A solution for Zenyatta vs. Rachel
As the situation stands now, Jess Jackson hates "plastic" and Jerry Moss is reluctant to race outside of areas codes 310, 626 and 858, where all they have are "plastic" tracks. Unless something gives or someone budges, the dream match between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra will never happen. That may be business as usual for a dysfunctional sport that doesn't seem to get much right, but it doesn't have to be that way. Someone needs to be bold and think outside the box and Jackson and Moss need to focus not just on their own self-interests but on coming together to do the right thing for this sport.
So, here's a proposal. It's a little different, but it will work if the two owners want it to work.
The showdown between Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra will take place at Oaklawn Park. (I know, I know, they only run in the spring. I'll get to that). Oaklawn's biggest asset in this case is its racing surface. It is, of course, dirt and not plastic, which means that Jackson shouldn't have any problems racing there. Better yet, it is the one racing surface that everyone can agree on -- both horses have raced at Oaklawn and won there. It is the only track in the world that both have competed over.
It is also a neutral site. Oaklawn Park is 1,388 miles from Saratoga, where Rachel Alexandra is stabled. It is 1,653 miles from Zenyatta's base at Hollywood Park. You can't get any fairer than that.
Still another plus, at least in this case, is the lack of a detention barn. While Belmont and Saratoga might seem like a logical place to have the two meet, Moss has said he wants to avoid racing out of the security barns that NYRA uses because he fears the unfamiliar surroundings might rile up Zenyatta.
The race will take place on Sept. 12, which is five weeks after Zenyatta's scheduled start in the Clement Hirsch at Del Mar and will likely be at least four weeks removed from Rachel's next start, wherever and whenever that may be. The timing also gives both horses plenty of time to prepare for the Breeders' Cup or, in Rachel Alexandra's case, another race somewhere else.
The weather? It should be perfect. The average temperature in September in Hot Springs is 74 degrees.
The purse will be $1.5 million. Oaklawn will put up $500,000 and Moss and Jackson will throw in a half million each. Two very wealthy men who really don't need the money, they will be allowed to prove not only that they are true sportsmen but true philanthropists. Both will agree to give their share of the purse to a charity of their choice. Jackson has already aligned himself with breast cancer research, a very worthy cause.
It will not be a match race. The Oaklawn team will work hard to get other horses into the race, which shouldn't be hard considering a purse of $1.5 million will be up for grabs. The Zenyatta team will be permitted to run a rabbit if they so choose. This will prevent Rachel Alexandra from being allowed to race alone on the lead, which would give her an unfair advantage.
Oaklawn is unparalleled when it comes to attracting on-track audiences. They routinely get crowds of 50,000-plus for the Arkansas Derby and, unlike many racetracks, would have no problem attracting a huge throng for a race of this magnitude.
Now the hard part: Oaklawn doesn't race in September. But neither do they have any competition that time of year. If Oaklawn owner Charles Cella was committed to the idea, he could make it happen. There's no reason why Oaklawn couldn't open up for just one day in the fall and Cella has the clout to get it done. With the amount of handle the day could generate, Oaklawn could likely make a healthy amount of money.
Run a four- or five-race card, highlighted by Zenyatta versus Rachel Alexandra in the Oaklawn Special, or whatever you want to call the race.
Is the idea too far outside the box? That's probably the way some will see it, but does anyone have a better idea? The only alternative is that they never meet, something no one wants to see happen. In Moss and Jackson, you also have two people who genuinely seem to care about the sport and might just decide to go for it.
This won't be easy to pull off, but it's far from impossible. Time is running out. All we need is for someone to pick up the phone and get the ball rolling. See you at Oaklawn.
Bill Finley is an award-winning racing writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, USA Today and Sports Illustrated. Contact Bill at wnfinley@aol.com.
