The Sound of a Crowd

re: The Sound of a Crowd

miles — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:07:35 GMT

Not only is Macho Again just an ok older horse, the whole filed was mediocre. These older male horses has won only 2 grade 1 races this year. Probably one of the worse field ever assembled in the Woodward.

I like to give where credit is due. Rachel ran her heart out and nobody can take that away from her. But to say she beat top flight older male horses is an exaggeration at best.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Jan — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:35:31 GMT

I couldn't find someone with the tv station to watch the Woodward but found someone long distance who let me listen through the phone. I closed my eyes and felt like I was there & due to Durkin's excited tone in calling the race, I had goosebumps! Durkin is great in my book!

re: The Sound of a Crowd

linda — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:19:10 GMT

Did Calvin get injured when Rachel threw him?

re: The Sound of a Crowd

jamie — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:38:06 GMT

Biggest racing hype in horse racing history! This filly was taken to the very edge of her ability. Borel's comment of her not running faster when whip is laughable. He whipped her at least 20 times. Kudos to her though she run her heart out but you can tell she cannot go 1 1/4. Not a single classic distance win for her but she deserves HOY for her grueling season.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Vic Zast — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:00:12 GMT

Only Rachel Alexandra knows what it was that caused her to get fidgety in the post parade. When I wrote that she spooked from the crowd's exuberance, I was merely reiterating Calvin Borel's explanation at the post-race press gathering. In any regard, thanks to all the readers for sticking with my Saratoga Diary for 36 days. One more to go. I'll be counting on you to be here tomorrow.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Hawkeye — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:25 GMT

I just have to answer ZenyattatheChamp. First of all, Macho Again is a 4 year old and no slacker. He had to compete last year as a 3 year old against Big Brown. His preferred racing style is coming from off the pace. He has appeared to improve with maturity. (Zenyatta also prefers to come from off the pace.) Do you remeber a horse named Carry Back? He had you holding your breath. Then look at the Travers of 2008. That was what racing is all about. A photo for the win. That makes racing so exciting. Unless it is a dead heat the thrill of good horses competing with each other is the game and only one can win. The finish line is the finish and close finishes are so much more thrilling than long lengths between the first place horse and the second place horse. Macho Again is no flute horse. He has been consistant. It is to Rachel,s credit that she was able to hold him off although not by much. Her owners really do care about their horses or they wouldn't give them the best opportunity to show themselves. Top class horses need to run where there is competition and Rachel had competition and came out on top no matter by how much. She had to deal with a rabbit just like Dr.Fager did. Even Zenyatta was tested by good horses and came out on top. Because she did not win by much does that make her not great? Jess Jackson gives his horses the opportunity to excell. Can you not see how proud of these horses he is, just like a parent. I do believe that some have mistaken his motives which are not financial gain or notoriety but a genuine belief in giving his charges a chance to show what they can do. We have a lot of magnificent horses this year and I would like to see all of them win all of the time, but that is not reasonable.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

wabstat — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 12:54:15 GMT

It still amazes me that at this late date, some people still do not appreciate what they have witnessed. Zenyattethechamp, Macho Again is NOT a 3yo, that is the whole point!! Rachel is a teenage girl who just beat a group of mature men, all working together to defeat her! Amazing filly, wake up before you miss it!

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Stan M — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:22:45 GMT

To all of you who were at the track to witness such a great race, and feel the tremendous excitement I truly envy you. But for me watching the race here in NYC on the OTB network, and MSG+ it was truly a bummer because you could not hear the sounds of the crowd at all prior, during , and after the race. It's like Tom Durkin announced the race in a sound proof room and when I switched to the MSG+ network, Jason Blewitt and Andy Serling were in a vacuum somewhere so you could not get a true feel for what was going on. I mean come on NYRA let's spring for some mic's al ready so we too can relish the moment. It seems to me when ESPN covers the big races you truly get that feeling that you are there, and get a feel for the mood of the crowd which is why you watch these events in the first place, if you know what I mean?

re: The Sound of a Crowd

peter043 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:57:33 GMT

Ya, and Zenyada beat a horse by a nose who's last race finished 5th in a allowance race! If rachel has a chance to make history why not try? Zenyada is very good but please lets jump off the Pepper's Pride campain!!! Zenyada is good but you can thank Mr. Moss from keepin her form being great and i will let u in on a little secret, she will not go undefeated

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Ryan — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:38:59 GMT

Macho Again definitely isn't the best 3yo because he is a 4yo. If RA isn't the best 3yo then who is? She has beaten all the 3yo's.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

tana rae — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:57:36 GMT

I agree with those who were there -Rachel didn't spook. Horses who spook (the many I've witnessed) do it rapidly, an innate flight or fight response. This seemed more of a gradual build up...She started prancing at the beginning of the post parade, noticably more animated than her cool composure in the paddock. She also appeared to be getting awfully close to the pony. To prevent getting tangled up and whatever else, I believe Calvin jumped off (and lost his balance in the process) as a precautionary measure when she started getting worked up. She didn't rear up (a slight rear up at that) until AFTER Calvin was standing on the ground and then he calmly gathered her to him. Again, no rear up until after Calvin was off. Watch the video replay- it's quite clear. As soon as she turned and faced him, she settled down. I believe she was simply anxious to run. This obviously is a horse who loves to do what she was bred to do. I think she was just showing us (and maybe her connections) a new dimension to her charming personality. The Woodward race results indeed demonstrated a new dimension - the will to win when faced with the toughest competition to date. But this time, her ears were not pricked forward as she happily skipped across the finish line.

I hope her connections choose to give her a break for the rest of the year. She's already locked up Horse of the Year honors. Let's not push her to physical and mental exhaustion for what? Too many great ones in the past have been pushed to their limits and never come back the same.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

MRO — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:11:57 GMT

Great to see Pyro back in the winner's circle!

re: The Sound of a Crowd

ZenyattatheChamp. — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:14:25 GMT

RA sure is something for being a 3 year old. I'm not to happy about what Jess said though: “As we did with Curlin, history is always on our mind. Every time she passes one of the hurdles we’ve given her we go on to the next. It’s all about defining her greatness.” Its almost as if he dosen't care about his horses!! Is that all they care about is being great and making history?? She's a great filly and I wish someone who really cared about her owned her. It also shows that RA isn't the best 3 year old(yes the best 3 year old filly). She almost lost a historical race to Macho Again and he's definetly not the best 3 year old. A half a head.......that all she won by. My opninion though....

re: The Sound of a Crowd

AR — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:09:38 GMT

Nicole, I was there too and I agree with you - it didn't look like a spook when she dropped Calvin, it looked like she got frustrated when everyone passed her on their way out to warm up! Anyway, I thought it was a bad omen and thought that Macho got her in deep stretch; it looked like he did from my angle. Never been so happy to be wrong in my whole life!

re: The Sound of a Crowd

tvnewsbadge — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:45:47 GMT

I wish Durkin would tone it down on these big races too... too over the top, like a local sports radio newbie calling a high school basketball game.

As an old timer, I don't think he understands videos of these races will live forever on YouTube and frantic sound tracks detract from the historical document.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Hawkeye — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:35:01 GMT

I just have to put my two cents in here. I applaude your article. I was happy to see RA win such a prestigious race but was sorry to see Macho Again loose. Figure that. One thing no one has mentioned is that there was an eight pound difference between the two horses. That does make a difference. I just had to rock the boat. In any case, I am happy for the trainers and owners of both horses.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Lin — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:33:44 GMT

It was just wonderful being in that crowd, feeling like the roar was coming from the racing gods and filling the world. Couldn't hear my own screams though I felt like my throat would burst, shouting GO, Go, Go...!! And she did. Sure wish they'd move the Classic so she could beat the Westerners too. And Zenyatta could come or not.I feel like she's showing us what Ruffian never had a chance to: that a filly/mare can be the best of her time.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Judy from Burbank — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:41:18 GMT

I was at Del Mar, so I watched RACHEL ALEXANDRA in the post parade from there. When she reared up and unseated Calvin, I said omg!! I hope this isn't a bad omen.

I was surprised because this wasn't her usual normal, cool, collected, professional self.

But, when she was at the top of the stretch, I started my shouting: "Come on Rachel! Come on Rachel! Come on Calvin!"

Then I saw MACHO AGAIN coming fast on the outside! Praise the Lord, she made it to the wire first!

Thank you Princess Rachel!! :-)

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Nicole — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:55:41 GMT

From where i was (jammed down on the rail with oodles of other fans) it really didn't look to me like Rachel was spooked by the crowd. She was fine until Macho Again cantered past her and then she started acting up- she broke into a canter herself and when Calvin wouldn't let her go, started bucking. I think it was less nerves and more her competitive nature- she didn't want anyone going past her, even before the race started!

re: The Sound of a Crowd

MtBFan (STILL) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 17:47:55 GMT

I didn't hear the crowd on the video...I was too busy hearing the announcer (was it Durkin? I couldn't tell...) getting so frantic, loud and emotional that I thought he was going to blow a vessel in his brain and konk out...

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Ragsy — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:51:51 GMT

I watched the race and it seems to me as Beautiful Rachel bounced around, Calvin jumped off and Rachel stayed with him due to him having the lead in hand...what a wonderful win for Rachel, now give that filly a well deserved vacation....

Pyro deserved that win such a beautiful horse...happy for him and watched him win...

Love those horses.....

re: The Sound of a Crowd

BK1 — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:38:56 GMT

I wish I could have been there to hear that crowd. What more can be said - it's Rachel's greatest triumph. We already knew she had speed - now we also know she has heart.

re: The Sound of a Crowd

Ida Lee — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:59:12 GMT

Nice article. I can't get enough of my Queen Rachel this morning. To be sure, the crowd at Saratoga was not the only one going crazy over this incredible Filly. I almost went through the TV when I saw Macho Again fire and take off like a rocket. Usually, Macho is my favorite in any other race but this was Rachel. I kept screaming at her - faster, faster he's coming!! And of course she did go faster and won an incredible race. Definitely the best since Rags to Riches beat my golden god Curlin in the Belmont. What a remarkable Filly!!