tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post8405160810404695711..comments2023-11-17T12:09:40.494-05:00Comments on Foolish Pleasure: My (Irrelevant) Eclipse BallotValerie Grashhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02696887655473752690noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-55978276789759710312010-01-06T21:12:37.427-05:002010-01-06T21:12:37.427-05:00"Will I be disappointed if Zenyatta wins? Hon..."Will I be disappointed if Zenyatta wins? Honestly, yes, because it will only provide greater credence to a bad trend—the overrated nature of the Breeders’ Cup, at the expense of true racing campaigns, which encourages less, not more, race starts for our stars. That’s not what we need, but I won’t begrudge Zenyatta her moment (although the damn “love fests”, first at Hollywood and then Santa Anita, are really over-the-top)."<br /><br />That's certainly a fair point, but I'll play Devil's Advocate for a moment here and suggest that giving Rachel the award gives credence to another bad, yet not recent, trend in horse racing, consistently overvaluing the performance of 3 year olds. I believe this is a huge problem for horse racing in this country, great horses are consistently pushed to perform in age restricted races, usually at the expense of long campaigns although hopefully not in Rachel's case.<br /><br />Rachel raced in a grand total of one non-age restricted race all year, the Woodward. Based on that, I do not believe she deserves horse of the year. Had she run once more in the JCGC and won it, sure, but I think she is being given too much credit for beating an injury depleted class of 3yo colts and an almost non-existent class of 3yo fillies.<br /><br />Keep in mind that these comments are being written by someone who believes the Triple Crown should be for 4yo and up, and that year end awards being given by sportswriters are generally a complete waste of time, so take it with a grain of salt. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-68719076559522451082010-01-03T15:17:10.114-05:002010-01-03T15:17:10.114-05:00I like your Einstein selection very much although ...I like your Einstein selection very much although it seems that Gio Ponti is the more popular choice. I also liked your Mine That Bird as runner up to Summer Bird. If I were voting I'd pick Zenyatta as HOY. I thought the Classic win was too impressive to ignore, more impressive then the Woodward and at least equal the Preakness and Haskell of RA. <br />I like Bribon (Fr) very much and he gets my personal favorite award. Your ballot is not irrelevant as your opinion is one of the best to be found on this internet-thingy. Happy New Year!The Turkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06471195530549274322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-32770693407270901082010-01-02T20:27:36.795-05:002010-01-02T20:27:36.795-05:00Steve Brem said "my lasting memory of Rachel ...Steve Brem said "my lasting memory of Rachel Alexander was the merciless hiding she took to win the Woodward."<br /><br />Wow, I can't believe I had forgotten all about that, but she didn't take the abuse to <b>win</b> the Woodward because she had it all locked up at that point.<br /><br />Spec was that someone wanted her to do it in record time, and that's why the beating.<br /><br />What really shocked me is how many folks who claim to love this horse actually defended it.the Source of the Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934367378545953848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-77620635307990625102009-12-29T14:16:54.668-05:002009-12-29T14:16:54.668-05:00Correction - Twice Over came in 3rd in the Classic...Correction - Twice Over came in 3rd in the Classic, Summer Bird came in 4th.Nancynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-14230896266566585982009-12-28T23:52:19.194-05:002009-12-28T23:52:19.194-05:00I am a long way removed from the argument being wa...I am a long way removed from the argument being way down here but my lasting memory of Rachel Alexander was the merciless hiding she took to win the Woodward. That ought to have set the cause of USA racing back years. I wouldn't be surprised if she rejects that kind of pain in the future. HOTY looks like a classic East v West standoff.STEVE BREMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13265066067480111553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-40801718699820530212009-12-28T15:03:18.678-05:002009-12-28T15:03:18.678-05:00On the racetrack, Rachel is every bit as awe-inspi...On the racetrack, Rachel is every bit as awe-inspiring as Zenyatta. Granted, Zenyatta has a more engaging "personality" but that is not a criterion for HOTY.<br />The main edge that Zenyatta has, even with her extremely sparse campaign, is that she accomplished her goals (and then, thanks to Rachel, her "added" goal of beating the boys) in the LAST six months of the year. Unfortunately, barring a Triple Crown achievement (which will never happen again- I know, easy to say), the accomplishments of horses in the FIRST six months of the year are almost completely IRRELEVANT and discounted. There are many sources of this bias: "what have you done for me lately?" syndrome, the short term memories of most people/voters, the belief in the false HYPE of a SINGLE "championship" a la super bowl race day (the BC, where the top turf horse in the country races on synth??? and the "top" horse in the world (Sea The Stars) stays home), the weight given to a more mature horse than to a less mature horse i.e. Mine That Bird in May and June vs. Summer Bird in August and September.<br />Add to this that, for most people, emotion trumps reason and Zenyatta, with her personality and amazing BC win, evokes more emotion, which clouds the fact that her incredible single race achievement cannot outweigh the spectacular multiple race achievements of Rachel.<br />There is NO DOUBT that those who are voting for Zenyatta would STILL DO SO if she had JUST RUN ONCE THIS YEAR: her BC Classic victory is their overriding factor that trumps all other accomplishments by all other horses.<br />You are so right, Foolish Pleasure, that a Zenyatta HOY vote is a vote for LESS racing from the sports top horses. A HOY Eclipse for Zenyatta (as would have been the case with the GREAT Midnite Lute last year) would guarantee a maximum of four or five races per year (or FEWER) for the best horses in America.<br />This isn't new or unique to this country but the idea will be affirmed and reinforced. How pathetic is it that there was no Zarkava this year and no Sea The Stars next year? The owners of Goldikova, Conduit, Einstein, Curlin and Rachel (same great sportsman), Cloudy's Knight, etc. should be given a special Eclipse Award for doing what was commonplace until the 1970's- keeping their champions where they belong as long as they are sound (horses are never "safe") - on the racetrack.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927018700910504065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-77652027105439270682009-12-27T23:11:36.334-05:002009-12-27T23:11:36.334-05:00I wonder if HOY picks would be changed if Mr. Jack...I wonder if HOY picks would be changed if Mr. Jackson came out tomorrow and said that Rachel would NOT race in 2010. To be honest, I think my pick might. <br /><br />Perhaps Valerie's comments about Cloudy's Knight illustrate my point. I really respect and appreciate horses (and connections) that continue to race past 2 and 3 years old. When two deserving horses are vying for honors, I usually side with the older horse, or the horse planning on returning to the track, even if his or her campaign was slightly less spectacular. Owners and horses should be rewarded for long and healthy campaigns.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-8520536243907190502009-12-27T22:34:16.176-05:002009-12-27T22:34:16.176-05:00Nice summation on why Rachel deserves HOTY. I am p...Nice summation on why Rachel deserves HOTY. I am pleased thus far that writers whose opinions I greatly respect such as Beyer, Crist and Kling all feel Rachel deserves the HOTYSaratogaSpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05181152277681879529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-22716089992385611112009-12-27T14:51:04.613-05:002009-12-27T14:51:04.613-05:00Other than you not linking to my support of Rachel...Other than you not linking to my support of Rachel Alexandra, this was a great read. :)<br /><br />I really liked your point about over valuing the Breeders' Cup, which is one I hadn't seen made elsewhere.<br /><br />I DO think a $5-million race going 1 1/4 miles on the main track should be of some importance, but it shouldn't be viewed as an "all in" chip.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13554792681227665669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-85226342268550304442009-12-27T13:42:55.315-05:002009-12-27T13:42:55.315-05:00By mentioning "dire times," I was referr...By mentioning "dire times," I was referring to the world beyond the racetrack.<br /><br />And I was addressing the blogger's putdowns regarding Zenyatta's appearances in Hollywood and Santa Anita after her retirement. People would go to the racetrack just to see her in the flesh, whether she runs or not. And that helps the sport, which needs a lot more fans.<br /><br />I frankly think the Eclipse award for HOY has everything to do with the manipulations of the horse's connections and little to do with the horse's greatness. It has less meaning than usual this particular year.<br /><br />BTW I'm not trying to run down Rachel Alexandra. I HOPE I'll get to see her race next year, and I hope she's still interested in running next year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-41245064048211477842009-12-27T12:16:22.521-05:002009-12-27T12:16:22.521-05:00Good choices Valerie. The only thing I would chang...Good choices Valerie. The only thing I would change would be to drop Macho Again and put Cloudy's Knight on the Older Male ballot.<br />Love the Rachel Alexandra pick.<br />Anonymous-Rachel is the same exact way in person, she takes your breath away, that's what helps define the "greats", thier presence on and off track.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-15854670175039833882009-12-27T11:01:33.513-05:002009-12-27T11:01:33.513-05:00To the anon above, I agree that Zenyatta has an aw...To the anon above, I agree that Zenyatta has an awe-inspiring presence, but I'm not sure how your comment addresses Valerie's specific arguments for Rachel as HOY. Should HOY be awarded to the prettiest pony? Given the lack of criteria, that's as valid a reason as any, but I would rather the voters consider the horse's body of work for the season and reward a willingness to take risks in pursuit of greatness.<br /><br />I'm also curious as to how any racing year that includes Rachel, Zenyatta, Summer Bird, and Mine That Bird's great Derby upset could be considered "dire times." I thought this year was fantastic!EGnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1354333762076619269.post-69764581148300586692009-12-27T10:24:11.748-05:002009-12-27T10:24:11.748-05:00Perhaps you never saw Zenyatta in person. She is b...Perhaps you never saw Zenyatta in person. She is beyond awe-inspiring. The crowd gasps when she firsg appears in the paddock. Without a doubt she is the most gorgeous horse on the planet, with a personality that knocks you flat. She finds the crowd amusing, believe it or not, and entertains them with her struts and tango moves. <br /><br />But when she races that's even more awe-inspiring. She never runs any harder than she has to to win, so her Beyer figures aren't spectacular. She does not know how to lose a race, even though she seems so nonchalant about it 3/4 of the way around the track. And she loves what she does, ears forward at the finish.<br /><br />Lovefest at Hollywood and <br />Santa Anita? Yes! And thank goodness for such a horse in these dire, dark times.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com