Jan

18

The perfect ending snatched away

by Barry Roos
Published: January 18, 2010 4 Comments
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Rarely do athletes go out on top, reaching the peak of their profession and riding off into the sunset. It seemed with Zenyatta as with Personal Ensign so many years before did just that. Her owners, always making the right move would get her off the racetrack before defeat or worse injury came her way. This from owner Moss:

“I got very emotional after she won the Breeders’ Cup and thought what better way to retire,” Moss said. “In my mind, she was retired. It was the perfect retirement scenario . . . she could sail off into the sunset.”

Sadly this storybook ending is not to be. Zenyatta isn’t on her way to the breeding shed, but back to the races.  Hopefully she can make it through the rigors of one more year without an injury. The undefeated record will probably come to end, as eventually they all get beat. Maybe it will be Rachel, or some aptly named horse like “Upset” who slayed Man O’ War. My only hope is that she doesn’t get hurt, as so much rides on her, as with Rachel. A catastrophic injury to either will erase the wonderful good will they provided our industry.


Comments

4 Comments so far

  1. Corinne on January 18, 2010 11:37 am

    This is a significant worry of mine as well and the first thing that crossed my mind when I read the announcement. Zenyatta’s season was perfect. Racing her again only opens her up to a host of potential problems. It bothers me that even the best in the industry aren’t always able to decide when enough is enough for the horse’s best interest.

  2. MH on January 18, 2010 12:11 pm

    If everyone were as paranoid of injury as you, racing would already be dead. The sport needs more racehorses, not more broodmares and stallions.

  3. Nancy/Ca. on January 18, 2010 1:14 pm

    They have always been very protective of her,I wouldn’t worry too much. I think this is wonderful for racing,the east coast fans can’t wait to see her in person! And with her running on dirt I’m going to be thrilled to see her finally get some real respect from back east.

  4. tvnewsbadge on January 18, 2010 9:43 pm

    She seems to be one of the more durable horses out there, so she’ll probably survive the season.

    But can you imagine the outcry if something goes wrong after she had already assumed to have been safely retired?

    It could darn well kill any chance that horse racing can be rehabilitated in the US, certainly as far as bringing new fans to the sport are concerned.

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