Comments on: A Horse Is a Horse – Not a Female Athlete

By: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 01:10:44 +0000

I don’t mean to take anything away from the athleticism of these animals, I think they are amazing.

BUT THEY ARE ANIMALS.

They get a different list.

That is all.

By: ParentopiaDevra

ParentopiaDevra — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:39:07 +0000

You have to be human to win an Academy Award. I think you should have to be human to be on a list of top athletes. A seperate list should be maintained for the animal athletes. I think it’s only fair to each, as what horse in his or her right mind wants to be compared with a biped? Totally not a fair comparison.

By: Laurie

Laurie — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 05:16:56 +0000

Eloise and GranolaJoe – Thanks for the comments.

I disagree that horses are athletes. That’s just my opinion. We do not quantify animals with humans in any other way in professional sports and I do not think it is a good precedent to set. I am also not a racing aficionado, which both of you seem to be based on your comments. I am honestly rather floored that you refer to her as a “girl.” She is a horse. We appear to have a difference of opinion. That happens.

Regardless of my personal feelings about Serena’s performance, I would disagree that a crowd has never been enthralled by her performance. She is every bit the athletic powerhouse that this list recognizes.

I’m not trying to turn anything into a controversy. I’m sharing an opinion.

Also, Joe, I was specifically referring to lists made according to gender.

Apologies for the error regarding Zenyatta’s whereabouts.

By: LoriHC

LoriHC — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:40:46 +0000

You know, I take it back. Horses are horses, not athletes. They’re doing what they’ve been bred to do. The *jockeys* on the other hand — now *there* are some athletes.

By: Eloise

Eloise — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:40:38 +0000

Sorry… 81st, not 81th. Lol

By: Eloise

Eloise — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:39:21 +0000

As a woman, this is fantastic and I just don’t understand the hoopla surrounding it. Perhaps as non-race fans you don’t understand what was accomplished this year by these two horses. We’d be considered lucky if one horse like that came around in our lifetimes and we were graced with two… in one year! They are incredible athletes and both deserve their spots on this list. And yes, other male horses have been given similar honors, but unfortunately there hasn’t been one in a long time. Secretariat was listed at 35th of the 100 Greatest Athletes of all Time by ESPN and 81th in the AP Top 100 Athletes of the 20th Century. He was also inducted to the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Horses are athletes and deserve respect and recognition. I don’t recall Serena ever playing a match where everyone present was cheering, yelling and jumping in support of her performance. The entire venue shook in support of Zenyatta. A female athlete.

This accomplishment should lead the way for features on prominent women trainers, jockeys and owners who are paving the way for us in such a male dominated sport. Instead, you’re trying to give all the credit to Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra’s trainers and jockeys. Just so you know, trainers and jockeys can only do so much. Running races is entirely dependent on the horse and these two girls dominated fields of males. It is very, VERY rare in horse racing.

Zenyatta is not in Kentucky. She is in California at Hollywood Park. Perhaps you should check there for a comment.

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Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:30:17 +0000

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By: Headless Mom

Headless Mom — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:02:45 +0000

Craziness. As a woman, I’m offended!

By: granolajoe

granolajoe — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 21:14:12 +0000

LoriHC: Perhaps specifically no list of “male athletes,” but Secretariat, Man o’ War and Citation were on the list of the 100 Best Athletes of the 20th Century by ESPN http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_Sports_Century

All of you who are trying to turn the deserved mention of these horses into a controversy should be ashamed of yourselves. That list was created to recognize ATHLETES, and if the horses achieved greater things than humans, then they deserve to be on it.

The fact that you somehow feel offended or threatened by horses is pathetic.

By: LoriHC

LoriHC — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:15:26 +0000

Horses are amazing athletes. I do not, however, believe they belong on a list of *female* athletes with humans. As Laurie rightly points out, no *male* horse has ever been on a list of best male athletes, and there were certainly some spectacular male horses in our history.