What's Going On Here - All Comments

re: Small Fall - By Dan Liebman

Soldier Course — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:44:48 GMT

There's one thing that everybody now remembers about Bobby Frankel - his decision to stay home with his ailing dog Happy during the 2007 Breeders' Cup. We'll all miss him.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Pam S — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:06:28 GMT

Zenyatta in one race did more to bring horse racing in its more pure form back to all people. There hasn't been a horse, with the state our nation is in since Seabiscuit who has rallied the American people on the race track. Many people involved with racing read horse related publications, but the general public reads their everyday paper, online posts, and information on TV. If the racing industry wants to gain a fan base back, I would suggest they go to the current media and develop it. The BC was a perfect example - gorgeous grounds, great commentary, a heroine with an entire 58,000+ cheering her on. It's a public relations person's dream - but how many of the general populace got to see it, feel the excitement, the emotion, see crowds surrounding the heroine and owners, trainers and jockeys. I think rotating the BC is something that is good for racing. But until people in this country can get back engaged with a live embodiment of sporting at its best, I don't know that we can continue. The West Coast needs nurturing - it never used to need this. Specials on the background of champions - their sires, broodmares, history of how this developed are the stories that need to be told. And by the way, Zenyatta is my pick for HOY - she's a PR person's dream.

re: Small Fall - By Dan Liebman

Gail — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:08:28 GMT

Could it be, he speaks with forked tongue. He doesn't mind making money from the horse industry, then he sticks them in the back. He is the kind of person who will wonder" What happened?" He will never admit he is wrong.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

da3hoss — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:44:23 GMT

BMCRacing: quite a number of horses died before they got it right for the "important" horses, last year and this year.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Frankel — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:20:52 GMT

Dan Liebman,

It is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

Zenyatta will be the recipient of "Horse of the Year" honors:

The horse who shows up and runs in the Breeders Cup Classic is the front runner for the "Horse of the Year" hardware. Look through your history books, cowboy.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

SamNotSpam — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:31:05 GMT

So many people seem to be getting lost in the facts and figures. I've been an ardent Rachel fan all year, but not one of her races visually and emotionally matched what Zenyatta did to the Classic field, in my humble opinion.

That, for me, is what Horse of the Year should be about, not cold, sterile facts. Racing is about so much more, at least it should be if it wants to earn and retain a fanbase.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Ladorada — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:55:45 GMT

I too am interested in seeing what Rachel Alexandra does if she is not retired. Maybe in a year her lifetime career will compare to Zenyatta's.

Yes, HOY is for one year only. However, people don't vote that way. They remember a career. This goes for HOY, Oscars, etc. So you are all correct in saying just to focus on these two mares' 2009 records, but I hate to break it to ya, it ain't gonna happen!

I don't believe horses should win for one race. Zenyatta won the BC Classic, but AFTER A SUCCESSFUL SEASON, no matter how short. There are a lot of champions out there crowned after as short a season. Or even one race, which I disapprove of (Invasor? Am I the only one who never heard of him before he won the BCC? Zenyatta at least we knew!). Zenyatta capped off her season by beating a field of champions. It's like playoffs. Horses run all year, some emerge as exceptional individuals, and then these individuals compete in one race. The winner of that race really proves something. It's the Super Bowl of American horse racing. Rachel Alexandra was a true superstar this year, but she spent the final contest on the bench. How can we make her the champion of champions? Champion 3YO filly, for sure, but she didn't get her chance to truly shine IMO. We distilled talent all year and Zenyatta was the moonshine that dripped out at the very end.

As many have said, both mares are great and both deserving. I'm sure you can see I'm for Zenyatta, and a big part of that is no matter how great Rachel Alexandra was all year, she never won my heart. Zenyatta made me a fan last year and proved herself again this year. I know a lot of you are in the opposite boat, you love RA and don't connect to Zenyatta. That is ok. And the good thing is, the excitement isn't over! We will never see them go head-to-head, but there's one more race to be run - and I am rooting for Zenyatta!

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Mike Relva — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:57:03 GMT

PASTURELANDS

No matter how many rants you do regarding Zenyatta it doesn't change the end result!

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Rowner — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:26:26 GMT

I agree with Daniel that having The Breeders Cup at SA every year would be boring. I do believe that we do have to consider the weather in November where ever we hold it (remember Momouth). It used to be in October and we seemed to have better weather. I don't seem to remember that many rainy BC's. Any one know why they switched was it because of the Arc and the euros? I did enjoy the SA Breeders Cup this year and it was one of the most exciting in many years but 2 years is to many at one track. The surface debate is like what Daniel said above a straw man. We need to focus on better breeding and closer race day examinations and eliminate the drugs. I'm not sure all the euro's that were first time Lasix would have done as well W/O it. I am not a fan of the 2 day format but I really enjoyed the Marathon and I think they need to keep this race as it provides incentive to breeders to breed for more stamina not the speed freaks we have had for 10 to 15 years. I would love to see a program for these true long distance runners. We have made the TB into a jumped up QH in the last several years. No disrespect to QH's because I own them but they shouldn't be TB's.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Daniel — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:23:21 GMT

I don't think holding it at Santa Anita every year is a sound idea. Having it at one far west location prevents a lot of east coast and midwesterners from attending the races in person.

Having it at variety of tracks is the best way IMO because they all offer a wonderfully unique experience. One of my favorite years was when it was at Woodbine and I'm not Canadian. It was interesting to see their beautiful sites and their way of doing things. The same track or two over and over would get boring real fast.

The breakdowns argument is a straw man. The BC went over a decade without a dirt breakdown. Having the vets examine, examine some more, and then reexamine the horses the last two years played a major role in reducing injuries. Last I heard they're going to permanently continue with that no matter where it's held.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Rowner — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:09:14 GMT

As a racehorse I would take Zen over Ra any day. The fact is though both deserve HOY. I f you look at the facts both ran against some suspect competition. Ra appears to have distance limitations and Zen never left Cal this year but Zen did something Ra wasn't allowed to do and show up on racing's biggest day and beat one of the deepest fields ever assembled for the Classic. That something no ever filly or mare done so I give the edge to Zen.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Pasturelands — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:50:31 GMT

Dan, you are a real professional. and you are a good person. Your article is just a SPOT ON reminder of how professionals judge any contest around here-- HOY or not.

To Cgriff, be careful yourself. You ARE NOT a HOY voter, but Mr. Dan IS. Don't get TOO CARRIED AWAY.

To KYFan, sidekickflats, et al:

GLORIFYING ONE RACE-- IS THIS WHAT HOY BOILS DOWN TO??

RACHEL ALEXANDRA is the ONLY deserving HORSE OF THE YEAR 2009.

No horse can become HOY just because of winning ONE flashy race. Even if it is the biggest race in the whole wide world (NOT REALLY. The Dubai cup is bigger).

HOY has to be EARNED through an ORDEAL OF FIRE. ONE-HIT wonders are NOT QUALIFIED for HOY. Maybe Moss knows this that's why he's gonna DRUM BEAT for Zenyatta by having a parade for her in Sta. Anita.

HOY is NOT A CIRCUS, Mr. Moss. If your horse deserves HOY, he/she will get it. No FANCY SHOW OR FIREWORKS WILL SUPPLEMENT HARD WORK AND TALENT. If your horse DID NOT work hard ALL YEAR, then WHATEVER show or act you put on will not MAKE UP for what was missing -- the WILL and talent of champions.

I realize Mr. Moss is QUITE RICH, and he can PAY ANY PRICE to compensate for WHAT ZENYATTA LACKS -- a SOLID campaign in 2009. But its WAY TOO LATE for FANFARE or HISTRIONICS now. IF he was serious about HOY, he should have given Zenyatta a TOUGHER 2009 CAMPAIGN starting February, Instead of racing her just 5 times for the last 11 months..

To give Zen the HOY now would be to DISREGARD Rachel's sacrifices and accomplishments ALL YEAR LONG.. and just GLORIFY ONE SINGLE FEAT done in THE SAME LOCATION, IN THE SAME SURFACE.

Heck, it doesnt matter if Zen defeated ALIENS or EVIL MARTIANS in the BC Classic, she still won just ONE RACE. That's it.

It DOESN'T prove anything and..

PLEASE dont bring up Zen's accomplishments LAST YEAR 2008. They belong IN 2008 ALONE, and CANNOT be ADDED to her credentials for HOY 2009.

Fact is: Zen was UNDEFEATED IN 5 RACES in 2009-- Rachel was UNDEFEATED IN 8 RACES in 2009. Zen is SHORT by 3 wins to match Rachel's record.

Rachel, therefore, IS the UNDISPUTED HORSE OF THE YEAR 2009. Zen doesnt quite get there, even with that FLASHY BC win.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

BMCRacing — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:20:04 GMT

Next year we will be at Churchill and I’m sure we will see the normal slop of either an unsealed dirt track that has taken quite a bit of rain prior to the event or a sealed dirt track that is probably hard as heck and unsafe for horses to ride on.

The constancy of Santa Anita these last two years during the Breeders Cup was truly unbelievable. Now it’s back to horses breaking down in the slop of dirt racing at next years Breeders cup.

Lets just skip the next few years and wait for the event to be back at Santa Anita where it belongs each and every year, where an international field joins up to compete in a fair and safe environment.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Elaine — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:05:39 GMT

To Lou in Tx,

Being a new kid on the block I'll just say that there IS a difference between East and West coast horse racing. This isn't about mean spirited people Lou but about the fact that once a horse matures, age 3, and begins his racing career the owners and trainers decide where the horse should be placed. For example, Lava Man was distinctively a West Coast horse. That's just the way it is. The cream of the crop horses are pointed toward one coast or the other (Churchill Downs is considered East Coast).

Personally I like that system and I hope it never changes.

Lou you might be interested in the quarter horses and their tracks in the western areas of the country as

well as thoroughbreds. Also spend some time listening to jockeys and you'll find that they themselves have a preference for one coast over the other. The racing is different on West Coast tracks versus East Coast tracks. Just an historic thing about horse racing.

re: Golden State - By Dan Liebman

Theresa S. — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 04:33:21 GMT

I like the two day format. I also like it being held at different tracks every year.

I think the idea to have it at SA for 2 years "to attract Hollywood stars" was ill advised. Even if they'd met that goal, I've never met anybody that watches a horse race to see celebs. Just the opposite, I've heard probably hundreds of complaints about the Kentucky Derby pre-race show devoting way too much time to celebs.

And remember when the BC did attract "stars" back in the 80's? The only thing the celeb interviews were good for was bathroom/snack breaks for the TV viewers.