Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Rachel Alexandra — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:34:53 GMT

Linda...how can you think that Zenyatta will go down in the history books as a loser?

Did Personal Ensign go down as a loser?

Did Winning Colors and Genuine Risk?

Zenyata won the Breeders Cup Classic...the only mare to do so...

She is a multiple year champion.

Someone I respect, admire and hope to be able to race like in the near future.

Zenyatta knows she is a winner. Her record tells us that. Her eyes tell her that. A couple of sports writers cannot take that away from her...not one bit.

I had a spectacular year. I earned my first championship...but it was not on the track. It was as a result of votes. Zenyatta you have two championships as a result of racing on the track.

I hope to earn my first this year...on the track.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Citation — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:27:38 GMT

Well, in the poll Zenyatta may have won...but it seems like the voters were persuaded by Rachel Alexandra's arguments.

I felt bad for the Mosses who seemed to take it very hard. You could truly tell that they deeply love Zenyatta. And I felt bad for Jess Jackson who seemed apologetic almost after winning the award. There was a lot of human drama in the room.

I actually think the Mosses received some bad advice when it was suggested that five races would be adequate to earn her HOTY with one of them being a Grade II even if the intention all along was to run in the Breeders Cup Classic.

As a result of this, I was not surprised in the slightest that Rachel won by the margin she did.

And this award does need to be kept in perspective. While it is sought after by owners, and trainers, and jockeys...it really has little bearing on anything since it is based on the attitudes of the humans involved and not an unbiased standard/formula.

There were no losers that night.

And with Zenyatta's announcement that she will run...and the intention of Rachel's connections to have her run if ready and able...this could be another incredible year of racing. So again, we the fans are the true beneficiaries.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Zenyattalover — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:20:47 GMT

It's little bit late

My vote goes to ZENYATTA

Rachel is great, but ZENYATTA is better.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Judy G ~ Burbank, CA — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:58:25 GMT

Rachel Alexandra may have won HOY, but ZEN didn't "lose" in my heart. I've always adored both girls!

I can only hope and pray that both MARES accomplishment wonderful things for our racing history books for future generations!

Thank you Mr. & Mrs Jerry Moss. Thank you Mr. Jess Jackson. Please keep them healthy, safe & happy!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Linda in Texas — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:00:01 GMT

Now that Rachel Alexandra has captured Horse of The Year, as my grandfather taught me from an early age, if you are not the winner, and you gave it everything you could muster, be gracious to the one who did win. So congratulations Mr/Mrs Jackson and Rachel Alexandra. And know that your team has been a part of the most exciting year in racing for the 'ladies' that i have ever had the privilege of watching. May both Rachel and Zenyatta have a Happy and Healthy 2010. And a special thankyou to The Mosses for raising such a wonderful 'lady.'

It is hard though to index the fact that Zenyatta will go down in the books as a loser and i just cannot accept that and haven't since this competition began. From the getgo i posted that i would not want to look Zenyatta in the eye and tell her she lost and is a loser. The Mosses hopefully won't tell her. If Zenyatta is a loser, my goodness, what are those of us Zenyatta fans?

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

datflippinrabbit — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:45:22 GMT

At least if i could not be shared,they picked the right one.Now RA will be 4 yr old and cant wait for them to hook up,my worry here is if it's a filly race who else will enter,i dont want to see a match race.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Katherine — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:54:18 GMT

This was a year that all of us were privileged to witness when racing history was made that many later will say they wished they could have seen these great champions. I wish I could have seen them in person. I don't think I ever saw a race such as Rachel's Woodward or will likely see again. In my opinion HOY had to be Rachel Alexandra. I thank Jess Jackson and the Mosses for giving us the opportunity to see these champions.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Cathy — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 02:15:24 GMT

What a decision to make. These type horses don't come around too often, and here we have two. How can we pick which one should be the best? To me they are both the best, they have raced their hearts out this year for all of us.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

sundodger92 — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:49:20 GMT

The Breeder's Cup Classic is Horse Racing's "Super Bowl." Rachel Alexandra's team had the opportunity to end the argument over which horse deserves to be "Horse of the Year" once and for all, by simply entering that race as did Zenyata, and letting the Horses themselves decide the matter. But rather than facing Zenyata and putting Rachel's perfect record on the line against Zenyata on the track, Rachel's team chose to take the easy way out. Therefore, Zenyata MUST be given the Horse of the Year award because she didn't "duck out" when the chips were down, but rather, did what any TRUE champion does: She put everything on the line in the biggest contest that she could enter, and she beat them all. The fact that she did not beat Rachel is not Zenyata's fault because she could only beat the horses who showed up. And rachel failed to show. END OF ARGUMENT!!!!!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Skywalker — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:53:33 GMT

my vote has to go to Rachel she was absolutely amazing this yr when you think about it she really kind of won a TC she won the 1st race of the Tiara the 2nd race of the Crown and the 3rd race of the Tiara she had a real season throughout the whole year where as Zenyatta saved it all for 1 race she won all her races this year on 7 different tracks and beat Ruffian's margin of victory in the Oaks and she beat and ran against the boys in 3 races where as Zenyatta only ran against the boys in 1 only 1 and only had I beleive 4 races against the girls

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Gail G. — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:48:44 GMT

Both horses should win HOY. But if that's not doable

Zenyatta should get it because Rachel is still young and could win any year that follows. Best of luck to the

winners!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

TapitsGal — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:36:01 GMT

my vote went to Rachel Alexandra because i feel Rachel had the more impressive year,sure Zenyatta beat the boys in the Classic,but that was one time and Rachel beat the boys 3xs..I don't feel that HOY should be decided on one race alone...also I would have liked to see Zenyatta travel more and race out of her comfort zone..And for everyone saying Rachel should have been in the Classic, Dr.Larry Bramalege himself said that Jess Jackson and Steve Assmussen were smart to stop racing Rachel when they did...that she needed a rest.I feel that Rachel should get it this year and Zenyatta can win next year, now that we know that Zenyatta will indeed be racing in 2010

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Laura House — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:32:35 GMT

I went to the source and asked the horse. You need merely look into their eyes. Simple. Two legacy's of their own historical right. One a woman and one a girl. Neither of them care about an award.. but THEY BOTH want to tell the world to let them RUN versus becoming a broodmare. Zenyatta wants to show the world that she is every bit as talented as Curlin, and Rachel looks bored, as if to say, "What does it take to get respect, Zenyatta? Talk to me and share your wisdom. What good does it do to be perfect, light up the world, provide fans with excellence and greatness......when our fate is to become baby making machines??" HUMANS award money and trophies ..HORSES just want to keep having a vote to stay in the game!!!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

chris v — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:05:05 GMT

i voted for zenyatta,solely for the fact that her win in the breeders cup was thoroughly breathtaking. however, i believe it would be fitting to see both zenyatta and rachel alexandra take the horse of the year honor since both did splendidly well and, really it's hard to separate the two horses accomplishments even if they race against each other and one of course beats the other. who knows, they might even cross the finish line dead heat tied for first! that would be awesome!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

STRONG MATERIAL — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:53:15 GMT

I personally think that ZENYATTA is the best American horse of 2009 - with her showstopping, pulse-raising and dominating performance at the Breeders Cup Classic, galloping away from a strong field of male G1 horse runners, and making history as the first mare to do so.

Her unblemished record stands out as well, surpassing Personal Ensign's, and proving that she can outclass horses outside her division. It is but rightful to honor her, Queen Zenyatta indeed!

But RACHEL ALEXANDRA is an earstwhile conqueror. While Zenyatta ruled over her kingdom in California, Rachel Alexandra, like Alexander the Great, built her empire across America, orgainzed her different battles that beat horses - male or female - she faced in jaw-dropping fashion, and disembarking a remarkable campaign for the ages (with record-shattering performances that surpassed Ruffian's and almost Secretariat's)! Thus, she is rightfully be called Rachel Alexandra The Great!

Zenyatta may be the better horse, and will always be a queen, but Rachel's impressive conquest for 2009 indicatively puts her a neck forward as she conquered the hearts of the many. Now, will somebody please call God to save the queen!

Therefore, with not much ado, RACHEL ALEXANDRA wins HOTY 2009!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

jenny — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:47:46 GMT

Jess Jackson only didn't want Rachel Alexandra to get beat, so he didn't enter her in the Breeders Cup.

Rachel Alexandra already won on the synthetic track.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

J and J — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:17:46 GMT

I admire both RA and Zen but I think you have to show up at the Big Show no matter what. I feel so bad for Curlin. He didn't win the race but still got HOY! Sometime's you just have to show up!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

bethany — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:13:08 GMT

Rachel Deserves Horse of The Year

8-8 for this season beating out of the countrys best colts at 3yrs old. Winning Preakness, Woodward, Oaks, and Haskell. What more could you want for a filly. She has accomplished alot in her 3yr old campagin... and winning 20 lengths in the oaks will be in my mind for ever what a tour de force as the announcer said.

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Pasturelands — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:01:23 GMT

RACHEL won NYRA story of the Year!! hooray for the SUPER FILLY!

MAY SHE WIN THE HORSE OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009!!!!!! GO, GO, BABY, GO!! WE ALL LOVE YOU!!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Rachel Girl — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:23:28 GMT

Rachel Alexandra is definatly the horse of the year because even though they were both undefeated Rachel Alexandra started out with the fillies, she beat them, then she went for the boys and beat them too!! Then, she took on the older boys and beat them too!! i dont think zenyatta did all that in her second year of racing!!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

jim — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:10:02 GMT

just like Jerry Bailey said Rachel took the easy road, and didn’t run in the Travers.

Mike Smith declaring Zenyatta is not only HOTY but "horse of the decade".

Zenyatta 2009 "horse of the year".

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Jonas luva — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:39:48 GMT

Zenyatta and I know that beacause this morning I was up early walking aroound my neighbor hood thinking who will win and I look up at the sky and it's painted Tourquoize and pink Zenyatta's colors!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Greg J. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 04:29:04 GMT

FYI,

Up for Auction on E-Bay is a Zenyatta Worn Halter that would be a priceless piece to own. It comes with a Letter of Authenticity stating that the halter was worn by Zenyatta in December 2009, It is signed by trainer John Shirreffs and exercise rider Steve Willard, Also, Three beautiful 8x10 prints of Zenyatta wearing the halter!

One Hundred percent of the money goes to Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue(SCTR), They specialize in the auction rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing of thoroughbred ex-racehorses. Besides a chance at owning a piece of History, You are also helping many Horses that need the help.

Here is a link Zenyatta's Halter:

cgi.ebay.com/Zenyatta-Halter-plus-Photos_W0QQitemZ250563245212QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop

Thank You...

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

Convene — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:38:06 GMT

Rachel Alexandra for HOY because she raised the bar on herself every time she raced. From the day she won the Oaks, she stopped racing fillies we expected her to beat and began testing herself against ever more impressive company. A 3-year old filly who could do all that and end up beating older males surely put in a Horse of the Year season. Her opponent was really only at risk once; Rachel risked her win-string every time she raced. HOY is, after all, not a Breeders Cup award; it's a seasonal accomplishment award. Do I wish she'd met Zenyatta? Of course I do! Zenyatta is a phenomenon! But the welfare of the filly is paramount and her team made their decision based on that fact. Either girl is a viable choice. I just think Rachel's a little more viable!

re: Horse of the Year - Final Arguments

sasha — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:38:30 GMT

Junior,

Polls have nothing to do with it because the only people voting in these polls are the ones who have followed racing for years or shall I say people who know about these different sites.

I only started watching because of Rachel & I know several others who did also. We do not know where all of these sites are and therefore cannot vote for Rachel. These opinion polls do not cover the millions of new fans that Rachel brought to the game. As a matter of a fact a lot of people never heard of Zenyatta until they heard of Rachel first, like me.

When a horse makes the times top 10 sports moments that shows how they have crossed over. Zenyatta has a lot of loyal fans who want her to win and there is nothing wrong with that. But Rachel is the one who put horse racing on the map again in. Rachel has crossed over into the mainstream which means that she surpasses these common places where you can find out about horse racing.

Zenyatta will always be special to her fans but she will not be horse of the year. Because she doesn't deserve it. There is no comparison in what she did in 2009 and what Rachel did in 2009. Everything that Zenyatta did, Rachel did better.

Zenyatta beat the boys once, Rachel did it 3 times. Zenyatta beat the girls, Rachel destroyed them. Zenyatta was 5 for 5. Rachel was 8 for 8.

Zenyatta made history 1 time, Rachel made history 7+ times. Zenyatta had 1 performance considered for moment of the year, Rachel had 4.

Zenyatta's fans and supporters only talk about 1 of her races from the entire 2009 season, Rachel's fans and supporters talk about all 8 of hers.

Zenyatta only raced in 1 state, Rachel raced in 6. Do you see the pattern here.

Rachel also has the highest beyer time of 116 of any horse this year. For whatever reason people think that Zeyatta would have beat Rachel on the track I have to wonder what angle you are looking at.

If Zenyatta had raced that day Rachel won by 20 lengths she would have been back there with the rest of the girls. Maybe futher ahead of them but no where near Rachel.

One thing Rachel has showed me is that when challenged she only gets faster. It is hard for me to imagine Zenyatta or anyone beating her when she can up it like that still after leading the pack.

Zenyatta's fans have to bring her entire career together by constantly saying that she is 14 for 14 which happened over 3 years. While Rachel's fans only have to mention 1 year.

When the argument is not even strong enough to focus on 1 year alone that should be telling. If you take the BC away from the conversation there is nothing left to talk about for Zenyatta in 2009. If you take the Preakness out of the conversation for Rachel she still has 7 other races to talk about. Anyone who wants to give the victory to a horse who only had major success once in 2009 and wants to take it away from the horse who had major success throughout the year is ok with the new hire who just got the promotion you have been working your butt off all year to get because she went to one meeting that you did not attend. Even though you attended 8 other meetings with much praise.

No one in that situation would be happy. The harder worker is always the one who should get the promotion because they did the long hours while the new hire was resting.

Zenyatta does not touch Rachel in 2009, no one does.

Rachel Alexandra is the undisputed Horse of the Year.

These opinion polls are will never be remembered. The only thing that matters is when the truth sounds on Monday night it will sound like Rachel Alexandra the 2009 HORSE OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!