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
Kitei
@Paula ~ There’s nothing particularly undesirable about English 101, at least not to fans of the language!
And I seriously don’t think it’s for anyone but me to decide whether I was in the spirit of this contest! I’m sure that not only I, but every one of us whose postcards didn’t get drawn, and which haven’t been read by everyone, still wrote from our hearts and “in the spirit”. It’s just that I’m sure quite a few people felt that paragraph MEANT paragraph, and so exercised the necessary self-restraint to comply!
Still, this IS America, and self-restraint obviously seems to be considered undesirable or even naive by 80% (or more) of everyone, so it’s obvious why the vote is looking the way it is. (I did manage to somehow vote, finally, just did it & immediately after went & removed the “Polls” app from my Facebook accounts apps).
I can at least console myself that Mike and the other jocks on the calendar demonstrate there are undoubtedly some obvious benefits of being part of the (self-restrained) remaining 20%!
………& to mike (writing above) ~ some of us are glad you are here, and will still like you whether or not we agree about everything:
“Friendship that insists on agreement on all matters is not worth the name. Friendship to be real must ever sustain the weight of honest differences, however sharp they be.”
~ Mohandas K. Gandhi
The best thing about disagreeing with a friend is when you realize that it has only made your friendship stronger!
Having something to think about: “It’s a good thing!” LOL — thanks, Martha!
Michelle
I am shocked at all the negativity here about the contest. I did not analyze the rules, I just bought a postcard and wrote as much as I could fit on there. I believed that the contest was limited to a postcard to prevent us from writing pages and pages of letters which we would have done. I believe that Dottie is fair and would not allow an entry that did not follow the rules. I was in the first 64 and then the 32 but did not make the cut after that. I accept that it was just my bad luck (as usual) to not get picked. If we want Dottie to continue with other contests we need to act right about this one. Up until now this website has been pretty classy compared to most. Let’s get back to our fun, everything Zenyatta place where we share our love for this beautiful horse.
Kari Bussell
“Zenyatta is nothing but gentle and kind. Thank you all for being kind to one another and let those who are unkind go their own way”~~Mr. John Shirreffs
Dear Dottie will you ask him what we are supposed to do when they don’t go away. I want you to know that I could never question your integrity or any decision you made period. I am so very grateful to you for taking so much time to keep Zenyatta a part of my life. I love her with a passion. Please believe me that most true Zenyatta fans would never question your judgement about anything. It is beyond generous of Team-Z to give a statue away….and most of us just appreciated the opportunity to win. Mike Smith and Zenyatta were one when they raced. He is one half the reason she won 19 times(it will always be 20 in MY heart).Having witnessed the BCC in person he rode his heart out just as our Queen ran her heart out.It was the most amazing thing I have ever witnessed. It will go down in history as one of the best races of all time. He clearly loves her deeply. He brought her back safe and sound. I wish everyone could have been at the Barn at CD the day after the BCC to witness the class, grace, kindness and generosity you all showered on all the fans….way above the call of duty..I will be eternally grateful to all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you all do especially you Dottie…for this Z-page.
@Dawn Con…I don’t really know you, but my heart breaks for how some of the extreme cruelty expressed must hurt your feelings. You are so liked because you have left so many beautiful(always kind) posts that many of us have been blessed by reading. Your postcard is beautiful.
@Georgia Harper- my heart is also saddened about the not so nice comments about the length of your entree. Your post card was also very beautiful.
Dear Zenyatta- I love you with all my heart please tell Dottie to please not let people discourage her from continuing this diary…All the Love and Nothing but Pure Joy to all of Team Z. and all of the final 4.
Sandy Allen
WOW! It is heartwarming to read all the comments from so many about loving Zenyatta as I do! She did, indeed, touch my soul with her great personality and her awesome wins. It was a joy to see her race; to see such perfection in motion,and to realize just how very special a horse she is. And to know that she is as beautiful in mind and heart and soul as she is in stature. Thank you, each and every one of you for writing as you did!
HappyHarriet
Dear Queen Zenyatta
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Happy Easter to you and your gal pals. I hope the Easter Bunny leaves some extra carrots for you and the girls, and of course some fresh peppermints. I hope we are still meeting for brunch, complete with apple and pear compote! Will you be the one with the biggest Easter bonnet?
.
Your exceptional jockey, Mike Smith, I’ve met several times at Hollywood Park, and he exudes good will towards everyone. I have friends who know him well, and they find him to be an incredibly nice man. And girls – he sure is cute!! If you re-watch videos of Zennie in the paddock, when she sees Mike, her energy goes up immediately and you can see how much she loves him (and vice versa). Remember what Dottie says: Zenyatta thinks she won her 20th race. And so do I. A head bob does not a race make, and Zennie ran past Blame, so there!! LOL
.
When I went to college MANY years ago (wink wink) we had an Honor System. If we did something outside of the rules, we admitted it and took our lumps. Actually, we had to report ourselves to a Campus Court, and as part of the Honor System we admitted what we’d done and received a punishment. It built character, that’s for sure! If any one of our lovely contest entrants didn’t follow any of the rules, I believe each of the ladies is honorable and would say so, and withdraw her entry. And I believe our Dear Dottie is honorable, and has followed her own rules for the contest. If anyone of the final four feels she has stepped outside of the boundaries for the contest, I know she will say so herself and disqualify herself. Meanwhile, I’m happy to know all of you, and to read the touching and uplifting thoughts that make us weep and jump for joy – sometimes at the same time!
.
We are the luckiest group of people ever. We have our Queen, our Mentor Dottie, the most gracious owners in the horse industry, the Mosses, and the best trainer, John, who open their lives for our enrichment. I saw a video on YouTube of Blame’s homecoming after winning the Breeder’s Cup. It was the saddest thing I’ve ever seen. There were just a few people standing around – the owners, a few barn hands, and a groom which led Blame off a van. Blame clip clopped a few yards into his stall. That was it. No applause, no crowds, no welcoming committee, no celebration, no flowers, trophies – it was the most hollow empty scene and my description does not properly convey it. And I compared that in my mind to the daily joy and celebration we have for our Queen. We are so blessed here and I hope we can keep the spirit flowing for the sake of Zenyatta and the many other horses who need our good will going forward.
.
Huge Horse Hugs to All – HH
Amanda Gilliland
Michelle & Kari
I totally agree with you both.
The Mosses & The Shirreffs are wonderful, caring & loving people. Kari, that is a wonderful saying by John Shirreffs.
Dani
TO THE CHILDREN OF TYLER SCHOOL HORSE CLUB – Your Easter eggs are all so beautiful. It must have been a lot of fun picking your favorite colors and drawing all the pictures and shapes and designs – all to honor Zenyatta. I know she would love them all as she appreciates every nice thing that people do for her and for other people. I hope you get to hear back from her. Your club looks like it so much fun. I think I would like learning to do the Zenyatta dance myself. I think it is really neat too, that you get to watch Zenyatta’s races. We can never watch them enough, can we? And as you have learned, she really is a true horse hero. I know she is to all of us who post on her website. I hope your club will share more of your artwork with us in the future. We love everything about Zenyatta but we also love everything about horses too. So that would be cool as well. Best wishes to you all and thank you for sharing your Zenyatta easter eggs with us. ~~~ Dani
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, Good Morning, good beautiful morning to you.
Lisa g
FINAL FOUR..stay happy, stay excited…Best of luck to all of you.
Kathy Kimber
Well another day. Sophie I don’t agree with you but you are fortunate to have found a web site where you can express how you feel. On lots of blogs everything is edited if it isnt nice. Personally I think what you said came out very hurtful maybe you could have been kinder.
I also like to read what the guys have to say but I can also understand why they don’t post to often. Come on guys don’t shy off.
Zenyatta, I hope you have a lovely day with your gal pals. It is pounding rain here and its proably coming your way. I think what you do to make this site enjoyable is just wonderful. The bottom line is We all love you and appreciate what your family tries to do for us. Hugs,
Kathy Kimber
I’m sorry was it Sophie or Sarah you can see how I brushed it off then thought maybe I should comment. Lets all just try not to argue and just get along.
Alexandra Bowdoin
The newest pictures of Elbouissante are Gorgeous…She is Big!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eblouissante/143117319085172#!/photo.php?fbid=156071287789775&set=a.143117875751783.29581.143117319085172&type=1
Linda in NJ
Good morning Zenny: Happy Friday and Happy Earth Day. It is happy Friday because I am off from work. I have a nice long weekend to look forward to. Unfortunately, it is suppose to rain all weekend long. Oh, well. I hope the weather report is wrong.
Hooray Dawn, you are the front runner. Awesome!
To Team Z: I just want to once again thank you for this wonderful and exciting contest. It has been filled with such anticipation right from the beginning. It was so much fun waiting to see who made the next around. I hope the inappropriate complaining and criticism hasn’t been hurtful to you or to the Four Finalists. No doubt a lot of thought, preparation, your time and expense went into making this contest special. It gave all of us an opportunity to share our thoughts and stories of our love for Zenyatta “Our Horse of a lifetime.” Mr. & Mrs. Moss, Dottie, John, Mike and all those that are part of Team Z, thank you again. You are Very, Very Special folks who are thought the world of. Sending my love to all of you. – Linda
Patricia Emery
So happy for the final four! Also, glad to see that your Mike is still a very important part of your life! He looks extremely happy in the photo…best wishes to all!
XOXO
Barbara C
Best wishes to the final four! It’s so difficult to pick. Zenny and Z Team, thank you for the opportunity to share is this experience and the chance to win one of the bronze statues. You are all quite a TEAM – thank you for continuing to be the voice for Zenyatta and the hope and dreams for all horse racing fans. Please,don’t ever change.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To Mike: I actually am a woman! I have the nickname of Robbie since childhood and it stuck. The name also helps in publishing since statistics have shown that publications attributed to men have more success than those attributed to women.
I have to scroll back up to see what the gender split is about.
I have contributed to Zenyatta’s site since #33 and would like to think that what I wrote respected (and loved) her and respected everyone here.
I come from an academic environment and appreciate the sometimes contentious atmosphere of radical questioning and debate. I would not have been able to write my books without the invigorating dynamic of criticism, revision, and resolution.
I am thoroughly bewildered by the postcard contest’s results. I entered out of a sense of fun; I have no desire for the beautiful bronze sculpture. I just wanted to send 6 thoughts on separately mailed ordinary postcards that gisted down some of the things that I’d written over the last months.
I don’t know the source of the quote by John Shirreffs but I do not want to remain on the site if my presence is distasteful to him. Was that a message he gave to the fans here due to the questions about the length of postcard #4?
Also, I’m not a racing fan, which makes it hard in this season to relate to the Diary Posts that more and more speak about the sport.
I hold great respect for Team Z. I do not think them capable of manipulation and deception, but I’m simply bewildered by the results.
I have been happy that, whatever the peculiarities of the postcard outcome, Zenyatta is out of sight, having some PRIVACY. Perhaps the privacy will allow her to be bred and gestate w/o 77,000 pairs of eyes following her day and night.
I have begun to restrict my connection to the site (not reading all the posts any longer, except in this debate about the contest) and will post only if something about Zenyatta’s unfolding life touches my heart.
I apologize to Team Z if I have contributed to offending you and will henceforth post only on occasion and only positive reflections about Zenyatta.
Best regards–Robbie
Linda in NJ
Hi Folks: Is anyone planning to go to the Preakness. Please let me know. It would be a nice opportunity to say hello.
Lisa g
@Mike: Hoping you stay. Not sure what we ladies said that may have offened you. I went on Bernardini’s FB, right after the ‘FIRST DATE’, and the men that posted..blush, blush. The ladies just posted little giggles, all was cool.
Lydia
Hey there precious, been researching Black Cavier; she’s good but you’re the best and always will be. Love you dearly.
Lisa g
@Robbie: I must have really missed someting. Robbie I do not ever remember seeing anything you posted offensive, please be the same…be YOUrself. I know don’t what offened Mike. I just must have missed alot somewhere. But Robbie, I remember you from the beginng you cannot leave..just cannot.
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, Good Morning and it’s Good Friday. I hope you have a wonderful & Blessed Easter weekend. I want to thank all who have served & are serving to protect this country for us to enjoy all the freedoms we are priviledged to have. I am truly thankful for the freedom of religion to be able to worship Holy Week with fellow believers. It has been wonderful to hear a different pastor each day and share a meal with many people in different walks of life in all ages, shapes & colors with one thought in common. Zenyatta, then on Sunday I will sing praises to my God who has Blessed me everyday in so many ways. God used you to remind me that life is not always easy and challenges I face, will make me stronger so I can help others who need help with what I have gone through. Like paying it forward!
I share that with you, Dottie, John, Ann, Mike & all of Families of Barn 55 & Land’s End & especially my Fan Family here on this site because I love each & everyone of you and I tell God everyday that I Thank Him for bringing Zenyatta into this world. She is a life force of supernatural qualities. Yes an Angel! Zenyatta was Blessed with all the perfect features of beauty to draw our eyes & mind to her, so we could see her perfectly natural raciing qualities of a superhorse to race toward her purpose in life to win races and use those wins to bring people together. Her 20th race was her biggest win! She showed the pefect response a nonperfect situation. That was done because the perfect horse had the perfect owner, the perfect trainer, the perfect Team Z & the perfect jockey in a nonperfect situation to make the perfect decision to make a lasting impression to Help us, Bless us, Love us, Teach us & Show us what unconditional love is that only an animal-human(Zenyatta) is capable of showing.
Stop and think about what the world was like for you before you ever met or heard of Zenyatta. Now reflect on the time you had Zenyatta come into your life and how you feel now. The Power of Zenyatta is very hard to explain. Many have tried. We say what she means to us or the impact she’s had on racing or to a friend or family. Zenyatta has affected everyone in one way or another.
YES, The Power of Zenyatta has opened our ears to listen to each other, our mouths to speak to each other and to live in the present moment. Zenyatta is all that and a lot more. We may never know in our lifetime the true affects of Zenyatta’s Life.
Zenyatta, I hope to see your Easter Bonnet & Easter Basket filled with carrots, apples, pears, peppermints & other goodies. Happy Easter, Zenyatta! Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Happy Easter To All My Fan Family!
Lisa g
@Mike, post your three sentences. I would love to read them. Hernan posted, and it was absolutely PERFECT. Hope you share, Mike. I really hope, after the contest, that everybody shares their postcard, so cool, for sure.
Linda in NJ
@Amanda Gilliland: Your posts are beautiful! Thank you.
Astrid
Wishing you and your friends a great Easter weekend! Did you know that there are 9 TBs registered with the name Easter Egg (1946-2007) and 7 TBs with the name Easter Bunny (1954-2008). Too cute! Have fun and stay healthy!
Jane in Seattle
@Robbie, I don’t know where that quote came from either. But if it did come from John, and is about this site, there are two ways of looking at it: “let those who are unkind go their onw way” could mean – please go away, but what I think is more likely – “let them go their own way”, no need to criticize or make a big deal…I can’t think of anything you have posted that would have offended anyone, but I haven’t read every post every day. Still, given what I have read of yours, it seems very unlikely. And sometimes, people just take things in a way you don’t expect. But I for one would certainly miss hearing what you have to say.
Suzanne G
@Dorothy Hopper–have you checked the library? A great, quick read and perfect for derby-time (it’s about Monarchos): Jim Squires’s Horse of a Different Color.
@Barbara Wood–thanks for info on Monarchos. Glad he’s doing well. Perhaps you would enjoy the book too.
Tamyatta
I posted my initial reaction to the final 4 list. It was not to be mean, it was to express my feelings. I believe that having a choice between an entry like #4 and a 1 paragraph postcard is giving #4 a huge advantage. People will vote for #4 because of the heavy emotion they feel when reading it. That’s just human nature. Now when those people are Zenyatta lovers there is no question who the majority will vote for. If all 4 entries were comparable with no author’s names given people would vote on the one that really touched their heart and was most like what they themselves feel. This is what I was hoping for. That to me would be the winner who should have the cherished statue.
Thanks Robbie for a great post. I would like to say what you did:
I apologize to Team Z if I have offended you and will only post about my love for Zenyatta. She is part of me like my child, and like my child we will never be separated. God sent her to me at a time when my life was in really bad shape because he knew what would happen to me without her. That’s how remarkable she is. A true gift from God to us. I will always love her and will follow her life every day. She is my sun and my moon.
Susan San Jose, CA
Dear Zenny, I voted for the entry that sounded like my story which was entry #1. I wish I could have been in the contest, but I did get a chance to tell those most close to you what you mean to me in person. You truly have been a light in my life through a very difficult time. I will always treasure all the moments I got to spend with you and the excitement of traveling all over to see you! It was love at first sight when I saw you dance in the paddock at Santa Anita for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. I shed tears of Awe and Joy as you crossed the finish line. Thank You! I love you
Amanda Gilliland
All of the cards entered became theirs to do with as they want and were for the eyes of Zenyatta, The Mosses & The Shirreffs only. Not for the Fan Family’s eyes. Dottie deserves some kind of award for doing this time consuming contest and writing this site. Dottie is busier than any of us can imagine. So everyone needs to be respectful & appreciate her for the time put into making this contest even possible. From calls,working with the post office, picking up boxes & boxes of cards, coordinating all, who & when they would draw, post photos, write the Post, keeping us updated on Zenyatta & Land’s end, Barn 55, the women’s lounge, the cancer walk and the list goes on & on! All this was done in addition to her family & racing responsiblities. The contest was given to the fans. Now look at the responses from a very few people. It’s just shameful.
Now— What does anybody have to complain about in this contest? Nothing!
Robbie,I wish you wouldn’t leave. I’m staying. Everybody (that includes me)can state their opinons on this site but Dottie/Zenyatta are the the only opinions that control this site. I appreciate all the hard work that Dottie puts into this site. I know most people do appreciate Dottie from what I’ve read, but if you haven’t Thanked Her please do.
I wonder what Dottie/Zenyatta think about all of this complaining about their contest? I breaks my heart for them to see & read these comments. I love them both so much as I know everyone else does.
Especially Horses
@Everyone: Dottie and all of Team Z have been so very kind and sharing to Z’s fans. I am sure most of us realize how much work goes into keeping up a site like this. I am always surprised and delighted when we get two-three new posts in a row! We are a little spoiled in some ways….a post once a week, with the usual detail we’ve become accustomed to would be a time consuming venture. So to “The Voice of Zenyatta” I say Thank you, thank you, thank you, you’ve shown Classic Stamina. Regarding the contest, I don’t understand some of the angst being shown. I’ve never seen a friendlier contest. It was announced and implemented in the shortest of time spans, it was open to everyone and it was not complicated. This wasn’t meant to be the likes of a Publishers Clearing House contest, where the minutest of details/rules have to be spelled-out so people won’t challenge or complain. This was set-up to resemble a contest between friends. In Reality (pun intended for those in the know) Team Z has the right to select a winner anyway they want. In fact, if just out of the blue during one posting they had said “we’ve been reading all the posts for the last several months and we’ve decided to give a Zenyatta Bronze to XYZ because they are a favorite poster of ours”, will I dare say most of us would have found a posting like that very fun and serendipitous. Instead we’ve been invited to participate in the selection of the winner. Now that’s fun and thoughtful. So thank you Team Z and good luck to the fortunate four.