The outstanding female racehorses Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, both of whom were named Horse of the Year during their careers, along with jockey Ramon Dominguez and trainer Steve Asmussen – who prepared Rachel Alexandra for her celebrated victories over males in the Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward – make up the 2016 induction class to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, it was announced Monday.
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The brilliant female racehorses Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, both of whom were named Horse of the Year, top a star-studded final ballot for this year’s National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame that also includes Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Rachel Alexandra, and the accomplished jockeys Victor Espinoza, who won the Triple Crown on American Pharoah, and Ramon Dominguez.
Ten finalists were announced Wednesday by the Hall of Fame. Also making the final cut were the horses English Channel and Kona Gold, jockeys Garrett Gomez and Craig Perret, and trainer David Whiteley.
Samantha Nicole, a full sister to 2009 Horse of the Year and stakes producer Rachel Alexandra, has been retired to Stonestreet Farm in Lexington, Ky., and will be bred to Bernardini this season, hoping to capitalize on a cross that has proven successful with her family.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Six years after Rachel Alexandra raised the rafters at Saratoga by beating the boys in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes, her second foal becomes the first one to make it to the races Sunday at Saratoga.
Rachel’s Valentina, by Bernardini, will debut in a six-furlong maiden race that goes as the second on Sunday’s card. Rachel’s Valentina is actually the second foal out of Rachel Alexandra, the 2009 Horse of the Year. Jess’s Dream, a 3-year-old colt, is in training but has not run.
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Jess’s Dream, the first foal of the champion mare Rachel Alexandra, continues to progress toward his much-anticipated career debut, which could come here in late January, according to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. Jess’s Dream, by Curlin, arrived at Palm Meadows this month and worked five furlongs in 1:00.25 on Dec. 18.
“He’s doing well,” said McLaughlin. “He’s only had the one five-eighths breeze, and we still have some gate work to do with him.”
The Eclipse Awards to be handed out Saturday night at Gulfstream Park are all the same size, and only the statue for Horse of the Year is plated gold. But for argument’s sake, let’s say there are champions, then there are champions. As an exercise in contentious nostalgia, here are one fan’s selections as the all-time greatest in each of the categories since the Eclipse Awards were first presented in 1971.
Calvin Borel’s induction into the Racing Hall of Fame will be one of the highlights of the ceremony, especially to those who have followed his rise from the bush tracks of his native Louisiana to the heights of the sport. The 46-year-old jockey has long been regarded as one of the best riders on the Midwest circuit, but over the past 10 years, Borel has excelled on the national stage, posting three Kentucky Derby wins and receiving accolades for his work aboard 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra.
A panel of Daily Racing Form staff members voted on the 10 most memorable races in Saratoga history.
1. 1962 Travers: Jaipur outduels Ridan
Of the thousands of races run at Saratoga, the 1962 Travers was a clear winner as the top race in track history. Neither horse involved was a history maker, but from the instant they launched from the starting gate at 4:48 p.m. Eastern, history was being made.
After returning home late last month, 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra continues to do well as she recovers from surgery related to foaling complication.
The 7-year-old Medaglia d’Oro mare enjoyed free movement in a paddock at Stonestreet Farm in Lexington, Ky., for two hours on Tuesday, the first time she had done so. Stonestreet stated that the mare’s time in the paddock will be gradually increased each day.
