I don’t follow horse racing, but I do take an interest in fillies. And so I’m very happy to hear that Rachel Alexandra (doesn’t really sound like a horse, does it?—even a girl horse) has won the Preakness, the first filly to do do since 1924.
What’s more, she seems in fine fettle after the feat. A far cry from last year’s Kentucky Derby, and the sad memory of what happened to another extraordinary filly of yesteryear, Ruffian.
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Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
May 16th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
That was so sad…when the filly collapsed. But wasn’t it great to see “Mine That Bird” come from behind to win….50 to 1. Wish I had bet our retirement funds on that horse. Still would have a problem wondering what to do with the winnings in light of the coming inflation!
May 16th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Wonderful race.
My wife was pulling for the filly of course. I was pulling for Mine that Bird. I found it odd that the filly got a 5lb weight allowance even though she was 1.1 hands taller and considerably heavier (more muscular) than the rather diminutive MTB. That’s life.
Anyway, both proved themselves. MTB definitely showed that his deserving win in the Derby wasn’t a fluke; and Rachel proved that she is a great race horse.
Will be interesting to see if they match up in the Belmont.
May 16th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Rachel Alexandra could be the best filly/mare since Personal Ensign, who ran in the late ’80′s. And Calvin Borel seems like a genuinely nice person. Has there ever been a year in which a jockey won all three Triple Crown races even though he didn’t ride the same horse in each?
May 17th, 2009 at 3:59 am
Filly: is that a horse of a different gender?
May 17th, 2009 at 5:49 am
I don’t get why MTB is allowed to lag so far behind. Part of his strategy to employ his great finishing speed i suppose. Another 1/16 mile and he would have won by 10 lengths. Which interestingly would have made the race the same length as the derby.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Meanwhile, the race at that track is pretty much over. their latest move to control the morals of the crowd bacfired and a huge amount didnt show up. i guess the freak show in the center was part of the attraction in modern times. now they are close to bankruptcy.
May 17th, 2009 at 9:53 am
Gringo: no, it’s how I would spell the City Of Brotherly Love.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Tatyana: I stand corrected
May 17th, 2009 at 11:36 am
RU serious Gringo?
May 17th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Oldflyer: What are smiley faces for? To indicate that one is in dead earnest?
May 17th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
No Smiley face on your first post, Gringo. I guess you are too subtle for me; that is why I asked.
May 17th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Play on words: “horse of a different color”
“horse of a different gender”
May 17th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
I thought you were using “different gender” in the modern sense of trans-sexual or maybe as we used to say AC-DC.
I used to think a filly had to be a virgin, but when I looked it up it simply said “young”.
Like I said. too subtle.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Off topic
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124260067214828295.html