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
Vicki B.
@karen g – That sounds like heaven, to have seen Zenny 3 times at the Backside, and 15 times on the track! Aauugh! I was only able to see her once, and am so glad for that, I wanted it so bad. Congratulations.
Marion Ambler
It was hard to vote for just one….
Trina Nagele
Dearest Z, I want to express my deep and continuing gratitude to you and Team Z for this marvelous website and for all the time, energy and thought you put into it. It means the world to so many of us. THANK YOU!
@ KARI BUSSELL— Thank you so much for your beautiful post (starting “Zenyatta is nothing but gentle and kind”). You said it all, and said it so well.
@ Amanda Gilliland—Thanks for another of your always inspiring comments.
@ Jan Maass Gadwood–-I too look forward to hearing about John Henry.
@Margaret–I look forward to your next post too.
Sharon Call
@Carolyn Caswell and Especially Horses. I’m glad to know that I have company in this boat. Sometimes I think I’m even older than that.
Carmine
When are they going to breed zenyatta
and to whom??????
Kari Bussell
@Robbie- You must have issues and a guilty conscience to take a very brief quote I left by Mr.Shirreffs and make it about you…YOU?—I was not in any form, shape or fashion referring to you….However I for one would greatly appreciate it if all people would keep their negative comments about Zenyatta or any member of team Z to themselves.
Please hear me out and attempt to put yourself in my shoes….I am very terminally ill. I was told by all my doctors I would be dead almost 3 years ago…I had given up…My daughter was making poor decision after poor decision…I was trying to raise 3 Grandchildren ages 18 months ,two and a half and just four…( with a husband of 30 yrs who works 2 full-time jobs to support me the kids and my illness)….I had body parts sliced off of me that would give anyone nightmares and make your skin crawl…I had given up …I was hospitalized for attempted suicide because I was in so much pain and wanted to spare myself and my family a long death to where I would be a burden..I went from being very, pretty to looking like a walking corpse overnight. I looked ten years older than I am( 45 then-now 48)-….after being the belle of the ball so to speak my whole life….At this same time my daughter nearly died of undiagnosed type one diabetes, furthermore I was diagnosed with type one( in the middle of half my body being chopped of and chemo) as well as my husband with type two-D…nearly lost his foot and had to have a stint placed in his heart after suffering a heart attack-During the last 3 years he lost 2 cousin to diabetes and we both lost our Grand Mothers to the same dreaded disease. Then One afternoon my husband left the TV on the Sports South Channel that at that time carried 3 hours a day of horse racing…This was April of 2008…I saw Zenyatta and fell so madly, deeply in love with her essence the moment I laid eyes on her. She inspired me to continue to fight no matter how hard the battle…somehow out of love for her and her connections I came to realize that I am not a burden that my family needs me around as long as possible….She restored my faith in everything. Were It Not for her miraculous existence I would have ceased to exist…She has as P.Clark so beautifully wrote- been tonic for my soul..and very trans-formative…It is the sincere truth and that simple..Last week I walked out of a the hospital where they were basically waiting for me to die. Healing- surviving does not come from a hospital room with loved ones sobbing over you like you are dead already…so without permission I walked out..Healing comes from laughter and joy so please forgive me if I have finally had enough of you guys ripping Dottie, Mikey #3 & #4 and others to shreads I am not the only one who counts on this diary to help them feel the magic and joy of everything Zenyatta in their life so they might continue to exist…I was in no way trying to speak for any member of Team Z or cause anyone to “go away” (how childish- really!!)
My point is that the only peace, joy, inspiration, and comfort in my world and many others is Zenyatta-sharing the joy of our mutual love – not nit-picking…and the intense love and admiration we have for ALL of Team-Z…So when you guys get so impossible to please and nit-pick the heck out of the way Dottie Decides to run Her Z- contest….Well like I said This is a place to share joy not be cranky and take issue with every little thing…I have held my tongue for months…but I will not be silent while any of you put any single member of team Z down…for those of you who don’t know Dottie is not some trophy wife with nothing to do with herself but this diary…she was named one of the most powerful women in horse racing last year and she manages All of Jerry and Ann Mosses zillion horses as well as Zenyatta. She is who recommended Mr. Shirreffs to the Mosses before they had ever dated. She is powerful and very busy in her own right and deserves your respect and appreciation for taking the time to do this diary at all. She is a very busy woman..she takes the time to do this for those of us who would cease to breath if Queen Zenyatta was completely removed from us….and even for you rude ones…I thank God she continues this diary ..Please show some respect, appreciation and class…thank you for everything Zenyatta and Team Z—I will always love you all!!
Trina Nagele
@KARI BUSSELL—Blessings to you.
Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny/CA
Dear Kari ~
You and I are facebook friends ~ YOU, my friend, MADE ME CRY when I read your last posting. Not even the cards posted brought a tear to my eye, but you did!!
Thank you for speaking for the REAL FANS of Team Zenyatta! The “spirit” (LOVE and KINDNESS)of Zenny lives in many of us. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
Having “said” that ~ this diary is NOT a battlefield! This diary/blog is a place to share love and encouragement. Anyone who wants to be disrespectful, get a life, and please stay away from here. PLEASE!
If Zenny could speak, she would say she is extremely disappointed in some of her so-called-fans. :-(
ZENNY, SWEETHEART, if you celebrate Christian holidays, I wish you a Good Friday and a Blessed Easter. I spent time with you last year on Easter Sunday. I knew I was blessed by getting to be with you. :-)
If you are of Jewish faith, I wish you a belated Happy Passover.
ALL MY LOVE XOXO
Kimberly Potter
Zenyatta & Dottie~ Words can never express how thankful I am that you have created this wonderful place for all of your adoring fans to come together and share their love for you…(yes and sometimes opinions that others don’t agree with). I can never get enough of you and I love reading and connecting with all of Zenyatta’s fans here.
Love your #1 an in Montana!
@Amanda Gilliland- Thank you for your wonderful posts. I wish I could express my feelings so eloquently as you.
@Especially Horses~ Very well said, my feelings exactly.
@Cunthia H.~ Love your post, you are exceptional as well.
@Lois Gillespie~ My sentiments exactly, thank you.
Good luck to all the Final Four!!!
susan in tn
hey, zenny! hope you are having a great spring day there in kentucky. all that spring rain has been so good for the grass, hasn’t it? i guess in kentucky the “grass is always bluer on the other side of the fence”! hugs to you and your bff’s!
TO EVERYONE: i really enjoy all the interesting, funny, informative, heartfelt posts! so many i can’t really respond to all of them or zenyatta’s diary would be twice as long! hope NO ONE goes away! oh, also, if you can spare a few dollars, old friend’s equine still really needs help. it was new to me but i have been reading up on it and have exchanged emails with vivien at the farm(who was lovely) and it’s a wonderful, much-needed place. peace!
Trina Nagele
@Robbie Pfeufer Kahn—Please, Robbie, be assured that no one wants you to go away. Your posts have been great contributions to this site, and we look forward to more. I’m sure the Queen will continue to touch your heart, as you said.
Kimberly Potter
@Kari Bussell~ God Bless you! You are an amazing woman!
J Smith
THINKING OF POSTING? READ KARI BUSSELL’S POST ABOVE! Thank you Kari.
Leslie R.
@ Kari Bussell, thank you. Your words are heartfelt and brought tears to my eyes. You are remarkable and I appreciate all that you said. You are in my thoughts.
I know I’ve said this before, but thank you Dottie for all your hard work and to all of Team Z for continuing to share Zenny with us. She and this website mean a lot to me.
Love to all,
Leslie
Barb France
@Dani – I sure hope you get to see Z in person one day…you hit it on the nail about the look John has on his face when people are around her eying her beauty. His face truly exihits his love and how proud he is of her. The smile on his face is worth it all!!
Joyce
@ValarieFranklin- you have written so movingly about Barbaro, and each time it has touched my heart. You did so again in your postcard, and won my vote. It takes a lot of courage to love so dearly, but it is difficult to resist the temptation when faced with such beauty and grace. My local track is having a book signing of the book Barbaro and I’m planning to be there as he was one of my loves, also. I got to see Ruffian in the race just before her last and still cry when I see her picture among my photos.
My sincere appreciation goes, as always, to Dottie and the rest of Team Z. All have been gracious in sharing our dearest Zenyatta with us, and I will always be grateful. Top, top, top people, all.
Janet Cutting
@Kari- I second that– EVERYONE- we have to rememeber that Dottie is giving us her time (free) and doing a remarkable job to keep us in touch with Zenyatta and the Team. I just think all of us need a gentle “pinch” to remember to be grateful and appreciate it and each OTHER with a little tolerance and alot of gratefulness. I have always kept in my mind for the past 50 years— that I learn something from everyone I meet in life–it may not be to my liking but I learn what someone else has lived and shares with me. So, now– as Zenny would say, HUG TO ALL OF YOU– WHO WILL BE THE CONTEST WINNER? EXCITING. SMILES,Janet C
suew
@Kari, {{{ }}}
Janet Cutting
on a lighter note—actually I couldnt wait to see Mike’s picture again… laughing….. I dont thimk I’m alone on this one… Thanks, Dottie and John for taking the picture–very good job!!!
Especially Horses
@Kari Bussell: I could hardly finish reading your post with all the tears clouding my vision.
Barb France
@Teri Crow – I’ll be there too! How wonderful to have heard her stories of past races seen…that is one of the wonderful memories to have from your mom! I’m sure that brings a smile to your face.
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zenyatta, I hope you are having a wonderful day and ignoring the sometimes hateful and selfish comments being made about the contest. It has been a fun thing to be part of I know Dottie and you mean well by it. Most of us are very grateful.
I hope you can come up with some suggestions as to how we can help Old Friend Throughbred Retirement Center. I hate to think it might have to close and what would happen to all the horses.
I love you Zeny
Karey R
@Robbie PK: Even though I understand how Kari B might have interpreted your comment the way she did, I just want you to know that I did not interpret it that way.
Writing thoughts and feelings on posts such as these – well, it’s easy to misunderstand true meaning since we don’t have vocal intonation and facial expression to help. My longterm impression of Robbie’s general attitude has been that she is a person of depth, sincerity, caring, and compassion. It seems that Kari B has many fine, caring qualities as well. Perhaps the recent flurry of confusion and hurt feelings has us all a bit sensitive at the moment. This too shall pass, right Z-Fans?
May the blessings of Zenyatta be with us all and foremost in our minds and hearts.
As always, HUGE thanks to Dottie and all of Team Zenyatta. And of course, love and peace and joy – always – to Queen Z herself.
Karey R
P.S.
Ears forward!
Susan
The wonder of Zenyatta and the Team is that every individual has an intimate perception of what she means to them personally. I bet each and every post card was an individual tribute to her and how she has affected their lives. Hard to pick just one becasue every story is heartfelt, every story is true -I vote to draw the winner.
Jan
Zenyatta,
Hope you are doing well and coloring Easter Eggs with your gal pals and getting ready to lead the Easter parade at Lane’s End :) I bet you’ll have the biggest Easter bonnet on and look so pretty :) Stay healthy & happy big mama. xoxox..
@ Joyce. Alex Brown will be at SHRP tomorrow from 7pm – 9:30 pm at the Central Club Area on the 2nd floor.
karen g
@Vicki B. – Oh, how I wish that everyone of Zenny’s Fan Family could have that dream come true too. We here in Southern California the Angels above blessed us with God’s beautiful creation. And that miracle IS the miracle. I realize how fortunate, and blessed, I’ve been to enjoy her ( although I have been unemployed for 16 months, which enabled me to take her experience all in) I do sincerely want for you all to have that too – from the depths of my heart. It hurts me deeply knowing that some of you have not had this, and I DO BELIEVE that you will someday. That’s why I feel I should not have been deserving any bronze of our girl – so many others are more deserving than I – I’ve had mine. And I can’t tell you what a “high” that was the first time – don’t even know how I drove home thru all the tears and joy!! I want for you to have that Zennyland “High” in your dreams too. So in the end, we all are one forever now. We love her too much!
Brenda
Good Luck to four deserving finalists. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this whole experience and thank Team Z once again for giving me this exciting few weeks. Much love to you Zenny and all of your amazing team, and you’re right about the photo – Mike is TOO CUTE.
J Smith
URGENT – CHILDREN SENT US EASTER EGG DRAWINGS. I am taking the liberty of reposting this. The original post is about 2/3 of the way down from the top. In all the carrying on we missed a post that is the epitome of all that is good about Zenyatta. If this doesn’t make us slap ourselves, well…. Please click on the link, look at the lovely easter eggs the children drew for Zenyatta and lets get back to the spirit of Zenyatta’s site by posting thank you’s and encouragement for the sweet children. If for some reason the link doesn’t work, I will post again. Thnx to Dani for bringing this post to my attention.
the kids of Tytler School Horse Club said:
April 21, 2011
We have some photos and Easter Eggs to share with other Zenyatta fans. Enjoy!
Joyce
And I thought I had read all of the posts on this Diary #231. Guess somehow I missed all those hateful and selfish ones?