Who Is Horse Of The Year?

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by kgar311

This makes no sense. Let me try and figure this out.

Lets say school starts in Sept. you show up a couple times a week, you pick the test that you want to take, miss all the major tests during the school year and come June, final exam time you show up take the test ace it with and A. Does this annoint you an A for the entire school year?????? I didnt think so.
You can't coast all year and expect to show up at the end ace one test and expect eveything that happened all year will go away. Stupid analogy

I have had classes that put a ton of emphasis on the final exam. Z won more money this year, because she won the biggest race this country has. She took the tougher test, and romped. Tougher test, and more money won (both point to a quality edge.) This is a dirt/synthetic ..East/West fight. That's all it really is. Same thing you see each Monday when Beyers come out. Z pretty much told Beyer to go touch himself fancy.

[copying]

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

I have had classes that put a ton of emphasis on the final exam. Z won more money this year, because she won the biggest race this country has. She took the tougher test, and romped. Tougher test, and more money won (both point to a quality edge.) This is a dirt/synthetic ..East/West fight. That's all it really is. Same thing you see each Monday when Beyers come out. Z pretty much told Beyer to go touch himself fancy.

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

The old "eastern elite" circuit, eh?

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

SS defeated Easy Goer on the track.

Affirmed defeated Alydar on the track.

Seabiscuit won his match race with War Admiral.

Zenyatta has never defeated Rachel Alexandra, proving your argument wrong.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by letswastemoney

SS defeated Easy Goer on the track.

Affirmed defeated Alydar on the track.
.

This would mean something but many many east coast people think Alydar and Easy Goer were the better horse.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

This would mean something but many many east coast people think Alydar and Easy Goer were the better horse.

Easy Goer was an all-time great 2yo and 3yo. Sunday Silence was an all-time great 3yo.

If you want to talk about the 4 head-to-head meetings ... I think you can draw a line through the Ky Derby (SS won) and the Belmont (EG won)

The Derby was on a similar wet track at Churchill where EG ran WAY below his form as a 2yo. Sunday Silence won the Derby, but it graded out a very mediocre performance. I think its clear that both SS and EG hated the track that day .. EG just hated it a slight bit more. Giacomo and Mine That Bird might have been able to beat them both on that day.

I also give a pass to Sunday Silence for the lopsided Belmont defeat ... when you consider the quality of races Easy Goer ran at Belmont Park all through his career .. and the 12 furlong distance of the race ... SS really was up against it. Easy Goer ran a number on Ragozin that day equal to the Ragozin number Secretariat got for winning the Belmont.

It leaves the Breeders Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes. Two narrow wins for SS in very fast races. In both instances ... anyone watching the tape can see Easy Goer was more impressive in defeat both times. Sunday Silence had the better tactical speed and in both of those races ran more professional.. and that was really the difference in the outcome.

The only way you can argue that SS was the better horse of the two - is if you think the offical results of those 4 head-to-head meetings are all that count.

Just from watching films and looking at pps and charts - I can't imagine how anyone could conclude that Alydar was a better horse than Affirmed.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Easy Goer was an all-time great 2yo and 3yo. Sunday Silence was an all-time great 3yo.

If you want to talk about the 4 head-to-head meetings ... I think you can draw a line through the Ky Derby (SS won) and the Belmont (EG won)

The Derby was on a similar wet track at Churchill where EG ran WAY below his form as a 2yo. Sunday Silence won the Derby, but it graded out a very mediocre performance. I think its clear that both SS and EG hated the track that day .. EG just hated it a slight bit more. Giacomo and Mine That Bird might have been able to beat them both on that day.

I also give a pass to Sunday Silence for the lopsided Belmont defeat ... when you consider the quality of races Easy Goer ran at Belmont Park all through his career .. and the 12 furlong distance of the race ... SS really was up against it. Easy Goer ran a number on Ragozin that day equal to the Ragozin number Secretariat got for winning the Belmont.

It leaves the Breeders Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes. Two narrow wins for SS. In both instances ... anyone watching the tape can see Easy Goer was more impressive in defeat both times. Sunday Silence had the better tactical speed and in both of those races ran more professional.. and that was really the difference in the outcome.

The only way you can argue that SS was the better horse of the two - is if you think the offical results of those 4 head-to-head meetings are all that count.

Just from watching films and looking at pps and charts - I can't imagine how anyone could conclude that Alydar was a better horse than Affirmed.

Pat Day himself admits that he cost Easy Goer the Preakness. He was tremendous in defeat.

NT

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Pat Day himself admits that he cost Easy Goer the Preakness. He was tremendous in defeat.

NT

Pat didn't cost EG the Preakness. Dr. Harthill won the Preakness for Sunday Silence.

[10 pnt move up]

see, head to head means something but not everything, as Drugs so smartly pointed out.

[Dunbar]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

...

It leaves the Breeders Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes. Two narrow wins for SS in very fast races. In both instances ... anyone watching the tape can see Easy Goer was more impressive in defeat both times. Sunday Silence had the better tactical speed and in both of those races ran more professional.. and that was really the difference in the outcome.

The only way you can argue that SS was the better horse of the two - is if you think the offical results of those 4 head-to-head meetings are all that count.

Really? I've watched that Preakness many times, and I always come away marvelling at Sunday Silence's race. How "anyone watching the tape can see Easy Goer was more impressive in defeat" comes as a complete surprise to me. Sunday Silence has to steady as Easy Goer passes and squeezes him into Houston. He loses a length or more by steadying, but his incredible athleticism allows him to accelerate again to the outside and set up the historic stretch run. Yes, that put Easy Goer at a disadvantage on the rail, but IMO if Easy Goer was the better horse, Sunday Silence would have never caught up with him in the first place after the squeeze.

Let others decide for themselves:

The Preakness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tw09xHXUhI

or this one, for some commentary:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoY_U8NTC7E

Yeah, if Sunday Silence's apparent ability to make lightning fast adjustments and his 3 out of 4 wins don't count, you can argue that Easy Goer is the better horse. But I still wouldn't agree with you. And I certainly don't agree that Easy Goer ran the better Preakness.

--Dunbar

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

It leaves the Breeders Cup Classic and Preakness Stakes. Two narrow wins for SS in very fast races. In both instances ... anyone watching the tape can see Easy Goer was more impressive in defeat both times. Sunday Silence had the better tactical speed and in both of those races ran more professional.. and that was really the difference in the outcome.

Brilliant. So Easy Goer was more impressive in those races because he was less professional, had no tactical speed, and hated the mud more than Sunday Silence.

Whatever.

Easy Goer certainly appeared to have more stamina than Sunday Silence, but unfortunately outside of the Belmont and JCGC (at the time) most of the important races were 10f which was clearly within SS's range.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

This would mean something but many many east coast people think Alydar and Easy Goer were the better horse.

Easy Goer was "America's Horse" SS was the villain and as much as everybody loved EG me included, SS Beat EG more times then not on the track. SS won the Derby, Preakness and BCC, he came cross country and proved his greatness something Zenyatta did not. SS was a super horse and he proved it on the track not on paper.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by kgar311

Easy Goer was "America's Horse" SS was the villain and as much as everybody loved EG me included, SS Beat EG more times then not on the track. SS won the Derby, Preakness and BCC, he came cross country and proved his greatness something Zenyatta did not. SS was a super horse and he proved it on the track not on paper.

then how come sooooo many east coast people feel easy goer was the better horse?

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

then how come sooooo many east coast people feel easy goer was the better horse?

He was a super horse in his own right, I think many people run alot of races on paper. EG prob would of beaten SS in the Travers and the JCCC, but who knows.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

I haven't done point by point comparisons of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta this year. I believe I did see most of their races with varying degrees of interest each time.

I was at Churchill Downs the day Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer. By happenstance I ended up in the same box as the trainer and family of Northern Wolf to watch the race. We "moved down" in the mid-40 degree and rainy Louisville chill that day. Northern Wolf's trainer insisted we stay as he came to the box with his family before the race. My money was elsewhere, but I do have to say it was super cool to see Northern Wolf in contention around the final turn that day. The trainer was a fine and gracious man and I remember often how he graciously insisted we stay as the Kentucky Derby post parade began.

I found a way to get to Belmont the day Easy Goer beat Sunday Silence. My memories of that race are clouded a bit undoubtedly because I was captivated by a girl who I met that Belmont morning who knew "the ropes" and horses and got me up close and personal with her in the paddock. She had a wonder fragrance and a strong calmness.....yet she was delicate. We had a great day, though the part at the end where she was teary eyed and whispered she was not so happily married was a bit of a downer. Losing my money on Sunday Silence that day was less of a downer. I moved on.

I have an autographed head on photo of Steve Cauthen crossing the finish line in front of Alydar in the Belmont on the wall to my left. Next to it is the NYRA finish photo of the Affirmed "by a neck" win from the side.

I've always revered War Admiral. Nice name. "Seabuiscuit" as a name seemed to lose a little luster when Mr.Ed referenced him when I was a kid.

OK, none of this meandering has any relevance. Other than noting that I've been a betting fan of thoroughbred racing for a pretty long time.

I've been an easterner. I watched Spectacular Bid win the Florida Derby live and in person. His winning photo with my exact view from the apron is up with the Affirmed group in this room.

I have no skin in the Horse of the Year Award.

With my snapshot observations of 2009 Rachel Alexandra, and my snapshot observations of Zenyatta and my history of loving the history of horse racing my vote goes to Zenyatta by a whisker.

Rachel Alexandra had an easy opportunity to show up in SoCal and she opted out. I respect the reasons of the connections and respect the concern for the well being of the horse.

I really do.

But Zenyatta came to compete, and she won.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I haven't done point by point comparisons of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta this year. I believe I did see most of their races with varying degrees of interest each time.

I was at Churchill Downs the day Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer. By happenstance I ended up in the same box as the trainer and family of Northern Wolf to watch the race. We "moved down" in the mid-40 degree and rainy Louisville chill that day. Northern Wolf's trainer insisted we stay as he came to the box with his family before the race. My money was elsewhere, but I do have to say it was super cool to see Northern Wolf in contention around the final turn that day. The trainer was a fine and gracious man and I remember often how he graciously insisted we stay as the Kentucky Derby post parade began.

I found a way to get to Belmont the day Easy Goer beat Sunday Silence. My memories of that race are clouded a bit undoubtedly because I was captivated by a girl who I met that Belmont morning who knew "the ropes" and horses and got me up close and personal with her in the paddock. She had a wonder fragrance and a strong calmness.....yet she was delicate. We had a great day, though the part at the end where she was teary eyed and whispered she was not so happily married was a bit of a downer. Losing my money on Sunday Silence that day was less of a downer. I moved on.

I have an autographed head on photo of Steve Cauthen crossing the finish line in front of Alydar in the Belmont on the wall to my left. Next to it is the NYRA finish photo of the Affirmed "by a neck" win from the side.

I've always revered War Admiral. Nice name. "Seabuiscuit" as a name seemed to lose a little luster when Mr.Ed referenced him when I was a kid.

OK, none of this meandering has any relevance. Other than noting that I've been a betting fan of thoroughbred racing for a pretty long time.

I've been an easterner. I watched Spectacular Bid win the Florida Derby live and in person. His winning photo with my exact view from the apron is up with the Affirmed group in this room.

I have no skin in the Horse of the Year Award.

With my snapshot observations of 2009 Rachel Alexandra, and my snapshot observations of Zenyatta and my history of loving the history of horse racing my vote goes to Zenyatta by a whisker.

Rachel Alexandra had an easy opportunity to show up in SoCal and she opted out. I respect the reasons of the connections and respect the concern for the well being of the horse.

I really do.

But Zenyatta came to compete, and she won.

Who cares about which horses you saw etc etc.. Did you go for a roll in the hay with the hot chix?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Who cares about which horses you saw etc etc.. Did you go for a roll in the hay with the hot chix?

Yes this has turned into a name drop thread for some or a I saw so and so in person so that's the horse of the year....Me, me, me.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

it's not as easy as saying rachel backers vs zenyattas. some of us happen to like both horses-i'm one of them. it's not a knock on one to say the other is the preference.
and even tho i voted for rachel in this poll, i think sunday was better than easy goer-and i loved easy goer. affirmed proved time and again to be better than alydar. you were doing well til you mentioned the biscuit vs war admiral. one match race isn't a good decider. pretty much whoever wins the break wins the race.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

congrats!

[randallscott35]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...tml?ref=sports