A Sad Day For Racing

[Travis Stone]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

Blame compiled an exemplary record in 2010 which consists of four Grade 1 victories, including yesterday's Classic win over Zenyatta. To many people who vote for Horse of the Year it will be enough. His record would clinch the award most of the time. This time it's not enough. Zenyatta ran the best race in the Classic, finishing one foot short of overcoming an almost insurmountable obstacle.

http://www.troyrecord.com/articles/2...ewmode=default



That's another view that some voters may have taken regarding the head to head Classic.

Originally Posted by Betsy

So Blame gets penalized because Zenyatta failed to overcome her own flaw, which is that she has to come from miles out of it?

It's hard to take HOY seriously anymore.

If Zenyatta had run the better race in the Classic, she would have won. I'm so sick of this argument.

[Betsy]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

If Zenyatta had run the better race in the Classic, she would have won. I'm so sick of this argument.

So now when we judge horses in line for Eclipses, we get to count near misses? Fly Down was close in the Belmont, Travers and BC Classic, but he wasn't even a finalist (I'm not saying he should be, but now they've opened up a can of worms). I could probably come up with more examples in recent years. I don't see what Zenyatta did for horse racing. I can promise you that when I get to my office tomorrow everyone who is not a racing fan (meaning probably 100% of the office) will be talking about almost everything under the sun and Zenyatta will NOT be one of the topics. Even if she did something for racing, how fair is it to other horses that they didn't emotionally captivate the public? Well she didn't captivate me - she never did. I never disliked her, I just never cared about her.

Blame beat Zenyatta fair and square - period. He was carrying more than his listed weight in the Classic because he actually had the weight of having to win by open lengths in order to win HOY. We had this discussion of losing performances a month or so ago. Slew's race in the Gold Cup was one losing performance where he deserved better; Zenyatta ran very well, but what was so special about her losing performance? Personal Ensign retired undefeated, running down a KY Derby winner on a track she despised - now those were insurmountable obstacles.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

If Zenyatta had run the better race in the Classic, she would have won. I'm so sick of this argument.

In terms of setup, she got a much worse one than Blame did. Clearly, after all these years of race calling, one would assume that you'd at least grasp that much.

[Thunder Gulch]

It's a happy day for this board because we can now, finally, move on to discussing real racing instead of debating one horse's merits.

[Seattleallstar]

Shame on the voters! This is so insane. Blame beat Zenyatta, and had beat the best horses in America in OPEN competition. THIS IS HORSE OF THE YEAR, not Horse that has meant the most to racing.

[Patrick333]

I'm glad Zenyatta won. With that said, it just shows that the BC Classic doesn't mean anything but a nice payday to the winner. Last year Zenyatta won the Classic but was denied the HOY when Rachel's connections thought it was much more important to win the Woodward (against IMHO a very weak field) than take a chance against Zenyatta.

[Left Bank]

I wonder what Smoothie would have to say...................

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Patrick333

I'm glad Zenyatta won. With that said, it just shows that the BC Classic doesn't mean anything but a nice payday to the winner. Last year Zenyatta won the Classic but was denied the HOY when Rachel's connections thought it was much more important to win the Woodward (against IMHO a very weak field) than take a chance against Zenyatta.

Care to elaborate or do you want that nonsense to stand alone on its lack of any merit whatsoever?

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Patrick333

I'm glad Zenyatta won. With that said, it just shows that the BC Classic doesn't mean anything but a nice payday to the winner. Last year Zenyatta won the Classic but was denied the HOY when Rachel's connections thought it was much more important to win the Woodward (against IMHO a very weak field) than take a chance against Zenyatta.

and that is a Very Very good thing. The BC Classic should never be the main factor in HOTY.

BUT... it was still a horrible choice, ESPECIALLY if you dont look at the BC Classic, than there is zero reason to vote for a horse like Zenyatta.

[ateamstupid]

It's a victory for every chickenshit owner and trainer in America and a loss for fans of the sport. This isn't even deniable. The example it sets for rewarding ducking and dodging is the final nail in the coffin for ever again seeing premier matchups outside of the Derby and Classic. Glad the teal and pink tards got what they wanted: a dog and pony show and the further pussification of racing.

[10 pnt move up]

If its such a horrible choice, and I am not saying its not, can anyone explain why the experts in the field found a majority amongst them to vote for her?

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

If its such a horrible choice, and I am not saying its not, can anyone explain why the experts in the field found a majority amongst them to vote for her?

The question we should be pondering is what margin of victory did Blame need to defeat Zenyatta by to win HoY?

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The question we should be pondering is what margin of victory did Blame need to defeat Zenyatta by to win HoY?

2 lengths+

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by freddymo

The question we should be pondering is what margin of victory did Blame need to defeat Zenyatta by to win HoY?

I was working and not really paying attention, but I thought I heard someone call in to ATR and say the only reason she lost at all was that she misjudged the finish line.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

If its such a horrible choice, and I am not saying its not, can anyone explain why the experts in the field found a majority amongst them to vote for her?

Because they aren't experts save a few. And because they caved into the pressure of a facebook page. The horse racing media save a few is embarrassing.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

Because they aren't experts save a few. And because they caved into the pressure of a facebook page. The horse racing media save a few is embarrassing.

Most of them are unqualified hacks, of course I think the majority of todays media are hacks so why limit it to racing?

[ateamstupid]

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

If its such a horrible choice, and I am not saying its not, can anyone explain why the experts in the field found a majority amongst them to vote for her?

If this was typed with a straight face, you're the dumbest person in the history of human life.

Everyone, if you want to celebrate Zenyatta's award, by all means, go ahead. But please do me one favor: Cut the bullshit that this was ever a fair fight and that, maybe if Blame had won the JCGC or won one or two more Grade I's, he'd have gotten HOY hands down. Blame was never going to win that award in a million years.

There is no way in hell that this should have even been debatable, and yet, there was a debate. The production of the two horses in 2010 were on different planets. Zenyatta won, not partly, solely because a bunch of easily manipulated douchebags bought into the ridiculous notion that her lame ass streak of beating tomato cans (and the fact that she's a girl) somehow improved and elevated the sport in the public consciousness in any meaningful way.

It's a giant lie, one that was gleefully perpetuated by the Mosses, John Shirreffs and Hollywood Park, among others. Just because a contingent of mouthbreathers and paste-eaters who seemingly get paid to find absolutely zero ways to improve the sport bought that bullshit, that doesn't mean the rest of us are supposed to believe her accomplishments were in the same ballpark as Blame's and that Blame was just an inch or two from winning the award.

[10 pnt move up]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

If this was typed with a straight face, you're the dumbest person in the history of human life.

Everyone, if you want to celebrate Zenyatta's award, by all means, go ahead. But please do me one favor: Cut the bullshit that this was ever a fair fight and that, maybe if Blame had won the JCGC or won one or two more Grade I's, he'd have gotten HOY hands down. Blame was never going to win that award in a million years.

There is no way in hell that this should have even been debatable, and yet, there was a debate. The production of the two horses in 2010 were on different planets. Zenyatta won, not partly, solely because a bunch of easily manipulated douchebags bought into the ridiculous notion that her lame ass streak of beating tomato cans (and the fact that she's a girl) somehow improved and elevated the sport in the public consciousness in any meaningful way.

It's a giant lie, one that was gleefully perpetuated by the Mosses, John Shirreffs and Hollywood Park, among others. Just because a contingent of mouthbreathers and paste-eaters who seemingly get paid to find absolutely zero ways to improve the sport bought that bullshit, that doesn't mean the rest of us are supposed to believe her accomplishments were in the same ballpark as Blame's and that Blame was just an inch or two from winning the award.

You should break into the business if your opinions are so much better, why limit your talents to a message board.

[PeteMugg]

Originally Posted by ateamstupid

It's a victory for every chickenshit owner and trainer in America and a loss for fans of the sport. This isn't even deniable. The example it sets for rewarding ducking and dodging is the final nail in the coffin for ever again seeing premier matchups outside of the Derby and Classic. Glad the teal and pink tards got what they wanted: a dog and pony show and the further pussification of racing.

further: in addition, moreover.

How true. Next year would make three years running.

[Nascar1966]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Voters should be ashamed of themselves.

I agree with you. Im still trying to figure out how Shireffs was a finalist for Trainer of the Year. Goldikova winning Female Turf Horse off of just one North American Start. Has anyone ever heard of an American horse winning a Cartier Award off of just one European start? There should be a rule for these awards just like Canada has for thier award"s. Blame beat Zenyatta on the track while giving her weight. If Zenyatta is this super horse, why did she only take on the males once last year? All she beat in California on the syththetic tracks were marginally Grade II maybe even Grade III fillies and mares.