Wow, that sure didn't take long
Some owners are now backtracking and saying they won't enter horses solely to block Rachel Alexandra from running in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.
That's great to see, but such a swift turnaround makes you wonder just how intense the negative backlash was for, most notably, Mine That Bird co-owner Mark Allen. It was Allen who earlier Sunday told The Thoroughbred Times that he would enter a maiden colt who has failed to win in nine attempts in an effort to deprive the record Kentucky Oaks winner a chance to race in the Preakness.
I know we live in a messed-up world right now, but boy, sometimes people are incredible with the stunts they pull. If Rachel Alexandra is sound and deemed ready to go by her new connections -- owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen -- she deserves the opportunity to run in the Preakness for the good of the sport. Anyone who tries to keep her out by way of a cheap trick is looking out only for themselves and not taking into acount what a great day it could be for an industry that needs all the great days it can get.
I have been a big fan of horse racing for the past 4 years. This will be the race of the year that I am looking so forward to seeing. Trying to block the entry of RACHEL ALEXANDRA from running with the boys in The Preakness would only damage the already declining industry even more. As long as she is sound and in great health (the same for all other horses) let her in, or you might just lose another fan. Can horse racing afford that?
How is this good for the sport if Rachel Alexandra doesn't run to form after her race against the boys or worse yet ends up like Rags to Riches and never races again.
At this hour, it appears Rachel Alexandra will run in the Preakness. Owners like Mark Allen (Mine That Bird) and Ahmed Zayat (Pioneerof the Nile) and trainer D. Wayne Lukas (Flying Private) have backtracked after what I believe was immense negative backlash. Owner Marylou Whitney proved she has more class than the three of them put togther when her and her husband came out in defense of the filly running. My view -- you can agree or disagree whether she should run, but don't play childish games to keep her out. If their horses are so good, let them run against her and try to beat her.
Racing Fan,
How good is it for the sport when the vast majority of our great 3-year-olds are retired after their sophomore campaigns? Racing needs its stars exposed on these high-profile days, and if Rachel Alexandra is talented enough to take on the boys, I say go for it -- as long as her connections decide she's ready to go. There's a chance Rags to Riches might never have raced again if she'd run in the Acorn against other fillies instead of the Belmont in 2007. There is no proof she was injured because she raced against the colts. Look at Old Fashioned and I Want Revenge. Hey, they got hurt. Race horses are going to be injured at times no matter what the circumstances. That's one black part of the sport that can't be helped.
She should run and I'll wager she'll beat everyone of them without having to take a deep breath. Rachel is a super filly and she proved that with the way she won the Oaks. And to "Racing Fan" I need to jump in and say that you can't compare Rags to Riches to Rachel Alexandra.