Who Is Horse Of The Year?

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

The old "eastern elite" circuit, eh?

[letswastemoney]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

SS defeated Easy Goer on the track.

Affirmed defeated Alydar on the track.

Seabiscuit won his match race with War Admiral.

Zenyatta has never defeated Rachel Alexandra, proving your argument wrong.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

I haven't done point by point comparisons of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta this year. I believe I did see most of their races with varying degrees of interest each time.

I was at Churchill Downs the day Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer. By happenstance I ended up in the same box as the trainer and family of Northern Wolf to watch the race. We "moved down" in the mid-40 degree and rainy Louisville chill that day. Northern Wolf's trainer insisted we stay as he came to the box with his family before the race. My money was elsewhere, but I do have to say it was super cool to see Northern Wolf in contention around the final turn that day. The trainer was a fine and gracious man and I remember often how he graciously insisted we stay as the Kentucky Derby post parade began.

I found a way to get to Belmont the day Easy Goer beat Sunday Silence. My memories of that race are clouded a bit undoubtedly because I was captivated by a girl who I met that Belmont morning who knew "the ropes" and horses and got me up close and personal with her in the paddock. She had a wonder fragrance and a strong calmness.....yet she was delicate. We had a great day, though the part at the end where she was teary eyed and whispered she was not so happily married was a bit of a downer. Losing my money on Sunday Silence that day was less of a downer. I moved on.

I have an autographed head on photo of Steve Cauthen crossing the finish line in front of Alydar in the Belmont on the wall to my left. Next to it is the NYRA finish photo of the Affirmed "by a neck" win from the side.

I've always revered War Admiral. Nice name. "Seabuiscuit" as a name seemed to lose a little luster when Mr.Ed referenced him when I was a kid.

OK, none of this meandering has any relevance. Other than noting that I've been a betting fan of thoroughbred racing for a pretty long time.

I've been an easterner. I watched Spectacular Bid win the Florida Derby live and in person. His winning photo with my exact view from the apron is up with the Affirmed group in this room.

I have no skin in the Horse of the Year Award.

With my snapshot observations of 2009 Rachel Alexandra, and my snapshot observations of Zenyatta and my history of loving the history of horse racing my vote goes to Zenyatta by a whisker.

Rachel Alexandra had an easy opportunity to show up in SoCal and she opted out. I respect the reasons of the connections and respect the concern for the well being of the horse.

I really do.

But Zenyatta came to compete, and she won.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

"This trial is a travesty. It's a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham." - Woody Allen, "Bananas"

Here's Haskin's take. Scroll down a ways for the HOY thoughts. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...source=twitter



Er, yeah it's sooo Rachel's fault her owners at the time were anti-colt races. Also Man O'War's owner kept him out of the Derby because he looked down on going to Kentucky in May (well really ever right? Didn't he think of KY as "the west" and had to be talked into doing it with War Admiral?) I guess MOW just sucks huh? Being as he didn't even run in the Derby..

I could see going with both, I could see giving it to Rachel. Saying Zenyatta deserves it and Rachel doesn't is where I'm balking.

PS There's a Ruth's Chris in Beverly Hills? Mmm...

lol
i wasn't thinking of woody allen, but of peter from family guy.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

it's not as easy as saying rachel backers vs zenyattas. some of us happen to like both horses-i'm one of them. it's not a knock on one to say the other is the preference.
and even tho i voted for rachel in this poll, i think sunday was better than easy goer-and i loved easy goer. affirmed proved time and again to be better than alydar. you were doing well til you mentioned the biscuit vs war admiral. one match race isn't a good decider. pretty much whoever wins the break wins the race.

[freddymo]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I haven't done point by point comparisons of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta this year. I believe I did see most of their races with varying degrees of interest each time.

I was at Churchill Downs the day Sunday Silence defeated Easy Goer. By happenstance I ended up in the same box as the trainer and family of Northern Wolf to watch the race. We "moved down" in the mid-40 degree and rainy Louisville chill that day. Northern Wolf's trainer insisted we stay as he came to the box with his family before the race. My money was elsewhere, but I do have to say it was super cool to see Northern Wolf in contention around the final turn that day. The trainer was a fine and gracious man and I remember often how he graciously insisted we stay as the Kentucky Derby post parade began.

I found a way to get to Belmont the day Easy Goer beat Sunday Silence. My memories of that race are clouded a bit undoubtedly because I was captivated by a girl who I met that Belmont morning who knew "the ropes" and horses and got me up close and personal with her in the paddock. She had a wonder fragrance and a strong calmness.....yet she was delicate. We had a great day, though the part at the end where she was teary eyed and whispered she was not so happily married was a bit of a downer. Losing my money on Sunday Silence that day was less of a downer. I moved on.

I have an autographed head on photo of Steve Cauthen crossing the finish line in front of Alydar in the Belmont on the wall to my left. Next to it is the NYRA finish photo of the Affirmed "by a neck" win from the side.

I've always revered War Admiral. Nice name. "Seabuiscuit" as a name seemed to lose a little luster when Mr.Ed referenced him when I was a kid.

OK, none of this meandering has any relevance. Other than noting that I've been a betting fan of thoroughbred racing for a pretty long time.

I've been an easterner. I watched Spectacular Bid win the Florida Derby live and in person. His winning photo with my exact view from the apron is up with the Affirmed group in this room.

I have no skin in the Horse of the Year Award.

With my snapshot observations of 2009 Rachel Alexandra, and my snapshot observations of Zenyatta and my history of loving the history of horse racing my vote goes to Zenyatta by a whisker.

Rachel Alexandra had an easy opportunity to show up in SoCal and she opted out. I respect the reasons of the connections and respect the concern for the well being of the horse.

I really do.

But Zenyatta came to compete, and she won.

Who cares about which horses you saw etc etc.. Did you go for a roll in the hay with the hot chix?

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by freddymo

Who cares about which horses you saw etc etc.. Did you go for a roll in the hay with the hot chix?

Yes this has turned into a name drop thread for some or a I saw so and so in person so that's the horse of the year....Me, me, me.

[Antitrust32]

Originally Posted by copying

These RA backers are the same ones that think Easy Goer was better than SS. They also loved Alydar over Affirmed. War Admiral over Seabiscuit. They ignore what's done on the track.

congrats!

[randallscott35]

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...tml?ref=sports

[CSC]

If this poll is indicative of the real voting, I would be willing to go with Co-HOY's this year.

Either way it would be a shame if one isn't.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by CSC

If this poll is indicative of the real voting, I would be willing to go with Co-HOY's this year.

Either way it would be a shame if one isn't.

No sharing of awards. This isn't Little League, too bad if people's feelings are hurt. One winner.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

No sharing of awards. This isn't Little League, too bad if people's feelings are hurt. One winner.

Maybe so, but this wasn't a normal year. I'm sure sharing the award would be the King Solomon's choice.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by CSC

Maybe so, but this wasn't a normal year. I'm sure sharing the award would be the King Solomon's choice.

This ain't a baby.

[Kasept]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...tml?ref=sports

Joe Drape needs one of those Law and Order shows 24 hour psych evaluations... He's lost it.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by Kasept

Joe Drape needs one of those Law and Order shows 24 hour psych evaluations... He's lost it.

He has jumped the shark.

[CSC]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

This ain't a baby.

[kgar311]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...tml?ref=sports

Just a quick observation of the video.

Jay Schrieber in his video describes Rachels work as a whole for the year. The different tracks, different accomplishments for THIS year in making his point for the HOY award.

Joe Drape in his agrument I feel makes the same mistake as most Zenyatta backers do. One of the first things he mentions is her 14 for 14 record, irrelevant to the discussion. Then he mentions how she looks, how her ears flop when she runs, irrelevant. Not once did he mention her accomplishments during the year that would warrant HOY, he sites the BCC and thats it. Then he compares her to champions of old, all of which ran before BC times. I think he does her no favors here by attempting to talk her up.

Message to Joe Drape, "just the facts man, just the facts" - Joe Friday

[johnjaydog95]

Could someone please explain Joe Drape's argument that the BCC field represented the "best in the world"?

Last I checked, Sea the Stars and Rachel weren't at Santa Anita. I credit Zenyatta's connections for taking the chance in the BCC, and she could only run against who showed up. But who showed up wasn't the best the world had to offer.

[slotdirt]

The best the world has to offer isn't that great these days, apparently.

[philcski]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...tml?ref=sports

Nice hairdo Joe Drape