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
Ingrid in MA
CONGRATULATIONS FINAL FOUR!! And GOOD LUCK! Can’t wait to vote! Love you,Sweet Zen!
D.Lawson
Zen, WOW! Good luck to the final four.
Tory
Speaking of winners – Black Caviar is the top horse of the Globabl 20! She has had 12 consecutive wins. :-) http://www.timeform.com/display_articles.asp?page=Global_Rankings.asp
Paula Higgins
Sophie, your comments about Mike Smith are completely unacceptable to me. Besides being wrong, they are cruel. Mike loves Zenyatta as much or more than many of us. He did his level best to win that race and for various reasons she missed by 6 inches. None of it was because he didn’t try his hardest. He was heartbroken when she missed by a nose. By the way, many of us regard it as her greatest race, including me.
Kitei, as for what constitutes a paragraph, I didn’t know we were taking English 101. While you may be technically correct, you clearly missed the spirit of this contest. In the rules, there was no mention of making the paragraph concise. Dawn wrote what was in he heart and should not be criticized for that. As far as I am concerned all 4 ladies did a lovely job and to criticize them is just unkind. One other note, my sense of Dottie is that she is a very fair person and she would not allow an entry that did not meet the criteria.
Carole
For whatever reason, my computer does not show the link from Zenyatta’s website to her Facebook page, so I created a Facebook account in order to access Z’s Facebook page. DJ (who posted earlier) is absolutely right – you can keep your account “private” from everyone else by not providing profile information and changing all your settings to prevent access to the minimum data required to establish your account. I use Facebook only to see Zenyatta’s page and no one knows I have an account there. Give it a try and then you can place your vote for the contest.
Trina Nagele
@Peggy—Loved your description of your trip to the Ocala sales, and look forward to hearing about the next one (maybe that will be the one where you bring a baby home). Glad you made it home safe and sound–the same as we all wish for all horses when they are in the starting gate, or trailering.
Marian M.
I agree with several of the previous comments: the original rule was to post one paragraph on one postcard. I do not think that this was adhered to in the messages posted. My initial impression was: How did entries 3 & 4 fit their comments, lovely as they are, on a postcard? Not all are single paragraphs, as earlier fans have explained.
I’m also concerned because I thought the procedure was to select winners exclusively by chance, i.e., not to submit entries to judgement. Did I misunderstand the contest?
Lastly, I share the concern expressed in another comment I read that to vote requires providing permission to the Poll App to access privacy information on Facebook, including friends. I will not vote in the poll because I do not wish to expose my friends to an unknown source nor do I wish to give that source my personal information.
There is another reason that I will not vote: I do not want to choose among the Final Four.
I think that all the comments offered by the four finalists express unique personal experiences with Zenyatta and should be honored as equally authentic. To vote for one over the others diminishes the value of those not selected. I know that that isn’t the intent. But to do so is not Zenyattaesque.
I suggest choosing one by blind drawing and honoring all pf the Final Four with some recognition of their love for Zenyatta and what she means to each: an autographed photo or a certificate, perhaps?
Jan
Zenyatta,
Hope you are having fun with the girls and enjoying the nice weather. Waiting for more BD pictures. Yeah, Mike is one good looking dude. Good luck to the final four. Lots of Hugs & Kisses for you Big Mama, xoxox
max
@Dani. Great post about Zenyatta and John Shirreffs. I enjoyed reading your thoughtful words.
Kim S
How exciting to read the Final Four’s thoughts on Zenyatta. All were spot on about everyone’s feelings toward Zenny and Team Z. And I agree on a consolation prize for those that don’t get the bronze statue but I’m sure the Team has already thought of that. How about a signed picture of Zenyatta and Mike with a call from Mike. :)
So excited that Vicki and Georgia got to see Zenny in person and here’s hoping Valerie and Dawn will some day.
All the postcards were great and it sounded as if Dawn had been in my bedroom as I was growing up.
Good luck to you 4!!!
Here is a response that I recevied from Old Friends when I asked, on Facebook, about the timeframe for reaching their goal: Old Friends wrote: “We are closing in on 1/3 of the origianl $300,000 goal. Suffice it to say, we need to get to $200,000 TOTAL by the end of April and to $300,000 TOTAL by the end of May. Donations are still very much needed and appreciated. Michael will be posting an email update soon”.
Please take the time to give whatever you can to save this wonderful farm. Thanks.
Lotsa love to all.
judy berube
Dear Dani:
What you posted was eloquent and so true. Hugs. Judy B
Robin A.B.
Zenny, WE LOVE YOU GIRL! We hope you are enjoying the Spring warmth at Lane’s End with your pals. I saw it written on FB – it’s true – there is no other horse out there with her personality and heart. We keep hoping. Some are fun, some are fast, and some are impressive, but NO HORSE IS LIKE OUR ZENNY! That’s why we miss her so.
Sally (B)
Wow Z I love you from the bottom of my heart and it will always be! Unconditionally. How great is this to have the guy who sat upon you, who knew you, ran with you, then won many races. . I love all the postcards in the final 4. Z, I read the final 4 late today but I am undecided right now. They all express a special sentiment. One writes so long but I love her words but I never thought they could exist on a postcard. So, I will look thoroughly again as to what each one wrote. I just love you Z. Believe me Z, if I truly expressd how special you are, it would have been more than a paragraph on a postcard!! I think it is awesome for the Z team to do this for all of us. I admire and respect and love them. But, I still will travel to just give you a kiss on your soft nose.
Linda in NJ
@Marian M. In all due respect, this is Team Z’s contest and this is the way they choose to complete the contest. This site is all about love and this contest was about the joy and love we have for Zenyatta.
Jane in Seattle
I wonder if those of you who think “Mike is hot” saw this when I posted it the first time: http://www.drf.com/blogs/its-beefcake-time
Barbara Livingston, who took such gorgeous pictures of our Z, has taken photos for a fundraising calendar for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. The pictures are great, the link has some outtakes I think you will find worth perusing. Although I have to admit, the one of Mike laying on the bed (no ladies he is not naked =-)) only made me think “Wow! How small is that bed that he covers so much of it?” But it’s still a lovely picture and will only enhance your estimation of Mike and the others, not vulgar at all. And the calendar includes my all-time favorite, Edgar Prado.
Maria K.
Good luck to final four. Hugs and kisses Queen Z. Love you!
Jane in Seattle
Oops, Eveline, sorry I didn’t see your
post =-( But it’s a good cause and worth repeating, so I hope you’ll excuse me.
Linda in NJ
@Paula Higgins– I agree with you!!! Well said!!
Lisa g
Man, I was cheering by states to make it the Final Four, but after reading all this…well, it is not an easy task. All the of the messages are wonderful and I think have what all of us feel. Georgia, you are such a lucky girl to have a husband such as he. I cannot vote yet, I need to ponder on all this, it is important…….IT IS ZENYATTA.
Mike
There is a big difference between a post-card and an essay!
Carole
@Dani – I loved the story of your favorite John Sherriff’s moment because it resonated in me the same way. I saw every one of Zenyatta’s races (two, in person). When I watched Z race for the very first time in November 2007, I said the exact same thing – “WOW! Look at her. Isn’t she something?” When I saw her in person at Hollywood Park, winning the Vanity Hdcp. in June 2009, it struck me even more – “Isn’t she something?”. At the 2009 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, my husband and our friends from Canada saw Zenyatta in person for the first time. All I could say to them was “Look at her. Isn’t she something?”. I have seen some of the greats in racing during my nearly-60 years as a racing fan and Zenyatta, by far, is the most impressive equine athlete I have ever laid eyes on. Her beauty, grace and aura will live in my mind until my dying day. She truly is “something”.
Delrene
All four finalists encapsulated ALL THE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS knowing Zenyatta through her racing career to the present. I really don’t know how Dawn did it- She wrote a novella on a postcard. To all who worked so hard on this contest, thanks so much. I hope we can read some of the others over time that didn’t “quite make it to the finish line”. My vote has been cast and I even joined Facebook today (having tried to avoid it) to ensure I continue to enjoy all things Zenyatta.
Have a wonderful Easter Sunday one and all. Great picture of you Mike. And just in case you ladies aren’t aware of he 2012 Jockey Calendar to promote the Disabled Jockey Fund Great calendar! Photos by Barbara Livingston, Mike is one of the months!!! Looking forward to promoting all the good things about thoroughbred horse racing .
Deneen
Wow Z!! Almost 77,000 fans on Facebook!!
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
here we are, the final four, and the rules of the contest were actually changed afterall. This is like you starting your race, full gallop, and all of a sudden the organizers decide to put up a hurdle for you also to jump over, or a pool of water for you to have to run through. This is disappointing to say the least, and the contest should be declared void.
Leave it up to humans, I like horses better. Sleep on that one there.
Barbara Wood
Dear Z–what a great picture of Mikey holding those reins. I’m with those who are uncomfortable with having to pick a winner. I’m a Facebook member but hardly ever go there (I spend too much time here–lol!) I wish everyone could win, although I did vote for one. Good night , precious girl. Love you always.
Diana a.
congrats to the final 4! i love you Z
Lisa g
@Kirren: I posted on the #230, finally, finally, I saw your video…thanks for the memories. Lisa g
Sharon Call
@Dani. Wonderful post about Z and John. I really enjoyed that. Thanks!
Mike
I agree with Robbie. A paragraph is between 3 and 6 sentences long. If the postcard was already chosen as the winner, we should not have to vote, it is already what they wanted to say; and that is that. But still unfair to the others. BigMike47 from Ca.
Lisa g
Mike has always been hot, Beefcake just made everyone start talking about it.
I did not want to join FB, then a year or so ago my friend talked me into it. This is how I really keep in touch with my family that do not live near. It is a wonderful thing.
I am on FB with all my favorite horses and Mike Smith, and Barn 55. Mike Smith is a great person, and hot. I would love to meet him. One of the special horses is, Zenyatta’s baby sis, Eblouissante.
Needless to say, I am hooked on FB for family, friends and my favorite horses…Zenyatta was the first, and will always be first.
Blame did not win because of Mike. There were alot of obstacles and as I always thought….we were just lookin at lucky for Blame..