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
Shari Voltz
@I want to thank Mike and Suzanne who saw the article and said kind words. I will show the children. Words are so important. They can be wonderful or cut like a knife. I thank you (S) in San Diego you made me cry happy tears. I also want to thank Regina. What you said is so true. I hope all of this calms down because this site is so special to so many. We don’t want our children to be unkind to each other. We need to be more like that. We are all different and everyone has a special gift that they give the world. I pray that we don’t lose this site. I would be crushed and so would my class.
Shari Voltz
Dear sweet Zenyatta Happy Easter special girl. I hope you get lots of goodies. The children and I made a donation to Old Friends for our Easter gift. I think you would approve. I explained to the children that they needed us at this time and my class was ok with that. They know you are well taken care of. May God bless you and your family, Team Z, LE Team and Dottie, John and Sophie. Love, Shari XXXOOO
Barb France
Well Judy, Happy Belated Birthday!! Your 68 years young and many more to go, lots of hugs back to you!! Barb
Trina Nagele
@Judy Berube–Happy belated birthday! And 68 is considered young these days–certainly not soon to be consigned to the rocking chair on the porch! Best wishes.
Christine in VA
Blessed Easter Zenyatta , Gift from God,
Enjoy the true meaning of the day Zen and give all there from team Z a nuzzle and a kiss. Tell them not to pay any attention to the foolish jabber from some of the humans and enjoy the love you give to them.That is what is all about . ZENYATTA A GIFT FROM GOD AND THE LOVE YOU GIVE.
susan in tn
zenny- if i had a big nice boat, i would name it “Zenyachtta” !
Vicki B.
@Regina From NJ – I’m sorry, but I just don’t agree with your judgement about questioning the contest rules and postcard sizes, and I don’t feel anyone should be ashamed of having done so. They did nothing wrong. I don’t agree with everyone’s opinions (just as I know people don’t agree with mine), but in no way do I feel that any of us have done something for which judgement and shame should follow. It feels too harsh. There have only been very few posts that I felt “crossed a line”, when they veered into extreme attacks on others, and then the best choice was to ignore them. ———- Regina, I loved your wonderful story about meeting the Mosses, Dottie, and John, and your memorable shirt, and I agree with all you said about them. That was my favorite part of what you wrote. And I believe the most important thing you said, was in talking about this Diary “like a gentle meadow”, and that you’re “so fearful of losing it”. I understand that fear, but I just don’t think that will happen. I mean, I could be wrong, I guess, but I can’t imagine Zenyatta’s Team feeling insulted by the kinds of normal give and take disagreements found here. It’s just life, among people. I feel sure they know that. Just like Zenny got pushed back or blocked sometimes at the track, and her trip wasn’t always clear and smooth, but she always moved on, ears forward. I’ve never doubted that we all love Zenyatta, and that’s what keeps us going forward. Thanks for listening, and Happy Easter to all!
Sally (B)
@Regina; this post has been my salvation after coming back from 2010 Breeders Cup, knowing I would never see Z again! My husband saw me just break down because I love her so much, thinking I would never see her again. I truly appreciate your words, as without the generousity of Ann,Jerry and the Sherriffs, we could not speak to Z. But, I do speak for those who are really wondering of the possible unfairness with the final#4 selection. They would never hurt Ann, Jerry, John, Dottie, purposely by just having to address the situation and speaking their minds. They know how much this diary post means to them. They admire and respect them. I would never want to destroy this post either, I love Zenyatta! I wonder however, how chilren would be graded in English composition if they never had a paragraph in an essay.
judy berube
Dear Barb and Trina: Thank you for the birthday wishes. I’ve always been an optimist; too stubborn to change now. Hugs to both of you. Judy B.
Leslie R.
To all my fellow Zenyatta fans: All the bickering here over the contest is showing a childishness that just shocks me. The contest, even this site, isn’t about grammer or proper paragraph size. It is about sharing the love of the great Zenyatta.
The contest was a way for Team Z to share some Zenyatta love with her fans. What I see happening here makes me sick. I wouldn’t blame Team Z if they never attempted to do something nice for Zen’s fans again. It only takes a few people to ruin things for everyone.
I love this site and the connection it gives me to Zenyatta and her team. I can’t thank Dottie and Team Z enough for all that they continue to do to keep Zenyatta a part of our lives. This site means the world to me.
Love to all,
Leslie
Elizabeth
Boy did you ALL take my confession wrongly. I only admitted to the testing (that my husband did, being who he is, without my knowledge) because I was ONE who criticized and questioned the results. I was APOLOGIZING for that unfair act. I AM grateful for the fact that the Mosses and Shireffs have been SO generous to Zenyatta fans, both now and during her racing career. Ashamed? You bet, but I’m not going to sit here and HIDE the fact that I thought wrongly of someone and my DEFENSE of Dawn was because I had seen other posts that questioned her postcards and WANTED to make it clear to EVERYONE that we (those who doubted if she’d stuck to the rules) were being absolutely unfair to her! I am ASHAMED of you misreading and misunderstanding my motives for the apology. Like others have said, everyone has the right to have an opinion or viewpoint, but I guess on this website, God forbid, if you DARE to question anyone’s opinion that doesn’t match the majority. I AM ASHAMED at all of you for being so MEAN to those who DARED to differ from the majority opinion.
I think I will join Mike and leave this website alone now thanks to the unkind words that were directed not only at me, but also at anyone who dared to go against the party line.
Barb France
@Susan in tn – that’s exactly what I told my husband last year when we looking for a “yacht” to live on…again, he just gave me that “look”! (but I usually win the game if I play it right)..haven’t got the “yacht” yet, but it would be a GREAT name. Great minds think alike!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Happy Easter Zenyatta and Team Z! Wishing you all the best.
May your troubles be less, may your blessings be more, and may nothing but happiness come through your door!
And special thanks and honor to you Dottie for all that you do, this wonderful diary wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for you. Thankyou!
Love & Blessing to all!
judy berube
To Susan in Tn.:
Very clever. Judy B.
Linda in NJ
@Regina From NJ: Thank you! Well said. My heart goes out to Dawn. I just hope all this ruckus hasn’t spoiled the excitment of what appears to be a possible win for her.
Cindy from LA
Thanks so much to Dottie and Z for this contest. Everyone
Has so many opinions and the votes seem to be decided
In posts before by the way people who write on this site
I personally found number 4 to be a bunch of run on words
That were meaningless. It might have been better to not
Post names and only the words. I doubt that number 4 fit
On a standard card. But what do the words mean to you and
Which one touches your heart and vote. It is too bad this turned
Into a popularity contest. But Zenyatta was voted the most popular
Horse by the people and those invent racing community!!!!!
tony and sue
Happy Easter, Zenny and everyone at Barn 55 and LE who are part of the famous Z team. We can’t wait to see who won the bronze…we have loved reading the paragraphs on the final four postcards.
Hopefully in the next few weeks we will also get “official” word that our Queen’s pregnancy is well on it’s way. And finally, to everyone who reads here thanks for being part of the best website on the internet. Love to all….
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Hope you are doing great. It was suppose to rain here all weekend but by mid-day the sun was out. I hope you had a very pleasant day in your paddock with your friends. Take care Zenny. With so much love. Linda
Mike
Regina from New Jersey,
That is your opinion. I for one am not impressed. My aunt is also a Family Court Judge in Houston Texas (40 yrs) and is far more impartial. If you felt your ‘opine’ stood on it’s own merit, you would not have to “qualify” yourself. Most of us do not. We are not children, and I, for one, found your tenor to be offensive. You are speaking to adults with sharp minds, wits and hearts of their own discernment. This contest has been going on for quite a long time and if entrants would like to speak up they have the right to follow their prompting without a ‘mother hen’ who has not even to your own admission, entered into the discussion thus far. Do not think the weight of your words by your position are changing things. They will not and that is exactly the issue. The “Facts” are: it was not a paragraph, it was a letter; and no other person took the liberty to do the same. Also, it still cannot be a safe blind draw, for it will always be pulled first because of it’s size (unless proven otherwise!) Until you start to support the little people in the same manner as the ‘big wigs’ you will not be worthy of your title of impartial judge. No offense to you or Dawn, but I am speaking for all who feel the same. The ‘upset’ is this…Dawn wins no matter what – because of the wordiness and the size of the postcard. No one else had a fair chance. Her words were beautiful and so is her heart, but that was not the contest. We all come into meeting important and influential people often throughout our daily lives…my own father is a heart surgeon, pediatric, congenital and transplant; that does not mean we do not challenge inconsistencies until the light is shown on them. It is well that she is winning by our vote; for the ‘fair’ Z team gave us that privilege. You will not silence honest remarks here, by a false sense of guilt. All are welcome.
Deborah Richman
@The Tyler School Horse Club… Wow! What beautiful pictures and Easter Eggs you drew for Zenyatta!! Looking at them really made me feel happy, they were so cool! I think that Zenyatta and her team will love them! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing with us!!! :)
@Shari Voltz…What I wouldn’t give to be a child again and have you as a teacher. Your interview was so inspiring!! The way you have incorporated Zenyatta into your teaching is just amazing. I am forwarding your article to my sister who teaches third grade. Your kids are sooooo lucky to have you! Loved the article. Way to go, Shari!!! Also, I always enjoy reading your daily comments to find out what the children are doing each day :)
@Robbie…please stay, your postings are so important here. And your words to Kari about Zenyatta, “She is a radiant being who can summon hope in the face of despair”, I am just awestruck by the beauty of them.
@Dawn…thinking of you. Miss your lovely, encouraging, poetic comments. Please don’t lose heart.
There are so many more people I would like to thank and make comments to for the great links to videos, blogs, etc…but my cat is insisting that I go feed her…standing in front of the computer screen :) So I will just end by saying thanks to all of you!! I enjoy all of your comments, links, etc., so much.
And last and most importanly, a sincere thanks to Team Z, to our Queen, and a special thanks to Dottie for this wonderful blog.
Zenny, I hope you have a happy Easter munching your favorite treats and grazing the delicious grass with your pals!
Mike
and by the way – those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who are humble will be exalted.
Kari Bussell
@ Mike, Just for clarity, by putting fair in quotes and from another comment you made are you saying you think the contest is unfair or are you saying that you think it was rigged? Please I sure we all so value your “opinion” Just curious, I also want to wish that all you contribute and put into the world be return to YOU Sir, 10 Million Fold!!!!
Mike
Dear K,
I did not speak from sarcasm…they are extremly fair and most generous as they allowed us to cast the final vote. Yes, they admitted they read entries, and possibly favored a few, human nature dictates this is more than likely. However, to allow us (the people) to have the final vote is more than fair, it is commendable, for they will use all the words they choose, even if another entrant is given the bronze. It is a ‘Moot Point’ at this juncture. As with all diplomacy, taking ones silent views into the voting poll is enough. I did not appreciate dictatorship from one claiming to be “On High.”
Astrid
If you haven’t seen it check out this fabulous graphic by this talented artist “Zenyatta’s world” http://i-m-catmonkey.deviantart.com/art/ZENYATTA-s-WORLD-185425846
The drawing really IS magical and peaceful! We all could use some Zen:)
@ audrey C – I saw that race on TV – too funny!
@ Kitei – thank you for your interesting link!
@ thanks to everyone else for posting your links.
@ Zenny – sleep tight
Mike
by the way, I read your post and I wish you all the best. You still sound like the Belle of the Ball. We all get older, but the older we get, the younger we become because then we are closer to God.
Kim S
Happy Easter Zenny! Hope you get all the carrots a girl could want. Also Happy Easter to Team Z, West and East and all of Z’s fans.
So sad to see some say they won’t be back to this site and so sad to see that some haven’t posted in a while. And it is sad to see something so generous and kind turn into mud slinging, even when it may not have been meant that way.
Dottie, John, Ann and Jerry, we love and appreciate all that you do. Please don’t think us so unappreciative from the last few days comments.
This is one of the reasons that I haven’t commented in a day or so. Unfortunately with contests and such, this kind of thing seems to happen. We all just need to be happy for the 4 that are left. Ok, enough from me since Regina and Amanda have said everything that some of us wanted to say but couldn’t put into words.
@ Dawn Conrad–I, too, truly hope you are well and would love to see a post from you.
@ Kari B–you are truly courageous. Keep up the good fight.
Please count your blessings and enjoy your time with family and/or friends on Easter Sunday and every day.
Zenny have fun with the girls and hunting those Easter carrots.
Lotsa love to all.
Barb France
All I can say about all this “hoppla” is:
STOP….in the name of LOVE…before you BREAK
Barb France
OPPS..I DID IT AGAIN!!
STOP …in the name of LOVE…before you break everyone’s heart!!!! Enough all ready!! Good Luck to all!!! And Goodnight!!
Barb France
Oh, and I should mention this is a Diana Ross & Supreme’s song to give credit!!!
Kari Bussell
@ Judy Maas Gadwood a heartfelt thank you my friend. I wish your nothing , but Joy..
@ everyone who left all the beautiful comments. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You guys touched my heart deeply.
@ Regina- I thank God for your comment as I continued to be upset to the point of getting no sleep last night.My husband came home this afternoon to find I had fallen asleep nose dived into my computer…He at first was horrified thinking I was “gone”..I had fallen asleep while in the process of writing a comment that would not have been near as full of class as yours. I saw it when I had to re-fresh and I am so glad I did.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but again this is Dottie’s contest and rules anyone who questions her in any way is being beyond rude, disrespectful, and really unfair to her. For those of us who truly admire and love her and all of Team Z not to mention Zenyatta it is Very offensive period.
@ Toby- I accept your olive branch and return it to you.I do regret my tone with you when I last addressed a post to you.
Dear Zenyatta, Dottie, and all of team Z, I love you all with all my heart.