The great debate amongst racing pundits and fans alike this year has been who should win the Eclipse Award for the 2009 Horse of the Year? And believe me, everyone has an opinion. ThoroughbredZone is asking another question. Who deserves to not win the Eclipse Award for the 2009 Horse of The Year? I have not heard too many give their opinion on that. As clear-thinking objective race fans, let’s step away from any bias or dislike for either horse or their connections for what ever the reason may be. There has been no doubt that the two thoroughbreds that have accomplished the most in the racing world in the United States this year have been Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta. They put on a show in 2009 that nobody will forget.
The list of feats each horse has achieved this year have been legendary. They both put on displays of greatness that we have never seen before and there is a good chance we may never see again—in our lifetimes anyway. Rachel Alexandra’s record of accomplishment this year has been one for the record books. As a 3-year-old filly she went on to defeat colts on three separate occasions in 2009, including a thrilling victory over older handicap horses in the Woodward Stakes (GI) at Saratoga, simply put—it was a remarkable accomplishment for a 3-year-old filly. Zenyatta went on to become the first mare in the history of the Breeders’ Cup to win the Classic with her breathtaking last to first move. In winning, she also became the first horse ever to win two different Breeders’ Cup Races.
Both sides of this debate have stated and will continue to state their case as to why which one of these champion thoroughbreds should win the Eclipse Award for 2009 Horse of the Year. Both sides of the debate have brought up some interesting points in the process. One argument that has been levied against Rachel Alexandra is the fact her owner opted not to run her over the Pro-Ride surface in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. A decision that should not be held against her or Jess Jackson—It’s apples and oranges. Pro-Ride and dirt are two completely different surfaces, such as dirt and turf are two completely different surfaces. Jess Jackson realized that Rachel Alexandra might not be as effective on the Pro-Ride surface as she has been on dirt, and Jess Jackson did not think that trying her over it would be the wisest thing to do. Rachel Alexandra’s absence in the Breeders’ Cup should not be held against her in the voting process for the 2009 Horse of the Year. She was simply sensational in 2009.
The argument against Zenyatta is much the same as it has always been. She has been defeating the same cast of horses for two years now, and a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is simply not enough to surpass what Rachel Alexandra has accomplished in 2009. The argument of whom she defeated has always been weak one, and it usually is when any horse displays brilliance on the track. One of the things some people try to do is discredit greatness and point to the horses that he or she has defeated as being not that good. This is pure and simple hogwash. Great horses beat their competition—that’s what they do, and that’s why they are champions. If you have a true eye for thoroughbreds, then you can see that Zenyatta is special. Her majestic, long, powerful ground-gobbling stride makes her stand out like few others have. Zenyatta is a large, graceful moving mare. She is truly in a league all of her own. She has proved her class over and over again with each powerful victory. She proved she was all class when she won the Ladies Classic in 2008 over a solid field with her amazing long overpowering stride and when she beat champion Ginger Punch in the Apple Blossom (GI) in 2008 at Oaklawn Park in her only victory over a conventional dirt surface. Zenyatta’s win in the 2009 Breeder’s Cup Classic was something no one will ever forget. She defeated a solid Breeders’ Cup Classic field, that included several Grade I winners.
Ultimately the racing writers and those who are able to cast a vote will decide who will win the Eclipse Award for the 2009 Horse of the Year. There will be no option that says they can choose both, so chances of both horses tying for top honors seems remote—at best. With that being said, one of these fabulous thoroughbreds will not win the 2009 Horse of the Year. If we simply take into account what each horse has done during the year on the track, and not what they did not do, Rachel Alexandra has the advantage based on her 2009 accomplishments. There is not one reasonable, objective-racing fan that can diminish what she has accomplished this year.
But leave no doubt that Zenyatta’s accomplishments were no small feats. Zenyatta won the richest and biggest race of the year in North America, the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Her victory in the Classic was one of thee most dramatic wins by any horse ever, not just the Breeders’ Cup. She became the first mare ever, to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. It’s a moment that will last a lifetime for those who were there, and for those who watched on television. Ironically the Eclipse Award is named after another undefeated champion, the all-time great Eclipse. Zenyatta will retire in the same way, never losing a single race.
ThoroughbredZone currently has a poll on the homepage, asking “Who Should Win Horse of the Year?” One of the three choices you can vote on is both. So far that choice has received several votes—in fact the vote between the three choices has almost been identical. There certainly seems to a sentiment out there among racing fans that does believe they are both worthy of Horse of the Year. It’s black and white for the voters however. The choices will be Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, and/or probably Summer Bird. One possible way to vote for both is to write them in on the ballot. I have never heard of a write-in vote not being permitted. If the write-in option is not permitted, then say so what? Do it anyway. I think it would be fair, and, in this case, warranted. I firmly believe both of these special horses deserve to be crowned as the 2009 Horse of the Year. Of course that’s up to the voters and whom they see as 2009’s best. Some have a clear-cut opinion either way. Some probably do feel they are both worthy. Some are facing a true enigma in deciding. I say if they feel that way, write them both in for 2009 Horse of the Year. One must ask an honest question to themselves, not whom they think deserves to be the 2009 Horse of the Year, but who deserves not to be 2009 Horse of the Year? I think it would be difficult for a clear-thinking, objective-racing fan to think there should be a loser here.
I am obviously from the camp of wanting to see both horses win the award, because I think it would be an injustice if either horse loses, for they both made history on the track. I know some will disagree, but that’s fine by me. You always hear about the on going debate among fans on how to make horseracing more popular, how to get the general public to appreciate this great sport. There are no real easy answers, but the one thing that makes this sport what it is, are the Thoroughbreds who go out there and run day in and day out around the world at different tracks. They are what the sport is. In this case two very special horses ran into the history books in 2009. Both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta won on racings biggest stage this year. Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness Stakes (GI) and Zenyatta won the Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI) both races were on national television. They were both breathtaking, and history making wins. The general public is at least somewhat familiar with both of these horses. A vote for both is a vote for horse racing. A write-in vote would honor and recognize the true greatness that both horses have achieved in 2009.
There is an old saying—“where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Of course the will among enough voters to go this way has to be there, and the belief they are both worthy—they are. Chances of this happening are slim. Voters probably have already decided which one of these special horses should win Horse of the Year, but they should also realize, whoever does not win will be getting to an extent a raw deal. Thoroughbred racing will also be getting a raw deal in the process. What else is new?
Would Co-Horses of the Year help the sport? Well, how could it not? It would be a move that should generate positive media attention, to a sport that has not gotten too much of that in the past few years. Thanks to both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta and their brilliance they have displayed on the track this year, they have given racing something it needs, even if it’s short term, it’s something the industry can build on. A vote for both would also be seen as revolutionary, an action done outside the box in a sport that has done things inside the box for too long. What a novel idea. Horse racing, as we know, is a much different sport then any other, so why not do something different here? If Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta did not have the spectacular year they have had, nobody would even be discussing this right now. They have generated a buzz in the racing world. A buzz that gets louder and louder as we close in on the New Year. We can thank the brilliance of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta for that.
The one thing I do know is that Co-Horses of the Year can’t hurt the sport. They should just ask themselves that question again—who deserves not to win Horse of the Year? That is the question we should all ask ourselves, in particular the ones who will cast their vote in a few weeks. I say neither one of these great champions deserves to lose, but in all likelihood, one of these leading ladies will come up short for the Eclipse Award for the 2009 Horse of the Year. Knowing there will be a loser, or runner up at the end of the day will leave a sour taste in the mouth of many, not just the connections. There will be no winners if there is a loser. Unfortunately racing will come up a loser as well. The sad fact will be, long after the votes are in, and the winner is selected, we won’t be discussing who won the 2009 Horse of the Year, but we will be discussing the horse who lost and why they should have not for years to come. And that will be the biggest shame of it all. The voters have a chance to make history here, a positive, lasting recognition of two great champions that have wowed and thrilled the racing world in 2009. With that being said, it’s a no-brainer to me. Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra are both the 2009 Horse of the Year.
