Rachel Alexandra - what would her odds be in the BC Distaff?

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by NTamm1215

I understand what's been said here but it also illustrates one of the biggest problems we have in the game.

This idea that if a horse loses they're suddenly no good and their accomplishments are tarnished is lunacy. Racing became the game that was easy to fall in love with because people challenged their horses, it was a sport. It didn't matter if you lost. Everyone and their brother knew that Secretariat was not 100% leading up to the Whitney, including Ron Turcotte but there was no way he wasn't going to run. He ran and he lost, but he still had opportunities to restore any lost luster and we don't remember him as the horse that lost the Whitney.

Now, we have these nauseating 5-6 race campaigns where horses run every 8 weeks, in what trainers deem the easiest possible spots, so that they can get out of the year with a horse ready for stud duty and a possible Eclipse Award.

Hell, I'm a fan of Blame and think that his campaign this year has been a complete joke. Quality Road's has arguably been even worse. Trainers and owners are not willing to put good horses to the test anymore and that's wrecking the game.

You nailed it. Remember when horses prepped in races they probably couldn't win, but they needed the race? Nowadays if a horse loses their prep race they all of the sudden stink. It's an interesting game now. A lot different than the one I grew up following.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

You nailed it. Remember when horses prepped in races they probably couldn't win, but they needed the race? Nowadays if a horse loses their prep race they all of the sudden stink. It's an interesting game now. A lot different than the one I grew up following.

They would come back in some Allowance race or perhaps a G3, where winning was desired but not required to prep for the G1 races. Different game nowadays.

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Dahoss

You nailed it. Remember when horses prepped in races they probably couldn't win, but they needed the race? Nowadays if a horse loses their prep race they all of the sudden stink. It's an interesting game now. A lot different than the one I grew up following.

I completely agree on the different point but to me the game is less interesting than it has ever been. No rivalries are ever created because in the rare occurance that two top horses meet, the loser almost invariably slinks off to grade 3 land and the winner's connections expect to be coronated. About the closest thing we have to a rivalry is Havre de Grace and Blind Luck.

[Dahoss]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I completely agree on the different point but to me the game is less interesting than it has ever been. No rivalries are ever created because in the rare occurance that two top horses meet, the loser almost invariably slinks off to grade 3 land and the winner's connections expect to be coronated. About the closest thing we have to a rivalry is Havre de Grace and Blind Luck.

I agree Chuck and I didn't mean interesting in a good way.

[Arletta]

And away she goes....

http://www.drf.com/news/photos-rache...her-new-career

[slotdirt]

Headed to Churchill Downs, eh?

[Arletta]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Headed to Churchill Downs, eh?

Appears to be the case yes..



You don't think they.......... nah......

[The Indomitable DrugS]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Headed to Churchill Downs, eh?

Hopefully it's a Brett Favre type comeback to try to grab attention and look sporting.

[TouchOfGrey]

Originally Posted by slotdirt

Headed to Churchill Downs, eh?

Originally Posted by Arletta

Appears to be the case yes..



You don't think they.......... nah......

No way.

DRF|Reflecting on Rachel Alexandra's next chapter

Scott Blasi, who has been with Rachel Alexandra nearly every day since she joined Steve Asmussen’s barn in May 2009, said Rachel is tentatively scheduled to be shipped to Churchill Downs on Tuesday.

“We’ll let her down a little bit there,” Blasi said. “We haven’t made any plans yet to get her to the farm. She’s done going to the track. We’ll walk her a few times a day, and take her off her vitamins and stuff. Without her being in training, she won’t need the quantity of feed she’s used to getting, but we’ll do it gradually.”

Sometime in the coming weeks, Rachel Alexandra will board a horse van at Churchill not bound for another racetrack but for the Stonestreet Farms of Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, on Old Frankfort Pike in Lexington. Substitute paddock turn-outs for 1 1/2-mile gallops. Instead of rivals on the racetracks, there will be field companions. No more racing boys, but mating with them: A date with Curlin has been scheduled for the upcoming breeding season.

[Clip-Clop]

Originally Posted by Cannon Shell

I completely agree on the different point but to me the game is less interesting than it has ever been. No rivalries are ever created because in the rare occurance that two top horses meet, the loser almost invariably slinks off to grade 3 land and the winner's connections expect to be coronated. About the closest thing we have to a rivalry is Havre de Grace and Blind Luck.

Turning into a fun one too! I just think that BL is best at longer races than the Cotillion. She nails HDG with a little more distance.