Now THAT’s a Bias!
Rachel Alexandra, thoughtfully not screwing it up for the stallions (Sarah K. Andrew)
Just a few short days ago there was an excellent discussion going on here at GbG regarding the Oaks, the Derby and ultimately the biases that exist here in the good ole U S of A that generally preclude talented fillies from running in open company.
I believe all in attendance were somewhat in agreement that yes, Americans do have their biases about running fillies with colts, but just in case anyone is still in denial that fillies don’t get the chance because of the beliefs of their connections vs. their ability, I offer Exhibit A.
Dolphus Morrison, Rachel Alexandra’s breeder and co-owner, had this to say about running her in the Derby:
I think the Derby is a colts’ race and it’s there to showcase the horses that are the top potential stallions. It’s kind of stupid for some jerk with a filly to screw that up.
I guess this answers the question posed in the aforementioned discussion “Which guy stopped her from entering the Derby?” One Mr. Dolphus Morrison, who politely doesn’t want to “screw it up” for the potential stallions. How thoughtful!
Do you think you’d ever, EVER hear that kind of attitude in Europe if an owner had a filly as talented at Rachel Alexandra? No, you’d see them at the l’Arc collecting their whopping check and smiling for the cameras. Can we please stop pretending that it’s a matter of talent that keeps top notch fillies in restricted company and acknowledge that these types of attitudes exist?
Stay tuned for Oaks card picks either tonight or tomorrow morning and Stallion Kentucky Derby picks probably Saturday morning. But since I have a decent amount of handicapping to do, no doubt I’ll be doing some procrastination posting!
Posted by dana on Apr 30 2009
Filed Under: Sarah K. Andrew, Kentucky Oaks, 2009, Rachel Alexandra, 3yo, Kentucky Derby, Breeding, Let Horses Race, Grrrr, Derby Trail, Racing
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blech!
I guess that means Funny Cide’s owners were royal you-know-whats. Since, you know, the entire purpose of the Derby is to determine stud fees.
good point, and how dare they!
Well, this guy’s reason is one thing - but it is entirely different to run fillies against males on turf than dirt. It really is a different kind of racing and it is much more difficult for fillies to beat males on the dirt than turf.
Jonathon - I knew I was opening up my point to criticism when I included the l’Arc as an example, dammit! Although, I don’t think one can argue with asinine and sexist attitude at work in that statement, as you suggest.
I’m also incredibly frustrated that top fillies don’t run against colts more often, and it was my private opinion that the owners didn’t run the fillies because they didn’t want to risk losing out on the stud fees for colts. Thanks for confirming that.
Run the best horses against the best, that’s all I want.
Plus, racing keeps trying to attract new fans, and every time a filly runs in a top race, women flock to the sport. Why not encourage that?
I’d love to see more fillies run big races. And not just one once in a blue moon, I’d love to see 2 or 3 fillies in the Derby every year. Then we’d really be able to determine if fillies can’t compete against colts. It’s not fair to say fillies can’t win the Derby when so few have tried.
Boo to Rachel Alexandra’s breeder for being a sexist jerk. He doesn’t deserve her.
Katie - I thought it was pretty shocking yet oddly refreshing to finally see someone come right out and say it. It’s like he was off his meds and he told everyone the secret or something.
It also kinda slays that people use the getting banged around as an excuse for not entering fillies in the Derby particular, but isn’t RA bigger than MTB? If “size” is an issue why wasn’t anyone expressing concern about poor little MTB getting knocked around? I’d actually like to see the Derby field be 14-16 tops for safety issues… which would hopefully minimize the “banged around” argument against entering fillies as well.
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