For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Judy G Loves Zenyatta/California — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:53:07 GMT

Okay, I could hardly get through reading this when tears of joy welled up... She is my Zenny! She is, and always will be, The Queen of Sports!

You wrote: "What’s more, we learned, conclusively, that Zenyatta is the most important horse to race in this country in at least a decade, and perhaps in three decades."

My reply: Amen!

I'm proud, thrilled, and humbled to say I was around her numerous times at Barn 55 at Hollywood Park. Unless you "experienced" her, you really, truly do not know what you MISSED!!!

God bless her and her future foals) always! XO

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

NotRealQuiet — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:10:08 GMT

Anyone think that the stands are empty because of the OTBs? Pebbles, Z is HOTY in my heart, but RA deserved HOTY hands down last year--for heaven's sake, she won a leg of the Triple Crown! That is an extraordinary feat for any horse let alone a filly!I still think to keep this sport alive--which I do believe it really is alive--Clairborne Farms should get Breeders. And Blame, by the pictures at the finish line, he was trying very hard to beat Z as he had his ears laid back on his head and Z's were perked which says to me that she hadn't even started yet. Another fluke--she should have won that race.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Erin — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 23:02:59 GMT

Christine appears to have missed the point of the article that HOY is beside the point. The sport, which I love, is dying. The Mosses campaigned Zenyatta in a way that drew more new fans to the sport than anyone else in three decades. If more owners don't follow in the Mosses' footsteps, the HOY debate will be moot in a couple of decades.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

needler in Virginia — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:41:32 GMT

NotRealQuiet, the ONLY Eclipse award for Claiborne should be BREEDERS of the year. They bred the horse, true. Their horse did NOT perform as one would expect an HOTY to perform, so fine, give Breeder to 'em, but we all know who is the REAL Horse of the Year....except for those I might have to use my chainsaw to convince. Thanks for the suggestion, Goldie!! How's THAT for hootage?

Cheers and safe trips.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Christine — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:03:53 GMT

Well, if they wanted the HOY title they should have raced her against horses of her class. Instead they raced her in the SAME campaign as last year (that didn’t win her HOY) against allowance horses and graded wash outs. What is the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? Yeah, good one Sheriffs. He has nothing to cry about if Blame wins HOY, which he has earned. (No, he didn't earn is ONLY by winning the BC, but by running a better 2010 campaign in terms of class and competition)

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

sherpa — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 03:17:14 GMT

Hey, Frank - loved your piece (tho I disagree HotY is "beside the point" for Zen) but let's rephrase that last paragraph in your 23 Nov 10:45 PM post:

"Ruffian ran only once outside the state of NY in 11 starts, and PE ran just twice outside of NY in 13 starts."

There, fixed it for ya ;-)

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Frank Vespe — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:45:08 GMT

Hey GourdQueen,

You're certainly right that Ruffian and Personal Ensign were champions through and through, but you are absolutely wrong when you say:

"I will say that neither Ruffian or Personal Ensign had to carry their tracks with them. They ran all over the country on all kinds of tracks & won. Why? Because they were champions through & through."

Ruffian ran only once in 11 starts outside the state of NY, and PE ran just twice in 13 starts outside of NY. Compared to them, Zenyatta was pretty much a world traveler!

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Ranagulzion — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:31:26 GMT

Let the HOTY title be shared this year. Both horses are deserving.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Pebbles — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:38:15 GMT

Zenyatta should win Horse of the Year.

There is no doubt that both horses are deserving. Blame had a remarkable year of racing.

However, I believe Zenyatta, on and off the track had the superior season. It has already been mentioned the effect that she had on the sport. So, I will focus on her efforts on the track.

Last year, Zenyatta was legitimately criticized for racing only on synthetics and not venturing outside of California to race. This year, she addressed this criticism by racing twice on dirt away from her home state of California.

She also was criticized for racing only 5 races compared with Rachel Alexandra's eight races and for also running in a Grade II race (coincidentally Blame only ran in 5 races this year including a Grade III, and unlike Zenyatta last year he only won 4 out of 5 this year). This year she raced in all Grade I races, winning 5. This year she ran in six races.

Last year, she was criticized for running in the same 4 races she had run in the previous year prior to the Breeders Cup. This year only three of the five races she ran in were the same races she had been in the previous year with the other races being the Apple Blossom and the Santa Margarita.

Last year, she was criticized for winning the Breeders Cup on what amounted to her "home" track. This year the Breeders Cup was held at Churchill Downs, a track she had never raced on, but one that was Blame's home track.

She carried more weight than any other horse racing this year when she had 129 pounds assigned to her in the Vanity Handicap. Blame in his best race of his campaign before the Breeders Cup in the Whitney had a 5 pounds weight advantage over Quality Road and he barely won.

Finally, keeping things in perspective, she is a mare - thus she was stepping up in class when she faced the boys in the BC Classic after an undefeated racing season against her class of horses. She lost the race by a short race to Blame running over his home track.

This record on the track is more than enough to earn her Horse of the Year.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

NotRealQuiet — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:03:50 GMT

With all due respect, in support of Rachel, Z may have gone past Blame after but Gomez had already let up on Blame--knew he had won. I can't be positive but that is what it looked like to me.

I also agree wholeheartedly with tvnewsbadge since the award is the BREEDERS cup, that Claiborne Farms deserve recognition for their 100 YEARS of contribution to the sport. Congrats to Claiborne Farms that their horse, Blame, with God's help, won the Classic.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Frank Vespe — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 17:45:59 GMT

Thanks, everyone, for weighing in and for the many kind words. I appreciate it. In answer to a couple of questions floating around:

1) "Why is HOY beside the point for Zen and not for Blame?" Well, for one thing, I wasn't comparing the two or proposing that it is (or is not) beside the point for Blame. I simply assert that it's beside the point for Zenyatta b/c, in defeat, she secured a much more important and lasting legacy, as belonging to the top rank of American race mares -- a legacy that many questioned before the Classic and virtually none did after.

2) Why do the rules keep changing as regards HOY? The rules change simply because, as the man said, there ain't no rules. The only measurable criterion is the absurd "one race in N. America" rule (only one? really?) and beyond that, it's entirely up to each voter. So, sometimes it's the best horse, sometimes not. Sometimes it's not the best horse but the horse with the best campaign, sometimes not. Sometimes the historic nature of a horse's achievement matters, sometimes it doesn't. What is sorta laughable is the contention by some that reason and logic -- for an award without actual criteria -- point inexorably towards one horse or the other.

Thanks again.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Mark — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:39:04 GMT

Karen in Indiana

The logic is that in 2008 Curlin had already won 4 prestigious G1 races against hard competition, including destroying the competition in the Dubai World Cup. And in 2009, Rachel did things that no 3YO filly ever did, or at least never did in a long long loonnggg time on the track. Name me just one 3YO filly in the last 50 years who won a G1 against older male

Sure, Queen Z is an incredible horse, one of the best female ever and she'll be remember for this. She proved so much in defeat, I'M giving you this. But this is the horse of the YEAR, not Horse of the decade or lifetime achievement of a horse.

This has nothing to do with East people against california. She raced against the same weak competition all year long. And don't say she can't decide against who she was running, she could have run in the Pacific Classic, the Gold Cup..etc, but her connection made her run the same races, except for the Breeders' Cup. If you want to get out the argument that ''Blame isn a weak horse cause he lose to Hanefield before the classic and Zenaytta beat haynesfield in the classic''...well sorry to disapoint, but Blame beat him too. Every horses can have a bad day, they're not robot.

You can say that at least Blame and Zenyatta are at least equal, I can give you that, that was real close, they have least share the same talent, that's fine for me. But overall, during the whole year, Blame hard harder races against many more graded stakes horses

I won't be too upset if Z won, she's really incredible, but blame deserved the award too, it's pretty close.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Deacon — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:33:02 GMT

Well written, articulate and respectful blog. I concur with your words. As far as horse of the year, I personally think it's a bit over rated. Zenyatta is stamped for the Hall of Fame whether wins the award or not. She is arguebly 1 of the 2 best fillies who ever raced (Ruffian) so that distinction far out weighs any HOTY award. She is definitely horse of the decade so maybe they need an award for that. I just choose to respect, adore and remember her great achievements, leave the politics out of the equasion, the rest is really meaningless when you think about it...........she is simply Zenyatta, the Queen.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

NotRealQuiet — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 07:10:16 GMT

Well said tvnewsbadge--I had the same thought since the race. After 100 years in the business if Blame gets HOTY it will be an honor bestoyed on an American institution, 100 years in a country that is only been around 334 years. Now that is contributing to the sport! Blame did win the BREEDERS Classic Cup.

Excellent article, Frank.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Zen4Zen — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 05:06:44 GMT

Thank you for your wonderful article about the unforgettable Zenyatta, the epitome of all that one imagines a racehorse could be.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Linda/Maryland — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 04:22:01 GMT

The comments left on this Blog truly express the feelings of 99% of racing fans!!

Blame ran a few nice races, but he did nothing "Spectacular."

Zenyatta brought the crowd to Churchill Downs. Zenyatta brought the racing sport to the front line. Zenyatta brought more fans to racing then there have been in decades.

ZENYATTA IS SPECTACULAR and certainly should be horse of the year for 2010.

She deserves That and MORE~!!!!!!I only pray that in my lifetime I see a horse half as good as she is~!!!

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

WWSTP — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:21:12 GMT

Nicely stated from a different perspective yet....not good enough to loose Zenyatta's HOY award. Zen stepped up and out of her class in a way that no male horse can do...no such opportunities for the male horse. That alone deserves more attention than what it gets. It's all been said. What she has done, how she has spread the margins of greatness in her career. I might add that her run in the BCC did not look desperate...it looked like Zen when the trigger is pulled. As much as we postulate over this...it's Zen. As much as we try to twist and turn with it all...it's still Zen. And if it turns out that it's not Zen, the dirt on horse racing's face will be well earned and well deserved in its loss...a great big loss!

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Convene — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 01:59:47 GMT

That's more plain common sense than most of what's been written about the subject. No hostility. No acrimony. No bias. ESPECIALLY no bias! Just a nice tribute to both horses that pretty much says it all. Thank you.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

John — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 00:52:44 GMT

Folks, take it easy. Zenyatta will win the HOY easily. Count on it. Sure, Blame will gets some votes, because in the words of Ed Fountaine of the New York Post..."there are chowderheads still out there".

But rest assured, Zenyatta will win the HOY easily. Already voting members that voted for Rachel Alexandra have already come out and stated that Zenyatta is the HOY, especially from the East Coast. Add to that her strong following that voted for her in 2009. Add to that fact that Blame lost the JCGC by four lengths to an average horse, well you can say that Zenyatta has the HOY wrapped up.

It's over.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Susan — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 18:42:32 GMT

Very nice piece. You said it all.You have emphasized Zenyatta in the BIG PICTURE of Horse racing, and just why she will never be forgotten. Blame is a very good horse, but we see "Blames" every year. We will never see another Zenyatta.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

needler in Virginia — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:59:10 GMT

Goldie, of course hootage is an ART! If not, at least it SHOULD be. Thanks for the kind words, but since I graduated in history with A's but only B's in hootage, I clearly should have worked at it harder. But then age does hone some skills, doesn't it???

A CHAINSAW?? PERFECT! I never even thought of that, but considering how severely closed minded some folks are a chainsaw is the only possible tool to get that mind open and functioning again. Thanks for the tip; I'll go get one this afternoon.

Now that my hootage is done for the day, I'm gonna go read something interesting and try to NOT engage anyone else on the obvious issue. I've given up, packed it in and gone west. If you don't get Zenyatta NOW, you never will!!

Cheers and safe trips.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

mike williams — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:00:02 GMT

I agree with you wholeheartedly.Some horses are etched in our hearts and minds forever, and Zenyatta is one of them.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

GourdQueen — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 04:40:43 GMT

It seems to me alot of you are letting your hearts rule your heads. Yes, Zenyatta is a great race mare, but you can't compare her to fillies & mares like Ruffian & Personal Ensign. These are different times & the tracks are different. I will say that neither Ruffian or Personal Ensign had to carry their tracks with them. They ran all over the country on all kinds of tracks & won. Why? Because they were champions through & through. Maybe Zenyatta will be HOY, maybe not. Either way we were all honored to see her race & should glory in her memory.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

emesss — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 02:31:14 GMT

I still love Zenyatta! To me, she proved herself over and over again through her 19 races. In her 20th try, she continued to prove herself - look at the space she cleared in a flash!! Her energy, her sense of the game, her spirit, her personality are all the reason to make her HOTY. From a fan who loves the majesty of Zenyatta and all that Zenyatta is.

re: For Zenyatta, Horse of the Year is Beside the Point

Rachel O — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 02:12:04 GMT

Frankly, Zenyatta is just so much more than a horse, she scares all those panty-hose types who won't vote for her for HOY. Fifty-foot women do that, you know.