Does ThoroughbredZone agree with Jess Jackson’s call not to run Rachel Alexandra in this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita? Absolutely. ThoroughbredZone does agree with his call not to run her. There is absolutely nothing to gain by running her on it. Nothing. She is a monster on dirt, but that surface is a fake surface. Everyone is quick to rip Jess Jackson; maybe they should take a closer look at why the BC is being run back-to-back years over a synthetic surface. Jess Jackson has done a lot of good things for racing over the past few years. He brought back Curlin to run as a 4-year-old. He purchased the wonderful Rachel Alexandra, and she treated us to a spectacular display of speed and class in the Preakness Stakes. He understands the game and is a fan of it, and its history. He should be applauded for his decision not to run her instead, not be ridiculed.
He ran Curlin last year, knowing it was not a race he had anything to gain by running him in it and there was a good chance he would not run as good on a synthetic surface, as he had on dirt. He ran good on turf, but not nearly as well as he had on dirt. There was a risk—a big risk—and he ran him anyway. He gets a big kudos for that as well. He knows and understands that Thoroughbreds belong on dirt, not on some man-made, synthetic surface. Win, lose, or draw…Should a 5-million-dollar championship race be run on a synthetic surface in the first place?
Two consecutive years in a row some of the best horses in the country will be deprived an opportunity to be their best and/or take part in racing’s richest day, because of the surface. What’s wrong with that picture?
What about Fabulous Strike, one of the fastest sprinters in the country, if not the fastest? The Connections have already stated they will skip the BC this year as well because of the surface, and last year’s poor effort over it. Wait a second, what’s the point of having the Breeders’ Cup, if the best of the best won’t even show up because of the racing surface?
Don’t blame the Connections, blame the plastic. The synthetic surfaces have begun to impact the sport in a very profound way, and people in the industry should sit down and a take a real close look, if this truly is the best thing for the sport.
The World Championships of Thoroughbred Racing is going to be missing some great ones this year. It’s unfortunate. The good news it returns to Churchill Downs in 2010. It will be back on dirt, the way it should and was meant to be.
It’s time California finally starts to think about going back to dirt.
The good news is Rachel Alexandra is running, and she is running this Saturday at Belmont Park on dirt in the Mother Goose. And if one is close by or in the area, stop by. It’s free admission and the train is back. ThoroghbredZone will post pictures from Saturday, and have some other surprises are planned for Saturday. Stay tuned!
***ThoroughbredZone still thinks it is a strong possibility that Rachel Alexandra will be pointed the Haskell Invitational on August 2,2009 at Monmouth Park…We Will Know Soon***
