No one is denying her moment or that the story wasn't a made for tv story. It doesnt mean she should be horse of the year or is one of the top 50 horses in history.

I'm sure Dutrow knows exactly why his horses got monthly steroid shots.

The problem is rather that horse racing is generally run by a bunch of guys in charge of their individual fifdoms, that only react when forced into a corner, and then often react inadequately or oddly inappropriately (Life at Ten and the KHRC a good example of what they view to be the "problems" in the sport)

Horse racing in America is a group of cliques, where professionalism varies widely.

Human nature makes people cheat, not lax rules. While it is entirely far too easy to cheat the system now, there will always be those who will do whatever they can to make money regardless of how that is accomplished. People make the mistake and say they will do whatever they can to win. That isnt entirely true. If they could make more money losing, they would do that too. Which is one of the reasons that I skoff at the RMTC's assertion that it is making all this headway.

Dutrow is smarter than he looks or talks in interviews.

Where is the big difference? If we are going to discuss a neblous topic like "good for racing" and tv ratings are used as evidence then why can't the opposing point of view use the same evidence?

I agree...the guy is a great horseman. It's just the perception his clueless response to administering steroids had on the general public leading up to the Belmont. Anyway I just can't agree that Big Brown bought as much good attention to horse racing as Zenyatta. Whether or not that translates into lifelong fans and new bettors who knows.

I just dont think that outside the 2 week window leading up to the BC there was that much exposure. I was in Chicago the entire summer and there was zero mention of her, zero. That is one of the largest markets in the country and I don't see where she was even on anyones radar outside of regular fans.

In my pillory-free zone, I'm not sure I would put any performance by a 3YO filly since Lady's Secret in that category, since they were primarily in races restricted to 3YOs. I also can't think of a performance by a 3YO filly against older males in the relevant time frame that is superior to Zenyatta's Breeders' Cup Classic.

One of those years right around that time was the most perfect day imaginable... guess my foggy memory served me foggy memories :D

2005 was cloudy. 2008 was about 1,832 degrees. 2006 was as nice a day as they come, and we got to see Jazil win the Belmont to boot! What a pretty horsey! Ahem...

I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

I can definatly think of one. A winning effort to boot.

what about 2003?

Hey I picked Jazil that day!! (cough, redboard)

Zenyatta's recent BC Classic try is right up there with Jolypha's '92 BC Classic effort and Island Fashion's '04 Big Cap.

Jolypha.

I think you're past the redboard statute of limitations. Like I can now safely say that I did, indeed, bet on Giacomo in 2005.

In any event, total aside, but I'm going to the Birds game tonight and next Sunday - and I'm not even an Eagles fan.

Oops. It was supposed to be an older female. Jolypha was a 3yo filly going against older males.

And everyone knows that 3yo fillies are much more advanced than 4 or 5 or 6 year old fillies/mares!

At least according to ass handicapper.

thats awesome!! two huge games also! I'll be at the Eagles / Viqueens & Eagles / Cowgirls at the end of the season

Jolypha ran well in a pretty good edition of the BC Classic.

The 2004 Big Cap was a very weak edition of that race, after the top SoCal horses (Pleasantly Perfect and Medaglia D'Oro) skipped the race and went to Dubai for the World Cup. In a better edition of the race the following year (Rock Hard Ten, Congrats, Saint Liam), Island Fashion finished 9th at 21-1.