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capri0mniMaybe the reason why a filly hadn't won the Belmont Stakes in 102 years is that American trainers are sexist, and just assume they can't win against a field of males, so they don't enter them in the race (Rags to Riches has British owners, and they were the ones who decided to race her)
There's a common meme (in the original meaning of the word) in our culture that stallions dominate the herds, in the wild. But really, it's the mares. ...they're the ones who lead the herd to water, or shade or grazing, and, most important, teach the babies manners, and enfore the social order of the group. The stallions take up the rear (same with elephants, and lions, and Maquacs, and others).
It's just that when humans, particularly those humans raised in a patriarchal society see this, they interpret it as the stallions taking the "rear guard" and being all protective andman er... stallionly. Stallions may intimidate young fillies, but they don't intimidate the alpha mares. And from the way her trainers and jockeys talked about her before the race ("Sweetest eye, but if you cross her -- look out!"), it was pretty clear to me that Rags to Riches is an alpha mare.
How I imagine the equine e.s.p. went, yesterday evening:
Rags to Riches: "Excuse me, boys, I'd like to pass, now."
One colt after another: "Yes, ma'am. After you!"
Also, I like the longer race tracks. They draw on a wider range of skills in the horse.
There's a common meme (in the original meaning of the word) in our culture that stallions dominate the herds, in the wild. But really, it's the mares. ...they're the ones who lead the herd to water, or shade or grazing, and, most important, teach the babies manners, and enfore the social order of the group. The stallions take up the rear (same with elephants, and lions, and Maquacs, and others).
It's just that when humans, particularly those humans raised in a patriarchal society see this, they interpret it as the stallions taking the "rear guard" and being all protective and
How I imagine the equine e.s.p. went, yesterday evening:
Rags to Riches: "Excuse me, boys, I'd like to pass, now."
One colt after another: "Yes, ma'am. After you!"
Also, I like the longer race tracks. They draw on a wider range of skills in the horse.
