Rachel Alexandra (116 Beyer for Haskell)

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

I really think you are overestimating the promotability of the BC to non-racing fans.

And I really think you are underestimating the potential of RA to non-racing fans..If it wasn't her specifically I wouldn't take up this fight, but racing as an industry has waited forever for a real positive to market the sport and all the hatred of you know what should take a back seat for what is best for the sport. Mr and Mrs Joe Blow won't know what surface she is running on, but if The Today Show has a feature on her, and if marketed right they would, then they just might watch...and that's a start. We are all way too close to the industry sometimes to take a step back and realize our biggest star not running in our second biggest race can't be a good thing.

[Sightseek]

Originally Posted by GBBob

And I really think you are underestimating the potential of RA to non-racing fans..If it wasn't her specifically I wouldn't take up this fight, but racing as an industry has waited forever for a real positive to market the sport and all the hatred of you know what should take a back seat for what is best for the sport. Mr and Mrs Joe Blow won't know what surface she is running on, but if The Today Show has a feature on her, and if marketed right they would, then they just might watch...and that's a start. We are all way too close to the industry sometimes to take a step back and realize our biggest star not running in our second biggest race can't be a good thing.

And what happens if she loses? Pretty anti-climatic and the people go away.

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by GBBob

but racing as an industry has waited forever for a real positive to market the sport and all the hatred of you know what should take a back seat for what is best for the sport.

Zenyatta will beat her to a pulp on that surface...

I'd empty my pockets on Euphony against RA on a synthetic track. She'd have no chance with Euphony .. not that Euphony is that much horse.

She will probably run a lot better than Big Brown did in the Belmont .. but I'm convinced that using RA running in the Breeders Cup to market the sport won't turn out so hot when she runs dreadful and excuses start to fly.

Excuses that will sound very pathetic to those who don't fully understand a complex sport.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Zenyatta will beat her to a pulp on that surface...

I'd empty my pockets on Euphony against RA on a synthetic track. She'd have no chance with Euphony .. not that Euphony is that much horse.

She will probably run a lot better than Big Brown did in the Belmont .. but I'm convinced that using RA running in the Breeders Cup to market the sport won't turn out so hot when she runs dreadful and excuses start to fly.

Maybe Byk can talk Jess into giving her back to the super talented Hal Wiggins if they decide to go to SA.. lol

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Wiggins actually has better numbers on synthetic tracks.

Heck - going from Asmussen to Glenn Wismer is a gigantic trainer improvment for synthetic track racing ... of course .. that could just be all the Cozar's making it seem that way.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Wiggins actually has better numbers on synthetic tracks.

Heck - going from Asmussen to Glenn Wismer is a gigantic trainer improvment for synthetic track racing ... of course .. that could just be all the Cozar's making it seem that way.

Imagine Hal Wiggins getting her back in the barn..Sort of like when you come home from getting a tattoo and your mom goes nutz..."What have they done to my baby"

[tector]

Screw the BC. They bed their own sh*tty bed, let them lie in it. No one is obligated to bail them out. Let them fail--it is only way things might change.

If RA keeps this up, she will be HOY without the BC. Assuming her connections pick another challenging spot next time out, and if she wins again, then Zenyatta's path to HOY will require her to either come east and win over RA, or win the BC Classic. Her connections chose a path that would have worked unless a 3YO freaked--and it is their bad luck that the one that did is an utterly charismatic filly who is taking one challenge after another, and winning with style. Most casual fans outside of California don't even know Zenyatta exists. Casual fans everywhere know RA. Notwithstanding the Shadow of Assmuffin, it would be insane not to make her HOY. And it would also be a good wayto register disgust with the BC and polymania.

[the_fat_man]

Originally Posted by The Indomitable DrugS

Zenyatta will beat her to a pulp on that surface...

What are we basing this on, concretely?

You know what I'd really like to see? All those 'fast' horses all you POLY FOBES drool over, you know, those kickback specialist sprinters, on the SA downhill turf course in a 6.5F race. Let's see if they're 'fast' enough to wire on that surface. Nothing wrong with earning a win, whether you're 'fast' or not, is there?

I have other suggestions as well, for the athletically 'challenged' but 'fast' dirt darlings.

Just ask.