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
Paula Higgins
Good to see a picture of Mike. Miss him alot. He was so crucial to the Queen’s success. All 4 of you ladies are such great fans of Zenyatta. You ALL deserve her statue. I wish I didn’t have to pick just one, but since I did, I have cast my vote. It is a magnificent statue and the winner will be thrilled with it. I guarantee it. Mine was an anniversary present. The best one I have ever received.
dunie
You 4 have well expressed what is in the hearts of all fans of QUEEN Z!
Marilu V
Congratulations to the Final 4! Good Luck to all!
Hope you are doing well Zeny! Hugs, Marilu
Paula Higgins
Jayne, there are some mighty big postcards out there and some people can write very small. Don’t assume she didn’t put it on a postcard.
Kitei
It took the photo a while to load, so I was pretty excited at the text that said Mike was “holding your reins”! Darn, it turned out that he was holding ONLY your reins — not quite what I hoped to see!
:(
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I wanted to vote in the poll, but it not only requires you to log into your Facebook account, but to allow an app that “…is requesting permission to do the following:
Access my basic information:
Includes name, profile picture, gender, networks, user ID, list of friends, and any other information I’ve shared with everyone.” To me, this feels pretty invasive and excessive! Why would an app want to take my friend list? Is it going to request everyone (friends, networks, anyone I’ve messaged or posted to) I know to vote, too? That’s usually what such apps do!
Most unfortunately, NOT everyone I know would be happy about this! Sure, I have a Facebook account, but not everyone I know shares this particular interest — there are family, work and school contacts that don’t need to have this experience.
Having just struggled to get rid of another app that was sending actually rude messages in my name to every friend I have, this piece of the poll seems like a bad thing for which to volunteer myself and friends — again. The “poll” app is whatever it is, and I don’t know what would happen if I accept it. So I’m just going to wait and see…
Sue Fredrick
Wow, I too got choked up reading these, but everything that was said by each of you lucky ones was true for me also. How neat to have that “hotty” Mike pick the winning 4, he’s such a great guy, and thanks for Dotties hard work and the Mosses generosity for making this contest possible. It must have been heartwarming to read all these cards and know how many people just adore this fabulous mare! I’m in your backyard Zenny blowing you kisses across the beautiful Kentucky bluegrass. Luv and kisses on your nose
Kitei
@Jayne ~ did you know you can highlight the font size box in Word or Publisher and insert any number you wish? 2 point font, anyone? Print your own postcard? Sure, that works too! Been there, done that! LOL ;)
Gloria
Ooooh, and here I thought John was going to have the task of picking the winner. I love that fans get to vote. Love the picture of Mikey too, pickin’ the final four. Go Mikey!! Best of luck to all the participants. I especially liked Georgia’s story. Marrie FIFTY years?! That alone deserves a special statue. And, I can’t think of anything more special than Zenyatta! Good luck to all! Love you Team Zenyatta.
kealy
To me, the winner should be chosen as it has been done from the beginning of this contest – just DRAW one of the 4 names and that person wins. If it was going to come down to who wrote what at the end, then I’m sure that there were MANY poignant entries prior to the final drawing. I, too, am confused as to how ALL of #4’s comments fit on one little postcard – beautiful sentiments but then so were the others who kept their comments to a minimum.
Cathleen
Mike’s hot!
jeanie langford
Congrats and Good luch to the final four. How are YOU doing big girl???????????? I want to hear something about you. Hugs and Kisses my Queen.
Kitei
@Cathleen ~ agreed!
Gloria Jeanne
Dear Zenny- These are really wonderful to read, thanks for having the contest. I think it’s great that Mike got to be involved in this process. I must say I am in tears reading these too. So many thoughts are the same as mine, you have always been my Pegasus and I often dream of you and I flying across the sky looking for our next adventure. You have always been my escape and everytime you raced my boyfriend and I had a “date” with you at the track. Meeting you at Barn 55 was so AWESOME!!! I even met some new friends and trainers, it was too cute. You mean so very much to me – I can’t even say. I hope that You and Dottie find a really great way to share all the post card entries – Again, I love you more than words and I hope I get to visit with you again soon.
Thanks to Dottie for putting this contest together, John for going to the post office and everyone who helps with this site, it’s a really great place for us ZEN fans to get together and remember the good ole days of YOU!!!!
With tons of HUGS AND KISSES – ALLL MY LOVE TO ZENNY!!! YOU ROCK – Keep on Dancing my QUEEN!!!!
Stella Bagwell
Dearest Queen,
What lovely words the four finalists have written about you and to you, Zenyatta. They’re all deserving of your beautiful bronze, so I’ll say good luck to all!
It was so good to see ‘your Mikey’–bet those reins brought back a wealth of memories to him.
Happy Wednesday, Z, and watch out for the stormy weather making its way east!
Love and many hugs,
Stel
Kitei
@kealy ~ please see my comment, 2nd above yours. I agree with you that the contest should be EITHER all luck OR all skill! And being able to access the font size trick (or being in possession of a precision ultra-fine-point pen!) to fit more on a postcard shouldn’t really have anything to do with it — even if I do say so! BTW –> I know practically everyone who posts here can write up a storm — sometimes I’m even too abashed by the awesome quality what I’ve read here to post anything myself! :O
Sue Noel
What an exciting day!!!
@Dawn Conrad-I was so excited to see your name,I cried!! What you wrote was SO beautiful!! Hooves crossed for you!! My good wishes to all–we were all lucky to participate in the contest and whomever wins will be especially blessed.
As someone said,early on in the contest,we are really all winners because we have this wonderful website to be a part of,and we all have Queen Z to inspire us in so many ways. Thanks to all the team who have such an appreciation for how much “their girl” mans to so many,and who have been so generous in sharing her with us in so many ways. Team Z is changing the racing world for the better and should be very proud of that fact!!
A dear friend of mine is currently driving across the country and spent last night in Kentucky. This morning he said the weather was really something!! Hope where you were Queen Z that you were snug and not bothered. Wishing you a lovely day today,with sun on your back and a breeze to ruffle your mane. Love you,LOVE YOU!!
Kitei
Here’s the missing “of” from last sentence @kealy…”of” :)
Hernan Tovar
My dear Zenyatta, THE BEST OF ALL WINNERS IS SEEN MIKE… He is so cute!!!!
Ingrid from South Beach.
Kitei
Next post to be JUST about YOU – NOW! Okay? News of Zenny, please!
Karen Mitchell
The comments of the Final Four, each in her own unique and special way, eloquently express all our feelings and love for Zenyatta. Beautifully put and truly amazing! My vote is for Dawn, with whom I have a lovely “FB post” relationship of long-standing and whose words captured almost every feeling, thought, and memory we all share. However, that said, all four finalists wrote such special and heartfelt words and all are deserving. So — good luck to all. And a word of thanks and gratitude to Dottie and the whole Z team for the fair, fun, and exciting contest. What a fabulous job you all have done on this. Lots of love to dear Zenyatta; this is all about and for you, sweet girl.
georgia
This is so exciting I am having trouble working. The fact that Mike picked the final names alone is just fabulous. On Breeders Cup day I had him sign your poster for me and told him to bring you home safe. Good luck to each of us finalists, I think we all love you so much the words just keep pouring out but that darn card was just too small. Love to you and the Team
the kids of Tytler School Horse Club
We liked reading these postcard comments today. We love Zenyatta! We will be sending you some “Easter Eggs” here tomorrow.
Sue Noel
Oops! My finger must have slipped and left out the e in the word “means”–sorry!!
Sheri
Wow some really great entries! Dawn, you write like a poet! Good luck to all 4 of you in the contest and congrats for making it this far!!!
Margie
I just called and donated to Old Friends (in honor of Zenyatta :-) and asked them how things were going (donations). I was told things had slowed down a bit and they were trying to hang in there. So, please, if you can make a donation, no amount is too small, they would be so appreciative. You can do it in Zenny’s honor and it would be one small way to pay her back for all she’s done for us. Thanks, Z-ers. Love you, Zenny.
judy berube
Dear Z,
Thinking of you. We love you. Good luck to the final four. Rooting for CA. Love to all of you. Judy and Russ
sue
The love letters to you are so heartwarming, Zenny! Whoever wins will be a lucky person indeed. But we’re all lucky because we have been captivated by you and have in turn been uplifted by you.
Love and Hugs, Sue
Suzanne G
Dear Zenyatta,
Thanks for letting us read the postcards and special thanks to Mike for picking them. Although I would like to vote, I am not on facebook. Best wishes to the final four and for the special memories they shared with us. Enjoy that bluegrass, beautiful girl. Lots of love and hugs to you, your teams and your BFF’s.
Love,Suzanne G
Debbie
hi Z! Mike looks tooo cute standing there holding YOUR reins!!! Congratulations to the final four and good luck to all!!! Thank you Team Z for having this contest, it was great fun! I have ordered a sculpture from Nina since I didn’t make it past the first 64, I requested #41 since YOUR BD is April 1st. I can’t wait to get it!!! LOVE YOU beautifiul girl xoxoxo
Astrid
What a fabulous pic. of Mike! I am not on FB so can’t vote but wishing best of luck to the final 4! Zenny – miss you ♥