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
Cheryl Y
JAYNE/I do agree with you,this card from Dawn could not have fit on one postcard!!!I tried very hard to fit my heartfelt feelings on one postcard in one paragraph,could not do so.I had to shorten it so much that it did not portray my comlplete feelings at all.But I assumed that what we wrote did not matter,as the final 4 would be separated and the winner to be chosen by John.I was dissapointed when I was not picked in the 64,but was happy for those who were,now I feel cheated and I feel compassion for the 3 people that followed the supposed rules!My vote is for Vicky as she expressed the feelings of many of us in one paragraph and on one postcard.Also I feel sorry for the younger fans who may not be as poetic or computer literate enough to do what some of you stated could be done to fit her(Dawn),so called paragraph on 1 standard postcard!In the future,in any upcoming contests,the rules should not be altered,when the end is near.
Kitei
@Sharon Call – All I did was copy / paste from Purdue University’s “OWL” web site, I did not make any of it up myself — sorry, I forgot to put quotation marks around the passage.
In diary post #205, Zenyatta wrote:
“2) Based upon this thought, I would like for you to write on a postcard in one paragraph…”
English has rules, and English words, including “paragraph” have actual meanings…which is only a good thing for us, and for our attempts to communicate with each other, when you think about it.
I asked for an English teacher to comment — does that describe you?
As for me, I’m sure a comment from someone with a perfect score on the GRE Verbal can be summarily dismissed as utter nonsense, so please, kindly disregard both my words and my existence, if that’s your pleasure! Still, I’m hoping that Zenyatta has no interest in removing my 1st Amendment right to point out the meaning of a totally neutral word! I don’t think your argument about implication would stand up in court — it’s probably covered by free speech also. As far as my interest in fairness, I’m sure Zenyatta fully understands the reasons for it! Racing has rules, too…
Here, to avoid any further appearance of trying to imply anything, I’ll just say outright that, no matter how sincere and lovely the sentiments expressed on Dawn’s card, I personally would not vote for it, simply because I can’t identify what she wrote as a paragraph — it’s too many thoughts and much too long, so it’s basically outside the contest rules. If it so happens that it is also the size of a wall, it should probably be in a contest of its own! What anyone else thinks or does about any of this is their own business. None of it is up to me. I don’t know Dawn, and have NO axe to grind over who wins or loses. If I went back and re-read what I wrote on my own postcard, I might feel it’s also too many thoughts, too long, and so, under the stated rules, ineligible for the contest! (It’s not on this computer, but I’ll have to check it out now!)
I may not get to vote anyway, due to concerns about the “Polls” application on Facebook insisting it needs me to sign my life (and my friends’) away in order to use it, so it’s not too important what I think about anyone’s entry. Agree or disagree, it’s your perfect right!
God bless you all, America, and the entire world too! No meltdowns, please! (Sorry, that’s not particularly funny, but entirely heartfelt!) May the best postcard win! :)
M2 + Little Bit & Ready Lady (The team from the Little Bit Ranch)
Congratulations to the final four. I agree with Judy – let’s all just love Zenyatta. Also, please let’s all remember our charitable causes. They need our help and our promtion to others so that these beloved equine get their fair due.
M2 + Little Bit & Ready Lady (The team from the Little Bit Ranch)
Meant to add – agreed, Mike is hot:)
L.S.
I voted #2.
.
Felt this writer captured the spirit of the contest perfectly. A perfect Zenyatta ‘soundbyte’
.
#4 is a little long and in fact I zoned out on it about 3 sentences in.
Debi Hamari
Beautiful Queen Zenyatta,
What amazing words and thoughts and memories of YOU! You are so special to so many and loved by all who know you.
It is so hard to choose just one. I wanted this bronze to go someone who drew extraordinary strength and courage from your strength and joy in the races you ran.
Many blessings to you and your amazing team and fans. Good luck to the final 4! You are all winners!
Love and hugs!
Janet Cutting
hello all!!! I know were suppose to focus on the contest–but Mike does look HOT!!! Ok, good-luck to our finalist. Yeah!!!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Wow, what a nice pic of Mike. So glad to see that the contest is almost finally over. Enjoyed reading all four of the finalists writings. Congratulations to all four of you lucky ladies-may the best and most deserving one win-good luck!
Thankyou so much Zenyatta for shining brighter than any star up above, you continue to give me hope and make me smile! Love you lots!
Janet Cutting
Hey that should be our next contest–LET’S MEET MIKE CONTEST–just having a laugh– I can’t decide on the vote–who, who who?
J Smith
The cutest part of the photo of Mike (apart from Mike) is the fact that John & Dottie have Zenyatta’s reins hanging in their house! Now that’s love. I wonder if they just took them there for the drawing, or that is the permanent home of the reins, too cute.
Everyone, please focus, somebody has had to spend a lot of money on a bronze of Zenyatta for US. They bought it to give to one of us, that was incredibly generous of them. So lets thank them, not get picky about the details of the final four, use your vote not your words, unless they are enourageing. Thanks. Good luck to all, and the winner PLEASE take pix for us.
By the way, I’m not a fan of FB either, but I did set up an account a few months ago to better join in with all the horse pages, which is fun. I was suprized that u reallly can limit the info shown on your page. If u click on ‘settings’ and ‘profile’ you can block everything but your name from being seen. It is not required to give your address, or phn #, or a photo, so anyone who happened to search your name would not really know if it was you, or someone else with the same name. I had visions of people I had no interested in ever seeing again contacting me, but either they felt the same way :) or it’s really more private than most of us thought. Just wanted to let you know it’s not the horror that those of us who are technologicaly impared thought it was.
J Smith
@Janet Cutting – Meet Mike – that might be an auction item at the TROTT Kentucky Derby Party at Santa Anita! Not 100% sure, but Bonnie was going to try and get one of the jockeys to donate ‘themself’! It would be, breakfast with…. I’ll let u know if I hear anything.
Jane C
Jeez, what a lot of blah, blah, blah! Whoever wins will be one lucky person, to have that wonderful sculpture to look at forever. I have met the beautiful Zenyatta and kissed her nose and if I had had the chance to kiss Elvis’s nose it couldn’t have been more exciting. She’s one special gal and always will be. Good luck girls! Hugs to Z.
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta what lovely letters. I am crying for Dawn’s says it all. I wish I could write like that because she touched on things that are also in my soul. I hope she wins because like you I see something special in her. She would be a great Language Arts Teacher or a speech writer. She has spoken the truth about all you have done and continue to do. My goodness you are so loved by me and the children. The depth of our love for you is unreal. As a little girl I loved the Great Secretariat and as an adult I love you. My children in school will never forget their 5th grade year. We call it our Zenyatta Year. Thank you sweet girl and I thank Dawn for the most beautiful words. I am going to read them to my Homeroom on Monday. They are specail and heart felt. I love you Zenyatta. Sweet dreams. Hugs and Kisses from ShariXXXOOO
@Dawn what can I say but YOU made it. Your letter says it all. YOU are a very Special Lady. You have my vote. God Bless :)
Janet Cutting
OK, I have made up my mind– Mike– no, I am voting for …. one that I can most relate to– #2. DONE.
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Wow this contest is almost over! What a great contest it has been. Congratulations to the four finalists!!! All of your comments were so beautiful and heartfelt. I can see where Dottie had a difficult time with trying to see through her tears as she typed away. I was at work when I read today’s post and had all tears in my eyes when a colleague happened to come by my desk to see if I wanted to grab a cup of coffee. Oh my goodness, talk about poor timing. Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Moss,Dottie and Team Z for I will need a week to think about my vote. It is going to be tough to select just one. What an honor to have Mike select the Final 4. How cool is that. And Mike, in all good fun, I have to agree with the other fans: you definitely have a sexy thing going on there! Lol!
@Debbie and @MLV: I ordered a Zenyatta bronze too. After all, I made the first 2 rounds. Lol.
Stephanie
Zenny , the whole world loves you sooooooo much, congrats to the final four xoxoxo
Kate
WOW! All four entries are equally worthy and wonderful – good luck to all of you!!!
Shannon From Cool
Mike, you are too cute for words and one lucky guy to have had such a great relationship with Zenyatta. WOW!
Janet Cutting
@J Smith– Really, Breakfast–I could fly in from WI for breakfast– but, I would have to bring the Hubby too. Cute. Lots of fun. Janet C
Robyn Mullhausen
My beautiful, sweet Zenny…we could never give you as much as you have given everyone who loves you. Zenny, please kiss Dottie for all the hard work and tenderness she puts into being your Personal Assistant.
peggy
Dearest Zenyatta I have missed a few days talking to you. @Dawn much good luck wishes sent your way. Everyone Good Luck.@Sue so glad you got to Old Friends , I know you had a wonderful time. Love pops and all the horses. I just got back from the sales in Ocala Fl. OMG, OMG it was wonderful just can’t say what a wonderful time it was. So many many beautiful 2 year olds. Word just can’t say I was just in heaven. I have to give a huge Shout out to the Ocala Breeders Sales such a Classy Place. There was so many people there they even had valet parking. I saw so many horses that I just fell in love with. One filly that was just drop dead gorgeous sold to the man sitting behind me. She reminded me of Secretariat but was a filly. (Same coloring) I went in back to see the horses waiting in line to go into the ring, they all seemed to be pretty well behaved and were just too, too gorgeous. I went to some of the barns too. The Auctioneers well some of them sounded like the ones I have heard in the video feed from Keeneland Don’t know if they were the same people but sounded similar. I hope I am not annoyed anyone about going on about this but I had such a good time, Good lord willing I will be going back again. Easy to get too and I do want another horse one day. Oh, Oh, Oh, last but not leaset I got Rick Violette and Dan Hendricks to sigh my sales book, I Was so thrilled as I am such a big fan of these trainers. @Trina, again thanks for your former post wanting to know about my trip hope I didn’t get too long. @Zenyatta love you very much. Peggy
WILD HORSES
Loved #4, although they all are wonderful. Good luck to all! Dawn put into words what so many of Big Z’s diehard fans have felt for her over the years. Kudos!
I’m all on board for a “MIKE IS HOT” club. I’ve been watching old Breeders Cups from back in the day and boy did he have alot of hair back then! He looks good either way though-adorable! Lori
Eveline
To all Mike lovers out there, this has been posted before but here it is again http://www.drf.com/blogs/its-beefcake-time
Kathy Kimber
All I can say is WOW. I voted ladies you did a great job and I can identify with all four. Thoughts are what they are all so well expressed paragraph or not. Good luck to all. You are all deserving. Zeny we have some really great friends out there.
AJ from CA
Good luck to all 4 but I think it should be a drawing instead of favorite sentiment since Dawn’s card (although articulate) did put the other 3 at an unfair advantage based on original rules which to my memory limited comments to a couple of thoughts to fit on a regular size postcard.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To Kathryn: You words of ministration are poetic and apt. Thank you as always for being what I think of as the pastor of Zenyatta’s website. A pastor poet.
I do not belong to Facebook, so I will not be able to vote.
I realize that what I’m about to say is not commendable, but I agree with everything Kitel said.
As it happens, I submitted 6 ordinary size postcards. Each had 1 paragraph on it expressing one aspect of my appreciation of Zenyatta.
My apologies to Dawn; my opinion would be the same regardless of who wrote the “paragraph” in question.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
I have to make a comment,I thought that the contest was supposed to be one paragraph in length and to be written on a postcard. A post card as I know it, does not have enough room on it to be able to display all that is in a few of the finalists words. Just couldn’t be put on a postcard no matter how hard someone tries. I sent in an actual postcard and wrote one paragraph and had trouble getting what I wanted to say on it and in fact wasn’t able to get it all on. But, I did the best I could in the space that I had on a POSTCARD! How in the world did others get all of their writing on a postcard and it was supposed to be one paragraph. I believe that some of the finalists are overboard on what a paragraph is. In english language,what has been presented is not actually a paragraph. It is a few paragraphs made to look like one. But it couldn’t have fit on an actual standard postcard! Sorry to say this, but it doesn’t actually seem to be right!
So sorry, but this is how I feel and I see some others are feeling that way also!
Dani
Such a wonderful photo of Mike with the reins. Has a very nostalgic feel to it. And how sweet and sentimental that John and Dottie should have Zenyatta’s reins at their home in a wonderful little spot they probably pass quite often.
.
As much as we love Zenyatta, imagine the enormous amount of love that has passed between John and Z. Every little thing about her must be ingrained in his heart and his mind. My favorite John Shirreffs moment was after a race which I watched on TV. A reporter was trying to interview him, asking him what he thought about her performance, but John’s attention was on Zenyatta who was off camera. He was gazing at her with a look of almost wonderment and awe and of love. He looked at the crowds around her, everyone yelling her name, waving their posters and their Zenyatta hats. You could see the pride on his face, the gratitude towards all these people who came out to support her, to admire and celebrate her. John seemed almost spellbound as he watched her and the crowd around them and then as if to no one in particular, more to himself it seemed, he simply said, “Look at her. Just look at her. Isn’t she something?” I don’t know why this moment touched me so. Or why those simple words resonated inside me. I never got to meet Zenyatta in person. But when I remember that moment I feel like I had met her and that I knew her through the eyes of someone who knew her better than anyone else in the world. And I cherish that moment for myself.
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Very best wishes to the final four. You all wrote such wonderful sentiments and each of you is deserving.
mj
Congratulations to you fabulous 4!! As for all the bickering, I believe the limit for a postcard is 4×6 according to the USPS. Nonetheless, all 4 were wonderful and deserve consideration. I wish Z’s bridle was hanging in my house!! As for Mike-too bad I’m so darn old. As for Sophie-everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I don’t believe it was Mike’s fault, but an accumulation of circumstances. Z proved she is the greatest, no matter what the result. She was positively awesome in defeat!!!! Good night and good luck!!
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear god, RPK; pastoring takes integrity I can`t even spell, but nice to see you visiting & if you care to register on FB using just your e`mail & a PW, you can ‘Skip’ all the rest, vote, exit, & never return.