Zenyatta-Rachel Alexandra Match Race Proposed

[LordsTable]

James McIngvale, a Houston horse owner known for his high profile promotions on behalf of his Gallery Furniture stores, is proposing a $2-million match race between super fillies Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra.

The proposed race, in late September or early October, would be held at Sam Houston Race Park. From the $2 million offered by Gallery Furniture, which would sponsor the event, the winner would receive $1.2 million and the other horse would get $800,000.

"I think it would be good for horse racing, and be good for Houston," McIngvale said Aug. 11. "And hopefully I can make some money on it."

McIngvale, who is known as "Mattress Mack" on his television commercials that are beamed to Houston-area audiences, said he would hope to profit from the match race by the exposure generated for his business. Among his previous promotions within horse racing, McIngvale in 1999 sponsored the Turfway Park stakes race now run as the Lane’s End Stakes (gr. II). Previous to McIngvale’s one-year sponsorship, when it was run as the Galleryfurniture.com Stakes, the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) prep was the Jim Beam Stakes.

The owner said he selected Sam Houston for the race because it is his local track, because it is centrally located, and because it has a safe dirt surface.

McIngvale said he planned to contact the owners of both horses Aug. 11 to review his proposal. The proposed match race was first reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Based in California, Zenyatta has done most of her running on artificial surfaces. Following her victory in last weekend’s Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (gr. I), Zenyatta is undefeated in 12 career starts. Owner Jerry Moss has said this year’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships at California’s Santa Anita Nov. 6-7 is the ultimate goal for Zenyatta. Last fall, Zenyatta won the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (gr. I) on her way to championship honors as top older female.

East Coast-based Rachel Alexandra has won 10 of 13 lifetime starts and races for Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stables and Harold McCormick. Jackson has said the filly, who has defeated colts in the BlackBerry Preakness (gr. I) and Haskell Invitational (gr. I), would not participate in the Breeders’ Cup because of the artificial Pro-Ride surface at Santa Anita.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... e-proposed

[Alaidekman]

In this case I don't think a match race would settle who is the better mare, but might settle who has the better jockey. Match races often have a totally artificial pace scenario and become a jockey matchup if the horses are relatively even. With a confirmed front runner vs. a come from the clouds closer, it would play like a chess match between the jockeys more than a horse race and I think fans would still feel frustrated.

Of course, if they both entered an open race of some kind (other than BC) there might only be a couple of horses willing to challenge them. But even in a four horse field it becomes more of a real contest than a match race tends to be.

Just my opinion, but I think Rachel is ducking Zen if Jackson won't come to the BC. I have a feeling that if the BC was at Belmont or any Eastern track, Moss wouldn't hesitate to send his mare.

Al

[LordsTable]

I think that if they face each other in a non-BC race, it will essentially be a match race due to the lack of entries. It would be like the Goose with one more horse. I think distance really is the key, the longer they go the more it will benefit Z.

[Kermit]

Rachel would control the pace all the way, Z would have nothing to close to.

Nothing proved.

[Risen Star]

All I had to do was read "match race" to know that I'd read enough. A terrible idea in my opinion. I hate match races, and these contests prove nothing.

As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I hope Zenyatta and Rachel never meet and certainly not in a match race.

[PeteMo]

idiotic idea, nice timing too few weeks before the BC. Guess that is why Mattress Mac with his 3rd rate trainers did so well when he was trying to make it in racing.

[RelaunchRMH]

All I had to do was read "match race" to know that I'd read enough. A terrible idea in my opinion. I hate match races, and these contests prove nothing...

Agreed. Only a race with a full (honest) field of runners would give some sort of an answer. Though in my mind it really would take multiple races against each other to really prove anything. I will give it to James McIngvale, however, he just got some free publicity for his stores.

[JDinSD77]

Believe me, the owners could get that kind of money from multiple tracks to enter that race, EXCLUDING what they offer as a purse. A race could easily be sponsored for $5 million, a number that would ensure other entrants to at least try for 3-5th money. Neither owner is going to risk a one of a time horse maybe valued at $20 million in a match race, that has notoriously been dangerous to a horse's health.

[PrivateSmiles]

Agree, very bad idea. Match races are not real races. In a real race (one with a field) there are many variable factors and those are what make races interesting. The idea is to beat the field, not one other horse.

Match race = stupid "race".

[ScrapingThePaint]

I will give it to James McIngvale, however, he just got some free publicity for his stores.

Yep.