Zenyatta Has Earned Horse of the Year

[Duvalier]

Big Brown? You got to be kidding

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

Big Brown? You got to be kidding

Why? Surely BB was exposed to a much wider audience than Zenyatta. I would think all of Big Browns 3 year old races were nationally televised and winning the Derby and going for a TC creates far more exposure than a single BC race even with the 60 minutes/Oprah lead in.

[slotdirt]

I guarantee you Big Brown's Belmont loss got significantly more national coverage than Zenyatta's BCC second, and Big Brown was probably the least noticed of the Derby-Preakness doubles of the last decade.

[slotdirt]

Also, maybe I'm biased because I'm on the East Coast, but Smarty Jones and Funny Cide seemed infinitely more popular locally than did Zenyatta. As far as average joes that I know, I'd say Zenyatta ranked with Afleet Alex in terms of popularity.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

I guarantee you Big Brown's Belmont loss got significantly more national coverage than Zenyatta's BCC second, and Big Brown was probably the least noticed of the Derby-Preakness doubles of the last decade.

That will happen when a huge favorite gets pulled up and eased when going for a Triple Crown.

[slotdirt]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

That will happen when any horse ever is going for a Triple Crown.

Fixed that for you.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Fixed that for you.

The lead up to the race maybe...but his loss got significantly more coverage because of the circumstances surrounding it.

[slotdirt]

I'm not sure what your point is other than Zenyatta is probably less known to the average, casual fan of horse racing than Big Brown.

[Cannon Shell]

Zenyatta was so popular with the general public that the clamor to see her resulted in how many of her races being picked up nationally?

Hell even Curlin got ESPN news break-in's when he ran as a 4 yo.

The problem is that the newer generation has so little exposure to truly great horses or even solid campaigns by very good horses. The ESPN philosophy of acting as though every event is historic or something that you've never seen before or an all-time great seems to have taken ahold in racing as well as other sports.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Zenyatta was so popular with the general public that the clamor to see her resulted in how many of her races being picked up nationally?

Hell even Curlin got ESPN news break-in's when he ran as a 4 yo.

The problem is that the newer generation has so little exposure to truly great horses or even solid campaigns by very good horses. The ESPN philosophy of acting as though every event is historic or something that you've never seen before or an all-time great seems to have taken ahold in racing as well as other sports.

This is racings fault...blame is squarely on their shoulders. You can't blame fans for living in the "now".

When was the last time you saw a 19-0 horse going for back to back Classic wins? and a female to boot. It was historic.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

This is racings fault...blame is squarely on their shoulders. You can't blame fans for living in the "now".

When was the last time you saw a 19-0 horse going for back to back Classic wins? and a female to boot. It was historic.

I shouldn't blame people for ignoring the the history of the sport or its greats? Did racing declare that everything that happened pre-Smarty Jones is not relevant? The sport does not do a great job with keeping its history alive, this is true. But it isnt as though there isnt a lot of information available.

Her going for a second BC Classic and being undefeated was historic but not worthy of her placement in the annals of history by her ardent supporters. There was no greater moment in baseball history than Kirk Gibson's walkoff HR to win game 1 of the 1988 series. Doesnt mean Gibson ranks with Willie Mays and Babe Ruth.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I shouldn't blame people for ignoring the the history of the sport or its greats? Did racing declare that everything that happened pre-Smarty Jones is not relevant? The sport does not do a great job with keeping its history alive, this is true. But it isnt as though there isnt a lot of information available.

Her going for a second BC Classic and being undefeated was historic but not worthy of her placement in the annals of history by her ardent supporters. There was no greater moment in baseball history than Kirk Gibson's walkoff HR to win game 1 of the 1988 series. Doesnt mean Gibson ranks with Willie Mays and Babe Ruth.

We are talking about people tuning into the moment, history....and from that standpoint Gibsons HR was every bit as historic as Willie Mays over the head catch or Ruth's called shot.

How far do they need to go back? I say 1989. Are you more of a 1980 person?

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

We are talking about people tuning into the moment, history....and from that standpoint Gibsons HR was every bit as historic as Willie Mays over the head catch or Ruth's called shot.

How far do they need to go back? I say 1989. Are you more of a 1980 person?

No one is denying her moment or that the story wasn't a made for tv story. It doesnt mean she should be horse of the year or is one of the top 50 horses in history.

[Duvalier]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Why? Surely BB was exposed to a much wider audience than Zenyatta. I would think all of Big Browns 3 year old races were nationally televised and winning the Derby and going for a TC creates far more exposure than a single BC race even with the 60 minutes/Oprah lead in.

The use of steroids in racehorses was also exposed to a much wider audience. Big Brown brought out alot of negative attention to the sport between his connections, drug suspensions, steroids etc. Do you think things like equipoise or winstrol should still be allowed universally in racing?

[slotdirt]

Your memory serves you incorrectly. It was a high of about 65 and semi-drizzly/misty for the day of the 2004 Belmont. One could transport one's own beer onto the Belmont grounds in those days though, that is true.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Your memory serves you incorrectly. It was a high of about 65 and semi-drizzly/misty for the day of the 2004 Belmont. One could transport one's own beer onto the Belmont grounds in those days though, that is true.

One of those years right around that time was the most perfect day imaginable... guess my foggy memory served me foggy memories

[slotdirt]

2005 was cloudy. 2008 was about 1,832 degrees. 2006 was as nice a day as they come, and we got to see Jazil win the Belmont to boot! What a pretty horsey! Ahem...

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

2005 was cloudy. 2008 was about 1,832 degrees. 2006 was as nice a day as they come, and we got to see Jazil win the Belmont to boot! What a pretty horsey! Ahem...

what about 2003?

Hey I picked Jazil that day!! (cough, redboard)

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

One of those years right around that time was the most perfect day imaginable... guess my foggy memory served me foggy memories

I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Duvalier

The use of steroids in racehorses was also exposed to a much wider audience. Big Brown brought out alot of negative attention to the sport between his connections, drug suspensions, steroids etc. Do you think things like equipoise or winstrol should still be allowed universally in racing?

What is the point?

Should equipoise and winstrol still be allowed?
Of course they should. They are horse medications with valid uses. The fact that there was no regulation of them was really the issue. Overreacting and banning them has not seemingly helped horseracing in the least. Of course we can now brag that we banned steroids knowing full well that the people who dont believe the sport is on the up and up still dont believe it. And when your horse is in need of a treatment program, you can now waste money trying substitutes that dont work nearly as effectively, if at all.