRA is offering this!!!

re: Rachel and Zenyatta - Free and Easy

zaq — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 21:42:46 GMT

Am in uk, looking forward to this!