Posted by: Robin, Canton, MI on February 17, 2011 at 12:12 PM

You know, it wouldn't be such a big deal to me about the Zenyatta people, if they wouldn't insult other people. Just like I remember a comment from somebody that when RA lost her first start of 2010, the New Orleans Ladies Handicap, in March, that in 2009, she was Hall of fame bound, and now today, she is no longer going into the hall of fame. Just because she lost one race, does not mean that she is no longer hall of fame bound. Just like Zenyatta losing the Breeders Cup Classic in 2010, does that lose mean that Zenyatta is no longer hall of fame bound, because she lost the 2010 Breeders Cup Classic to Blame? No, that does not mean she's no longer going into the hall of fame. It just means, that she is no longer perfect. She's like the rest of the horses, capable of losing. I love both mares, Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. And I think that both deserve the spot for the hall of fame. Not just Rachel Alexandra because she had a wonderful 2009 campaign, and not just Zenyatta, because she won 19 in a row. A lot of people say that RA did not deserve the horse of the year award, because she did not have a good 2010 campaign. You know how many horses were horse of the year, and the following year flopped, like RA did in 2010? I don't quite think I have enough hands or fingers to count that high. Stuff like that, were mostly started by the Zenyatta people, and the RA people gets blamed for something that not started by us. Stuff like that is what drives me crazy. Why do we have to be mean and say bad stuff about others. We should all just learn how to get along. And it's not just in the business of horse racing either. Look all around you, and you see people who are the meanest people, and who would say and do things that shouldn't be said or done. So, can't we all just get along, regardless if we agreed with each other or not.

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Posted by: Eric, Chicago, IL on February 16, 2011 at 10:11 PM

I agree with your ideas. The thing that's really frustrated me is the manner in which these new Zenyatta fans debate. It can't be called a debate, just a statement of what they think is "fact". Then they hurl insults. It would be nice to have some respectful discussion. For example, if I were new to a sport, I would be respectful of the "elders" or in other words, those who are very well acquainted with the sport. Like Robin said, they can be asking questions, finding out more about the sport. I don't like this process of segregation I've been seeing so much of lately. We all seem to be dividing into our own groups based on our beliefs when we should all be united, working towards common goals. I'm not saying we should all agree- the more variety of opinions the better- but we somehow have to find a mutual respect or this entire situation will end up hurting the sport more than it benefits it.

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Posted by: Rick, Providence, RI on February 16, 2011 at 09:39 PM

Robin: I, like you, am always interested in learning new things about the sport. I love horses, all of them, not just the Thoroughbred. You have some valid points about new fans seeking education and yes, I agree that Zenyatta is the vehicle which has been at the forefront of 2010's debate. Unfortunately, we are all victims of the media....for me, I would prefer the media who we all depend upon for expertise, had not made these past few years pitting each other against this horse or that, e.g. Zenyatta or Rachel. Each horse should be celebrated and not put down as become the "norm" in this business. Instead, since they are supposed to be the "experts", they should use these forums to educate new and old racing fans alike but we have all fallen victim. Such is the nickname "Zenyatta Freaks"...it stems from your frustration with the passion she has created amongst the new fans who may not yet be ready to embrace the entire "racing" industry but are stuck on Zenyatta alone. However, Zenyatta herself, because of who she is and how she has been shared with the public, has stirred an unparalled passion for many. Let's hope that through this passion and a change in the way you and Eric share your knowledge through these posts can make a difference in shaping the future of racing. My hope is that through the passion whether it be Zenyatta, Uncle Mo (a favorite of mine) or racing's future superstars, something good can come of this newly sparked interest in the racing business for as we've discussed,racing has a very ugly side that most new fans don't even know about. These horses that we celebrate on the racetrack, love and cherish, deserve much much more than the more often than not, tragic ending once their racing and breeding careers are over. Let's hope that we can shed some light on that as well to find the retirement each and every one of these horses deserve. The new fans see Zenyatta and think that all horses have her fairy tale story when in fact, as you and I know, is not the case for many of them. Let's hope that we continue these discussions not here between us, but that we find a communication segway to all for the good of the "horse". The Mosses have set an excellent example of how these wonderful majestic creates should be treated for their entire life. I hope too that this is one foundation that will inspire others to take the same care of their horses. Through Zenyatta, a standard has been set by her trainer John Shirreffs, her jockey right through the ranks of her groom coupled with the knowledge and experience that people like you, Eric and others have to share, something positive can come of all of this energy.

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Posted by: Robin, Canton, MI on February 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM

Rick,
And another thing is, there is nothing wrong with us disagreeing with you guys about Zenyatta. You and your Zenyatta Freak friends, are freaking out, because people like Eric and I don't agree with you about Zenyatta. Not everybody is going to agree with you. Not everybody is going to have your opinion. That's what these are, opinions. I do enjoy talking about horses, and reading about them, and learning about them. Life is not always going to be fair to you. Your not always going to get what you want. And you want to know something, these kind of dicussions, are alway great debate for people. You got the pros and the cons. Let's talk about stuff like this. I believe personally, that articles like this one, should have some kind of discussion, and just because you got people like Eric and I commenting on them, it's not the end of the world. Your going to be okay. On this article, know matter what is being said, we could all learn about what each other says. You might say something that Eric and I never knew about. Or Eric could say something that you and I never knew, or I could say something that you or Eric never knew about. So, why can't we comment on articles like this one. Maybe if you bring a lot of your new racing fans, that proclaim they are Zenyatta Freaks, bring them to this website, and we could discuss everything there is about this sport, and make this a discussion site. The comments might be good and they might be bad, but you know what, their opinions, and some might be facts. We all might say something that we could learn from. So, these are educated kind of things to be on.

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Posted by: Robin , Canton, MI on February 16, 2011 at 10:39 AM

Rick,
There is something that you are correct on. I did not read the whole entire article on Daijin,so I did not know the whole entire fact about the mare. But, I read enough to know that she was euthanized because of foaling complications. So you are correct that I should have read the article completely, and get my fact straight, before answering. But there is something, that you have been bypassing. I have been watching horse racing since October 27, 1990. My first race that I saw was the Breeders Cup Sprint, when Safely Kept just nips Dayjur at the wire. In that race, Mr. Nickerson collapses, and dies of a heart attack, and Shaker Knit falls over him, and had to be euthanized the next day becuase of a spinal cord injury. Two races later, in the Breeders Cup Distaff, Go for Wand breaks down, snapping a foreleg, while battling Bayakoa for the championships. She also had to be euthanized. That was my first experience in watching horse racing. So, I've been in this sport for over 20 years. I know, your probably asking me what the point is, right? Well, if I could remember, you told Eric and I that we should educate the new racing fans. Andf for some odd reason, your avoiding what you want us to do. If you want us to be passionate about this sport, I have no problem with that. I love horses. I love watching these beauties run, and I hate to see them get hurt. It breaks my heart to see one break down. But the problem I see is, for all these new people that are coming into this sport, if they want to be educated, then where are they when it comes to learning about the sport? If I was a brand new person in the sport of horse racing, I would love to ask questions and learn about the sport, that I am interested in. Where are these new people that are coming into this sport? Why ain't they asking questions, and getting information that they would like to know about the sport. Apparently, if they are not asking questions, to maybe somebody like you, or me, or Eric, then their really not that interested are they? To tell you the truth Rick, if somebody askes me questions about this sport, I might not know it. If I don't know the answer, there is nothing wrong with us looking up the answers together, and try to find out w hat the answer is, is there. There is nothing wrong with helping each other out.

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