Crist: Zenyatta needs to earn title on track

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by HomerS

If she does win, and I dont think she has much of a chance at all, she does deserve an amazing amount of praise. Not greatest horse ever but much more then the haters are prepared or would give.

I have not encountered one single person that " hates " Zenyatta. Not a soul. What I have encountered are a lot of loose cannons that in their fear of seeing Zenyatta accurately assessed have labeled all those with an unbiased opinion of her to be " haters " and have resorted to as many diversionary tactics as they could possibly dream up. They obfuscate the truth by ignoring competition, surface, race restrictions, and mostly by introducing complete non-sequitors on a continual basis ( i.e. last year's HOY Award and most notably Rachel Alexandra ). Karl Rove would be proud.

Zenyatta is a VERY good horse. However, she will never be as good, based on her actual racetrack performances, as some want us to believe. Nothing wrong with that, as some want us to believe she is the greatest horse of all time, and nothing could be further from the truth. An impressive win in this BC Classic would prove a lot, and certainly elevate her lofty status, but by the same token, a mediocre performance should be viewed as exposing her weaknesses that heretofore have been either ignored or strongly denied.

What the hell is wrong with being an exceptional racehorse? Why is it so important to manufacture praise that isn't necessarily warranted to enjoy talent these days? And why are those that question the overzealousness suddenly " haters " when they are actually nothing more than realists?