RA Vs. Zenyatta Showdown Is Set—The Right Race Wrong Day

[Stevie Belmont]

It looks like it will finally happen! Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra are ready to square off in the Apple Blossom (GI) at Oaklawn Park for a blockbuster purse of $5 Million. Mark April 9, 2010 off on those calendars. The right race—one huge mistake—they will run it on a weekday—April 9,2010 is a Friday? What is this all about?

It’s hard to believe they would schedule a race of this magnitude on a Friday. What were they thinking? Why would they do something like this?

Does the NFL schedule their games at 6PM on Friday’s? Would a Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather showdown title fight be on Friday at 6PM? How about Game 7 of the World Series? Let’s start that at 6PM on a Friday. And if there is a huge sporting event on a weekday—prime time is the time—not in the middle of rush hour on a Friday. Would the World Cup Soccer final be on a Friday? What about Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals —Friday at 6PM? So is Friday a good date for this mega race—an epic match up between two legends? Of course not—It makes no sense.

This is a race that deserves maximum exposure on all levels—and racing needs all the exposure it can get this day in age. The Arkansas Derby is the next day—They should run it that day regardless. Packed house, plenty people watching on television would make it a blockbuster day of racing that we won’t forget.

I commend Charles J. Cella for getting this thing to happen. I give him two big thumbs up on this—but it’s on the wrong day. It may be a good thing for Oaklawn Park and Charles J. Cella to have this on a Friday—other then that, it’s still not a good day to run this race.

Wake up people and move it to Saturday or figure something out. I already know three casual racing fans that will probably not be able to this race. And these are the people you would like to see become bigger fans. And there will be many more who will miss this race do to the fact it’s on a Friday. People work, they will be in transit, shopping, doing errands and so forth.

Bottom line is simple—many more people see this race on a Saturday or weekend then would on a Friday. This is a big screw up.

Still time to move it—And it should be—for the sake of the fans and the sport. People want to see this race.

What do you think? Vote

http://thoroughbredzone.com/2010/02/12/rachel-alexandra-vs-zenyatta-showdown-is-set%e2%80%94the-right-race-on-the-wrong-day/

[Tbird]

I don't care what day it's on, I'm going. I suspect many people feel the same. Everyone screamed for this to happen so who is going to complain about what day of the week it happens?
Oaklawn will be mobbed for this no matter day it is.

[KAL]

Pretty certain Arkansas Derby is to be run on that Saturday. That is and pretty much always has been the biggest day of racing in Arkansas. Oaklawn is almost always near capacity on that day. There would be little to gain for the track or the community if they held it on Saturday.

This race on Friday pretty much will assure a great increase in gate and betting for that day. This will probably be the second or third biggest Friday in racing... behind the Kentucky Oaks and, possibly, the opening day of B.C. Even further, this will mean a significant influx of "extra" dollars for the entire community.

Oh... to answer the question about Friday... the Kentucky Oaks does okay in that spot. On a related thought, the Super Bowl is on Sunday evening, the NCAA Football and Basketball Championships are on weekdays and I don't think they suffer much.

[Tbird]

Who else is going?

[zinn21]

Surprising they moved the date but not to Saturday. Good point..

[jellac]

I'm going! Is there a site where you can buy tickets already?

[btcountess]

My sister lives in LR and said the papers there gave the story that Jess Jackson and his buddy Steve wanted the race moved because they wanted RA to have a race before. They asked for Sat. but were given Fri. because Sat. IS the Arkansas Derby. Now both horses will have a race in Mar. to prepare.

[Tbird]

OMG, I didn't think about getting tickets in advance---was just going to go and pay at the gate like I've done in the past but I guess this day requires prior planning.
Maybe call the track? Or see track website??

[jellac]

I tried yesterday and couldn't get anyone to answer the phone number I found online for Oaklawn Park AND my neighbor accross the street says there isn't much left in the way of available rooms in Hot Springs. I think a lot of those rooms were taken in advance for the Arkansas Derby day but now- with this race the day preceeding - it will be tough to find 'room at the Inn'.

[going4stamina]

I just got back from Hot Springs..the Arlington was filled within 2 hours of the race being announced, and it sounds like you will have to stay outside of Hot Springs if you try to book for the date now.

Could barely see acouple of the Sunday races for the snow...
oh, and I like a filly named Tap, Tap, tapping to grow into something nice .

[horsenuts]

But surprised Zenyatta was willing to run the 1 1/8 distance which favors RA and her natural speed. I look for Sheriffs and Moss to bring along a rabbit of sorts to run along side RA for as long as possible. If RA is allowed to dictate the race she'll win by many.

OTOH, hopefully they will face each other at the classic distance of a 1 1/4 later in the year which favors Zenyatta on any two turn track. RA would be tough at one turn Belmont going 1 1/4.

[Supernova]

Where is the nearest airport to Oaklawn Park?

[Tbird]

Nearest major airport would be Little Rock, Arkansas.