Good Morning Everyone!
This photo is TOO CUTE! It’s my guy, Mike Smith, who helped us select the FINAL 4 for our ZENYATTA BRONZE CONTEST! Mike stopped by Dottie and John’s last night and held my reins in his hands…just like he did when we were racing. I think this definitely got him IN THE ZENYATTA MOOD to select our Final 4! This photo brings back great memories…for both Mike and I! We had lots of great times together!
The names of the FINAL 4 will be given…along with the thoughts each person expressed as to what I meant to he / she. Go to the bottom of this diary post and click the button next to the person whose entry you think deserves to win. Click the Vote button, and you’ll see the current results.
We will allow the voting to take place for one week. The winner will be announced next Wednesday, April 27th. John will look at the polls before he leaves for the barn that morning (5 o’clock in the morning, CA TIME) and the winner’s name will be posted.
The poll has been moved from the Facebook page to this website so that non-Facebook users may vote!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL 4 OF YOU!
ENTRY #1…..VICKI L. VINSON……APPLE VALLEY, CA I knew Zenyatta was “one” special horse the first time I saw her in person. She came over to me and stuck her nose right in front of my camera. That was before the ’08 Lady’s Secret. Little did I know that a year later she would become the best medicine in the world, in helping me through the worst time of my life. I’ll love you forever Zenyatta!
ENTRY #2…..VALERIE FRANKLIN….DAVISON, MI Zenny, you have made people believe in horse racing again. Our sport has suffered so much tragedy and in this time of economic disaster and with Barbaro and Eight Belles so fresh in our minds, you have given us a chance to escape and to dream. We love you more than you could ever quantify.
ENTRY #3…..GEORGIA HARPER…..BELLEVUE, WA My obsession began half way through your first year and such enthusiasm could not be ignored by my husband. After 49 years, my husband and I have become such good friends but are so busy with work and family we don’t always take time to actually think about one another. As a gift for our wedding anniversary last August, I received an email at work from my hubby with an itinerary attached for San Diego saying “Tickets for my queen to go see the Queen”. We not only had a wonderful day at Del Mar, never leaving the paddock and visiting with so many young people who had been there to see only you but we really enjoyed our time together. I’m not sure what we will do for our 50th this year, but I don’t think it will compete with the happiness we shared last year watching you come across the finish line and celebrating as best friends enjoying not just a horse race but watching the most magnificent thoroughbred ever. We miss you, we love you, and look forward to cheering on your foal.
ENTRY #4…..DAWN CONRAD…..CEDAREDGE, CO Dearest Zenyatta. “Why are you special to me?” Is it the stately stature of the Queen like carriage? Is it the glistening brown coat with the diamond dapples? Maybe it is the dance or those still moments with your head held high? Is it your intelligence and fathomless brown eyes? Was it your first run free or perhaps a camera-ride on the back of Pegasus? Is it posters in the stands, a warm crowd on a cold Kentucky night, the excitement you bought back to racing? Your place in its history and future, the Breeders Cup, 60 Minutes, Horse of the Year, Vox Populi Award? A Fred Stone portrait, Jamie Corum lithograph, Nina Kaiser bronze? The cheers I shouted the tears I shed? Certainly your beauty, power, grace, breathe taking speed, final kick, heart stopping finishes and 19/1. Absolutely your gut wrenching, never give up, try! It is all of this, yet more. It isn’t only who you are, but what you mean to each of us. With Team Z, you are Jerry and Ann’s pride and joy, John’s soul mate and patient masterpiece, Dottie’s muse and she your voice. Mike’s talent, guidance and prayers brought you home safe each race. At Barn 55, you had care from Mario, workouts with Steve, walks with Carmen, loving star struck visitors and kisses from all. At Lane’s End, paddock pals, peppermints, pears and precious motherhood. Your family embodies the word generosity and together you have been transformative. You give pure happiness to thousands. You are a horseman’s ideal, a child’s dream, a friend to charities, a moment of healing to someone ill, a smile in the face of sadness, a sweet memory to all those you meet and a wish of all those that you haven’t “including myself”. While totally unique, I see in you the memories of my youth: the Black Stallion, Flicka, Secretariat and my Cinder (a gift from a brother leaving for Vietman), live again. There were endless summer days of best friends, bareback rides, Breyer’s horses on the bedroom shelves and glorious Triple Crown winners. With you, I am that horse loving girl again. What fun! I have my own challenges in life, as everyone does. While I seek to remain positive there are those moments. You are there to lift my spirits and touch my soul. Your diary is a place of remarkable civility where information, support and all things Zenyatta are shared and celebrated. Facebook, over 70,000 and still counting! The experience has been once in a lifetime and continues to be a magical ride. In the end my love cannot be fully explained, it is simply heart felt and joyful. It is no mystery why the word “angel” is used to describe you, for you are a creation of God, a blessing to us all and a remarkable gift. For everything you are and everything you mean, Zenny, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly UNBELIEVEABLE! As always, sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Wow! I hope you enjoyed reading these as much as I did! Dottie commented that she was literally in tears typing them for ME!
Vote for the ENTRY of YOUR CHOICE!
Blessings to All OF YOU who participated in this contest! I can’t THANK YOU ENOUGH for ALL OF THE LOVE AND KINDNESS you have shown ME!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Dolores Richey
How do I know if my vote for Vicki L. Vinson was counted? Her love for Zenyatta had a positive effect on her Life! Of course we all loved her more than any other horse we’ve known about!
Suzanne G
Dear Zenyatta,
Thanks so much for providing another way to vote! You are indeed a clever girl with a clever website. Love and hugs, Suzanne G
@Dani–I cherish that John S. moment as well. Would that all horses could be seen with those eyes.
@Judy Maass Gadwood–loved your post and John Henry too. I have a sketch of him from 1985 that I bought for my dad at Arlington Park in 1985. Sketch is on the wall amid lots of Zenyatta pictures.
@DJ–thanks for the fb directions but I wasn’t able to login with just a password. Thanks for trying to help.
AdmiringFan
What a treat for the Final Four! Still, I like my Zenyatta Breyer, my Bloodhorse booklet and photo, and Thoroughbred Times feature keepsakes.
Preps for the Kentucky Derby demonstrates again how incredible it is for a horse to run 19 times undefeated and then explode on a dark track to miss by a kiss on the 20th. No fading glory but fighting like a Warrior Queen. Determination, power, strength, health, speed, and an incredible management Team.
This year’s hopefuls might be talented and lovely–there and then not there–but none compare to Zenyatta. None, anywhere in the world. Zenyatta was genuine. The professional, champion race horse. Perfectly managed.
It all feels hollow without you, Zen.
max
I agree with Admiring Fan about Zenyatta. She finished race 20 in a blaze of glory. Unforgettable.
Suzanne G
@admiring fan–what a terrific title for the picture of the photo finish ‘Miss by a Kiss’.
Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny/CA
@ The Kennedys ~ thank you so much for acknowledging my posting. I could tell you stories about John~John, but this is Zenny’s blog/diary. I will tell you this, they broke the mold when John Henry was born. God sent us Zenyatta with almost the same traits EXCEPT for the biting and stepping on people part that JH was “famous” for LOL ;-)
God made Zenyatta one-of-a-kind, too, a gentle spirit with the same gorgeous eyes and large ears as John Henry, but with a body built like a Queen!! Girly Girl!! I love her so much!!!
Theresa Buck
sitting here reading the words of pure love and joy of one that is so remarkable I don’t comment much but iI come here everday to read the wonderful comments written…it is so hard to vote because they all have expressed what was so deeply in their hard I think all 4 of them should have one…the bronze, the silver, the platinum and the gold
Joan
HI Z, hope your day has been great. Love ya Z.
The comments about length and post card size are getting old and tired. There are 4 to choose from, it is what it is. I’m sure everyone has a thought about it but guess what, to continue to spell it out detracts from the contest itself and the purpose of this diary. Think your thoughts, move on and cast a vote. As for the 4 chosen for “the Bronze”, you all spoke from your heart, there is nothing wrong with that, that is what you were suppose to do and they all are special. Good luck to each of you.
Katie Z
Georgia congrats what u said is short but sweet!!!!!!!!!!! Lurve U ZENYATTA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Theresa Buck
lol i need to go to bed i am tired can’t spell today LMAO
smkw
I also tried to vote but nothing happened. I will try again….
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. I was so sorry to hear of the passing of Jess Jackson. He loved his horses well. Condolences to his family. Sweet dreams, Zenny. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Lisa g
@Jane in Seattle: It took me years to get on FB as well, my friend reminded me that I have been on nearly 2 years now. My Bro still refuses. The only sort of bad thing happened when I first got on FB was Peter Frampton was stalking me, every day he would post what he was doing and thinking, how the music industry changed since the 1970’s, his problems at the airport, rained out concerts… and I just could not figure out why he thought I cared. Before I called the Internet/FB police my friend took care of the problem, it seems Mr. Frampton was not stalking me at all.
I confess, like you, I check on all my horses FB first, then family and friends. Some of my friends think I am crazy, obsessive and need to get a life because of Zenyatta..do not tell them of the others, and FB and here I get to be with people like me. I am not crazy, Zenyatta has millions of fans, not obsessive, I just love her…and have a life and am one very lucky girl that Zenyatta is in it.
Mariel
And Team Z continues to give, give, GIVE! How exciting! Love and Blessings to you all, especially The Queen.
Jackie
Is anyone else experiencing technical difficulties with the voting? When using Internet Explorer, my vote doesn’t seem to “count” because I am unable to view the results. So I switched over to Mozilla Firefox and have the opposite problem. I am only able to see the results … there’s no place to cast a vote. Hopefully this will be resolved very soon. Thanks.
tony
@Jackie…yep, I’m having the same problem.
Astrid
@ Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny/CA – I would love to hear your stories about John Henry. The posts here do go off topic at times so I think it should be O.K.:) I am sure many would enjoy it! Perhaps you could post about him at a more quiet time without voting distractions:) I love them all!
pamela
Congratulations to the final four!! Good Luck to all. Love you Zenyatta!! Love and Kisses
Renee
You four are beautiful souls, I read them all with tears in my heart and eyes..
DJ
Dearest “Sweet Z”,
Without want of ‘gain’ or ‘loss’, I would like to share this little poem just for you. It is titled:
A Mushy Love Letter
(from a Not-So-Secret Admirer)
Do you know, yes, you know, but can I say it Anyway
Do you know the difference
One day to the next
Between having no one
And suddenly finding love of a friend
Love of a friend, one who cares, truly cares
So sudden it appears, this wondrous feeling
One day life is fine
But suddenly it lights on fire
Bringing warmth that glows the world
Provides an empty heart a meal
Wraps sweetness in a cloud
Out of yesterday comes an angel
Ears outstretched with no demands
Eyes that ask nothing; wait only to give
A listener, a contributor, a Bay beauty
Your blaze is white; a halo in my mind
If we met in the meadow we might pass each other by
In a fleeting and innocently unaware moment
A moment of loss, not realizing how special it could be
Things could be so good
Love could be so close
Love of a friend
A horse like you
Zenyatta
Trina Nagele
@VALARIA FRANKLIN—I’m so sorry I mixed up your finalist number—as you can tell, numbers are not my forte. Thank you for your gracious correction, and let me say again YOU ARE ONE CLASSY LADY!
Jan
Zenyatta,
Happy Thursday Big Mama :) My condolences to the family of Jess Jackson. Good luck to Makoma on Friday :) So how is Eblouissante doing at your barn John.
Lisa g
@Valarie: What I just love about your postcard is how it touched me the same way as you, but just a little bit different. I have read, studied and fell in love with Native Dancer. He came along when the economy was not good, his fans loved him as we love Zenyatta (too bad technology was not like it is now), he changed racing in his time, but then something happened. As for the tragedies, mine is Ruffian. I could not go to the races, could not watch them on TV, and could not speak or hear the name Ruffian without breaking down in tears. Zenyatta changed that for me! Yes, yours touched me personally. Good luck!
Trina Nagele
@DJ—What an extraordinarily beautiful
and moving poem!
Becky
Since there seems to be so much confusion with FB and voting from the link posted above as to whether the votes are actually working and getting counted, I vote that all four be pronounced winners and each be awarded the prize. :-)
Lisa g
@Marshall: Well said.
Winged One
idk if my vote worked but i voted Dawn on Facebook already! It was hard to choose! But hers has the most asdhfkljdshfjks story! =D
Lisa g
I keep scrolling up and checking out Mike every once in awhile. Wow.
Joyce
I just voted but agree with another poster that I’m not sure it went through. But I just thought, maybe it only takes when you complete a post! That would capture my “one” vote. (otherwise anyone could just keep voting) but I don’t believe any one of us would do that as it is so important, and nooo, I wouldn’t vote more than once! I’m about to test my theory. so here goes.
Eveline
@ the kids of Tytler SchoolHorseClub – The eggs are beautiful! Zenny is going to be so happy with them! (To view the side click on the yellow name on top)