Rachel Alexandra Retired
 

Rachel Alexandra Retired
Posted: 4:20 PM ET

Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra (f, 4, Medaglia d'Oro) has been retired, majority owner Jess Jackson announced today. "As you know, despite top training and a patient campaign, Rachel Alexandra did not return to her 2009 form," said Jackson. "I believe it's time to retire our champion and reward her with a less stressful life. We are delighted that she will retire healthy and happy to our beautiful farm in Kentucky. Rachel Alexandra owes us nothing. As a three-year-old, she set standards and records that no filly before her ever achieved. And I suspect it will be quite a while before a three year old filly ever equals or surpasses her achievements. Although her fans were thrilled by a series of spectacular victories, I believe they, as we, were simply awed time and again by her sheer beauty, courage and athleticism."

less stressful life...hahaha

Can he be any more insufferable?

So that bullet work was for what? Kicks? :rolleyes: Did she hurt herself or something and he's just not admitting it?

Shocking news. :rolleyes:

He knows she would get smashed in any BC race, trying to save face by pulling an Aga Khan and breeding her to his male champ (Curlin).... so not cool.

Breed, baby breed. We need horses like you

I only saw her in person once, and that was in the fantasy at Oaklawn. One of the most impressive performances I've ever seen. Calvin didn't touch until just past the wire when he gave her a slight tap to encourage her to get a 1 1/8th. I think they were halfway down the back stretch before the rest of the field crossed the wire. when you have your first adult beverage (or your next) today, I think a toast is in order to Rachel...

This thread should be fun

Hate they are taking the easy way out, but I guess the writing was on the wall with a string of disappointments....pretty clear she wasn't ever going to regain that 2008 form with Assmussen pulling the strings.

I'm just as big a Rachel fan as any Rachel fan can get, but a horse player/lover has to recognize limitations. Rachel will remain one of the greatest 3-year olds to ever grace the racing world. She did not return to such greatness as a 4-year old, but I venture to say that she didn't embarrass herself either. That run she made in the Personal Ensign brings tears to my eyes. Watching this great filly running on heart alone that last furlong was as great as watching her win any race that she did.

Tears of sadness that I will never see her race again or visit her early mornings at Oklahoma, but sad tears mixed with tears of happiness that she retired safe and healthy.

ODE TO A HORSE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMHexZ2I3xI

http://www.suite101.com/content/oaks...curlin-a115602

He planned on breeding her to Curlin the minute he bought her post-Oaks. It's one of the big reasons he bought her in the first place. She just threw a bullet work out there, so it's hardly evidence of her ability to get smashed.

This was all about Classic or nothing. If she was best suited for the Ladies Classic, we should've known he wouldn't wanna do it period. Can't make all the fuss about facing Zenyatta and running in the BCC, then bail and go the day before.

Saw her twice - Oaks and Preakness '09 - probably the two most impressive non-Barbaro races I've ever witnessed in person, superlatives intended.

Why the surprise though? It's not like anybody couldn't have seen this coming.

Will the bullet work be on her final racing form stats? Will they continue to work her as part of her breeding program?

She would've gotten smashed in the Distaff? By who? Malibu Prayer?

retired after suffering a strained hair braid.

The way they (and many others) talk it is like she went from being the best horse to ever run in 2009 to being a complete bum this year.
It is complete nonsense. Her races last year weren't that much better than some of the races she has run this year. Last year her performances were overrated....this year underrated.
Retiring her is certainly not a shocking move by them....but it is completely moronic.

agreed

"We don't mind losing as long as she's healthy"

Yeah. So what's the excuse now? Did your life coach give her a look-see and tell you she's stressed out?

Big narcissist ape. It's all about him and she's not up to his lofty, deluded standards.

I am shocked. I wish things were different:(

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

She will be missed on the track, hell of a year last year. Fortunate enough (despite the weather) to see her in the Haskell last year. Always fun to see what the horses she beat up (win or lose) on come back to do next.

Blind Luck to the Beldame?

That will be decided in 6 weeks.

Why would "Rachel lovers" want to defend him or the gutless campaigning of the horse this year? Fans of the horse - even more than anyone else - should be pissed at him.

My thought was if she wins the Classic again no contest. If not then perhaps RA goes first...

Keep working her til the Eclipse Awards, then announce her unretirement when you don't win HOY. From what I've seen this year, that sets Rachel up well to win the Classic in 2011.

Done...thank you Rachel.

A great horse, sorry to see her go.

false.

no "match-up" will make horse racing popular.

Chances are it wouldn't but there is no way of knowing because we're stuck with chicken-s.hit owners and trainers at the top level.

very true.

It would have been quite an event that would have deservedly gotten a whole lot of attention. It really is disgraceful that the two great fillies never met despite the ample opportunities. In an era where 'historic' races are few and far between, it would have been worthy.

It will certainly be a great relief to those who touted her as being able to beat Z in the classic. Now they won't have to eat that crow. Happy retirement Rachel, you were the most sensational 3 year old some of us may ever witness.

Bullshit.

It never would have happened and besides, even if it had? It would have done zero for the sports popularity.

Anyway here's to a long and happy life. I never did get to see her in person but man... I will never forget her wins and how breathtaking they were.

Oh I didn't see this till now.

Great minds...

Really well said.

this sport somehow manages to leave it's fans unhappy far too often. too bad they were never able to manage to get zenyatta and rachel to meet. now, jess jackson is an ass...but had he not bought rachel, we wouldn't have had a preakness, haskell and woodward like we had last year. they obviously felt rachel wasn't up to the classic in nov, and anything else would have left everyone unsatisfied. best of luck to rachel in the future.

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.