TDN Letter to the Editor - Rachel v Zenyatta

[TGJB]

I agree. Zenyatta is a great turf mare. I said in the seminar it\'s too bad we never got to see her on grass.

In this country we have best older (horse, filly), and best turf (horse, filly), not dirt (horse, filly) because we recognize that turf is a specialized area HERE, and dirt is the primary (and default, in case of honors) surface.

I would be curious to know if someone can find a case of a horse getting HOTY without winning on dirt. Pretty sure there are not too many. In fact, until we got involved in this synthetic business, I doubt anyone won a division without winning on dirt.

I could go point by point with the rest but I\'m done. Anyone who wants to bet me who will win HOTY knows where to find me.

[SoCalMan2]

Did Kotashaan ever race on dirt?

[SoCalMan2]

Same with All Along.  Of course, looking at Kotashaan and All Along, you also need to consider who the primary challenger was for horse of the year.  I doubt there was a dominant dirt horse in either of those years.  I recall in Kotashaan\'s year he sort of got it out of default.

[Cartman]

I agree that it\'s highly likely that Rachel will get HOTY and agree that she deserves to get it, but not based on relative ability.

I think it\'s silly to assume that turf or synthetic horses are inferior to dirt horses just because the final times of the races tend to be slower. More than a few highly disadvantaged European turfers that handled dirt have either won or been very impressive in Breeder\'s Cup dirt races despite vastly slower speed figures and the huge disadvantage. If anything, the racing in Europe is superior.

[magicnight]

As instructed ...

Yes, SoCal. I remember Kotashaan was 100% turf, but there was no standout that year. Bertrando was favored to win the Classic, I think a different horse won each TC race (including the ill-fated Prairie Bayou, if memory serves), and, Arcangues won the Classic.

[TGJB]

At this point our Euro figures are extremely accurate (take a look at the BC final figures). Please give me the option of booking any Europeans who run here. I won\'t be booking slow grass horses trying dirt or those with extreme dirt pedigress, who are definitely not disadvantaged, and won\'t be booking those running on Pro-Ride against dirt horses.

At this point we know exactly how good those horses are on turf, we don\'t have to guess. Off the top of my head, out of about 20, I can only think of two Euros we gave a new top in the BC, one a 2yo, one first Lasix (Twice Over).

[TGJB]

Actually 3 2yos ran new tops, but only one older horse, out of about 15.

[Niall]

You have to be able to take your game on the road, in any sport, to be deemed champion ... Home field just might be the most important advantageous factor ever considered ... Especially true of the equine athlete, the ultimate creature of habit ... What is Sherrif\'s shipping %? A true beast but I am squarely in the Rachel for HOTY camp ...

[Cartman]

I am not disputing the accuracy of the figures when horses stay on the same surface. I am disputing whether you can accurately measure the \"relative\" ability of horses running on different surfaces using final time. I believe the European turf horses are intrinsically superior to the American dirt horses even though they run slower final time figures. So an American horse that beats top Europeans on either turf of synthetic is a monster.

As handicappers, we should all strive to resolve these issues because with Dubai going synthetic and several other synthetic tracks being installed in Europe, the trend is not going away.

It has been a pleasure, but I have to go.

[TGJB]

CH-- you believe a lot of things, and you want to talk about them no matter what the conversation is about. Go the f--k away and stay away this time.

[smalltimer]

Cart,
Well written, no offense from my end.
Thanks

[TGJB]

The guy in question has been barred from here twice before. He\'s an I-don\'t-bet-enough-to-pay-for-sheets, I-mostly-bet-favorites-to-place (seriously), naval-gazing pain in the butt.