Rachel to Monmouth on July 24...

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

You're right, Jess Jackson can run is horse anywhere he wants, but what don't you get about the fact that NYRA's rolled out the red carpet for Jackson for three years running? As you note, he doesn't need the money, so why should they be expected to bump the purse for her? As for telling Asmussen to leave her at Monmouth, if Rachel's not going to compete at the meet, what good comes from having her stabled at the Oklahoma?
Anyone who's listened to Jackson over the past three years would immediately know that he has a pretty shaky understanding of the sport or its history and its traditions, so I doubt this has anything to do with supporting Monmouth's "million a day" meet.

Maybe they play there cards right they could get 1 race from Rachel.. They need her she dont need them. At this point it is all about the ridiculous BC Classic which is really the issue that needs to be addressed.
Horses are prepped not campaigned.. But its here to stay so make the best of it and ultilze stardom when you have it.. How many stars have truly transcended racing...Blame?

[parsixfarms]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Maybe they play there cards right they could get 1 race from Rachel.. They need her she dont need them. At this point it is all about the ridiculous BC Classic which is really the issue that needs to be addressed.

I think you grossly overstate her "drawing" power. At best, she probably brought about 8,000 extra people to the track when she won the Mother Goose and the Woodward in 2009.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

Those are seperate issues.

The reason that the Triple Crown works is because people desire to win those races. It seems as though that series and the BC to a lesser degree are the only important races left. Virtually every trainer of horses in the TC series would love to see the races spaced a little differently and almost none of them have horses suited to go as far as the races are written. Yet they continue to show up for them. When was the last time a TC race had a 5 horse field? It works because people have no choice but to run under the conditions given. That doesnt mean that every classic race is a classic but you can feel pretty secure knowing that winning one means something.

But this idea that horses dont have to run against top competition to be horse of the year, that the historically signifigant races are passed over for made for one horse events, that handicaps are made a mockery of because of the desire to prop up a popular horses record, that an owner can dictate the date and distance of a race that others are paying to run in as well, is well disturbing. It is one thing if baseball players are taking steroids. it is another if the league is handing them out.

The sport is crumbling and RA running in the Delaware Hdcp or Ruffian isnt going to change that. But the pandering to RA continues down the path that makes important races less important, makes competition between top horses rarer and lines the pockets of those who need it the least. Sounds like a winner.

HoY this is about marketing..its about people coming to the track something which currently only happens at Delmar and SPA. People dont go to the track, horses arent stars and people have gambling options including other options at the track which keep them away from racing..

Yep that Historic Mother Goose last year was a real humdinger.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by parsixfarms

I think you grossly overstate her "drawing" power. At best, she probably brought about 8,000 extra people to the track when she won the Mother Goose and the Woodward in 2009.

Ok no biggie for NYRA.. 8k more for the Mother Goose is 160% more then typical no biggie huh? Your right lets get Hedge Fund fired up again

[Patrick333]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

Rachel has run in two ungraded stakes during the last sixteen months, which did include five consecutive Grade Is in 2009. You kind of make it sound like she's repeatedly running in ungraded races.

Neither of these two deserve any notoriety in terms of seeking out strong competition in 2010.

NT

The point I was trying to make (and not very well I guess) is that the anti Zenyatta crowd would be having a field day with her connections if she was running in an ungraded race.

I have as much respect for both of these great horses as anybody. I love watching them both run.

[NTamm1215]

I did like this quote from the DRF story, "Mike Dempsey, the racing secretary at Monmouth Park, said, "There are no appearance fees for anyone involved..."

Well, thank God they didn't have to give the old coot money just for showing up. Nearly tripling the purse, moving the date, and lengthening it was just enough I guess.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/114353.html

NT

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by philcski

He's an uber douche, no argument there, but in the case of Curlin-Big Brown that wasn't really ever feasible. Big Brown only ran once in a race that Curlin was even eligible for (the Monmouth Stakes on turf), and I think it's understandable that Curlin went in the JCGC instead given his already proven average ability on turf.

As for the Rachel-Zenyatta matchup, we all know it should have happened at Oaklawn. That it didn't was frustrating on a lot of levels.

This year's campaign was protective to this point... which I get (somewhat)... but the Lady's Secret choice is a joke. She obviously is back to where she should be.

At that time he was saying Curlin was running in the Grade 1 races with a lot of history behind them and that Big Brown should have to meet him at a race of that magnitude.

Guess things have changed in his mind.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I find it hard to believe that what Monmouth is doing isnt a huge negative in the short and long term. Trading your integrity (which is what they absolutely have done by pandering) just makes it easier for the next flavor of the month to demand the same or more favorable terms. This game is soft enough at the top levels already and moving stakes and changing the distance to fit the schedule of a horse is another step in the wrong direction. I have no problem with them raising the purse of a race to attract horses, that is good business. But the pandering is a joke. It is like Le Bron telling the NBA he will sign with the Knicks if they agree to give them all home games and waive the salary cap for him so he can make more money.

Doing things like this makes it certain that owners will continue to duck and dive and look for handouts as opposed to actually running in races that are considered important. Hooray Racing!

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Freddy is just cracking me up in this thread.

Even when he's hopelessly wrong about things ... he's still an all-time great poster.

[NTamm1215]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Freddy is just cracking me up in this thread.

Even when he's hopelessly wrong about things ... he's still an all-time great poster.

He just hi-jacked my call with Steve too. He's like a runaway freight train. That is unless there's another Freddy from NJ with the same views? I'll bet no.

NT

[Antitrust32]

What I dont understand is why everyone feels that just cause Rachel is running July 24th at MTH, why does that mean she wont be running at Saratoga??

She'll have plenty of opportunities to run at saratoga towards the latter stages of that meet.

Didnt she run in the Haskell AND the Woodward last year?

Maybe she wins this race and goes for back to back Woodwards?

Why is everyone convinced you wont see her at Toga??

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

Why is everyone convinced you wont see her at Toga??

I doubt they'll want to run her 10f and I doubt they'll want to run her against males off a race that is likely to have as weak a field as this year's Fleur De Lis or Apple Blossom.

Monmouth might try hard to get her back, too, with the Molly Pitcher run I believe the same day as the Personal Ensign.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I doubt they'll want to run her 10f and I doubt they'll want to run her against males off a race that is likely to have as weak a field as this year's Fleur De Lis or Apple Blossom.

Monmouth might try hard to get her back, too, with the Molly Pitcher run I believe the same day as the Personal Ensign.

I hear its a two race deal. Sometime in the next month they will ship Rachel to the shore and have her paraded to Molly Pitcher's well at the site of the Battle of Monmouth. Should be great stuff!

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

I doubt they'll want to run her 10f and I doubt they'll want to run her against males off a race that is likely to have as weak a field as this year's Fleur De Lis or Apple Blossom.

Monmouth might try hard to get her back, too, with the Molly Pitcher run I believe the same day as the Personal Ensign.

I've heard that the goal is the Lady's Secret, Woodward and Breeders Cup.

Woodward was 9f last year.. did they change it?

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

I've heard that the goal is the Lady's Secret, Woodward and Breeders Cup.

Woodward was 9f last year.. did they change it?

Not that I know of.

If she ran in the Woodward after this that would be more in line with Jess Jackson's prior style of campaigning, so hopefully you end up being correct.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

Not that I know of.

If she ran in the Woodward after this that would be more in line with Jess Jackson's prior style of campaigning, so hopefully you end up being correct.

hopefully she wins her next race with a solid time and performance & then I would truely think that Jess would put her back on track.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by freddymo

HoY this is about marketing..its about people coming to the track something which currently only happens at Delmar and SPA. People dont go to the track, horses arent stars and people have gambling options including other options at the track which keep them away from racing..

Yep that Historic Mother Goose last year was a real humdinger.

No it is about selling out for an extra 5000 people, most of whom wont bet more than token $2 win tickwets on RA at 1-5. That and telling some idiot pol from Hoboken that the horse of the Year (last year) raced there, can we have more money???

In three years no one will even remember the race except some other enterprising owners that will hold the sport for ransom.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

hopefully she wins her next race with a solid time and performance & then I would truely think that Jess would put her back on track.

hopefully she loses to a Jersey bred and little Jess will be forced to run in bigger races or take his ball and go home.

[Smooth Operator]

Originally Posted by RolloTomasi

“It’s the perfect place to start what we hope will be another championship run.”
This BS is a laugher. What's she been doing the rest of the year. Wasn't the Fleur De Lis enough of a "launchpad"?

The saga of RA gets more hilarious with each passing day.............

[tiggerv]

No way Jess sends her in the Woodward assuming QR is running. I don't think they want the 10F of the Personal Ensign either. My bet is she goes back to MTH for the Molly Pitcher and doesn't run Saratoga at all. MTH will bend over again and boost the purse, or throw a parade, or whatever Jess wants.