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
Amanda Gilliland
@ Lisa g-It would be cool to read them all. I was just making a point they don’t have to share anything with the contest. we gave up rights when we mailed them in.I would love to read them out of love for Z.
@Linda-Thank You so much.
@Astrid-That is so way cool.Easter egg.
Bonnie New Orleans
Dearest Zenyatta, brevity is the soul of wit. I vote for #2 Valerie Franklin.
Astrid
@ Especially horses – well said!
@ Amanda Gilliland – beautiful post!
* There are also TBs registered as Christmas Tree and Santa Claus. Can you imagine the race call? lol
Linda in NJ
For those of you that can go out to Facebook, a fan, Ann Maree posted a YouTube video: The Zenyatta Bob. Check it out it’s so funny.
KIMBERLY
WOW! Some of you people NEED A LIFE! This is just a website that we can enjoy and follow a wonderful racehorse and a group of people who helped her along the way. CALM DOWN! Just enjoy the hard work Dottie has put into this sight. If you don’t like something, KEEP YOUR TRAP SHUT! Most of us just like the happiness this website brings, unlike the daily news. TOO MUCH DRAMA!!
judy berube
Dear Z,
Good morning. Hope the weather is warm and sunny for you and your pasture buddies and you are having fun. Good luck to everyone in the final four. Come on Vicki, California Girl, let’s make this a “Z STYLE FROM BACK OF THE PACK WIN”. Love to all of you. Judy and Russ
suemar
@Barbara Grimaldi. I love Monmouth Park. Very pretty and allows picnics. Agree all tracks need to do more events to keep them running. Trying to go to as many tracks across country as we can to support racing. And I love the history so much.
Cynthia H.
After having lived a longer span on this planet than I care to admit, one thing I have learned, is that one of the most difficult things to do is to try to do something nice for everyone. Dottie, thank you so very much for all of the time and effort which you have put into this contest. I am sure that your sole motivation was to bring some joy and excitement into the (now dreary) lives of Zenyattta’s fans, and you have succeeded. Blessings. Blessings on the very fortunate winner of Zenyatta 19. You are all exceptional people.
Kathryn Cogswell
Some rides your saddle starts to roll. You may have been the last to check your blanket, pad, saddle and cinch, but once it`s shifting, even if your horse is as steady as Jess, Sharon Call`s great pink roan, was with children, you have to readjust. And then keep on the trail, or double back. Some of ‘Z`s’ runs were muddier and darker and bumpier than others. Hoping for more ‘Happy Trails,’ together.
MLV
Hey Especially Horses…In Reality is one of my favorite all time race horses. I also LOVED Ridan. He had so much heart.
Can’t wait to see who wins the statue. I am so grateful for the contest because it made me realize how much I wanted that statue and have decided to get one myself. I know this is something I will treasure for the rest of my life especially since the last three years have been the most difficult and Zenyatta was one of the brightest spots.
Thank you to everyone at Team Zenyatta. You are one classy bunch!
karen g
Sure I’d love to have a Z bronze, but I had the real Zenny 3 times at Backside Barn 55 and at her races 15 times, so that is my diamond (bronze) exclamation point! So good luck to our Zennyland of dreamers – you wonderful four! Zenny, I love you more and more!! And thank you Dottie and John once again for these blessed experiences!
tony
Voted…finally it worked for me. Hi, Zenny!
Lois Gillespie
I would not be so presumptuous as to speak for John, Dottie, the Mosses, or any of Z’s racing family, but I think some of the mean-spirited comments made about Zenyatta while she was racing would have cut more deeply than any comment made on this site – “synthetic specialist”, “not running against top horses”, no way Horse of the Yr, etc. etc, etc. And yet they held to their beliefs that they knew Zenyatta best, and look at the magical results. I believe we have all gathered on this site for Zenyatta, and Dottie has been the mouthpiece and driving force behind this undertaking. This awarding of the #19 bronze is an unbelieveably generous gesture, and will take the winner, whomever it is, over the moon with joy. Again, best of luck to all 4 – and for the rest of us, to get back to the central idea of this site – a place to come to to follow Zenyatta, perhaps to learn more about the fascinating nuts-and-bolts aspect of racing or other interesting side trips contributed by our many knowledgeable posters, the good causes which the Sheriffs and the Mosses support. Most important for me is the amazing good will generated on this site. It is self-policing, Dottie does not moderate content. We all seem to get back on track to be cordial and civil again after minor disagreements along the way. Everyone should have a voice here, unless it is profane and nasty. JMHO…
tony
I voted for #3 since I surprised my wife with a trip to the BC at Churchill and could relate to the events described on that entry. It was down right exciting…we met many fellow Zenny fans and saw several others who fell in love with her after that race. In my eyes it was her finest moment.
Shema
Dear Z, I love and adore you girl! Please let Dottie and John know that I feel they created a brilliant contest for the bronze. It was all done with the luck of the draw up to the final 4, and based on March Madness, seemed pretty brilliant too. Having some connection to another sport, thus being a bridge of sorts.
And now to let us vote on the final 4, just seems brilliant. I love to feel how we’ve all been connected to the energy that created these 4 being chosen. It feels all so perfect.
Dear Zenny, please give Dottie and John and team a big thank you and deep appreciation for creating an opportunity to put into words our love for you and what it has meant. Now we have this wonderful collection of writings to be further creative with. What a joy!
Without the contest, this may never have happened!
Shema
To my precious most darling Z,
Just wanted to share with you that I am keeping record of all my posts to you. It’s going to be my own personal diary of my love for you. This will be very special for me, as it also is a diary of my love of horses, horse racing and how the “Greats”, like YOU! have touched me so!
Thank you so much! What I do, is after I make a post, I then cut and paste it into my home computer word doc.
karen g
Thank you Lois!
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z”,
Just wanted to wish Y.O.U. and All a blessed “Good” Friday! I will think of Mike on Makoma this evening and send out well wishes. Thank you Trina and Amanda. I have thought of sharing it for some time. There is a story behind it, but it would be a major sensitive alert :) so I will just let the poem stand alone without explaination. Good luck to the final four…I related to them all.
DJ
‘If you make my Word your home you will indeed be my disciples,’ says the Lord: ‘you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’
Jeanne from Texas
When I try to vote, it doesn’t work, I want to vote for Dawn Conrad. please. Thanks so much! Happy Easter to all of you that so wonderfully represent our Queen Zenyatta! Hugs from Texas!
Sharon Call
@Robbie PK. Oh, no,no,no. Don’t go away. Your posts are some of the best on this site and I know there are a great many people that completely enjoy them.
@Kathryn Coswell. You remembered my post about Jess. Tears! Now she lives in someone else’s heart as well as mine. Thank you for that. She deserved it. She was the kind of horse that everyone hoped they would own.
@Everyone. Z’s half-sister is one good looking 2 year old. She’s really developing into a beautiful, well set-up, balanced filly. She has that look about her that Z has and stops to check things out just like Z does and now she training with John. Amazing.
Let’s not forget about Rags to Riches. She has a facebook page with pictures of her and her two offspring. Her filly looks just like her including the white star that goes out a little bit over her left eye and and the accompanying white stripe. Who could forget her win in the Belmont in 2007. She really showed the boys how it’s done.
Especially Horses
@MLV: Hurray, someone understood my pun. Very fun. BTW, I am on the verge of ordering the Bronze. I hope it is not too late; after all there are only 100.
@Jeanne form Texas: If you want to know if your vote “took”, just log off the site, come back in and if the vote button is gone and replaced by the Bar Graph your vote was counted.
Quarterhossgal
My sympathy to the family of Jess Jackson. I am sorry that he won’t be able to see and race the foal of Rachel and Curlin. I’m sure the foal will be something special. Queen Z, I hope you have some fenugreek,banana, cherry and rosemary as your Easter treats(recently decided to be the favorite flavors of horses). I,too, won’t be able to vote for the winner of the bronze but I hope that following the rules is part of the guidelines for choosing the winner.
Joyce
@Jan I’m calling SHRP also and will try to be there at a good time to get a signed book. I’d surely like that a lot.
It would be fun to meet.
Zenny, hope you are having a fabulous day!
DJ
Sending this awesome website for those of us not yet fortunate to see the Sistine Chapel in person. If you click on the M in the left corner, you can control the mouse and move from floor to ceiling to appreciate the glorious details.
http://www.va/various/capelle/sistina_vr/index.html
DJ
will try again…
http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html
DJ
It worked that time. When it asks about the configuration…just click no.
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
@ DJ – A powerful tribute to powerful Z @ Especially Horses – In Reality – The secret is out – We’re older than the dirt at Belmont!
Samantha Peck
Good luck everyone! #4 must have write really small! but they were all wonderful and they all deserve it :D
Especially Horses
@Carolyn Caswell: That comment made my day! I’m still laughing.