Remembering Mighty Rachel

Remembering Mighty Rachel

by
 Murray D. West

                                   Begot from a union of Fire and Wind -

                                        a fury to much behold -

                                   The demon of speed she stole from the Wind,

                                        from the Fire her courage bold.

                                   Sound of strong limb and deep with great girth,

                                        her strength she wrought from this storm,

                                   From the raging torrent of this tempest blast,

                                        THUS was great Rachel born!

Upon us again, the preludes to the Spring Classics conjure recollections of times past, of the great and the not so great, of some who proved their worth over the course of time and of others, those who teased, cajoled, then slipped off into the darkness, fond memories to their intimate few, reminders of the vagaries of racing fortune to others.

With the thrill of each stalwart stretch drive, of each courageous battle to the wire, of each fast closing near miss, comes the hope, the dream, that this may be the one, that special horse to demand attention, to grab the heart and soul of all who love racing and to give hope that elusive greatness has once more happened upon us. The course of time, unfortunately, will most commonly prove this to be false hope, greatness giving way to goodness, immortality to mortality…and so the search will continue.

Sometimes, however, on rare occasions when the racing gods smile upon us, our dreams are answered and the promise of early spring blossoms into the wonder of true racing glory. And so it happened for us in the early months of 2009, when a tall, powerful, dark bay filly with a most distinctive crooked blaze, happened upon us, and spellbound we witnessed the promise of her Golden Rod victory in November of her 2 year old campaign flourish beyond reasonable hope into the wondrous reality of unmatched courage married to brilliance beyond recent memory…and so we were given Rachel Alexandra!
So much has been written and spoken of this most special of all horses, her memory is rekindled at this time with the recent birth of her strapping Curlin colt, as well as by the very recent running of the G3 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at the Fair Grounds this February 25th. Memory drifts back to recall Rachel’s early sophomore campaign, with her facile victory in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn, a total domination of overmatched opponents in the Fair Grounds Oaks, followed then by a seemingly effortless win in the Fantasy, again back at Oaklawn. I had been fortunate enough to witness her maiden win at Keeneland as well as her very impressive victory in the Golden Rod at Churchill but, while recall thinking her an outstanding talent of considerable promise, make no pretense of anticipating her emerging as a 3 year old of such rare brilliance. Indeed, how could anyone have done so?

I vividly remember her walk over from the backstretch for the G1 Kentucky Oaks, she in her resplendent pink halter in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness day at Churchill. I hung over the rail as she approached, my camera firing salvos of shots to capture this special moment. A strapping dark bay with a marvelous sloping shoulder, her strikingly unusual white blaze was balanced by the white of her wall eye, so apparent as her gaze darted to and fro while she alertly scanned the huge Oaks crowd. While all present hoped for an exceptional display, no one could have anticipated the monumental feat given by Rachel that day. It is doubtful that any who bore witness to her race will ever forget the absolute majesty of her performance, where nearly 100,000 people rose and cheered as one in testimony to her wonder, she widening with every stride to establish a new stakes record while winning by some 20 lengths.

Her Preakness was a thing of beauty. Recall how she had to be used early from her outside post position, dropping over to wrest the lead from the formidable Big Drama as he, racing to her inside, drifted out slightly while floating her wide around the first turn. Racing as a team for the best part of the first mile, Rachel set fractions of 23 and 46.3 with the future Breeder’s Cup Sprint winner snarling at her throat. The very fine colt gave his all but finally could no longer match strides with the filly, slowly giving way as they approached the head of the stretch. Now, the wire in sight, Rachel’s incredible high cruising speed carried her to a 2 length advantage and here, overcoming her outside post and the constant pressure from Big Drama, she proved more than capable of repulsing the late charge of the Kentucky Derby champion, Mine That Bird, flashing across the wire a full length to the good.

Returning to race with her own, the Mother Goose proved another tour de force for Rachel as she broke Ruffian’s long standing stakes record, again her winning margin of near 20 lengths accomplished with seemingly effortless precision, with Calvin Borel easing her the last 1/16th mile. So impressive was her victory that there was little doubt to all bearing witness that the track record would have been seriously challenged had Rachel received the slightest encouragement from her veteran rider.

With Zenyatta as her only legitimate distaff competitor, and she residing on the West coast, Rachel again took on the boys in the Haskel, and here again she displayed absolute brilliance. Forced to race outside the very quick Munnings, and with Belmont winner Summer Bird running forwardly in third along the rail, Borel rated Rachel just off the leader in the early stages. Turned loose at the quarter pole, Rachel did not disappoint, quickly drawing off with consummate ease to win by 6 widening lengths in a very quick 1:47.1, again just missing the Monmouth track record, again leaving the impression that the record was well within her grasp had she been called upon to put forth greater effort.

The ultimate hurdle to an unblemished season was now thrust before her as Rachel attempted the very formidable challenge of becoming the first female to win the historic G1 Woodward Stakes. Anticipating history, it was a race I knew I simply could not miss and thus, with no pre-arranged accommodations, climbed aboard my chariot and drove the long 12 plus hours to Saratoga Springs. Through the kindness of friends, a consideration for which I am forever indebted, I was fortunate to receive a box on the finish line and paddock passes for the race. Fully cognizant of the potential historical ramifications of the moment, I readily recall my emotions as mighty Rachel, looking more an elegant princess than some fierce Amazonian queen, passed directly before me while departing the paddock on her way to the famed Saratoga oval, the moment having arrived for her to challenge, indeed to define, racing immortality. The rest, as they say, is history, and history on this day gave us a race for the ages, an encounter that will be discussed and cherished as long as men race horses and undaunted courage remains revered. Forced to taxing fractions of 22.4 and 46.2, Rachel in succession repulsed the challenges of Da’ Tara, Past The Point, Cool Coal Man, It’s A Bird, Asiatic Boy, Bullsbay and, finally and desperately, Macho Again. I wrote at length about this race some short days later, and I will quote from my article entitled, “Woodward Wonder”…

“As one by one she threw off her challengers, as she thundered down the stretch and moved away from Bullsbay, and then as the gray form of Macho Again loomed so threatening in the final approach to the wire, I firmly believe that all bets were off, that every man, woman and child, regardless of their wager, was now up and cheering her on, contorted faces, scrunched lips and fisted hands all testimony to their efforts to will her to victory, to carry her to the wire, for no wager seemed of any consequence in the face of such a spellbinding, historic performance. On their feet and cheering her victory, even those who participated in the race and gave their very best to defeat her stood in awe and applauded, for all knew they might never see her kind again, might never again witness such a coronation. In the stands or watching on television, whether an owner, breeder, trainer, jockey or groom of another in the race, whether betting for or wagering against, none of this was now of any importance, for all became winners through her victory, and all the racing world celebrated.”

It was my very good fortune that special day to be invited to join the victory celebration with Rachel and the Stonestreet connections following the Woodward. Standing within the crowded winner’s enclosure, I was but several feet from Rachel as she and Calvin were led in for the traditional winner’s photographs. As she entered my own camera was busy and my photos bear testimony to the extremes of emotion experienced by all at that moment. Hands raised to the heavens and tears streaming down the face of Calvin Borel spoke not only of his unsurpassed joy but also, I’m certain, to the profound relief felt when a tremendous burden of responsibility is suddenly lifted from one’s shoulders. Jess Jackson, while walking beside his filly in victory, bore a smile which without doubt spoke to his great happiness but also, I suspect, to great satisfaction that he had made the correct decision, that by pushing conventional bounds and challenging Rachel to grasp greatness he had forever raised the bar for all who might follow. And Rachel…well, my photos I believe bear testimony to the absolute exhaustion that overwhelmed this champion in the aftermath of her supreme effort. Her energy reserves fully consumed, she had nothing more to give, her very life blood left on the stage where she had prevailed in this most incredibly demanding race.

And of myself? Tingling skin, goose bumps, trembling hands, hoarseness, wonderment, thankfulness, appreciation, disbelief…and yes, perhaps even a tear, all testimony to the magnitude of this moment. This was the greatest race that I had ever personally witnessed, surpassing even my emotions surrounding the victory of Personal Ensign over Winning Colors in the Breeder’s Cup Distaff so many years ago. I, like Rachel, felt exhausted, she physically drained from her supreme physical effort, me emotionally drained simply from experiencing this most exhilarating of all races.

Just how great was Rachel? How demanding was her 3 year old campaign, and how does she compare with the immortals of previous generations? I have my opinion, but mine is a very small voice. Others, however, giants of the game, Hall of Famers with a wealth of experience extending over many decades, have been effusive in their praise of Rachel. Angel Cordero stated that Rachel was the best 3 year old filly that he had ever seen…and he had seen Ruffian and Go for Wand. John Nerud, the outspoken trainer of such champions as Dr. Fager and Ta Wee, was forthright and non-apologetic in his statement when he voiced that a new standard had now been established against which future generations of sophomore fillies must be compared. And Leroy Jolley, formerly of the opinion that Go For Wand was the greatest 3 year old filly he had seen, stated that the accolade now belonged to Rachel Alexandra…and do recall that Lee Jolley trained the great Genuine Risk to Kentucky Derby glory!

And my opinion, for what it may or may not be worth? I believe her to be the greatest sophomore filly I have ever seen or ever expect to see. Further, during that spring, summer and early autumn of 2009, when she was at her peak, I think she at least the equal of any filly or mare who ever lived, and doubt the distaffer of any age who might have defeated her in a true running of a race up to 1 1/8th miles. My opinion only but, agree or not with that opinion, surely there can be no doubt that Rachel Alexandra belongs in any discussion of not only the greatest sophomore fillies, but the greatest females of this or any other era.

She was, and will always remain, Rachel Alexandra…the Great!

                                                               Murray D. West
                                                               Paris, Kentucky
                                                                March 4, 2012



Addendum

 
The posting of this blog was delayed for two reasons.  The first related to my lack of familiarity with my new computer and the Window 7 format.  With help of family I am slowly overcoming that hurdle and hopefully this will not be a major issue delaying further posts.

The second related to the hope that I would be able to visit Rachel and her Curlin colt at Stonestreet Farm and, by so doing, incorporate some current photos of this special duo with the blog.  Thanks to the kindness of John Moynihan, and the efforts of my very good friend Ryan Mahan, that visit became a reality on the beauitiful Sunday afternoon of February 26, 2012.  We were given a most cordial welcome by farm manager Gary Megibben and he, with the able assistance of two of the farm workers, allowed us a very special and close up visit with the queen and her baby.  Especially for me, with my passion for Rachel, it truly was like a visit with royalty.  I'm not quite certain what I expected from Rachel, for when on the track she was always kept at a distance from fans and media, adoration, by necessity, kept at arms length.  Thus, although I had seen her on numerous occasions on the track and at her barn, I really had no idea of her personality.  To my delight I found her to be very kind, most gentle and, yes, still very regal.  From all reports, and from my observations on this day, she is a wonderful mother.

I have included a number of photos from my visit.  My thanks to those who made this visit possible and I hope I may return frequently to further follow and document the life of Rachel and this and subsequent offspring.  Special thanks to Gary Megibben for making us feel so welcome.  I know it was an intrusion upon his Sunday afternoon, but he made us feel like we were doing him the favor by being there.

My thanks also to the two gentlemen who kindly showed Rachel and her baby to us.  I fear I do not know their names, and for this I apologize, but please understand that your time and effort on our behalf was most appreciated.

Please enjoy these photos of the queen and her baby who, by the way, is some kind of specimen with an attitude to go with his looks!  He seems to know exactly who his mommy and daddy are, indeed!

Hot Dixie Chick with her Curlin colt