Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Mike S — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 04:22:13 GMT

There's a discussion thread over at another thoroughbred discussion forum, titled "Was RUFFIAN undefeated"? Most of the people say, no, she was not "undefeated" because she broke down in the match race with FOOLISH PLEASURE. They all seem to note that RUFFIAN and BARBARO have race records of 11 sts, 10 wins, and 7 sts, 6 wins, respectively, and they're right because Equibase/Daily Racing Form show these as "official" records. Technically, when the gate opens it's considered an official "start" but I don't think it's fair to say that RUFFIAN and BARBARO "lost."

They never "lost." THEY DIED. It's a huge difference. I consider them to both be "undefeated" because I don't think you can count a race against them when they broke down in a life-ending manner. I think that their careers should be seen in this light..."they both won all the races they were in, except for when they died."

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Goldie — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 23:28:15 GMT

To jshandler: you were right, I did come back. But, why did you call me a Little Old Lady?? Don't you think that's just a tad rude? Teehee

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Arem — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:20:34 GMT

I glad Rachel isn't running in the Belmont...

Maybe now people will cool off about the "super filly" thing.

I don't care HOW good that filly is, but she is NO "super filly."

One 20 length win in the Oaks and one narrow victory in the Preakness don’t warrant a filly being called “Super.” Compared to Ruffian, those victories are very small. Even insignificant.

Ruffian was a super filly. Still is. No matter how good Rachel (or any other filly for that matter) is they can never be super filly because they cannot even come CLOSE to comparing to the great Ruffian.

Ruffian was perfect. Meeting or equaling the track record in almost every race she ever ran, she won by incredible margins.

She was a heartbreaker. Some of the fillies she ran against never ran the same again after being beaten by Ruffian.

Ruffian was special. She trampled every filly that ever challenged her, and she didn't even have to try. She cantered away from them all.

Ruffian is the only filly that can ever be called a Super Filly.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Greg J. — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:52:49 GMT

Here is Hoping one of my favorites, "Rainbow View"(Dynaformer) Wins today at Epsom in the Investec Oaks for Fillies!!!, Race is coming up shortly, She is an amazing Filly!, She is at Odds of 10-3 right now.....

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

LDP — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:09:22 GMT

Mike S,

If winstar does do that America will have a pretty strong cast against the Euros this year, don't you think. You would have the old versitle warrior Einstien, Dubai hero Well Armed, CJ one of last years best three year olds come back looking good. Other possibilities are RA brilliant filly who won the Preakness and the Oaks, the latter by 20, and maybe even the uderdog gelding, a rags to riches story MTB. That is a good looking cast of horses to me.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Mike S — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:07:09 GMT

Maybe WinStar Farm will have WELL ARMED sweep the San Diego Hcp, Pacific Classic Stk, Goodwood Hcp, out west, and have COLONEL JOHN sweep the Whitney Hcp, Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup prior to squaring off, and running 1-2, in the Breeders Cup Classic.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Householder — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:36:08 GMT

barb. I got top of the stretch (the cheapist) Breeder's Cup tickets for $55.00 each which includes the $20.00 entrance fee (so for $35.00) I get to sit. They go on sale to the public tomorrow (June 5th).

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Householder — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 01:29:34 GMT

LDP Eintein...won't hear me knocking this one. Very very nice horse.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

LDP — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:53:39 GMT

Dray name another horse this year who has grade one wins on 2 differnt surfaces and is grade one place on dirt, remember he was third in the Donn. He's is also one of the only seven year old stallions, if not the only seven year old stallion racing. As of now no horse has topped him, though if RA keeps on coming i'll put her on top very willingly.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Draynay — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 22:19:17 GMT

Einstein beats Cowboy Cal by 3 inches and he is horse of the year ?

Don't look for that to happen again.

Cowboy will not lose on turf again this year.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Karen2 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:41:58 GMT

LDP: I LOVE Einstien....I don't think he gets the credit he deserves.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

LDP — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:02:59 GMT

Householder,

Dont forget about Einstien for HOTY, he has become the first horse ever to win back to back woodford reserves and has gotten two grade one wins on two different surfaces, and was third in the Donn. A match up between the two on synthetics in the classic sounds rather intriguing.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Householder — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:41:49 GMT

WELL ARMED. Let's hear it for fillys and the 6 year old gelding! Just amazing to come back from the near death experience to compete at this level. His half sister Witty just beat a 5-5 filly Carlsbad in the Railbird at Hollywood. WELL ARMED loves Del Mar where he fired fresh off last year's Dubai World Cup. A good summer/fall campaign, like picking up the Pacific Classic, makes him a HOY threat.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

StardustyRose — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:15:01 GMT

Mike Relva

Zenyatta has a lot to prove LOLOLOL! She needs to lose a race LOL. She is 10 for 10 and that just isn't good enough aye? :)

Sent you an email. Too funny.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

StardustyRose — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 18:11:25 GMT

Mike R.

Check your email spams. :)

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Karen2 — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:06:07 GMT

Barb I echo your comments about the great horses of our time. I agree 100%. To hard to call any horse superior over another that raced in a different era.

Magica: RA kicked the colts butts in the Preakness period. Yes, we might be looking at another TC winner had she not been thrown in the mix but a true TC winner can beat all horses thrown in. She is good and was the best 3 year old that day. If MTB would have won the Preakness but gets beat by say Charitable Man in the Belmont... would you feel the same way about him? Her eyes do look bulging but IMO that is the way she is. She has some white around her eyes and she looks intense. That is just RA.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Sharon — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:06:13 GMT

I never thought I would be posting on a blog about horses or racing. This article and all these posts, however, have confirmed that I am not a casual fan. No way I will miss watching The Belmont because RA isn't running. You couldn't keep me away from a TV for that race. I have only seen one race live, in person, The Preakness in 1973 when Secretariat won the Second Jewel in The Triple Crown. Wish I lived near a major track but since I don't, will be content to watch on TV.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Mike S — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 02:22:43 GMT

Hi Maggie...At this point I am not sure where either WELL ARMED or COLONEL JOHN will run, although I did hear that the San Diego Handicap is likely for WELL ARMED. As for COLONEL JOHN...I think they're just getting him ready and then they'll decide on a race once he's in racing shape. I believe this morning's workout was the 3rd workout he has had during this cycle. I kind of hope that COLONEL JOHN will run (and win) the Whitney!

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Lise from Maine — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:53:36 GMT

Hi!

I believe that Rachel's owner made the right decision for her. If she is tired, then so be it.

How would some of us feel if something disastrous happened to Rachel at the Belmont had she raced?

The welfare of the horse has to come first and forget status and money.

Frankly, I am sick and tired of watching horses get injured on the tracks.

Thank you!

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Soldier Course — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:00:08 GMT

Magica:

So you noticed RA's bulging eyes,too?

And that tight braid! I guess men wouldn't think about this, but if you've ever worn a tight braid, you know that all it takes is one little turn of the head and it can pinch like the devil. I would have never taken that chance.

Enjoyed your comment.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

silverscrngirl — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:42:01 GMT

I just paroozed over a number of comments asking why horses are being retired after their 3 year old season and I find myself asking the same thing. I would love to see more top 3 year olds run their 4 year old season at least. I start following a horse and then "poof" they are in the breeders shed before they hit 4!

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

TerriV — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:17:15 GMT

It's taken me all afternoon to read all these comments. Go away for a few days and just look what happens! A few responses:

LDP: from your suggestion 6-1 at 4:01pm - I think that a second triple crown series is an extraordinary idea. All the casual fans who lose interest in the long months between the Belmont and the Breeder's cup would have something to focus on. Make it different; maybe different surfaces, different parts of the country, different ages and maybe mix the boys and girls. It could be great fun. Is there anybody out there to run with this idea?

Barb: I am a Cigar lover also and I've read with a smile the debate of statistics between you and LDP over Curlin and Cigar. They are both amazing horses and those statistics really don't matter. There is no logical reason as to why we love a horse. It's just a magical connection. Something about Cigar appeals to my soul more than Curlin does. Maybe it was being able to touch him at the horsepark - he and Funnycide are wonderful ambassadors for the sport of racing.

Greg J and Pam: I so agree with you both about the value of a gelding to racing. It's an especially appropriate perspective because of the current discussion about how to entice the casual fan. I, unfortunately, seem to know a lot of casual fans. This is very frustrating to me. They don't respond to the same things a diehard fan does. Most don't even realize that it is uncommon for fillies and colts to race against each other. Many do not even know the meaning of those words - filly and colt. They don't know what a gelding is. They have no idea about racing history or pedigree and the only horses they have ever heard of are Secretariat, Man'O'War, Seabiscuit and Smarty Jones. They also don't remember when the Triple Crown races are until the day before the Derby. This is the group we are trying to entice. And, the horse they have responded to is Mine That Bird. His picture was on the cover of SI, Calvin was on Leno and he won the Derby as an unknown underdog. The casual fan does not care that he is a gelding. The casual fan did not watch Rachel's Oaks and knew nothing about her until she was part of the Preakness. And in these economic times, the casual fan loves Mine That Bird's connections. So, if Bird wins the Belmont, he can bring the interest of those multitudes of casual fans to races outside the TC. He can be a huge asset to racing, if, and this is an important if, he can be marketed correctly. Every race he is in after Belmont should be advertised to the hilt so people know he's out there and racing. They can't come see him race if they don't know where he is racing; this will involve TV, newspapers, radio etc...

ezevans: I like your comment about just enjoying the ride. We have all been really enjoying the game of WHAT IF. It's a game that diehard racing fans just love to play but it is just that a game. We have the reality that there will be no Triple Crown winner again. The Derby was an amazing race, The Preakness was an amazing race and I just hope the Belmont follows suit. I can't wait to get to Belmont Park on Sat. It's going to be a blast! Oh yeah, and GO MTB and watch out for Nick Zito.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Maggie — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:00:09 GMT

Thank you, Mike S. I'm curious, where and when is Colonel John going to start? I'm pretty sure the same connections of Well Armed wouldn't want to race the two of them in the same stakes.

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

barb — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:37:11 GMT

LDP...LOL...I didn't say you are as bad as Dray, I said you argue LIKE him. I meant that you sometimes use his style of argument, which is very "in your face", lol. And knowing that you are young I feel like you say things that, while you passionately beleive them, are sometimes uninformed. I am NOT hoping to change your mind only give you more info so you can expand your mind. Horseracing has such a rich history filled with so many amazing horses and people. Don't close your mind to past heroes because you think that they somehow threaten your loyalty to the horses you "saw" and loved. You can love them all! I have a million favorites and if pressed REALLY hard I still would have 4 horses tied as best ever. And I already feel uncomfortable saying that because I never "saw" any of my top 4 and I already want to change to 5(or 10),lol. The reason it's so hard to narrow down is that they came in different eras, each one is clearly superior to all other horses yet you really can't say because they could never meet on the track. I would be willing to exchange e-mail addresses with you(and a few others...Atthebarn2,Zookeeper) but don't know how to go about that without going public with it,lol. Have a good one...good luck with your Belmont picks. :)

re: Rachel's Absence Leaves a Void For Casual Fan

Mike S — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:28:50 GMT

Hi MAGGIE...COLONEL JOHN worked out just this morning in :48 and change, and WELL ARMED had his first recorded drill (since the Dubai race) today as well, a 3 furlong spin in :37-3/5.