HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Oaklawn Park is throwing $5 million at star females Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to meet for the first time at the Apple Blossom in April.
The racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas, announced Thursday that the owners of both champion horses are receptive to the idea. No firm commitments have been made.
Rachel Alexandra won 2009 Horse of the Year honors over Zenyatta. The four-year-old Rachel and six-year-old Zenyatta have never met on the track to settle who is the best.
Oaklawn said the $5 million purse will be offered only if both horses enter. If not, the purse will revert to $500,000 as initially planned.
No matter who is in the field, the Apple Blossom distance has been increased from one-and-a-sixteenth miles to one-and-an-eighth miles.
The racetrack in Hot Springs, Arkansas, announced Thursday that the owners of both champion horses are receptive to the idea. No firm commitments have been made.
Rachel Alexandra won 2009 Horse of the Year honors over Zenyatta. The four-year-old Rachel and six-year-old Zenyatta have never met on the track to settle who is the best.
Oaklawn said the $5 million purse will be offered only if both horses enter. If not, the purse will revert to $500,000 as initially planned.
No matter who is in the field, the Apple Blossom distance has been increased from one-and-a-sixteenth miles to one-and-an-eighth miles.
I guess I don't understand this statement since Rachel is strictly a front running horse and Zenyatta's last race was against 12 of the best in the world.