Rachel Alexandra (AKA "Alexandra the Great")

Great photos!!!! I wish I could be down there!! It would be so much fun!! Look forward to seeing more pictures from this week!!!

How tall is she?

Good question. I didn't think to ask and I'm really bad at guesstimating. I suspect she's about 16.1. I'll ask hubby when he gets home, he may have a better idea.

Shes pretty.Hopefully we don't see a repeat of last years Derby.

Well they're not running a filly in the Derby this year so that won't happen again.

Oh, thought you said she was running in the Derby. Either way I still don't really like racing. I hope she stays uninjured! She is very nice.

[color=#8000BF][b]She's very pretty!! Great shots!![/b][/color]

oh she is typey!!

She really is a beautiful filly. I think, despite all my ponies, that Thoroughbreds are my favorite.

How do you attach the reins to the ring bit?

I believe the ring bit has two mouthpieces. The reins attach to the rings of the jointed mouthpiece.

Yup, you got it. The ring is attached to a half cheek snaffle in this case, which the reins are attached to.

I've been confused about ring bits ever since i first saw them when i was little. I have seen now how they go in, but i don't understand the point of them....

It's designed to give a rider more lateral control, moving the horse from side to side as it's running.

She's magnificent! And great photos ACC, as always. :)

[quote="accphotography"]Yup, you got it. The ring is attached to a half cheek snaffle in this case, which the reins are attached to.[/quote]

Ya' know, I'm glad someone else uses the term "half-cheek"...I was beginning to think I was the only one, a while back, when I was trying to explain what a half-cheek snaffle was to someone, and then couldn't find one as an example!

Diane

Is there another word for it other than half cheek? Thats what I've always heard it called.

I couldn't find one under google using "half-cheek snaffle" (with and without the hyphen). I only know them as half-cheeks myself.

Diane

Half-cheeks are also commonly called driving snaffles as they are seen commonly in driving rigs. I use the two terms interchangeably.

Yup I've heard that too. Some people also get half cheeks confused with bauchers, despite the fact that you would have to turn a half cheek upside down to get it to look like a baucher, and it still really doesn't. :laugh1 But, a baucher is a common driving bit so that probably adds to the confusion.

Did anyone see the race? She absolutely DEMOLISHED them. Won by over 20 lengths while *literally* in a gallop. Calvin was standing up and blowing kisses before they even crossed the wire. No telling what she'd have don if he had ridden her to the wire. :laugh1

This filly is simply the best thing I have witnessed in my lifetime, and I've seen some greats.

We're all OVER THE MOON here!!! :bounce :bounce :bounce :bounce :bounce :bounce

I just watched a youtube video of it, that was insane. I bet she could destroy the horses in the derby today.
Are they going to enter her in the preakness or anything?

I had to go watch the youtube video also. WOW

Where will she be racing next?

Oh you know the jockey that was on Alexandra was also on Mine that Bird today.

Wow, I just got to see the video of that, she's great!
I want to see the derby but my tv was acting up this afternoon so I have to wait for online video...

We're not sure where she's going next. Probably the CCA Oaks.

Goodness, when they said he came from behind they weren't kidding! :shock: I just love watching that turn. :lol:
I wonder when the shock of the past two days will set in for the jockey!

Burst out laughing (luckily home alone at the time) when the reporter said something about putting the jockey's portion of the win into Rachel Alexandra, in the post-race/ride-off-the track interview this arvo... :laugh1

Diane

[quote="CMhorses"]Oh you know the jockey that was on Alexandra was also on Mine that Bird today.[/quote]
I saw Calvin and Mine That Bird win today. Very impressive! Then, I don't know why, but I clicked open this thread again, and while scrolling through RA's photos, I realized her rider was the jocky on the Derby winner today!
I loved his enthusiasm with the horse and the crowd. It was beautiful.

Calvin is a really down-to-earth, sincere guy. He still mucks stalls every morning for his brother (trainer, Cecil Borel) before going out and exercising some horses, then rides races in the afternoon. He's just as humble and nice as a guy can get. I sure do love Louisiana people.

Mine that Bird just did NOT figure on paper and really didn't look so hot in person this week. I feel like this may have been a big, fat fluke. I guess the Preakness will tell us more. Either way I am ECSTATIC for Calvin and the Wiggins stable!!! :bounce :bounce :bounce