No sooner had the synthetic dust settled in the wake of Zenyatta’s dominating performance in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita then the flame igniting the “Horse of the Year” debate was rekindled anew. At question is how to properly award the top honor in U.S. racing when considering the miraculous campaigns of both Zenyatta and the 3-year-old filly sensation Rachel Alexandra.
At this point in time, It’s become a question I’d really rather not address at all if it were not on the lips of nearly all I’ve spoken with these past few days. My personal feeling being that this is still Zenyatta’s moment and that at least one full week should pass before we begin doing what horseplayers do – arguing incessantly with one another over our respective levels of insanity. One can barely get so much as a word in about the Classic right now though without the issue coming up rather directly. Emotions seem to be running high on both sides of the isle as the immediacy of a supreme moment still actively courses through the furiously beating hearts of racing fans the world over.
In many ways, the pendulum seems to have swung almost completely. Where once Rachel was considered (including by yours truly) a mortal lock to have already captured the honor as Horse of the Year by virtue of (most notably) her Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward victories, a new wind has begun to blow. The much whispered “backlash” against team Rachel for having not attended the Breeders’ Cup had been one element of this change. The true spark, however, is a bit more noble in nature and seems to stem from a desire to ensure that Zenyatta is properly awarded for the undefeated career she has blessed us with.
As early as Saturday night, the battle lines were already being drawn. Attending a post-Classic dinner with folks from the TVG Community (the organizers for which I owe a great deal of thanks to for a wonderful weekend, along with those at both the NTRA and the Breeders’ Cup), I was asked for my opinion, and admittedly I balked a bit – attempting to play the classical Switzerland “neutrality defense.” Like many a smaller European nation state in the opening half the 20th century, I ultimately found myself being drawn, however unwittingly, into the great conflagration.
Not to be confused with the famous "French defense" in chess, the "Switzerland neutrality posture" in the great 2009 Horse of the Year debate is ultimately indefensible.
At the end of the day, I suppose someone does have to win the award, right?
So whom do we chose?
As much as I’ve tried to play the Switzerland defense, it’s probably rightly noted that I’m an ever-so-slightly bigger fan of Rachel Alexandra than I am of Zenyatta. I think that’s a fair assessment of my own emotional makeup. That’s not to say I don’t love Zenyatta with all my heart – always have and always will – but my record of pro-Rachel Alexandra coverage is something I cannot deny being consciously aware of.
That being said, I’ve loved Zenyatta since I spotted her profile prior to her maiden debut, noting “hey, that’s the same connections as Giacomo – I might take a shot with this girl!” In time she became my “slow cheetah” – a name and a song that will forever have a special meaning to me.
I care about these two fillies so deeply that I consider it the honor of a lifetime to have been there for the finer moments of each one’s 2009 campaign; Rachel in the Preakness and the Haskell, and Zenyatta in the Classic.
Much like I had been calling for a dead heat had the two ever locked horns on the track, I find myself utterly divided over who I would select as Horse of the Year. I suppose to extract a full answer from me, one might have to subject me to brutal interrogation, straight out of the famed Russian Roulette scene in The Deer Hunter. Tying me to a chair, constantly slapping my face whilst shouting “Mao!” and demanding that I make a selection. I believe what follows is what my ultimate decision would be under such duress (apart from arising from said chair and declaring “3 bullets!!! We play with 3 bullets!” in classical De Niro fashion):
- Rachel Alexandra for 3-year-old filly champion
- Zenyatta for Horse of the Year
Mao! Robert De Niro in the famous Russian Roulette scene from The Deer Hunter
Truth be told, I actually do believe that Rachel Alexandra had the superior overall year (with “overall” being the operative term), however Zenyatta clearly won the superior race.
Rachel’s year had more than one signature moment. She was the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness. She was the 2nd filly in 42 years to win the Haskell. She nearly broke the track record in the Mother Goose, coming close to the exploits of Secretariat at the same distance. Then, of course, she became the first 3-year-old filly to defeat older males in a stakes race of more than a mile on dirt since the inception of graded stakes in the U.S.
Zenyatta’s overall campaign for 2009 was a bit less heralded – until her triumph in the Classic that is. I doubt strongly that anyone will think back to her earlier races in the year and point to them as having been signature – but she did remain undefeated, even when carrying ridiculous amounts of weight and when it seemed to all observing that her undefeated record was in it’s greatest peril at the hands of Anaaba’s Creation. Somehow, someway, she ALWAYS found a way to win.
So if Rachel’s campaign is the one I believe to be more accomplished, why make Zenyatta Horse of the Year?
Because at some level, even if it has not historically been the case, the Breeders’ Cup Classic should be the deciding moment. The quintessential test of an overall champion. Moreover, the career that Zenyatta rewarded us with is one that is deserving of top honors. And it’s not like she didn’t race in 2009. She just didn’t race a whole heckuva a lot of times, nor did she put herself in tremendously challenging positions where victory was assumed to be anything other than a foregone conclusion until her date with destiny in the Classic.
I know that technically it isn’t right to attach emotional sentiment to that which she accomplished in 2008 and then factor that into the equation, but how can one not help but do so? In all likelihood she left us with her career defining performance on the sports biggest stage (at least the biggest stage for true fans of racing, as opposed to the Warhol-esque 2 minutes of national attention associated with the annual running of the Kentucky Derby) – a perfect story book ending to a career that will from henceforth be the measuring stick for all older fillies and mares that attempt to follow in her hoofsteps.
Likewise, Rachel Alexandra will go down as the new barometer by which all subsequent 3-year-old fillies will be compared. Make no mistake about it, we’ll still invoke memories of Ruffian as well, who will continue to be the greatest of the great fillies, but my sense of things is that Rachel’s ability to both win a 3-year-old Classic (the Preakness) and then follow that up with repeat performances over 3-year-old males in the Haskell and then older males in the Woodward will cement her legacy for years (if not decades) to come.
The mere fact that Rachel is sometimes mentioned in the same breath as Ruffian speaks volumes for how lofty her star has risen. Just a year ago you probably would’ve been diagnosed as certifiably mad if you dared to publicly compare any filly to Ruffian. Now people do so without batting an eye. I’ve refrained from making any direct comparisons myself, as I think it wise to the let the historical greats stand alone, and if nothing else become larger than the legends they were in their own time rather than replaced by newcomers and diminished in legend, but certainly folks reading this have at least heard those comparisons elsewhere and know what I’m referring to. The point being not whether they are warranted or not, but merely an acknowledgement that such comparisons do exist.
For Rachel, there will be a 2010, and a chance to show she is capable of winning a Breeders’ Cup Classic of her own. For Zenyatta, the Classic was in all likelihood her swan song.
What better way to send off a legend than to allow their final chapter to be an ultimate achievement? It just feels like the right thing to do.
As much as I love them both and am torn asunder in attempting to make a definitive statement one way or the other – I think the right thing to do is to send Zenyatta off to retirement as the 2009 Horse of the Year. After all, she started the year as the top older female in racing, and nobody was able to defeat her. Looking at things that way, and reducing the equation to it’s most simplistic component, it’s a bit hard to justify knocking her from her lofty perch – doubly so in the immediate aftermath of her finest hour.
And you know what? At the end of the day it’s really just a silly award. What these two ladies accomplished on the track will be remembered for years regardless of whether an additional trophy is added to their respective cases.
Respect for each of them has been EARNED on the track, not GIVEN at some awards ceremony.
That’s how I see things at least. What say you? Who do you think ought to receive the Eclipse Award for 2009 Horse of the Year?
Rachel Rachel Rachel!!!! Unfortunately, emotion is attached to most people’s decision and I am one of them. Zenyatta is great, but she never left her backyard so people other than Californians never really got a chance to see her. Not as easy to get attached to a horse you see on TV as it is when you are in the crowd and living the excitement.
Totally understand, babe – and there’s probably no definitive “right” or “wrong” answer to a question that was never decided on the track.
I know I call it “just an award” – but I also remember how important it was for me when Curlin won – and just like you say, this was because of the emotional attachment I had with him.
I’m just happy to have lived through this year. Keep bringing me excitement like that on the track and I could care less what happens at stuffy awards ceremonies.
By the way – no comment about the Deer Hunter “Mao” scene reference? That was totally for you!
Maybe I would feel differently if I were there, next year I am going too!! Hopefully it is as exciting. And yes I got the deer hunter reference!
Mine that Bird would have won the Preakness with another sixteenth of a mile … the ny bias will never convince … Zenyatta is the true classic champion … get over it …
Can’t say I agree with that sentiment, mjaekle. If we’re going to get into “if” scenarios about this year’s Preakness, then it seems clear to me Rachel would’ve dusted him by open lengths had she not had to break from the 13 hole.
I’d love to know who the folks are choosing option 3 in the poll?
Winning the BC Classic should play large into voting for HOY; however so should the body of work over the year (not over two years), number of G1 wins, quality of graded races, quality of competition, and the surface. Rachel won 3 more races than Zenyatta, that’s 60% more races; and 5 of those were G1 wins compared to Zenyatta’s 4 G1 wins. Rachel ran in better quality races than Zenyatta, and though the BCC was a huge win even if you weigh it 3 times more important than any other race, the numbers still stack up in Rachel’s favor. Emotions are high right now following the BC just as they were following Rachel’s wins. Now it’s time to set aside emotion and look at the years body of work and rightfully award HOY to Rachel Alexandra.
(Raising hand to Kevin’s last comment)
For now.
There’s much wisdom in your statement, JJ. I agree on many levels.
Neither of these horses deserves to lose anything, including an award that neither of them will ever know or care anything about.
And you’re right. It should be based on the body of work, for which I agree completely that Rachel’s is superior, and it should not be based on sentiments from 2008, but now it seems impossible not to do so.
Can we really contemplate letting an undefeated mare who won the Classic not be Horse of the Year?
If it’s possible to have both, I’ll go with that option.
If I have to choose….well then slap my face and yell “Mao!!” repeatedly while I fillibuster.
I’m calling this the Sophie’s Choice of horse racing. A question it is painful to answer no matter how you slice it.
@tencentcielo – I can’t lie…so did I
I don’t want to pick between them. Defenestrations are sure to follow for a percentage of the population following the announcement of whoever is chosen.
I agree with JJ too. This year’s body of work leans toward Rachel But the fact that the same owner, none of them bred by him, hoisting the Horse of the year three years in a row is a sight some will not want to see.
It is like Steve Nash’s second MVP. Even though he WAS the best player that year, he shouldn’t have won it because he had won it the year before with an inferior year.
As i having been saying, Curlin winning previously will hurt Rachel this year.
Did you just create a new word “defenestrations”?
It’s interesting that nobody really mentions in the Rachel VS. Zenyatta debate that we’re comparing a 5 year old mare, to a 3 year old filly.
I have been very carefully considering the situation since Saturday, and I beleive that Rachel Alexandra should still win Horse Of The Year.
She’s raced on good and sloppy tracks, won on tracks in Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, New Jersey, Maryland and two in NY, set two margin of victory records in two of the biggest 3 year old filly races in the country, defeated males her own age twice, and older males once, was the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness Stakes and the first to win from the 13th hole, became the second filly in 42 years to win the Haskell and finished her amazing year with 5 consecutive grade 1 wins. Plus she gave racing a shot in the arm publicity-wise that was astounding for any year!
Zenyatta has repeated her victories of last year in the Milady Handicap, the Vanity Handicap under 129 pound impost, Clement L. Hirsch Handicap and Lady’s Secret. She then became the only filly/mare to win the pretigious Breeders Cup Classic in the championship events 26 year history. Earlier in the year she was scratched at Churchill Downs becuase of a muddy track, and raced only in California this year, while compiling 4 consecutive grade 1 wins. Undeniably she is one of the greatest Breeders Cup champions of all time, but I can’t get past the fact that she only raced for half the year (May-November) and all in her comfort zone aside from the Classic.
Rachel ran from February thru September and did it all over the country.
I don’t think it’s a question of who’s better, it’s a question of who did the most, not only in thier campaigns, but for the sport as well.
I would chose Rachel over Zenyatta. One race should not over-rule a continuos stream of challenging races, even if it is at the world championships.
The ideal would be co-Horse Of The Year honors, that would be incredible!
Yikes, sorry that was sooooo long! (:
I agree wholeheartedly with Brian. RA raced more often this year–a tough campaign for a 3 YO. She won in all track conditions, and showed real courage holding off multiple challenges in the Woodward. They are both great race horses.
Regarding What-Ifs: Rachel could have raced in the BC; Zenyatta could have run in the Woodward. They might have raced each other; they didn’t. The Preakness wasn’t a 16th of a mile longer, the BC Classic wasn’t a 16th of a mile shorter; a horse race is always just as long as it is. Whoever is in front at the finish line wins the race. End of story.
I’d just like to point out in my defense that I’ve only admitted that I’d choose Zenyatta “if” I were under the duress of being actively tied to a chair while being repeatedly slapped in the face to chants of “Mao! Mao! Mao!”
Great stuf Brian – you know I agree with every bit of your assessment.
I guess I just don’t want to see either of these fillies lose anything.
What’s your take on the concern that splitting the award would diminish it’s value?
I personally have more affinity for Z. But Rachel had four big WOW races spread out in 2009. Four BIG THRILLERS. A historic 20 length win in the Kentucky Oaks, easy as pie. A defeat of a fast approaching Kentucky Derby winner in the Preakness, on little of the rest that Z enjoyed between starts, on a track she did not like. Leaving the Belmont winner in 6 lengths of dust in the Haskell. Holding on, Precious Passion style, for a screaming wire to wire win in the Woodward.
Judging by this year alone, and not by their owners WISE CHOICES of where best to run these girls, Rachel wins. By logic, not emotion. Let’s hope the voters use their heads and not surrender to whomever has the loudest fan club.
As a Z fan, may I suggest that her first colt, if he’s shown some early promise, be named Zecretariat.
Zenyatta Zenyatta Zenyatta!
For my full thoughts follow the link:
http://community.tvg.com/t5/TVG-Viewer-Mailbox/tencentcielo-s-take-on-Horse-of-the-Year/td-p/60328
Quickie version: Rachel should win, Zenyatta will win, and we all definitely won by being be able to be in the same place as these two horse when they put on show after show.
I’ve been saying it and saying it and saying it… Horse of the Year means nothing to a fan of a horse of a LIFETIME, and we are blessed enough to have two at the same time. That goes for RACHEL ALEXANDRA fans and ZENYATTA fans. Why are there complaints??? What a great time to enjoy horse racing. The fact that we love to watch these horses run and the fact that we’ll back them to the end is much better than a ceremonial trophy. How big of a fan are you for your respective selection??? I’m a ZENYATTA fan and I’ll back her to the end, but I also enjoy RACHEL… I know good when I see it and these two are something else. I don’t care about horse of the year and none of you should either… Who is your favorite horse??? That’s the real winner here… us, all of us!!!
PS: If anyone wants to know who originally created ZENYATTA’s likely nickname that will outlast any other… It was KS. I’ll bet you that ZENYATTA will be forever known as the “Slow Cheetah”. It makes all the sense in the world and what a tribute video.
I WILL make the trip to go see her this year, no matter what. Saratoga, Fair Grounds, Oaklawn, wherever.
For Kevin sakes, i hope i am right and she runs in the Pimlico Special.
Amy Stafford wrote:
“Not as easy to get attached to a horse you see on TV as it is when you are in the crowd and living the excitement.”
Did I miss something? Did I get the chance to see RACHEL in California this year?
Then Amy wrote:
“Maybe I would feel differently if I were there…”
No fan or horseplayer present Saturday would deny that sentiment…it was amazing, the most thrilling race I’ve ever seen. I wish I could have been at Pimlico, Monmouth Park, or Saratoga for RACHEL’s most compelling wins.
__________________________________________________
I’m putting it out there right now (not that anyone really cares what I think) that I feel ZENYATTA should be Horse of the Year.
Brian actually makes my point. The Breeders’ Cup has come to be revered as the “Championships”. RACHEL’s campaign was spectacular but designed to win the Horse of the Year without actually competing in the finals. Her ’09 campaign is deserving of both Champion 3y.o. Male and Champion 3y.o. Female honors. Jess Jackson is banking on the sentimental vote from East Coast voters, the same ones that back-doored MINESHAFT, who beat up on sub-par handicap horses all year long on the East Coast. MINESHAFT won Horse of the Year in 2003 when he skipped the Classic because Farish and/or Howard considered the main track (I’m paraphrasing) “too hard and fast”.
How many times has a college basketball team recorded devastating and/or thrilling March Madness wins only to come up short in the Final Four or Finals? Memphis w/ D. Rose comes to mind losing to underdog Kansas a few years back. I consider RACHEL this year’s Memphis…but she could have been Kansas had Jess Jackson given her the opportunity to compete. Jackson’s and Asmussen’s eyes are on the 2010 Classic on a track she’s proven over.
So, can we say that RACHEL wouldn’t be a deserving HOY in 2010 because she didn’t have to travel outside her comfort time zone? Should she be lucky enough to stay healthy and win the Classic, her career will likely never take her to California…but then again, what East Coasters require of Cali horses such as ZENYATTA never applies the other way around
!
After ZENYATTA’ s devastating 2008 Ladies Classic win, her campaign was pointed to two things: remaining undefeated to surpass PERSONAL ENSIGN’s undefeated 13 race career (GOAL MET!). She may not have achieved that record or the BC Classic win had she wrenched an ankle on that “good/sealed” track on Oaks day. As for the “different tracks and surfaces” comments by Denise and Brian, ZENYATTA won at three different tracks, on three very different synthetic surfaces.
The second goal was to compete on either of the Breeders’ Cup cards, the Ladies’ Classic or Classic (GOAL MET). She wound up winning the Classic, horse racing’s equivalent of the Super Bowl, World Series, and NBA Championships, and became the first female to win the race in the 26 years it has been run. Not even the great AZERI, ’02 HOY, could beat the boys in the 2004 Classic.
ZENYATTA defeated three time G.1 winner (Belmont S., Travers S., and Jockey Club Gold Cup) SUMMER BIRD. She crushed Kentucky Derby winner MINE THAT BIRD (okay, that’s not saying much these days). She outran GIO PONTI, a four-time G.1 winner in ’09 including the Kilroe Mile and the Arlington Million. She ran by G.1 winner TWICE OVER. G.1 winners COLONEL JOHN and RICHARD’S KID both ran identical races to their G.1 Goodwood 2nd and 3rd, but ZENYATTA proved that the better prep race on October 10 was the Lady’s Secret which also produced the Ladies’ Classic winner LIFE IS SWEET.
Long story longer…ZENYATTA HOY, RACHEL CHAMPION 3Y.O. MALE & FEMALE.
BTW, the only reasons that Mineshaft won was that Medaglio D’oro NOR Candy Ride won that Classic. Farish used the excuse that he wasn’t Breeders’ Cup eligible, so he would have had to pay the supplemental fee, to his advantage.
Rachel didn’t get so lucky.
Lots of great stuff here from everyone! As I struggle with brevity, I think tencentcielo summed it up perhaps as succinctly as possible when he wrote:
“…Rachel should win, Zenyatta will win, and we all definitely won by being be able to be in the same place as these two horse when they put on show after show.”
Taking nothing away, of course, from any of the other comments here. You are ALL “posting like champions.”
One other thought. I know this is unfairly simplistic, but I think it bears mentioning again. All of us approach this question with a great deal of passion because these horses have touched us in a unique way. We love ‘em, we admire their refusal to be defeated in competition, and we can’t bear to see them lose anything.
SInce it is most likely one horse will “lose’ the HOTY “race”, just keep in mind that the good news is they will never know or care that they have “lost” anything – as for all they know they’ve dusted everything they’ve faced (at least since Sara Louise in Rachel’s case).
“ZENYATTA defeated three time G.1 winner (Belmont S., Travers S., and Jockey Club Gold Cup) SUMMER BIRD.”
SB might be prepping for the Japan Cup Dirt. Mine That Bird had declined every race since winning the Derby and the Goodwood BSF was about 4 points on the high side. Both SB and Quality Road showed no experience on poly and were overrated. RipVan ran sans lasix and might have not been well meant. OTOH Gio Ponti and Twice Over (lasix on) are clearly equal or superior to Macho Again from their recent form.
I prefer Rachael because she ran close or equal to the older male Gr-1 par all year and Zenyatta was prepping for the BC and winning easily. The voters need the consider the fact that Jess Jackson can always decide to run next year or not at his discretion. Zenyatta could have run in the Beverly D at Arlington and challenged Rachel at a neutral site but didn’t.
To Amateurcapper: Unfortunately, you missed out greatly by not having the opportunity to see Rachel in CA, but Zenyatta didn’t go anywhere but CA. This is a 2 way street. Rachel raced in 6 states, Zenyatta only 1. You also made reference to Jackson giving her an opportunity to race, the same could be said about the Moss’ only racing Zenyatta sparingly and in CA.
Amateurcapper-I still think too much weight is being put on Zenyatta winning the Classic in your argument. Not to sound unappreciative of her accomplishments, but winning the Classic is all that she did to “shake things up” this year. The Lady’s Secret was impressive, but she’d already done it, same thing with the Clement L Hirsch, Vanity and Milady. There was nothing daring about any of it, and the competition she faced this year was very weak with the exception of Life is Sweet and the Lady’s Secret field, but those ones she already beat last year. Her year before the Classic was like listening to a broken record, it just repeats. It was great to watch her win again and again, but it was all the same, no new challenge until the Breeders Cup.
Zenyatta is Horse of the Breeders’ Cup, Rachel Alexandra is Horse of the Year.
Kevin-I think co-Horse of the Year would be great for racing. There’s always going to be some people who don’t think it should be shared, that one deserved it over the other, or that it’s not as pretigious being split. I think it would be another tremendous publicity angle. How long ago was the last co-Horse of the Year award? If presented the right way, the press could be used to a great advantage in racing, especially if Rachel does run again next year as it appears. Many of the bigger names in racing (Bob Baffert, Cordero, etc.) seem to think it would be wonderful as well, I think the vast majority of people would love it.
Speaking of either of these horses has reached the “religion” and “politics” rule. Look nobody’s ever going to change their mind and each side is right for different reasons. If I post just the name ZENYATTA I can garauntee that the following comments will be half ZENYATTA related, half RACHEL ALEXANDRA related, half positive, half negative, half intelligent, half ridiculous… but 100% passionate. The great debate indeed, but there’s nothing to debate if we can all agree that we are all entitled to be a fan, that both horses are great for very different reasons and that horse of your lifetime is better than a trophy… Our fanship means more than their lame little give out a trophy party. I don’t watch the oscars, I don’t watch the grammy’s, in fact I could give an “S” about the look at me I’m number one parties. The only trophy the horse cares about are our cheers and the good ones know when they won… the horse cares about what’s real. That piece of bronze they hand out is for the owner. It’s just another thing to put on their mantle to brag about… “look at me I bought a horse”… I guess the Moss’s at least were involved with ZENYATTA from the start. The trophy is for the owner, not the horse.
Don – great to see you around again! Always interested to here what you’ve got to say. I really thought more from Rip Van Winkle was to be expected, but as I saw after making my picks on replays of “The Works” – he didn’t look very good Also didn’t make much of a post parade impression. Twice Over looked much better in person. I wound up not even putting a dime on Rip and instead focusing bets on Z.
Mr. Del Mar – Righ on bro – it’s just a trophy, and neither of ‘em (Rachel or Z) will ever know they didn’t “win” this race.
Although I’ve gotta say – I like this idea more and more of co-horse of the year winners.
I don’t. I firmly believe that people will be happy about co-horse of the year for as long as it takes them to clear the beverly hilton ballroom after the Eclipse awards.
After that, people will say it is nothing but a marketing ploy to help boost the sport. Controversy like this is just what the sport needs to get more into the mainstream media. This is good for the sport. I think.
Interesting. The controversy might be good for racing, but it bears asking how many folks outside of diehard racing fans even know what “Horse of the Year” means or might be attracted by such controversy?
One of our biggest challenges is that a moment like Zenyatta’s triumph is coupled with the realization that any new fans she may have attracted likely won’t ever see her race again – unless they decide to bring her back.
That’s why what we really need to do is a better job of marketing our stars before they reach their end, but I digress. Easier said than done.
You raise a great point about marketing ploy concerns – but think about it, at some level wouldn’t it behoove racing to award a horse who is likely to return? That way they can market the “return of the Horse of the Year” next year.
I could see the logic behind that. Not saying it’s right – but I could understand the thinking behind such a decision.
HOTY is for accomplishment during the year in question. Keeping sentiments aside, one has to assess whose accomplishments are greater keeping the technicals of horse racing as a sport. Answer cannot be anything but Rachel.
Zenyatta is a great mare. Recognize that and create a special award for her if need be. JJ has done the perfect thing because for a three year old Rachel already went through a gruelling season and came out with flying colors. She still has the opportunity to compete in Breeders’ Classic. Rachel’s brilliance does not have to be reconfirmed on a synthetic track for HOTY.
Well said Mahar!!
Mahar-Very good, I wholeheartedly agree! I’ve said this before: Zenyatta is Horse of Half a year.
Once again… our camp feels the same way. No minds will ever be changed. That just shows you what a great year this was for horse racing. No BIG BROWN, no great Triple Crown (just being honest here), but these two horses have made this year huge. I still say that open company worldwide for the richest day in racing is paramount to races restricted by age and origin. You’ve got to be on the big stage against the best with zero restrictions… that’s the main event, The Breeders Cup Classic. If I hear one more synthetic complaint I’m going to lose it… they all have to race on that surface, ZENYATTA has won on dirt, RACHEL has won on synthetic. This whole deal with Mr. Jackson being antisynthetic is ridiculous… listen to his interview before CURLIN ran in the ’08 Breeder’s Cup and then listen to him after. He’s a bitter critter about seeing CURLIN lose. He should’ve been a good sport and tipped his cap to RAVEN’S PASS. Because of this, horse racing lost the idea of the deciding race on the biggest stage this year, but my girl still made it one of the most memorable races of all time. A forfeit is a forfeit… ZENYATTA beat the best in the WORLD of any AGE. She’s NEVER lost and this whole deal about her facing bums is ridiculous after you see what LIFE IS SWEET did in the Breeder Cup Ladies Classic. PERFECTION is PERFECTION, what more can you ask for.
Give Rachel the trophy… In the great words of Rick Kane from the movie North Shore “Hey Burkhart, you and I know who really won out there today.”
(Action) Mr. Del Mar drops the microphone and walks of stage…
(Action) Mr. Del Mar returns to the stage and picks the microphone up to say this…
“With the recent retirement of ZENYATTA, I will be joining team RACHEL for upcoming performances.”
My boss (out in CA) said he heard something on the radio today about Zenyatta being at Hollywood Park. I haven’t checked yet – but I’m wondering, is she racing or is it just a farewell parade type thing like they did with Curlin at Churchill last year?
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/48091/resting-zenyatta-may-parade-at-hollywood
Your answer, sir
P.S. Tiznow-Zenyatta
TIZNOWASLOWCHEETAH
Well worth the price of admission!
I remember back when Curlin retired, a lady who commented here semi-regularly named Libby (who I met at Monmouth Park this summer) made a special poster for him with pictures and parts of articles we had all written about him – and setup an easel near the paddock where she got hundreds of folks to sign – she sent me a copy and it’s a proud addition to our “Wall O’ Curlin” in the living room.
Some of you CA guys might want to think about doing a little something special for Zenyatta’s going away party. Not like there will be a shortage of signs or anything, but the Moss family seems the type that would appreciate such gestures.
Plus, having seen how uber intelligent Zenyatta is, I’m sure at some level she’ll “know.”
I want to see this pics of this poster, and this wall o’ Curlin.
To use a template.
I have been very lazy to do this, but i eventually plan to take El Cielo’s PP’s, enlarge them, and use it as wallpaper.
Just realized that the link is talking about last year.
Darn.
Hopefully it will happen
I think I’ve got a pic somewheres around here – I’ll see if I can dig it up. The wall O’Curlin consists of that – Jess’s paddock credentials from Curlin’s Preakness win (Jess’s spokesmen and lawyer sent ‘em to me as a gift after reading a post here), plus some 20×17 photos of his Preakness win (with Amy and I indistinguishable yet present in the background of the Grandstand), and of his ’07 Classic win.
Of course- we also show up clearly in the photo of Rachel winning the Preakness….and of course there’s me getting destroyed by Pays to Dream in the ’08 Dixie Stakes just prior to the Preakness.
Here’s me in the yellow hat (left of picture along the turf rail) while Pays to Dream knocked us out of the Pick 6 – you’ll recognize the trademark “goodluck shirt” from back then, which was traded in for the polo I now consider good luck. Yes, I need a wardrobe makeover…clothes are about the last thing I spend money on)
Amy’s next to me taking a picture of the late Shakis, whom we had singled on to keep the ticket cheap. I thnk it was a $16 Pick 6 and we got within 1 race of Big Brown. It was chalky though. Not sure why Amy’s taking that photo, I think I was muttering choice expletives at the time.
http://theaspiringhorseplayer.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/pays-to-dream.jpg
You’ve seen this next one before, but it’s happier days at Pimlico. Someone made an afghan out of this photo and you can see us on that as well!
http://theaspiringhorseplayer.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/amy-and-me-in-preakness-photo.jpg
A) Cool!
B) I had two cashes that day. A horse in the last race at Hollywood and Pays to Dream. Rest of the day was… pitiful.
An interesting an totally unsubstantiated analysis of the voting:
Currently at 79 total votes:
1. Rachel – 30 votes (38%)
2. Zenyatta – 38 votes (48%)
3. “Mao!!!” – 11 votes (14%)
Seems “Mao!!!” could be having a Ross Perot effect on the voting. The next question obviously being “is he hurting one side more than the other?”
“Mao!!!”, it might be presumed, would be more appealing to sensible “Rachel voters” who don’t wish to diminish but do wish to show proper respect for Zenyatta’s performance – especially in it’s immediacy.
“Zenyatta voters”, I’d presume, might be more likely to vote her, considering her performance is much heralded and fresh in the mind (not to mention, it was the Classic).
Just a totally baseless theory…call me a “HOTY Truther.”
And for the record, dimpled chads will be counted!
Speaking of which…imagine the drama of a “recount” during the HOTY announcement? Congressional debates….Supreme Court rulings….this might be what the horse racing world needs!
Imagine if they tie because one person voted for Gio Ponti.
Or Bullsbay.
or Tiznowaslowcheetah. LOL
I’d hope to see King Solomon make the decision to have the trophy split in half. What would the connections do? Go Peyton Manning/Marvin Harrison with the game ball or save the baby? Probably neither… it’s just a piece of bronze. What a year!!!
You know, Matt – you bring up a great analogy. For there is another debate raging in the sports world.
I say whoever loses HOTY (although I’d like to see both win, if possible), wins HEISMAN!
Actually I’m cheering for Mark Ingram in that race. Roll Tide. Although my eyes are on both the SEC championship and the National title. A Heisman would be nice as well. Like having “total consciousness” promised to me on my deathbed instead of a Caddy tip from the Dalai Lama.
The winner should pull what Ving Rhames did a few years back at the Emmys and leave it on the stage for the other to collect.
Why, oh why, would you want to jinx your own team? No heisman trophy winner (save Leinart) has won the national title game.
Bradford, Smith, Bush, White, Crouch, Weinke… (all in this decade)
Do you want me to keep going?
Or would you prefer i fit you for a Tigers jersey?
Perhaps these horses are so great that they do not give out a horse of year award in the same way as usual… Uh oh another revelation… How about they create a new award called the ZENYATTA lifetime achievement award and give ZENYATTA the inaugrial trophy. Then they could give RACHEL ALEXANDRA the horse of the year trophy for 2009 and at the end of RACHEL ALEXANDRA’s career they can decide if she is worthy of the ZENYATTA lifetime achievement award on the year she retires…
So passive aggressive… but, I do feel about 50% that way at times with this discussion. How can you beat perfect??? How many dead late closers are perfect??? How many horses of any style are perfect??? “I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.” What more can you do than win every race put in front of you in dramatic style and then face the gents (the best in the world showed) on the biggest stage and crush them in dramatic fashion? Perfect I say, perfect. Pac 10 vs. SEC rules should not apply.
I’d prefer to see something special done for this year’s horse of the year award… how about instead of letting the suits decide… they have a text vote and online vote from each and every horseplayer or horse racing fan for $1 a vote and the proceeds go to race horse retirement. If we want to argue about nothing… let’s make the byproduct be positive and about something important… more important than a piece of bronze. We as horseplayers are well known for putting our money where our mouth is. Well we never got the race to do just that, but we can do it for horse of the year honors and let the Old Pro (forgotten contenders) profit from our passion.
What do you say gang? Who’s in? KS can you set this up with the right people?
That should read inaugural… either way the closing paragraph really sums up my thoughts. Let’s turn this into a positive… let’s have a fan vote with the proceeds going to race horse retirement and do this same thing every year from here on out. UNITY, as ONE stand together… even when we disagree we can turn it into UNTIY and make positive change. Let’s do this!!!
HORSEPLAYERS UNITE!!!
I’m in.
Both USC and UCLA rejected me for pre-med, so i have no love for the Pac-10. Cal Poly Pomona all the way!!!!!!!
(i really went to Cal Poly because it was free ride and i switched to Engineering after one quarter. Now i’m in accounting. Epic fail.)
Epic fall, not epic fail.
58 Commnets… can you say “hot topic”?
Let’s do it, Matt!!!! Best idea I’ve heard yet. We should do a post on it and make sure folks see it. Doubt it wll happen, but you never know – talk about a PERFECT way to generate buzz for the sport and help bring it into the 21st century!
Fantastic idea – we HAVE to get this discussion going.
I just copy paste this onto the community site. Kevin agrees 1000000000000…000%
I do too.
Best part: NO TAKEOUT. NO FEES.
Tencent – true dat about the Heisman. I’ll take championships anyday, although it might be a great recruiting tool/consolation prize should something happen to deny me my Crimson colored championship!
Let’s roll! Horseplayers unite!!!!
Go get it guys!
“You can do it!”
Forget can.
“We WILL do it!”
tencent – we need you as well! The three of us – like TVG musketeers – swashbuckling through the old ways….do I get to wear a cape? And a false mustache?
Seriously – I love this – and for some reason I do think there’s a chance.
Just put a new thread on the Community. Going to also place this on the community.drf.com (aka the Illman Blog) as well. But i need some place to direct them.
Where?
Matt is Keifer, I’m Charlie and your… Oliver Pratt
Hmmmm…not sure…can always do here! : – )
Not sure if that works though.
I just submitted an email to someone to test the waters and see how crazy we are.
I will wait on the Illman blog until i can feed them somewhere. They like me over there. They will go for it. in the meanwhile, i will e-mail some of them to gauge their opinions.
Word! It’s past midnight and I’ve got a 12 hour work day ahead, so I’m off to bed. Dreams of the “great voter caper” dancing in my head.
Let’s get it done gang!!!
Great idea Matt! This is a win win for everyone especially retired horses. Also, what an incredible way to give fans an opportunity to make their voices heard.
Kevin, just remember if we get the opportunity to vote you must vote Rachel. Or this Asian will be standing over you yelling TIKI MAO!!
While the pros and cons of each of these magnificent females continues to be debated ad nauseam, the deciding factor for me is which horse had the fuller, more challenging, campaign. This is, after all, Horse of the Year that we’re talking about. Zenyatta clearly gets ‘Horse of the Day’ for her performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic but the five year old mare raced only five times – never having to leave the comfort of her own backyard – while Rachel Alexandra, the three year old filly, took to the road and put in a eight race campaign. In an era where fans moan and groan about how little our superstars race, the fuller campaign must be rewarded. To do otherwise will ensure that we see less and less of our superstars as they cherry pick their way to the Breeders’ Cup.
That’s a BRILLIANT plan! How come this wasn’t thought up before?
Liked the voting/fund raising idea you posted at NYTimes today.
Brilliant idea – but not one I can take any credit for. All that credit goes to Mr. Del Mar.
Glad to know that NY Times comment made it through – I kept checking back and it was stuck in “moderation” for eternity!
A lot of people i bring this idea to are against it. They don’t like changing an existing award just because of the controversy.
I’m thinking about changing this a little. Instead of it deciding HOTY, let us create a new NTRA award: The Fan’s HOTY.
Same set-up. Gets rid of the problems with having it decide an existing award that people keep bringing up.
I’m not seeking any credit and every voter deserves the credit equally… Same with anyone who takes action… so far that’s KS, 10Cent and later more… every voter who places a vote for their champion and benifits the great “old pros” is added to the list. I really hope this becomes a reality, it would be great for horse racing. Can you imagine the publicity??? It would be a huge step to bring horse racing to the “Hot Topics” of the sports world. The credit goes to everyone who makes this into a reality… whether it be an idea guy, an action taker or a voter. How great would this be? It’s a win/win.
I agree that if only one horse can receive the Horse of the Year award that it should be Zenyatta. I am also a big fan of Rachel Alexandra and am looking forward to seeing her race next year (even devoted a scrapbook to her). Everyone criticized the Zenyatta camp because they were placing her in “easy” spots, but when they step up and send her to the Classic, the critics still aren’t silenced. For true horse racing fans, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic is and should be considered the highest achievement. That race includes the best of the best 3 yo males, older males, and foreign shippers. Give credit where credit is due!
Hi, for everyone who has not seen, Alex Waldrop mentions Matt’s idea in a post he created today on the NTRA site and asks for comments and opinions. So everyone might want to try and get over there to get your voice heard.
Side note, our home computer is acting up so if Kev doesn’t respond to comments this is why.
Thanks!
[...] 14 11 2009 An interesting thing happened in the comments of our post discussing the 2009 Horse of the Year debate. While we went back and forth extolling the virtues and questions about the Breeders’ Cup [...]
It’s kind of funny that the computer blew up after this discussion… maybe this will work.
What makes a great race horse is that it runs faster than the others. Zenyatta and Racheal have not faced each other. If they were to race the question is who would win? This is the only relevant question when judging which is the greater race horse. If I were to bet, I would bet on Zenyatta. The Racheal camp avoided a showdown at the Breeders Classic because they feared Zenyatta. They wagered they would still win horse of the year anyway.
In my mind’s eye I can see Zenyatta coming from behind to nip Racheal Alexandra at the wire.
Zenyatta is the one.
After seeing the replays of all the races for both horses in 2009, I give my vote to Zenyatta. Rachel’s campaign was great but she was mostly sucking wind after her tough races while the big mare was barely breathing hard. Those that give Rachel an edge tacktically because of her speed is probably right below 9 furlongs but mythical race or not, I don’t see a younger weaker Rachel beating a mature stronger Zenyatta past 9 furlongs and definitely Rachel has ZERO chance at 10 furlongs.
This is the easiest decision I have ever ha to make…Its a no brainer…come on
let me give you hints
Shag and Kobe – all star game
Its Call CO-MVP….really very very simple.
Has there ever been a more fitting case to have one in Horseracing.
Real real real simple guys. Anything else is a total JOKE
HORSE OF YEAR ( TIED) Rachel and Zenyatta
[...] I can only assume that in their adolescent minds this Saturday’s race was some sort of referendum on the 2009 Horse of the Year voting. It wasn’t, as anyone with an IQ over 40 understands. 2009 was about 2009, and that issue [...]
magnificent submit, very informative. I wonder why the opposite experts of this sector do not realize this. You should continue your writing. I am confident, you have a great readers’ base already!