Zenyatta Vs. Rachel Alexandra: It's Time for the Rivalry To Die

In the past few years, we’ve seen potentially great horses come and go but two amazing females have put the discussion of the others in the background.

In one corner, we’ve had Team Zenyatta.  The “Queen” brought new fans to racing with her charm and nearly undefeated record. 

In the other corner, we’ve had Team Rachel Alexandra.  The sensational filly had a three-year-old season of legend, winning the Kentucky Oaks by over twenty lengths before beating the males in the Preakness Stakes, Haskell and Woodward Stakes. 

Both mares were an amazing sight to see, but the shame of the filly and mare running at the same time is the rivalry they experienced without ever facing each other on the track.  Enjoying both girls was not allowed for many people and sides were often firmly taken, causing heated arguments over who was the better horse.

Sure, each horse had her faults.  Zenyatta faced girls in all races but the two Breeder’s Cup Classics she ran in and rarely left California.  Rachel Alexandra’s talent on the track only lasted for a season, showing her as a shadow of her former self on the track this year.

In the last decade, we have had very few stars that we could cling on to that would carry all of our hopes and dreams.  Now that both our shining stars of the last few years have been retired and sent to the greener pastures of motherhood, race fans should sit back and reflect on the ride they’ve been given. 

No longer should these mares be rivals against each other, each dimming each other’s light.  They should stand alone, basking in their accomplishments, each joining the ranks of the great mares of our time.

So Team Zenyatta and Team Rachel, allow the great mares of our time their individual glory.  Very few horses in our lifetime will ever affect us the way these two bay girls have.