Fifty-thousand French horses, charging down a hill in Agincourt toward
the small band of Englishmen fighting for Henry V in 1415, inspired no
more thrills than the eight horses who will contend at the Saratoga
battlefield on September 5th in the 56th running of the Woodward Stakes.
The announcement that racings biggest draw, the impossibly fast Rachel Alexandra, would run in the Woodward sent racing hearts soaring and regional coffers growing. An entire week has been dedicated to celebrating the filly who is the leading contender for Horse of the Year status. A Proclamation was read by Saratoga Springs' Mayor Scott Johnson on Monday at a NYRA press conference: Saturday, the 5th, is Rachel Alexandra Day in Saratoga Springs. Fans will be admitted to the grounds at 7AM on Saturday. NYRA and the City anticipate a record attendance.
Those first 25,000 who pay admission will get a special Rachel Alexandra pin. Also available that day will be Rachel t-shirts and caps in the NYRA stores on the track, the net proceeds of which will benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for a (breast cancer) Cure. In celebration of her first race at Saratoga, the streets of the Spa City are lined with Rachel Alexandra banners. Additionally, NYRA is offering 50% off dining in the At-the-Rail Pavilion for all women and children on Saturday.
Seven other Thoroughbreds with their own talents and strengths are entered, with seven jockeys who will be instructed to box in the favorite. Their is no doubt that Rachel Alexandra is in for a trial on Saturday--not because she can't handle nine furlongs--but because the other horses' connections are working feverishly to find a battle plan that will defeat her.
The entrants are:
Da'Tara: Nick Zito's four-year-old unseated Big Brown in the 2008 Belmont.
Bullsbay: The Graham Motion-trained five-year-old won the Whitney here on August 8th, at the Woodward distance. The second-favorite, after Rachel Alexandra.
Rachel Alexandra: Has won eight in a row, including the defeat of males twice so far. Speed + long, jumping stride are the hallmarks of her inimitable style.
Cool Coal Man: The Mineshaft son is coming into his own. Johnny V. up. Must not to take the lead too early.
Macho Again: The Great Grey Hope of West Point Thoroughbreds, the millionaire son of Macho Uno took the Stephen Foster at Churchill at this distance.
It's a Bird: Six-year-old has quietly won over a million dollars in purse money, conquering the southwest. Wolfson-trained horse is somewhat unknown to local audiences.
Asiatic Boy: Came in second to Curlin in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, second in Stephen Foster this year to Macho Again. Dubai horse who has won over $3,000,000 to date.
Past the Point: Darley great-grandson of Seattle Slew, trained by Harty and ridden by Prado. Long shot, but has a ton of heart and speed on dam's side (Slew).
The 2009 Woodward purse was raised to $750,000 to entice horses who might otherwise have passed on going against Rachel Alexandra. Whichever horse wins the race, it should be an event filled with breath-taking moments as some of the greatest horses on Earth vie for the Woodward. One horse seeks Horse of the Year status--the other seven hope to unseat a favorite and break hearts. And the crowd at Saratoga could be witness to what may be the best race of everyone's lives.
Those first 25,000 who pay admission will get a special Rachel Alexandra pin. Also available that day will be Rachel t-shirts and caps in the NYRA stores on the track, the net proceeds of which will benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for a (breast cancer) Cure. In celebration of her first race at Saratoga, the streets of the Spa City are lined with Rachel Alexandra banners. Additionally, NYRA is offering 50% off dining in the At-the-Rail Pavilion for all women and children on Saturday.
Seven other Thoroughbreds with their own talents and strengths are entered, with seven jockeys who will be instructed to box in the favorite. Their is no doubt that Rachel Alexandra is in for a trial on Saturday--not because she can't handle nine furlongs--but because the other horses' connections are working feverishly to find a battle plan that will defeat her.
The entrants are:
Da'Tara: Nick Zito's four-year-old unseated Big Brown in the 2008 Belmont.
Bullsbay: The Graham Motion-trained five-year-old won the Whitney here on August 8th, at the Woodward distance. The second-favorite, after Rachel Alexandra.
Rachel Alexandra: Has won eight in a row, including the defeat of males twice so far. Speed + long, jumping stride are the hallmarks of her inimitable style.
Cool Coal Man: The Mineshaft son is coming into his own. Johnny V. up. Must not to take the lead too early.
Macho Again: The Great Grey Hope of West Point Thoroughbreds, the millionaire son of Macho Uno took the Stephen Foster at Churchill at this distance.
It's a Bird: Six-year-old has quietly won over a million dollars in purse money, conquering the southwest. Wolfson-trained horse is somewhat unknown to local audiences.
Asiatic Boy: Came in second to Curlin in the 2008 Dubai World Cup, second in Stephen Foster this year to Macho Again. Dubai horse who has won over $3,000,000 to date.
Past the Point: Darley great-grandson of Seattle Slew, trained by Harty and ridden by Prado. Long shot, but has a ton of heart and speed on dam's side (Slew).
The 2009 Woodward purse was raised to $750,000 to entice horses who might otherwise have passed on going against Rachel Alexandra. Whichever horse wins the race, it should be an event filled with breath-taking moments as some of the greatest horses on Earth vie for the Woodward. One horse seeks Horse of the Year status--the other seven hope to unseat a favorite and break hearts. And the crowd at Saratoga could be witness to what may be the best race of everyone's lives.
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