McIngvale still pursuing thoroughbred dream race
Since I’m the only horse racing fan on the Furniture/Today editorial staff, I have been assigned to follow Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngvale’s effort to arrange a race between Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, two females who, in my humble opinion, are the best horses in the country right now.
McIngvale, a longtime thoroughbred owner himself, initially proposed a $2 million match race on Oct. 3 at nearby Sam Houston Race Park. But the Houston Chronicle reported a few days ago that he has abandoned that idea (match races, which involve only two horses, are extremely rare), but is now hoping to attract the ladies to a Dec. 5 race that would be part of the track’s Texas Champions Day program.
After a meeting with track officials, he told the Chronicle he would like to attract seven to eight horses for the race, which would be open to top-drawer fillies and mares. And it would be named the Gallery Furniture Distaff, of course.
If one of the two superstars enters, the purse would be a minimum of $750,000, but if both enter, the minimum would be $1.5 million. (Typically, about 60% of a race’s purse is awarded to the winning owner.)
McIngvale and the folks who run Sam Houston have a tough job on their hands, but if they can pull it off, they would be the talk of the horse racing world — and maybe the talk of the entire sports world.
Their toughest competition is coming from New York’s Belmont Park, which is trying to entice Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to take part in the Beldame, a stakes race scheduled for Oct. 3.
According to the Daily Racing Form, the track already has boosted the purse from $600,000 to $1 million and has lined up the horse racing network TVG as a sponsor. (If golf fans can have the Golf Channel, we horse racing fans can have our own network, okay?)
And who would win if these two ever do hook up?
That would be a tough call since Zenyatta is undefeated in 12 races and Rachel Alexandria has won eight straight, including victories over male horses in the Preakness in May and Haskell Invitational earlier this month.
But my money would be on Rachel Alexandra because, in my opinion, she has beaten tougher competition.
Before you bet the furniture store on that advice, however, keep in mind that my Kentucky Derby “lock,” Friesan Fire, finished 18th in a 19-horse field.
ThePixiePoet commented:
Rachel Alexandra is better than Zenyatta, hands down. People who say otherwise are in utterly blind denial. She may well be the best filly ever to race. Here's why:
In the Mother Goose Stakes, she was only a fraction of a second off Secretariats Belmont Track record thats right, you heard me, SECRETARIAT! In the Haskell, she competed with the boys and won (again) and came within a second of the Stakes & Track record, although on a very sloppy track! In the past 8 races in which she has won, she has broken or made 6 new records and came close to breaking another 3 or 4. (see following)
New Stakes Records:
Golden Rod Stakes: new stakes record for fastest time
Martha Washington: new stakes record for fastest time
Kentucky Oaks: new stakes record for largest winning margin
Preakness Stakes: the only horse (male or female) to ever win from the far outside position: 13th gate
Mother Goose Stakes: new stakes record for fastest time
Mother Goose Stakes: new stakes record for largest winning margin
Within a fraction of a second off of many stakes and/or track records:
Kentucky Oaks: just missing the stakes record
Mother Goose Stakes: just missing the Belmont track record set by Secretariat!
Haskell Invitational: just missing the stakes record
Haskell Invitational: Just missing the Monmouth track record set by Spend a Buck
Breaking records is FAR more difficult now than breaking records back in Ruffian's time (look at charts showing how often Ruffian's records were broken since then!), AND RA is not over with her 3 year old season yet!! Only time will tell HOW MUCH better and whether horse-historians will agree.
P.S. For those of you who still think Zenyattta is better: how many stakes records has she made? Just curious.
Scott K commented:
Well stated Larry. I love your last line. SHRP seems like a great spot for this race to happen (if it happens at all). I would have to favor Rachel Alexandra as well, which is tough because I don't mind rooting for people as committed to good racing as the Moss group. This race is a longshot, but there's still a shot.
Larry Thomas commented:
Good point. I'm anxious to see how Rachel does against older males in the Woodward. Keep in mind that Stardom Bound's new owners turned her over to Rick Dutrow, which is a big negative in my book. About a month ago, Dutrow said he was going to run her in the BC Ladies Classic -- without a prep race. Hard to get too excited about her chances at this point.
Zenyatta commented:
Zenyatta has followed in the footsteps of the great Azeri - Rachel is a special horse, she has decimated a rather weak 3 yo division (brought on by injuries to the boys). If she wins the Woodward - they she is something truly special - but let's not making her the queen before the ball. I remember 10 months ago when a group of FELONS (Alleged) paid $8 million for the greatest filly to ever race, and what has Stardom Bound done since?
