Comments on: Not the Sport of Queens, Apparently.

By: Miss Pinot

Miss Pinot — Tue, 19 May 2009 14:00:40 +0000

I am always amazed at what men think about female anything–humans, horses, dogs, etc. It’s just different sex organs, no big deal! And yet, the female sex of any species is always described in infuriatingly condescending terms and misogeny.

On topic, I don’t see the big deal with a filly running with colts. They do it in the wild, and the earth still stands. So fuck off, Ignorant Horse “Experts”.

By: PhDork

PhDork — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:01:54 +0000

Get that horse a skim latte!

By: BeckySharper

BeckySharper — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:53:16 +0000

@PhDork: I wonder if they know that the “lady” weighs at least 1,000 lbs? Because that’s SO not sexy!

By: PhDork

PhDork — Mon, 18 May 2009 21:26:29 +0000

Oh, Tiffany, BARF. BARFBARFBARF. And more BARF. That wins, hands down, the Most Egregious Award.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 18 May 2009 19:30:11 +0000

This morning, ABC’s “Good Morning America” show set all of its coverage about Rachel Alexandra to the tune of “She’s A Lady” by Tom Jones. It was, needless to say, a horrifying way to start my week. When they were talking about the horse last week, they played a song about “anything boys can do, girls can do better”. I found myself wishing it were possible for there to be equine feminists.

By: emilyanne

emilyanne — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:48:56 +0000

What I find interesting is that they do make such a big deal out of fillies not taking on colts in US racing, it’s quite common in the UK and Ireland. Fillies do indeed run in big races like Cheltenham with absolutely no outcry, see also female jockeys such as Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh and Hayley Turner who ride in big races in Ireland and the UK with little brouhahaha.

It was a great race though and I say that as someone who usually dislikes US racing in comparison to that in the UK and Ireland.

By: PhDork

PhDork — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:22:30 +0000

I hadn’t thought of that, Blind Irish Pirate (love the handle, btw). You’re right, though, equestrian is the only mixed-sex competition…

Because I am a cyncial materialist, I wonder if there’s more of a stink about segregating the Triple Crown races because there’s so much money involved–not only prize money, but stud fees and such for winning stallions. Do fillies ever run in big UK races like the Cheltenham, and is there outcry there? Hmmm.

By: Blind Irish Pirate

Blind Irish Pirate — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:11:41 +0000

Funny how I was just pondering if I could be a feminist for the equine species the other day…

The interesting thing of it: at the Olympic level, the equestrian events are the only events (that I can recall – does curling and bobsledding count) that are mixed gender, both in the riders and the horses.

When people become uptight and offended that fillies are running against colts in the big races, I generally roll my eyes. Mares vault themselves over the same 5’5 fence that the geldings do at the Olympics (and the women ride against the men as well), but you never hear complaints or remarks about it.

By: Janet Sedano

Janet Sedano — Sun, 17 May 2009 23:25:42 +0000

What an exhilarting race. This was historical as was this past presidential election of 2008.

By: La Chica Lucy

La Chica Lucy — Sun, 17 May 2009 05:22:51 +0000

@Katie: That makes me sad; not to mention that there are only a few female jockeys.
@PhDork: As someone who was once married to someone who grew up very close to Saratoga, I actually have a real fondness for horse racing. I noticed the sexist headlines you mentioned above and I honestly didn’t think ANYONE would cover the Preakness from a feminist POV. So, wow, thank you!

*silently cursing self for forgetting to hit OTB this morning*