Rachel Alexandra (116 Beyer for Haskell)

10 pnt move up · #1 08-03-2009, 11:46 AM

My boss just walked in, not a big racing fan but a sports fan and follows things,

he asks me when does RA run against Zenyatta.........

that was a tough one to explain, last year I could say it was a filly and colt thing.

Cannon Shell · #2 08-03-2009, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

My boss just walked in, not a big racing fan but a sports fan and follows things,

he asks me when does RA run against Zenyatta.........

that was a tough one to explain, last year I could say it was a filly and colt thing.

Exactly. There is no reasonable excuse.

tector · #3 08-03-2009, 12:14 PM

I guess it is too obvious to point out out that there are plenty of races before the BC where they could meet. Hell, they could meet AFTER the BC in the Clark, or NYRA Cigar Whatever Mile, or in some other race (not a match race--that would be a wipeout) any enterprising dirt track might create for them (CDI's FG or CRC immediately come to mind). But no, we must bow our knee to the great God "Breeders Cup", and its repeated polytrack foolishness. For the good of the sport, as always, of course.

Clown.

Cannon Shell · #4 08-03-2009, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tector

I guess it is too obvious to point out out that there are plenty of races before the BC where they could meet. Hell, they could meet AFTER the BC in the Clark, or NYRA Cigar Whatever Mile, or in some other race (not a match race--that would be a wipeout) any enterprising dirt track might create for them (CDI's FG or CRC immediately come to mind). But no, we must bow our knee to the great God "Breeders Cup", and its repeated polytrack foolishness. For the good of the sport, as always, of course.

Clown.

Yeah Jackson and Moss will be dying to run at Calder...

tector · #5 08-03-2009, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Yeah Jackson and Moss will be dying to run at Calder...

Yeah, that is what they said about the Summit of Speed, which is in July. A $500,000 race in December would surely be offensive, especially if used to promote the hell out of Calder's new casino opening in January. How dumb.

What kind of mind just repeats the same crap over and over, incapable of even creating one original thought? Besides a parrot.

Indian Charlie · #6 08-03-2009, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tector

Yeah, that is what they said about the Summit of Speed, which is in July. A $500,000 race in December would surely be offensive, especially if used to promote the hell out of Calder's new casino opening in January. How dumb.

What kind of mind just repeats the same crap over and over, incapable of even creating one original thought? Besides a parrot.

Parrots are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Usually they become neurotic in poor captive conditions, which leads to them doing weird things.

Which would explain a lot around here, come to think of it!

Cannon Shell · #7 08-03-2009, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tector

Yeah, that is what they said about the Summit of Speed, which is in July. A $500,000 race in December would surely be offensive, especially if used to promote the hell out of Calder's new casino opening in January. How dumb.

What kind of mind just repeats the same crap over and over, incapable of even creating one original thought? Besides a parrot.

I'm sure that Jackson and Moss would agree to run in december at Calder for $500k.

tector · #8 08-03-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I'm sure that Jackson and Moss would agree to run in december at Calder for $500k.

Oh, I am pretty sure Moss wouldn't--and Jackson would. But then even the likes of you would have your answer, although most of us have it already.

MaTH716 · #9 08-03-2009, 12:34 PM

I do not understand why Sheriffs doesn't take any heat for not wanting to ship away from California.

But, maybe the NTRA/BC/NYRA can kick up some sort of incentive bonus to make the idea of Rachael vs Zenyatta come together. Have them race twice, once on both surfaces. The Ruffian at Belmont and then in the Distaff at Santa Anita (The schedule seems alright to set up for the BC). Obviously it only works if you get both horses to agree to enter both races (of course if they are both healthy). Figure out some sort of apperance fee and bonus purse structure if one horse or another wins both races. I'm not sure who else would want to run, but it would be open to all fillies. Then promote the hell out of it and hope that both horses are healthy enough to run both races. I know that would dash the hopes of everyone hoping she would run in the classic, but at least you would have the sports biggest star present on it's biggest day (Oh yeah, and you run the Distaff on Saturday).

chucklestheclown · #10 08-03-2009, 12:44 PM

Would showing the BC races in one hour Friday and Saturday nights on ESPN make anyone else happy? And, I thank Mr. Jackson for holding her out of the "event." Explaining this to casual fans makes them realize horseracing is not just about betting.
p.s. 6 posts about RA on that pop culture blog...about 2000 less than there were on Jessica Simpson. I'll take quality over quantity anyday.

King Glorious · #11 08-03-2009, 01:08 PM

Boy am I glad that Jackson and Asmussen didn't wake up and see the rain and the track and scratch without seeing how the track would be come race time.

I have a hard time understanding how some of you pretty knowledgeable folks are so misguided. As someone else mentioned, Rachel is nowhere near as popular as Smarty Jones and Barbaro were and those two horses didn't bring them in in droves. What in the world makes people think Rachel would? For one, even if she were to run in the BC, 95% of the people that will be watching the races are already racing fans and were going to watch anyway. Just two years ago, Rags to Riches beat the Preakness winner in the Belmont. That was an historical achievement. How many came out to see her next race?

In a few more years, we'll have more horses that are bred with the purpose of being able to be good on synthetics and dirt. Right now, we don't have them. When Rachel and Zenyatta were bred, dirt was still king. They are dirt horses that are just so good that they can run well on synthetics but they are dirt horses. Anyone that uses Rachel's win in a nw2l allowance and says that proves she can handle synthetics is really reaching. Class won out that day. Nicanor won his first two on grass but does that mean he's up to beating Sea the Stars on it? Zenyatta and Rachel are both proven at the top level on one surface, dirt. That's where they should meet if they ever do. Of course, there's every chance that Rachel could flourish on synthetic and be just as good as she is on the dirt. But as much chance as there is, there's as much chance that she won't be. If they are to meet, it has to be in a race where neither has the surface question mark.

Cannon Shell · #12 08-03-2009, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Boy am I glad that Jackson and Asmussen didn't wake up and see the rain and the track and scratch without seeing how the track would be come race time.

I have a hard time understanding how some of you pretty knowledgeable folks are so misguided. As someone else mentioned, Rachel is nowhere near as popular as Smarty Jones and Barbaro were and those two horses didn't bring them in in droves. What in the world makes people think Rachel would? For one, even if she were to run in the BC, 95% of the people that will be watching the races are already racing fans and were going to watch anyway. Just two years ago, Rags to Riches beat the Preakness winner in the Belmont. That was an historical achievement. How many came out to see her next race?

In a few more years, we'll have more horses that are bred with the purpose of being able to be good on synthetics and dirt. Right now, we don't have them. When Rachel and Zenyatta were bred, dirt was still king. They are dirt horses that are just so good that they can run well on synthetics but they are dirt horses. Anyone that uses Rachel's win in a nw2l allowance and says that proves she can handle synthetics is really reaching. Class won out that day. Nicanor won his first two on grass but does that mean he's up to beating Sea the Stars on it? Zenyatta and Rachel are both proven at the top level on one surface, dirt. That's where they should meet if they ever do. Of course, there's every chance that Rachel could flourish on synthetic and be just as good as she is on the dirt. But as much chance as there is, there's as much chance that she won't be. If they are to meet, it has to be in a race where neither has the surface question mark.

What post TC races did Smarty and Barbaro run in again?

King Glorious · #13 08-03-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

What post TC races did Smarty and Barbaro run in again?

What difference does it make? If they brought in new fans that only tuned in to watch them again and don't watch anymore because they aren't racing, how is that helping the sport? I thought that you argument was that she is good for racing and could bring in more fans that might stay as fans of the sport and not just fans of hers. If your argument is that she'll bring her own fans, then it won't matter if she's racing at the BC or at Suffolk.

MaTH716 · #14 08-03-2009, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Boy am I glad that Jackson and Asmussen didn't wake up and see the rain and the track and scratch without seeing how the track would be come race time.

I have a hard time understanding how some of you pretty knowledgeable folks are so misguided. As someone else mentioned, Rachel is nowhere near as popular as Smarty Jones and Barbaro were and those two horses didn't bring them in in droves. What in the world makes people think Rachel would? For one, even if she were to run in the BC, 95% of the people that will be watching the races are already racing fans and were going to watch anyway. Just two years ago, Rags to Riches beat the Preakness winner in the Belmont. That was an historical achievement. How many came out to see her next race?

In a few more years, we'll have more horses that are bred with the purpose of being able to be good on synthetics and dirt. Right now, we don't have them. When Rachel and Zenyatta were bred, dirt was still king. They are dirt horses that are just so good that they can run well on synthetics but they are dirt horses. Anyone that uses Rachel's win in a nw2l allowance and says that proves she can handle synthetics is really reaching. Class won out that day. Nicanor won his first two on grass but does that mean he's up to beating Sea the Stars on it? Zenyatta and Rachel are both proven at the top level on one surface, dirt. That's where they should meet if they ever do. Of course, there's every chance that Rachel could flourish on synthetic and be just as good as she is on the dirt. But as much chance as there is, there's as much chance that she won't be. If they are to meet, it has to be in a race where neither has the surface question mark.

The Barbaro comparison is not fair, unfortunately his popularity soared when he got injured. The whole country was pulling for him. As far as Smarty goes, I want to believe that she is as popular if not more than he was. She hasn't had the cover of SI (yet), but then again she wasn't trying to win the TC. Unfortunately for the sport there are so many different avenues/sites where you could just watch the horse/race at a later date which makes it possible for you not to have to go to the track to watch him or her. But I want to believe that she is one of the handful of horses that people will go out of there way to see live at the track. This was my first Haskell and she was the main reason I attended.

SniperSB23 · #15 08-03-2009, 01:33 PM

This is probably as good an example of how much people care about the Triple Crown and don't care about anything else. Look at the spike when Rachel wins the Preakness and the absence of a similar spike when she won the Oaks or won the Haskell:

http://www.google.com/trends?q=rachel+alexandra