FavoriteRaceHorses

Horse racing needs horses that capture the public’s imagination in order to continue to sustain itself. Often really great horses receive virtually no mainstream press coverage simply because there is no story attached to the horse. Horses that become known years after they race are embraced not just by racing fans, but by the public in general, and to do that their needs to be a compelling story behind the horse.

In 2004, Smarty Jones captured the imagination of not only racing fans but that of the general public as well. The American sporting press picked up on the idea that Smarty Jones was a rags to riches story, a blue collar hero from the less glamorous Philadelphia racing circuit, and the public ate it up. His undefeated record through the Preakness Stakes, which he won by twelve lengths only added to the hype. By the time the Belmont Stakes rolled around, America was absolutely convinced that we would see our first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, and that he was a virtual lock. The reality is that he was probably closer to 50-50 to win the Belmont. Never did the loud, unbridled enthusiasm turn so sullen when a 30-1 long shot ran right by him to cause the upset.

A older horse named Ghostzapper emerged later that same year to become perhaps the best horse in 20 years to come along, and all serious handicappers would favor him over Smarty Jones in any matchup. But because Smarty Jones was an undefeated Triple Crown possibility, he got all the press, and as a result many more people to this day know the name of Smarty Jones than they do Ghostzapper, which is a shame.

Just two years later, another undefeated superstar named Barbaro emerged after drawing away in the Kentucky Derby by six lengths. Perhaps because of the ease with which he demolished the Kentucky Derby field along with his 6-0 undefeated record made him the darling of the American public. His next start would be the Preakness, and they had not traveled a quarter of a mile when tragedy struck – Barbaro broke down right in front of the grandstand and sustained a leg fracture. The ensuing months saw Barbaro’s life hang in the balance as the prognosis at times seemed to be positive, at other times less certain. In January of the following year, Barbaro lost his long battle for life and fans mourned his passing. His story is remarkable because the drama over his fight for life probably eclipsed his accomplishments on the race track.

In 2008, Big Brown became the fourth horse to win both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness while remaining undefeated. The hype surrounding his Triple Crown bid grew to proportions rivaling that of Smarty Jones, because the prospect of an Triple Crown winner thirty years after Affirmed accomplished the feat was compelling. He also had an imposing name which perhaps added to his aura of invincibility. Sadly, nearing the far turn Big Brown was pulled up by his jockey, though no definite cause for the sudden stop was ever determined.

Most recently, both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta have emerged as the two most popular fan favorites. Zenyatta because she is undefeated and achieved what many thought was improbable, a victory over the males in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, and Rachel Alexandra because she stamped herself as one of the very best female race horses of the past twenty years, having beaten the three-year old males in the Preakness, Haskell Stakes, and older male horses in the Woodward. It is uncommon for the two best horses in training to also be females, which has certainly added to their legions of fans, especially among females.