Is that the one I referred to? I'm reading too much BS on this to keep it straight.

Me too. . . Didn't even realize that was what everyone was talking about. It's hard to keep track of all the ridiculous hyperbole.

While there are several segments of the horse racing industry that are manned with less than competent people, no area is quite as poorly represented as what passes for turf writers. The sad fact that a complete buffoon like Drape could win 2 eclipse awards is really all you need to know.

If Peter King came out tomorrow and said that he was voting for Peyton Manning for MVP regardless of what happens the rest of the season he would be savaged and probably lose his vote.

As for the comment that last years Classic was one of the strongest fields ever? The cherry on top of Drapes **** sundae.

Much like some of the prior lunacy about 'HOY even with a loss', Drape's "view" is receiving more admonishment than fawning concurrence. The last comment in the string is about as succinctly and respectfully laid out as could be...

It's unfortunate to see someone have such little respect for this great game that he would unabashedly announce his bias, at the expense of fairness and sanity, in the manner that Mr. Drape has done with this piece. As has been suggested in the preceding comments, at least several others, particularly Quality Road, Blame, and Lookin at Lucky, would be FAR more worthy Horses of the Year than Zenyatta with a Classic win. To declare, as Mr. Drape has done, that Zenyatta is Horse of the Year regardless of the Classic results, both ignores fairness and common sense. It is nothing but childish impudence by someone who will be clearly unwilling to admit he was wrong should Zenyatta run to her prior 2010 efforts and fail to make even a minor impact on this below average BC Classic field. Not only does Mr. Drape ignore her actual 2010 achievements, he ignores the actual manner in which she has performed in 2010, while unfairly chastising those that have viewed her 2010 performances with an unbiased eye. In kind, he also ignores that the reason none of these Classic hopefuls have faced her is that she has not run in one single race in 2010 that any member of this field was eligible to compete in. Mr. Drape would like readers to believe that it is others that have ducked her, when nothing could be further from the truth.

Zenyatta has had a wonderful, albeit well manicured ( so to speak ), career. She is the greatest synthetic performer of all time. Perhaps she will silence her doubters next weekend by proving this dominance extends to the dirt surface. If so, she is the deserving 2010 Horse of the Year. However, if she does not, it answers the question in a different manner, and for any voter to announce his decision before this question has been answered begs another question....should that voter really be allowed to submit a ballot?

Amen! :tro:

Well written.

an excellent reply to drape's ridiculous article.

She probably won't run anyways.

Wouldn't shock me

I'd cry. I can't wait to taunt the Z fans post-Classic.

Considering how many of them - males includes - will already be crying, that doesn't seem very...nice.

That would be the most useless of endeavors. They will say stupid crap like, "She's a six year old and is three years past the time horses should even be running"

Or

"It was too speed favoring a track"

Or

"Flying over the Rockies sapped her will to win"

Or

"She wanted to be nice to her opposition"

Or

"Even though she's been to Arkansas twice, she got spooked by being around too many rednecks"

Etc.

Etc.

Ad nauseum

Everyone has a built in excuse, it's being run under the lights.

I didn't even consider that, but now that I think about it, that should favor her.

Did you taunt the RA fans after little Z beat her and she had to be subsequently/eventually retired? Did you taunt all those fans of the FAST QR when he got dusted? After all those threads about how he would have no trouble going 10F and would bury anything presently running? Seems to me you and all the Z bashers were very much fans of RA and QR. Which makes it interesting that all of you are finding the nuts to continually come after Z and her supporters.

I could care less if Z wins the Classic or not. But if I were all over RA and QR, I certainly would've shut the f u c k up at this point. Of course, all those that were WRONG about RA and QR have left is to go on the offensive and come after Z (and her supporters). And if Z fails, it still only means that you were right ONE out of THREE times. And if she wins it'll be because the field was very weak.:rolleyes:

The problem with all the s hi t being thrown around here is that all of you have a bit of a history of some very poor opinions. Hard to take any of you seriously after the QR debacle this year. The super horse. ha ha ha. Especially since I was one his (and RA's) harshest critics. Know what I mean, Ace?

So, you might want to wait a little bit longer. :rolleyes:

OMG

Those would be referred to as facts as opposed to excuses.

Personally i believe Mike Smith will bear the brunt of the post-race criticism
a.Moved too early
b.Moved too late
c.Too wide
d.Got blocked
e.Didnt switch leads

As you've displayed, the complete insanity and irrationality of those stricken with Zen-fever eclipses anything positive ever said about the other two you've mentioned. The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

^^
Captain Hindsight fan

The thing is that, what many of the supposed detractors have pointed out wont be washed away with a win in the Classic. The weakness of her competition for the vast majority of her career and especially this year's inane schedule for a horse aiming for a horse of the year title is hardly childish or silly. I think the telling part of the argument is that when confronted with this the Zenyatta zealots don't come up with a counterpoint to the claim but launch counter attacks that we dont "appreciate greatness, she is special, you are just a hater, she is better than RA, ..."

Most of her 'detractors' make the point that we believe she is a very talented horse. But the facts are she has 2 dirt wins, 1 win over males and this year has beaten pretty much a bunch of mediocre (to be nice) fillies and yet we are supposed to rank her with Citation?

Citation didn't dance.

He danced as well as Kurt Warner

i used to own a 50 year anniversary video about H.P which had a lot of fotage of
citation.......what a tremendous looking horse he was.

:tro::tro::tro:

He has confused competetive with "great" the field looks like it will make a great betting race. Lots of races do that. Does not make them great. Ghostzappers was really solid in recent memory.

Are you not comprehending? No one is denying that she is a hall of famer and one of the best mares of all time. And if she wins the Classic for a 2nd year in a row than she very well may be the best mare. BUT that isn't what the Z-tards will accept for her 'legacy'. We are constantly told she is one of the best if not THE best horse of all time. Once again, the streak is a great accomplishment but simply winning isn't enough to break into the pantheon. The hyperbole is what aggravates many of us. This isn't the "best field ever" assembled for the Classic. Last years wasn't either. She isn't the greatest horse ever. She shouldnt be horse of the year if she loses the Classic. People pointing these things out arent haters. They are simply grounded.

I don't think she's one of the best mares of all time.

Does that make me a hater? Only if you are a Zenyattard.

I love how Z fans proclaim how neutral they are, then go on to say anyone who disagrees with them is a Z hater.

Like Homer.

Just think, before Zenyatta came along, Clever Trevor was regarded in some quarters as the best horse to ever win a major route stakes over a synthetic surface in the U.S. Now, without a doubt, that title belongs solely to Zenyatta. Well done.

I do not think she is one of the best mares in the past 10 years. If by that you mean top 5.

the boys can't come and play when she runs in races restricted to fillies and mares.

how can they be fair points, and then be made by someone who is blind? that makes no sense. i haven't seen anyone yet who says they hate the horse. no one hates her. altho many may take exception to the rampant hyperbole, their feelings are limited to the delirious fans, not directed at the horse.

zenyatta is absolutely a special horse, one who has managed a win where no one else of her sex has triumphed. everyone gives credit where it's due. the patience is lost when people say 'even secretariat and man o war lost' or that she's the best ever. no, she's not. there's also the fact that her owners think that running in one decent race a year should qualify her as being the horse of the year. no, it doesn't, and it shouldn't. if it were any horse other than zenyatta with the racing done this year being mentioned that way, the person doing the mentioning would be shouted down. but because it's zenyatta, it's over the top.

OMG. Kudos to those of you still trying.

have none of her wins come on dirt?