What should happen on January 22, 2012 at 2:40 p.m.? Rachel Alexandra delivered a 125 pound (!) colt at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington, KY. According to a press release he climbed to his feet about 90 minutes after birth and Rachel Alexandra kindly took to him.
Unlike her own mother.
Rachel Alexandra, as famously documented in this story, was orphaned by her mother Lotta Kim. When Lotta Kim dropped Rachel Alexandra she wanted nothing to do with her. The folks at Heaven Trees Farm promptly escorted a nurse mare (a nasty mare, to the humans at least) to Rachel Alexandra and the two hit it off.
“I am thrilled with the good news of Rachel's safe delivery and health of the handsome colt that resembles her. For me and my children, this colt represents Jess’ dream – to raise and race the best,” said Banke in the release. “Co-owner Hal McCormick and I look forward to watching him develop and are excited to see him carry the Stonestreet silks as his Mom and Dad did before him.”
Horse racing has a way of beating you down. Horse deaths, horse slaughter, late odds changes on the tote, uncouth training practices. Maddening though it is, January and February provide new blood. Horse racing forever renews itself, at times ad nauseum, but, at times like these, that renewal couldn’t be more welcome.
The three-year-old stakes are upon us and mares are delivering foals from our favorite champions. If Jess Jackson were alive today he’d be one happy fedora-wearing-mountain-naming-vintner. Everything he stood for in racing came down to Curlin and Rachel Alexandra.
Curlin represented a majestically campaigned three and four year old, a tribute to longevity and endurance while racing. He symbolized a global triumph, and guts (Man o’War, a game second to a Breeders’ Cup Turf champion in Red Rocks).
Rachel Alexandra was a tribute to a capitalistic coup. When told that Rachel Alexandra had the speed to wheel back two weeks later against the boys in the 2009 Preakness, Jackson wrestled her away from Dolphus Morrison to blast this filly into the stratosphere. She sparked an unprecedented debate as to who was better, her or Zenyatta (I think we can all agree who turned out to be the better race mare).
And that’s the kind of debate Jackson was all about. Whether he opined about synthetic “plastic” surfaces or held out to the last second on the projected race of a horse, this new colt shoulders the impossible burden of all his dreams and we are the lucky ones who get to watch it unfold.
Brendan O'Meara tweets.
24 Jan 2012 at 07:22 am | #
Seems even horses have their own personal hell and tragedy to deal with. For Rachel Alexandra, as if it wasn’t enough to be rejected by her mother, her human principals cowardly denied her entry in the Kentucky Derby, their prerogative, a race she most certainly would have won on the 1st Saturday in May, and thereby a chance at racing’s Triple Crown. Thereafter, humans again added insult to injury by attempting to lessen her accomplishments by comparing her with another animal. You gotta love these horses; people, I’m trying.
TTT
24 Jan 2012 at 10:43 am | #
B,
Excuse me that I’m in a NEW YORK STATE OF MIND. You see my beloved N.Y. football Giants are going back to the Super Bowl and will beat your patsies again(who’s your daddy?). At least you can feel good about fellow alum Victor “Salsa” Cruuuuuuuzzzz.
I for one will not be rooting for silver spoon Curlin/Alexandra, not because I don’t want to see a super horse and another Triple Crown winner, but I’m not a fan of the human connections. When Stonestreet pulled the rug from under Helen Pitts and Hal Wiggens once in a lifetime horses it didn’t feel right. Just my opinion and not because Stonestreet are big 49er fans, but the GGGGGG MENNNNNN win Sunday did feel extra special. Just like when Persistently beat Rachel at Saratoga in the Personal Ensign Stakes it felt extra special.
GO BIG BLUE WRECKING CREW !!!!!
Some folks like to get away
Take a holiday from the neighborhood
Hop a flight to Miami Beach
Or to Hollywood
But I’m taking a Greyhound
On the Hudson River Line
I’m in a New York state of mind
I’ve seen all the movie stars
In their fancy cars and their limousines
Been high in the Rockies under the evergreens
But I know what I’m needing
And I don’t want to waste more time
I’m in a New York state of mind
It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The New York Times, The Daily News
It comes down to reality
And it’s fine with me ‘cause I’ve let it slide
Don’t care if it’s Chinatown or on Riverside
I don’t have any reasons
I’ve left them all behind
I’m in a New York state of mind....
24 Jan 2012 at 11:15 am | #
If you give up on every horse because of the connections, might as well play bingo.....better odds....
Looks to me the Giants will have their ass handed to them this year.....the luck has run out....
24 Jan 2012 at 12:12 pm | #
As my friend Harvey would say, we’re taking these in inverse order.
Sadly, Russ, you’re probably right. Fans have more connections they root against than for. You’re wrong about the “big game,” however.
Cat, I really don’t understand the acrimony re Jess Jackson. Sure he played the system. Not the first to do so by any means; there were plenty of templates around.
But this was a good man who also gave back to the game. Given her 4 year old year, does anyone still think he was wrong not to run in that year’s BC. She went to the very bottom in the Woodward. You can’t keep doing that, especially to a filly.
T, Hal Wiggins and his wife are enjoying retirement because of their share from the considerable proceeds. Helen Pitts is another story but that’s how this game goes unfortunately. Trainers and jockeys get bumped every day. You expect loyalty? Wake up, my friend, it’s 2012, when money buys presidents, too.
24 Jan 2012 at 02:33 pm | #
Guess it is not as bad as attaching her to a plow, or giving pony rides with her, instead of running in the Derby, taking the Oaks avenue, but it saddens me when we have a really great one, and we don’t even get a chance; comprende amigo; I’m going back to sleep now.
TTT
24 Jan 2012 at 02:50 pm | #
Hear you loud and clear my friend. But it was the conservative Wiggins who decided not to go in the Derby. Jackson bought her following the Oaks.
I’ll say this, too, Teddy. As much as I loved that filly and as great a 3-year-old as she was, the TC would have been an extremely tall order. Genuine Risk, if you recall, was a different body type; she was built like a male.
I think we’re afraid that we’re running out of opportunities. Can’t blame you for that. Sweet dreams.
24 Jan 2012 at 06:31 pm | #
Well aware of the changing of hands; really not interested in pointing fingers at anybody, and did not; understand persons/groups are ultra conservative, or highly in need of cash; not really interested in the reason why, and not passing judgment; guess the use of the word cowardous was ill-advised. However, on the first Saturday in May back in ‘09 have to believe she was head and shoulders better than the group she would have faced, of course, this is a personal opinion. Also a personal opinion is that something physically happened to her, and she was not the same horse after that smashing win at Saratoga; and not because she ran against men. Things happen even if you run against an ostrich; irrespective of what is between your legs, or theirs. This is why I’m an advocate of lowering the purse of the Oaks, so that super fillies are not lured away by the easy cash, and would be more likely to run for the roses, and like you said, we’re running out of time; soon the missiles will be flying...(how’s that for some heavy (&*&%).
TTT