The Historic Campaign of Rachel Alexandra 

Because she didn't show up in the biggest race and zenyatta won it

Thank you so much for watching and appreciating her campaign. Horses only have so much gas in the tank, plus they endure wear and tear from travel. So by the time she faced older males in the Woodward, it still amazes me she set suicidal fractions while every horse took their shot at her, and she still battled courageously to win. Campaigns are hard to sustain, and the fact that a 3-year old, immature filly was able to prove successful is almost unbelievable. Also, she beat these horses when they fired their best shots (Mine That Bird, Summer Bird, Macho Again, etc.) I wish more people could understand the history of the sport and realize just how hard this was to do. Again, thanks for watching and enjoying! :-)

Yes indeed best 3 year old filly

Check out “black caviar”, and “winx”! They are just as good as these fillies in the video! It’s a shame we didn’t get to see what ruffian could have accomplished!

Except lets not leave out the fact RA lost to female horses on multiple occasions.

Yeah... and she retired early that year... to avoid the BC and Zenyatta. She got beat by Z's stable mate in her first start at 4 years old. With today's whip rules, she'd have lost the Woodward.

I agree it wouldn't been easy for any horse unless your were Secratierat,no horse could of beat her at 3 including Zennyata years from now her 3 year old campaign will get its due unfortunately it doesn't get the well deserved praise it deserves now to many haters .

2009 was a phenomenal year for racing. Zenyatta, Rachel, Sea the Stars, and even harness had Muscle Hill!

😂 lol Her connections put her out to pasture for 6 months AFTER Woodward. No training or galloping. Then, made the MISTAKE of bringing her back into the Arena. Zenyatta NEVER saw a 1:46 or 1:47. Seriously? Zenyatta had 2 races as a 3 year old. TWO !!! A Maiden & an Allowance race. She had 3 Lifetime races on dirt. She was Also TWO years older than Rachel the Great. Rachel’s 3 year old Campaign is IRREFUTABLY the best & Greatest EVER. Opinions Are Frivolous. According to Rachel Facts!!!

@@emancifyappreciate the accomplishment, little man

She wasn't. But to this day it's the best 3 yo US campaign I've ever seen. That includes the triple crown winners we've had since IMHO. I have her plaque of her in the stretch drive of the Woodward hanging in my home. Always makes me happy to look at it no matter what kind of day I'm having.

+Marilyn Shively Thanks Marilyn...it's so fun to watch the raw talent bestowed by God upon these magnificent creatures. Ruffian was an absolute phenom. I don't think I will ever get over her death. However, she left a mark so indelible that people still refer to her as the greatest, and it's hard to argue. As I always say, there is room for more than one great filly. I love them all, and I'm happy you do, too!

+lillycrop3 I'm so happy you enjoyed watching this amazing filly. Thanks for taking the time to comment...it is very much appreciated. Rachel Alexandra was one of my all-time favorites and I wanted to compile her performances from her 2009 campaign to show the rest of the world how amazing it was. God bless and take good care my friend :-)

Zenyatta would have caught her.. we will never know since Rachel dodged her every chance they had

@@michaellucas669 I agree.

08 Belmont Winner Da' Tara tried to cook Her in the Woodward. Rachel Destroyed that Boy.

She was special at 3 exceptional no other horse could of beat her at 3 that's the reason she won Horse of the year glad I got to witness her running my dog would sit on her rear & watch & bark when she ran.

You don't care because you know RA ducked Zenyatta multiple. They were both scheduled to race the same twice and RA pulled her out of both

Wow factor? You bet!

"I am speechless" Proceeds to write a 16 word sentence. Dumbass.

+Hannah Arnold Yes, that gives me goosebumps. Wish I could have been the jockey and know the feeling of riding a horse of that caliber. Wow!

I've watched this probably 100 times over the last few years. And I'm not even a horse racing fan. She's an incredible horse.

Thank you so much for taking the time to watch this video and comment so eloquently. I appreciate that you are a genuine fan. I agree that Rachel could have won the TC given the form she maintained at that time and the level of her performances. I think we all know that both Rachel and Zenyatta were phenoms, albeit in different ways. Zenyatta was a freight train with human-like qualities, while Rachel had tactical speed that she could also carry a distance. In their prime, and on their best days, either/or could have won depending upon the specific circumstances. We were spoiled by them...I really miss watching them run! I certainly look forward to the prospect of their progeny becoming champions. Thanks again for commenting and let's hope we have much more to look forward to in this amazing sport of thoroughbred racing. :-)

I love both

@@rachelalexandra79 Zenyatta didn't set track records like Rachel Alexandra & Ruffian did. Zenyatta was not in the same class as Ruffian & Rachel Alexandra!

+Denise Weatherwax Thank you so much Denise. I watched the Woodward from the stands, and I have to say, it was the loudest I've heard a crowd at Saratoga. A heart-stopping performance considering every male took shots at her one after the other. Rachel very much earned the victory, and when you factor in the arduous campaign prior to that, it all adds up to one heck of a season...one for the ages! God bless and take care...and her babies? Amazing!

Wish I had been there in person. But thank goodness for RU-vid and hi-def video so we can now rewatch anything we want.

She was absolutely incredible I don't think we'll ever see another like her

Period

Not even close, she had a great 3 yr old season but she also ducked the best mare of her time in the classic that year ... flash in the pan that lost to zardana

Amen to your comment. God bless you Julie.

Thank you Rachel,I Love you very very very much. 🐎

I guess you never saw Zenyatta run. Or maybe I bet you don't pay attention to California racing and the BC.

I am sure she has seen Zenyatta run. They were both great but 2009 was Rachel’s year.

@@GoHawksGoBlue Zenyatta was undefeated in 2009and beat the same horses RA did

Agreed. The Mosses were more concerned with Zenyatta's win streak then mounting a great campaign. Her last season she beat up on the same fillies, in the same races, and arrogantly thought she'd win the BCC again. She didn't ... and quite frankly, shouldn't have won HotY, Blame mounted a better campaign, against tougher compitition, and won the BCC. He should have been HotY. Jess Jackson ran an amazing campaign ... I had the privalage of photographing four of her races - Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell, and Woodward. She reminded me of the great Ruffian - Rachael, too, was fearless and fast. she was indeed a filly for the ages. I adore her. Thanks for the video.

Zenyatta beat the boys in her first breeders cup Classic and lost her only race a nose to the boys in her final race the breeders cup Classic. Half smack but get it right.

Sadly we will never know, but it's safe to say both were monsters capable of beating the other if circumstances suited their respective styles. Both were absolute joys to watch! God Bless!

U am a huge Zenyatta fan.. Based on facts I think Zenny would've won by a neck or nose

+Kirby Grubb Dude, Rachel was never going to go a mile and a quarter...she barely won the Woodward vs. G3 company and would never have won the Belmont let alone the BC Classic v. Zenyatta....

bijoux: I agree with you. Rachel, great as she was, would not have handled Zenyatta at 10 furlongs or longer. At 8 or 9 furlongs, I'm convinced the results would have depended on pace. Loose on the lead, Rachel wins. Someone with speed presses RA on the lead (think Pharoah's Travers, Slew in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Fager losing to Damascus), Zenyatta wins.

Kirby Grubb your looney she barely held on to beat Mine That Bird in the Preakness and no way would she of won the Belmont and ZENYATTA would of smoked Rachel on any track at any distance

She had class and prestige, unlike you. This horse didn't care who she ran against, she just ran the fastest every time. With a jockey.

You could easily make a case for Personal Ensign and Zenyatta over Rachel Alexandra.

Zenyatta was still better. Just think RA let Zenyatta stablemate Zardana chase her down and beat her...smh

Zenyatta beat the same horses and was undefeated. How?

She doesn't get the respect she deserves after her two races in which she lost that's when the nay sayers started abandoning ship I just an opinion think she needed a different trainer one who could train a Philly her style was to rough and awkward at 4 she use to float with ease at 3 on tracks looked like a struggle at 4

Scott Cacciatore no doubt she had a great year but no doubt she would of gotten smoked if she came up against ZENYATTA

I'm calling bullshit...RA had a chance to face her several occasions and they ducked Zenyatta. Google it

rachelalexandra79 well said. I am a hugh Zenyatta fan and after watching your video it is obvious that 2009 was a great year for the girls. A year for the ages. Rachael Alexandra and Zenyatta were truly great. 😁

Why is it that big of deal to you? Weird.

I ♥️ her too

I like your name, 2 of my fave racehorses! I think Winx is better then Zenyatta. Too bad Z didnt have more races against the boys. Really wish that her last 2 yrs the trainer would have put her in more races w males.

This is true Chard Best ....they wanted no part of Zenyatta

Not i.

If we speak facts its not tearing down RA lost to female horses Zenyatta never lost to a female horse. They also ducked Zenyatta on the 2009 BCC where she beat the same horses RA beat. Lets keep it real

Did Rachel win every race like Ruffian did? (except for her Match race where she was still in the lead when she snapped her sesamoid bones.) Did Go For Wand break or set track records?