Racing International: Recent Comments

Comment on Zenyatta Second to Serena Williams

2009-12-29T15:06:52Z

I agree, Zenyatta should be ahead of Serena Williams as Female Athlete of the Year. Zenyatta has Perfect Manners and is a Fine example of a TRUE LADY! In my opinion, Rachel Alexandra should be 2nd & then maybe Serena as 3rd....

Rachel Alexandra definitely deserves to be ahead of Serena and has better manners as well. Serena claims her outbursts were good at getting attention for tennis. Well, our girls are on a lot most lists than she is for their good breeding and talent.

Comment on Eclipse Award Controversy

2009-12-28T15:53:42Z

Hi UKer - I agree. It is insulting to Zenyatta. I do understand the ridiculousness about only using her 2009 races as a preface for this years awards and that is she won awards the past 2 years for her other wins with that said Both Still deserve HOY. Rachael is by far the one of the Greatest 3 yo fillies of all time in the U.S. performance wise Her 3 yo campaign has surpassed even Ruffian.
Zenyatta's Classic will stick in my mind as one of the greatest feat by an Amereican older Filly or Mare performances up there with All Along, Shuvee, April Run, Lady's Secret, Allez France . There is an 'ancient american term' called the Look of Eagles which they all had.

Respects

Hi Zen
I am Chicago born and bred, but am lucky to have worked here since 1991 (with National Health Service).
There is not much we can do about those who vote. They do not seem to see the bigger picture nor do they seem to understand the superiority of inclusiveness over exclusiveness.
Whatever the Eclipse voters do, internationals are still shocked that the committee would not consider a Co-HOY and will still be shocked if Zenyatta is not chosen HOY.
No doubt that Rachel Alexandra is a wonder 3yo filly--perhaps the best of all times. Experts who know more than I put her in Ruffian's category.
To me, she is just "Rachel" to be cherished. I adore her and wept during most of her last race. She was so tired, fought off attack after attack from the males with staggering courage and nearly fell over the wire.
She was pushed to her limits and took to her bed for days.
Lest one forget, she is still a baby of three.
Zenyatta has never been driven to that degree.
If her career had included more races against males, I suspect she would have disposed of them with the same offhandedness as she did in the BCC.
Of living horses, only Sea The Stars could have beaten her. Maybe. And he is the greatest Flat Turf horse of our times.
That would have been the race of a lifetime.
Stil I wish they had not changed the Lady's Secret race name. More failure to understand respect, tradition and people's regard for beloved, great horses.
You might like the new heading on www.racingint.com/americas.
Season's Greetings
PS "Look of Eagles" is wonderful. The greats all have it. No way will they be denied.
Sheikh Mohammed has it as well.

Comment on Eclipse Award Controversy

2009-12-27T19:43:06Z

When one sees how "fans" turn out and adore these equine super atheletes (like Zenyatta and Kauto Star yesterday), it beggers belief that the U S racing industry can be so shortsighted especially when it is failing.
The only thing they think of for failing attendance is buying betting companies and installing casinos and slots, but then it is all about money.
They have lost the understanding of the joy that real people feel about these magnificent, amazing and sweet creatures.
Hence, the rigid, stupid Eclipse decision. Don't know about 1970, but the committee just was unmoved to honour both.
Maybe it is the East vs West bias. So many of the articles I read from the voters (on which should get HOY) are for Rachel. Period. Some of the reasons are ludicrous and even insulting about Zenyatta.
You might want to read http://www.racingint.com for a number of awards for Z and the international (including Thoroughbred Times and Associated Press) views of the contest.
The articles will be on the blog one by one within the next few days.
Instead of celebrating the celebrity of the two females loved the world over, it seems the insiders think provoking a sometimes nasty competition with one as loser is far cleverer.
Those of us living in the UK see how the Cartier handles things (with readers voting with the experts) and can only think how provincial and backward the U S can be.
What a magnificent, inclusive event HOY could have been if both were honoured!

Comment on Eclipse Award Controversy

2009-12-16T14:35:21Z

I agree that both Fillies deserve to be HOY and it would be wise for a dying sport to honor itself fairly. What real harm can come from joint winners. Didn't personality and Run the Gauntlet Share it in 1970? The point anyway is horse racing has lost so much respect the last few years that maybe just maybe DOING THE RIGHT THING is the right thing to do

Comment on PR Battle for US HOY Heats Up

2009-12-15T20:02:32Z

Brava! To you and the fillies!

Comment on PR Battle for US HOY Heats Up

2009-12-15T16:29:20Z

I think it is sad that the Eclipse Committee refuses to consider a Co-Horse of the Year award for both Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra in January. BOTH of these Outstanding Horses deserve recognition. It is not fair to award only one this year, when both have revived the interest in Horse Racing like we haven't seen for quite a while. I say, REWARD them Both :)

Comment on PR Battle for US HOY Heats Up

2009-12-15T00:02:44Z

"Since the Eclipse Committee refused to consider a Co-Horse of the Year..."

Actually, the committee did consider it and decided against it.

"With Zenyatta safely retired ... Jess Jackson confidently challenged Zenyatta to a best out of three on any ground."

That challenge came before the Breeders' Cup. It was only just reported recently.

A co Horse of the Year would have been stupid. Neither owner was in favor of it.

Dear Eddie

The Committee spokesman said before and after the DRF proposal meeting that they saw no reason to change the rules. I have no idea if they considered the proposal at all. They were required by their Bylaws to discuss the proposal.

I am willing, however, to consider the word "allow" instead.

Jess Jackson is one of the most brilliant racing promoters and he proposed many things many times for Curlin and later Rachel Alexandra.

He did want to accept the NY State match.

But I did have to laugh when he proposed a three-race match after Z retired.

He has a marvelous sense of humour so I doubt he will mind my teasing him.

Credit the connections of both fillies. They stuck to the right regime for each and they fulfilled their potentials.

Love for these two females is worldwide (see today's column appearing later). It is not just about us Americans. That is why I want us all to celebrate them together.

I shall make a bet with you--I bet the losing owner will regret the lack of a Co. So will I.

Comment on Dubai International Arabian Race Day

2009-10-19T11:24:53Z

Thank you so much for the compliment and for posting on Facebook.
Please consider becoming a FAN or having the organisation become a FAN on Facebook's Racing International page. It could give you good exposure and give us support for our thinking that Arabian races are proper races (along with Endurance which we cover as well).
We can also be found at racingint on both Twitter and MySpace.
If you run into problems in accessing any of the three, try my name and let me know if problems persist.

I shall add http://www.ifahr.net to our website links page and perhaps you can link to us as well--http://www.racingint.com.
The blog started 2-1/2 years ago and functions as our archive. We have over 20,000 readers and will promote it more in the coming months as we expand our international marketing plan.

On the website, we have a page for PB Arabians (Navigator Bar) so do send your press releases to info@racingint.com. Whatever we publish on the website is copied onto the blog.

We want to do more for Arabian racing.

Regards
Susan Trevelyan-Syke

P.S. Say hello to Neil Abrams for me.

Comment on Dubai International Arabian Race Day

2009-10-18T16:42:08Z

Very well written! Not too common to see arabian racing portraid in this way in UK media or bloggs!

I have posted a link to this on ifahr's page on Facebook!

/Mats Genberg
Secretary - IFAHR

Comment on Soul Warrior Beats Mine That Bird and Big Drama to win West Virginia Derby

2009-10-10T18:05:38Z

I am a really big fan of Big Drama. Even though he ran out of gas and got caught at the end of the race by Soul Warrior, it still says alot that he was able to hold off Mine That Bird for 2nd. This race is a mile and an eighth, and if it had been a mile race, he would have won by the length of the state.lol. I think Big Drama's connections should consider running him in the Breeder's Cup dirt mile. He's got as much or more talent as any of the listed contenders. imo.