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Crist Blog | May 10, 2009
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
A despicable and perhaps short-lived scheme to bump Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness, by entering unqualified colts in the race, has tarnished what should have been one of the most positive and exciting days in recent American racing history.
Ahmed Zayat, owner of Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, said in an HRTV interview Sunday morning that he had been contacted by Mine That Bird co-owner Mark Allen, and that the two men had agreed they would each enter a colt in an attempt to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the race. The filly can not run if 14 original Triple Crown nominees are entered for the race because such nominees get preference over a supplemental nominee such as Rachel Alexandra.
(There is a side issue of where this is precisely spelled out in the conditions for the Preakness, since the condition book for the race refers only to horses being "properly" nominated, not "originally" nominated. It wouldn't be shocking if onetime attorney Jess Jackson, who bought Rachel Alexandra earlier this week, mounts a legal challenge and this Preakness Week ends up in a flurry of courtroom maneuvers if the filly is excluded.)
Zayat said later in the day he had changed his mind after being contacted by industry officials, and would not enter any of his 21 other Triple Crown nominees. Reports stemming from Zayat's earlier remarks, suggesting that Marylou Whitney was going to enter a horse in the Preakness to bump the filly out and supposedly aid Mine That Bird (a son of Whitney's runner Birdstone) were contradicted tonight by her husband, John Hendrickson. He said any Whitney runners would be withdrawn if there was a chance they would block Rachel Alexandra from running. No word yet on whether Allen still intends to enter the maiden colt in which he has an ownership interest. [Update: Allen told The New York Times Sunday night he had changed his mind and would not enter the 0-for-9 Indy Express in the Preakness.]
The damage, however, has been done. The very idea that the owners of the first two finishers in the Kentucky Derby would hatch a plan to keep a feared rival out of the Preakness, especially by using overmatched horses as pawns, may technically be within the rules but is a stunning act of unsportsmanlike conduct.
Posted by Steven Crist May 10, 2009 8:04:34 PM | Permalink
Keywords:
Comments
bemo says:
To Causeway37: you are right, there has not been a peep about this controversy anywhere that I have seen except for DRF, HRTV, TVG etc. The general press in Chicago area has not mentioned one word about a filly running in the Preakness, much less controversy. If anyone cares, it's only us [commenters], who have no control over the outcome anyway. Personally, I though she should have skipped the Preakness and run in the Belmont instead.
Posted by bemo May 13, 2009 11:29:41 AM
prozacjack says:
This great game of ours is exactly in the "condition" that is SHOULD be. After years and years of "neglect" all but the "hard core" players" have left the game altogether, Now, if you launch your complaints on this "blog" only, your just SPINNING your wheels We need to LAUNCH a letter writing campaign, DEMANDING change to just about ANYTHING "we the horse players want" after all WE pay ALL the BILLS and all the SALARIES to all the "dim witted" executives, high profile trainers, and "life in the fast lane jockey's. I would PERSONALLY love to LINE up ALL the "bums" that plague the Executive offices, these are the REAL NONE thinkers of this industry, this group belongs in the UNEMPLOYMENT line just like their executive buddies at the major American Car companies. Next I would just love to get my hands on the "Cute pretty boy" high profile drug trainers,that FIND a way to enhance a horses performance and SMILE while doing it. Then I would love to have a FIRM talk to every Jockey that drives a FANCY car, and remind them who is REALLY paying all their bills. If you STOP riding for second or third money, you DON'T deserve a mount and ANY track. Now if you could just line all 3 of these groups up and give them ALL a GOOD taste of an OLD fashioned "horse whipping" I could go to that big Racetrack in the sky in PEACE.
Posted by prozacjack May 12, 2009 11:28:57 AM
robert_slifer says:
gang are we all forgetting that filly's race everyday against the colts all over the world everyday why do we hear so many complain when a filly that is clearly better then anything she is facing wants to take a shot? hmmm you think the owners are looking at this thought what is a colt out of a Preakness winning mother and father worth? Beside "Big Drama" what in this field should scare her owners from running?
By the way I will agree with several posters on her the product is getting very watered down right now The amount of cheap races being run at the so called good tracks are getting out of hand.
Posted by Robert Slifer May 12, 2009 8:59:25 AM
bob says:
Some people seem to think that running this fillie in the Preakness can be good for the sport. Can anyone give me the name of a fillie that had to be destroyed recently in a big 3 year old race against her own sex? It would probably be difficult. Running this fillie against the boys can do much more
damage to this sport than it can do good. Below is an exerpt I took from espn.com...
"Jim Squires, who bred 2001 Derby winner Monarchos, told The New York Times he doesn't believe Eight Belles was put at undue risk running against colts. Arthur Hancock III, who has bred three Derby winners, isn't so sure.
He was present in 1964 when his father's prize filly, Lamb Chop, broke down against boys and had to be euthanized. He remembers his father swearing through his tears that he'd never subject a filly to that again.
"I saw it firsthand and learned my lesson there," Arthur Hancock said. "It's just nature. Do you know many women -- or any women -- who could play for the Kansas City Chiefs or Denver Broncos?
"I guarantee you one thing: If she does, it's going to be a long time before she wants to play football again. If she comes out of it. That's just the way this planet is."
Posted by bob May 12, 2009 7:22:21 AM
super_d says:
All of you who think this episode was bad for the sport. Yeah, I'd like the cleanest slate, however, SEX sells and this is awesome for the sport. So publicity is good no matter what....
Posted by Super D May 11, 2009 10:31:33 PM
c_rich says:
Who ever said you needed common sense or brains to be a billionaire?
On the subject of the race, i hope people continue to over-hype this filly. She destroyed the weakest Oaks field i could ever remember.
The 2nd and 3rd place horses were eligible for NW1X and the only horse who might of given her a race scratched.
She looks very one dimensional and offers no value for betting purposes.
She will not be in any of my wagers.
Posted by C. RIch May 11, 2009 10:06:22 PM
dogs_up says:
I noted that as this story developed about keeping the filly out of the PK, that most of the heavy hitter owners insisted they would do everything possible to assure her run for the black eye susans. To include not running their horse for the second jewel. What was interesting and made this news is this was the first story in a long time where there are too many horses for the field. It's alarming that there are not enough horses around to fill cards.
Posted by dogs up May 11, 2009 9:02:07 PM
ree says:
i find it very annoying (and downright stupid} that when a horse is in front by many legnths nearing the wire the tv camera will show a close up of the isolated winning horse instead of showing a wide angle pan shot of the race for the other placings. most betting is on exotics these days. are these cameramen idiots or they just don,t give a damn. i,m sure i,m not the only horseplayer that feels this way.
Posted by ree May 11, 2009 8:00:54 PM
daveyshines says:
Steve, I agree wholeheartedly--not only unsportsmanlike but utterly asinine to the nth degree. But do you think this is a wise move to run the filly back on 2 weeks rest? Isn't this a case of too much risk and not enough reward? Any idea what Jackson paid for Rachel?
Posted by daveyshines May 11, 2009 6:58:13 PM
mike_laz says:
arcstats, i agree. i've been playing the horses for 17 years now, quite regularly i might add. i can't believe how much effort is being put in by everyone involved to ruin this great game. terrible rules that change from state to state. awful fields everywhere one looks. even hollywood and churchill no longer to attract enough horses to field a card. not to mention all the drug dealing trainers and cheating going on here. then on top of everything a horse like MTB wins the derby at only 50-1. goes to show you a few people knew something the rest of us didn't. this horse had no right being less then 100-1 and many of you agree. what a shame, a great game dying right before our eye's.
Posted by mike laz May 11, 2009 5:49:11 PM
ray_flack says:
Folks I think we've all been had. This whole conspiracy to keep RA out of the Preakness is just a bit much and a good example of how a clueless bunch of owners let their tongues get in the way of common sense. It has generated another storyline for the media (I wuz one once) types to keep buzzing up to the actual race.
In many years past, the Preakness had short fields because all the owners were afraid of the kd WINNER. Last year it was Big Brown.
Let's concentrate on the big picture, do some handicapping and make some money.
Remember the hype about the great filly Rags to Riches opposing Curlin in the Belmont? Who won?
Posted by ray flack May 11, 2009 5:44:51 PM
causeways37 says:
You know Steve, it might've done that, but the fact that it wasn't part of any of the big story lines nor mentioned at all within ESPN or any other major sports network besides HRTV & TVG, shows you how serious many people are taking horse racing out there.
Posted by Causeways37 May 11, 2009 5:41:13 PM
rawlawltd says:
Just looked at the pdf. file of the PP's for IndyExpress. Good thing they aren't going to enter him as he had a good shot of beating MTB. That would be a trip!!
Posted by rawlawltd May 11, 2009 5:33:42 PM
turf2dirt says:
Why use Mike Smith as a backup for MTB? Why not give the mount back to Sutherland? She rode the horse competently enough to win 3 stakes in Canada on him, and she was supposed to have the mount in the Derby up to 2 weeks prior when Borel got the call.
Posted by turf2dirt May 11, 2009 5:14:13 PM
icyhotboo says:
READING ABOUT THIS PREAKNESS COSPIRACY BROUGHT BACK DARK MEMORIES OF WHAT THEY HAD TO DO TO BEAT DR. FAGER... SHAME
Posted by ICYHOTBOO May 11, 2009 5:07:10 PM
chuck_berger says:
As one that has been part of the sport for fifty years as a groom, owner,tournament player and full time bettor, I have seen most everything.To many people, "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing."...............Thank you Vince Lombardi.
Who said the sport today is made up of sportsman? It comes down to money pure and simple. Why else do so many "elite" trainers get caught using "juice" on their stock? It's to win and take down the money.
Blocking the filly out of the race is just a different approach that a couple of sleaze bags with money tried to do.
Those of us who love the sport, will hope for a thrilling, exciting race whereby the best horse will win on the up and up.....and that all horses and jockeys return safely.
To those owners like Ms. Whitney, let me say thank you. I was not talking about you.
Posted by Chuck Berger May 11, 2009 4:33:01 PM
arcstats says:
It amazes me the passion displayed on this blog towards the upcoming Preakness and the recent decisions surrounding it. Yet very few seem to be too concerned over the real breakdown taking place daily in this sport - declining betting interest. If everyone doesn't soon start to focus on and fix the real issues responsible for current betting environment (no need to list them, and it's not the economy), there won't be anymore horses breaking down, private sales, or questionable stratagies because there will be no need to breed anymore horses. Without betting, none of these animals would ever exist to begin with.
I guess what I'm saying is it's time to fix what's ailing and driving away the bettors - enough energy has been applied to horse safety and all other non-gambling related issues. Focus on restoring a quality betting environment, otherwise nothing else will matter.
Posted by arcstats May 11, 2009 3:51:08 PM
dale_tillotson says:
lets hope that mine that bird drives the van to pimlico, and stops and lets out the owner and trainer on the way. i really dont feel comfortable with either of them behind the wheel.
And I bet bill mott feels good that he has very little to do with zayat these days. I reserve my preakness pick for later in the week
Posted by dale tillotson May 11, 2009 2:39:31 PM
tk_lawless says:
As Steve points out "properly nominated" is not the same as originally nominated.....they should have let Allen & Zayat put up their extra $$$ then put Rachel into the enties anyway, as supplementing can ONLY be considered a proper nomination.
Agreed it seems a bit sleazy (especially to conspire about it, Thank you Mary Lou Whitney) but, as another poster mentioned "rabbits" are entered all the time, and I'm not sure the general public would agree that is very 'sporting'.
I'm hoping for the sport's sake, the old adage, "there is no such thing as BAD publicity" holds true.
P.S. I thought Zayat's comments about 8 Belles & Ruffian were especially 'out of line', even coming from a guy who has invested $millions in the game!
Posted by TK Lawless May 11, 2009 1:58:07 PM
beerbelly says:
Ever seen live crabs in a tall basket? One tries to escape. The others pull him down. The story of the basketcases who control this great game.
Posted by beerbelly May 11, 2009 1:55:02 PM
john_s says:
I look at it another way: In popular art -- film, novels -- there is no story without conflict. This was a terrific tale about greed and fairness with a powerful undercurrent of sexism involved; in short, the stuff of a tight little potboiler. Throw in a climax - the race itself - worthy of William Wyler, and you've got an epic. But what that epic needed was P.T. Barnum to talk about it. Maryland Jockey Club representatives cowered silently Sunday, issuing no statement, ignoring reporter phone calls. What they should have been doing was huddling in an office, on their knees, thanking God for such a fine gift, then gotten up, gone out and promoted the living daylights out of the thing. Picture the press conference: "We find it outrageous that owners who are so fortunate to have a horse good enough to run in the historic Preakness Stakes would deprive not only a fellow horseman but all the sports fans in America and around the world the right to see the great Kentucky Oaks winner challenge the Kentucky Derby winner in what will go down as the greatest, most important race of the 21st century!" No windbag declarations could be too strong. T-shirts should have hit the market emblazened: "Let Rachel Run!" As the 91-year-old track historian Joe Kelly says in a Thoroughbred Times story this week, Pimlico is a promoter's dream. Yet, when they had the attention of the world, the MJC leaders did nothing. As if it doesn't already have enough problems, racing has forgotten how to sell its best stories. And this one was a doosy.
Posted by John S. May 11, 2009 1:53:04 PM
picksburg_phil says:
It may be OK to be sportsman-like if you're clipping coupons from your grandaddy's estate, but if you are making your own money, and are playing with your own dime, doing what you can to get an edge makes sense. After Spend A Buck won the Derby, his owner sent him to a bigger purse at Garden State instead of the Preakness. He was playing on his own dime and rightly chose to go for the money instead of tradition.
Posted by Picksburg Phil May 11, 2009 1:52:07 PM
jim says:
Steve,
Jess Jackson gets credit for seeing Curlin was run as a 4YO.
On the other hand, why send these superstars to Steve Asmussen? After all, we all know of his track record with illegal meds.
If Asmussen is proven in Texas to have used illegal meds, the true sportsman in Jackson would take away all his horses from Asmussen. If Jackson does not, then his actions would be no different than the conspiracy to stiffarm Rachel Alexandra from the Preakness by others.
We should hear from Bob Baffert on this, but he will likely keep his mouth shut (probably for the first time) and not comment on the entry of other Zayat horses. Of Zayat's interest in entering to bar Rachel Alexandra from running, who was training that horse? Would the horse have been in the name of Baffert? If so, how would that have looked for Baffert to enter the Hall of Fame in the same year as something like this, though it is not apparently not going to come to fruition?
Let's see how sporting Jackson is down the road. Will Rachel Alexandra ever face Zenyatta? One only wonders for now.
The whole mess also demands a comment from John Ward. Anyone remember what they did to his Booklet down at Gulfstream earlier this decade?
Posted by Jim May 11, 2009 1:43:39 PM
kat says:
I have to agree about the rabbit thing. This is the same slippery slope, just getting closer to the bottom. It wasn't too long ago that the Zayat horse was pulled from the SA Derby after The Pamplemousse was scratched due to injury. Legal, "acceptable", and moral are not the same thing.
Posted by Kat May 11, 2009 1:40:47 PM
picksburg_phil says:
What I would have liked to seen is Chantal ride Rachel. A female jockey on the filly against male jockeys on colts. That would have created a "buzz" about this sport that it hasn't seen in years.
Posted by Picksburg Phil May 11, 2009 1:36:20 PM
dale says:
Excluding a horse from a race using legal but questionable methods is totally different from using a rabbit in a race. The rabbit does not necessarily exclude another horse. He is used to take force the pace and prevent a lone frontrunner from an easy uncontested lead.
A rabbit is totally within the rules and totally within the scope of good sportsmanship.
Posted by Dale May 11, 2009 1:22:05 PM
george_quinn says:
i will not have Mine That Bird in any of my tri's this Saturday. Of course I did not have him in any of my tri's last Saturday either.
Not one person should be surprised by the short lived conspiracy that almost hatched. 39 years of this sport you see alot. Not much good lately.
George in Tampa
Posted by george quinn May 11, 2009 1:13:14 PM
mr_b52 says:
In response to pru:
Mike Smith is a native of Roswell, New Mexico, where Mine That Bird's connections reside. I imagine that is why they chose him. Honestly, I'd rather see Quiyet Bui get the mount.
Posted by Mr. B-52 May 11, 2009 12:54:43 PM
mr_b52 says:
Gee, a guy who hand delivered bribes to corrupt Alaska politicians for his father would do something unsportsmanlike. There's a shocker. Please, let's not label this clown "colorful" the way other sketchers in racing have been labeled in the past. He is what he is, a sleezebag.
Posted by Mr. B-52 May 11, 2009 12:49:37 PM
dave says:
"Oops! (says Mark Allen) Maybe that phone call was a bad idea"
Posted by Dave May 11, 2009 12:41:15 PM
brock_sheridan says:
I say Mark Allen is good for racing. Good for racing like a wart on a nose. Ugly and annoying, but it gets people's attention.
Posted by Brock Sheridan May 11, 2009 12:31:28 PM
bob says:
I'm angry that the owners of the first two finishers of the Kentucky Derby were planning to keep Rachel Alexandra out of the Preakness. It shows that to some people MONEY is still more important than everything including the sport itself without which these people would be flipping burgers at McDonalds. BUT, in the same breath I don't believe that the owners of Rachel A. should be entering her in the Preakness either. Did they forget about Eight Belles? Will we ever forget about Ruffian? The fact is, at this level females and males should stay with their own sex. A horse like Rachal A. runs on heart not just speed. They run through pain they run through exhaustion and they run through injury. When a top fillie or mare runs against a top colt they need to run harder than they would ever run against their own sex and most of the time, even if they win, bad things happen. I have seen more great fillies get injured, die, or never race well again after they run against the boys. I think it's bad for the sport and I think it should stop. These are animals with heart and guts. They don't stop if they are in pain or are injured they will keep running until they no longer can and the only way they can tell you they are in trouble is when they collapse. It's time to put the health of the horse AND, the health of the jockey before everything else in this sport. It will be good for the sport if no horse or jockey gets hurt or dies on the track any more. That should be the goal.
Posted by Bob May 11, 2009 12:25:48 PM
raps07 says:
Don't worry Mike will keep MTB on the rail. Under/over on the number of times he checks is 5,,, before he swings wide, checks for his car in the parking lot and comes storming down the grandstand side of the stretch
Posted by raps07 May 11, 2009 11:35:21 AM
dan_mackenzie says:
The ideal situation for the sport and the fans is to have Rachel Alexandra run in the Preakness.
Get the 14 best 3-year-olds possible for that race.
It will generate interest from potential new fans. Why complicate it for the general public with all this mumbo jumbo about "nominations" and "supplements".
I have never paid much attention to the nomination process of any race. There are a multitude of reasons why a horse runs or does not run in any particular race. My focus of attention is the horses in the race when the gate opens.
Who cares about how they get there. In a triple crown race, get the best.
Posted by Dan MacKenzie May 11, 2009 11:19:56 AM
jlb says:
I haven't bet the Derby in years, as I am lacking both smarts and luck, especially as the field has grown to the mandatory 20.
Thus, as a $ 9500 yearling, MTB was a feel-good story for me, until I read the next morning that he had subsequently been a $ 400,000 private purchase. The latest revelation of his owner's attempt at colluding with Ahmed Zayat is simply astonishing; and it is astonishing as well that Zayat would be willing to publicize this, before his later retraction.
Posted by JLB May 11, 2009 11:13:07 AM
ryan says:
E-S - Tim does have a historical fact. I believe he is referring to when Cordero, aboard Codex, "mugged the filly" (Genuine Risk) in the 1980 Preakness.
Posted by Ryan May 11, 2009 10:43:09 AM
callmetony says:
wow can racing do anything more to ruin it all ..... Small fields, Bankruptcy , Polycrap , and now this preakness nonesense... 4 day race weeks . we'll be looking at 3 day race weeks if this sort of crap continues . Get it together folks or you'll ruin the game for ever .
Posted by callmetony May 11, 2009 10:40:36 AM
bochalls says:
When Ahmed Salman purchased War Emblem before the Derby (and then won the thing with a horse that the former owner, late Russ Reineman said didn't belong), all I heard was what a shrewd purchase it was. Jess Jackson didn't have to bring Curlin back at 4. He didn't have to try him on turf in the hopes of running in the Arc. He didn't have to run him in the BC Classic on kitty litter. He could have pulled a 'Mineshaft' and gotten the Eclipse without running in the BC....BUT HE DIDN'T!...and ain't you glad? Ahmed Zayat was quoted as saying how disappointed he was when Qual Road scratched outta the Derby because he feels Pioneer is the best and he wants to beat the best ...well?? Here she is dude. Whats the problem? Sounds like Mr Allen is butt hurt over losing Calvin and Zayat is scared of a girl. I will be in Baltimore for my 11th consecutive Preakness and am hoping to have a word or two with Mr Zayat. Anything ya'll want me to pass along to him!!??
Posted by bochalls May 11, 2009 10:40:20 AM
johnfrom_keeneland says:
Perhaps this will come to be known as "The Black-Eyed Preakness."
Posted by JohnFrom Keeneland May 11, 2009 10:11:21 AM
johnfromkeeneland says:
That Mary Lou Whitney would say that she will not enter Luv Gov in the race if it will mean that Rachel Alexandra would not have a spot shows the kind of class that this sport truly needs to help it recover from the low down antics of some of the other owner/trainers. My hat is off to you, Mary Lou. You represent what is right with the sport. May the best horse win, and may they all come home safely and hungry.
Posted by JohnFromKeeneland May 11, 2009 10:07:10 AM
diceman says:
How many consecutive races has Calvin Borel lost since his fanatstic ride aboard Mind That Bird in the Kentucky Derby? The question persists: Should we give greater credit to the Horse or the Jockey for their fabulou and historic win in the KD?
The Diceman
Posted by Diceman May 11, 2009 9:46:11 AM
matt_harper says:
If Mike Smith rides MTB in the Preakness he will ride it exactly like Calvin did in the Derby. The only difference will be MTB will be flying on the outside rail instead of the inner one.
Posted by Matt Harper May 11, 2009 9:43:39 AM
sean says:
I don't care how it happens but I hope Rachel Alexandra gets into the race...I can't wait to make money betting against her!!
I didn't realize beating up on a Grade III group of fillies (if that) automatically means she's better than all the boys.
Prior to the Derby, the talk was about how deep the field was, how there were so many contenders. But since Mine That Bird won (in the slop, no less) they've all become a subpar crop of 3 year olds.
RA is good but she's not even the best filly in training (Zenyatta) and the 3-year old filly crop has to be considered disappointing at best. She reminds me a lot of Big Brown right now...physically and visually impressive...has beaten absolutely nobody in a weak crop.
Posted by Sean May 11, 2009 9:33:57 AM
kellsboro_jack says:
As to why anyone who isn't associated with Marylou Whitney would even cite her by name is over the top.
She does know the sport, she does know the players, she does know the horses ... Zayat was dumbest of all to try and use some interest with the 'Luv Gov' to enter as part of his own justification just shows he is clueless. Do you think if Paul Melllon was still around that Zayat would use his name out of context too?
Posted by Kellsboro Jack May 11, 2009 9:29:48 AM
mybigred says:
I think the plan to enter a horse just to bump another one out of the Preakness is LOW. It would serve them right if Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness! What comes around, goes around. I'm pulling for Papa Clem and General Quaters. At least the owners and trainers of those horses are honest hardworking folks.
Posted by mybigred May 11, 2009 9:24:38 AM
cjp says:
We're talking about a million-dollar race, the second-leg of the Triple Crown, and more importantly a business - and I'm reading things like 'unsportsmanlike conduct'. Please - where in the business world would such actions be practiced?
Posted by cjp May 11, 2009 8:54:41 AM
rastajenk says:
I agree with Justin, above. No damage done. Intrigue is good, even if it has a slime on it.
Posted by rastajenk May 11, 2009 8:19:57 AM
lynne_veitch says:
I,personally hope Mr. Jackson will withdraw Rachel. Just as we get to know & love these HORSES (not the owners, people, the horses)they are taken away by a multitude of reasons which I'll call poor management, as an umbrella term. Rachel & The Bird have so many options, but only MTB has a chance for the coveted Triple. I do not want to see a recreation of the "Crimean War" just to satisfy some ego crazy folks. It's about the HORSES, remember??
Posted by Lynne Veitch May 11, 2009 8:07:55 AM
matt says:
Lets get one thing clear; Mind That Bird will be nowhere come May 16. For his owner to even entertain the idea of entering a 0-9 in the race, well, that only shows where this sport is at. No wonder Churchill is asking for 4 day race weeks and Hollywood can't even fill a weekday race card.
Posted by matt May 11, 2009 8:02:16 AM
putting_green says:
All I can say is this. I will have been involved with horse racing for 39 years this summer. My wife of 31 years has never been a fan. Many times over the years she probably has wished that I never made a bet in my life. To my knowledge, in all that time, I have never seen her place a wager of her own. So yesterday with all three of our children visiting on Mother's Day, when she heard about this story, she looked at all of us and said..."I want to bet 5 dollars to win on Rachel." Not RA...not Rachel Alexandra...just Rachel. We are all still in shock.
I know that if half of the women in this country come to that conclusion, Rachel will be a huge underlay. But if half of the women in this country wager, or even watch this Saturday, horse racing in general, should benefit.
Have a safe trip Rachel Alexandra...for God sakes, have a safe trip.
Posted by putting_green May 11, 2009 7:37:34 AM
tom says:
I think the filly is a bet-against in this spot, and that she won't win. I dislike Jess Jackson's let's-put-a-price-tag-on-someone-else's-dream tactics. I hate that this filly was bought to be shown off when Jackson has the reserves, if not the brainpower or imagination, to breed his own horses to be in a similar position within three years. I hate all that, and thinks it taints a lot of good people.
But what I hate worse are cheaters. Zayat didn't technically cheat, neither did Allen, and they're both within their rights to enter all their nominated horses if they see fit. But just because something gives you a competitive edge in the rules doesn't mean you do it. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you won't look cheap, or arrogant, or greedy, or scared witless if you do it. The entry rules set up are good rules that need to be clarified, and not renovated. But abusing them like this has to me forever tainted Ahmed Zayat, who to me deserves to never see the inside of an important winner's circle again. It taints Mark Allen so badly that I forever wish him the same fate. And it makes Mine That Bird such a feel-rotten story anymore I hope he comes out of the race perfectly healthy and sound, and beaten by a distance roughly the size of the collective IEAH egos. That these people would not just go to such lengths to keep Rachel Alexandra out, but to try and ensure Calvin Borel would have the role of indentured servant on Mine That Bird at the expense of everything else is just pathetic.
Keep in mind, I don't think R.A. stands a chance here, because she beat a pathetic field in the Oaks and is due to come back to Earth at some point. I think she's talented, she deserves a shot at the colts in a non-vintage year, and I think she'll do right by herself in the race. And I don't think she'd win. But by God, to keep out a talented horse at the expense of entry-level allowance horses and an 0-for-9 maiden is just sleazy, and for all the wrong reasons at a time the sport desperately needs something to feel good about.
Posted by Tom May 11, 2009 5:28:46 AM
philip_rynn says:
I spent a few days last week bemoaning the fact that someone would buy a filly (surely for a princely sum), without have had anything to do with her development and racing form, simply to get a shot at holding up another Triple Crown trophy, but then I reasoned that this is what rich people do, they collect expensive things and show them off...well enough and good...but now, to hear about these other owners conspiring to keep the filly out by throwing in non-descript horses in the entries.....I agree with the majority of the commenters, these owners are not racing enthusiasts in the truest form...they must be in this game for vastly different reasons than us "common" commenters, or maybe they are on the verge of going broke and badly need that Preakness winner's share...whatever it is, it's not sportmanship. They've lost their way. Incredible story -- Mine That Bird's connections enjoyed a one-week honeymoon with the press, but it appears that the game is over for them too. I will root for their little gelding, but not for their success ...
Posted by Philip Rynn May 11, 2009 4:03:52 AM
hef says:
Come on. People stop buying the hype about these millionaire owners. Most don't know the eating end from the other end and don't give a damn about the animal. All they are concerned about is their name in the news. People wise up.
Posted by Hef May 11, 2009 1:23:43 AM
jm says:
Let her run. I'll root for her, since she apprears to be a monster, but with the short turn around and lack of quality of the derby runners, my money will get better odds.
Posted by jm May 11, 2009 1:20:08 AM
ew says:
...Let me pose this question. If Ernie Paragallo came up with the most competetive horse in the nation would you allow him to race. Of course you would. Short memories. Greed and ego destroy all that was accomplished last weekend. The correct thing would be for Jackson to withdraw his filly. That would show integrity. Run her against Zenyatta.
Posted by ew May 11, 2009 1:15:53 AM
shane_egan says:
I'm not too grand to admit to a twinge of schadenfreude at D.Wayne "Forgotten-but-Not- Gone" Lukas' latest self-degradation in this brief fiasco. Cat Thief's gone and he ain't comin' back, old uncle.
Posted by Shane Egan May 11, 2009 12:50:20 AM
real1quiet says:
Wait one second... You're telling me that the son-of-a-self-admitted-political-briber (whom incidentally had daddy grant him immunity in exchange for daddy pointing the finger and helping the Fed's investigation) would have even an inkling of underhandedness that would put his own interests before the sport's interests? I am shocked and appalled! Apple? Tree?
Posted by Real1Quiet May 11, 2009 12:40:46 AM
haelaih says:
Now this is the sort of dysfunction that has the sport in trouble in the first place.
And I don’t think that “any publicity is good publicity.
SC is right in that the “damage has been done”.
What the “sport” needs is a centralized governing organization that would move everyone in the same (positive) direction. Until that happens the Black Eyes will just keep on coming.
That said, I believe RA will be the 53rd filly to run in the Preakness Stakes, although none has won since 1924. In 1906 fillies ran 1-2.
Let’s see her go and see if the racing action can gain the headlines.
Posted by haelaih May 11, 2009 12:14:43 AM
don_reed says:
After the sustained & bizarre conduct exhibited by Rich Dutrow last year, Allen, Jackson, & Zayat would have to start a riot in Times Square to even come close to the newly-minted gold standard of unsportsmanlike behavior in American horse racing.
Posted by Don Reed May 10, 2009 11:31:46 PM
keith_longey says:
...We should get down to the business of figuring out this Preakness field (as soon as it fills out)! But all that talk about MTB vs. RA is kind of funny, as the old master Lukas, stuck with an impossible pole position in the Derby, put his hard knockin', maiden winnin', sometimes place runnin' Flying Private through a public workout down in Louisville on the 1st Saturday in May, and has the colt primed for another 50-1 upset this Saturday...this one coming at Old Hilltop! I'm just sayin'!!!
Posted by Keith Longey May 10, 2009 11:18:01 PM
peewee says:
I missed all the fun today celebrating mothers day only to tune in tonight to find out about this Conspiracy of NO by these dirt bags. Is this the sport of kings ?, oh how the sport has deteriorated to the lowest common denominator. You might title an article now as , " The scum also rises " Also not surprised to see Lukas chime in to this with his last place derby finisher status to which the Whitney mob has to PR a statement denying such with their classily named colt, Luv Gov. All this to try to keep out a filly called the best horse he ever rode by Calvin Borel from running in the PReakness on Mothers Day. Simply unbelievable, it sounds like a bad "B" movie script, but its horseracing in 2009.
Posted by peewee May 10, 2009 11:15:24 PM
steven_w says:
The actions of Mark Allen are no different then the actions of Tanya Harding's boyfriend hatching a plan to keep Nancy Kerrigan out of the olympic games by hiring some thug to smack her on the leg.
Mark Allen must have been a big fan of Tanya Harding?
Posted by steven w May 10, 2009 11:14:37 PM
shane_egan says:
What a head-shaking irony that the noble and courageous animals Mine That Bird and Pioneer of the Nile are owned by such "business-decision" parasites on the Sport of Kings.
Posted by Shane Egan May 10, 2009 11:02:32 PM
pru says:
Rachel Alexandra would have been in the Preakness even if some of these owners entered extras to prevent her from running. Pimlico racing officials would have the option to interpret the running priority language to suit them to allow the filly to run.
Can anyone think of why the owners of MTB would pick Mike Smith to replace Borel? Talk about complete opposite racing styles.
Posted by Pru May 10, 2009 10:53:34 PM
nochalk4me says:
This is no longer the sport of kings...it is the slop pen of disgusting pigs. Sure, there are lots of good people in it. Unfortunately...Zayat and his ilk will eventually destroy what little remains of an unimaginably fantastic game. The first "Big Horse" I saw with my own eyes was Ack Ack. It made me go seek a job for a new trainer here in So. Cal a few years later named Laz Barrera. I didn't take the offer from him and it is only until recently that I haven't regretted my decision. Amazing that so few people could tear down what thousands before them loved, built, cherished and nurtured for decades.
Posted by Nochalk4Me May 10, 2009 10:49:09 PM
mediwoman says:
I was enjoying my weekend success of small wagers, nice returns at Hollywood Park, when I saw my Twitter Blog- and thought someone got in and pranked this nonsense about the Preakness takeover.
Racing needs positive stories to generate new interest and maintain the interest we have.
I absolutely love racing and look forward to a wonderful Preakness. Let's all enjoy!
I have one..let's nominate Tangmalangaloo..and see if he can pronounce it!
Posted by MediWoman May 10, 2009 10:49:05 PM
brenda_creek says:
Just food for thought, but what is the difference when a trainer enters a rabbit ? Is that unsportsmanlike ?
Posted by BRENDA CREEK May 10, 2009 10:49:01 PM
hrlymk says:
Yes...Good for the sport, racing needs this, it will create interest, give the sport a shot in the preverbial arm. It was the same tune I heard sung when they convinced Ruffians folks to a match race with Foolish Pleasure. How about we forget about the money, forget about tha "sport" and do what's best for the HORSE. Rachel Alexandra has never won a race against fillies coming off 2 weeks rest, no less colts. She may have made her win in the Oaks look easy, but believe me she was on the engine the whole way. As a matter of fact, it wasn't like the times she got beat running of 2 weeks rest that she was beaten by a "world beater". I've been around horses since I was ten, They are no different than humans in a lot of ways. I'm not going to say Steve Asmussen is a bad trainer, but to Rachel Alexandra he's no Hal Wiggens. She was in her comfort zone, now? I don't care how "easy" they say her work was, it wasn't a Rachel work. She did it effortlessly?? she always does it effortlessly, just a tad faster. You want to run her against the boy's, you want to stroke your egos, wait till the Belmont. Running her in the Preakness is a mistake,it could produce the results you are all looking for,unfortunately it could do more to hurt racing than it could ever do to help.
Posted by hrlymk May 10, 2009 10:48:30 PM
mikeatcamp says:
I am glad that the controversy was settled and Rachael will run in the Preakness against all comers. I also did not care for the idea to enter others for the sake of eliminating a strong contender ,but to act like this is never done puzzles me since I know trainers regularly enter "rabbits" to set up their stalker/closers in lots of stakes races . Although these rabbits are quite often comparable in talent; their entry is usually in a race distance beyond their proven skills or ability and no controversy arises from these tactics ? I am quite a novice at this sport , however I do see some similarity here . Again, I agree that this particular instance looked very bad for the sporting event upcoming but can't see it as a "First". Please enlighten me if I am so far off in my view of these occurrence .
Posted by mikeatcamp May 10, 2009 10:30:25 PM
hoist_the_flag says:
Mine That Bird is a nice horse with no guile. He goes out and competes fairly--win or lose. Allen is quite the opposite. Whether getting caught up in the VECO-Ted Stevens mess, or attempting to conspire to keep the best horse out of a race, a level playing field is not part of his game. If only Stonestreet would also buy Mine That Bird and we could banish Allen from the sport.
Posted by hoist the flag May 10, 2009 10:24:57 PM
owen says:
A lot of opinions on this subject - here is mine.
The major fault lies in the conditions of the race - there should be a safety net, similar to the Breeders' Cup, where a panel of national or international handicappers can allot a couple of the entry spots to deserving contestants. The entering of horses to deny a worthy candidate a berth, while abhorrent to the fan, is legal under the present conditions so why wouldn't an owner consider this if it helps his/her horse have a better chance to win? It's morally reprehensible, but little else. It is worse than, although not in a completely different ballpark to running a no-hope rabbit to soften up a favored front runner or, to switch sports, the ridiculous situation in basketball where teams can gain an advantage by fouling! It's very good news that sense is being seen, but, if nothing else, this incident highlights the main underlying problem - the conditions of the race (and indeed all the Triple Crown races) n the first place. On a positive note, Jess Jackson is to be commended for buying Rachel Alexandra as it seems now we may (to quote Marshall Cassidy in the 1989 Jockey Club Gold Cup) get to see what this horse is made of.
Posted by Owen May 10, 2009 10:20:59 PM
rob says:
Steve,
I am sickened by the comments of Ahmed Zayat. He used the Eight Belle's and Ruffian tragedys to justify his scheme to keep a filly who may be the odds-on favorite out of the Preakness. He fails to remember a number of high class females who ran against the males and had no ill effects. Lest we forget Personal Ensign, Serena's Song, Miesque, Goldikova, Safely Kept, and many more all faced males and had no problems. The fact that he would hide behind the humanitarian banner is a disgrace.
Posted by Rob May 10, 2009 10:10:48 PM
sherpaguide says:
All day Sunday I was tuned into TVG & HRTV following this ridiculous string of events. My wife and I were irate as it all unfolded. Coming off the highest Derby rating in 17 years the Preakness looked to be set with a "freak" filly against the Derby winner. What a great scenario. And then to hear about this BS scheme to undermine a dream matchup.
Glad to hear the issue has been resolved but as much as I always root for the Derby horse to win the Preakness...go Rachel, I hope she wins by 10 lengths. This industry needs her, and this race!!
Posted by SherpaGuide May 10, 2009 9:47:49 PM
e_s says:
Tim Peterson--do you have an historical perspective that animates your animosity toward Angel Cordero? He was a hard charging, no BS jock--qualities in short supply these days.
Posted by e_s May 10, 2009 9:44:06 PM
mark_moran says:
When Bob Lewis' Charismatic (who was trained by Wayne Lukas) was going for the Triple Crown in 1999, Bob Baffert was considering running the super filly Silverbulletday in the Belmont, but didn't want to ruffle the feathers of Lewis, for whom he also trained, and indeed has almost won the Triple Crown with Charismatic in 1997. Lewis was having none of it; he assured Baffert he wanted Charismatic to beat all comers, saying "We're delighted to see a full field because, if we win, then there will be no one on Sunday morning saying we didn't beat much of a field."
I miss Bob Lewis. He was a gracious, classy man who represented the game very well. I wish there were more of his kind in the game today.
Yet I also disagree that the damage has been done; I think this all makes for a great story.
Posted by Mark Moran May 10, 2009 9:34:48 PM
tim_peterson says:
The next thing we'll learn is that Zayat and Allen have contacted Angel Cordero to come out of retirement to ride one of these no-hopers so he can "mug the filly" again. This is disgraceful for the sport and feels like the plot of B movie on horse racing from the 1930s.
Posted by Tim Peterson May 10, 2009 8:49:53 PM
justindew says:
I respectfully disagree with notion that any damage has been done...The correct decision has been made. She'll get to run. Let's put this ugly incident behind us and focus on the race.
Justin Dew
Posted by justindew May 10, 2009 8:49:38 PM
bearcatbob says:
Steve, When I first heard of this I immediately came to your blog hoping you would address this and I am very happy with your position. While technically legal, it certainly is a poor display of sportsmanship or lack there of. If she was excluded the winner of the race would carry around an asterisk as every story about the winner would also mention how possibly the best three year old was excluded. It wouldnt be in the best interests to block her from entering based on that alone. But the lack of sportsmanship in the motives of these possible moves is what really irked me. I hope it has been in fact called off like you stated.
Posted by Bearcatbob May 10, 2009 8:33:22 PM
dave says:
I'm not a big fan of the females racing against the males. However, this is truly a sign of cowardice by these owners. Like the Derby has proven, let's see who's best by running the race.
Posted by Dave May 10, 2009 8:25:22 PM
david_aragona says:
Let me first say that I understand Ahmed Zayat arguing that it is a business decision for him. A win in the Preakness by Pioneerof the Nile would greatly increase his value as a stallion prospect. I am slightly disgusted by him citing safety as a reason to be against seeing Rachel Alexandra run because any true fan of horse racing knows that an "Eight Belles incident" is part of the game and can happen to any horse. However, I understand his business reasoning.
But Mark Allen entering a maiden to fill out the field really gets under my skin. Let's be clear here. Mine That Bird is a gelding and has just as much of a chance of being a stallion prospect as Rachel Alexandra does. Also, Zayat is trying to say Mine That Bird running in the race would effectively be promoting his sire, Birdstone. Well, wouldn't Rachel Alexandra running be promoting her sire, Medaglia d'Oro? Give me a break here. This is a Triple Crown race and it should contain the best field that can be assembled. Like I said before, I wouldn't mind if Rachel Alexandra's connections decided to give her the 5 weeks and wait for the Belmont if they feel it's best for their horse. But it should be their decision.
And lastly, Ahmed Zayat is essentially calling Jess Jackson the greedy one here, but I believe Jackson did a favor to the sport by purchasing this filly. One person commented on the article I linked above saying that he/she feels like we all own a piece of Rachel Alexandra. And I completely understand that sort of sentiment. When a truly spectacular horse comes around, you root for it like it's your own. The first example that pops into my head is Smarty Jones in the Belmont Stakes. Forget the wagering for a moment. As a fan, no one wanted to see that horse lose. Perhaps Rachel Alexandra is the best 3-year-old in the country and perhaps she's not, but Jackson is enough of a sportsman to give horse racing fans the chance to find out and I applaud him for it.
Posted by David Aragona May 10, 2009 8:12:46 PM
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About
Steven Crist has been the Publisher and a columnist for Daily Racing Form since 1998. Previously, he covered racing for The New York Times from 1981-1990; was founding editor-in-chief of The Racing Times in 1991-92; and a vice-president of the New York Racing Association from 1994-97. He recently released an instructional DVD titled "Exotic Tickets," and is the
author of several books including "Betting on Myself" and "Exotic Betting."
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