lets talk about the Holy Bull,the Foutain of Youth, the Sam Davis - enough with the politics of the sport.

I agree the best campain won.  I was a little pissed myself that they didn't mention him as well that was complete crap.

Two good preps this weekend--Holy Bull and Lecomte. Don't worry, we'll cover both of the later this week.

Jason- You're right about not mentioning Mr Wiggins.  And I actually expected the vote to be more in favor of Rachel.  Interesting.   I would rather see Zenyatta in a grass campaign.  I would love to see her and Gio and Precious Passion hook up a few times.  Anyway,  I'm looking forward to your analysis of the 3 yr old races as they unfold this year.  I always seem to know more about the European 3 yr olds and am going to try to pay attention more this year.

I was very upset when they never gave any credit to Hal Wiggins for training her. Jess Jackson would have never been interested in her if Hal not made her into a champion. I was very hurt for Hal because he was a big part of Horse of year title.

Perchance you are right about Rachel, but I look forward to her running at the classic distance. A win under those circumstances would erase any doubts.

It is very good for racing that both Rachel and Zanyatta will run in 2010. I hope that the connections of both horses allow them to give the fans two or three match ups against the other.

Now on to the Derby!

I think everyone involved with Zenyatta are class acts. I am disappointed for them. Great horse, jockey, trainer and owners.  I am also disappointed that Hal Wiggans wasn't mentioned. If it wasn't for him, there would probably be no Rachel, at least not at the same level. I am sure his name was not mentioned because there wasn't enough room on the stage for his name and S. Asmussen and J. Jackson's egos!

Wiggins should have gotten some mention, you're right on that and right that Rachel deserved to win. Good on the writers for voting it right.

I too was a little surprised that RA won by as much as she did.  I think that this shows that a longer and tougher/more varied campaign is still the best way to prove a horse's greatness(not just one big race at the end of the year). That being said, I'm not necessarily saying that RA is better.  She just had a better year.  While I personally think RA is unlike anything Zenyatta has faced yet, and I am a bigger RA fan, the only true way to find out who is better is to race them.  I was thrilled when I learned the Mosses were bringing Zenyatta back. They should meet more than once and on different tracks.  Just one race wouldn't really give a good judgement of who is the best horse. (Just think of Man'O War: no one will say that Upset was a better horse just cause he beat him once)

No complaints on any of the winners..but a few on the awards themselves.

1)  Icon Project???? Enough Said.

2)  Why no other finalists for the 3YO Filly and Older Mare?  That's why the voter makes three choices. The rules say finalists.  I guess it's okay to play fast and loose, unless it involves making a smart choice like allowing co-hoy votes.

3) Do away with the three choices and just stick to one vote/one category.  Jonathan Sheppard gets almost twice as many 1st place votes as Baffert, yet Baffert is a finalist.  QR no 1st place votes, yet a finalist.  Again, if it's good enough for HOY, it should be good for all.

The Racing Post (British daily Racing newspaper) are reporting that Ascot Racecourse intend to "pull out all the stops" to tempt Zenyatta over to Europe, including meeting all of the relevent costs.

www.racingpost.com/.../related

A pipedream, maybe, but surely such international thinking should be commended and encouraged - after all US trained horses showed that it could be done at Royal Ascot in 2009.

Jason -

It's a comment perhaps made in passing, but I think it bears repeating:

"No matter what happens in 2010, I believe the right horse won in 2009."

While this statement is obviously specific to the Eclipse decision and Rachel A., I think it's relevant to the entirety of the season, and to each athlete in competition.  We all have hopes for an extraordinary season to come - both Rachel and Zenyatta fans alike - and regardless of what it brings, we're looking back at nothing less than history, and at a series of accomplishments from a cohort of astounding thoroughbreds that will stand the scrutiny of time.  What's to come has little bearing on the extraordinary events of the not-so-distant past, and while the unfolding stories are sure to thrill, the stories thus far are breathtaking.  

Cheers to all involved, and here's hoping for continued grace, congratulations, and anticipation from fans and blog jockeys alike.  

Congratulations to Rachel and her connections for their victory.  Both camps ran their horses as they saw fit, so it was a fair fight and the horse with the stronger campaign won.

I'm glad it's over too, and now we can move on to the business at hand, the real contest that will take place on the track.  I think the Stephen Foster would be ideal, one reason being that Rachel may not be ready for a major race before then.  I also thought that, perhaps understandably, Moss seemed more interested in Zenyatta and Rachel meeting than Jackson did.  

Agree Rachel's previous trainer should have been mentioned.

One final thought:  When Kenny Rice said Jackson was like the talent scout that spotted Lana Turner in the drugstore, I laughed!  I mean, Rachel won the Oaks by 20!  We all spotted her!  We just couldn't write a $10M check to buy her!

Face it, neither RA or Curlin were prepped by the Jackson/Assmusen program.  They were purchasd well after their careers had successfully started.It would have been one thing had they been claimers or unsuccessful prior to purchase, but they weren't. Thought it was interesting that JJ said he wasn't sure RA would be ready to race Z in the Apple Blossom.  Stated that the wet conditions in New Orleans were the limiting factor.  First it was Santa Anita's artficial turf & now there is no dry place for RA to condition.  As big a program as they have, that just doesn't seem to cut the mustard.

The most accomplished horse got HOTY 2009; now, let's see what happens in 2010! Bring it on, and let's hope the two super fillies meet and settle once and for all what we all would like to have happen and see! However, they should probably meet on both sunthetic and dirt for the sake of all fairness.  And at least twice! Every man and horse can have a bad day. May they both stay healthy, sound, and happy! I love both horses - and can't wait for Rachel to hook up with CURLIN one day! :-)

pNewmarket- I love that they are trying to get her to Europe!

     Congrats to all the winners last night.  Was somewhat surprised that mainly every winner won by a wide margin, With the exception of Owner of the Year.  A huge congrats to Monique Koehler for winning and all that she does, Just glad Mr. Waldrop didn't present her with the award...

     I would LOVE to know who is the only voter who voted for Icon Project as Champion older Female over Zenyatta? Totals, Zenyatta 231 Votes, Icon Project 1 Vote!  Wouldn't surprise me in the least if it was Andrew Beyer...

Did you really think Zenyatta had a chance when the majority of voters are eastern based, Voting in sports has always been unevenly based when East vs West is participating. This will happen again, period... Thirty some points difference in the total tells you enough. Its just an award, she will show the voters later.

I think some of you have forgotten what RA was like working for Hal. She ran all out - before the Oaks many thought she'd be tired with all she gave on the track in the morning. I know the TU, here in Albany, NY, did a great story on her exc. rider and Steve did give him credit.

I think Hal did a good job with her, just wish they had her in the Derby.

While I believe Rachel Alexandra deserved Horse of the Year, I felt that Zenyatta also deserved Horse of the Year.  If one spectacular win in the Breeders Cup does not count, why did Goldikova win over Ventura?  Just a thought.  I'm glad the Jacksons mentioned Calvin Borel, and his absence in the nominees was a loss to the sport, although I believe Julien would have won for jockey anyway, even if Calvin was nominated.  All I can say now is Congratulations to all of the winners, and also to the finalists who still win in my book because they've added so very much this year to this sport we all love.

Although JJ & Asmussen both gave very gracious speeches, I too was disappointed that no mention was made of Hal Wiggins-WTF? Overall, I was very pleased with the results, as I had pegged most of the winners (yay, Gio Ponti!).

This is crazy! Zenyatta deserved HOY, she has done so much more for the sport than Rachel. Not to take anything away from Rachel though, she is spectacular. But Zenyatta became the first filly/mare to win the Classic! Come on! That's history and she should have been HOY!

Here is a thought, why not run the two mares in the Pimlico Special?

The new owners of the Maryland tracks will be needing to rebuild Maryland racing, and God knows what could bring more attention to it than another Special where East meets West. Jackson will run because his horse has already raced on the track, and the Mosses are sure to love the story line. Pimlico will treat them like gold.

Everyone wins.

Ok.. HOY is now in the books...

Let's start talking about the upcoming campaigns of both champions...

MOKEY: It was not Hal's decision to keep her out off the Derby trail. The owner told him emphatically, back in February, that the Derby was not an option. He cannot be faulted for that.

Forget RA vs Z.  Let Z go international since she has accomplished so much here.  WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP, WORLD CUP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You were right J. You said R.A. wins all along. Although I had wanted both, I believe as you, the right horse won. But both IMHO did enough to share. Anyway, while watching the show, I was kinda taken aback by the lack of enthusiasim of the crowd when RA was announced. Maybe in the future they can hold the awards in a neutral territory?

What a year eh J?

Keenelandcat, Curlin was bought after his first maiden start and Rachel would never have faced the colts.

It would have been nice to hear them mention HW.

I thought this was a nice thought from Rachel's page on Stonestreet website, wishing her well in her BC run: "Godspeed sweet Zenyatta; for you, for me, for all of us, go out there and show them how to run like a girl!!"

I love both horses. I lean towards Zenyatta a whole lot more because I'm a West Coast guy (living in Florida now) and I've seen her run in person many times. Now that I'm based in the SE, maybe I'll get to see RA run in person. I admit, I was hoping that Zenyatta would win the HOY, but in my heart I knew that the right horse won the award. But now I'm glad that Zenyatta is back in training, and she'll be able to attempt to prove once and for all that she's the best of her generation. As amazing as Rachel's accomplishments have been, I just never seen a horse overcome so much and do it without breaking a sweat (I know, Rachel's had those moments too). Wish I was still on the West Coast so I can see her again and again now that she's unretired. I guess I'll have to book a ticket to the BC this year to see her run. =).

With that said, Let's talk some TC!

Congratulations to Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta on their respective wins.. can't wait to see these 2 on the track together!

Like MK in FL, I am very disappointed that Zenyatta was not named Horse of the Year, and that her owners and trainer were passed over. I am flabbergasted by the callous disregard of Mr. Wiggins shown by Asmussen and Jackson.  

Rachel Alexandra 1 and Zenyatta 0.  They faced off head to head and Rachel won.  So I guess Zenyatta is no longer undefeated.  Believe it or not when Zenyatta runs against the males I will be rooting for her.  Except against Quality Road or Rachel.  I would love to see Zenyatta do well on dirt.  My problem has not been with her it was with the campaign the connections sent her on.  The Donn is coming up Mr. Moss let her run!  Zenyatta needs to run 6 or 7 times if she wants a chance at HOY.  The safe route will not get it done.  One last thought for 2009 I have to give Jason a lot of credit for a wonderful blog all year.  I know he puts up with a lot and he seldom complains.  Thanks for a wonderful forum Jason. You and Bloodhorse had a great year this year and I believe 2010 is going to be the best year ever.  Go Rachel, Go QR, and Go Zenyatta (on dirt).

I disagree with the idea that Wiggins and Curlin's former trainer should get credit for the training jobs they did with RA or Curlin, both Curlin and RA would most likely run any horse off their feet regardless of the trainer.  I think both champions are unique because of this fact, not because they had Hal Wiggins or Pitt(?) as a trainer before Asmussen took over.  If the trainers and owners weren't so greedy the horses would never have been sold in the first place.  Some horses are better than others, I don't think the people they are associated with have anything to do with how they perform on the racetrack.  Animals are either responsive to training or not.  It's pretty simple.  Also Jackson thanked the previous owners of RA for selling her to him, maybe he thought that was enough.

vegasvizen- We are a huge minority here, but I agree.  Dubai then Europe ending with the Japan Cup?

Rachel Alexandra is very deserving of the HOTY award. Congratulations to the beautiful filly for an outstanding year!

Although Zenyatta is my favorite I have to admit that RA's campaign was absolutely outstanding for a 3yr old filly.

It will be GREAT to see them both on the track again this year along with all the other horses who are coming back to thrill us some more.

AND... who knows what fabulous 3yr old is waiting backstage to become a Triple Crown winner?

Here's to a very promising 2010 for horseracing fans! Let the show begin!

My heart was with Zenyatta but I think the right horse did win this even though  both were entirely deserving. I am of the opinion that Zenyatta should have won her HOY title the year before over Curlin but thats just my opinion.  I to  am more than slight miffed that Hal Wiggins was not mentioned at all because if he hadn't done all the ground work on RA we might not be talking about this now.  Its Shameful and makes me want to dislike Jess Jackson/Asmussen even more. It was the same with Curlin some one else laid the down the ground work. They should be humble not arrogant SOB's about their success's, which couldn't have happened Without the help of others. I hope Mr Wiggins was not  hurt to much by this obvious snub!!!!

It sure would be exciting to see one of our great American horses competing overseas. You know what would be more exciting? TWO great American horses competing overseas! Hey, if there's a time to dream, I think 2010 might be it!

HOY aside, after looking at the final tallies in some other catagories, is anyone else wondering what some of the voters were smoking when they filled out the ballots? I Want Revenge got a vote for top 3 yr old? Furthest Land for older male? And...I am utterly confused with regard to the vote for Icon Project. It nearly made my head explode.

Here is an unbelievable note. Put aside the HOY. Zenyatta won the Eclipse as older female horse, obviously, but it wasn't unanimous! Somebody voted for Icon Project over Zenyatta as the best older filly/mare! Say what?

Mr. Jackson is a businessman who campaigns champions like he is marketing a new commodity.  Rachel's campaign was well-orchestrated and the races were carefully chosen to suit her running style.  Still, all-in-all she is an incredible horse and certainly deserving of the award.  Also, Mr. Jackson has done alot to promote racing and for this I thank him.  This year I hope Rachel's connections point her towards races at the classic 1 1/4 distance--not 1 1/16 or 1 1/8.  I would be interested to see how she performs against both males and females at this distance.  We know what Zenyatta can do, what about Rachel?

One other point that may or may not get me into trouble:  The horse racing industry has been under a microscope the last few years concerning the overuse of drugs for horses.  How is it that a trainer can be nominated and win an award despite the fact that he has had a few serious suspensions involving his horses with illegal medications?  What message is US horse racing community sending to the world?  Just a thought and enough said.

But no one complains that half the room didn't feel the need to be applaud once the decision was announced.

Or that Ambassador Farish was interrupted by someone yelling "CALIFORNIA" in the back of the room.

Or Team Zenyatta toasting during Jackson's acceptance speech.  Or Moss acting like a spoiled little kid during his interview.

Seemed to me there was more than a little West Coast bias in the room last night.

But Jackson and Asmussen were the bad guys last night.  Isn't it enough to just say "everyone involved"?

While Wiggins did indeed make Rachel what she is, we must not forget that he was never going to run her against colts.

Without the "boy" angle, no HOYT for Rachel, so I'm sure that JJ didn't feel Wiggins deserved to get a nod in this venue.

Plus, it would have been a real slap in the face of SA,who no one credits with Rachel's success anyway.

JJ was right not to open that can of worms given Rachel's physical status is an unknown at this time.

What speaks more is that Zenyatta was THE PEOPLES CHOICE as HOY. All the public polls I saw had Zenyatta finishing far ahead. Perhaps this is part of what is wrong with the sport. The "outsiders" who clearly favored Zenyatta have another reason to be dissapointed. A miniscule number of votes actually counted and they came from what people percieve as the insiders of the sport. If Horseracing is to be a peoples sport then they should allow the people to vote on these awards. Keep the politics of the few out of it.

Zenyatta: The peoples choice as HOY.

RA: The choice of the few (only insiders need vote).

Right Jason!  Hal had Rachel wound up and ready to go against ANY takers. He wanted to go in the big races, not at the elig for MSW or NWx2.

The training regimen or lack thereof of Rachel right now is concerning.  

The people who WANT to keep this debate alive will do so, particularly if Rachel gets beat or if she doesn't run. Zenyatta will prove herself on the track, just as she has done all year.

Zenyatta ran only on synthetics,  Rachel ran in restricted races save for one. Racing will go on.

Like someone said the Eclipse awards are pure politics. The OWNER of the year??

He who spends the most wins.

The trainer of the Year? I really didn't want to even talk about that embarrassment. But just want to say Steve rode Hal's coattails with Rachel and his sheer numbers and lack of handle on his stable and their issues nullifies any money leading/race winning he will ever do.  You know the * on baseball players records? That will be the legacy of Steve and others like him. I know Steve and I always liked him but.....

Doing a happy dance!

I've never dissed the wondrous Zenyatta but my heart belongs to Rachel.

Two old men with a lot of money, Bo Derek, and Sting...I doubt RA or Zenyatta stayed up to catch the results.  

Yes let's talk TC.  Jason in your interview of Baffert he fails to mention CONVEYANCE.  After the San Rafael looks to be the real deal.

Shout out to the connections of Papa Clem!  Looks like this one is back to where he left off.

Oh and on Julien? Notice how many trainers mentioned his name?

The kid can ride and is a wonder with horses. No questions about his treatment of them or his riding style.  When trainers notoriously hard on riders acknowledge him as one of the best around, you know he's good.

The most well deserved and legitimate award of the evening.

Icon Project?  Really?  Must have missed that last night.  She was an equine buddy of mine.  One of my favorites in Marty's barn at Calder, before she was, sadly for me, retired. A nice filly, darling to "play with"  -- but no Rachel.

Maybe it was an oversight that Wiggins was not mentioned, but it would have been nice -- if he'd been there, as well. In any case, Rachel absolutely deserved the accolade, and I am thrilled for her -- and daddy Megdalia, long a favorite of mine.

Jason: I would not expect much graciousness from Asmussen or Jackson. The latter is a lawyer and the former constantly needs one.

If anything positive comes out of 2009, I hope owners and trainers are now more likely to run their top race mares against the boys as they do in almost every other jurisdiction outside the U.S.

I agree with the comment about nobody mentioning Mr. Wiggins!  I believe Rachel should have won and am glad for it.  I look forward to another incredible year and hope that these two great girls will meet on the track!

Here is a warning for all you people who think this debate will finally be settled on the racetrack. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN! I am not saying they will not face eachother, I think it will happen. But no matter who wins it will not put an end to the argument as to who is the better racehorse. Don't think so? To this day I still have people tell me that Easy Goer was a far superior racehorse to Sunday Silence.

These two horses can save horse racing.  They need to meet and multiple times, They are polar opposites in their styles and connections. America loves a rivalry and these two have a chance to be Magic and Bird, ALi and Frazier, Army and Navy etc. The people at C.D. need to get em together on Oaks day no matter what it takes and they should have at one another for the rest of the summer. Imagine Derby weekend and the fact the Derby would be secondary to these to meeting. I really think it would be that big. As for HOY I agree after stepping back from the sport after the BC for a couple months and looking at both with more clarity and less emotion I think the correct horse won. Still I hated seeing such Zenyatta not getting it, she is truly one of a kind.  

Jason,

Good catch noting that Hal Wiggins went without being thanked for his skills and efforts.  For that and other reasons, the Zenyatta camp was the class of this race.

This HOY vote was a joke.  Rachel winning 5 Grade 1's???  Really?  The Oaks and Mother Goose field were full of Grade 1 talent were they?  Three wins against colts and geldings?  Hell, she wasn't even the best horse in two of those races...the weight break made those two wins possible.  

Zenyatta was and is the better race horse, and that should become clear to all this year if all goes well with these two horses.

My somewhat bigger beef with this whole HOY debate is that Beyer speed figures are increasingly obsolete.  They are less and less predictive of true racing talent (check out the 2009 KY Derby if you don't believe me). They should have NO bearing on the Eclipse voting.  To all who cling to them...I thank you in advance...wagering on horse racing being a parimutual activity and all!

I am very glad this HOY stuff is behind us, and for two reasons:

1) arguments from those who ignore facts annoy me; and

2) Rachel will not get meaningful weight breaks in 2010.  Let the better horses actually win this year!  

Even if the two horses were to meet, and of course one has to lose, but they will still be great/good horses.

Which most people will fail t realize when the time comes. Like with Affirmed racing against Seattle Slew.

What national stage are you referencing in your article, Jason?  I try to keep a positive outlook about the future of our sport but the complete lack of national interest and coverage of this year's Eclipse awards is troubling.  

Last night I drove home from a business trip to another state.  For hours I tuned around to various sports stations on my car radio trying to find info about the Eclipse awards but there was not one word about them.  Got home and my son had been watching ESPN all night.  He said they had not mentioned the awards, either.  

If you go to espn.com right now you will not find a word about HOY on their main page.  You have to go to the horse racing section to find it.  So in other words, unless you're a hardcore racing fan actively seeking the info you won't hear about it.

If racing can't market its "prestigious" awards any better than this....  

What is going on with Super Saver?  

I do believe the best horse with the BEST campaign won.  If Jerry Moss had chosen to run Zenyatta against males combined with her Classic win, she would have won HOY hands down.  Last year as a 5 year old she had long conquered all the West coast and 1 East coast filly races.  I don't know why they chose not to try any real competition for her with the exception of the Classic, except it was more important to keep her winning streak alive than to risk her losing a race.  The sad part is she would have left all of them eating her dust, probably easily!  I'm glad she's coming back to race this year! I think she's just going to get better!

Tom Durkin deserves the "humorous quote" of the evening award. When asked who he would have voted for HOTY he answered: "Rachel Alexandra, because I'm an East Coast biased jerk." I fell off laughing. :) Who knew Mr. Durkin was such a comedian?

Yes, Hal Wiggins should have been mentioned and so should have Helen Pitts from last year regarding Curlin.  After all, those two trainers gave those great horses a good start in their racing career.  

However, on the subject of Goldikova, no matter what she did here she only did it in North America once this year and I was particularly peeved that she was given an eclipse award over the North American runners who danced all the races here.  Shame on those voters.

It still believe that both Zenyatta and Rachel should have been given HOY.  Two very different campaigns but both devastating to those who ran with them deverved to make the changes necessary to honor them both. Their running styles are different but their hearts are in tune with their profession as the top race horses in the country.  I do believe that if Sea the Stars had come over both those girls could have out run him.  We will never know and now he has been retired as a three year old and we should all be so thankful that the owners of both American horses are going to let them run on as they have been bred to do.  I despise loosing sound horses to the breeding shed before their time.  I even wish Curlin could have run as a 5 year old.  However the Insurance bill was prohibitive being insurance poor myself I can very well understand the decision.

Don't forget all of the nice 3year olds we have coming up this year.  There are surprises ahead and the top 20 by Derby Time may be the bottom 20 by Saratoga.  Thanks for all of your comments.

Hello to Longwaytomay!  I have been told many times that Alydar was much superior to Affirmed as a racehorse.  There is no deciding and you are right.  

Tim G

I agree 100% on Julien. I thought the 3 winners he rode at BC locked it up for him. I also like how he called out Gomez and the fact that Julien went home to see family and that was the only reason Gomez won the money title.

I was at the track that day & saw Curlin break his maiden-the foundation was there before he was purchased by Jess Jackson.  Name one horse that team Jackson/Asmussen has either developed from a homebred, yearling purchase, or  an untrained 2 year old purchase that has been major player on the national level deserving of an Eclipse award.  I don't mean to be sore grapes, but not mentioning the part Wiggins played was inexcusable. He trained RA to her most impressive win in the Kentucky Oaks.

All is right with the world.

I am thrilled that Rachel Alexandra was honored with racing's highest honor. Rachel was my pick based on the way she prevailed unbeaten in an unprecedented campaign that was specifically designed to challenge her and define her greatness literally every step of the way. That is what Jackson said he was going to do the day he bought her, and that is exactly what he did. Thank you, Mr. Jackson! Thank you!!!

My guess is that Jackson meant to mention Wiggons, but he was obviously nervous, pulling notes out of his sleeve, stammering, couldn't read his own writing, etc. That has to be an emotional moment. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. I bet he knows exactly how to make it up to Hal. Ditto Asmussen who was obviously emotional due to wanting that Eclipse so bad he could taste it just so he could give it to his trusted team.  

I also want to say that I love and admire Zenyatta tremendously. Clearly she is a horse for the ages that could re-write some history books of her own. I think the challenge to Rachel fans is to realize that even though we didn't see an aggressive well thought out campaign from Zen's people, their horse is still out of this world.

Zenyatta was just not challenged to the same degree, and therefore she didn't get to prove as much. Apparently, her people held her perfect record in such high regard that they didn't do enough to challenge her and define her greatness beyond any doubt. In other words, Zenyatta didn't lose in that she tried and failed as much as her people lost it for her with the campaign they selected. Twice.

Admit it. No one thinks they saw the best Zenyatta had to offer. Why the heck not? What were they saving it for?

Zenyatta's many fans must feel a huge sense of loss and disappointment. They have my heart. This is a good time to remember that Zenyatta didn't plan her campaign. She could only run when and where she was made to go. The campaign failed, not the horse. The horse did everything she was asked to do superbly.

It is too bad that Jerry Moss could not have set a better tone as an example of how we get along and how racing survives post Eclipse awards. If he could have done that ... well ... it would have helped Zen's fans go on as loyal racing fans looking forward to this year rather than wallowing in despair with some of them contemplating calling it a day as far as racing goes. If only he could have kept his mouth shut instead of delivering the bitter "proxy" remark. A better man would have cared about you and encouraged you to look forward instead of backward. I have yet to hear the Mosses take responsibility for the mistakes they made. Maybe that takes time. But if they didn't learn anything from two losing HOY campaigns, don't let them take you down with them. You will just have to accept that the great Zenyatta's people don't know what a HOY campaign looks like, and they don't employ anyone that does.

Even though this vote wasn't the squeaker some expected, I have to say that given her campaign, I am surprised Zen got as many votes as she did. They had to be emotional votes rather than rational votes. Her BC Classic victory was so visually devastating that it titillated people into thinking that it meant as much as a Classic win on a fair surface. If that were the case we wouldn't see the BC looking for a permanent fair dirt venue, and Santa Anita looking to replace the ProRide with good ol' dirt ASAP. Everyone is running as far away as they can get from ProRide. Think about it. And stop blaming an east coast bias because such lame and awful talk does as much to damage the image of the sport you love as anything else you can name.

At least we can hope that Zen's people learn from their mistakes and design a campaign to test their horse instead of protect their horse in 2010. Maybe that doesn't include the same team. Maybe that means traveling. Maybe that means taking on the males as often as her own sex. Maybe it needs a jockey that can find a rail trip once in a while. If they don't change up crucial elements they have already lost Horse of the Year in 2010 so don't wind yourself up for another let down.

Lucky, lucky us that will get to witness a year of racing of such incredible magnitude as awaits us in 2010. I hope the meeting of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta will be a match race in which both horses are reacting only to each other, and neither can place blame on the way the race set up, post position, speed duels, or anything else. Best wishes and racing luck to both of these fair ladies.

Irish: TVG carried the entire Eclipse Awards live and ESPNNews had the Horse of the Year announcement live, as well as some Fox affiliates. I believe they are national TV stations.

To Keenelandcat:  I wouldn't train my horses on an off track.  You risk injury.  They are thinking of the horse first.  Doesn't that make sense to you?  Why tempt fate.

I certainly agree that the omission of Hal Wiggins' name in relation to the success of Rachel was really glaring. I also think that it's going to be very difficult to arrange a race in which both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra are participants.  Are there any serious mares that would will want to run for 3rd money against these two?  I think the Oaklawn Handicap would be an ideal race, that's if they can rustle up enough males to take on these amazons.  Good luck!

keenlandcat- I'm not the biggest Jackson supporter, but he will be racing homebreds eventually.

Longwaytomay,

     I agree, But, I will go one step further and say Rachel and Zenyatta will never meet on the track, I hope I am dead wrong, though.  Another step further and say maybe Rachel is done on the track?, Just a gut feeling on both, We shall see...

Hawkeye- the turf vote seem to many times go to who they think is the best horse that ran, not the body of work

Zenyatta is a superb mare (on Cali sythetics), but Rachel Alexandra is the better racehorse (at various tracks, in the slop, mud, etc.).

That pulling Zenyatta out of the Distaff on Derby Day because of the "off" track (which really wasn't that "off") and then returning her to Cali and the synthentics for the rest of the year --- that's what hurt her in the voting, in my opinion.

For 2010, Zenyatta will need to come East and run in the DIRT.  Or she won't be a serious contender.  

If they aren't in a hurry with Rachel then what does it matter.

Thanks Bill. I said the same thing for the same reason.

Some people never change.

The slide show on BH home page has 23 pictures of the Eclipse Awards show. Not one of them is of Steve Asmussen. Just an oversight or a subconscious objection?

I too was very happy that the voters didn't go the emotional route.  HOY is not, after all, a popularity contest but an award for the most complete campaign of THE year, and not a lifetime. I think that Moss said it all when he said that he thought they had won it, with the way the emotions were going. I found his arrogance and the entire team's smugness very uncomfortable to watch.  And it was disturbing to watch the TVG commentators interviewing the owners after the awards--especially Simon Bray--when interviewing the Mosses he was so excited and sat stone-faced with Jess Jackson.  Both were clearly biased.  I too think Wiggins deserved at least a mention, but at the risk of being the devil's advocate, it's worth remembering that had RA not been sold, her career would have taken a decidedly different path and we would be congratulating the other girl today.  It was not in the plan for RA to have raced the campaign she did with JJ and Assmusen and would never have raced against males.  She would no doubt have gone down in the history books as a great filly, but not as a wonder horse.  She would have most likely never have ventured outside her narrow filly box and we may never have known the great champion that she is today.  Thank him for his work with the 2 yr old?-yes.  But it was the new team that helped her soar to the heights she has reached.

Irish and Jason:

My famuly has extended cable TV through ComCast. On Monday, I was told by ComCast that our extended plan did not include ESPNEWS, and that to add that channel would cost an additional $17.00 per month before fees. While that channel was technically available "nationally", it would have come at too steep a price to make that qualification meaningful. I too spent last evening looking at endless "Bottom Lines" on ESPN and ESPN2 for Eclipse Awards news, and found none.  

It's been reported that Vodka will be bred to Sea the Stars after she runs in the Dubai Cup.

Congratulations to all the winners

and their connections last night.

Good point about Hal Wiggins not being recognized, big mistake there.I may be in the minority, and that's fine with me, but

the wrong horse was awarded HOTY. Zenyatta will prove that she is the better horse, I have no doubt.  That Zenyatta could be undefeated AND win our biggest race with her ears pricked and not be awarded HOTY is a travesty. Then why call the Breeder's Cup, the World Championships? Let's hope that this rivalry is settled on the race track some day, but don't count on it. We have already started  to hear excuses about Rachel and the weather. You have to ask yourself, will it really happen? They didn't seem interested

in running against Zenyatta in 2009, why would they want to in 2010? I look forward to it, but I have my doubts.

That being said, let's get going on the Triple Crown trail!

Highlander,

Unfortunately, the general public tends to have a relatively short term memory, especially in today's culture with a burning desire for instant gratification.  If the Oscar's were voted on by the genral public, every award winning movie would be released sometime during November or December. These decisions need to be made by knowledgable people in the industry, not by group that is inclusive of casual fans that tune in to the sport 4 days a year - KD, PS, BS, and BC.

CateOwen,

 The day before Zenyatta was to race in KY, John Shirreffs said if they seal the track before the race then she would not run. They sealed the track in the morning. Can you seal a track that is not wet? I don't think so. He was protecing his horse, not her record.

TVG, ESPNNews, and HRTV are all premium channels.  What's wrong with ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX????  Those are national channels available to the average viewer.  National does not denote available.  The only award announced on ESPN 1 was Horse of the Year on a ticker at the bottom of the screen...during a basketball game.

Jason, why do you feel not mentioning Hal Wiggins was not an oversight?  When Jackson got up a second time and didn't say anything. I did wonder.  I think the right horse won though both are equally great.  And I didn't think Jerry Moss was all that gracious.  "She won by proxy" - seriously?  Rachel has a clone who raced for her all year?  And what's up with no published works for her yet?  I believe the  comment about wet weather in LA jsut as much as I believed the weather comment about KY before Zenyatta was unretired.  (Moss implied the shipping delay was due to cold).  GregJ, you could be right.    

I think that we all should be greatful for having both of these wonderful females enrich our lives. I do not think that either should ever again enter a race restricted to females horses only. Thay have soundly demonstrated that no male horse can run with either one of them. Let both of run only in the highest handicap races for the rest of their careers. I will wager that the only time one of them gets defeated is when they square off against each other, then it will be Katy, bar the door, all hell is going to break loose.

I will be very surprised if JJ allows Rachel to meet Zenyatta. I am as certain that I can be that if the two were to meet, it would be Zenyatta with ease.

And I agree with you, Jason, about Mr. Wiggins. Those of us who have followed this story know who has brought Rachel along from early on.

Hats off to Rachel and her connections. She had an amazing year but I think Zenyatta is the better horse.  But they don't ask me...  

I hope they have a chance to meet on the track and settle it once and for all.  But I doubt that will happen.  IF Rachel makes it back to the races, they will keep her at a mile to a mile and an eigth.   I think Jess Jackson's speech made it very clear that he wasn't going to go chase after a race with Zenyatta.  

And things happen.  When I was still living in KY, Arlington put up a lot of money to get Sunday Silence and Easy Goer to race there.  When the time came, they were both retired and I sat in the stands watching Beau Genius win.  Nothing against him of course.

I don't think that Zenyatta should go to Dubai.  If she wins and beats the best male horses in the world, her critics will just point to the fact that she won it on a synthetic surface.  I'm hoping she runs in Ca. , then goes to the Apple Blossom, something in the summer, then runs in the Jockey Club Gold Cup before trying for back to back Classics.  

HEY JASON:

I want to express my sincere thanks for pointing out that Mr. Wiggins WASN'T MENTIONED ONCE last nite. I'm sure you've noticed how critical I've been in various instances regarding Asmussen and Jackson. I'm not suprised.

I believe I eluded to the fact they more than likely have other options. Given the size of Asmussen's program-they could go elsewhere.  I didn't mention training on an off track and you totally missed the point.  RA's last 2 races took way too much out of her & she has been off since Sept.  In his interview with TVG(thanks TVG for your excellent coverage by the way)JJ mentioned that RA was not in shape. Although it was not a training work,  he mentioned something about casually working a furlong in 17.  I just thought his comments about her present status were odd.  I want the two horses to meet & Jackson's comments made me think that might not happen anytime soon.  Although not from CA, I am in the Zenyatta camp for the now decided HOY.  She beat evey good horse RA did & did it with more authority (except the Kentucky Oaks where RA really had no competiton) & looked better afterwards.  

Irish - The HOY award was covered on ESPN Sportscenter this morning - made my day!

CateOwen - Depending on the future surface at Santa Anita, she may not have to come east to run on dirt...

Greg J.

I tend to agree with you.  I have a gut feeling about that too.  :)

♥Seattle Slew♥

Jess Jackson's suggestion, offered at the Eclipse Awards last night, as to how to remove subjectivity from HOY honors seems worthy of serious discussion. Jackson proposed assigning points to a series of races - presumably, the major Graded races at American tracks -and beefing up their purses to make them as lucrative as the breeding stall in an attempt to keep the best race horses on the track and extend their careers. All toward making HOY honors a more objective affair, removing impediments like the East-West Coast biases that plagued this year's contest, and benefitting racing by rewarding its fans who are routinely disappointed by early retirements of horses of HOY caliber. Jackson lobbied for a central governing body presided over by a Commissioner to facilitate making this scheme feasible. Taken in conjunction with Jackson's campaigning to ban the use of steroids/medications to return soundness, stamina, durability, and longevity to the American thoroughbred, these suggestions appear to be truly visionary designed as they are to correct the current ills of the racing industry - ones that threaten its well-being and cloud its future. Perhaps, Jason, you can evaluate Jackson's suggestion in a blog column. Seems to be plenty of grist here for a much needed and interesting discussion. Maybe you can help jackson break some ground here.

Lighten up people! The events of the Eclipse Awards are of NO importance whatsoever compared to what has happened and is still developing in Haiti. Who won, lost, was snubbed, declared arrogant, heralded, demonized, etc. pales in comparison to the valiant efforts of those trying to make a difference in Haiti. Perspective is in order.

Jason, I'm in the Chicago area (a huge market to ignore) and still haven't heard a local word about HOY.  In speaking with several coworkers today, I discovered they did not even know that Rachel Alexandra is a horse and they did not know there's such a thing as an Eclipse award.

On the other hand, my daughter HATES football and has never watched a complete game yet she can name the 2009 Heisman trophy winner.  Why?  Because you almost can't turn on ESPN without hearing about the Heisman trophy.

It's nice that ESPN's "everything else" channel mentioned HOY, but I'll say it again, if racing can't market it's most prestigious awards any better than this, IMO we're in big trouble.

But I'll put my "happy hat" back on now and head to the Derby trail.  Hopefully we'll get a Triple winner this year and racing will come back in fashion.

And congrats to the Eclipse winners.  Very glad to see Gio got two.  

Fleetfoot.....What????? You don't believe a trainer has anything to do with a horses success???? Huh???? Sorry...but that has to be the most absurd statement (aside from some of Draynay's posts) that I have seen all year.  I will agree not all horses are created equal but without a great trainer, some will never reach their potential. Trainers are not created equal either. Hal deserved to be mentioned as he put the foundation on RA and made her the horse she is today. Jackson with all his millions and his Texas sized ego purchased her when she was at the top of her game. I agree with MK in Fl who said there wasn't enough room on stage to mention Hal's name with the big egos on stage.

I am proud of RA and I am a huge fan. But I am equally a Zenyatta fan and truly felt this was the year if ever that both horses should have been named HOY. I don't know how anyone could vote against either one. Perhaps there is an east coast bias...I don't know. But Z has earned her place in history and who knows what this year holds for either one of these spectacular horses. I can't wait to find out.

I saw HOY this morning at 4 AM EST on ESPN...

I read that JM said that wherever RA is entered, Zen will be entered, too. I hope so, it would be awesome if they meet all year long...!

GreyK: No. 1, JJ thanked Dolphus Morrison for "selling her to me." He could have said it at that point. No. 2, when he came back up the 2nd time he made a point to mention the people he forgot, namely Calvin Borel. No. 3, I don't recall that he thanked Helen Pitts during the awards for Curlin. No. 4 and in regards to Asmussen...nah, I'll stop there.

I love this post..."If one spectacular win in the Breeders Cup does not count, why did Goldikova win over Ventura?  Just a thought."

TIME WILL TELL!!!

TIME WILL TELL!!!

Keeneland Kat, I missed the interview with JJ, I have had a funny feeling about RA, I agree that I think now that he has the hoty, and now that Z is back and coming east, I don't think he wants any part of Zenyatta...I think they are having a time with RA stats and figures getting her up to par, I could tell last night in his speeches, that something isnt' right in the RA camp, it's probably RA....Well, at least she got her award for her "ONE" hard year and she deserved it....I think it took alot out of her....

El,

You are right on spot about Simon Bray. I watched all of RA's races and Simon was commenting on how she is one of the best horses of all time. He was saying things like, i got chills going up and down my spine, nobody puts the heat on rachel she puts it on them, she is awesom, and my favorite one was -SHE HAS HORSE OF THE YEAR WRAPPED UP.

Than last night he stated that he would vote for Zenyatta for HOY, what?

After the show when he was interviewing J & A Moss he was all smiley, giggly, and chatty. But when he interviewed jess he looked like a stone statue, expressionless.Keep drinking the wine Simon

El,

   Regarding your comment about Hal Wiggins, "Thank him for his work with the 2 yr old?-yes.", Well, May I refreash your memory, Mr. Wiggins trained Rachel for 10 out of her 14 races(One could also say the number should be eleven, Since She was purchased less then two weeks before her Preakness win).  By you only giving Mr. Wiggins credit for Rachel's two year old campaign, You are leaving out, The Martha Washington Stakes, Fair Grounds Oaks, Fantasy Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, and The Preakness(Unless you think Mr. Asmussen is solely the one to be given credit for his less then two weeks of training Rachel prior to the Preakness?). Still want to only give Mr. Wiggins credit for her two year old campaign?

lil darlin,

Wow, so you resort to calling the general public stupid to make a point? They have no long-term memory? It's precisely that kind of arrogance that turns people off. This sport is struggling to survive and will never grow in poularity with your kind of attitude to those on the outside. Horseracing needs to embrace the casual fan not ignore them as ignorant or unknowing. Just when in your mind did this become an "exclusive" club?

Zookeeper.......

That was a very intelligent post!  I am a wreck because of that earthquake.  Come on people.  Let's really all get along cause you never know if this blog will even be here in an hour.  

Thanks Jason..........

Footlick, I didn't see the interview with JJ after the awards..and he said that RA wasn't ready yet!!! Can you brief me on this if you saw that interview with jackson after the awards...I watched the awards, I just didn't stay tuned for the post award show with the interviews...

Completely off the subject here? I was glad to see Chantal back with Mike Smith...She is doing great on her races in California now....

I congratulate those who were the award winners last night.  However, until the awards are based on some objective evaluation using points or some other system (not turf writer voting), the awards are relatively meaningless.  Of course, the Eclipse awards are the turf writer's awards so the turf writers get to make the rules.  But there are many, many people out there with no vote who are at least as knowledgeable (and some much more so) than many of the turf writers.

As for Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra meeting in 2010, my prediction is that it may happen one time but not more.  Whoever wins will refuse to meet again.  And even that one meeting is questionable.  The Zenyatta team is going to want a race at 1 1/4 miles with other speed in it.  The Rachel Alexandra team is going to want a shorter race with no other speed.  With their completely different running styles, any one race is going to heavily favor one or the other depending on it's distance, other competitors and how the track is playing (not to mention which of the two is in form at the time).

Zenyatta will never win Hoy no matter what she does.  The East Coast bias reared it's ugly head again last night.   Proven by the fact of Asmussen for Trainer??  What did he do except get handed a proven winner  that was developed and trained by some one else.  Baffert had a whole lot better year with multiple wins with a number of horses and than there is Sherrif with two Classic winners.  In my opinion Zenyatta is much the better horse.  Notice no one is clamoring for Rachel to come to Europe or Dubai.  And Jackson was hardly positive that they would meet either.

Its over and done.

After reading Steve Haskin's take on HOY, it left no doubt that both Zenyatta and Rachel should have had shared honors.

On the owners' egos, oh well.  Wonder how anyone on this blog would behave if they were in their shoes.  Hmmm.

Rachel is spectacular.  Can't wait to see her.

For those who disparage Zenyatta as a synthetics horse.

Watch what she can do on dirt.

Thank the Lord that RA was named HOY and it's all over for now. Watching draynay pace the floor while mumbling to himself waiting for the announcement was unsettling. He even made a voodoo doll of Zenyatta which he stuck full of plastic toothpicks in dishonor of the plastic surfaces she ran on. You should have seen the look in his eyes when they announced RA the winner. I bet they could hear him all the way down to the Legion Club screaming I told you so!! I told you so!! Hahahahaha!! I was right!! I was right!! poly crap this and poly crap that.

After the whipping you all gave him in that handicapping contest I was afraid he go further off the deep end if his RA hadn't won. As annoying as it was at least I don't have to hide all the sharp objects in the house for fear of him hurting himself again.

Have a nice day everyone and be warned he's gearing up for the Derby Trail.

Peace out.

FourCats: There is no points-based system in any of the major sports either--baseball, football, basketball, etc. The writers in each of those sports vote also. In the baseball Hall of Fame, the most sacred place of all, it is all left up to voters/writers. Is that a meaningless shrine?

Why should horse racing be any different, just because your horse didnt win? Get over it.

I agree with everything Highlander wrote.

I'm glad Julien Leparoux won The Eclipse for jockey. I didn't like it that Garrett Gomez had to get one more mount on the last racing day of the year, to get higher earnings than Leparoux. Bad form! Leparoux is a class act!

Jason.  You forgot to mention the Olympics Games.  The commitee decides everything.  :)

Rachael may have won more races in 2009, but I think Zenyatta is the better race horse.

Speaking of GIRL POWER and from a woman's point of view, after watching the awards lost night, I would certainly rather be Ann Moss than Mrs. Jess Jackson.

Ginger Punch fans.... I made this video for her jockey per his request (he chose the song and gave me some of the pics). I have no idea what this song says LOL.  

www.youtube.com/watch

We are still working on the other vid.  That is taking some serious time.   :)

Thanks, Jason!  I was tipsy on Kendall-Jackson Rachel Alexandra pinot noir by then, so either I didn't listen carefully or I put it down to tipsy geezer syndrome (Jackson: I'm not willing to cop to geezer yet) and gave him benefit of doubt.  Like I said, the second time with Borel, something odd hit my alcohol soaked brain.  And I bet she will train long and slow this year.

I am Happy that this HOY is over ! While I did want Zen to get it I do know Rachel had the more Complete year   that said .... whomever cast the sole ballet against Zen for older female well i suppose to each his own but cant help thinking that was motivated by personal feelings other than what was right

rachel alexandra won hoy on the track due to her numerous wins in big races at big tracks. for months I said you have to win at churchill, saratoga, and belmont. win the biggest races at the biggest tracks the formula is not rocket science. so far as of today zenyatta has no wins on dirt vs males and rachel already has 3 under her belt.

Karen2, if Wiggins is such a "great" trainer, how come no one really knew who he was, outside of KY, until RA came along????????  Couldn't any other trainer have put a "foundation" on her?  Did anyone know who Larry Jones was until he was handed Hard Spun and Eight Belles?  Doesn't every single trainer say "they knew they had something special in the barn?"  If the trainer has so much to do with it why would they even say something like that?  Doesn't it seem that the size of a Thoroughbred has something to do with how they consistently perform on the track?  Wasn't Secretariat's heart three times the normal size of an average thoroughbred?  Aren't RA, Zenyatta, and Curlin pretty large horses????  If Wiggins was such a "great trainer" who deserves "accolades" for his training job with RA, why would she be transferred to another trainer after being purchased??????  I am so tired of this argument.  Pletcher said that Jerkens did a great job with Quality Road?  Well if he did such a great job why was the horse transferred in the first place? I know, I know.  The owners just have a whim and are eccentric.  

Yes, Sir, I agree that it is very disappointing and in my humble opinion unbelievable of gentlemen who should know about true horsemanship, Steve Asmussen and Jess Jackson, to have completely ignorned the great contribution that Hal Wiggnins gave to what Rachel Alexandra became.  I sure took notice and I am sure others have too.  They missed a golden moment in High Horsemanship!

Thank you for bringing it up.

a horse lover in Texas

I turned off the TV immediately after the announcement rather than listen to Jess Jackson again. I think this was completely the wrong choice for the industry. Racing basically made its own Championships unimportant, and they let a single owner dictate to them where they should be held and on what surface. By rewarding Jess Jackson for NOT running Rachel in the Breeders Cup, they made themselves look impotent and ridiculous. Steve commented that even though the fan polls favored Zenyatta, he was pleased the voters looked beyond that.  Really?? No wonder this is a dying sport. It's unforgiveable to tme that Gio Ponti won two Eclipse awards that are argueably more prestigous than Zenyatta's Older Female award, when she beat him (and two other champions) handily. Zenyatta was robbed two years in a row for Horse of the Year, and it's another nail in the coffin of this sport.

DRAYNAYS BETTER HALF

That's all well and good,but I'll bet it was more of a surprise when Zenyatta dismantled the boys in Nov.comparing to RA winning last nite. Although a HUGE fan of Zenyatta I knew her chances weren't good to win HOY. Just saying it was easier picking HOY,then who would win the Classic(which,I nailed that one).

@ Jodie

No one is clamoring for Rachel to come to Europe or Dubai because real horsemen understand the difference between a dirt horse and a turf/synth horse and know that the racing overseas is now all turf/synth.  

Zenyatta would NEVER be able to defeat Rachel on the dirt and Rachel would most likely not be able to ever defeat Zenyatta on the turf/synth.  Unless there is agreement for a race on both surfaces, the debate will never be settled.  And if they do race on both and split, then it still is not settled.

But what is absolutely ridiculous is any complaint about "east coast bias".  To say that a horse that sat at home on a prefered surface and circuit was so much CLEARLY better than a horse that won at multiple different tracks in multiple different states and climates is just absolutely devoid of any logic whatsoever.  Both beat the best Grade 1 males on their prefered surface.  One stayed home to do it.  One traveled all over the US to 5 different states to do it.  It's a shame there are so many people out there rooted in personal emotion rather than fact.

DRAYNAY

Remember,it's a new year now!

I agree with the east coast bias,but Rachel did have a great year,I'm just partial to Zen she has such personality and presence she draws people in.I believe she would win a match race.I hope she has been told today she is our horse of the year all her fans and she does not need a trophy to prove it.Love you Zenyatta!

Fleetfoot,

 Your ignorance is glaring.

I think both fillies were deserving of Horse of the Year honours.  They are both super stars of the sport and it is great news that Zenyatta will run again in 2010.  That being said, I think what most people debated about in Horse of the Year debates was Rachel vs. Zenyatta and what horse of the year is about is actually  Rachel's 2009 campaign vs. Zenyatta's.  I am a huge fan of Zenyatta and believe she could have won a vote for Horse of three decades but believe the right campaign won Horse of the Year for 2009.  What Rachel did as a three year old filly on different tracks, in different conditions all over the country against the top competition that racing has to offer was simply unheard of.  As a baby Rachel made history in 2009 and what a treat it was as a fan to watch her tear down barriers and define a champion as it has never been defined before.

Congratulations to Jess Jackson (his sporting enterprise and wisdom paid off again), Hal Wiggins, Steve Asmussen, Calvin Borel and the groom(s) of Rachel Alexandra for copping the HOTY 2010.

To the Moss',John Shirrifs and the groom of Zenyatta, its also congratulations on a valiant last ditch effort to win the title.  Racing has been energized by it all.  By bringing Zenyatta back for 2010, Jerry & Ann Moss deserve absolution from the timidity of the past two years campaign.  I certainly wish them and the big mare all the best for 2010.  The entire racing world awaits the match-up on Dirt.  It will be the greatest racing showdown in living memory and I hope that we are treated to more than one round.  I'll abstain from any analysis or prediction on that outcome until I see them entered in the same race.      

I'm a much bigger Zen fan, but Rachel deserved HOY just as much as Zen, so congrats to her and I can't wait to see them on the track, in the same race, and see who comes out on top.

And what about that 1 vote for Icon Project? She was a nice mare but nothing compared to Zenyatta, Life is Sweet, Music Note even. I expected that if anyone gave another vote to an older female not named Zenyatta it would be Life is Sweet.

Last thought, Jackson and Asmussen, umm hello remember that guy that trained Rachel? That brought her along? You told Zenyatta's owners/trainer how good of a job they've done with her, yet you leave out the person who got your own horse going? Shows just how big of an ego they have.

Hi Jason,

In response to your comment to me, actually baseball, football and basketball all have championships decided by the competitors (ever heard of the Super Bowl); not by sport's writers.  We're not talking about the Halls of Fame.  My guess is that both of these horses will be put in Racing's Hall of Fame eventually.  Horse racing does not as easily fit into that model as horses don't run a specific series of races that determine who is champion (although the closest thing is the Breeder's Cup which Zenyatta won and Rachel Alexandra did not even compete in).  By the way, my "horse" did not lose as the point system that I favor would have picked Rachel Alexandra as HOTY (though such a system would only be fair if it was in place at the start of the year).

Stardustyrose,

Thank you for the video of Ginger Punch and Rafael Bejarano. It's beautiful. I had forgotten how absolutely gorgeous Ginger Punch is. Anybody knows who she was bred to? If her baby looks anything like her we are in for an "eyefeast".

Speaking of CUTE babies: Curlin's first filly is adorable. Thank you Blood Horse for posting several pictures of her and her dam.

FourCats: I'll explain this to you one more time and then I can't do anything more to help you. When it comes to POSTSEASON AWARDS, in all the aforementioned sports, they are ALL decided by writers--MVP, Offensive/Defensive Player of the Year,  Most Improved, etc. All decided by writers. No point system. In other words, Albert Pujols doesnt get X amount of points for home runs and RBIs. And Peyton Manning doesnt get X amount of points for TD passes and yards. It is subjective. Get it now?

longwaytomay, having an opinion does not make one ignorant.  Taking an argument or opinion personally does.

Carolyn- I didn't watch the awards so I don't know what he said, but obviously they aren't in a hurry.

This was a fantastic year for racing.  We were given the gift of some absolutely amazing horses and amazing races.  Congratulations to all!  But the best, most exciting thing is next year.  Our two magnificent girls are running again.  I saw as many of Rachel's races as I could because I live on the east coast but I am thrilled with the opportunity to see Zenyatta.  Thank you thank you thank you to the Mosses for letting her do what she loves for one more year.  I will travel anywhere to see her.  Now is the time to make a plan to open the eyes of those who don't know how glorious Thoroughbred racing is.  We have an opportunity to reach so many fans through Rachel and Zen in 2010 - let's don't waste it. Who could watch them and not fall in love!!

Hey Thread, did you happen to see the 2008 Apple Blossom Handicap-on the dirt by the way!  You need to go to YouTube and watch TVG's 14 race Zenyatta reel. I think you will be shocked how well Z gets over dirt.

Fleetfoot,

 I didn't take it personally. However when someone makes the statement you did it makes me think of one word. Ignorance. It means you don't have the facts or chose to ignore the facts. J. Jackson transfers ALL of his horses to Asmussen. He is his trainer of choice. Hal Wiggins did an outstanding job of training Rachel A.  All you need is a big horse to be a succesfull trainer? Are you joking.

I expected RA to get HOY so I wasn't too surprised - disappointed, but not livid (as other predicted Zen fans to be).  I was more upset about the one vote for Icon Project that kept Zen from having a unanimous vote for older female, as Rachel had a unanimous vote for 3-yr old filly. I guarantee you, I lost more sleep over that one stupid vote than who won HOY!  LOL

I just read the comment by Moss about Rachel winning by "proxy". Taking that statement in context, he talked about how Zen had never been beat on the track and (to paraphrase him) the only way "they" could beat her this year was on paper. It could just be the way I interpreted what I read, but I think that's what he meant, not that RA was undeserving.

While I agree that Hal had alot to do with getting a base under this horse; they thanked and congratulated him after the preakness sooner or later they have to be able to take credit for keeping her running. You dont hear Pletcher giving credit to the 40 or more trainers that he has received horses from....i.e. Lawyer Ron. I know you people dont like JJ and Steve ( I feel the same way about IEAH and their trainer) but they kept this horse going at peak, they fed the horse, they paid the vet bills so now they get the credit.

Shane: Asmussen thanked Wiggins right after the Preakness basically because he had to. He had the horse in his barn less than two weeks going into that race; if he didnt, he would have looked very bad. It has nothing to do with liking or disliking someone, the classy way to go would have been to acknowledge the man who helped make her into what she is today. He did much more than Asmussen in that respect. It wouldnt have taken no more than 15 seconds.

Disapointing.  I felt Zenyatta should have won. I am not surprised that she didnt. As long as Jess Jackson is involved in racing, no one else will have a chance. His arrogance turns my stomach.  Why wasnt Wiggins mentioned? Its all about Jess Jackson. Dont give me this crap of his love for horses! BS! He's won the last 3 years, he'll win again next year. With Rachel? who knows.

The best part of Jackson's speech(if there is one)was when he turned to look at his wife, and he called her his "mother".LOL!  A little too much of the bubbly maybe?

Zookeeper....

Thanks.  I thought I would throw a little joy into this bickering.  

My Lord HOY has been determined folks.  Both of the horses are beautiful horses.  All of them are.  the ONLY thing that bothers me about all of this is Hal.  Other than that, I am cool with it all... ;)

Where is the L O V E peoples?

Jason I understand it from your viewpoint. When I say dislike beleive me I am not reffering to you. I just get tired of alot of people bashing the horse because they dont like the owners. When I feel that way, I just dont comment because I know it would be from emotion not from what is really going on. And yes it would have been nice of them to do it, but we also dont know if they called him afterwards and thanked him for the training job. We just dont know.

Jason....... WELL SAID!  :)

What is wrong with you people? Endless complaints about Jess Jackson, what has he ever done to any of you!!!

Without Jackson we may not have had the 2 time HOY, the top all time money winner and the winner at Dubai, Curlin.

Without Jackson we never would seen Rachel run in the Preakness, the Haskell,the Woodward, beating the colts everytime.

I don't personally know Mr. Jackson (and I'm sure the same is true for 99% of you naysayers)but I know that racing is better and much more exciting because of him, his horses and his trainer.

I have followed the sport for 30 years,but for the very FIRST time, I went to a local OTB to watch a race, the Woodward, because of Rachel.I read the Bloodhorse every day, because of Rachel.

Face the facts, horse racing is better and more in the public eye because of Mr Jackson, his trainer and his wonderful "Horses of the YEARS"

@ Jodie

Steve Asmussen trained 650 winners last year, that´s what he did. And by the way, it´s Shirreffs, NOT Sheriff...

So the Jackson camp takes credit for somebody else's hard work. Not cool at all.  And he wants to match race his horse.  Tell him to ship her to Stockton where they match race in the orchards every weekend.

I think the Eclipse awards need to be held in Kentucky or Florida. There was such a California bias I thought someone was going to throw their shoes at Jess Jackson after the HOY announcement lol.

I understand that the Mosses were disappointed for Zenyatta not being named HOY, but I thought they got very defensive in the TVG interview, saying how their horse has never lost and they wouldn't trade places with anyone etc. I believe that Jess Jackson gave much more credit to Zenyatta than the Mosses gave to Rachel Alexandra, in my opinion. And the TVG commentator's remark about how he would have voted for Zenyatta was not appropriate at all. Sour grapes, anyone? The only highlight of the awards was Tom Durkin. : )

Diane J,

Please don't lose sleep over some idiotic vote. That illogical choice on the part of one voter says a lot more about that person than it does about Zenyatta and her great connections.

Some people take great pleasure in bashing California and everything connected with it. Our tracts are crap, our horses inferior, our trainers cowardly or infantile and the horseracing fans haven't a clue about anything.

I guess that vote was the result of a similar mindset. I don't like it but I won't lose sleep over it. After all, being a Californian, I'm too ignorant to realize how underprivileged I am to have witnessed such abundance of talent, charm and beauty that are the essence of Zenyatta.

Jason, I love that you brought that up that Hal Wiggins was not thanked because thats EXACTLY what I was saying to my roommates as I was watching the Eclipse Awards, and even when Jackson went up the second time and thanked Borel, I thought he would mention Wiggins!

Rip Van Winkle here...been asleep for 25 years. Can someone bring me up to date please?

WHo is this Zenyatta, she has never run in New York!

What is this Breeders Cup Championship thingy? Jockey Club Gold Cup and Travers Winner not even considered in HOTY. What has happened since I've been asleep?

Best horse on Dirt is the best horse in US. What is Poly, Tapeta?

I was going to the post office to mail this comment to the DRF. SOme little whippersnapper told me about this internet so I will try it. Wow things have changed, I wonder if horses are campaigned any differently?

Now that I'm awake I think I will head to Hialeah for the weekend, see the top 3yr olds on the Derby trail workout. Must remember to bring the tanning oil.

Footlick

I know you prefer European/Turf racing to American racing,but come on,seriously.Why would you want Zenyatta to 'campaign around the world' and deprive us,We the People,of an historical showdown between Zenyatta & Rachel A. on dirt?..Why?. With your proposed scenario,Zenyatta would be way too busy traveling & recuperating from that gruesome campaign to face RA or any other horse for that matter,here in the US.I would think the World's racing fans would much rather see these 2 once in-a-lifetime greats meet on the track.I also enjoy Turf/Euro racing,but this is the Match-up we want & desperately need,Zenyatta vs. RA and whoever else decides to show up.

I'm thrilled that the right horse won HOY last night.  Rachel did more all season than Zenyatta did.  Rachel's connections were willing to do more with her, whereas Zenyatta's handlers did nothing to challenge her before the BC Classic.  She could've run against the boys in Cali several times, but they didn't want to push her.  

For those who think that she'll go to Dubai, you're dreaming.  The Mosses wouldn't even ship her to NY, so why in the world would they send her to Dubai?  Besides, look at the horses who have gone to Dubai and none of them have ever come back to the States as the same horse.  

I look forward to these two great fillies meeting on the track.  It'd be a helluva race.

Just a travesty that Hal Wiggins wasn't mentioned by Mr.Asmussen nor Jackson.  Shame on you  both.  

It is unfortunate that neither Jess Jackson or Steve Asmussen remembered to acknowledge Rachel's former trainer Hal Wiggins in their speeches.  While I have no explanation for the ommisson in Mr. Asmussen's speech, keep in mind that Mr. Jackson made a reference to his wife as his "Mother" during his address.  Now,if the man cannot remember his spouse, do you honestly think he is going to remember Rachel's former trainer?

Zookeeper - nice!  :)

While my heart wanted Zenyatta to win, RA's campaign was more complete. While I feel Zenyatta beat better and more accomplished horses in the BCC, RA was shown to be more consistent and versatile.

I was thrilled with the announcement that Zenyatta would be coming back. I really want John Shirreff to back up his comment that Zenyatta prefers dirt, just tolerates synthetic because that is where he is based.

Zenyatta's camp said all along that the BC was their goal, so I can understand her campaign being run in CA. It was just VERY UNFORTUNATE that the BC was there for two year's running. Also, with RA's campaign completed, Zenyatta's camp could see what Rachel had accomplished and should have varied Z's races more, with maybe one race prior to the BCC being at SA. Just my thought!.

Looking forward to 2010!

Thanks a lot for this forum!!!

Just a comment on the Goldikova only running once in the US issue...

How many turf races did Ventura win in the US???  If you want to give her credit for Woodbine, then you give Goldi credit for her outside the US wins.  Also, nothing prevented Juddmonte from entering the BC Mile....

Both of these filles are magnificent.  I have to agree about the slight to Hal Wiggins, who is by all reports a man of class.  Not recognizing him displays a total lack of class.

Folks, Today is another day. HOTY was yesterday, thats over with and will soon be forgotton about as it was last year and the year before that. We need to look forward to the new year that we have...I am looking forward to my girl Zenyatta winning on dirt and in the east. Then no one can claim that she never left Cali, by the way, Zenyatta is still Zenyatta??? nothing has changed, who cares about what or how the east coast voted, the east coasters cannot always hold it against Zenyatta especially when she comes east to race....Jason will tell you the same thing...Give it time, Zenyatta's legacy will be even stronger and better by this year's end....You will see, and after her first race, you will be feeling much better, I'm so thrilled and I can't wait, I really feel so good about this year. I am glad that RA won the award, now the Mosse's have to come east with Zenyatta, we could not let Zenyattas' legacy be on just synthetics and once on dirt. She needed more races on dirt. This is going to be  the beginning of Zenyatta's legacy the way it should be, with no holds barred and nothing to look back on and say, we shoulda, coulda etc. this is going to be the year Zenyatta truly will be able to earn her crown, and it will be bigger than we could expect, think about it? The world already loves Zenyatta and has polled her higher than any NA racehorse, now top that off with a year of running on dirt in NA and winning, like she does, at the end of this year, Zenyata will still have her world recognition and she will have more power with the east and west because she will have came out of Cali, and when she goes out at the end of this year, she will truly be a champion on dirt, synthetics , older males and to add to what she already has what more can we ask for. Zenyatta has more left to gain and she will do it in 2010!!!!

My bad - sorry Icon Project.  I had to google her to remember which race she won this year.  Of course she deserved a vote - she won the Personal Ensign stakes on DIRT at SARATOGA this summer! Based on that criteria alone she's a better racehorse than Zen. (I hope you all can read sarcasm...)

It will be interesting to see the handicap weights assigned to RA and ZEN in the event they both nominate for any handicap races such as the Apple Blossom.

I would guess that the reigning HOTY would have to give a few pounds.

I cringe at the hypocrisy of this sport. People talk about Rachel's "better campaign," but yet I don't see anyone upset at Goldikova winning an Eclipse award based on ONE race, as so many Europeans have done in the past. Why? Because she had a dominating performance in her one championship race and everyone knows she's just better.  I'm still in disbelief after watching Rachel barely hanging on against the likes of Bullsbay and Macho Again at a mile and an eighth compared to Zenyatta EASILY defeating three champions at a mile a quarter in the richest race in America at how the vote went. Many people have said "I think Zenyatta is better but Rachel had a better campaign." Really? So where is the consistency? What did Zenyatta do wrong...she won every race she ran in?  She beat the best in the world? The awards are a joke.

"Congrats" to all winners?  by the way, has Rachel started to come out of the barn yet??? I mean, good lord, she better start getting her act together for a showdown with the queen in a month or so...what is taking Asmussen so long at getting her into some timed workouts or is it the girl ain't cutting it?  If she ain't out of the barn and being timed by the end of Feb. or Mar. then face it, she ain't coming out. If she wants to shoot for HOTY next year, they better start moving her, she has one heck of a big year to compete in, then to top it all of with her and Zenyatta in the BCC in the end of this year.  "GET-R-DONE", they better start soon. too long in the barn, may be a sign of a no-show, breeding shed, sooner than race track.

The right horse won and I am pleasantly surprised to see even the most delusional and stubborn "fans" admit that. Yet I am relatively unsurprised some people have yet to change their ignorant opinions and ridiculous "east coast bias" conspiracy theories. I was surprised at the unprofessionalism displayed by some "media" and tvg reporters (clearly favoring one side) and Moss acting like a spoiled baby saying Rachel only won by "proxy." The horse with the complete season won and in my opinion RA was also the best horse. The Mosses and Sheriffs have noone to blame but themselves for not putting Zenyatta in more challenging races. When Moss said "she has never lost..etc" I was thinking to myself well she really shouldnt have lost any of her races given the races she was entered into (overmatched G2 winning and allowance horses) for the most part. I do not think RA and Z will meet in the Apple Blossum. Doubt Rachel will be ready by then. My money is on the Lousiville Distaff on KY weekend. More people, site of BCC etc. We will see if Z shows up. Hope it doesnt rain ;) Funny also how some people are saying JJ is talking abt how rain and bad weather has delayed RA's return to serious training yet it was okay when the Mosses scratched Z due to rain. Double Standards. Looking forward to the showdown. My moneys on the Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Something people havent really touched on yet...Only one of these 2 will be getting an Eclipse Award this year (2010) so if you think the blogs were ugly towards the end of last year just wait until the end of this year (now that RA is eligible for Older Filly/Mare). Even if RA only starts 6 times this year I can guarantee you at least half of them will be against colts and the campaign will be ambitious just as it was last year. We have no reason to not believe JJ when he says he intends to bring RA back this season and challenge RA just as he did last year.

Zarkava. Yep Steve had 650 winners out of nearly THREE THOUSAND starts.

Most of his wins come with cheap claimers who are in and out of his barn and are expendable.  Lots of whispers about him and a few others on the track. Their records for 'issues' have proven that it isn't jealousy talking.

Like someone said about another trainer who had a drug issue that everyone on here bashed, the guy said when someone blatanly breaks the rules over and over how can the fans, bettors or other horsemen trust or believe a word that type of trainer says?

Who heard of Wiggins? Well anyone who is a legitimate fan or a horseman. In or out of Ky. Just like another best kept secret Larry Jones.

All most fans know about are the high profile guys and what you hear about them. Truthfully how many of you even knew about Steve Asmussen 15+ years ago?

Shane, LOL, who cares if it happened out of the limelight? Hal knows the true story as do those of us around the game (and knowing Jess and Steve both for years I'll say no call occurred).

Jason is miffed about it and his feelings mirror a lot of those in the game. Jess may have called his wife his Mother but recovered quickly and for heavens sake he had it written down.

Everyone has forgotten his arm twisting tactics and comments last year and earlier this year.

The whole thing with HOY seems to come down to the fact that one horse ran in different states. NOT on different types of tracks because you're all finding out now how wildly different the synthetics are.

Both horses had amazing years. Lets see what happens going forward.

p.s. Tracey, as Jerry said last night. Anyone who believes in the BC, preps for it and aims toward it.

Just so happens it was in Cal. If it was elsewhere? The preps would have been geared to that. Bet they will this year.

Why does everyone think and keep suggesting that any serious TC contender needs some preps on the dirt?

"A summer meeting in New York and a second one at the Breeders' Cup would be ideal."

Yep, no East Coast bias in that remark.  What would have been "ideal" is for Jackson to have had the courage to run Rachel in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

And who did Rachel beat worth remembering?  Macho Again.  Good grief.

Bottom line: this vote was a complete travesty, and will be a black mark on racing for years to come.

For much of the year, I, too, thought Rachel should be HOY.  Then they ran the Breeder's Cup.  Zenyatta's effort in that race moved her up immensely and should have made her HOY.  I cant figure out this voting.  The same people who voted in the 2010 older male, turf champion, 3 yo male, did not vote for the mare who beat them all.

Mike, I could not agree more.  I am ready and excited to talk about 2010. I have no intentions of missing the Derby winner 2 years in a row. Come to think of it, I would not be surprised if the winner of the Derby this year was a filly !!! Wouldn't that be great !

pNewmarket, footlick

I think the chances of Zen going to Europe are good. What more (other then a maybe date with Rachel) does Zenyatta have to prove in the USA? Twice she has been dissed by the "profesionals" here, so why brother? But Europe would be an entirely new and historic undertaking if successful. I say prep then do the Apple Blossom in April, hope RA shows up, if so fine, if not fine too. Then take on Europes best F/M on turf and prove that the surface does not matter to the great race horses. I think Zen can win on turf and winning a couple of Group 1's in Europe would do much more for Zenyatta (world wide) rep then winning a couple of G1's over here.

FLEETFOOT

I totally agree with LONGWAYTOMAY. When Asmussen received RA less than two weeks prior to Preakness how much do YOU THINK HE DID FOR HER? Could care less what you think,Mr Wiggins did an outstanding job with RA from the beginning. You act as if she wasn't already accomplished before the change!

Carolyn,

You're not the only one who has had a funny feeling about whether or not Rachel will make it back to the races.  Doubts are creeping into other people's minds, too (so I've read), and last night's show did little to dispel them.  I sort of thought JJ would make some announcement about Rachel's training or racing schedule, but he was vague enough to run for any political office in the land.  

Rachel has been off for a long time now.  I'm not sure what to make of the weather excuse.  Seems like Asmussen's huge operation would figure out some way/place to step up their star horse's training -- IF she was ready.  Maybe she should have had a break before the Woodward, not after.

To those who feel Zenyatta's handlers made "mistakes" with her campaign in 2009, I suppose they did, insofar as they did not win HOY for her.  But she is coming back to race, ready to rock and roll right now, at age 6.  In light of that, maybe they really didn't make "mistakes."

Susan...

I understand where you are coming from but I too was in favor of Zenyatta.  I love them both and when Rachael got the award last night, I was really happy for her.  She did deserve it.  

Both of them are beautiful horses and no one can take away what either has accomplished.  It is the memories that count.  One day, that is truly all any of us will have.  We will all remember our favorite horses and this and that. I don't think that ANY of us will ever forget that in 2009 we had two legends that will both be remembered in the history books.  

There will be a story for both of them.  :)

I am glad Rachel Won it, but I would have rather seen Zenyatta win it. She had more of a historic win than Rachel did and I believe she has more heart than Rachel does. Well, hopefully we'll have our showdown and it will prove who wins. If Rachel wins it, then the award was rightfully hers, but if Zenyatta wins it, they were wrong. :)

Highlander,

I don't believe I ever used the term "stupid." But, the casual racing fan that only watches the Triple Crown races and Breeders Cup has no business determining the champions for an entire year of horse racing, as we all know racing goes well beyond those four dates. The tough decisions need to be left up to those who actually know the industry and its history.

As a for instance - If the Derby was the only race an individual watched all year, and in December they see an online poll for HOY, they're probably going to vote for Mine that Bird since that's all they know. It doesn't make that person stupid - they just don't have the full picture of a whole year of racing. Ultimately, I just don't think an award as prestigious as the Eclipse should be turned into the equine version of American Idol.

From my perspective, the Eclipse awards have now lost integrity and the process for selecting champions needs to be reassessed at a minimum. Perhaps a new process can have some sort of points system in addition to voting. Moreover, voting needs to be expanded beyond 300 people and the voters need to reflect both geographical and professional diversity. In every poll I saw where fans were allowed to vote, Zenyatta won overwhelmingly. I think on the "hoi polloi" had it right on this one.

Horse racing created the Breeder's Cup World Championships so that the best in the world can compete against each other. Zenyatta's win against males was historic, she overcame adversity and she won America's biggest championship race. It's hard for me to understand how someone else could be considered for HOY unless: 1) this was Zenyatta's only win of the year; 2) another horse out there had an equal resume but got hurt. The connections of Rachel made a decision not to run her and that decision is fine, but it should not be rewarded with HOY honors. Moreover, the arguments against Zenyatta winning are fallacious. Many have argued that Zenyatta should not have won because she did not have a full campaign. If I recall she went 5 for 5, see Ghostzapper in 2004. Others have argued that Zenyatta did not leave California and consequently should not have won. Since when did we start privileging one surface over another? Using that logic, can we say Rachel shouldn't be considered because she never ran on grass or synthetic? Or Kodiak shouldn't have won because he never competed in a sprint on the grass and never won over synthetic? Finally, people will argue that Rachel should be HOY because she beat competition. To me this is the most inane of all the arguments. Zenyatta beat BC winner  Life is Sweet twice and what many described as the deepest BC classic field in some time. If one wanted to really examine the competition one would see that Rachel beat Stone Legacy in the Oaks (I think Stone Legacy is still eligible for NW2L); she beat Mine that Bird in the Preakness (has since done very little); she beat two horses that dueled themselves into the ground in the Mother Goose; she won the Haskel over a very wet track and then was fortunate to hang on against Macho Again (a decent Grade II horse). On the whole Zenyatta beat substantially better competition. Regardless of the arguments I feel Zenyatta should have been Horse of the Year because she won the Classic. You at least have to participate to be champion. Zenyatta didn't pick the location of the BC, Sherrifs didn't select the location. It was known well in advance and campaigns should have taken that into account. This has been cathartic to me. Thanks.  

Congrats to RA on the win for HOTY. But in my world Zenyatta is not only Horse of The Year, but Horse of The Decade!! She is simply amazing. The fantastic thing is that she has no idea she lost HOTY to RA, so she will continue to demolish all in her path. If Hal Wiggens reads these blogs, I hope he knows that we bloggers KNOW he is deserving of acknowledgement for the success of RA. So... CONGRATULATIONS Mr. Wiggens!! Without you I don't think RA would have been such a success for 2009.

jlp-

  Did you catch the look  Mrs. Jackson shot Jess, when Jess refered to her as his "mother"? OUCH!!

I too was disappointed that Hal Wiggins was not acknowledged in any of the acceptance speeches.  In a similar vein, I feel that Larry Jones should have received some recognition from Kodiak Kowboy's connections during that acceptance speech.  He trained KK for a good portion of 2009 and made a significant contribution to his championship campaign.

The real winner last night in the HOY outcome was the racing public which salivates over the prospect of seeing RA/Zenyatta duels. Jerry Moss was clearly dismayed over the outcome of the balloting and launched into an emotional defense of the laurels of Zenyatta to the TVG listening audience. Interpretation: Zenyatta will not be chasing a 10 million dollar purse in Dubai, but instead heading East to dirt tracks for multiple duels with RA. The balloting outcome is launching Moss on a vendetta to prove conclusively that Zenyatta is the better racehorse and that the balloting was off-base. That means hooking up in races with RA. So now that Moss thinks Zenyatta was slighted,he will be even more dedicated  to securing 2010 HOY honors for his mare as vindication. That will require racing more often and against Rachel in more races than just the BC Classic at Churchill Downs = exactly what the racing fans want to see.

Jess Jackson was tremendously gracious and generous in his comments last night.  Whether he missed Hal Wiggins by mistake or choice, he could have gone on and on about the greatness of RA...instead choosing to speak of RA and Zenyatta almost constantly in the same sentence, as equal champs.  Let's give him a break, and move on.

I could not believe that Rachel won HOTY over Zanyatta...TRA are wrong ones!!!! I am pretty upset but Zanyatta must be HOTY because of BBC she won plus her undefeated as well. I do agreed with you all but it is not matter what they have been raced last year. I thought BB races is supposed to be for Championship vote instead other races like Woodward H. or whatever? It is not fair! I'd said I am correct that Zanyatta is 2009 HOTY. I also was not very thrilled to see her back to the race instead being retired...not good idea but I am very worried about her and Rachel get hurt or break down if they are against these best colts or Match Race. I would love to see both of them race and see who is the best one either Zanyatta or Rachel...I do want them one number is HEALTH, and SAFE horses!!!! I keep pray GOD to take care of them than their owners, or trainers get something wrong time with them and get hurt or put to sleep which I did not wanted to see just like Ruffian, or Go For Wand, you know...They are in my deep heart!

I'm very pleased that Rachel won HOY because she was. What a Racing Goddess she is!!! I do not believe this takes anything away from the Treasure that is Zenyatta. She was fabulous too!! But if we're talking year campaign, then it has to be Rachel. A few other observations: I was so happy to see the beautiful Gio Ponti recognized for the tremendous talent that he is; also Kodiak Kowboy, I've been waiting for a couple of years for people to recognize his incredible talent and beauty; As to Mr. Moss, I think he could have been a little bit more gracious. When Rachel was named HOY, he turned to stone right before my eyes. I too felt a little hurt for Queen Zenyatta but only one could be HOY. Mr. Jackson I thought was quite gracious in always bringing Zenyatta and how great she is into all his speeches. Because of that, I forgive him for not mentioning Mr. Wiggins. I believe that Rachel is what she is today because of him. I'm one of those people that thought he should have been in the winner's circle after Rachel's Preakness win along with Asmussen. Well, it's been a great ride. Let's have fun with our great equine champions that are coming back this year and pray that they stay safe and healthy. P.S. Who else thinks that Curlin's first baby is the cutest thing on the planet?

Zenyatta defeated three 2009 Eclipse champions:

Gio Ponti (Turf)

Gio Ponti (Older Male)

Summer Bird (3yr old Colt)

Note:

Gio Ponti is the first horse to win the "Turf" and Older Male" Eclipse awards since the legendary John Henry.

Rachel Alexandra defeated one 2009 Eclipse champion:

Summer Bird (3yr old Colt)

I watched the broadcast and Jess Jackson said that the Appleblossom was too soon for Rachel. THe weather has been very bad in Louisian so  she just had her first work a couple of days ago and it wasn't up to her standard because she isn't fit only having had one work in several months.  Up till now they have just been jogging her. It will take a while before they get her to her normal fitness level which makes sense.  It takes a human a while to get fit as well.  I also heard that she has gained 150 pounds so she is bigger and stronger and looks sensational.  I would expect she will be ready in April sometime or May depending on her.

As much as some of you are sure she is not coming back you might want to rethink that.  Jackson enjoys having a top horse and he never shied away from any race where Curlin was concerned.  He spent $10mil to buy her and I think he wants to enjoy her again this year and yes, I do think the Zenaytta/Rachel race will happen.  It seemed to me watching the awards show and the interviews afterward that both owners want them to race against each other.  Jackson wants to race more than once so they will figure out the venue and the race.  It will happen and personally, I think Zenyatta's comeback is because the Mosses want to prove that Zenyatta is the best.  Can you blame them?  They lost HOY twice and that really sucks especially when you have a horse like Zenyatta.

I thought Quality Road would have received a vote if nothing else for his "American Ghost Dance" he performed at the Breeder's Cup.

Has anyone seen John Shirreffs without a baseball hat on?  It looked "Black Tie" and then this guy in a hat! Did he sneak in a track dog too?

Now onto Black Type.  How many Eclipse award winning horses has Zenyatta beat?  

Ferdinand bests Alyseba in the Breeder's Cup Classic to win HOY.  

longwaytomay, having an opinion does not make one ignorant.  Taking an argument or opinion personally does.

Fleetfeet, please let us know which pools you will be betting in. I'm not the only one here that likes to bet against the dumb money.

Having an ignorant opinion, is simply ignorant. And remaining in ignorant bliss at the track will cost you.

The people around the horses have everything to do with bringing out the best in each horse. If you want to ignorantly think otherwise you are remaining ignorant.

Identifying horses being mismanaged is one of the keys to successful handicapping on the national stage as well as in the day to day racing  at the local oval. Just look at how derby fever ends up compromising the careers of many potentially talented 3yo's.

Your comment amount about the greed of the owners/trainers who sold Curlin and RA also has to be addressed. When someone can offer to buy your horse for three, five or even 10 million dollars I wonder what you would do? For most people that is life changing money. Would you turn it down, knowing that in this game, tragedy is but a bad step away? Most of these sellers are, in a sense, forced into the transaction. They are offered money that cannot possibly made on the track by the ultra wealthy who are throwing millions around.

They would be ignorant to turn down some of these deals.  Apparently they are not.

Hal Wiggins trained RA to 7 wins out of 10 starts. His contribution to RA's success is evident...to all but the ignorant.

"Rip Van Winkle here...been asleep for 25 years. Can someone bring me up to date please? WHo is this Zenyatta, she has never run in New York!"

Rip Van Winkle here...Do women have the vote now? They didn't when I went to sleep. I guess I'm just too out of it to say anything relevant. ;)

"win the biggest races at the biggest tracks the formula is not rocket science."

                                          -Draynay

It sure isn't. One would think a rocket scientist such as yourself could add up to $5 million...dollars, that is.

@pNewmarket, are the summer races at Ascot Racecourse on turf? I wonder how Zenyatta would do there. Flattering that she's being pursued, though.

@Jason

Perhaps FourCats was asking whether turf writers decide the Eclipse Awards without an equivalent number of votes from the broadcast horseracing media. Is that the case? I don't know that answer.

Jim C: Yeah, what was I thinking? Churchill and Saratoga are only the two most prestigious tracks in this country. Silly me. Maybe they can meet at Ruisodo...

I'm so glad the trashing of one's connections and one's horse has ceased and we are the epitome of civilized people.  I can't wait to read another 100 or so posts tearing down one or the other, repeationg the same biased crap that has been spewed out on here.  It's over people.  Show some class and move on.

Triple Crown Talk

Loved CONVEYANCE in the San Rafael.  Baffert is going to have to ship just to get all his prospects in the Kentucky Derby.  Here is another undefeated horse.

I saw the re-run of Looking at Lucky during the BC Juv.  Man...a couple more steps and we would have another undefeated 2 year old champ!

Hated CONNEMARA in the California Derby. I think that Sadler shipper who beat him was a maiden claimer at one time.

I love Rachel Alexandra, but Zenyatta is my absolute favorite racehorse. I agree with Rachel winning Horse of the Year, as she had more going on in her 2009 campaign, though Zenyatta's was also great too, just she didn't have as many races. But I believe Zenyatta is the better racehorse and will beat Rachel if Rachel doesn't get an easy lead and pace. Rachel has almost been caught by good closers (Mine That Bird and Macho Again) and she was going all out. Zenyatta, a GREAT closer (obviously) won the Breeders' Cup Classic against the best in the WORLD with ease! And that's why I have tickets to the Apple Blossom: to see Zenyatta and Rachel and see Zenyatta unleash that powerful stride to pass Rachel in the final yards!!

Scarletandgraypimpernel....there was one thing that stopped Juddmonte from entering Ventura in the BC Mile.  GOLDIKOVA.

Why be surprised Mr Jackson and his trainer didn't acknowledge anyone else for their success except to say thanks for selling her. That's their character and should surprise no one. Same treatment for Helen Pitts who took a colt nobody wanted, nursed him to health, honed him to a fine athlete and bam! Jesse Jackson and his money stepped in and saved the day. I have the same issue with Godolphin winning the award as owner of the year with all their graded stakes wins. Yeah, all by horses they acquirred like Vineyard Haven, not horses they developed. All you need to impress people is buy someones dream and hard work and you too will be exaulted by the massess. Fitting wasn't it that Mr Moss thanked everyone involved with Zenyatta, even her hotwalker! Put Rachaels' last tape against Zenyattas', you'll see an exhausted, trembleming, totally spent horse vs a horse that's looking around, hardly breaking a sweat and ready  for more. Oh yeah, the latter ran a longer distance and arguably against a better field. Zenyatta on an international field? She deserves to be appreciated by the world because right now she is the best. Zenyatta is not Horse of the Year, she's horse of the Decade. 14 for 14, capped off by a Classic win says it all.

I think that Zenyatta should take a tour around the world. Europe wants her badly and so does Dubai.

Perhaps the Japan Cup or something in Australia.

Saw past their emotions?  This game is predicated upon generating emotional responses.  No horse did that more than Zenyatta, and that should most certainly be considered for HOY, though not for other eclipse awards.  Preakness, Whitney, Haskel, all nice races, all second fiddle in some way to other divisional races.  Rachel would have been favored in the Derby, Traverse, and Classic had she run, and she dodged and dodged.  She constructed a deceptively weak compaign.  While certainly making history, she denied herself an opportunity to make significant history.  A Derby win or Classic win against the best of the best as opposed to some of the better would be much more compelling than beating second tier horses from various divisions.  

Twest, why are you still using the argument than Zenyatta deserved HOY because she's 5 for 5 in 2009?? Sorry but Rachel is 8 for 8 in 2009. And once again, it was Horse of the year, not horse of the breeders' Cup

Last year, Raven pass won the Classic...and don't won the HOY award

And every year people said the BC field was the deepest in years...And what we had this year? You,re counting only by the number of G1 winners, but that included turf horses, Mine that bird who isn't the same since the Derby and couple of good horses who clearly didn't run their races.

Also, you talked about Zenyatta not leaving California made her lose the award 'cause of the surface. It's more about the fact that she stay in confort's zone, always beating the sames races, the same mare, while Rachel ran in 7 differents races tracks, 3 time against the boys

And people forget that Rachel leads the Woodward and front runner are very vulnerable to closer who kept their energy at the end. So to be a 3YO filly who ran in front of older male, and fight the closers....she's pretty good

Zenyatta should take a try at the European Classics. Perhaps even the Dubai Cup. I've read that both the Europeans and the folks in Dubai are putting together huge packages for Zenyatta for come over. She has nothing more to prove in America other than ending her racing career in the Breeders' Cup at Churchill.  

Thank you Star Dusty Rose-I agree with you 100%. Jess Jackson made racing "All over this Country" exciting this year.  When Rachel won the Preakness both Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen both thanked Hal Wiggins but from that point on they ran an unbelievable campaign that "they" orchestrated and Jess, Steve and Rachel shared the excitment of Rachels talents with racing fans not in one track but in half a dozen tracks.  How much easier would it have been to run one horse in the same track for a full year? Racing is a hurting industry and Kudos to Jess Jackson for giving it a shot of adrenaline and for bringing a smile to so many faces of racing fans.    

Dona, until Zenyatta runs more on dirt, the east coasters who vote are not going to give her credit. but next year this time, they will be gladly giving her the award, all some are waiting on is for Z to come east, and Dona, she's coming....Zenyatta can retire next year with wins on more dirt,synthetics and one BC ladies, 1 BCC, and possibly even two classics by then, then they cannot deny her her crown. But Dona can you imagine how big Zenyatta will be back this time next year????  Zenyatta has stamina and she is built like Ruffian, in the end , Zenyatta will have the last laugh on the biases, they are actually  going to be the one's that are going to make her  bigger than any of NA racehorse's this year...

Jason,

 I agree that Churchill and Saratoga are two of the most prestigious tracks in the country. But I must ask where did you rank Santa Anita BEFORE the surface change?

Luddites R us your cracking me up man. Use some sunscreen dude.

Just so you know important racing has also moved east of NYRA.

Think About This:

Rachel will not race Zenyatta!!

Reason being,

RA just got the HOTY, Now if she races and loses to Zenyatta, that squarely makes Zenyatta horse of the year next year, doesn't it?

then we will have to see JJ walk off the track in mourning like he did when curlin lost, but this time it will be a loss on his favorite surface...He would croak, another loss?  He will retire her or he will dodge Zenyatta til the end of the year when they both have to come to the BCC, Zenyatta will never face the Ladies Distaff anymore because she goes with the big boys now in the classic..  

RECHELLE

So,you finally come out of hiding after the past two months. lol

     -TRIPLE CROWN TALK-

JASON,

Can I ask that you continue to feature trainers that are impactful upon the Triple Crown trail on this Blog?  In that regard, it would be great to hear the thoughts of D. Wayne Lukas, Nick Zito and Carl Naftzer on the matter of preparing 3YOs specifically for the Derby.

I had an interesting exchange with fellow blogger Fire Slam on your Baffert interview blog, in which he/she (Fire Slam) asserted that Todd Pletcher couldn't win the Derby because he runs his huge training operation like a business organization, whereas it takes personal schooling/teaching of the horses to turn a promising 3YO into a Derby winner.  The statistics of the past decade supports Fire Slam's view that trainers with small strings are winning the Kentucky Derby.  Whether or not this has anything to do with personal attention to detailed schooling of the equine athletes, i don't know.  Chip Wolley was the quintessential small string trainer last year with Mine That Bird and the "personal touch" component was very evident. Grateful if you would oblige us in discussing this matter in your subsequent interviews once the Rachel vs Zenyatta heat simmers.  Your blogs are a hit Bro.

Carlos- I would rather see her do a purely European campaign instead of the Dubai Cup, because that will just be another synthetic track win.  But obviously, the Europeans and the people in Dubai saw on BC day something that many on this blog didn't, and they would love to see her there.  As for Rachel and Zenyatta- I don't care.  It doesn't matter to me at all.  All this talk of facing each other is foolish until they both get their seasons going.  Until then, it just bores me.  I find it so funny how many Rachel fans want the meeting to be at the 8.5 furlong Apple Blossom or the 9 furlong Louisville when they have professed to the heavens that Rachel is unbeatable at those distances, just way too fast.  And since those races are restricted to fillies, how are those tracks going to guarantee a field and not have everyone scratch and make it a match race.  At least the Oaklawn Handicap there will be males running and a better chance the field will stay intact.  Or the Stephen Foster.  You know in Europe the fields will be full, whether its against fillies and mares or colts and horses.  The only other historic run would be a turf campaign here and her winning the BC Turf, making her the only winner of three different BC races.  But then, all that will be said about her either way is that she ducked Rachel.  So I would rather see her do her thing elsewhere and be the toast of the world, and be appreciated.  Plus, I think she could be one of the great turf horses of all time.  And a European campaign would prove that.  But then, what do I know.  

This is all it took to win HOY:

A) Defeat what ranks right up there with the weakest 12 horse G-1 race of the decade and probably any decade when winning the Kentucky Oaks.

B) Beat two hopelessly overmatched 3 y-o fillies in the 1-1/8M Mother Goose and have these two fillies, both of which couldn’t win past a mile against even average competition, cook themselves to boot.  (Of course, Flashing won the Gazelle at 1-1/8-M, but look at the time 1:50.4 and look at the competition).

C) Defeat the 50-1 winner of the Kentucky Derby who has never won outside of Canada by a desperate length in a Preakness that sported a field that failed to win even ONE graded stakes race through the balance of the year.

D) Beat ONE GOOD HORSE (Summer Bird) in the Haskell and two overmatched stalwarts like Munnings and the Restricted Florida Stakes champ Big Drama, both of which are distance challenged when asked to go beyond seven furlongs......then have three opportunities to face Summer Bird again and conveniently pass.

E) Why?  So she could face two supposed G-1 horses, Macho Again and Bullsbay, horses that are second tier at best, in the Woodward, horses that didn’t even come close to winning another race the balance of the year.

F) A horse that faced older males in what many will call one of the weakest Woodwards of all time and who had every opportunity to at least face a pretty tough older filly-mare group, but also conveniently declined.

The horse that should have been champ, got the chump end of the deal instead, a horse that defeated  the strongest field assembled in N/A this year and which included a dual Eclipse award winner and the top 3 y-o Colt Eclipse award winner after giving them a tremendous advantage, and also defeated......three times, the BC Lady’s champ.

Rachel didn’t win the award, the prestige of the Preakness, the Woodward and the Haskell did.  If she would have defeated these same horses in lesser races would she still have been HOY?

How do you give that award for ducking the best horses?  The best horses on the planet, not the best 3yos in may, and weak older horses like Macho Again and Bulls Bay. The horse that stays in her stall for the championship gets the reward.  Zenyatta, SCREWED AGAIN. She wins 2 differnt BC races and NOTHING!z

jamesb- you are right there.  I wish everyone would realize that they wanted nothing to do with Goldikova.

CV- Yes, Ascot is turf.  I obviously don't think she'd have a problem with it.

I wasn't surprised that they neglected to give credit to Hal Wiggins either - unfortunately once Jess Jackson got his hands on her, I lost all interest in Rachel Alexander. Jackson is a self-centered egotist who can't recognize a good horse until after someone else has done all the work for him.  As for Asmussen, he thinks that our memories are short enough that we will think that he developed Rachel from the very beginning.  I think these two have shown what they are made of, and I don't have much use for either of them.

Dona, thanks for writing that.  At least you were able to sort through the crap and come up with a touch of reality.

John- She definitely made an impact on them.

Longway: Santa Anita ranks right up there after Toga and Churchill, synthetics or not. It's an institution.

Ranagulzion: Thanks. I look forward to doing more of the trainer interviews. Did you see the story on Maximus Ruler today? Im looking forward to the Lecomte bc people are saying this horse could be a big time contender.

Jason.... Just came over to see what was up......

Why are people still bickering over two brilliant horses?  Come on everyone... It has been 24 hours.  What we have here is 2 wonderful, beautiful, historical, and talented horses.  Why don't some people get that?  :)

LAZMANNICK... HI There..... LOL

Rachel may not be working but she is definitely galloping.  Its not the prettiest picture, but the below photo of her is credited January 12, 2010.

The Moss' have declared Zenyatta's going to the Apple Blossom.  I think Jess should get his filly ready and meet her there.  After all, its Rachel's preferred distance on a dirt track.  How many races does she need to beat a west coast "synthetic specialist"?  Its not like they are asking her to run a mile and a quarter.

www.pressofatlanticcity.com/.../article_a2d0366d-24a6-50c7-a657-28c516870e47.html

 I can remember Steve Asmussen giving very high praise to Hal Wiggins after Rachel won the Preakness .As a high class trainer of racehorses Asmussen is very much aware of the work his colleague done on preparing the filly as we all witnessed in the Kentucky Oaks.

 As for the horse of the year award this is something that is best decided on the racetrack and with the Zenyatta camp having a change of heart and keeping her in training it looks like it is going to happen although it might be as late as the Breeders Cup Classic.

By winning the biggest race of the year against the single best field to line up in North America, giving 15 pounds to her overmatched rivals when asked, and winning every single race as a stone closer no matter what the pace scenario (something Rachel lovers don't realize how difficult, almost impossible that is--just watch Stardom Bound's race today as a good example of how easy it is for a dead closer to get beat)I do believe Z "did more" and lived up to her potential. What RA did was to go into races with respected names and beat subpar competition that actually (and embarrasingly for a HOY) got to the bottom of her on more than one occasion. The competition counts more than anything else; Rachel supporters were simply seduced by the name of the race and foolishly believed she was beating something special when she wasn't. The Mosses went to the Clasic because in their own words "that was where championships were decided." Any other year, they would have been right. And Moss had EVERY right to look disappointed. He had the better horse who carried weight, beat the better competition and at the Classic distance. It's that simple.

If RA is this slow moving out and onto the race track (training) and she has not raced since Sept. what the heck is the problem? Now she cant train because of rain? What? coming from a horse that runs in the rain and mud? Come On, people, who do they think they are fooling? Not Me? for sure? If she is this wiped out after the woodward, hell, she will  never go against ZEnyatta...No way, is she ain't out by May???

what is wrong with some of you? rachel had the best year of any 3 year old filly in history and that is not enough for you ? let me remind you the great zenyatta is 6 years old and still has no wins against males on dirt !  when she does let me know.

Folks, I don't think being named HOY determines who is the best race horse.  When the 2 candidates have not met on the track, you can only compare the records. Rachel Alexandra had the most complete campaign in 2009 and deserves the honor this year.  If we are lucky enough to see them meet next year, unless they meet multiple times with one mare earning a clear-cut advantage, we still won't know which is the best race horse.  Every horse has a bad day, even the great ones (remember, Secretariat lost nearly 25% of his races).  

 As important as fans are to racing, it would not be appropriate for the fans to determine year-end awards. It's way too easy to be caught up in emotions.  For example, someone here said that Zenyatta should  have been named HOY because only she made history (first female to win BCC).  Rachel made history several times; margin of victory in the Oaks, margin of victory and stakes record in the Mother Goose, only horse (not female horse, ONLY HORSE) to win the Preakness from the 13 post, only filly/mare to ever win the Woodward (a history much longer than the BCC).  This is why fans don't vote for HOY.

I also fail to understand why some people continue to believe RA should not have won because she didn't run in the BC.   I've seen nowhere in the rules that a horse is ineligible for year-end honors unless they run in the BC.

Some of these same people are undoubtedly the ones that praise the Moss's for "taking care of their horse" as reason to scratch Zenyatta out of the race at CD.  RA's connections were taking care of their horse by giving her a break after a tough campaign of 8 races in 7 months.  Horseman understand that races for the top 3-year olds of both sexes are run in the spring and summer.  To keep a 3-year old running into the fall to compete in the BC is not in the best interest of the horse.  Add to that that the BC was again run on a synthetic surface already proven to be not "friendly" to dirt horses, why indeed would Jackson have kept her in training after the Woodward?

I agree with those that felt that Mr. Jackson should have mentioned the contribution of Hal Wiggins.  On the other, Rachel made history because of the campaign mapped out by Jackson and Asmussen.

Speaking of Asmussen; the drug issue keeps coming up too.  If you'll look at the stats, you'll see that Zenyatta always runs on Bute and Lasix; Rachel ran on Lasix but no Bute.  Yes, these drugs are legal, but if Asmussen is such a fan of drugging his horses, why do you think Rachel runs relatively clean?

Finally, I'd like to say that for the most part, the Zenyatta fans have been gracious in their comments.  I'm sorry some of you still have to belittle Rachel's accomplishments and her connections.  I'd like to think I would have been gracious if Zenyatta had won instead.

The tough decisions need to be left up to those who actually know the industry and its history.

Lil Darlin 19 Jan 2010 6:39 PM

Yes, like those who watch a few thousand races a year, those being people IN the industry and those others who watch lots of races.  I really am not absolutely certain that all of them do due dilligence like Jason in watching a whole lot of racing.

Racing Secretaries? Now seriously what behooves them to vote for a horse who has NEVER come to their track? That is really bad marketing strategy.

As a lot are saying, there are questions about Rachel. If you plan to run her by spring she needs to start a regimen. She's been off for a long time now so find somewhere you can get her legged up and on the worktab if you intend to actually run her.

As far as Jess running her because he likes the spotlight? He'll find another one. The game is really tough right now, the market even tougher and the economic climate will have the small time guys selling when in past they never would have.

Now we need to move forward. Zenyatta will be there and if Rachel is too, great.

Other than that we need to focus on the Derby. I really believe that Draynay is at least 50 picks behind his buckshot methods of the past and needs to start throwing names out there so we can all have a good laugh.

Guess the tale has been told about why he doesn't like Mine that Bird??

Donna

Great post.  I think you really put it into proper perspective.

As for the first part of your post, it kind of reminds me of the Yankees.....keep on pushing for players that other teams have developed then swoop in and Buy!  Buy!  Buy!  and sooner or later you can call yourself a world champion.  You can do practically anything as long as you have an unlimited supply of money.  LOL

Sorry, I meant Rachel Alexandra!

Dray, you will know soon, because she is coming east and to a race track near you...

Jason,...Wordly in the LeComte.And the Purple People Eaters vs. the 'Aints'. Brees will be on his back more often than Romo was.  

Hi, Laz,

I enjoyed your post, well said as usual, and Dona's was to..You both hit the nail on the head...LOL

Horse of the Year 2010 for Zenyatta?

BC Classic win 2010 for Rachel?

A day late and a dollar short for both of them.

HOTY would have no meaning as it'd clearly be a booby prize, a sop if you will, for running Zenyatta on dirt.

And it's too late for Rachel to make history in the BC Classic since Zenyatta already been there done that so she might just was well stay at home.

(and besides, without the Euro spice, Rachel will just tbe facing the worn out usual suspects she had been beating up on all season anyway, so where's the drama?)

And P.S. Come Classic time, these two will have faced off and one of them will be beaten and out of the picture so it's best to delay that meeting as long as possible.

Laz, I was so thrilled for my boy, Gio Ponti, two awards, "WAY TO GO, GIO"!!!

Am I the only Rachel Alexander fan that feels something terribly went wrong. On one hand I'm esctatic that Rachel Alexander is HOY. She had the best three year old campaign in horesracing history. But on the other hand I have a feeling that Zenyatta should have been elected. This has now gone on for two years in a row for the Moss's. You got to feel for them.

Only time will tell.

This is an open letter to all of Zenyatta Zealots. I love Rachel Alexander and just giddy she won.

What a horse! Rachel is a horse for the ages!

Your horse lost - now get over it.

Just kidding.

Seriously, and I mean seriously. I apologize that Rachel Alexander won and won with the help of east coast bias.

I hate to admit it, but Zenyatta really should have been horse of the year. She is the better horse. She beat the best, and was the best horse of the year. I almost feel embarassed Rachel won and won by a larger than expected count.

I can understand your bitterness and heartache. But I hope this doesn't sour your take on Rachel. She had nothing to do with it.

To the next battle...see ya.

Bet Twice,

"The Moss' have declared Zenyatta's going to the Apple Blossom.  I think Jess should get his filly ready and meet her there.  After all, its Rachel's preferred distance on a dirt track."

I agree totally... Mr. Moss already let out that Zenyatta is probably going to the Apple Blossom.. after maybe the Santa Margarita at Santa Anita...

All it would take is Jess to ask Steve...

Jess:  Steve.. How is she doing?

Steve:  She's doing well, she has been galloping steadily ....

Jess:  Do you think you could have her ready for a good effort by April 13th at the Apple Blossom?

Steve:  Sure.  Just confirm with me that that is where we are going and I'll pick up the pace of her training ...

Jess:  Do you think it makes sense to have a tune up race before the Apple Blossom considering Zenyatta is running?

Steve:  Yes. Its only the middle of January.. I could have her ready to run the first week in March... maybe the last week in February...

Jess:  Ok, great! Pick up the pace of her training to have her ready to go in 6 weeks the last week in February or first week in March...

... I'll call Jerry and let him know we are coming to Oaklawn...

Its not rocket surgery or brain science... they don't have to make it public if they don't want to .. make the fans sweat a little... and then just announce it 2 weeks before the Apple Blossom...

Jess was a little non committal when he said something to the effect of "let both horses run their campaigns and we'll see if they can meet"....

Hopefully that was just for public consumption and he has already talked to Jerry...

"RA just got the HOTY, Now if she races and loses to Zenyatta, that squarely makes Zenyatta horse of the year next year, doesn't it?"

I swear, The lack of intelligence in some comments here are hysterical!  Yes, There are no others that have any chance of winning Horse of the Year.  No chance of any horse winning the Triple Crown, No chance of a horse coming up out of nowhere and winning Horse of the Year, I mean please!  We are in the first month of the year and already every other option is off the table, lol.  Umm, Did anyone here think Rachel would win Horse of the Year at this time last year?  I didn't think so! This is horse racing, The most unpredictable sport on the planet, But, Zenyatta is already the only option for horse of the year if she beats Rachel? Too Funny...

Jason,

Thank you for recognizing Santa Anita as an institution. It's a beautiful place and the mountain backdrop is out of this world. The racing is not too shabby either. :)

I was at Churchill Downs for the Derby in '05. Awesome! In fact all of Kentucky left me wanting to return again and again.

Saratoga is in my dreams only for now but I really long to experience it at least once in my life. No Mecca for me...Saratoga calls! So are a lot of other racing venues too numerous to mention. So many places...so little time...

So the voting is over - the few who could vote have spoken.  Congratulations Jess Jackson.  You've proved the Breeder's Cup is no big deal, just another day (or two) at the races - nothing special.  The Super Bowl of racing is less important than a few games in September 'cause you can still get the ring.

Too bad we'll never know the geographic split of the votes because two of the organizations responsible don't WANT anyone to know who their voters are.  130-99? Icon Project?  Huh!?!  No East Coast bias here, nope, none at all.  The European racing press is scratching its collective heads on this one, folks.  They're all scrambling to figure out how to get Zenyatta over there to race but no one's running after Rachel Alexandra because they barely know who she is.

Mr. Moss has stated repeatedly that he supports the Breeder's Cup, and said on Saturday that Zenyatta's long-term goal this year, as in 2009, is to compete there.  Since the BC is at Churchill this year, Zenyatta will be campaigned on dirt to prepare for it, and since the rules in California mandate synthetic tracks, she will have to travel to do so.  I've no doubt that she'll prevail every bit as easily this year as she did last: even in the Clement Hirsch in 2009 when she only won by a head, her ears were pricked and she wasn't even blowing - Mike Smith blamed himself for waiting too long to push the button. She's already carried weight, 129 lbs. in the Vanity, the highest weight since Forego by the way, and she blew away the field in her only race on dirt, the 2008 Apple Blossom in just her fourth race and with her largest margin of victory.  They're not afraid of the dirt.  Remember, the arrangements were all made to send Zenyatta to the Beldame until Rachel went to the barn; she then stayed home rather than travel 5000+ miles round trip for a race that wouldn't really settle anything to prep for the Breeder's Cup near to where it would be run.  

Zenyatta treats racing as a game: all her wins were from the back of the pack and she just circled the field with her ears pricked, pace, no pace, scale, carrying weight - all 14 times - even in the BC Classic.  I don't see that changing at all, synthetics, dirt, grass, broken glass (kidding) high weights, whatever.  She's that good.  Pepper's Pride's nineteen in a row doesn't seem out of reach.  The only real danger is the negative racing luck of being boxed in, the nemesis of every deep closer.

My predictions, should the two of them ever race?  A Match Race is out - they've never really settled anything except who gets the best jump from the gate, and, after Ruffian, never again.  Up to 1-1/16, Rachel Alexandra would have a real race on her hands in a field of five or more, with The Big Mare coming on like a freight train - see her first race at 6-1/2 furlongs where she spotted the leaders almost ten lengths and won going away if you doubt that.  At nine furlongs or more, with a field?  No contest - Zenyatta all the way.  Both these scenarios assume equal weights, by the way.  Put enough weight on Zenyatta and who knows but I can't really see a race where there would be enough of a spread to make a difference.

My real prediction?  After Zenyatta easily wins a couple of races and heads East when the weather breaks, Rachel Alexandra will "suffer" an "unfortunate, but mild" injury and will be retired before the end of the 2010 breeding season, having never faced Zenyatta on the track.  I sincerely hope I'm wrong.  

Draynay, just because you say Rachel had the best 3YO filly season ever, that doesn't make it so.

I think it was Beldame, who beat older males in the first race of her 3YO season. She ended the year by taking FIVE straight against colts (in one of those she gave away weight to Broomstick -- and still beat him. And two of the races were five DAYS apart). Her only two losses that year were to colts, so that was EIGHT races against males with six wins. She didn't lose to any females.

I just had an interesting "What if" thought:  Zenyatta goes undefeated again in 2010, on dirt, grass, whatever, against the males, wins the BC Classic again, and finishes with 20 or 21 straight wins - all-time modern record.  We get a Triple Crown winner who is injured after the Belmont and never runs again.  Who's Horse of the Year? The long-awaited Triple Crown winner or the all-time undefeated racehorse?  What if Zenyatta never wins HOY?  Could happen folks - but should it?

Take the ZenMaster overseas!!!! I hope not.  America needs a racing hero that lasts-an new Iron Horse.  

I cannot agree with the displeasure of Hal Wiggins not receiving credit for the job he had done with RA prior to her sale. The connection of RA made a hefty profit from her sale. Horses are sold privately everyday. Some turn out to be champions some do not i.e., the Green Monkey. If RA had turned out to be a bust after the sale, should the connections have been demonized? Trainers are expected to do the best job possible with the horse provided by their clients. Guys it’s their jobs and they are paid for it. Let’s not forget that horses make trainers.

On the subject of HOY, the right horse won and it was never in doubt.

While common sense prevailed in the Zenyatta versus RA voting, it was none existent in the case of Lookin At Lucky and Vale Of York. Since the inauguration of the Breeders Cup, only twice has the BCJ winner not win the eclipse award. Wilko won the 2004 renewal and Declan’s Moon got the eclipse award. Bracco defeated heavy favored Dehere in the 1993 renewal. However, Dehere got the award. This decision is without merit and those who voted overwhelming for LAL have done a disservice to the 2YO cols division.

Vale Of York was the best horse in the race and his performance was only superseded by that of Zenyatta. In fact both Zenyatta and Vale Of York won in similar fashion. They both ran most of their respective race on the dead rail and had to swing wide to clear horses for the run to victory. Vale Of York took on the best colts in the US and couple from England & Ireland and defeated them. LAL took on the best colts in the US and couple from England & Ireland and was beaten. How can LAL win the eclipse award when VOY succeeded where he has failed?

Consider the following advantages and disadvantages of the two main contenders:

Lookin At Lucky:

Advantages:-

Home Track – Did not have to ship and required no acclimatization

Surface – Ran all his races on the synthetic or Pro Ride surface.

Jockey – three time eclipse award winner; one of the best in the world.

Disadvantages:-

Post – The 13 post left him wide into the 1st turn. This negative was neutralized by very moderate pace 24,48,1:13.

Vale OF York:

Advantages:-

None

Disadvantages:-

Shipper – Shipped in from either England or Dubai (Thousands of miles/New Track & surroundings)

Surface - First time starting on the surface. None of the other European runner proved competitive on the surface.

Jockey – Former camel rider and by far the least experience rider in the field at the Breeders Cup level..

Lookin At Lucky heading into the starting gate had all the advantages over Vale Of York. His assessed bad post did not stop the betting public from sending him off as the overwhelming favorite. He was bumped slightly going into the first turn and had to be swung wide for his stretch run because he was so far off the pedestrian pace set by Piscitelli. He had clear passage for the entire race.  

Vale Of York on the other hand was stuck on a dead rail blocked in by Piscitelli.  He had to steady, check off Piscittli, move wide of Nobles Promise and explode through a gap that was rapidly closing by Williams Kitten and Lookin At Luck. Had this colt gotten a clear passage early it would have been a romp. His margin of victory is not reflective of the race he ran. It is my opinion that VOY’s victory was one of the most amazing in the history of Juvenile. I recall Arazi’s stunning move to sweep by leaders but VOY’s victory supersedes that of Arazi.  

Vale Of York found a way win in spite of his disadvantages and his troubled trip. Zenyatta & Goldikova overcame their poor starts and won like true champions. All Lookin At Lucky was faced with was a perceived bad draw and he was unable to get the job done. Champion horses overcome adversity and find a way to win. Can anyone realistically state that Luckin At Lucky has met this burden.

Jason,

It is unlikely that Maximus Ruler will be a contender for any of the TC races. His sire covered 197 mares in 2007. These over bred stallions rarely produce outstanding horses. The owners should have accepted the best offer they received. Remember the big offer that was refused for Win Willy. He will not win the Lecomte. If Worldly runs to his pedigree he should win easily.

Based on derby history Maximus Ruler has mountain to climb. In the last 45 years only two derby winner have sired the winner of the great race. Unbridled sired grindstone & Seattle Slew sired Swale. Derby winners are notoriously poor sires of TC horses. I implore you not to join the hype. I am prepared to eat a big plate of crow if I am wrong.

Jason,

Yes I read about Maximus Ruler.  I like it when a trainer is high on his charge however I prefer to take a wait and see approach to 'hyped horses' (as in the most recent case of overblown Connemara).  Actually I fancy the chances of Turf Melody in the Lecomte.  His pedigree screams derby readiness and he has demonstrated enough ability to be a winning factor here.  

FUNNYCIDEOFLIFE, I AGREE: the Eclipse awards need to be held in in a NEUTRAL STATE, not California. MEMO TO THE EDITOR: TAKE NOTE OF THIS.  I pity Jackson during the HOY awards:  he looked SPOOKED like he's in front of a FIRING SQUAD!!  LOL.  The HOSTILITY of the California crowd cannot be denied!  Poor old Jackson...

Yeah, Jerry's diappointment is ALL OVER HIS FACE for Zenyatta not being named HOY. lol.. didn't even TRY TO HIDE IT.  He did get very DEFENSIVE saying how Zenyatta "has never lost" and that RA "won by proxy". HOW CRUDE!!! Jerry behaved like a spoiled brat who didn't get to buy his favorite toy in the toy store! HE NEEDS TO GROW UP!!  Just coz he's a BILLIONAIRE, DOESN'T MEAN he can get EVERYTHING DONE HIS WAY!!  The least he could have done is just CONGRATULATE RACHEL for winning HOY, and just DON'T MAKE ANY COMMENTS about it!  GROW UP, JERRY!!

And your point is Bob Z?  Maybe there are theoretical secret conversations going on between Steve and Jess, maybe there aren't.  Facts are, Zenyatta declared and Rachel didn't.  

All I want is to see them on the same racetrack.  Beating RA won't improve Zenyatta's worth as a broodmare and as a 6 year old, how many races do you think she'll run?  Do you really think they'll run her 8 times all over the East Coast in the hopes she might meet Rachel?  With the weight she'll carry?

She'd be better off going to Europe.  A good losing effort in the Arc or the King George would be better for her (and her offspring) value wise than beating RA or Quality Road on the track in the States.

Has everyone forgotten that it has only been 3-4 days that RA's owners were aware Zenyatta was Un-retired??? they planned to bring her back late March or early April all along...hard to duck Zenyatta when they just found out she is running...maybe that's why Zenyatta's owners waited to announce the Unretirement...and guess what same boring campaign as last year...Zens first 2 races will be against fillies and her first race in march, still on the plastic track...maybe Jackson will buy her and give her a real campaign

Oh and jackson played this game last year...never announcing where Rachel will run until entries were due...by doing that he got the tracks to offer a bonus to the purse...I am sure he will do the same this year...

It was highway robbery. As I said many times Zenyatta faced the better competition. She not only won the Classic but Life is Sweet flattered her form by wining the Ladies Classic. Quality means a whole lot more than quantity. I guess The voters would have chosen a bottom level claimer who made 18 stars in 2009 over Zenyatta if the horse with the most starts gets Horse of the Year. The racing industry wonders why the sport is declining when the voting system could easily have a lot more credibility if they went the way of the sports that do get high television ratings and let the fans vote just like allstar games. The Breeders Cup needs to drop the World Thoroughbred Championships thing if the winners can't even be rewarded for being the best in the U.S.

Unless this meeting is held in the BC Classic or some other international platform,it's going to end up a match race,what connections of any filly are going to want to enter against that moose and cheeta.

Speaking of "Triple Crown Talk", A Triple Crown winner!!

Whats the chances of that happening?  Slim to None?  It's been 32 years, Will we ever be able to break that curse?

The racing god's must have cursed it!!!!

I believe they should enter a filly and see if she can win it?

The colts haven't been able to do it in the past 32 years....

Greg J.

 C'mon Man! Don't you know that both Rachel and Zenyatta are going to be bigger, stronger, and faster than last year. It's guaranteed. Every race they run in is going to be a new track and stakes record. There are no other horses on this planet that could compete with either of these horses. Don't you pay attention? :] :] :]

Some final thoughts:

"Let the professionals and those that know the industry continue to vote for the Eclipse Awards"  -  are you kidding me. Who was that person that voted for Icon Project over Zenyatta.

"Mr. Moss showed disappointment and appeared bitter"  -  good Lord, give the man a break. This is now two years in a row that his undefeated and reigning champ has been denied.

you know I have just about had it with all this zenyatta talk. maybe you all including mr. moss didn't get the message. prove it on the track! head east and prove how good she is. with all those recent works why is she not in the donn? mr. moss run her 7 or 8 times and prove her greatness no one cares about her poly wins do it on dirt. you say that is her best surface now prove it ! for those of you that would like to know when rachel will race I believe it will be 2 weeks after zenyatta's 2nd race this year.

Dona,

Just so you know, Scott Blasi's brother is married to Helen Pitts; therefore Im pretty sure some type of conversation went back and forth. Simply because if you remember Curlin was specifically in Scotts hands at all times.

Let's face it. They can't beat Zenyatta on the track so the voters decided to beat her with politics and a pencil. These voters are gonna look really stupid when Zenyatta beats Rachel.

And, no Rachel won without even showing up for the dance. Politics and geography. Congratulations because I think this had made Mr Moss more determined to prove how great we, the people know his filly is but the stiff neck reporters refuse to see. Matter of fact, alot of us are ticked off about it. Go toot your Rachel horn while you can because the Queen is coming for her!

Greg J--in my comments thanking Mr Wiggins for his work with RA as a 2 yr old, I was actually congratulating him for the amazing job he did in foundational training.  As a trainer of a few horses myself (in other disciplines), I understand and appreciate the effort it takes to develop the immature jeuvenile. He did an amazing job with RA and should not be denied any thanks for his time and effort.  I was trying to point out that while we are slamming JJ for not thanking him, we are forgetting the former team's short-sightedness in her career goals and exceptional talents and we would certainly have seen a different outcome for HOY--may have even been a male.

I think you guys are overreacting to Rachel coming back to the races. They want to go thru november....therefore just like the lovely Zenyatta did last year, they might not start her until April/May.

I am completely thankful that the Mosses have decided to race champion Zenyatta in 2010. She is a beautiful mare worth her weight in platinum, however she will race another day. I am so tired of horse owners retiring another fragile baby at 3 years of age. Ask anyone on the backstretch, horses are still growing and maturing at 3 and 4. American racing focuses far to much on the Triple Crown races. Racing horses beyond 3 years of age is what horse racing needs to attract the attention of all sports fans. I already have goosebumps thinking about a 6 year old Zenyatta roaring down the racetrack in Dubai or Saratoga Springs! I would also like to see Zenyatta on grass, just like Secretariat tried it at the end of his career. Zenyatta could be an absolute lawnmower! Good luck to Rachel trying to hold off a fire breathing Zenyatta at any distance more than 1 1/16.

Greg, I agree 100%.

Sham, good post.

Laz, if money can pretty much buy you anything, then the Ruler of Dubai and all of his brothers should of won the Derby by now. What in the world could possibly be going on?

Hey Carolin:

I started to post to you and something went wrong so maybe you might this might be posted twice.  I hope you're having a good day.  I was going to sit back and not comment on HOY.  Whoever wins, wins, it really doesn't matter all that much to me.......respect for one's acomplishments does.  But when one of these so-called in-the-know voters gave Icon Project a vote for the top Older Filly or Mare instead of Zen or even Life Is Sweet, it ticked me off.  It really does show what a sham these awards ate beginning to be.  Anyway, I'v vented all the steam I have left.  Time to look forward to the coming year and look at the Derby horses.  LOL

Billy,  while I LOVE Zenyatta & appreciate her connections (as I do RA) & I really don't know which of the girls is "better", it is the Moss's own fault (sorry) that they have won 2 "NTRA Moments of the Year" and not 2 HOTY's.

I feel she had even more arguments in her favor last year, but they would NOT run her even once against the colts...all it would have taken was one Graded Stakes win against the boys and FOR SURE she would have been HOY...but Curlin winning in Dubai plus 3 other major Gr 1 wins was just "this much" better.

This year they scratched her from the only dirt race she was entered in, the Louisville Distaff, because of an "off" track, yet on the same day Rachel ran off with the Kentucky Oaks in the largest margin, just short of Birdtown's stakes record....

Again, RA was just "this much" more aggressively campaigned...

I hope the 2 girls meet in every major race this year for a good, old-fashioned rivalry...I also can't wait to see Summer Bird mature and Quality Road progress, and I hope I Want Revenge can come back in his explosive form...I also think if the connections plan wisely that MTB will sneak up and steal a couple...

Ahhh, what a year with so many to love...

Dehere, what a rotten thing to do to an old guy...a Stardustyrose heart to you...

Max said:

"But I hope this doesn't sour your take on Rachel. She had nothing to do with it."

That's going to depend on how Rachel's connections and fans handle this victory and how they react to what happens on the track this coming year.

After all, there's a boatload of resentment built up over the way many of RA's fans and supporters in the equine media openly trashed Zenyatta's victory in the BC Classic this year, and fairly or not, much of that will be directed at the horse.

Zenyatta lost because 39 people with held their votes..thats the worst thing that could have happened...

Love Zenyatta and Rachel..

I'm sorry...I have to add one final thought concerning the sport of horse racing itself.  Rachel Alexandra is stabled at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans.  On Nola.com (extension of the Times Picayune) there is not ONE single word, since the Eclipse awards, of Rachel Alexandra, or her connections garnering Horse of the Year honors.  There has been no story about her since she arrived at the Fair Grounds and Nola.com touted her then as Horse of the Year but finally changed their headline to HOTY contender.  When a major city lacks the enthusiasm to proclaim one of their residents when she receives such an honor.

...it's just sad.

Reading all the different posts I think it's time for everyone who is either a Rachel Fan or a Zenyatta Fan to agree to disagree.  I've seen the same things posted over and over for 2 months now.  It all comes down to OPINION.  It's how you look at the two horses campaigns.  I have seen the same exact things in arguments on both sides but what is most distressing is the belittling of either horse.  Both horses had a hell of a year.  It seems that the biggest argument is the weakness of the competition on both sides.  This is always what people fall back on.  Where else are they going to find better competition?  I keep hearing Zen beat up on the same mares until the BCC and people even argue that the other horses didn't like the surface.  Rachel beat nobody.  She is possibly the worst horse that ever ran.  Some are so gleeful in their post of hatred and pettiness.  I don't get it.  We have been given a gift in these two particular horses but it amazes me how the horses and connections can be held up to such ridicule and hatred.  I think it's petty to sit and write all the reasons either horse is not what she is touted to be.  Why is that so important to do?  Why is it so important to spew such negativity?  Why is it important to tear down one to push up the other?  I'm not talking about everyone, only a few.  I just don't understand how anyone could say such negative things about either horse when they are both splendid and magnficent competitors.  Zenyatta was cheated out of HOY.  I mean how does a horse like that not receive that honor?  I agree about that but on the other hand, Rachel's campaign was not running against claimers as some seem to think.  She only beat one good horse?  She beat no one in the Mother Goose?  She beat the clock in that race.  She got HOY and she was deserving as was Zenyatta.  Without question, these 2 were the best of 2009 no matter how many arguments you pull out to prove the other is only a nag.  Just put it to rest.  It's time to move on, the TC is coming up and the two girls wll meet at some point.  What we should all be saying is how happy we are they are back and that they both stay sound and healthy.  Look at the year we have to look forward to and be happy that this dying sport is getting a great shot in the arm.

When all the yahoo started over Rachel Alexander and Zenyatta, I was all for Rachel.  But after watching Zenyatta win the Breeders Cup Classic - I changed my mind and went with her.  Watching the Eclipse awards and listening to the speachs, I couldn't help but think that J. Jackson is a very intelligent and astute individual.  This surprised me, because so many of the comments made about him seemed to indicate he was a narrow minded, selfish individual.  That is not the case.  I also feel that while the Thoughbred Industry is trying to get more interest and involvment back into Horse Racing, the Horse of the Year Award should have been given to both horses.  That would have brought more attention to the sport than it has had to this date.  Part of me felt the vote was still a East vs West thing, with a higher population in the East.  Having said that, I felt better about Rachael A. winning after hearing J. Jackson speak.  I happen to agree with his sentiments about the two girls and with comments he made later on in an interview with TVG about changes that should be made in the racing industry.  One last comment,  perhaps they didn't mention Hal Wiggens because he was unable to convince Rachel's owner to race her in the Kentucky Derby.  I personally think if she had raced in the "Derby", not only would she have won it - but the triple crown would have gone to her also.

Lets be honest people it pays to take risks and that is what jjackson did. If you go 30-2 in bball and play a cupcake schedule dont expect to be a #1 seed!

Zookeeper, way to go! i agree with you 100%. this is just a vote, it's not anything worth being sick over, and definitely not as important as other things going on in the world right now. thanks for bringing reality back in the picture!! (:

lil darlin,

American Idol would not exist if you didn't have the fan participation. Horseracing needs more of the same if it is to grow or perhaps even it is to survive. Give people some credit, they are more intelligent than you think. Someone who watches only the KY. Derby is most likely not someone who would take the time to vote even if given the chance. Those who would are going to be those who follow the sport one way or another all year long.

Those who have the votes now are close to the Trainers, Owners, etc. and if you think they aren't biased at times to who they like personally you come from another planet.

CV, as Footlick has already said Ascot is run on Turf - there are no G1 races currently run on Synthetics (we call it "all-weather") in Europe.

What about an early season campaign in the US, come to Europe for a few months, take in Royal Ascot in June, the King George at Ascot at the end of July, the Irish Champion Stakes in September, the Arc in October and back to the US for Breeders' Cup in November!

Coldfacts: You and your pedigree analysis. Geez. Based on your reasoning you should be able to name the Derby winner every year.

I'll tell you what--I'll take Maximus Ruler and you take Wordly in the Lecomte. We'll wager an agreed upon amount. Deal?

Your right Katie.  It is not the "Horse of the Breeder's Cup."  RA was able to do what her female counterparts Lady's Secret and Azeri where unable to do.  Win HOY without ever running in a Breeder's Cup Distaff (Lady's Classic) nevermind winning one.  

Coldfacts- Sadler's Wells and Sunday Silence covered that many mares and more year after year.  I can tell how it hurt the quality of their offspring.  And what about Danehill?  That reasoning makes no sense.  Sires have proved that old wives tale false.  Roman Ruler has great breeding top and bottom, and lots of balance with speed and stamina.  And he seems to be getting runners.  Only time will tell.

I have been (and will continue to be) amazed at the dialogue these two glorious examples of horseflesh have brought to our industry - through both avid and casual fans as well as "insiders".  I do not think I will witness this again in my lifetime. (I also do not think I will see such horses again)  It is my hope that they DO NOT meet. One is a MARE and the other is a FILLY. One is mature and the other is not.  And while a super

youngster may run with either/both sexes WITHIN THEIR AGE GROUP how do you ask them to run with a super adult?? I am just delighted we have BOTH a SUPER youngster and a SUPER older horse to follow this year!!  The racing gods have given us two mighty Ambassadors for our sport - wouldn't it be GREAT if they both visited (seperately) every track ( or at least one in every racing state) - What would attendance be on those days?? I believe these two have the ability to bring people "in" and more importantly KEEP them "in".  And neither has anything to "Prove" to the other (or to us).  They have both given us more than enough to discuss for years!

Boy, you people just love to to beat a 'dead horse' to death! The majority of you are not gracious even when winning.  

FYI....

Hatie had another 6.1 quake today.  It was quite a shaker.  For those of you that are still bickering over these horses, please use your energy to help the people and animals over there. :)

pNewmarket- a heady thought.  If I had her, I would just let her do a season in Europe.  If I wanted a race after the Arc, I'd point for the Japan Cup.  Why run somewhere she's already run and won when she could conquer the world-literally.  But, unless the Mosses get disillusioned with US racing, I doubt they would do it.  But at least they know how much they respect Zenyatta overseas.  Ascot was talking about paying their expenses if I read correctly, and they don't make a habit of that.  And Mike already won the 2000 G with FourstarAllstar, so he has ridden there before.  Otherwise, we just have to read the same trash talk over and over here until the BCC.

"mr. moss run her 7 or 8 times and prove her greatness no one cares about her poly wins do it on dirt."

Only narrow, closed minds think this way. Zen has "proven her greatness" to the rest of us.

You may not recall, but Zenyatta ran 7 times in 2008, which was her first full year of racing.

And by the way, based on how long Rachel has been in the barn since September, and still hasn't posted a work on the La. track, there is no way she will run 7-8 times this year. Nonetheless, I guess that shortened schedule will be fine with you because you have loudly proclaimed her your favorite horse.

Just saw where someone used "Iron Horse" in reference to Zenyatta - How can 5 races /year justify that term?  I know horses that race that "lightly" and most have a "problem" (foot, shoulder, back, temperment etc) that demands "time" between races. Could this explain her schedule?

katie: You're right about it not being "Horse of the Breeders' Cup" - that award was presented to Ghostzapper for 2004.

bsinboots: Most astute post on this board. Too bad that no one's going to pay any attention to you. The sport touts the Breeders' Cup and synthetic tracks as the sine qua non for horse racing, then turns around and gives both of them the brush. I am tired of suffering from cognitive dissonance. After Monday night, I am purposefully looking around for a new passion to fill my heart and a different charitable base to empty my wallet. Thanks for trying.

Congrats to RA on her HOY win.  She had a challenging schedule of races and proved she deserved the award this year.  2010?  Who knows.  It's anyone's guess.

I just hope that no "match race" scenario develops.  After the Ruffian debacle, I truly doubt it but sometimes people forget just how brutal a match race can be.

Highlander,

Yes, American Idol exists because of its fan participation, and horseracing needs fan participation. However, I think when there seems to be dissent for biases, and there is the desire to keep things non-political, opening up the HOY award for what would amount to a campaign would be the last thing you'd want to do. Campaigns are totally political. I would contend that the best horse would not always win, rather, the most charismatic horse with the most likable connections and best backstory would win.  And, what would stop anyone from calling up their non-racing fan friends and family and convince them to turn in a ballot for the horse of their liking? Horse racing fans are passionate (exhibit A - this blog), and there are many who would go the extra mile to give their favorite any advantage they could muster up.

SteveStan brings up a good point in their criticism of those that have the responsibility to vote and don't do their due dilligence (in a perfect world, they'd all be as thorough as Jason). Perhaps a point system is in fact what is really needed, as numbers don't lie.  But then, people will scream that the point system is biased because the value of each race would ultimately be determined by people's opionions.

Rachel Alexander fan here, but I never in the world thought that she would be named HOY up until the week before the ballots were due. I thought that Zenyatta in now way possible would be out-voted. My heart sank right after the BCC. It was over. Every poll in the universe had Zenyatta winning.But then I started to read commentary after commentary and column after column by people in the industry - mostly from east ripping into Zenyatta. I started to have hope.

Folks, especially the fans of Zenyatta, I truly believe that your horse deserved to be HOY. I still can't get over it. If I were you I'd be truly PO'd.

Not to mention the owner.

Laura:

GREAT POST.....LOL

Everyone is still putting down Zenyatta?? Why?

Let me fill you in on something. Yes, Rachel got the hoty, we knew she would on the fact of east coast biases, thats a fact..but she don't have the ability to ever be better than Zenyatta, Come ON, Z fans...You have the better horse and you know it.  RA is a filly that beats up on meticre racehorse's, nothing to write home to mama about,right? RA cannot step out of her comfort zone of only one surface, on the other hand Z is 6 years old and can run on dirt and synthetics already the ball is in Zenyatta's court. You see, RAchel will not have a better year this year, you could tell JJ uncertainity in his voice at the awards, the man knows that his filly will never be popular than Zen this year, Noway, No how...2010, will be the year of the Zenmaster, Yes, racing really needs her this year, the world is her trinket and they love Zenyatta, and thats why Hoty was yesterday and is already fading away, all eyes are going to be on the six year old mare. this will the year of Zenyatta....Racing a filly at four is no big deal, that happens everyday, racing a mare at six, now that's is a big deal becasue it does not happen everyday, I can promise you one thing, you won't see a RA on the track at six years old...Ra, I can already tell you are going to be a wash up for 2010, soon to be forgotten about, but Zenyatta at 6, and kicking it old school on dirt and synthetics and probalby traveling around, to who knows...2010 will be the year for the queen....

Stardusty Rose,

Thank you!  That was the best post on this blog!  Talk about getting your priorities straight!

Greg J,

Excellent post of yours as well.

Soldier Course,

I feel your pain...I've been there myself several times. BUT if you choose to walk away, don't do it because of the Eclipse Awards voters. These (fill in the blank) are not what attracted you to the sport in the first place, are they? From your prior posts (which I always pay attention to) it seems to me that the horses, their beauty, their heart is what has kept you interested in the first place. The horses are still there no matter what the "people who run the show" say, do or how they choose  to vote. You have been one of the voices of reason on this blog. Don't leave. We need you!

Anne- the youngsters run against the adults all the time in Europe.  It's done every year there.

It's just been reported that many Europeans are surprised that Zenyatta did not win HOTY. Many had never even heard of Rachel.

Interesting....

cv you and mr. moss are 2 peas in a pod ! so far you both sound like cry babies ! run zenyatta and don't worry about rachel run the big strong horse 7 or 8 times and prove she is what you guys say she is. so far I understand she is going to run on plastic against females. no one cares, if your horse is all that show up at the donn and begin to prove it. your the classic winner act like it you have no business running against over matched female poly horses. did you learn nothing the other night ? geez.

Draynay:

If Rachel is so good.....WHY ISN'T SHE RUNNING IN THE DON?  And don't give us that garbage that she isn't ready yet.  They have had months to prepare her for the upcoming campaign.  It appears that in their typical way of planning her schedule, they want to wait for a race where they are ure that NO ONE WILL SHOW UP.

And the beat goes on...... la dee da dee dee, la dee da dee da.....

Footlick: Don't worry, I have a new blog coming soon. I cant handle much more of this either.

Billy's Empire:

The Yankees spent well over a billion dollars this decade alone before they finally won a Series.  Look at the Red Sox.....it's basicall the same thing.......The shieks will continue to spend and buy the best, then they will train the horse THEIR ways and with THEIR schedules and sooner or later, in spit of themselves, they will get a Derby winner. LOL  I enjoy your posts.

Haha Jason I'm surprised you even posted this blog...I too am sick of the bickering.  

I had recently read the Headless Horseman and watching the Eclipse Awards confirmed much of the book's points- the political nature of those that are part of the organizations that have the most influence and how they protect their own best interests. So, the results are not a surprise but they are dissapointing and it validates the not so great part of Horse Racing. Trainer-Asmussen-you have to be kidding? OK he wins for numbers but not overall quality and to boot a suspension for an illegal substance. To overlook trainers that truly care about what's best for the horse, are role models to others and follow the rules-that should trump numbers.

The whole thing is about east versus west, synthetic versus dirt and the side of the country with the most voters or the farm with the most clout wins .

Only 2 winners from the West just validates my point-Looking at Lucky and Zenyatta

If and when Z meets RA it will be the right time for both horses and at the right venue but for 2009 my vote was with Zenyatta-because she won it fair and square

Hey Footlcik and Jason.....LOL

I'm there already-lol!

Draynay,

It seems to me that YOU are the one who has a lot to learn. Civility for one, respect for all horses (none of them deserve the DIRT that you dish out) AND the ability to draft a post that does not repeat what you have already posted TOO many times.

I was happy to see Rachel win HOY honors, but I would have been equally happy to see Zenyatta win as well. How can you not love both these Fillies. It will be interesting to see how both fair in their openning races of 2010. Best of luck to both camps.

Yeah - I heard Carolyn Connelly remark on tv that her many European friends are surprised that Zenyatta did not win HOTY and that many had never even heard of Rachel. ahem cough cough Consider the source. She went on to say that she saw both horses with her own two eyeballs and she would not have voted the way the HOY vote went.

Guess what. Her vastly superior eyeballs were wrong. Again. It wasn't even a squeaker vote ala the 1 point margin the Californian John Henry won by.

At this point, I discount almost everything coming from a bitter Californian, many of whom seem to be incapable of a gracious loss. For a group that is so quick to point out what they hope is an east coast bias vs. a valid decision based on the facts, they certainly were true to form by being just plain rude poor sports at the Eclipse Award dinner. Based on these CA poor sports, I think they should make it a point to hold all future awards ceremonies on neutral territory.

Jerry Mosses awful remark about Rachel beating his horse by "proxy" was just bitter bile crawling up his throat. If he doesn't smarten up and hire someone that knows what a HOY campaign looks like, Zenyatta has already lost it for 2010.

zenyatta is the one who has been training for the last month not rachel. rachel is resting right now with her hoy trophy. believe me her connections have no problem figuring out how to win hoy I think they have won the last three and four should be a breeze too ! sooner or later mr moss will get it churchill,belmont, and saratoga !

Can Dutrow right Stardom Bound?  Her El Encino left something to be desired.  She is certainly going to have company on her preferred track from the likes of Life is Sweet and the trip back East looked to be a flop. Aqueduct did not seem to suit her coming off a long lay off.  

Dray, the problem is Rachel has been resting tooooo long, she stopped racing before Z, and she(Zen) is already in training, Yes, Mr. Moss knows what he has to do, and I expect they will get it all done this year. OH, and JJ, yes, he will just look around and find another "already trained" horse and buy it and try to market it for HOTY as well. LOL

Householder

"How many Eclipse award winning horses has Zenyatta beat? "

Zenyatta has beaten winners of 4 Eclipe awards.

I agree with pNewmarket Zen got nothing left to prove in the US, do the Apple Blossom (dirt) and then go to Europe and take on thier horses. Waiting around for Rachel is just plain stupid. Allowing zen haters to dictate Zenyatta 2010 campaign even stupider. Grass is much easier on the horse then dirt and Zen looks like she could be a great turf horse. Save her legs for the really important dirt races like BCC 2010.

Mary in VT,

And your posts are absolutely dripping with grace, right?

Do you honestly think that if the Awards had been held in New York and Zenyatta had won the HOTY award the audience would have behaved differently?

What in your opinion constitute neutral grounds for future Eclipse Awards? The world awaits your condesdending guidance in this matter...

DRAYNAY

Correct me here,but you stated couple months ago RA SHOULD run in the Donn. Why don't you give Zenyatta/connection a chance this yr before you start questioning "have they learned anything" ?

Has Zenyatta ever closed as fast as Mine That Bird did in the Derby?

Would Zenyatta have beaten Mine That Bird in the Derby or Preakness? Just asking.

PASTURELANDS

Your comment about Moss can't have everything his way or whatever,doesn't refer to Jackson buying RA when she was developed by someone else and turned over to his "prized trainer" right? You should be thankful the Mosses' are racing Zenyatta this yr to give YOU SOMETHING TO RANT ABOUT!

MARY IN VT

ZOOKEEPER is correct. If the awards were held in NY,the people there are so friendly,right? Give me a break! You think for a sec RA will be running at five,much less six like Zenyatta? You have no clue!

Can you believe this. It's almost two days since the Eclipse Awards and according to a poll taken AFTER the HOY was announced it 52% to 48% saying it was the right decision. Take in mine that most of Z's supporters were bummed out to even blog, while RA's supporters were in force to share their gloating, or excuse me, opinions.

Almost half still believed it was the wrong decision!

Mike Relva,

Thanks for your support. I think I'm done with this subject. When I start getting mad it's time to move on. Thank goodness Jason has opened a new blog. See you there!

ZOOKEEPER

No problem! I enjoy your  posts.

Mary in VT,

Should Moss hire someone who will ruin the poor horse?

Laz, same goes to you! You always bring thoughtful and well thoughtout arguments to the table, even though I sometimes disagree with what you say. On to the Derby.

Tim G.-- The horse that I have a part of with Trueblueracing LLC worked today, 49.20 10/38. Was second last time out on turf. Don't think he can get the distance being out of More than Ready with hennssey on the bottom, but we hope he turns out to be a nice allowance horse. Time will tell. Amoss is the trainer. I think you asked on another blog about that. The other fillies that I spoke about are our cousins horse's, out of Cresran LLC in OK. I just like to postup at clocker's corner all Derby week. It is an experience all should enjoy. If anyone comes to KY the week before the derby, give me a shout and I can get you back if you do not have an owner's pass. I know I will see Jason out there.

Thanks jpsbman.  I was having difficulty coming up with the 4th one.

Coco Beach-Eclipse Award Older Female.

Summer Bird-Eclipse Award Best 3 Year old Male.

Gio Ponte-Eclipse Award Best Older Male.

???

Let's all take advice from Mary in VT, the person who stated Santa Anita is an ugly facility and the San Gabriel mtns are brown, lol.  Mary, can you say the word "hater", how about "jealous"?  Because that's what you are.

Gladiator- Zenyatta closed in 22 and 1/5 at Del Mar, her last 16th in 5 and 3/5.  I don't think she would have any problem closing as fast as Mine that Bird.

Zookeeper:

Thank you.

"The horses are still there no matter what ..."

Your thought has really moved me and made me remember that no person(s) brought this gift to me, so why let any of them take it away?

I am going to try my best to think of Monday night as nothing more than a political rally, hardly worth a worry to this wart.

Carolyn, rachel also raced 14 times in a little over a year, where Zenyatta raced 14 times over a three year period. Can you see why they are resting rachel now. GET OVER IT!!

Soldier Course,

Way to go! Bless you for hanging on. Always looking forward to read your posts. I feel we are of the same mindset along with many others on these blogs. Wishing you a wonderful 2010. :)

Folks, years and years from now, if not next year, people will not remember who won the HOY for 2009 but who lost the title after for being the perfect racehorse, the perfect record of 14 for 14, for being the defending and reigning queen of racing, and for being the only female racehorse to the the Breeders' Cup World Championships

Zenyatta lost, the fans lost. And regrettable, horseracing lost.

Susan,

Zenyatta might prove to be the better horse in 2010, and she might beat RA 10 times. It does not mean anything regarding who had the best campaign in 2009.

That's what you guys fail to understand. It is not about who would beat whom, and it is not about a bias. It is about who had the most accomplishments during the YEAR. The Eclipse voters got it right.

Congratulations, Jason. You were right!

Why do I come back on here!!!  Billy- let's be fair.  Rachel ean from June 13, 2008 to Sept 9, 2009, so a total of almost 15 months which is right.  Zenyatta ran from Nov 22, 2007 to Nov 9, 2009, which is just under 2 years, not 3.  Let's at least be fair when we make these statements, please.  Yes, Rachel ran her races in less amount of time, but not two years less.

Billy's Empire said: "Rachel also raced 14 times in a little over a year, where Zenyatta raced 14 times over a three year period.". Just a correction:  Rachel raced 12 times in 14 months, and Zenyatta 14 times in 23 months -less than two years - not three years.  She didn't run until November of her 3yo year.  Due to the classics, 3yos tend to have races fairly close together in the spring.  Zenyatta never had that option.

Very touching Danny. Let me get my Kleenex.

jason,lol. danny I just want you to know I just spoke to peppers pride and he has your back !

Billly's Empire, you need to go back and check your stats, you are the first one to critisize someone else, and you can't get your facts straight...by the way, Don't you think that Rachel has RESTED long enough? Come On Now....

Danny, I am a diehard Zenyatta fan. But I have to agree with everyone (gasp) that Zenyatta should have come out on dirt more. But this is a new year, and we have her back, racing really needs her, she is six years old and will be enlarging her legacy by running and winning on dirt and synthetics and maybe a trip out of NA, I surely believe that this is even a bigger year for Zenyatta and on top of that, competing in the BCC at six years old, Damn, it don't get any better than that......Be patient Danny, The queen of horseracing is only making her resume and legacy bigger and much more popular???  She keeps adding to her glory.

Billy's Empire:

On to the Derby right.  As soon as I'm ready to get wound up I find out that one of my top picks (Take Control) is on the shelf for 60 days.  Go Figure.  LOL

Billy- I hope I was nice in my response.  Just wanted to clarify- not attack.

LAZMANNICK

I'm also disappointed for Take Control.

MARY IN VT

The other reader is correct you must be jealous. While I don't reside in CA I visit often,like in next week. Tell you what I'll deal with their weather anytime compared to your minus thirty weather and ten feet of snow you enjoy. lol

Carolyn seems to have "inside information" regarding Zenyatta's upcoming campaign.  I sure hope she's not disappointed.

Likewise, they are several people who seem to know what Rachel will be doing (or not).  I'd hate to think they would be disappointed if she has another successful campaign.

For the good of racing, I hope we get to see both ladies at their best.  That means if Rachel needs more time, so be it.  If Zenyatta (who is still in condition) is ready to run first, so be it.

Jason

What's wrong with Scotties?  I hear they have a better absorption factor.

Since the Europeans wants Zenyatta and not Rachel, and Dubai want Zenyatta and not Rachel - how about this:

The Mother of All Matches:

Best two our of three

Must be at leat l and 1/8

everyone invited

RA gets to choose to the first venue

The second venue chosen by Z

The third, if necessary, chosen by a mediator.

If, and only, if, that Z wins first two - then RA hands over the HOY crown to Z - no questions asked.

Mike Relva, you will be coming at a good time! Right now we are swimming in water and we are dragging out the canoes to row to work!:) But you are right, rain trumps freezing under a mountain of snow. I'll take my "plain ole' brown mountains" anytime. Enjoy your visit!!

Jason, I want to tell you something. Of all the blogs I visit, I like yours the best. You are not so restrictive and you don't let it get out of control either, and you also let people vent thier frustrations and speak what they feel. Your blogs are just right? they are even and kept under control at all times..I like how you manage your blogs Jason. Keep up the good work..and thanks for letting us say what we feel and keeping us intack while we do it.

RoinM, I'm never disappointed with Zenyatta! I have so much faith in the mare, she has never disappointed me or her fans, this year will be like all her others, other than this year she will be on dirt. I agree she needs some dirt races on her resume, but some people dont look at her this year as some of you do, she has already went up as high as she can go with her legacy and popularity with the world, so anything she does this year only adds to her, it takes nothing away, she has nothing to lose, and so much more to gain. the racing god's love her as well...

Peter Pan- you could go even further, each race must be on a different surface and the races should go 9 furlongs, 9.5 furlongs and 10 furlongs-lol.  Let them meet when they meet.  If they meet they do, if they don't they don't.  Appreciate what we've got with both of them and let them run where they want and be safe.  Everyone knows I'd rather see Zenyatta in a European campaign.  That's what I would do if I owned her.  But I don't.  There's nothing wrong with Rachel not being in training yet.  She doesn't have to be.  There is no rule as to when she needs to be ready.  Zenyatta was jumping out of her skin the longer she was kept at the track.  They either had to train her or ship her to Kentucky.  She obviously wasn't going to wind down at the track.  So let's stop criticizing each horse and just move on.  And that means you too, Dray!  Start concentrating on 3 yr olds instead of Zenyatta-lol.

Some of the Z fans are getting pretty desperate. Why would I be jealous? My favorite horses won HOY in 2007, 2008, aaaaaaaand 2009 and it was a mega blast. You are the ones that are smarting and lashing out.

From the sound of Jerry Mosses exit interview I don't think he is learnin' anything about HOY campaigns. He remains solidly behind the trainer that will be remembered for losing HOY with the great Zenyatta. Twice. Quite probably three times. He rebuffed any notion of speaking to Jackson about how and when the horses meet up. Nope. I don't think anyone can tell this man anything. Jerry Moss already knows it all.

Many Z fans are so busy blaming the nefarious east coast bias, and half a dozen other non-factors, they miss understanding what the problem is - Z's connections don't know what a HOY campaign looks like. They know what a "perfect record" campaign looks like, and do that very well. A HOY campaign deliberately seeks to test and define a horse's greatness, and by definition, risks defeat every step of the way. A perfect record campaign is protected, seeking out overmatched fields to run against, which is why Zen didn't have anything else to point to besides her Classic win.

I am only too happy to admit that Zenyatta is a super horse. I am aggrieved, however, that we have never seen the best she has to give. Why the heck not? What on earth were they saving it for?

Until disgruntled Z fans admit that Zen's people fumbled the ball, you spoil racing for yourselves.

LOL Billy, I think we'll have at least one in, Lord willin and the creek don't rise.

The reason I asked is I was just trying to figure out who you might have and thought from the way you spoke you had multiple partnerships,  like a lot of us do.

Long ways to go but things are starting to get fun in a hurry.

Dray, if you knew as much about horses as you seem to think you would know that if Rachel has been doing NOTHING but a little jogging and hanging out in the barn, she is a LONG way from a race.  There are a lot of people, including some on here wondering why she's still in New Orleans if it's so bad and if she as aiming at a race anytime soon. Steve bases out of Texas, Arakansas etc. Take her somewhere to work with her and get her going.

Footlick, Amen,you said it all. I would love to see her go to the Arc, how well do you think she would do with that mile and a half, I think she would love it, because she has proven she loves the distance and she has a hell of a stride in her run. I say, Run her on dirt in the US a few times and later go in the Arc. Do you realize that is Z wins as much as 5 million or so, she will top Curlin in the earnings?

She'd have no problem with the Arc distance.  I've never seen her tire, and she's always accelerating through the wire.  And I think she would love the European courses. And she runs like a European horse. As far as earnings are concerned, once long ago they were important because they were hard to come by.  Buckpasser was the first to crack the $1 million mark by the end of his 3 yr old year, and he did it without running in any of the TC races.  He won 14 straight races from 7 furlongs to 2 miles and set a world record for the mile.  Purses were different then.  But now, every year if somebody was concerned with that, there could be an earnings record.  There are too many huge purses to run for in this day and age.

For anyone who is interested, Raven's Pass just had his first foal born.  Raven's Pass has alot of dirt blood in his pedigree.  He could throw dirt winners.  

Mary in VT- Enough.

Two great mares, each with a huge fan base.  I hope none of us are ever disappointed.  However, I do think some of us presume to know too much.  Unless you are spending time in the barn with these horses, or are a fly on the wall when the trainer and owner discuss strategy, all we know is what the connections want the public to hear.  I own horses, not race horses, but I know a horse's health can change daily.  I'm just praying both our favorites remain healthy and we get to see them this year as has been publicly stated by both parties. If we're fortunate, both will be in top form at the same time and show up for the same race.  Won't that be something special?

MIKE R:  The old venerable gentleman, Dolphus Morrison SOLD RACHEL to JACKSON.  They BOTH made money with that deal, so everybody happy.. I think it was THOUGHTLESS of old Dolphus NOT TO SUGGEST to Jackson TO KEEP WIGGINS as Trainer, but hey, NOBODY IS COMPLAINING...

It is NOT THE SAME with Jerry Moss.  He was BITCHY after the Eclipse awards-- calling Rachel's victory as "WIN BY PROXY." TOTALLY SCREWED UP!!

House Holder

Older Female (Ginger Punch)

Older Male (Gio Pointi)

Turf (Gio Pointi)

3yo colt (Summer Bird)

Mary

I have ignored you up till now but you condescending attacks on the perfect Zenyatta and her wonderful connections are just to much.

Zenyatta did not do much?

Zenyatta beat on dirt the Champion Mare Ginger Punch and oh by the way her time was faster then any time Rachel ever ran. Later that year Zenyatta won the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic a more difficult race then anything Rachel has ever competed in. In her first race this year Zenyatta beat Life Is Sweet, Life is Sweet is a better race horse then anything Rachel has faced sans Summer Bird.  In her next race Zenyatta carried to victory the highest weight assignment in 40 years. She carried 15 more lbs then the runner up. Then at Del Mar, a track Zenyatta does not like, Zenyatta had to run the last quarter in 22 and change the last sixteenth in 5.2 seconds. Rachel has never run any sixteenth in 5.2.  In Zenyatta last race she beat the best field assembled this year in the North America. I will not brother with track records, earning, number of graded horses defeated, etc. Lets just say all much more impressive then Rachel's.

Anyone that has any knowledge of the sport of thoroughbred realizes that Zenyatta right now is a once in a life time horse. I've followed racing for over 40 years and I have never seen a horse like Zenyatta. This year we are going to find out if Zenyatta is a one of a kind, never to be seen again horse. We are going to find that out because Zenyatta connections are going to put her undefeated record, her legacy on the line for one last year. If she can remain undefeated thru one last Breeders Cup campaign then Mary I don't think the Mosses or Shirreffs will care who wins Horse of the Year in 2010.  Long after Horse of the Year in 2000 what ever is forgotten, Zenyatta name will be spoken whenever the great  thoroughbred of the world are recalled.

You see Mary in the big picture Horse of the Year, while nice, is not really all that important to Zenyatta. Zenyatta is playing for much higher stakes than Horse of the Year.

Footlick, no worries. I should of gone and looked up those "stats" before I made that statement, but I was trying to prove a point. I just wish people would drop the whole Z v RA thing. It is over, and we can not change what happened, so lets all move on.

Tim, I talked to my old man yesterday and they were at the farm in OK. Waiting for the next races at Oaklawn.

Tim G.this is what I know.  IT'S JANUARY !!! Relax it's a long year and Rachel and her connections know what they have to do to win HOY. In case you forgot she IS HOY. When is she going to run ? My guess is April since the Breeders Cup is at Churchill I am sure she will have 2 starts there.  Relax, like I said she will race 2 weeks after Zenyatta's 2nd race of the year.

Mary in VT

I bet you cheer for the Yankees too.  Doesn't that just make you feel extra spcial knowing that your choices actually beat out the BEST.

"When is she going to run ? My guess is April since the Breeders Cup is at Churchill I am sure she will have 2 starts there.  Relax, like I said she will race 2 weeks after Zenyatta's 2nd race of the year."

                                             --Draynay

Well. How interesting that Rachel seems to be on track to run a shorter campaign this year, which you criticized Zenyatta for last year. I'm betting fewer races for her is OK with you now. Sounds like hypocrisy to me.

"Until disgruntled Z fans admit that Zen's people fumbled the ball, you spoil racing for yourselves."

                                       --Mary in VT

Mary, it's the common nastiness of you, Draynay and yes, even a few in the Zen camp, that spoils the sport for racing fans. Just as our politics has become mean and nasty, people like you insist on carrying that over to racing fandom.

I say, let's cross our fingers that these two great horses remain healthy throughout 2010. I don't want them sacrificed so mean-spirited people can cheer.

Billy's Empire- I hope it goes away too, but it won't.  I try post as little as possible.  At least we have another blog now!

Dray, Very funny, coming from a NON-horseman, NON trainer who knows nothing about conditioning an elite race horse.

She's HOY on a vote by writers and racing secretaries. I'll take a horse any day who is undefeated and the leading money winner.

Remember, horse racing is a world of what have you done for me lately. Unless a horse retires it's the next big race, the next victory that people remember.

YOU are the single worst one about doing THAT.

She doesn't have Hal conditioning her and keeping her fit. She's had a VERY long layoff. April? Unless they're doing more with her than jogging and one gallop good luck with that.

Pastureland, you know for a fact what Mr. Morrison suggested?

Hal is a gentleman, straight up honest. Doesn't seem to fit the mold just right with that group.

jpsbman -

Are you trying to prove my point, or yours?

The reason that Zen carried so much weight was because of exactly what I said - she raced against an extremely overmatched field. Get it? Handicap? Hello? That is why she only had one extraordinary jewel in her crown in 2009 - she ran with less than stellar fields in 4 out of 5 races. She had better options. She could have and should have taken on the boys at least as often as the 3 YO old filly did. Team Z chose to play it safe because they so coveted that perfect record. Playing it safe doesn't win HOY, especially in a year when her competition is going where no 3 YO filly has ever gone before.

Half of your arguments happened in 2008. I'm not sure how to help you understand this if you can't get that far on your own.

Zens losing HOY may not be important to you, but judging from the stricken look on the Mosses faces I would say it hurt them very much, and that it was a very difficult night for them. Since they did want her to be HOY, apparently very badly, but failed twice, quite obviously they will have to change up some things this year, or it is already lost. Again.

I don't like arguing against Zenyatta because I love Zenyatta. I think she could re-write some history books of her own given the chance. I am saying her campaign lost. The horse did everything she was asked to do superbly. They just didn't ask for enough.

CV -

Don't bother addressing points of view or the facts mentioned by RA fans. Just call us names if that is what it takes to make you feel better that your horsey lost. Twice.

I have heard just about enough criticism (generally from just one person) of the Mosses for being "bitter" at the awards Monday.  Of course they were disappointed, as any normal owner would be.  And proxy means "a written instrument from someone with the power or authority to act for another," which is what the Eclipse votes were, so Zenyatta lost by proxy.  It was a true statement.  Bitter is in the ears of the listener.  Moss explained multiple times that they support the BC, planned to run in it and therefore didn't leave Calif.  

So enough about them.  But saying that John Shirreffs doesn't know what a HOY campaign looks like, and that he was unworthy to train the great Zenyatta, well, I'll say it again:  Zenyatta is ready right now, at age 6, to run and win as she always has.  She is a huge, late-developing mare and not a precocious speedball.  Shirreffs has done a tremendous job with her and any knowledgeable horse person knows an Eclipse isn't needed to prove that.  It's not ALL about pushing your horse to the edge.  I would argue that it's about keeping them happy and letting them perform.

"Just call us names if that is what it takes to make you feel better that your horsey lost. Twice."

                                         --Mary in VT

Thank YOU Mary for proving my point about mean-spirited people trash-talking to pump up their favorite "horsey." Everyone can see you now for who you are.

I think I'm done here. Cheers to those who best exemplify the sport of racing in 2010!

Rachel got the hoty, thats it its over, done... That does not make her the better horse. Ra is not better than Zenyatta, What do you think Rachel will be doing at six? She will be working on foal 2 or 3 thats what she will be doing.  Hats off to Zenyatta and her camp and racing owes them alot, I bet if you ask Alex Waldrop , what he thinks about Zenyatta running at six and what it is doing for this dying damn sport, he will tell you how happy the Mosses have made him and giving this industry a boost?  Zenyatta is well-loved all over the world, I'm sorry folks, but Yes, Ra got the award, but thats all she's got,she don't have none of Zenyatta's world renown popularity, I don't see them comparing RA with STS, Zarkava, Yes, Zenyatta was and is the one that is in the "League" of the three top horses of the world. Now all this grandstanding over RA and the hoty is over, it's fading away, the hoty is for one  year its nothing compared to what Zenaytta has amassed at her age and being the only filly to ever win the BCC and NA top earnings filly, Have you fans of Ra realized that Z don't have to win but a few more big purse races and she will be higher in earnings or more than Curlin, Whats your take on that?  And believe you me as bad as everybody wants Z and Ra to meet, it won't take long to accomplish, I don't see europe and the other countries clamming trying to get RA to come and race?  They want the queen, Z, thats why?  By the way, yes all you can say is RA got the hoty, yes she did,she raced in three more races to get it. The award  was awarded for last year, this is a new year, Z is back and ready to roll...This will be Zenyatta's year, maybe she will go in the ARC, then come back and go in the BCC, and in between do a few east and west coast races....can RA do the same....

Pam S.,

Great post! I brissle when people bash John Shirreffs. In my opinion, he is what a horse trainer SHOULD be. Hands on, dedicated and patient. He also happens to be humble and self effacing (a rare quality in this world of super egos).

But the great minds of the Eclipse voters rejected all these qualities and awarded the trophy to Steve Asmussen. Go figure!

That in itself made me question the whole enchilada. They wring their hands over the negative image of horseracing. They decry the use of drugs and give the award of excellence to Steve Asmussen??@#$!!??

Draynay:

Relax it's only January.  Rachel and her connections have plenty of time to map out a schedule that will EXCLUDE a showdown with Zenyatta.

Zookeeper, thank you.  Putting the horse first just about says it all.

WOW! Did you guys see the breaking news regarding the only vote against Zenyatta for Champion Older Mare?

Maybe they should review everything and start looking for "hanging chads".

most of you just don't get it. zenyatta lost hoy on the track. stop blaming voters they just voted the obvious. rachel had the best 3 year old season of any filly in history folks be real. 5 poly wins and 4 against females could not compare to what rachel did.  rachel won it on the track. you can deny it until your blue in the face but no one cares about 4 poly wins agaist over matched girls. until she beats g1 winning males on dirt she is wasting time. beat males on dirt or just go home. rachel won a triple crown race and finished the year undefeated. name another horse in the history of racing to match that at 3.

Pam S. et all,  

Didn't I just read somewhere that Z runs on Bute? Speaking of drugs? And trainers that  use them? Hmmm. Rachel didn't run on Bute.

Zookeeper, its the least they can do now that the awards are over and fading into history like they always do, but they are probably taking some slack because the world backed Zenyatta and now they look like they only vote one way, She still won her division, I don't see what the big deal was...The world loves Zenyatta, and thats all it is to it. they are trying to get her in europe and race...this may be the best year Zenyatta ever has....who knows were she will end up next!! thats what makes her so interesting this year, becasue the Moss's are going to do different things with her...like I said, she can only add to her legacy, she takes nothing away....

You have to admire Duke Dusik's courage to come out and admit his incompetence. If I was him, I'd find a deep closet somewhere and not come out for at least a year. :) Is this an example of the superiority attributed to the Awards voters?

Carolyn, if Zenyatta runs in five $1 million dollar races this year and the breeders cup, she still will not pass Curlin on the earnings list.

Also, those 3 extra races that Rachel ran in were all against Boys in a Grade 1 race. I am so sick and tired of you trying to put the horse down. You talk out of both sides of you mouth, and it is quite annoying. Everyone on this blog knows your opinion, you love Zenyatta. Good, you made your point, but all of this bashing is making you look childish, insecure and rediculous. I am not trying to be mean, but WE GET IT!!

Did everyone hear, there is a new blog...

Draynay,

You suffer from a severe case of "repeatitis".

Dray:

What year are you living in? HOTY was awarded for last year, this is a brand new year, HOTY only last for as long as it takes to present the award, and then its over, and the whole new year's worth of racing starts all over as it does every year. That's the past, look forward into the present and the future, the present is NOW, and we are talking about the now and the future....of horseracing for this year...

All of you Zenyatta fans sound like my 3 year old when i turn off her cartoons. HOY went to RA,thats it.End of story. Which horse is better, don't know, won't know until they meet on the track. Until then, i can only offer all of you Zenyatta fans a box of tissues.

Carolyn, you telling Dray that the award is for only one year makes ma laugh a little bit, considering almost every Zenyatta fan kept bringing up her 14-0 record, spanning 3 racing years.

Insert foot in mouth, add pepper for taste, repeat

Billy's Empire, I beg your pardon, but Moss already said they were going to the BCC this year. now just suppose she wins that, and wins some more, woudnt that bring her earnings up. What is your problem with Zenyatta? are you a Z hater? You are one of the one's that won't give her any damn credit, I bet you were one of the downer's that didnt' forsee her winning in the BCC either?  What do you Mr, billy empire, forsee the Mosse's as to bringing her back this year, just to look pretty? I forsee them doing great things with her and she becoming larger than life, and remain undefeated....

Insert foot in your mouth too, because you have been proven dead wrong too, just like you didn't predict Zenyatta win in the BCC either, did ya?  I bet you had to insert foot and hand in mouth then didn't you?

Rachel doesn't run on bute?  Maybe she will now, as bad as she looked after the Woodward.  

CAROLYN,

I understand your devotion to Zenyatta. I share it. However, some of your remarks give the wrong impression and are actually a detriment to Zenyatta and her fans.

As far as predicting her success in 2010, experience will show you that the racing gods are the most capricious in the great above. Keeping one's fingers crossed is about all of us can do regarding any horse no matter how much we love her/him.

I saw on Jason's other blog that you are relatively new to the sport. This will be my 11th year...a mere fraction of the experience and knowledge of some of the participants on these blogs. Keep reading... you will learn a great deal. Don't lose your enthousiasm, just tone down some of your comments and enjoy the ride!

Unless we are the owner, trainer, vet or barn worker, none of us know what drug a horse is running on, except for Lasix which is listed on the programs.

What somebody said does not constitute a fact.

The only clue we have that somebody is possibly cheating is when they get cited for an illegal drug or an excessive amount of a legal one.

As far as I know, John Shirreffs has not been suspended for such an offense. Unless you have first hand knowledge, Mary in VT, what you said about Zenyatta running on Bute (which is legal) is only repeating what somebody else said and doesn't make it a fact.

GLADIATOR

Don't need a box of tissues,but you might!

BILLYS EMPIRE

Is that the name of your salvage company? lol You really have class!

Billy if you really are an owner as you claim to Tim G, then I think it's time to cool it.

Just because Mr. Nay speaks that way to people doesn't mean you should emulate him. No class for an owner to do so and kind of embarrassing.

I only have an issue with one person, but thanks for all of your opinions. That's what a blog is for, correct?

Zookeeper -

What offense? For the record, I was repeating something I *read* on one of the TB racing sites. I have no idea if it is true, or not, but it probably is true that Z did or does run on bute since it was published. As you say, it is perfectly legal. Nor do I care if Z runs on bute. If she needs bute, give her bute, by all means. What I meant was don't try to imply that Shirreffs is such an artiste royale that his horses never benefit from better living through chemistry.

If the Queen does not bow to the clamor calling for her presence in Europe or Dubai (harumph), one can fairly speculate that it will be because they have a much shorter list of permitted drugs on racing day.

Hey- let's not pick on Billy-ok?  He's a nice guy who just get's passionate.  Let's all cool the remarks about each other.  There are many here who are consistantly much, much worse than anything Billy has ever said.  Why not single them out?????

Hey Billy

I'm in your corner.  So are about a million other posters.  LOL

Is that you Commonsense, I thought so. I thought I recognized you.

Mary in VT-She is listed as running on bute in the DRF past performances.  I don't know if it because she is so huge or she has issues.  Either way, if they want her to run in Europe, there are ways for treating issues without the use of meds.  Turf is a much kinder surface for horses, so if her career was changed over to turf, bute may not be necessary. Meds are used in this country because they are allowed.  There are methods of dealing with these issues that don't involve meds and could be used in any horse's case if they chose to run somewhere that doesn't allow them.  We used to do it all the time in this country before they passed permissive med rules.

Laz,footlick, or anyone, Since LeVille Rouge aborted her foal how long will it be before they can mate her again?

Mary in VT,

A "fair (?) speculation" is not a valid argument.

You cannot deny Zenyatta's talent and unique personality so you resort to snide remarks regarding her trainer. Not only is he an outstanding trainer, highly regarded by his peers but he also is a remarkable human being who is not diminished in any way by the mud you attempt to throw at him.

As for Zenyatta leaving for Europe or Dubai, I hope it does not happen. We need her here, in America. Between her, Rachel Alexandra and all the other good horses returning this year or waiting to explode in our racing world, 2010 promisses to be an excellent one. It's regrettable that negativity keeps creeping in the conversation.

Absolutely "SHAMEFUL" on the part of the eclipse award voters to have an undefeated race-mare with the God given ability that Zenyatta has, 14 for 14 lifetime, a Breeders Cup Ladies Classic champion in 2008 and the only female to ever win the Breeders Cup Classic in 2009, and both year's she has been denied HOY to a Jess Jackson owned horse. Shame on the system. And now, it look's as if Rachel and Jess may take up "dodge ball" as their next project instead of racing since Zenyatta's connections announced she was coming back to the track. Rachel may have beaten Zenyatta on paper, but she can't do it on the track, not even on conventional dirt.

Carolyn,

They will maten La Ville Rouge again this mating season.  The Season starts in February and ends in June.

footllick, zookeeper, You know I havent been following racing along time at all, so I want to ask a question?  Why do they have to run any of these horses on any meds at all. What ever happened to just plain old running? When and why did the meds start? and why do some abuse them, to have to get cited for them...

Carolyn- Monica is right.  I don't know the exact waining period, but the season is long and they will breed her again

MonicaV, thanks, I thought that fillies come into season every 21 or so days? Please explain?

I wonder when Big Brown's first foal is coming? I hope soon, I can't wait to see a picture of it.

Footlick, because it was an attack and a pretty nasty one on a fan who was expressing an opinion like all the other fans on here. You can call people out to a certain extent but there's a better way of doing it than a meanspirited attack. Besides, if you look you'll see that some of us told George that you and some others are posters to listen to, and some just thrive on negativity.

Just my opinion.

On breeding? The mare's estrous cycle, the period between one ovulation and the next, is about 21 days long. Estrus, the time of sexual receptivity, occupies about seven days of the cycle

However, the duration of estrus is extremely variable and can last anywhere from two or three days to two or three weeks. Diestrus, the period between two successive estrus periods, is more consistent in length and lasts about 14 to 16 days.

Ovulation is more closely linked to the end than to the beginning of estrus.

Since the ideal time to breed a mare is May-September, yet the foal age is on Jan 1 and for racing purposes an early Jan-Feb foal is preferred, you have to 'trick' the mare into believing that spring/summer has arrived.

They have time, they can breed a mare again.

Whether they will breed THIS mare again will probably depend on why she aborted. Haven't really read up on the particulars.

Thanks gentleman. maybe I am too passionate and let it get to me, which I should try to control, but one thing you will never ever ever see me do is put down a horse, connections, or a trainer, with the exception of 2.

1. Mine that Bird- i called him the Giacomo of 2009, and he was.

2. Asmussen's assistant who is nuts and goes crazy when you get near the barn of Rachel or Curlin. Quite comical actually.

I have stated 100 times I love zenyatta, and I get chills when I watch her. She is poetry in motion, and she is awesome. I am going to focus on prep's now and making some money. It is tax season, RIGHT? DAMN My 1099's will be here soon. HA

Good Info Steve, thanks for sharing with the group!

SteveStan- No slight to you intended.  Your's was just the response I responded to.  I'm just getting tired on contention and people getting on other people.  That was my point about the negativity of many being worse than Billy,s comments.  You are not one.  This subject seems to bring out the venom in people-lol!  I already asked people to please not mention either of there two on the other blog.  Don't know if it will work- hopefully.  I apologize if you felt I singled you out.  Great info on breeding cycle btw- thanks!

there should have been these- shouldn't blog at work!!! I make too many mistakes

MARY IN VT

Why don't you "grow up" and extend Zenyatta and connections credit for their perfect record to date as well for the fact they continue to race at six. Actually,your rants sound the same each post. Why are you so bitter? Maybe you lost money against Team Zenyatta! You critize the path connections went with last yr. Did it affect your life in any way,form,etc? I don't think so! I knew you had limited knowledge at best when you suggested a match race. Trust me,that won't ever happen.

Zookeeper -

I don't know why we're crossing wires about Zenyatta because I don't deny Zenyatta's talent. Never have. Love every step she takes. Watched every race. Tuned in early for any glimpse I could get of her. Taped it all so I could watch it again and again forever. Used her in my BC superfecta because she if you looked on the race summary of I think it was the Ultimate PP's with Comments, although she only topped one list, she topped it by a mile. That column was on the far right side of the page and was called "Late Pace" and that is exactly where she showed she was superior. Not only did she flash the best late pace you ever dared dream of, she skipped and danced all the way back to the barn.

So ... don't tell me I deny Zenyatta's talent, because you don't know what you're talking about.

But .. I do "resort to snide remarks regarding her trainer" because I think he has got to be a bloomin' idiot not to be nimble enough in his long term plan to have stepped her up against the boys earlier in the year in light of the phenomenal year Rachel Alexandra was having against boys. That is the very reason that she lost HOY. It has zero to do with all the lame east coast bias remarks made by whiny poor sports. It is all about Zen simply didn't do enough. Many actual voters have come out to say why they voted as they did, and it was always some version of Rachel did more. Z came into the Eclipse Awards with just one jewel in her crown, and nothing else to point to. Of course she lost. I don't care what race she won, or how spectacularly she won it, it wasn't enough to defeat a rival who was brilliant in every one of 8 races since February.

Do you actually believe that you saw the best Zenyatta had to deliver in 2009? Of course not. Nor do I. My question is what the heck were they saving it for?? Zenyatta was wasted on those people to include her owners, trainers, managers, yada, yada, yada. If they don't hire someone alive and breathing to chart her 2010 course with an eye to testing her and defining her greatness, we will never see it, and HOY 2010 is already lost.

Mary in VT,

Read my post. I didn't say that you denied Zenyatta's talent. What I said is: Since you can't deny her, you resort to villifying her trainer. I strongly disagree with your assesment of his abilities. If it makes you feel good to add insult to injury, have at it... I'm through talking to you. Enjoy whatever trip you're on. :)

Mary that comment is laughable as well as uneducated. Zenyatta cost these people 60,000. They have done wonderful things with her.

Things that most of us horse owners only dream of.

To win the Classic, regardless of where it is run, with the first female to ever do so? Leading the earnings without strongarming an ailing industry to raise the purses.

HOY is NOT the end all and be all that you fans seem to think it is.... Bizarre.

MARY IN VT

Here's a newsflash! The "bloomin' idiot" you stupidly refer to has WON THREE BREEDERS' AWARDS IN THE PAST TWO YRS! You aren't a trainer! Zenyatta's trainer and owner illustrate what racing should encompass. Guess you think RA's TRAINER IS A "PRINCE",RIGHT? I wouldn't give him the time of day! You run your mouth without having a clue,it only makes you look really foolish. Zenyatta's connections DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK! Why don't you call them up with your expert advice?

Mike Relva ~

I *have* said that Z's connections excelled at the perfect record campaign for months. Guess you missed that. But .. I feel that their ultra careful "perfect" record came at too high a price since they failed to test and define Zenyatta's greatness on par with her major contender for HOY. Twice. When others said that Z would be Horse of the Year, and what an excellent job Shireffs is doing with her, I said I think he will be remembered as the man who lost HOY with the great Zenyatta. Twice. Now I am gonna go on record and say that if he keeps the horse he will lose HOY with her again. Three times. And that people will look back for many years to come and say "How did he lose HOY with a beast like Zenyatta?"

You can pat them on the back for keeping her racing at 6, if you want to. I feel that if they had executed a testing campaign that truly revealed her ability in 2009 they would be satisfied with it, and would have retired her this year. If, God forbid, Zenyatta doesn't hold up to training for some reason this year, whatever the consequences of that are can also be laid to the fact that they didn't ask her to do enough in 2009. How much credit are you gonna extend these people if she gets hurt? And regardless of whether or not she enjoys racing now, if she already requires bute to be comfortable racing, do you think another year of racing is gonna tend to help her have a comfortable retirement, or decrease her day to day comfort when she has to get up and down heavy with foal?

But ... Sheriffs sure did benefit nicely from that careful perfect campaign didn't he? By using all of her other races as merely paid workouts to have her peak at the BC he got to put his second and third BC feather in his hat. I'll bet that was a nice big fat payday. And I'll also bet he wouldn't get a dime if she went HOY. If you think about it, those three BC wins in 2008 and 2009 probably make Shireffs the #1 beneficiary of the entire CA synthetic surface experiment ... while the rest of the CA is hurting, and trying to keep it's neck above water.

It was so obvious from Jerry Mosses TVG exit interview that someone hasn't been advising the man quite right because he emphasized the fact that Rachel mostly ran in restricted races, yet seemed blissfully unaware that she did it like no 3 YO filly had ever done it before. To me it looked like he is too much friends with the Sheriffs letting them call all the shots and never questioning their judgment, and not enough employer setting goals for them to reach for.

You wanna know why this bugs me? Because I care. And because I smell a rat.

Tim G- I agree with you totally.

SteveStan, thanks for the info, by the way, In your opinion or anyone else's on this blog, Do you think it's healthy for a female horse to carry a foal every year? Or do you think that they let them skip a year? I have not been following horse racing long and I just have curious questions from time to time.

HOOOOORAY!!! Big Brown is a papa, his first is a filly too. I believe the racing god's want more fillies...they must be trying to tell us something!  I predict one day a fabulous filly will be the next triple crown!!! Stanger things can happen.

The voting for HOY was very close.  Rachel won by 16 votes, which translates to just under 7% (229 votes cast, 3 voters abstained).  That is a very slim margin.  The Mosses just missed being honored as Owner of the Year by a mere 6 votes.  Mr. Shirreffs was voted 2nd best Trainer of the Year, better than every other trainer in the nation, with the exception of Assmusen who set all kinds of earnings records this year $$.  So the voters must have thought the Zenyatta Team was doing something right.  While it is unfortunate that she was not selected HOY - a title truly befitting her Greatness - that is not as significant as the way the fans and the rest of the world have embraced Zenyatta.  That more than makes up for any disappointment I might feel.  I  wish to thank The Mosses and Mr. Shirreff for not pushing Zenyatta, for being patient with her, as is their style.  I would rather have a healthy, ready-to-rockNroll Zenyatta than a drained Rachel that was pushed to the limit in the Woodward to win HOY for Mr. Jackson.  That decision could very well translate to the end of Rachel's career on the track, as others have pointed out.

MARY IN VT

I seriously doubt that she runs on bute!

Hey Carolyn:

You may think the fillies are boss, but in the end the stallions will rule......just joking.  Hope you have a good day.  LOL

Carolyn- I believe that it is all depends on the mare.  Each case is different and unique.

I agree with you laz, but it looks like every foal born this year(so far) is a filly, but hey, I know they bred to more than one mare, so as days go by I guess some more will be born.

Carolyn,

    On the foals born this year, I've been noticing that too. It seems as if every foal being reported is a filly. Both Curlin and BB's first foals were fillies. Maybe the years of the fantastic fillies aren't quite over yet.

The odds of these two horses ever being in the same starting gate are astronomical. Not only must you take into account the fragility of the thoroughbred,, the fragility of Jess Jacksons ego and his lack of confidence in RA must be taken into account.

IMHO the only place he's taking RA is to the Breeding Shed. Why?? Her campaign won't be able to reflect 2009s where it was racings version of a Harlem Globetrotter season. JJ will have to run her against real race horses this year. There are no more Washington Generals in her future.

In my opinion it was a well staged campaign that showcased an above average filly against average competition. While cleverly avoiding the truly elite competitors that were out there in 2009. His confidence is truly suspect.

I would love to see RA race this year against Zenyatta and the other top horses out there. I'm not holding my breath, though.

LDP,  I believe the racing god's are trying to tell them something. Like I said, maybe the next triple crown winner will be a filly....never say never! right!..

Mike Relva- in the DRF past performances, she has LB listed for her synthetic races, but just L for her dirt race.

LDP

Hey! How was your holiday last month? I'm flying to CA. Tues. and then few days later on to Vegas.

The sire determines the sex of the offspring. That is true of all mammals.

There are also subtle biochemical factors that can influence which sperm successfully penetrate the egg(s). For example: with dogs the earlier you breed during standing heat the more likely spermatozoa carrying female genes are to penetrate the eggs first due to a very slight pH difference favoring them resulting in statistically more females per litter than the norm. And obviously, the reverse is true.

If that is also true in the equine, one can see how the staff handling the popular sires with full books might influence, knowingly or unknowingly, the percentage of fillies born just by promptly getting to those mares the minute they are willing to stand in order to get the job done. If they feel more pressure early in the breeding season, it could result in a larger number of fillies born early. I have never examined the stats to see what they say, but I have no doubt that the numbers say something.

what a bunch of zenyatta nonsense. her entire career is defined by one win on a poly track againt mostly horses who don't run on it. will she run against g1 winning males in april ? or may ? or june ? let me answer for you no ! zenyatta the mighty classic winner will not take on a single male on dirt until the breeders cup. why you ask ? because once again mr. moss will take the carefull route and again will come up short of winning anything. rachel has beaten g1 winning males 3 times already and still the clock ticks when zenyatta will even try taking on g1 winning males. my money is on november. I wasn't a huge curlin fan but after winning the classic he went to all the big races taking on all comers. where is zenyatta? my guess is california waiting to race on plastic against over matched females again. some classic winner.

Helsbelles, you said what I have been trying to say in my last couple posts.  I am beginning to wonder if Mary in VT will ever get it.  If Rachel never races again as a result of the irresponsible decision to run her in the Woodward for "showboat" purposes when she was a bit over the top -- well, she won HOY.  Was it worth it?  Is a voted-on award like HOY more meaningful than (easily) winning the BC Classic?  I would submit that the answer has a lot to do with the price one is willing to pay for either.  I will not fault the connections of Zenyatta for their risk assessment, and neither should you.  The Rachel connections' decisions and campaign were not unassailable and the stuff of fairy tales.  More simply put, why the heck has she not even had a workout yet?

More importantly, what is the reason for this smear campaign against John Shirreffs?  For crying out loud, he won the Derby with a 50-1 shot, carefully nurturing the horse to get a little bit more out of each prep so he peaked on the big day.  THAT'S THE POINT of running in the Derby, so you peak on the big day and win it.  Plainly, it's easier said than done.

Why someone in Vermont is so bitter about the Zenyatta connections and California racing that she "smells a rat," I don't understand.  However, I have noticed she has not one defender on this board.

Amen, and God Bless You, hellsbells. I agree 100% with you and Pam S. and all Zenyatta fans and supporters. You are 100% Correct!!!!  and thankyou all for standing up for what is the truth.

YZGUY, I think a whole lot of people feel the same way you do.

Footlick & Mike Relva:

Does the B in her past performance denote Bute or Blinbkers.  LOL

Cute Laz- have you ever sen her with blinkers-lol!  Maybe they're the invisible kind.....

PAM S

Here's your answer,MARY IN VT is nothing more but a "monday morning quarterback" that has nothing better to do in her little world than to hurl insults!

DRAYNAY

If Moss was taking the "careful route" he wouldn't brought Zenyatta back at six. If she goes ahead and beats grade one males,YOUR EXPLANATION will be that RA did it more than once. See,I'm way ahead of you!

People, Jackson said a four or five month break. Rachel has been galloping and if you read NTRA, she is being pointed towards breezing at the end of this month or the first week in Feb. She went off in Sept started jogging around late Nov, early Dec and now has started galloping. By the time she makes her first breeze she will have nearly five months off, which is what Jackson wanted.

Hey Mike,

    My vaction was pretty good, had plenty of time to write some posts for my blog for once. Plus I became part of the TBA! Also, just yesterday I got some great news. I was just accepted to VIC! So right now I'm pretty happy, except with the fact that mid-terms are coming up. My two favorites for the Holly Bull came in one two and I was happy to see FF and GQ run well.

How have you been lately? I know going to the normally sunny and warm Cali would make me happy. The east, until recently has been just a bit nippy. Well, I hope you have a good time in Cali and Vegas. Maybe the weather will be improved when you arrive :)

After having read the majority of the comments above, I wish the mud slinging against both horses would stop.  I'm admittedly a fan of Rachel's that loves and respects Zenyatta AND John Sheriff.  I would love to have seen him receive the award for Trainer of the Year instead of Steve Asmussen.  I could have been happy with both horses being named Horse of the Year.  In my opinion, an exceptional year warranted an exception and I'll never understand the decision to not allow the votes to be split.

As far as the behavior of Mr. Jackson and Mr. Moss goes, I would liked to have seen Mr. Jackson recognize Hal Wiggins.  It would have taken little time and it would have been a nice gesture.  Hal had Rachel for 10 of her 14 races and you won't meet a nicer man.  I'm sure we all remember how gracious he was when Rachel was sold just after the Oaks.  He had to watch her walk out of his barn early one morning just a few days after he experienced the race of his life.  I also wondered where Calvin was.  With Mike Smith being there for Zenyatta, what happened to Calvin?  Mr. Jackson acknowledged him, but where was he?  Will he continue to get the mount on her in 2010?

Mr. Moss was visibly unhappy.  I can understand sad, but he looked more bitter than sad.  That being said, we'll never know how Mr. Jackson would have behaved had the tables been turned and Zenyatta had won.  I agree with someone else that said that the Eclipse Awards should take place in a neutral location.  

A couple of more notes about Rachel - There have been many people that have suggested that Mr. Jackson be thanked for  Rachel running the campaign that she did in 2009.  This, in my opinion, is true.  However, a few people have also indicated that Rachel wouldn't have had that same campaign under the ownership of Dolph Morrison and training of Hal Wiggins.  This, too, is accurate but her campaign was determined by Mr. Morrison, not by Hal. For the record, I'd also like to point out that the idea that Rachel would NEVER have run with the boys might not have been exactly right.  I realize that Mr. Morrison made a statement shortly after the Oaks indicating that "fillies should run with fillies and colts with colts" but he clarified that statement later on in the press room. I was there. When specifically asked about Rachel NOT running with the colts, he laughed and said "I didn't say that.  I said in the Triple Crown races".  Everyone took his statement after the Oaks and ran with it and never mentioned his clarification of it. So we'll never know "what would've been" had Mr. Morrison kept her. I know she wouldn't have had the same campaign that she did with Mr. Jackson, but I do think it's possible that she would've run with the boys and for those of you who conndemned her for not running in the Breeders'Cup, that too might have changed.

The announcement that Zenyatta was not retiring was great for racing.  For now, we should all be thankful that both horses are healthy and will be running in 2010. Maybe now, we can see what we all waited for in 2009.  

mike, me, belmont,churchill,and saratoga want to know one thing

where is zenyatta?

the horse is 6 years old and they have never seen her!

belmont,churchill, and saratoga want to know....where is zenyatta ?

Re: bute

I don't know that I want to go out on a limb and condone the use of race-day medication like bute (which is a NSAID, like Advil and similar drugs)... but there may be other reasons besides chronic issues or masking pain to give a horse bute on race day.

Because it's an anti-inflammatory, it not only reduces pain, but it can prevent the cycle of inflammation and damage from even starting. One motivation for giving it is as a prophylactic--to protect her body/joints from damage occurring in the first place.

For instance, my own horse has minor arthritis. She does not require daily medication for pain control--Legend and OTC joint supplements (glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM) along with regular exercise keep her quite comfortable. But I was instructed by my vet that if I planned on doing something more strenuous with her than normal--like going on a trail ride--then I should give her a gram of bute BEFORE the ride. Not because she needed the bute to be comfortable enough to be ridden, but so that she would have the anti-inflammatory medication "on board" before the "insult" of harder exercise began. The result is that it helps protect her joints from further damage in the long term, because the medication is fighting the inflammation before it has a chance to get started. If that doesn't make sense to you, I encourage you to research how arthritis developes and how the inflammatory cycle affects the joint.

Daily bute given long term is terrible for the horse--it causes ulcers and eventually starts breaking down joint cartilage over time. So it must be used with care. But a normal dose of bute given on race day would not hurt the horse and in a sound horse it would have a mildly protective action in terms of preventing joint damage.

DRAYNAY

Give her a chance to run on dirt this yr.

She's coming, Dray! She's coming........

kyoaks09 and nonnonheinous- Thanks for yhour comments about Bute and the former connections of Rachel.  I refuse to enter the fray anyhmore, but I thank you for your level headed comments.

We had a show pony that was like that. She was as fit as a fiddle but after we had owned her for a few years and she was in her late teens, she began to get ridden and show by two people, both who rode in jump classes. That particular year our "show clan" went to shows that would last the weekend. So because our pony would be put through a more strenuous workout than normal, we to were advised to give her, I think only half a gram of bute, the night before she was to be shown. For her age she was quite the peppy little pony, but as I have come to know, if you have joint or muscle problems, it's better to take some anti inflamitory medicine before the workout.

The only bit of the Eclipse awards I've managed to find online was Jackson's speech. And I have to say that as a Team Zenyatta girl, I was quite surprised to see Jerry Moss sitting there glaring very ungraciously throughout. If looks could kill.....ouch!

And someone said earlier that JM has now claimed that he will enter Zenyatta wherever Rachel is entered. Hmmm. Do what's best for your horse, Jerry, not for yourself!

Cate:

I agree, JM looked mad.  But he's probably gotten over it already -- such is the resilience of human beings -- and I don't think you have to worry about him doing what's best for the horse.  His record speaks for itself.

what? still no one will guess when zenyatta will take on g1 winning males on dirt ? my prediction is november. maybe mr.moss should look up curlins campaign after winning the classic to see what a real champion does !

where is zenyatta?

signed, belmont, saratoga and churchill

CONGRATULATIONS TO RACHEL! She is my Favorite racehorse! I was so glad she won. I do think that Zenyatta is also so very worthy of the crown for Horse of the year, but after reading what both horses accomplished this year I can see why Rachel took the Crown.

Also want to say Congrats to Hal Wiggins for a Great Job he did in the making of Rachel.

NONNONHEINOUS

Thanks for your input,appreciate your opinions.

Hey Mike Relva,

I am simply exchanging thoughts about the principle parties surrounding the race for 2009 HOY. You, however, have begun attacking me. If you are correct that I am just a "monday morning quarterback" what does that make you? Think about it.

BTW, I agree with the other poster who said that Moss lost HOY because he took an entirely too careful route. Zenyatta had one jewel in her crown that was out shown by the always brilliant Rachel Alexandra who laid down many firsts, broke records, and re-wrote history in some way in every race.

Although I will certainly enjoy watching Z run, my gut is that bringing her back was not a sporting gesture as much as a teeth clenched spiteful act after the last group of voters revealed their votes. I think Moss was overcome by a sense of doom as he realized how little chance he had of taking home the big prize. That gloom was all over him when he announced she would run in 2010, and he walked into the Eclipse Awards still wearing it. I thought he must be living in that dark state of mind when he spit out that they would go wherever Rachel was running in that snarling TVG exit interview. Wonder who will play Moss in the inevitable movie?

However, I am still amazed that Zenyatta got as many votes as she did given her campaign. I chalk it up to two things: I think a Hollywood influence was brought in to maximize sound bytes and ratchet up emotion, and everyone with a stake in California racing came on board to beat the drum for Zenyatta because if she could go 14 for 14 with a finale in the Classic, all but 1 race in CA, and still not go HOY two years running, they all stood to lose a good deal of relevancy. I see a new article on this site about CA owners meeting soon to discuss the sad state of their industry.

As far as Mr. Jackson and his trainer not recognizing Hal Wiggins during the awards ceremony, the more I think about it the more I am not only fine with that, I'd say it was a good call. Recall that they did recognize him and recognize him and recognize him some more after each and every one of the 4 historical races run by the filly they got from Hal. Yes, Hal had Rachel for 10 of her 14 races. No question, he gave her a great foundation. But ... if Rachel Alexandra only ran the four races she ran for Mr. Jackson, those 4 races would still outshine Zenyatta's record and make Rachel HOY. Aside from the KY Oaks, I don't recall any voters stressing her earlier races. HOY was *all* about what Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen did with her, and it was their turn to receive the credit. I can't believe that Hal Wiggins is anything but fine with that.

Someone asked about Calvin Borel. Don't forget he is a working man that does not live in California. I saw he had mounts all day long. Think he set a stakes record with a sharp 3 YO old named Dry Fly or Fly Fly or something like that. The point is, since he can't make a career out of just riding Rachel for Mr. Jackson, he has relationships with other owners and trainers and horses that have to be nurtured too. I thought he was paid a very sincere tribute by Mr. Jackson who clearly realizes that to many Americans and casual fans, the lovable Calvin Borel is the very face of racing, and that even the most ardent hard core fan  has to be impressed with the string of back to back to back G1 victories he put together.

.

Dray, Don't rush her, because after she gets here, you will probably wish she would have stayed west!!

You recall how good she was on dirt against Ginger Punch?

Wow Mary how are things in that hot bed of racing known as Vermont?

Rachel was a hot commodity as everyone on the track knew. Steve Asmussen has never made a G1 super horse in his career. They raced her a very short time after they got her from Hal and she almost got beat in her last race. You will see the difference.

As far as Calvin? He has ZERO relationship with Jess and doesn't ride for Steve.

If the filly even comes back this year, don't be shocked to see another rider on her.

Really, you sound very uninformed. Zenyatta was in the voting because she won 5 G1 races was undefeated and won the Classic. Whether running on grass, pavement, dirt or broken glass that is an achievement most people who actually run, own, train or ride a race horse would love.

I can't believe some of the so called fans of racing.

MARY IN VT

Yes,I'm sometimes a "Monday morning quarterback also",but in contrast to individuals like yourself I DON'T BASH HORSES! I'm not the least bit suprised that you're "fine" with the fact that Mr. Wiggins wasn't thanked at the awards! Let's don't display any class,right? You're seriously misguided without a doubt! I'll bet you didn't give Zenyatta any chance to win last Nov. Let me fill you in on facts,When that "prince of a trainer Asmussen got RA just ten days prior to the Preakness HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HE DID FOR HER BEFORE THAT RACE? Answer,not much! Even the host of this blog thinks it's unfair Wiggins wasn't thanked Mon. nite. I've stated Team Zenyatta doesn't care about your little opinions,it's about that simple! You and others' should appreciate the fact Moss brought Zenyatta back @ six. You won't see RA racing at five or six,I'll bet you! BTW,ENJOY YOUR NICE COLD TEMPS,I'M ON MY WAY TUES. FOR CA. lol

Knowing Hal, I feel certain that he IS fine with not having been given credit during the acceptance of Rachel's awards.  There are just those of us that wish for him that he would have been.  I recall that he was given credit after Rachel's win in the Preakness, but do not recall anything after that.  I could easily be wrong, though.

I totally agree that Calvin has obligations to other owners and trainers and I respect the fact that he honors them.  I also realize that he isn't based in California but I would have thought that for such a special event, he would have been there.  Without knowing the circumstances, I'm placing no blame - I just would like to have seen him there.  If you recall, there were questions as to whether or not he would retain the mount on Rachel after Mr. Jackson bought her.  It was thought that Robbie Alborado might get the mount on her due to the fact that he is a regular rider for Steve.  I was quite happy when it was announced that Calvin would continue to ride her.  He was to continue to ride all of her races through 2009, as I recall.  I would have been equally happy had it been announced at the awards that Calvin would continue to ride her for 2010.  Mr. Jackson could easily have made that announcement during his praise of Calvin. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Calvin rode in the 8th at Oaklawn Park for Lynn Whiting.  He won on Dryfly.  Thank you for the information.

Bloggers or Jason,

Is Calvin Borel going to be RA jock this year? I keep hearing speculations.  

....It's starting again already: Will Brett retire or wont he? zzzzzzzz

Hey Mike Relva:

Hope you have a good time in California........One thing about it, California is a long, long, long way from Vermont.  LOL

Mary in VT, thanks for providing all of us with your blah, blah, yadda, yadda, opinions. The HOTY for 2009 is over. Any serious follower of racing knew that Zenyatta had a slim chance of winning the vote. You only had to read columns written by Eclipse voters in September that claimed RA had done enough, and Zenyatta couldn't do enough.

You've been constantly criticizing the Zenyatta connections for the perfect campaign that has been executed so far. As well as accusing Mr. Sherriffs of some sort of unethical behavior or motives while accomplishing this. Now I know what ignorance looks like.

You criticize them for not running a HOTY campaign in 2009, and then when Mr. Moss says they will be looking to run against RA wherever she is is you criticize them again. How looney are you? I guess they shouldn't run against RA unless is the time is right by your standards??

As reigning HOTY, RA is now the one to beat. Zenyatta is not the only one out there waiting to take her on either.  Rachel might be up for the challenge, only time and few races will tell.

Laz and Mike Relva, You two are just to funny?

Jason, You are in for another exciting year of blogging, The feud remains(RA & Z), the youngin's are coming (colts in TC)

It's going to be a knock down dragout, coulda, shoulda, woulda kinda year!!!!! LOL

We are all in for a heck of a ride....

LUDDITES R US

I agree with you,thanks alot. Always some "nut"  that doesn't appreciate a "superhorse" like Zenyatta.

LAZMANNICK

Thanks bud! I agree,CA is a very long way from VT in many ways. lol

stevestan, you could not be more wrong. no one cares about 5 wins on a poly track.

SteveStan:

I just heard that they are going to have a horse race in the hot-bed of racing in Vermont.  They're going to call it the Vermontderbypreaknessbelmontbcclassic Classic.

Hey Carolyn

Tell me.......what do you think of Rachel and Zenyatta.......just joking......Have a good day and LOL

SteveStan -

Zenyatta did more in 2008 than she did in 2009 but didn't get HOY either year. If Moss told his trainer that having Zenyatta finish her career unbeaten was the #1 goal then they all worked great together because they went 14 for 14, but if he told his trainer that HOY was crucial to him, then his trainer clearly did not design a winning campaign with essentially 4 paid workouts and one big race. Seems rather basic to me. Either Sheriffs doesn't know what a HOY campaign looks like, or his personal overriding focus was designing a campaign that delivered a big payday into his own pockets, or he isn't nimble enough to ratchet up his plans when the leading contender is outgunning his horse race after race after race. From the look on Mosses face, and the bitterness of his words, my guess is that HOY was excruciatingly important to him.

The people watching this year will be even more interesting. If Moss is too stubborn to change up team Zenyatta so that his horse is tested and thoroughly defined we will witness a third HOY loss with one of the greatest horses that ever lived.

Not winning HOY doesn't mean she wasn't impressive. It just means she lost something a lot of people think she could have won had her connections designed a more ambitious campaign for her.

Mike Relva -

Once again your offering to this discussion bashes me personally.

How does bashing me make a case for team Zenyatta? Answer: It doesn't.

Nor do you respond to what I actually wrote because you can't find a post from me that bashes any horse, especially Zenyatta. I have always maintained that she did everything she was asked to do superbly, but she wasn't asked to do enough in light of the year Rachel was having. Another error in your representation of my viewpoint has to do with Zenyatta's chances in Nov. because I went into detail about her late pace fig towering over the field and using her in my superfecta which is the polar opposite of your rendition of my viewpoint.

How does misquoting me make a case for team Zenyatta? Answer: It doesn't.

Repeatedly resorting to bashing me personally and misquoting me tells me you are plumb out of ammunition to defend team Zenyatta.  

Luddites R US -

You're welcome! : D

Carolyn,

They breed mares every year unless there are health issues.  A mare that has just given birth will be bred on a "foal heat".  Sometimes a mare will come up barren some years so she will not have a foal.  A broodmare's life is pretty much about having babies, as many as they can until they get too old or it is precarious to their health.

My guess is that a yearly pregnancy isn't any harder on well cared for mares than it is on people or dogs. It used to be that they recommended you give a bitch a break in between litters to give her body a rest which is what good breeders did for years. Now they know that 3 months post heat or whelp her body is recovered and nature was right all along. As it turns out, the ravages of progesterone on the uterus with each successive heat is what ages it, and this happens whether or not a pregnancy occurs. Now top canine repro vets (Dr Hutchinson in OH for example) recommend that you get 2 or 3 breedings out of your top bitch early and then retire her from breeding rather than ask an aging uterus to perform reproductive duties. Once she is done with repro duties you can simply not breed and let her uterus age as it will, spay and be done with it all, or there is a drug that prevents heat and keeps that aging process at bay if you need her intact to show.

If that holds true for mares, if Rachel and/or Zenyatta's people want to bag any further racing and breed their mares, no one could fairly blame them.

Laz, You know I am on the same wave length as you on Zenyatta and Rachel. I'm a diehard ZZZZZ fan all the way, and I think Rachel is a great filly. but Z has always had my heart. I've been following her longer.....

Mary, you are guessing what goes on in a game that you are on the outside looking in.

The connections of Zenyatta have a different deal than a lot of us do.

Dottie is the racing manager, her son picks out the horses and John happens to be Dottie's husband.

Dottie consults with Jerry and Ann and John has input as well. It's a TEAM decision.

They are very into the Breeders Cup, that is their focus. Like the TC is the focus for Zito, Baffert, Lukas. Like the major grass races are for Clement etc, like the handicap horses are for some trainers. Then, those trainers try to match up with or 'sell' owners on their particular program.

Most decisions are made by group decision with the owner having final say in some cases and the trainer having some input in some cases, not so much in others.

The HOY? I think it's important, particularly with a stud. A mare, not so much. Mares don't tend to replicate themselves in the breeding shed and at one quality foal per year for 12-18 years?  They don't flood the market (which is recovering slightly but still stinks), like a stud will when he is highly valued as an Eclipse winner etc.

Jerry said early on he'd like to win HOY, but he wasn't going to chase around the country after Rachel to do so. He would really have only had a couple shots at her and that didn't fit in with their ultimate goal. To win the BC Classic. The first and quite possibly the only female to do so.

In the same respect, you can say Rachel had a number of paid workouts, including a couple where her new owner twisted the arm of the tracks to ante up a bigger purse in order to run her against nice handicap and allowance horses.

Her one big race? The Preakness and MTB almost nailed her, if you listen to Mr. Nay, he was a fluke who had no business even being in the race let alone almost catching the filly.

Zenyatta nor her connections should require defending. Every thing they have done and have always done is above reproach and always in the best interest of their horses. The same cannot be said of the other connections.

The Eclipse awards, once and for all, have been losing any credibility or importance over the last 10 years. Too many questionable winners.

As everyone keeps saying 2008 is in the record books, so is 2009. Moving forward, if the mare is healthy? Jerry, Ann, John, Dottie et al will be aiming at the 2010 BC at Churchill.

Time will tell where Rachel will be at that time.

In your zealous attempts at defending Rachel and to discredit Zenyatta and her connections, you have forgotten that you don't know the realities of the inner workings and are speculating on what motivates those in the game from YOUR perspective.

DRAYNAY

This is typical of your style,you DIDN'T GIVE the connections one sentence of credit for racing Zenyatta AGAIN this yr. Three months ago you probably posted sixty times Zenyatta "had no chance",better chance of lightning striking,remember? Then she beats all males,first time ever by a female in the Classic. You go into spin control. Look,RA's connections could have skipped a race earlier on where RA could make the Classic,they didn't. But,they get a "free pass" on their decision. The Mosses' stated early last yr, the objective the Breeders' WAS THE GOAL! I've got news for you,Zenyatta's place in history is secure. You say you're such a fan of racing,Zenyatta's return to racing should mean something!

MARY IN VT

Guess I'm incorrect regarding your neg. attitude on Team Zenyatta? You continually rant on what YOU THINK  were mistakes of handling Zenyatta's schedule last year. Guess what? Last yr. is history! like a reader told you last week,enjoy the trip you're on with this!

STEVE STAN

Well said! I can't stand when someone's on the outside that's clueless and attacks horse and connections. From some of these people's responses,one would think Zenyatta is 0-14!

SteveStan, You are a smart and well knowledgable man.  You are dead on correct in your statement, I agree with you Mike Relva? 100%

mike I don't care that zenyatta is running this year unless she runs like a classic winner and not a plastic winner. come to belmont and churchill and take on the best males! but that is not going to happen is it? if she is a true classic winner maybe she should act like it.

Dray, when is Rachel going to take  on the best males?

Mike Relva, hasn't Zenyatta made draynay eat his words before?

like in the BCC?

Give her time, she will show you what a real classic winner is...

Carloyn

I agree with you,if Zenyatta remains healthy we will see something special this yr.

Draynay

I actually think that you are jealous.......Zenyatta should come to Belmont and Churchill and take on the best males........correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that what Racehl did?????

Why cant' Zenyatta just to to Saratoga and Monmouth and start off her HOY campaign by taking on some G-2 males?

SteveStan -

Thank you for the time you took to explain your perspective.

You are quite correct that I am not a racing insider. Not by a long shot. Not one of my goals. I am a fan. Just a lowly lowly fan explaining how certain things surrounding the race for HOY smell to me. Yes, this is all speculation on my part. All of it. Never said it wasn't.

However, I don't believe for a second that this is rocket science either. Case in point: so many of the actual voters said that Rachel did more, which is exactly what I have said for months, along with asking and speculating about why.

Nor am I impressed with the number of Z fans that squawk about some nefarious east coast bias determining HOY when it is perfectly obvious that one campaign outweighed the other.

You made one teensy weensy mistake categorizing me - you can't find here, there, or anywhere a whiff of my discrediting Zenyatta. It was always her inexplicable campaign that irked me.

Z fans gloat over her Classic win like it was comparable to any other Classic win. It isn't.

No question, it was a visually stunning race. Great. Good for Zenyatta. But when the history books come out they will qualify both of her BC victories to date as having been run on a surface that handicapped true dirt horses just as if they carried extra weight that grass horses and synthetic track specialists did not carry. They will back that up with the now famous DRF stats, and the fact that after 2 yrs on ProRide the BC committee is looking to run as far away from ProRide as it can get. Permanently.

The moral of the story is that both of these great ladies still have something to prove.

Actually Dray, Zenyatta took on the "best males" that Rachel took on, or have you forgot about the "Classic"

Also, I would expect that it's a few "better males" for both girls to take on this year!!

I wonder which of the two is going to tackle the toughest males first!!!!

Laz, you are just to funny!!  As always you,

Tell'em like it is, cause ain't nothin wrong with the truth!

               "southern slang"

mike up until last year I thought talent wins on any surface. but after seeing dirt horses go 0 for 43 at the breeders cup the last two years and no plastic trained 3 year old come close to winning the derby it is obvious plastic and recycled rubber is a specialty surface only few can run on.  you all brag that dirt is zenyatta's preferred surface yet she has never run at belmont, churchill or saratoga. believe me when I tell you mr moss will not take on quality road or any other g1 males until november. he will take the mighty zenyatta on a very carefull campaign that would be a disgrace for any prior classic winner.

Mary In VT

At least Zen had one more classic win than Rachel has.  And guess what, she ran in one more classic race than Rachel did too.

Come to think of it Mary......YOU ARE EXTREMELY BORING...ZZZZZZZZZ

Mary in VT, I have come to the conclusion that you are Draynay with two things: a ghostwriter and a few more axes to grind!!

You'd be shocked at how close to rocket science this actually is. LOL

Really though, plotting a horses future, feed, vet, workouts, preps even shoeing all take skill and not just the guy off the street can get all the nuances. More people who thought they could come in and just do it?  Not very successful and not much longevity even if they are able to pass the trainers test.  

I always laugh when I read the comment by Dr Jay, owner of Summer Bird, when he said he once had the worst trainer ever and had to fire him. He was speaking of himself.

Now just because a person is educated doesn't mean they'll be a good trainer and an owner who doesn't listen to his advisors is foolish.

As far as what path either horse will follow? History says Zenyatta will be on the path to the BC. That's why they brought her back. That and the fact that she is basically the only bright spot on the horizon of Cal racing. If Cal racing goes down, many more around the country will follow suit.

Anyone who truly loves this game is rooting for any and all horses and tracks to be successful. Trying to figure out ways to help them survive and flourish.

The people putting down horses, trainers, owners etc without any true insight are not the kind of fans this game needs. Especially right now when we're on the edge of no return.

Nay, as far as her path? Tell me a horse retired to the breeding shed is a better path? What a joke you are. Maybe you should follow Boo Hooing Brett (your fave) to retirement.

LAZMANNICK -

Even though it will be known as the asterisk *Classic because it was run on ProRide, yes, Z has a Classic win; one of the biggest brightest jewels she could put in her crown. Wonderful for her. Bravo.

Didn't help her win HOY though, did it? Whyyyyyyy? Because she had zero besides paid work outs to put with it thanks to her campaign. That's my point.

When you and others resort to personal insults you fold your cards and admit that you can't win because you're out of ammunition due to the simple fact that logic is not on your side.

Why is it so hard to be polite? Think about it. It is actually easier on everybody, including you, to be pleasant. (rays of light shining in) (cue the music)

SteveStan -

Racing doesn't need fans pissing and moaning because the horse they were pulling for lost HOY due to some nefarious east coast bias or mysterious Jedi mind tricks which is what you hear from the majority of disappointed Z fans. How is that going to attract a healthy fan base that can support racing? Speaking of what racing needs? Hmmm?

HOY should be obvious. Rachel did more, re-wrote more history, and skewered the hearts of fans with her brilliance in every race instead of with contrived Hollywood sound bytes and infomercials designed as much to save California racing as skew the vote.

You can't really believe that you saw the best Z had to give throughout 2009. Why the heck not? What were they saving it for?

Carolyn- I've been reding all the posts in this blog, amazed at the rudeness, and I ran across your question about meds that I didn't see before.  I don't know if anyone answered you.  Meds used to not be allowed in this country, so there were many other remedies that were used instead of Lasix and Bute for raceday.  They were gradually introduced as allowable raceday meds until there was only one hold-out stte.  That was New York, who still believed in no raceday meds.  Finally, under considerable pressure, they passed raceday med allowances.  There are pros and cons, I guess about raceday meds.  In the rest of the world, there are no raceday meds allowed.  In Europe, any foreign substance found in a horses blood analysis is grounds for disqualification.  The drug violations for trainers in this country have to do with banned substances, not Lasix and Bute.  I do believe though that there are allowable levels of these.  But a trainer or vet would have to tell you for sure about that.  There are more knowledgeable on this blog for that than I.  As far as Zenyatta and Bute, she's a huge horse and it would be foolish to think that her ankles don't have some discomfort from the pounding they take.  That is another reason I would like to see her on the turf either here or in Europe.  Turf is a kinder surface, and the courses in Europe especially are huge and lush.

Mary in VT

If someone called me boring I wouldn't take it as a personal insult, I would take it for what it is.......BORING........Once again..ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Sorry- these were meant for Lasix and Bute, not banned substances.  Don't want to get jumped on here!!!

Mary, you just don't get it.

I don't care about HOY. I don't care about any other 'award' unless it's for leading trainer of a meet. The Eclipse awards don't do diddly in promoting racing, witness the lack of coverage or mention of the winners ANYWHERE.

There is a small minority who even give a rats a** about the Eclipse awards. They have become uber political. Only fans who have an agenda to press their point keep dragging others through the mud. By the way did you see how MANY didn't even RETURN their ballots??

Horse racing doesn't need FANS who don't know what the hello they're talking about, telling people who DO, how to run their horses.

If you don't understand that the connections of Zenyatta were totally focused on the Breeders Cup, the past two years,then I do not know how to make you understand and frankly I'm tired of trying.

If you don't understand that, as a member of the CHRB, Jerry feels an obligation to help save Cal racing by running a star there? Then I don't know what else to say. If you don't understand that Jerry and Ann have run various horses all over the country on different surfaces, when it suited the goal in mind (Derby- Giacamo, Tiago)? Then I don't know what to say.

If you don't get that regardless of WHERE the mare won the Classic it's a big deal then I don't know what to say.

YOU think one thing about her schedule, what does it matter?

Are you also going to agree with those who say Rachel ran in restricted company all but once and the rest of her races were calculated to be against weaker competition at distances that most suited her? THAT was the course planned by HER connections.

Give it a rest and move on to something positive, if that is at all possible.

SteveStan- I've given up along time ago.  Just let them blither on and on and on.

I agree Footlick, I know her feet take a pounding, I too, would like to see her run on turf. She is so big and beautiful, and she has such a graceful running style, yet, she can run down a cheetah if she had to, I would like to see them send her to Europe, I think that part of the world is more beautiful.  Footlick, You know, I heard that over in Europe that they don't make their horses stay in a barn all day, they go out in the pastures, Now, that makes a more calmer and less aggressive horse I think? I was so thrilled that they compared Zenyatta to Sea The Stars, and Zarkava, my goodness, now that says alot about her, to be compared too, and in the same category and league as STS, and Zarkava?? It can't get any better than that.

Carolyn- It's because horses aren't stabled at the tracks.  They are at the Training facilities, and they do go out and graze, but they are too valuable just to be let out and romp usually.  They are closely watched.  They are vanned to the track for the race.    It's just different here.  I wouldn't say the European horse is calmer or less mean.  Those are traits that are probably universal and dependent upon the bloodlines.  Europeans like some spirit in their horses as far as I've seen.

Well, you already know how I feel about Zarkava.  And her running style and ease of wins were very similar to Zenyatta's.  It would be quite a race between the three, but one we will never see.

You're right, footlick, but I wouldnt care to see the three race one another, I am just so thrilled at what each one of the three has given to us in the past couple of years, I am so happy to have seen these stars perform on the tracks. I love going back and watching Sea The Stars in his races, I tell ya, he is a beauty to be behold on the tracks. You all know how I feel about Zenyatta!! We won't even go there. I am going to go back and feel myself in with some of Zarkava's races, I know if she is in the same league as the other two, then she is some great horse too. I have heard alot about her. Well, have a good day, footlick, I am going over to youtube.com for a while.....

SteveStan ~

Just though I would point out that although you say that you don't care about HOY, you have posted umpteen times to a blog called "Final Thoughts on Horse of the Year."

Apparently, you blame Rachel for who showed up in the starting gate with her. Perhaps you weren't watching HRTV or TVG during her campaign because trainer after trainer said they didn't want any part of Rachel Alexandra. She ran in premier events that usually draw top horses. I don't know what kind of twisted logic holds it against her that she scared off a lot of horses.

As for Rachel running in restricted company, are you aware that she was only three years old? Hello? How many 3 YO fillies do you see taking on the boys, let alone the Classic winners? And winning? Every time? That does not happen very often, does it? Try never. Even if the Preakness and the Haskell are restricted to 3 YO, she still stepped up out of her division against boys. And then she stepped up another notch to take on older horses. And won that too, by the way. That was the first time a 3 YO filly ever put together three G1 route victories against males. Ever.

You want a positive note? Since you discount everything I say, I'll give you the words of others. Enjoy.

Stuart Janney III being interviewed on the merits of Rachel Alexandra being so often compared to his magnificent Ruffian:

What an extraordinary presence she (Ruffian) had out on the racetrack, just the way people talk about Rachel Alexandra's having an awareness of how special she is, and responding to the crowds. Ruffian did very much the same thing.

(Of Ruffian) When the gates would open you would see this incredible athletic display. It was like watching an olympic sprinter run against a pack of school kids. It was just extraordinary. In all her races (against fillies) as she would come into the stretch she would just suddenly move away from the other horses. That's always a pretty special thing, and she just did it time and time again.

There have been times in the past when somebody's horse just won a big race and they would say hey this horse ran just like Ruffian, and I kind of laugh a little bit. But in this case, I think that Rachel Alexandra is a truly great filly, and she is just so terrific for the sport, and it is a good thing to be talking about the comparison. I would feel differently if I didn't think Rachel Alexandra deserved to be compared in that company.

Her campaign was fantastic! We have never seen a 3 yr. old filly with a campaign like hers, not only beating the boys, but going on to beat older boys. - JoAnn Jones.

As brilliant as she is, as fast as she is, as talented as she is, the grit and determination she displayed here today takes her up even another level. - Lafit Pinkay Jr. on the Woodward.

If she is not tired after this victory today she is not from this planet. She is incredible. She is invincible. - Gary Stevens on the Woodward.

I think she’s the best I’ve ever seen. I don’t compare her to anyone. I’m not afraid to say she’s better than Ruffian, because she is. They sent two speed horses after her and made her go in :22 4/5, then they came after her one at a time and she put them all away. Those were tough older horses and they tried everything they could to get her beat and they couldn’t do it. - 96-year-old racing legend John Nerud.

You don’t see many horses livin’ that could have won that race. - noted veterinarian Dr. Mark Cheney

She had everything thrown at her and she overcame it all. I've never seen anything like it. You had that feeling of a horse trying for the Triple Crown. It’s the stuff of legends. - Graham Motion, trainer of third place finisher Bullsbay.

It was like a 23 yr. old girl defeating 30 yr. old men. - Steve Haskin

Footlick ~

You may very well be right that Zenyatta's bute could be for her ankles. I heard the trainer of her dam speak about that mare on an HRTV call in interview. He said she had "ankles like grapefruit" which does sound painful. No doubt they will try to down size the lovely Zenyatta just a bit when they breed her.

No Mary I don't care about HOY. I care about HORSE RACING. The continuation of the game and the people who make the game good, do the right things and try to keep it somewhat relevant.

Furthermore I don't discount ANYTHING Rachel did. I'm saying that people like you and others who want to trash one, should see both sides. The people in the game speaking positively of Rachel were also speaking the same way about Zenyatta. THAT is helpful. The negativity that you display and others like you to EITHER horse is what I'm sick of reading or hearing. As far as TVG/HRTV? They were biased towards Zenyatta. Do I watch them, uh, not really I do my watching first hand. Do I read and post on here? Once in a while and not when there's anything going on for me. Which it is so.

What I do agree with Jason on, is the lack of mention of Hal. What I don't agree with and what a lot of us don't agree with, is/was the politics of it all and how some trainers, horses, owners, breeders and jockeys in past/present have gotten an award based on a popularity contest or strictly on money won regardless of their personal behavior.

IF you cared about racing, you wouldn't be blathering on about the negative aspects of one horse to boost another. Argue with yourself, or better yet put your money where your mouth is (I've heard that a lot on here).  

Mary in VT- hopefully her ankles aren't that bad.  She didn't run on Bute in her dirt start.  And yes, they will have to be careful about who they breed her to.

SteveStan ~

I've said this repeatedly, but I will say it again because you keep getting it wrong, and it's important to me.

Here it is. Ok? Pay attention. I have never once - not once - bashed Zenyatta. Quite the opposite if you're honest about it. Point to just one instance where I bashed Zenyatta, or stop saying it. Your saying it doesn't make it true.  

It was always her inexplicable campaign that bothered me. Zen didn't sit down with the condition book to plot her course. Some people did it for her. The same ones who acted robbed because she didn't get HOY.

Zen did everything she was asked to do superbly. She just wasn't asked to do enough.

Of course, they can say that they accomplished a lot of things. No question. Perfect 14 for 14 is pretty nice. Most dinero is pretty nice, too. The ***Classic is a lovely feather surface issues notwithstanding. But if they really wanted HOY, they simply didn't do enough in a year when many people think we saw the most electrifying season from a 3 YO filly in our lifetimes.