ruffian and rachel

[prudery]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

It would be pointless. That article shows his bias and provincialism clearly.

People are so caught up that they are forgetting the fact that while Rachel is the first to do this and the first to do that, it's not like she's the one that's been successful after so many others have failed. Look at the Woodward. No 3yo filly had even run in the race in the past 36 years. She's special. There should be no question about that. And she's deservedly put herself into the conversation of best of this or best of that. As more opportunities are given, you'll see these kinds of things start to happen more and more. Take Eight Belles, for example. When she ran second in the Derby, a huge deal was made of it. Then Rags won the Belmont the next year and Rachel wins the Preakness this year. Suddenly, Eight Belles' accomplishment doesn't seem so incredible.

Agree again ...

And to the remark that no three year oild filly defeated older males in a G1 two turn race, I would suggest that Busher be revisted winning both the 10 furlong Arlington Handicap and Washington Park Handicap dusting HOY 4year old Armed at 10 furlongs.... There was NO grading system as such then, but they were certainly the equivalent ... Wake me up when Macho Again is mentioned in the same breath as Armed ...

A G1 championship race is only a championship if the entries say so---ONLY Rachel's did in the Woodward, by a head ...

As far as comparing the seasons that Rachel and Ruffian had, I am more interested in adding in the supernatural speed of Ruffian---usually under a pull to slow down-- which Rachel does not quite have, and the range of distances she won over in her brief time on earth ...

Show me Rachel's time records, show me Rachel going a last eight in 11 plus at 12 furlongs--show me works faster than races and I will listen ...

Rachel and Zenyatta are the best two horses out there at present, but after watching 50 years of racing and being priviledged to see Kelso, Fager, Ruffian , Bid, Cigar and others run into the record books, I can tell great without adding hyperbole ...

Rachel made history with the Woodward, but Jackson got gravy with the opposition this year, and marketed her brilliantly ...

Remember that ...