We were all waiting for Zenyatta to meet Rachel Alexandra at Oaklawn Park this spring, and what a disappointment it was that we’ll have to keep waiting. Racegoers love these rivalries – anyone remember Affirmed and Alydar? What is it about these great rivalries that is so exciting? We all love finding out once and for all which horse is the best – and in a match race there are no other horses to jumble up the field or block a horse’s path, so it’s a real test of the best two horses. There’s nothing quite like a good match race, so let’s take a look at some of the great match races of thoroughbred history…
It all started back in 1823 on Long Island…rumblings were beginning between the northern states and the southern states, even though it was still many years until the Civil War. But these geographic rivalries run deep, and it’s no wonder that since the first major match race pitted the best horse of the north – Eclipse (not the foundation sire of the same name in Britain) – against the best horse in the south - Henry , that everyone would want to be there! Congress closed for the day, the New York Stock Exchange was shut – this kind of public interest was completely unheard of in a young America.
Eclipse was unbeaten in so far, but he was getting old, and he’d have to carry more weight than Henry. He had already humiliated the South in two previous match races against the South’s favorite horse, Sir Charles, so they were out to beat him. In those days match races could reach four miles, and were run in three heats. Henry won the first heat, the race was close in the second with Eclipse winning by one length, but by the third, when both horses were exhausted, Eclipse’s experience won out and he came hoe the victor by three lengths, racing over twelve miles and twenty two minutes over the three heats!
Let’s move on over one hundred years, to an America still struggling after the great depression. The year is 1938, and the celebrated horse Seabiscuit, coming from humble beginnings as a workout partner for horses thought to be much better, accepts a match from the Kentucky Derby winner War Admiral. War Admiral is huge, handsome, and spectacular to watch Seabiscuit is small and plain. Much like the Eclipse-Henry match, there was more at stake than just a horse race. This one was East (War Admiral) versus West (Seabiscuit, from California).
Although war Admiral was very much the favorite, the race stayed close, with each horse taking the lead and giving it away again. As they crossed the line, Seabiscuit defied all odds and took the victory, and was voted Horse of the Year as a result, and there’s a life size statue of him today at Santa Anita Park.
The next big match was in 1955. Derby winner Swaps was to meet the top class Nashua in Chicago – Swaps had already beaten Nashua in the Derby, but Nashua won the Preakness and the Belmont. This race didn’t attract the attention of many other match races, but it was another west (Swaps) versus east (Nashua) rivalry, with a lot of regional pride at stake. On the day, many knew that Swaps was still suffering from a foot injury, and Nashua’s jockey, Eddie Arcaro, used some tough tactics to force Swaps onto rougher footing. At the end, it was Nashua by three lengths, and horse of the year as a result, but Swaps’ fans said the circumstances and Arcaro’s riding meant it proved nothing.
The greatest match race ever, though came much later, in 1975 at Belmont Park. This time, it was girls against boys. The massive and undefeated filly Ruffian was to meet the Derby winning Foolish Pleasure, to see once and for all if the girls could really beat the boys. Sadly, we were never to find out. Ruffian, the darling of racegoers across the country, slammed into the side of the starting stalls as they started, and broke down soon after.
Her owners did all they could to save her and she was operated on right away. Sadly, as she came out of the anesthetic she panicked, tearing off the cast and breaking even more bones she was put down soon after. It was the first time the nation grieved so widely for a horse a filly that gave her all, won the hearts of everyone, and died so tragically doing what she was bred to do. Ruffian was buried at Belmont Park near where she pulled up, and she was lain to rest with her nose pointed toward the finish line.
Match races haven’t happened much since Ruffian and Foolish pleasure. There’s only been a few match races held, and these have been mostly local affairs with little known rivals. In 2003 another battle of the boys against the girls took place at Del Mar, but this time it was the jockeys – Patrick Valenzuela versus Julie Krone. It came right down to the wire, with Patrick edging out Julie by just a head!
Whether or not Zenyatta meets Rachel Alexandra in a match race, or if there are other horses there to mix up the field, everyone is certainly watching, waiting and hoping they meet soon. Who will win? We’ll have to wait and see!
Nice article ! If Zenyatta and Rachel meet it won't be by themselves, there has to be other horses in the race. Just like what Twilight said, match races (as in only 2 horses in a race) were made illegal
Nice article ! If Zenyatta and Rachel meet it won't be by themselves, there has to be other horses in the race. Just like what Twilight said, match races (as in only 2 horses in a race) were made illegal
The legality of match races is set state by state - they can still be held in some states, including California, as long as the owners agree...if Rachel Alexandra would travel to California, who knows? Interestingly, most states banned match racing to control illegal gambling, and not out of concerns for safety, although the term 'match race' is unpopular after Ruffian's death.
The legality of match races is set state by state - they can still be held in some states, including California, as long as the owners agree...if Rachel Alexandra would travel to California, who knows? Interestingly, most states banned match racing to control illegal gambling, and not out of concerns for safety, although the term 'match race' is unpopular after Ruffian's death.
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