Zenyatta, saves Oak Tree and the Breeders Cup

[Igeteven]

Zenyatt, saves Oak Tree and the Breeders Cup


Without Zenyatt, The people horse, since Seabiscut, saved the Breeders Cup and put a huge amount of money in the coffers of Oak Tree and Santa Anita.


Just think about it, 60,000 people on track. If the Board cleans up their act and straighten out the problems here in California, people will come in droves to the race track. (People love racing)


I want to thank Jerry Moss, who owns the horse in saving the Breeder Cup.

I only wish we had more owners and sportsmen like Jerry Moss

[jballscalls]

Yeah, nice failure prediction Lester!

[cwwash]

I was in the paddock room with excellent WIFI connection. Bet on the computer all day.

[PaceAdvantage]

I only wish we had more owners and sportsmen like Jerry MossWhy? Do you think it helps the sport that she was only raced five times this year?

That she is apparently going to be retired now after giving us only a glimpse into how good she really might be?

How is that being a sportsman?

[rwwupl]

[QUOTE=PaceAdvantage]Why? Do you think it helps the sport that she was only raced five times this year?

That she is apparently going to be retired now after giving us only a glimpse into how good she really might be?

How is that being a sportsman?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
PaceAdvantage, I sent this e-mail to the CHRB on behalf of myself and others as an expression of how we feel about a sportsmans decision by Jerry S. Moss. If you feel differently, thats O.K. Jerry Moss has walked the extra mile and done what was in the best interest of the game. The mare Zenyatta will be 6 next year, when is enough enough? Congratulations to the whole Zenyatta team. Those who take exception, I say "have a nice day"

Jerome S. Moss, Member,CHRB‏
From: xxx xxx (rwwupl)
Sent: Mon 11/09/09 2:14 AM
To: John Harris (johnharris@harrisfarms.com)
Cc: mike (mike.marten@prodigy.net)


John, Mike and Jerry

I want to acknowledge as a long time Ca. fan the choice to run the (HOY,IMO) mare Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup Classic showed a sportsman like decision that we have been lacking for some time.

Thinking race fans know that Jerry could have rested on the Mares record of 13 wins and undefeated and retired her proudly.

Zenyatta gave the Breeders Cup and Ca. racing a badly needed boost, and we choose to believe that it was done in the best interest of the game, rather than self interest.

Jerry's Trainer,John Shirreffs played a huge roll and is to be congratulated .

Win or lose, it was a courageous decision and I am thrilled for you and all concerned it turned out well.

I want to thank you again and say WELL DONE and CARRY ON.

All the Best, Roger (rwwupl)

[PaceAdvantage]

Too bad you didn't do the same when Rachel was entered into the Preakness. Instead, what we saw written here by some was how Jackson was risking HER LIFE by entering her in that race...yes, some rightly called him a sportsman, but others certainly took another stance....

It's great to see attitudes about racing females against males finally changing in this country. It's something that is long overdue.

If Zenyatta means more trainers and owners will stop being chickenshits and start running against their proper caliber, be it male or female, I'm all for it...

Too bad we only got to see this once from Zenyatta. Luckily, Jess Jackson has given us this thrill three times already with Rachel, with hopefully more to come next year...

[rwwupl]

PaceAdvantage,

I guess we will have to put you in the "undecided" category.

Zenyatta is horse of the century!

[tucker6]

Zenyatta is horse of the century!
Good grief!! :blush:

[rwwupl]

Good grief!! :blush:

There may be some over over reaction coming from the west about Zenyatta but it is hard to deny the facts. Time will determine where she ranks in history. :)
CHRB Chair John Harris and the western people are truely excited over what they have seen. Below is a reply to e-mail in #5 --

RE: Jerome S. Moss, Member,CHRB‏
From: John Harris (JohnHarris@HarrisFarms.com)
Sent: Mon 11/09/09 7:05 AM
To: (rwwupl) [email]xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cc: mike (mike.marten@prodigy.net)

Zenyatta is the horse of the century and the all of us are so fortunate for Jerry’s commitment to the sport. She did so much on Saturday to restore the sportsmanship and excitement of the game.

[Indulto]

PaceAdvantage,

I guess we will have to put you in the "undecided" category.

Zenyatta is horse of the century!rw,
I thought you and PA might be interested in this blog piece and the ensuing comment thread:

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Zasts-TrackWords/comments/2009-11-09the-24-hour-rule/

[Gorgeous George]

Too bad you didn't do the same when Rachel was entered into the Preakness. Instead, what we saw written here by some was how Jackson was risking HER LIFE by entering her in that race...yes, some rightly called him a sportsman, but others certainly took another stance....

It's great to see attitudes about racing females against males finally changing in this country. It's something that is long overdue.

If Zenyatta means more trainers and owners will stop being chickenshits and start running against their proper caliber, be it male or female, I'm all for it...

Too bad we only got to see this once from Zenyatta. Luckily, Jess Jackson has given us this thrill three times already with Rachel, with hopefully more to come next year...

In nearly every thread your always negative, change the record.

[rwwupl]

rw,
I thought you and PA might be interested in this blog piece and the ensuing comment thread:

http://www.horseraceinsider.com/blog.php/Zasts-TrackWords/comments/2009-11-09the-24-hour-rule/


Indulto:

Thanks for the pointer to a thoughtful piece by Vic Zast. Your comments(#12) are always well thought out and high valued.

Below is an excerpt from Haskin's BC Wrapup in the Bloodhorse.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53377/haskins-bc-wrapup--z-one-and-only?utm_medium=email&uid=DDF058FE-4249-48E2-A025-D5A4D65DCA6F&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_campaign=20091110

The crowd of 58,825, many holding Zenyatta signs, let out a roar that rocked the Santa Anita grandstand to such an extent it could have been felt along the San Andreas Fault. A wave of emotion poured out of the stands. Superlatives flowed, as did tears. Several professional photographers standing outside the winner’s circle wept openly. The pursuit of perfection had been completed in resounding fashion.


As a result, Rachel Alexandra no longer sits alone atop racing’s throne. The Sport of Kings is now the Sport of Queens, and it is a shame, barring a tie, only one will wear the crown at year’s end.


The affection that flowed from the fans not only was directed at Zenyatta, but at Shirreffs, Dottie, the Mosses, and jockey Mike Smith, all of whom are well liked and respected by everyone in the sport. But it was Zenyatta who has danced, strutted, and raced her way into people’s hearts.


After the Classic, Patrick Biancone, who trained All Along, one of the rare female Horses of the Year in North America, said, “She is not the Horse of the Year. She is the Horse of the Century.”

[Vinnie]

I love Zenyatta and she is a fabulous horse in every respect, however, horse of the Century, not even by a longshot. Won all of her races on the same surface (Poly Garbage) and her connections pretty much refused to run her at nearly any other venue other than Del Mar which they stated after the fact was a surface that she didn't like. As PA said earlier on, and I am from the same line of thinking anyone that believes that Zenyatta is the end all do all must have been off in their own Rip Van Winkle type of sleep prior to November 6th of this year.

Zenyatta is Awesome, but horse of the Century (NOT)..

[LottaKash]

Horse of the Century ?....get real...:rolleyes: ...

I could name a skad of great horses of this century (meaning the last 100 years), that Zenyatta wouldn't even get near to, at the wire...

best,

[jballscalls]

to be honest, after seeing so many good horses pampered and retired so early, it was thrilling to even see Zenyatta race once this year, let alone 5 times. Same with Rachel, we got to watch an amazing race horse all spring and summer long.

Be thankful for both guys!

[Igeteven]

jballscalls


MY man, you are absolutely right on that statement.

Lester

[Cat Thief]

Well big Z drew some crowd for sure but it was Breeders Cup Day and alot of racing fans make sure they are there for the biggest day of the year. There were alot of good races and alot of real nice horses. I thought it was a great day and Zenyatta was the icing on the cake (and I am not from California) In fact I am from Canada.

[PaceAdvantage]

In nearly every thread your always negative, change the record.Just like you regarding most if not all American runners, right George? I'm just following your lead buddy.

BTW, did I ever tell you to stop being so negative about United States runners? No, I did not.

So where exactly is this coming from, buddy?

[Indulto]

Indulto:

Thanks for the pointer to a thoughtful piece by Vic Zast. Your comments(#12) are always well thought out and high valued.

Below is an excerpt from Haskin's BC Wrapup in the Bloodhorse.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53377/haskins-bc-wrapup--z-one-and-only?utm_medium=email&uid=DDF058FE-4249-48E2-A025-D5A4D65DCA6F&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_campaign=20091110
Thanks for the kind words, rw, and for your link to the Haskin article which mirrors the appreciation of Zenyatta among horsemen that matches your own awareness of her specialness in your eloquent e-mail. Only after reading Haskin's piece, and then watching the replay a few more times, was I even able to begin to fully appreciate her performance.

To be honest, I still feel Rachel's Woodward performance was no less visually impressive with the prolonged excitement it generated as she repulsed one challenger after another in a front-running effort reminiscent of Dr. Fager. (I'm looking forward to John Nerud's comments on both these races.) But, again with 20-20 hindsight, the Woodward field was a cut below the BC Classic field and the proven ability to negotiate that extra furlong is time-honored for a reason. Thus her astonishing 20 length 9 f victory at CD wasn't as testing or taxing as the 10 f Derby required of the males on the following day. To me, the Preakness appeared to be the greatest risk taken by her new owner, and the greatest accomplishment of the filly. Every subsequent event was simply confirmation of her status as the fastest 9 f horse in America.

Pardon me while I go get a helmet to protect me from PA's next salvo.:jump:

[tzipi]

PaceAdvantage,

I guess we will have to put you in the "undecided" category.

Zenyatta is horse of the century!


Horse of the Century. OMG :bang:

This is why people are mad at this overreaction to one race. Screw Secretariats BS races,Man O Wars,Ruffian,etc. Zenyatta's BC win makes her horse of the century! Zenyatta would probably laugh too.

[Igeteven]

Please remember, this is the 21st Century, and it is only nine years old.

:rolleyes:

[tzipi]

Please remember, this is the 21st Century, and it is only nine years old.

:rolleyes:

OK and you still think she's better than Curlin? In terms of where he went compared to her. Races he ran. His numbers. His money total.,etc? He raced THIS Century.

Oh I must of missed where you said Horse of century as of now. Sorry

Plus I've seen where people have said she's better than Ruffian and others. I just think it's hype and overdone. I like her but it's getting a bit nuts.

[rwwupl]

OK and you still think she's better than Curlin? In terms of where he went compared to her. Races he ran. His numbers. His money total.,etc? He raced THIS Century.

Oh I must of missed where you said Horse of century as of now. Sorry

Plus I've seen where people have said she's better than Ruffian and others. I just think it's hype and overdone. I like her but it's getting a bit nuts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes when you have your mind made up previously, it is difficult to accept change, no matter what.

It was a historic moment,for the first time in history a Mare had won the Breeders Cup Classic, previously reserved for males,and the field included the best the boys could muster. "Z" would not be denied by any mans horse on the day the Championships were decided. Thats what it is all about.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

From Jeremy Plonk of ESPN "Cup memories begin and end with Z"

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/columns/story?columnist=plonk_jeremy&id=4641261

From his all time top ten Breeders Cup performances list:


Excerpt:
1. Zenyatta leaves them all applauding in the 2009 Classic. After a highly maligned and politicized campaign, the big mare did exactly what her handlers aimed her for all season -- she peaked on racing's championship day and beat the boys in dramatic style. All the pre-race drama added to the post-race jubilation, exacting some perceived vindication for a career that should not have needed it. Whether you loved her or hated her, thought she was a surface specialist or a one-circuit wonder, you had to stand, applaud and smile when she came home the final quarter mile in about :23 to leave all horses, and doubts, in her massive wake. This Hollywood cliff hanger had its leading lady turn in an Oscar-winning, dramatic performance for the ages