Rachel Alexandra Retired

[Antitrust32]

retired after suffering a strained hair braid.

"We don't mind losing as long as she's healthy"

Yeah. So what's the excuse now? Did your life coach give her a look-see and tell you she's stressed out?

Big narcissist ape. It's all about him and she's not up to his lofty, deluded standards.

[smartbid09]

I am shocked. I wish things were different

[iamthelurker]

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

[Clip-Clop]

She will be missed on the track, hell of a year last year. Fortunate enough (despite the weather) to see her in the Haskell last year. Always fun to see what the horses she beat up (win or lose) on come back to do next.

Blind Luck to the Beldame?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

Why would "Rachel lovers" want to defend him or the gutless campaigning of the horse this year? Fans of the horse - even more than anyone else - should be pissed at him.

[Merlinsky]

Keep working her til the Eclipse Awards, then announce her unretirement when you don't win HOY. From what I've seen this year, that sets Rachel up well to win the Classic in 2011.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

false.

no "match-up" will make horse racing popular.

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

false.

no "match-up" will make horse racing popular.

Chances are it wouldn't but there is no way of knowing because we're stuck with chicken-s.hit owners and trainers at the top level.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

false.

no "match-up" will make horse racing popular.

It would have been quite an event that would have deservedly gotten a whole lot of attention. It really is disgraceful that the two great fillies never met despite the ample opportunities. In an era where 'historic' races are few and far between, it would have been worthy.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

It would have been quite an event that would have deservedly gotten a whole lot of attention. It really is disgraceful that the two great fillies never met despite the ample opportunities. In an era where 'historic' races are few and far between, it would have been worthy.

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

makes you wonder, doesn't it? if he wanted the faceoff so bad...why send zardana? everyone knew what would happen if rachel lost that day.

[DaTruth]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

The irony, of course, is that if Shirreffs hadn't sent Zardana to the Fair Grounds, the $5 Million Apple Blossom would have taken place.

He did Jackson a favor by sending Zardana. Jackson did not want to face Zenyatta in April. Jackson declined the Apple Blossom at first before Cella painted him in a corner by moving the race back a week. When Jackson did the calculus, a loss to Zardana after a long layoff would be easier to dismiss than a loss to Zenyatta in her second start back.

The most logical early season targets for Rachel were the La Troienne and the Fleur de Lis. Moss could have had some fun by shipping Zenyatta to CD after the Apple Blossom to await Rachel. Instead she returned to SoCal and all this foolishness about the Rockies started.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

It would have been quite an event that would have deservedly gotten a whole lot of attention. It really is disgraceful that the two great fillies never met despite the ample opportunities. In an era where 'historic' races are few and far between, it would have been worthy.

no doubt it would have been a great event and horse racing would have had some attention that day... but it would still have been just one day. I just disagreed with the sentence of hers that I highlighted (The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed.) not her whole post. The two should have met. But it wasnt going to make anything popular, except maybe for 2 minutes. The gambling aspect is the only way this sport can become popular again... these smart marketers at tracks need to figure out how to make that happen.

Both owners are still terrible for never making it happen... I just feel it like it would have satisfied us horse racing junkies, and not too much else.

[iamthelurker]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

no doubt it would have been a great event and horse racing would have had some attention that day... but it would still have been just one day. I just disagreed with the sentence of hers that I highlighted (The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed.) not her whole post. The two should have met. But it wasnt going to make anything popular, except maybe for 2 minutes. The gambling aspect is the only way this sport can become popular again... these smart marketers at tracks need to figure out how to make that happen.

Both owners are still terrible for never making it happen... I just feel it like it would have satisfied us horse racing junkies, and not too much else.

Are you all so blinded by wagering that you don't realize the way to save this sport is to make it appealing to the youth?!?! The value of a lifelong fan with true passion for the thoroughbred racehorse is much more important to this sports future than anything else. There will always be those interested in solely the gambling aspect of this game, there are those horse lovers that could not care even a little about placing a bet. But the real beauty of it all is that when exciting races happen between THE BEST horses your going to see a little bit of both come out in more than the majority of viewers. NO singular race drastically changes the popularity status of this game (I can see where what I said was read as that), but it is more the accumulation of consistent great rivalries and great races that will bit by bit bring more and more fans out of the woodwork. Without getting the two best horses of this decade to race against each other we are going nowhere but backwards.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by Antitrust32

false.

no "match-up" will make horse racing popular.

Oh I didn't see this till now.

Great minds...

[Danzig]

this sport somehow manages to leave it's fans unhappy far too often. too bad they were never able to manage to get zenyatta and rachel to meet. now, jess jackson is an ass...but had he not bought rachel, we wouldn't have had a preakness, haskell and woodward like we had last year. they obviously felt rachel wasn't up to the classic in nov, and anything else would have left everyone unsatisfied. best of luck to rachel in the future.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

very true.

[my miss storm cat]

Originally Posted by iamthelurker

The Rachel lovers can say whatever they want defending him, but Jackson (with the equal help of the Mosses) prevented the biggest possible event in our game today from happening. That WAS a race between two soon to be legendary HOF mares in Zenyatta and Rachel. The match-up would have done wonders for the sports popularity and general public opinion, they failed. No fault to either horse (I love both of these champions), but a strong blame should fall on their owners. I said it before in this thread, he doesn't like to lose, the Aga Khan cop out looked like a better alternative to him and that's what just happened.

Bullshit.

It never would have happened and besides, even if it had? It would have done zero for the sports popularity.

Anyway here's to a long and happy life. I never did get to see her in person but man... I will never forget her wins and how breathtaking they were.

[iamthelurker]

Originally Posted by my miss storm cat

Bullshit.

It never would have happened and besides, even if it had? It would have done zero for the sports popularity.

Anyway here's to a long and happy life. I never did get to see her in person but man... I will never forget her wins and how breathtaking they were.

Why would it of never happened if both had owners who were true competitors? And do you honestly think zero fans would have been gained from the race? Really, are you kidding? Races that turn semi-interested/casual viewers into diehards are the ones that feature legendary horses pitted against each other. Affirmed and Alydar's great battles, Easy Goer and Sunday Silence, Personal Ensign and Winning Colors 88 distaff, hell even the 90's triple crown rivalries Silver Charm and Free House/Touch Gold/Captain Bodgit, Real Quiet and Victory Gallop. You mean to tell me the best horses in the division facing each and making great races does nothing for the sport at all? Think about it.