Zenyatta News

[a Flying Brick]

Someone sent this to me thought I would pass it on. 60 Minutes on Zenyatta.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_1...ag=component.0

[Ezariah]

After she went back in the second time and you, I and the others left, I walked down to check to see how the WP horses were settling in, then left the track. I drove past where Zen had been grazing and there was still 3 cars and about a half dozen people standing near the fence talking. I'm not sure if they were waiting to see if she was coming back out, but it's possible.

The cool thing was that people would drive by and see people standing around photographing this horse, and they'd pull over and get out to see Zenyatta. Even some folks who live across the street came over to see her .. they all had to peek through the chain link fence. At one point, there might have been about six cars pulled over so maybe 6-8 people standing on the street side of the fence. She did wander over to them too. It's a little tough to get a shot through chain link, but it can be done. :-)

[Slewbopper]

The trend toward speed had already started in Kincsem's day. In 1823, American Eclipse beat Henry in three 4 mile heats (12 miles of racing) in America's first great sporting event. The Goodwood article from the 1878 NY Times had Kincsem winning one heat at 2 1/2 miles. The way things are going, the Classic will be a mile in 50 more years. Hehehe

[GinTalking]

Haha yeah I did exaggerate, but you get my point, right? He was so far in front of the field in his Belmont, so I don't think she even would have recognized him as a "target", since she always starts to run around the turn.

I certainly think this scenario has some merit. Not by the imaginary 80 lengths, of course. But just look to her works and that they usually have a target in place for her to lock on. Since her running style takes her some 10-15 lengths out of it, and Secretariat could put on that move whenever it was needed, he'd have the upper hand in that kind of a match up.

It's a shame that common sense is left in a ditch when it comes to this horse. I mean, seriously.

As far as being the female of all time, I have to think she's already gotten that title. In fact, who IS the highest ranked (generally speaking) female to date? I pay very little attention to that kind of thing so I haven't a clue who it would be.

But all-time is another story. IF she'd raced several more times against males, or done at least a little more traveling, I think there'd be no doubt, even before the BC. As it is, her connections have made it difficult to get a real gauge on her. I hope she wins on Saturday because after a while, there won't be all this wringing of hands ...

but if she loses, I hope it's not a flukey horse who does it. Yesterday, a few of us were discussing the possiblities and we kind of decided that a First Dude/Fly Down exacta would really send everyone into a raging tizzy. LOL It's happened before though .. Skywalker upset the strong Older Males. Arcangues did the same thing. Volponi was an upset, but he didn't have the strength behind him. This is a strong field. If she wins this, she's certainly in the top 5 of all-time greats. But I still think if they'd been a bit more aggressive with her, she'd have that top spot NOW, instead of having to wait until Saturday night to even rethink the situation.

Polls are odd and I'd bet that if you asked the same people who voted for all-time greats a second time, they'd have a lot of horses in different positions. It's like they say on that "Top 100 NFL players" list .... what really is the difference between number 5 and number 35? Probably not a lot. Vote a second time, and 5 drops to 7, and 35 might become 29. At this level, it's a very tough call.

Sorry for the reality check, but that's the way I am about most things and I guess if I've made it this long thinking like that, it's not likely I will change. ;-)

[MonmouthGuy]

I can't "respect" facts about history that aren't necessarily all there with hard proof.

Ignorance is bliss.

[Slewbopper]

Gin .....Ruffian is the highest female at 35 followed by Busher at 40, Gallorette at 45, PE at 48, Dahlia at 50, and Susan's Girl at 51.

[Happy Endings]

That list is of the top 100 horses of the 20th Century, no? They left off horses of the 19th Century, so it is not a list of the best of all time. Even Man O War wasn't given that distinction, so I don't really see the point of discussing it in terms of Zenyatta. We are in a new Century now. Zenyatta may well turn out to be the best of the 21st Century. She certainly is so far. I'd settle for that.

However, regardless where Bloodhorse ranks her...and keep in mind that not everyone on this planet cares what Bloodhorse publishes...if Zenyatta wins on Saturday and retires 20-0, there is no doubt in my mind that she will become the Best KNOWN horse of all time. The story of an undefeated mare who beat males in the biggest race of the year two years in a row and won all her races coming from the back of the pack in exciting fashion is the kind of stuff that legends are made of. So it doesn't matter what Bloodhorse thinks or what anyone on here thinks. History will take care of itself. If she wins, she will become a legend. Plain and simple. I'd rather see her name on the lips of tens of millions of people from all walks of life than worry about where she is ranked by a marginalized industry.

[Blue Jeans]

I would have enjoyed the article more had the writer used "horde" instead of "hoard."

Does the BH edit its articles before the writers post them for public view? It doesn't seem like it lately. Ok, that's my grammar police commentary for the day.

Apparently not. Just be glad the word wasn't spelled with a "w". They use that "w" word a lot in CA. Ask Meg Whitman, huh?

[Horse's Rear]

Sorry for the reality check, but that's the way I am about most things and I guess if I've made it this long thinking like that, it's not likely I will change. ;-)

If that mish-mash of inconsistencies constitutes reality, you need to drink more or less.

[second_glance]

From Mike Smith's ESPN blog:

I've got a business manager, a publicity manager and a production crew in tow. They need to invent a new word for this kind of hectic.

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog...5753212/hectic

[islandgirl45]

Here's the latest blog from Mike Smith, published Tuesday.

Let's do it one more time

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog...-one-more-time

[Slewbopper]

That list is of the top 100 horses of the 20th Century, no? They left off horses of the 19th Century, so it is not a list of the best of all time. Even Man O War wasn't given that distinction, so I don't really see the point of discussing it in terms of Zenyatta. We are in a new Century now. Zenyatta may well turn out to be the best of the 21st Century. She certainly is so far. I'd settle for that.

However, regardless where Bloodhorse ranks her...and keep in mind that not everyone on this planet cares what Bloodhorse publishes...if Zenyatta wins on Saturday and retires 20-0, there is no doubt in my mind that she will become the Best KNOWN horse of all time. The story of an undefeated mare who beat males in the biggest race of the year two years in a row and won all her races coming from the back of the pack in exciting fashion is the kind of stuff that legends are made of. So it doesn't matter what Bloodhorse thinks or what anyone on here thinks. History will take care of itself. If she wins, she will become a legend. Plain and simple. I'd rather see her name on the lips of tens of millions of people from all walks of life than worry about where she is ranked by a marginalized industry.

How can I be polite when responding to this ludicrous sentence? Secretariat is far and away the best known horse of anyone alive today in America. I would guess that Man O War and Seabiscuit would be 2 and 2A.

I would give odds that Diana Taurasi is known by 5 times more people than Zenyatta? Do you know who she is?

[Spahny]

Here's the latest blog from Mike Smith, published Tuesday.

Let's do it one more time

http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/blog...-one-more-time

Mike has 2 more live mounts on Saturday in Jaycinto and Proviso to think about.

[islandgirl45]

Mike has 2 more live mounts on Saturday in Jaycinto and Proviso to think about.

As well as (perhaps a little less live) mounts on Mine That Bird and Izshelegal.

[Happy Endings]

How can I be polite when responding to this ludicrous sentence? Secretariat is far and away the best known horse of anyone alive today in America. I would guess that Man O War and Seabiscuit would be 2 and 2A.

I would give odds that Diana Taurasi is known by 5 times more people than Zenyatta? Do you know who she is?

You are too hopelessly mired in this marginal industry to have a clue. Should Zenyatta win this Saturday, the landscape will change considerably.

And with your mention of Seabiscuit as third best known you unwittingly support my comment. Why is he third best known over Kelso or others in the top 10? Because of the movie? Exactly the reason I think Zenyatta will be so well known. Because of her story.

I am not so concerned about those just alive today. I thinking of those who come after us. Who will they remember most? That type of legacy is far more important.

[breezing]

big girl looked good this morning taking a little jog around the track........i think steve willard gave up trying to hold her back......was doing a good job and then with one stride she was off. it was funny watch people run up to the rail to see her

[Secretariat Forever]

Zenyatta now has 32,749 fans on facebook. Just the other day she had a little over 30,000. So about 2,000 more fans within a few days!

[Secretariat Forever]

big girl looked good this morning taking a little jog around the track........i think steve willard gave up trying to hold her back......was doing a good job and then with one stride she was off. it was funny watch people run up to the rail to see her

thanks! Hopefully we'll see some photos up!

[Secretariat Forever]

Floating over the Churchill track.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fb...d=100801093330


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyS0ka4ZKgI

[islandgirl45]

big girl looked good this morning taking a little jog around the track........i think steve willard gave up trying to hold her back......was doing a good job and then with one stride she was off. it was funny watch people run up to the rail to see her

And to see other exercise riders turn around in their saddles to see her as she came up behind them.