Rachel Alexandra, "the Great," earned her crown Jan. 18 when she won the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year.

I say well she should be Horse of the Year. Rachel Alexandra had the longer campaign, winning more races (eight, to five for Zenyatta) and defeating males three times, as opposed to once for Zenyatta.

Medaglia d'Oro is the proud papa.

Rachel Alexandra was a unanimous selection as the champion 3-year-old. Zenyatta was older filly or mare champion.

Among the other honorees were Lookin At Lucky (2-year-old male), She Be Wild (2-year-old filly), Summer Bird (3-year-old male), Gio Ponti (turf male and older male), Informed Decision (female sprinter), Kodiak Kowboy (male sprinter), Goldikova (female turf horse) and Mixed Up (steeplechase horse).

Godolphin Racing was chosen as the leading owner, Juddmonte Farms as the outstanding breeder, Julien Leparoux as the top jockey, Christian Santiago Reyes as the best apprentice jockey and Steve Asmussen as the outstanding trainer.

Horses and Tigers?

What does Tiger Woods have to do with horses?

NBC reported on Jan. 20 that "there was another apparent confirmation that Tiger Woods is currently undergoing sex rehabilitation at a Mississippi clinic."

I just happened to hear a reporter reporting this tidbit of information on television. And then the reporter followed up with, "And there are reports that Tiger was seen riding horseback in Mississippi."

Like somehow the two are related?

OK, folks, I can't leave this one alone. Here's my theory. They have assigned Tiger to a 20-stall barn to care for and exercise every horse in the barn. By the time he gets through with morning feed, morning mucking, exercising 20 horses, doing up legs and evening feed, he's ready for bed - too exhausted to contemplate anything else but sleep.

This assumes that no young female grooms are allowed at the barn.

According to the Chinese calendar, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. Too bad "the Tiger" has lost his stripes. (I've been dying to use that line since the first of the year. Thanks to the NBC reporter for giving me a reason to use it.)

Contact Patricia Smith by e-mail at fotobytocco@vbbi.us