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
J Smith
Shari Voltz, I just read the Ray Paulick article again, and fwd it to all my friends. It’s just a wonderful story. My mum was a teacher, and an aunt. Not always an easy job. My aunt still teaches in East L. A. and to this day former students (who are now in their 20’s) write and visit. Several have become teachers. They all credit her with setting them on the right path to studying and doing well. Good teachers are a treasure, they really play a huge role in a childs life. You are expanding the minds of your students as well as teaching at the same time. I for one, am grateful that they will learn kindness to animals. Ohio will have a lot of exceptional citizens thanks to Shari and all other teachers like her. Shari, if you are in contact with Dawn, please give her my best wishes for a lovely easter weekend and I hope she is surrounded by the love of family and friends.
D.J. that is so nice of you. Team Z are an inspiration to all.
Here is the link to the article on Shari Voltz and class, in case u missed it above. http://www.paulickreport.com/features/three-chimneys-presents-good-news-friday/three-chimneys-presents-good-news-friday-zenyatta-in-the-classroom/#PageComment_71132
Shannon From Cool
Zenyatta is still a happy tonic for racing fans.
Trina Nagele
@Kitei—Thank you for your kind response to my comment, and thank you too for the many wonderful links you post for us all to enjoy. I really appreciate your taking the time to share them.
audreyc
@ Astrid (and everyone else)
Re: Funny names & race calls. For anyone who has not seen the video of this race at Monmouth Park last summer, I encourage you to watch. It is hilarious!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjJI1iAQRbo&feature=fvwrel
sue w
@Shari, what a wonderful story about your children and the lessons they are learning.
@Dawn, please come back and post…I love hearing from you in this site.
@Zenny, hope you are happy and enjoying your mud baths. Lord knows there’s been plenty of rain in your paddock to make good puddles. :-)
@Dottie, John, Jerry, Ann and all of team Z, Happy Easter and THANK YOU for allowing us to continue coming together in this forum.
Maria K.
Happy Easter Queen Z. Hugs & Kisses!
Cynthia H.
@Kimberly Potter. Thank you for your kind comments. I can tell you are a great Zenyatta fan!
Karey R
audrey c…You’re right, that clip is hilarious. At the end of the race the announcer said “Whew!”. Too funny!
Kitei
Thank you Trina!
Terry Crow
@barb france–Thank you for your sentiments. I have had the honor of seeing many great ones in person, Swaps, Native Diver, Buckpasser, Affirmed, Damascus, Ack Ack, and Round Table among them. I was there when Johnny Longden won his last race on George Royal. But I have never seen the likes of Zenyatta before and I doubt that I will ever again. My thanks to the owners for allowing this wonderful mare to compete another year.
Vicki B.
@karen g – Thanks for that! The one time I did see Zenny in person, I involuntarily moaned, surprising myself, and felt a little embarrassed, but it told me just how much it meant to me. I hope to be able to go visit her some time in the future, but no rush. I also hope others who never saw Zenyatta herself, yet, get the chance, and take it.
Vicki B.
@Sally (B) – the voting was moved to the top of this diary page, so no one has to use FaceBook anymore, to vote. Which is great!
Regina From NJ
@ Elizabeth et al- Well, I came here today hoping to find that those infamous posters of this Diary Post #231 had finally returned to normal ESPECIALLY after everyone has been given the opportunity to read the mind jolting post of Kari Bussell above. Not so. I rarely opine here and usually limit my posts to a few words to one or two people who particularly touched me on a given day and always end with a “G’night” to the Great Mare. Well, now, I can no longer exercise the patience our beloved Dottie must have and must speak my mind. Anyone who does not wish to read what I have to say, please move on to the next post. I’ll not hold back my thoughts. First, I shall qualify myself. For most of my professional life, I ran an entire courtroom, heard cases, arguments of cousel, made my findings of fact and created orders which hopefully had far reaching positive effects on hundreds and hundreds of children and families. That is a fairly good foundation for stating the following thoughts: I would be ashamed-ASHAMED- to come here and admit that I went to the trouble of calling a post office and then experimenting to see if any of the rules had been broken. I would be ashamed to say or even to allude to the idea that Dawn Conrad is now ‘cleared.’ Apologies? Hopefully, they are not too little, too late. Sharp words are worse than the sharpest sword, and some of you have pierced a very sensitive heart indeed. I have no personal investment in Dawn Conrad as I know her only from reading her kind and tender posts. Surly, those posts could not be masking a person who would seek to break rules for an unscrupulous advantage over others. Now, I come to the core of my issues. WHOSE RULES? WHOSE CONTEST? WHO here is in fact being challanged? Yes, that’s correct. You were all (the use of generalizations is generic and directed only to those to whom it applies) attempting to second-guess and question DOTTIE and THE MOSSES. It was THEY who honored US with an invitation to participate in THEIR contest, and it is only through THEIR generousity that this contest was brought into fruition. The proper and ONLY response here would have been to overlook the size of Dawn’s paragraph KNOWING that it had passed Dottie’s hands and went into the selection tubs. That fact standing by itself should have been enough for you. What were you thinking? You think Dottie was attempting to skew the results by “breaking the rules?” Shameful. Let me tell you a story about Dottie. The first time I met her was after the Vanity when Zenyatta had just beaten St. Trinians. I was wearing my special shirt which was a duplicate of the BC Classic/2009 sign I had made. I ran around a bend somewhere in the stands at Hollywood Park and bumped right into the Mosses and Dottie who were all just standing there enjoying the moment. For the first time in my adult life, I was speechless-unable to utter a single syllable as I was in such awe. Mrs. Moss and Dottie totally loved the shirt, and all I could do was point to it and stare at them stupidly. Flash forward to the BC Classic/2010. It was the morning after the race. I was in Starbucks which was rather empty at the time. I got my coffee, looked up, and who was standing there but John Shireffs himself. This time I found my voice and congratulated him on the best race Zenyatta ever ran. Of course, emotions were a mixture of contradictions after that race, but John Shireffs was able to laugh with me over my story about Dottie and the speechless meeting. He kindly took my arm and replied, “Well, let me introduce you to Dottie now that you are talking.” They treated me like an old friend. Casual and unhurried. Dottie remembered the details of that shirt which she had seen five months prior. It was I who terminated that meeting, not them – because I was so worried that I was keeping them from some other business elsewhere. THAT is Dottie–a perfect lady who remembered a shirt in a crowd from months before. It is critical that apologies be directed to John and Dottie Shireffs and to the Mosses – these extraordinary people who have allowed us into the now private life of Zenyatta and into their lives as well. The worst torture I can think of is to lose this Diary which could happen should it continue to evolve into something unrelated to its original intent. There are so many horse related blogs out there which seemingly welcome debate and criticism. I believe this Diary was created to be more like a gentle meadow where people can gather to be educated about the Sport of Kings and to honor a magnificent being embodied within a horse. I am so hoping that it will return to the way it was in Chapter 1. I am so fearful of losing it. I would ask only one thing of people here and that is to realize and be at all times aware that the Shireffs and the Mosses and all of Team Z are not who and what they are because of Zenyatta but rather, Zenyatta is who she is because of THEM.
Karey R
Regina from NJ: If I understand line 9 in your post, my meaning and intent have been misunderstood. I personally never thought Dawn needed to be ‘cleared’ of anything. That’s why I put quotes around the word. In my own inadequate way, I was attempting to silence the doubters. I agree 100% with your valuing Team Z and the original purpose of this site.
Suzanne G
@Eveline and J Smith–thanks for posting link to Paulick report and
@Shari Voltz–congratulations to you on the idea and contratulations to your class on their dedication and enthusiasm.
@DJ–beautiful gesture for Shari’s class
@Abigail–your blog is a pleasure to read.
@Kitei–such an interesting link. Thank you.
Especially Horses
@Regina From NJ: You said it all and very well indeed. Thank you!
Jan
Zenyatta,
Happy Saturday big Mama :)
@ Regina. Totally agree with you. Thank you :) :)
S (in san diego)
@Shari..just read the article!! Wonderful. So many lessons can be learned from a great teacher and someone who works hard, loves what they do, is nurtured and mentored by someone who is caring and patient. Someone who makes the right decisions, has a wonderful attitude and appreciation for their blessings and does their job with honesty and integrity = Zenyatta and Shari V.
judy berube
Happy Holiday Weekend Z:
Hope you are well and happy. Happy Holiday Z Team. Love to all of you. Judy and Russ
Karey R
Regina, I had logged off to get on with my day and noticed I was still feeling the sharpness of your words. Even when written out of misunderstanding, you’re right, words can sting.
judy berube
To Regina:
I always post first and then scroll up to read the posts and I just read yours. What a terrific story and experience for you to meet the Shirreffs. They really are special people.
To Terry and Barb: Living in New England, I never was fortunate enough to see Zenyatta in person. I always said I could die happy if I got to see her live. If that doesn’t happen, maybe I’ll see one of her babies run at Saratoga. Can dream. Hugs Judy B.
Trina Nagele
Regina said it all so well. A tender heart–maybe TWO tender hearts (I’m thinking here of both DAWN and DOTTIE)— has been wounded. All of Z’s fans hope that LOVE and PEACE will prevail in Zennyland, and we hope we don’t lose this beautiful web page. In the spirit of the Easter season, we plead, “Forgive them, DAWN/DOTTIE, for they know not what they do.”
Trina Nagele
@Karey R–You are a dear. I’m so sorry that your good intentions got misinterpreted, as I think they did (I would like to put that little caveat on my remark that Regina said it all so well). Now, to make the sting go away, think of Zenny giving it a big kiss–I hope that helps.
Diana S
Eveline: Re Calendar – I’m a post menopausal woman, but I believe I’ve just had a hot flash! Thanks for the link – I think :-) diastu in getting-hotter-Phoenix.
Good luck to the four – and thankyou for letting us vote here instead of on Facebook.
Barb France
@Judy Berube – I live in WA state and was able to see her. My dad alway said “have some great memories so when your “swinging on your porch” during your old age you can face death with a big smile on your face”. Your comment reminded me again of his “lecture”..so never give up on seeing her. (You’ll have the biggest smile on your porch!) Thanks for the memory!!
I hope EVERYONE
Barb France
Ooopps…hit the wrong button…
I hope EVERYONE has a wonderful Easter Sunday!!!
Ingrid
Unfortunately there are always and will be a few negative unhappy people that will try to bring everyone and everything down. The way I look at all of this is if you don’t agree with Dawn or whoever for whatever reason then vote for someone else. End of story. For myself, I voted for Valerie because I stayed away from horse racing especially after Eight Belles. There was a dark side of racing I had a hard time dealing with. After watching the 60 minutes segment I was hooked. I did watch the Breeders Cup rather cautiously hoping to God no one got hurt most important – but bowled over by her performance with Mike at the helm (what a dynamic team they made). Again, the most important is that she came out of all these races safe and sound. And what especially brought me back is how Ann and Jerry Moss, John and Dottie and the rest of the Z team treated her as a family member and not like a business. I didn’t mean to ramble on as long but I had to get this off my chest. The website and facebook page are great and the negative few have to have their say just like everyone else for they have that right – but should be taken with a grain of salt. By the way Valerie – I live in Davisburg and would like to see the bronze Zenyatta in Michigan.
Nona
Dear Zenyatta,
I usually avoid blogs; but you are an exception to the rule!!
I did get to see you at Del Mar and HollyWood Park last fall. When you walked off the track at H.P.,I stood and watched as you walked around the track and out of sight. The horse that I had followed for the past few years was really REAL.. I had not followed a race horse since Barbaro, and have not read about a horse so much since the late great John Henry.
Not only were you a great entertainer on the track but a great dancer in the paddock. I was usually watching you race with my hands up over my eyes, peeking making sure you went wide and ended up leader of the pack. Sometimes you scared me; but you and Mike knew how to win!
I finally got notice yesterday that my order is being shipped, and that is my Breyer of Zenyatta, yes of You..I have a close up pic of you at Del Mar and had note cards made with YOU on the front. My Local post office is always asking me when the next picture of Zenyatta is arriving; I always need just one more for my wall.
Thank you, Thank you for the racing memories!
judy berube
Dear Barb: Your post made me laugh out loud. Thank you. My only problem is, I turned 68 on April 18th. So I hope I’m around a while to make my dream come true. Hugs. Judy B
Kathryn Cogswell
To Regina From NJ: ‘Symphonic as Portia.’ And funny. My thanks for stepping into ‘Z`s’ shoes, as she would for Dottie, catching wind of this. Khc.