Boy Can That Girl Run! | The Ten Most Exciting Seconds In Televised Horse Racing History
Anyone who was lucky enough to have tuned into ESPN on Saturday afternoon (approximately 4:50 pm on November 7) witnessed the most exciting 10 seconds of televised sports programming in the history of satellite TV.
With all the great sports coverage on DISH Network's channel lineup, we rarely miss a minute of action. Fortunately, we had the set turned to ESPN in time for the Breeder's Cup.
The start of the race could have unnerved many of the engertic, type-A thoroughbreds that generally take part in horse racing's most elite showdowns. As the final horse was being lead into the starting gate, he balked, pulled and kicked. A last-ditch attempt to mask him and put him into the gate failed. With the jockey bailing and the horse crashing through the front of his gate, the pair was scratched from the event. Fortunately, neither was injured in the mishap.
All other horses were unloaded, quickly reloaded and then they were off. The one and only mare in the group, 5 year old Zenyatta, had been talked about extensively when she first set her hoofs down at this male-dominated venue. Her unbeaten record for the year had resulted from races against other girls, and she was the only filly to run in the Breeder's Cup.
Starting out at the back of the pack, the fleet footed filly startled onlookers by hanging back. The ESPN announcer shouted more than once, "Zenyatta is dead last!" But that didn't last for long. Just past the mid-point she made her move. Seasoned jockey Mike Smith directed his girl up the outside. Zenyatta swiftly flew to the middle of the pack, gaining ground on her competition with every stride.
The entire audience (in person and in TV-viewing homes across the country) eruputed in jubilant cheers as she raced across the finish line, taking the Breeder's Cup victory and making horse racing history. The headlining filly is the second girl this year to take a top title in this male-dominated sport. Rachel Alexandra ran away with the win in the '09 Preakness. Boy, those girls can run!
