A Letter From Jockey Rene Douglas

I want to thank you for all your support, your prayers and all your messages. I've been trying to read all of your posts and little by little I will catch up.

I've been trying to start therapy but I've had a few issues with my lungs and that has prevented me from starting rehab in full. I'm getting stronger everyday with the help of my family and friends and I will give my best once I go back to rehab. The road ahead of me will be long and hard but I'm ready to face it and to do the best I can to complete it and to achieve the best results possible.

I would love to thank each one of you personally but if I did that I wouldn't have enough time to do therapy. Just know that I appreciate it and that your support inspires me everyday to continue and to give my all.

With Love,
Rene Douglas


Note: Jockey Rene Douglas remains hospitalized following a May 23 racing accident at Arlington Park near Chicago. The above letter was written by Rene and posted to the Rene Douglas Get Well Card on Facebook by his wife Natalia on June 30.

What's Next For Rachel And Zenyatta

Now that both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta (photo at left) have apparently come out of their Saturday victories in good health, all eyes are turning to their next starts and the possible match-up between the two.

From his barn at Hollywood Park on Sunday, Zenyatta's trainer John Sherriffs said the $300,000 Clement Hirsh Stakes at Del Mar will likely be the next stop for the 2008 Champion and undefeated mare. The Clement Hirsh is at a 1-1/16 miles for fillies and mares on August 9.

No plans have been made following the Clement Hirsh for Zenyatta although her owner Jerry Moss said on XM radio Saturday that he is keeping options open to shipping Zenyatta to New York where she could possibly meet Rachel Alexandra.

As possible match-up between the two great mares in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic at Santa Anita in early November is apparently out of the question for Rachel Alexandra's controlling owner Jess Jackson, who said last week that he will not race the filly on a synthetic racing surface which eliminates the Breeders' Cup

Meanwhile, trainer Steve Asmussen sent Rachel Alexandra to his barn at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York where she will be based this summer. No plans have been made for her next race but apparent possibilities include the $1 million Delaware Handicap for older fillies and mares at Delaware Park on July 19 and the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks against 3-year-old fillies at Belmont Park July 26. She may also return to take on her male counterparts in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park August 2.

Others being pointed to the Haskell for now include Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird and possibly Florida Derby winner and one-time Kentucky Derby favorite Quality Road.

In his first workout since finishing third in the Belmont Stakes, Mine That Bird went an easy half-mile in :51 at Churchill Downs on Monday morning in preparation for his next start in the Aug. 1 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. Jockey Calvin Borel was aboard for the breeze.

Let the Rachel Alexandra vs. Zenyatta Debate Continue

The racing gods continue to smile down upon us this year after two exciting wins by two brilliant mares Saturday with Rachel Alexandra winning the Mother Goose (photo at left) in New York and Zenyatta winning the Vanity at Hollywood Park. Add to that comments by Zenyatta owner Jerry Moss that he would consider taking Zenyatta outside of Southern California to face Rachel Alexandra and it was quite a good day for racing fans.

Rachel took the racing stage first Saturday in the $300,000 Mother Goose at Belmont Park, but faced only two rivals. Sent off at odds of 1-9, Rachel easily put away second-place finisher Malibu Prayer and Flashing. Her galloping final strides were no surprise, nor was the 19-3/4 length margin - although it eclipsed Ruffian's 1975 margin. But her final time of 1:46.33 broke the stakes record by nearly 7/10ths of a second and she did it with such ease. At one point just before the finish, jockey Calvin Borel seemed so relaxed it appeared he reached up and gave her a congratulatory pat or maybe just fixed her main for the photo.

Minutes later on the West Coast, Zenyatta remained undefeated winning the grade 1, $300,000 Vanity Handicap. Although she faced only four other rivals, Zenyatta met with considerable more adversity than Rachel, most notably the 129-pound assignment under the terms of the handicap conditions of the Vanity. The late running Zenyatta had less pace to run at than she would like, but stayed a bit closer to the pace and prevailed with confidence by 2-1/4 lengths with another late run.

At the top of the pace, it appeared the extra weight was a challenge for Zenyatta until she ranged alongside the leaders inside the 1/16th pole to the finish. That's when she pricked her ears as if to say a passing hello to eventual runner-up Briecat and third place finisher Dawn After Dawn.

Now the question begs as to where these two magical mares - although Rachel is technically a filly - could possible meet. My guess would be the grade 1, $400,000 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga in late August. Since Rachel Alexandra controlling owner Jess Jackson said Monday that he would not race his filly on a synthetic track, such as they have in Zenyatta home-base of Southern California - it appears Rachel's home of New York would be the next logical place for a possible match-up.

But Rachel Alexandra would again have to leave her comfort zone in the Personal Ensign, or any other race versus Zenyatta, because of the age difference. Rachel Alexandra is a 3-year-old and Zenyatta races against older mares. Both owning teams are trying to map out possible paths for not just divisional championship honors, but perhaps Horse of the Year honors as well.

Rachel Alexandra has already proven she can leave and win outside of her division of course, winning the Blackberry Preakness Stakes in May.

Borel Helping Old Friends

There is little doubt that jockey Calvin Borel's life has significantly changed with his new found fame as the rider of Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Preakness Stakes winner Rachel Alexandra. Borel is in even more demand than after his 2007 Derby on Street Sense having done appearances on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman.

Borel has taken his new influence to other venues more noble as he recently became involved with the political campaign in Kentucky to allow slot machines at the state's tracks. But even a political campaign can be high profile. Not so high profile is the Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.

Michael Blowen, the founder and president of Old Friends announced Thursday that Calvin will be a guest of honor at an Old Friends function in his honor to celebrate his Triple Crown achievements.

Borel, who was the regular rider for Old Friends resident Mark of Success, will be meeting attendees and signing autographs with all proceeds going to support the 50 retired Thoroughbreds at the farm. Tickets for the June 30 event are $20 and are open to the public. Old Friends is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and you may call them at 502-863-1775 for more information.

Rachel Owner Says No Breeders' Cup

Blackberry Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra (photo to left) will not race in the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships according to her co-owner Jess Jackson. During a media teleconference held Wednesday in preperation for the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes this Saturday at Belmont Park, Jackson said he will not race the filly on an artificial surface. The Breeders' Cup will again be held at Santa Anita in Southern California which races on a "Pro-Ride" artificial surface on the main track as opposed to natural dirt.

Jackson is also a part owner of Curlin, the 2008 Horse of the Year who finished his career as the favorite in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Jackson also said that there is a very good chance the Rachel Alexandra will race next year as a 4-year-old and that he would love to race against 2008 Champion Zenyatta, just not on a synthetic track.

In honor of the Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Belmont Park will be offering free admission for women and giving away 10,000 pink bracelets embossed with Rachel Alexandra's name. Jackson and his wife, Barbara Banke, have said that they will donate a portion of the filly's earnings to the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure for breast cancer.

Rachel Alexadra is set to be heavily favored in the Mother Goose while facing only three other rivals including grade 3 Nassau County Stakes winner Flashing; grade 3 Florida Oaks winner Don't Forget Gil; and Malibu Prayer, who has won her last two races by wide margins.

On Monday at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra completed preparations for the Mother Goose, a one-turn race run at nine furlongs, when she worked four furlongs in 49.80 seconds over a fast main track. Exercise rider Dominic Terry was aboard for the morning work but Calvin Borel will ride Rachel Alexandra for the seventh consecutive time in the Mother Goose.

Jackson said no plans have been made for Rachel Alexandra following the Mother Goose, but indicated that he is considering running her against her male counterparts again in either the grade 1 Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2 or the grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga in late August.

Assistant Starter Dies

Former jockey David Fowler-Wright (photo at right) was fatally injured in a starting gate accident at the San Joaquin County Fair on Sunday.

The 47-year-old native of England was working as a rake man and had just raked tracks after the start of the seventh race, a 1 1/16-mile race. He was standing on the gate as a tractor began to pull it out of the way of the field when he either slipped or attempted to jump off the moving gate and was run over by the gate's rear tires, track officials said.

The accident did not affect the running of the race, and officials said many in the crowd were unaware of the accident.

Fair officials, Stockton police, and representatives of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health are investigating the incident.

Fowler-Wright's U.S. riding career began in 2002, and he retired from riding in 2007 with 43 victories from 463 U.S. mounts. He recorded four stakes victories. Fowler-Wright rode primarily in Oregon and the Northern California fair circuit. He lived in Humboldt County in Northern California.

A moment of silence was scheduled to be held prior to Wednesday's racing. A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday in the backstretch near the racing office.

Rachel Alexandra Tries To Join Historical Group in Mother Goose Stakes

Rachel Alexandra will be returning to the races Saturday in the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park in her first start since winning the Blackberry Preakness Stakes in mid-May. And while the Mother Goose does not carry the prestige or coverage of the Preakness, the Mother Goose is a significant race in it's own right.

It is a grade 1 race, making it among the most prestigious and historically competitive; and it is the second leg to the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred racing, otherwise known as the Filly Triple Crown. The series is comprised of the one mile Acorn Stakes on Belmont day, the 1-1/8 mile Mother Goose and the 1-1/4 Coaching Club American Oaks in late July. Only eight fillies have swept the series beginning with Dark Mirage in 1968.

The Mother Goose has a rich history since first being run in 1957 when Outer Space and jockey William Legget won the first running.

One of my favorites is 1969 winner Shuvee, who was also the second filly to win the Triple Tiara. Now in the Hall of Fame, Shuvee is perhaps best remembered with her victory in the 1970 Jockey Club Gold Cup when she became the only filly to defeat the colts in the then two mile race.

The most famous Triple Tiara winner is of course, Ruffian (photo at left) who took the crown in 1975. She was undefeated in ten career races before a fatal injury suffered in an infamous match race against Kentucky Derby winner Foolish Pleasure.

Now burried in the infield at Belmont Park, Ruffian was perhaps one of the most amazing race horses of anytime. Lucien Laurin, Secretariat's trainer, once said of Ruffian, "As God as my witness, she may even be better than Secretariat."

After breaking her maiden in record time by 15 lengths, Ruffian went on to set a new stakes record in each of her eight added-money victories and equalled two track records. She was a massive, black filly that stood 17 hands high and broke on top in every race and was never headed at any point during her career before the fatal race in July of 1975.

But the Mother Goose has produced a long list of recognizable female greats including Chris Evert in 1974, 1984 winner Life's Magic, trained by D.Wayne Lukas; Go For Wand in 1990; Sky Beauty, the last Triple Tiara winner in 1993; and Serena's Song, also trained by Lukas, in 1995.