Reigning Horse Of The Year Returns To The Spa!

By: Emma Yepsen | August 2010

Saratoga Springs NY -- Rachel Alexandra isn't quite finished at Saratoga Race Track! The reigning Horse of the Year returns to the beloved race track on Sunday, August 29th to compete in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes.

Rachel's return for this race marks Day 2 of the first-time Double Day Spectacular. This special two-part, two-day Double is being offered by NYRA linking the Grade 1 Travers Stakes (on Sat, Aug. 28) with the Grade 1 Personal Ensign (on Sun, Aug. 29). This is the first wager offered over a period of two days at Saratoga. Learn more about betting >>

If you missed Rachel's amazing debut at the Spa last summer, she packed the stands at Saratoga Race Track winning the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on September 5, 2009. To make it even more exciting, she was the only filly in the race, triumphing over older males, bringing a new meaning to the phrase "run like a girl!"

In celebration of Rachel's return fans will receive a free commemorative "Rachel" button with paid admission on Sunday, Aug. 29. Also available for purchase will be Rachel Alexandra merchandise, such as t-shirts, hats, and limited edition "Were You There?" autographed posters. All proceeds from these sales will benefit charity.

Preceding the Double Day Spectacular is the 1st annual Travers Eve Celebration, as well as other Travers Festival events at Saratoga Race Track such as San Gennaro Day, the annual Stewart's Ice Cream Eating Contest, Travers 1864 Restaurant Week & Battle Of The Brews!

For more information about Saratoga Race Track visit www.SaratogaRaceTrack.com

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Read about Rachel's race today!

By JOE DRAPE

Published: February 10, 2010

Rachel Alexandra, the Horse of the Year, will not be ready to face her rival, the undefeated mare Zenyatta, in the Apple Blossom Handicap in April at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas. Her trainer, Steve Asmussen, said his filly needed more time to return to racing shape after a six-month layoff.

Oaklawn Park, one of the most successful racetracks in America, had proposed to raise the purse of the Apple Blossom to $5 million from $500,000 if both horses showed up. Now, the purse will revert back to $500,000.

“Out of respect for the level of competition and the importance of this race, I have told Mr. Jackson it was not in the best interest of the horse to race on April 3,” said Asmussen, referring to the owner Jess Jackson, in a news release. “Getting to this level of fitness after a six-month layoff takes time.

Read the rest of the article here.

Updated: January 21, 2010, 10:43 AM ET

Rachel-Zenyatta offer up to $2M

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By Mary Rampellini
Daily Racing Form
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Sam Houston Race Park will offer a maximum purse of $2 million if Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were both to start in the track's Gallery Furniture Distaff that has a tentative date of March 27.

Sam Houston and race sponsor Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale have been pursuing a showdown between the two horses for several months, first setting a date of Dec. 5 for a $1.5 million race, then Jan. 30. Sam Houston has now moved the date again and left room for purse negotiations after learning in the last week that Zenyatta has come out of retirement and will race in 2010.

"In light of the news, we're going to keep doing what we've been doing to try and get the two ladies here," said Andrea Young, president of Sam Houston.

The race would be run over 1 1/8 miles on Sam Houston's main track and would be open to males. The minimum purse will be $1.5 million, with McIngvale willing to negotiate up to $2 million, officials said. Both horses would have to start for the race to be a go.

Young said the March 27 date is negotiable.

Rachel Alexandra was named Horse of the Year on Monday night, while Zenyatta won the Breeders' Cup Classic in November.

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