Good Morning Everyone!
I am so excited! My dear friend and veterinarian while I was at Barn 55, Dr. Dawn Hunkin, helped us in the ELITE EIGHT portion of our contest. She has always been such an important part of My Team. Dawn and I know each other very well. I also know her 2 children, Jack and Emma. As a matter of fact, and this is TOO CUTE, I was at Barn 55 for quite a long time….and while there, I was able to experience both her pregnancies with her! Such fun!
Here are the names of the ELITE EIGHT contestants Dawn selected:
1. Valerie Franklin…………….Davison, MI
2. Georgia Harper…………….Bellevue, WA
3. Dawn Conrad……………….Cedaredge, CO
4. Louann Cingel………………Union, MO
5. Vicki Vinson…………………Apple Valley, CA
6. Thomas Ronholm…………..Rochester, NY
7. Heidi Kruckenberg…………Vallejo, CA
8. Ann Ransone………………..Walkerton, VA
CONGRATULATIONS to these 8 people who will be moving to the FINAL 4! This is truly getting very exciting!
On another note, thank you for the comments about some of MY JOHN’S other Mobile Me links showing up in a prior Diary. The photos of Santa Anita are lovely. The racing pictures are great…and the holiday photos with John and Dottie’s family (and the adorable Sophie Shirreffs in her Christmas outfit) are fun! However, thank you for letting us know that this link was there. It was to be eliminated prior to the video being put up on my web-page. So sorry!
We have let our tech people know to close this. (I guess you are really getting to know John and Dottie’s family life very well. Blush, Blush!) Again, thank you for letting us know!
We will draw the FINAL 4 next week! Dottie has been working with the tech people to get the VOTING procedures organized so all of you are able to participate in the selection of our ZENYATTA BRONZE CONTEST WINNER!
Enjoy the Arkansas Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes today! It is another fun weekend of RACING…plus, the NBA is starting the early rounds of their play-off games! Oh, how I do LOVE SPORTS!
With love,
Hugs to All~(Happy Birthday, Lara!)
Z
Trina Nagele
Hurray Dawn Conrad!
Lorri
Congrats to the Elite 8! Love you Zenny!
julie june stewart
I love this contest and am so happy for the finalists! Can’t wait to see who wins…. It’s going to be an exciting day….
Debbie Minnis
Good Luck everyone!
Cheryl
Congrats to the 8 drawn. Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Is the weather there a little warmer now? How are you feeling? We want you to be healthy and happy. Love you and take care!
Victoria
congrats to all– dawn, you go girl!
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. Ok, the tears are flowing. I made it!!! WHAT A SPECIAL DAY!!! How wonderful to share my name with Dr. Hunkin and have her pick my card! :) :) Sounds like you and she had a great relationship, Zenny. I know she took very special care of you beautiful. I watched the video where she spoke about you and how wonderful you are. How fun that everyone is going to be able to get involved when we reach the final four! Congratulations to everyone lised above!!! Like you, I am ready for a great day of racing, Zenny. Enjoy!! LOVE YOU! :) :) Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Amanda Gilliland
Yeah!! For Dawn Conrad!!!! How exciting it is!!
Congratulations to all 8! Happy Birthday Laura!
I will write later a note to you Sweet Lady Zenyatta.
I am getting a University of Alabama car tag with Zenyatta on it Yeah!! Probally Zenny because of letters.
Sending Hugs & Kisses To You From Alabama With Love! Amanda G.
Sarah Powell
Well – I didn’t make it to the eight but it was so exciting to at least get to 16 – good luck to those remaining – can’t wait to see who wins! Thanks for the opportunity to dream anyway. Your picture yesterday made me go back and watch last year’s Apple Blossom – still can hear “It’s a bird, it’s a plane no…it’s Zenyatta!!” Hope everyone has a great weekend
@Dawn – fingers and hooves crossed for you!
(thanks Dottie)
Vicki
I’m crying for happy again Zenyatta, I made the final 8, this run has been UNBELIEVABLE! And on the anniversary of your fabulous win in the Apple Blossom last year, what a treat! Love you more and more and more!
Marty
Congratulations to the final 8!!! Have a wonderful Saturday Zenny… I love you!!!!
Lisa in Colorado
Congrats to the Elite Eight and much love sent to Zenny (and her ocnnections for sharing us with her so openly, warmly and lovingly)
Valarie Franklin
Yay for those of us who are still in! This is so exciting! I can’t believe it. I can’t wait to see everyone’s postcards!
I hope the weather is nicer in Kentucky Zenyatta, it’s pretty icky here in Michigan. Enjoy the day with your friends gorgeous!
Marion
Congrets to all 8 winners and good luck to
Ann Ransone from Walkerton, Va
Marion from Fairfax Virginia
Nancy
Congrats to all the finalists! Love you lots, Z! Pear hugs and karrot kisses!
Arlene
Congratulations to the Elite Eight!
Ya Dawn!
Margaret
Hay Z I’ve been reading a number of breeding management books this week. I think I understand a bit of what might have happened when you slipped the foal.
I know many of requested new video of you and all of that. So here’s a thought. Perhaps video of you in your stall–like marestare or something similar might be helpful. I understand that EVERYONE at the farm is more than busy right now–perhaps in a few months when things settle down a bit.
You don’t have to have a camera with audio, so that way whatever people are talking about is their business. When people register the process would be a bit more intense than usual. Instead of register and getting a link–we register, plus we give our home address. This is not to sale it to anyone, rather its a way to protect you.
The link to your video camera would be in the snail mail to us.
You could even choose to have the video on all day (night) or just a few hours a day.
Hopefully you could get a great angle on it so the other horses in the barn–their privacy would be protected. The other owners might have an issue or not–I don’t know them so I can’t speak for them. Who knows they might really like this–and would even be for letting everyone have some video of the mares out in their field.
It’s just an idea. Marestare is a great tool in general. I’m certain that there are other professional camera setups for this sort of stuff. It’s just an idea.
sue
All I can say is love to you Zenyatta and your team. Even though it is hard to accept that Zenyatta is not racing, I feel so blessed that the true fans have this website to keep in touch with Zenyatta. That is all the the credit of her wonderful owners and trainer family. They have allowed us to keep loving Zenyatta. She will always be in my heart and the need to hear what is happening in her life will never change. I had the pleasure of seeing Zenyatta once and the feeling of being so blessed in her presence will never leave me. My daughter flew to many races and meet the Mosses, Sheriffs and Mike on many trips. Zenyatta’s team deserves all the admiration that is possible and we need to trust their decisions. Let us not forget that Dave Flores started Zenyatta on her way also. I thank God everyday that Zenyatta is still in our lives and we have her beautiful team to thank for it.
Eveline
Wow ,we get to vote on the final four! That’s going to be so much fun!! Good luck to everyone.
Jill Mabry
Good Luck to the elite eight!! :)
Marilyn
Zenyatta you are such a sweetie to keep us informed…love the website…I’m so glad you are enjoying your retirement…have a great weekend….xoxoxoxxo
Cathy Marshall
Best of luck to everyone who advanced! Love ya, Zenny!!
Kathryn Cogswell
Love seeing random states in the ‘Elite Eight.’ All the best to everyone. ~ Dawn Hunkin, DVM., was Giacomo`s vet, too, and is in videos and other articles over the internet. One older, composite post by Denise Steffanus from July 10, 2006, is in Thoroughbred Times [see above special for $5.00] and the last few paragraphs detail her care of Giacomo after his 2005 Kentucky Derby win and horses` needs to be rested during training or before being turned out at liberty, and why it is sound practice. ‘Time for a freshener’ is the title.
Pamela Hill
everyone else is so descriptive, i don’t need to repeat it, but here is another fan so very glad to see your team keeping you “out there” so we can still be part of your life!
Kimberly Potter
Oh my gosh…how exciting for the Elite Eight! All the names have become so familiar and I feel you are all my friends along with all the other fans of the Beautiful Zenyatta! I didn’t realize that us, Zenyatta Nation, were going to be able to vote on the final four. I feel like I am still in the race…
@Dawn – pulling for you girlfriend!
Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana~
S (in san diego)
How Exciting for the Elite 8!! Dawn, great to see you still in it:) Hope everyone has a wonderful Saturday!! Zenny, just wondering,like many others….any chance you wiill see Bernie this month or next. May is not to late for a spring baby….might have Mama’s birthday. Perhaps you have already made the visit, but want to keep thiings low key for a while. Just know we all love you in foal or not.
Kathryn Cogswell
*See Above TT/July 10, 2006, ‘Time for a freshener?’ http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/horse-health/2006/july/10/time-for-a-freshener.aspx by Denise Steffanus.
Linda in NJ
@Dawn Conrad–Oh, my goodness Dawn–Congratulations to you!!! Your post brought tears to my eyes! How special!
And of course, Congratulations to Everyone!!
Theresa Buck
ZENNY YOU ARE LOVED BY EVERYONE
Hernan Tovar
My dear Zenyatta: I did’t make it to the eight, MY TEARS START RUNNING & RUNNING, I feel very SAD, because I really can’t afford one. I going to BET in all the races today, if I win enough money, I buy your BAUTIFUL STATUE! Because I really love you I really miss you…
Ingrid from South Beach.
I KNOW MY CARD IS THE MOST BAUTIFUL ONE!!!
IT’S A SHAME NO BODY READ IT!