If I Ran Racing....

infield_line · #1 05-23-2009, 06:48 PM

Nationally televised match race between Zenyatta and Rachel.... Neutral track, find a weekend where the networks were offering some no name golf tournament and hockey playoffs. Do a national voting/betting pool like American Idol......mandate that network talking heads explain racing, wagering options, where tracks are at, the Derby Trail and annual cycle of our sport.

Sometimes dreams are the only non-devalued currency

I/L

10 pnt move up · #2 05-23-2009, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infield_line

Nationally televised match race between Zenyatta and Rachel.... Neutral track, find a weekend where the networks were offering some no name golf tournament and hockey playoffs. Do a national voting/betting pool like American Idol......mandate that network talking heads explain racing, wagering options, where tracks are at, the Derby Trail and annual cycle of our sport.

Sometimes dream are the only non-devalued currency

I/L

too much talk about RA being the greatest filly every by beating MTB by a length.....MTB couldnt warm Zenyatta up IMO.

Scav · #3 05-23-2009, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infield_line

Nationally televised match race between Zenyatta and Rachel.... Neutral track, find a weekend where the networks were offering some no name golf tournament and hockey playoffs. Do a national voting/betting pool like American Idol......mandate that network talking heads explain racing, wagering options, where tracks are at, the Derby Trail and annual cycle of our sport.

Sometimes dream are the only non-devalued currency

I/L

I already decided that the next time I see Mr. Duchossois I am asking him to step up, ala Cigar Day here.

Put 2 million in the kitty on Million Day here and it is ON!!

Danzig · #4 05-23-2009, 07:51 PM

you'd have to think, based on running style, that a match race would suit RA far more than zenyatta. but i'd love to see it.

Danzig · #5 05-23-2009, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

too much talk about RA being the greatest filly every by beating MTB by a length.....MTB couldnt warm Zenyatta up IMO.

MTB is a closer, just like zenyatta. it would be one hell of a finish if they both had clear sailing.

letswastemoney · #6 05-23-2009, 07:55 PM

RA would own in a match race with Zenyatta on a dirt track. They have 2 very different styles, of course you're going to pick the speed horse in a match race.

blackthroatedwind · #7 05-23-2009, 07:55 PM

How about the Personal Ensign at Saratoga?

10 pnt move up · #8 05-23-2009, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

MTB is a closer, just like zenyatta. it would be one hell of a finish if they both had clear sailing.

except zenyatta has about a 2/1 stride to that horse.

10 pnt move up · #9 05-23-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How about the Personal Ensign at Saratoga?

I would be all for that, she has done her best running at HP, along with OP, and they are the closest to dirt. Personally I would like to see HP Gold Cup, Pacific Classic, Ladys Secret, BC Classic. That is me though not Shirreffs.

I thought she handled DM the worst of all the tracks.

Scav · #10 05-23-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How about the Personal Ensign at Saratoga?

Would be a great place to do it, but do you think that the NYRA would step up with a purse increase?

I would think that it would take alot of convincing to get them to face each other before the Breeders Cup?

Danzig · #11 05-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

How about the Personal Ensign at Saratoga?

that would be sweet.

Danzig · #12 05-23-2009, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10 pnt move up

except zenyatta has about a 2/1 stride to that horse.

maybe so...don't get fooled by big horses, northern dancer proved the folly of that.
mine that bird is a fast horse at the end of a race, stride length notwithstanding.

Travis Stone · #13 05-23-2009, 08:16 PM

The question is not about Zenyatta taking-on Rachel Alexandra, it's Zenyatta taking on the boys. I sure hope the BC Classic is their goal this year.

Danzig · #14 05-23-2009, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Stone

The question is not about Zenyatta taking-on Rachel Alexandra, it's Zenyatta taking on the boys. I sure hope the BC Classic is their goal this year.

i doubt it. especially after reading the shirreffs q/a today on equidaily...

letswastemoney · #15 05-23-2009, 08:40 PM

Sheriffs is too conservative to place Zenyatta against males. I'd be surprised

10 pnt move up · #16 05-23-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Danzig

maybe so...don't get fooled by big horses, northern dancer proved the folly of that.
mine that bird is a fast horse at the end of a race, stride length notwithstanding.

you just compared Northern Dancer to Mine That Bird!

The Indomitable DrugS · #17 05-23-2009, 11:12 PM

Rachel Alexandra would toy with Zenyatta in a match race on dirt.

There is no way the connections of Zenyatta would possibly be stupid enough to ever agree to a match race with RA on dirt.

She has no tactical speed at all. RA would loaf on about an 8 length lead like nothing with less pressure than she's ever seen in her life .. and when it turns into an all out sprint ... you don't quicken and make up considerable ground on dirt. I'd be utterly shocked if she can make up any more than 2 or 3 of the 8 length gap late.

A match race on dirt between those two basically translates to a 3 furlong sprint with Rachel Alexandra starting with a massive head start.

While logically, RA should win that kind of race by 5 ... she could probably easily win by double digits if Zenyatta is taken out of her game and kept within contact of RA.

In that case, RA would dominate her in the late stages and Zenyatta would finish like Mine That Bird finished up in his fast paced Sunland Park races.

A match race on Pro-Ride would be a different story because horses routinely cut absurdly slow fractions under no pressure and get absolutely run over on that Pro-Ride.

The Breeders Cup Distaff is on Pro-Ride .. and there will be horses in there to keep RA honest. RA has absolutely no chance against Zenyatta on Pro-Ride in a race where she's almost certainly going to be kept from getting away with murder.

A type of race where the outcome would be in doubt would be a 10 furlong race run with an honest pace on a dirt track. That type of race would be interesting.

hoovesupsideyourhead · #18 05-23-2009, 11:19 PM

drugs you really needed that many lines of print to say the obvious?

yasher koach

10 pnt move up · #19 05-23-2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

drugs you really needed that many lines of print to say the obvious?

yasher koach

0000000000000

The Indomitable DrugS · #20 05-23-2009, 11:23 PM

Sometimes the obvious seems pretty elusive to many.