A question for those that do not like Zenyatta...

[DerbyCat]

I don't want to argue about the merits of the campaign that Sherriff and the Mosses have planned for her, or even if she is HOY material, I just want to know if any of Zenyatta's detractors enjoy watching her run? Irrespective of who she's racing against, can you at least appreciate watching her come from last and always managing to cross the finish first? Did you not at least say "Wow" when she won the BCC last year? That was an electrifying event. Can you not respect the fact that she (and Rachel as well) have brought new fans to this sport - maybe not people who will bet much and add to the pools - but the kind of people who will now have something positive to say about the sport of horse racing instead of being indifferent about the sport or worse. At the very least, have you not enjoyed having a single on your ticket these past few years when trying to hit the pick 6 at the southern California tracks?

Before you attack me as a "zennatard" or some other derogatory term, understand that I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and the list goes on - I am a fan of this sport and a fan of the horses that make this sport exciting and fun. I just want to know - can you appreciate watching Zenyatta race? I know I do.

[ateamstupid]

As I've said before, it's nice that she has brought in some fans and she's a very good horse, but the level of her competition precludes me from getting much excitement out of her races since, regardless of her style, her winning is just about a foregone conclusion. I'm excited by races where the outcome is in doubt beforehand.

This does not mean I don't like Zenyatta. Quite the opposite. I think she's awesome, and I wish she had more opportunities to prove it. It's not the horse I dislike, it's the way she's handled, and I think her campaigns do a disservice to her. I think most feel the same way. At the same time, her winning streak, which so many fans cling to as irrefutable proof of her greatness, is meaningless to me since there's such a controlled environment in most of her races. I can't call her great based on what she's done on the track, even though I think she has great talent, and that's unfortunate.

Oh, and not this again.

[CSC]

I think both are great for the game, anyone that doesn't want to watch either race probably isn't a fan of horseracing.

And I did it without mentioning either of their names.

[Merlinsky]

This is a straw man (straw horse?) argument. Nobody's hating her. If you can't like Zenyatta I really question your ability to enjoy this sport. She's a four legged amazon with the dancing quality of Ginger Rogers or perhaps Cyd Charisse. I'm pretty sure the Breyer people somehow turned one of their figures real. The frustrating thing is but she and you-know-who have things to prove this year. We're not at the stage where either has gone where they could go or tried what they could've. A variety of reasons for this, but I bet either or both had been tempted by the Stephen Foster--a tight finish in the Apple Blossom would've led to a rematch cry, and maybe they'd have gone to CD to duke it out. Now, neither goes.

I feel like we're in this crazy holding pattern til the fall. Anybody else getting that? The summer doldrums--our ladies could bring it Saturday and make those go away. Here's hoping they do.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I don't want to argue about the merits of the campaign that Sherriff and the Mosses have planned for her, or even if she is HOY material, I just want to know if any of Zenyatta's detractors enjoy watching her run? Irrespective of who she's racing against, can you at least appreciate watching her come from last and always managing to cross the finish first? Did you not at least say "Wow" when she won the BCC last year? That was an electrifying event. Can you not respect the fact that she (and Rachel as well) have brought new fans to this sport - maybe not people who will bet much and add to the pools - but the kind of people who will now have something positive to say about the sport of horse racing instead of being indifferent about the sport or worse. At the very least, have you not enjoyed having a single on your ticket these past few years when trying to hit the pick 6 at the southern California tracks?

Before you attack me as a "zennatard" or some other derogatory term, understand that I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and the list goes on - I am a fan of this sport and a fan of the horses that make this sport exciting and fun. I just want to know - can you appreciate watching Zenyatta race? I know I do.

Horseracing differs from most other sports in that the schedule isn't set. However like boxing the path that is taken and the choice of opponents/races that the competitors choose makes all the difference. Floyd Mayweather is a great fighter, extremely skilled, smart, tough, quick, fast, etc. Watching him fight is pleasing to the boxing fan. But he hasn't fought a serious threat in years and as such will continue to face criticism and doubters until he agrees to fight the other star fighter in his class, Manny Pacquio. If they do finally get together it will be a huge event which will not only be good for the sport but will go along ways towards determining each fighters place in history.

How is that relevant in a horse racing discussion? Well we get to choose our competition as well and until Zenyatta starts to run in better races, against better horses all her races are simply undercard events. I am old enough to remember when horses were pointed to all the top races without regard to a PR campaign for horse of the year. While I don't expect people to suddenly revert to 1975 schedules, taking off the shackles and trying to prove your horses greatness instead of talking about it isn't too much to ask for. I love Zenyatta, I really respect John Sheriffs as a trainer, Mike Smith is my friend. I just want to see her do memorable things. Carrying 129 is harder than most think but let's face it, like Joey said, she is supposed to win these races. Horseracing is supposed to be competitive, not a continuing coronation ceremony. If wishing to see the best horses meet or to see a 6 year old do something different is wrong then I suppose I am not enough of a fan anymore.

[chucklestheclown]

I prefer RA over her in terms of quality, so I guess in your mind that makes me a "detractor." Why you would even ask such a question I guess goes to the "quality" "issue."

[Danzig]

i don't think anyone doesn't like zenyatta. they may dislike the hyperbole, the rabid fans, the schedule, lack of shipping, etc. but i doubt anyone dislikes the horse.

[herkhorse]

[Danzig]

lol

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Horseracing differs from most other sports in that the schedule isn't set. However like boxing the path that is taken and the choice of opponents/races that the competitors choose makes all the difference. Floyd Mayweather is a great fighter, extremely skilled, smart, tough, quick, fast, etc. Watching him fight is pleasing to the boxing fan. But he hasn't fought a serious threat in years and as such will continue to face criticism and doubters until he agrees to fight the other star fighter in his class, Manny Pacquio. If they do finally get together it will be a huge event which will not only be good for the sport but will go along ways towards determining each fighters place in history.

How is that relevant in a horse racing discussion? Well we get to choose our competition as well and until Zenyatta starts to run in better races, against better horses all her races are simply undercard events. I am old enough to remember when horses were pointed to all the top races without regard to a PR campaign for horse of the year. While I don't expect people to suddenly revert to 1975 schedules, taking off the shackles and trying to prove your horses greatness instead of talking about it isn't too much to ask for. I love Zenyatta, I really respect John Sheriffs as a trainer, Mike Smith is my friend. I just want to see her do memorable things. Carrying 129 is harder than most think but let's face it, like Joey said, she is supposed to win these races. Horseracing is supposed to be competitive, not a continuing coronation ceremony. If wishing to see the best horses meet or to see a 6 year old do something different is wrong then I suppose I am not enough of a fan anymore.

Can I get an AMEN?!

Yes, Zenyatta has thrilled me twice now in 2 years. Quality Road has drawn the "wow" from me twice in two months, and Rachel Alexandra dropped my jaw everytime she went into the gate starting with the Oaks last year.

[cakes44]

Did she really bring new fans to the sport? I don't know any.

[clyde]

Who is Zenyatta?

I lost the Baffert drawing.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by cakes44

Did she really bring new fans to the sport? I don't know any.

people who know i'm a race fan have never asked me about zenyatta, her win streak...but they question me about rachel, the t.c. races, and even knew who won the preakness.

[Port Conway Lane]

Originally Posted by Danzig

people who know i'm a race fan have never asked me about zenyatta, her win streak...but they question me about rachel, the t.c. races, and even knew who won the preakness.

Mine That Bird,Super Saver,Looking At Lucky etc. etc. are more well known than Zenyatta among my friends who know little about horse racing.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Danzig

people who know i'm a race fan have never asked me about zenyatta, her win streak...but they question me about rachel, the t.c. races, and even knew who won the preakness.

any horse who wins a triple crown race is much more well known or popular with the non-racing folks. The Breeders Cup means nothing outside of the horse racing world. The Kentucky Derby means everything to the outside... and then they will watch the Preakness (especially when a filly is in it). If there is a TC try, then the masses will watch the Belmont...

No TC try, and noone cares about the Belmont either.

[Patrick333]

Both are exciting to watch. Glad to see RA won her race yesterday. Hopefully Zenyatta will be able to keep her streak going today.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I don't want to argue about the merits of the campaign that Sherriff and the Mosses have planned for her, or even if she is HOY material, I just want to know if any of Zenyatta's detractors enjoy watching her run? Irrespective of who she's racing against, can you at least appreciate watching her come from last and always managing to cross the finish first? Did you not at least say "Wow" when she won the BCC last year? That was an electrifying event. Can you not respect the fact that she (and Rachel as well) have brought new fans to this sport - maybe not people who will bet much and add to the pools - but the kind of people who will now have something positive to say about the sport of horse racing instead of being indifferent about the sport or worse. At the very least, have you not enjoyed having a single on your ticket these past few years when trying to hit the pick 6 at the southern California tracks?

Before you attack me as a "zennatard" or some other derogatory term, understand that I am a fan of Rachel Alexandra, Quality Road, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and the list goes on - I am a fan of this sport and a fan of the horses that make this sport exciting and fun. I just want to know - can you appreciate watching Zenyatta race? I know I do.

Hi DC! Its not that the "Zenyatta detractors" dont like Zenyatta. It is CSC and Booth Operator who we do not like.. and they make it very hard to appreciate Zenyatta to the fullest. Blackthroat said it best in a previous thread.

[DerbyCat]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Hi DC! Its not that the "Zenyatta detractors" dont like Zenyatta. It is CSC and Booth Operator who we do not like.. and they make it very hard to appreciate Zenyatta to the fullest. Blackthroat said it best in a previous thread.

I can appreciate this comment... I just got home from a trip down south to see Zenyatta race and it was a great experience. Yes, she has some seriously rabid fans and it appears her connections have taken an "easy path" but the way I see it, they could have retired her at the end of last year but didn't - they kept her racing not only for the local fans enjoyment or their own but apparently Zenyatta enjoys still racing as well.

Take away the psycho fans, the short sighted connections and the apparent weak schedule - what this mare does everytime she races is a treat to watch. The pawing, prancing, posing and come from behind wins are not something we will see many times in our lives. I just think that if you don't appreciate seeing this mare perform, you are truly missing something.

I've only been following racing for five years now, what other horses from the past have had this type of entertainment value? What other horses have created such crazed fan followings like this? Just curious...

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by DerbyCat

I can appreciate this comment... I just got home from a trip down south to see Zenyatta race and it was a great experience. Yes, she has some seriously rabid fans and it appears her connections have taken an "easy path" but the way I see it, they could have retired her at the end of last year but didn't - they kept her racing not only for the local fans enjoyment or their own but apparently Zenyatta enjoys still racing as well.

Take away the psycho fans, the short sighted connections and the apparent weak schedule - what this mare does everytime she races is a treat to watch. The pawing, prancing, posing and come from behind wins are not something we will see many times in our lives. I just think that if you don't appreciate seeing this mare perform, you are truly missing something.

I've only been following racing for five years now, what other horses from the past have had this type of entertainment value? What other horses have created such crazed fan followings like this? Just curious...

I watched a replay of her race on Sunday and it sent chills down my spine (or was vic's yelling hitting a nerve ) she's a great horse to watch and has an awesome will to win.

Rachel created a similar buzz in the East last year. The reception she got at Saratoga just isnt seen very often. Both coasts have their own female hero! And they are great for the sport (unfortunately it really hasnt created much outside interest) Tho its best to enjoy both of them, I think people naturally pick "sides"! They are like Tupac and Biggie LOL