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
Jackie
Good Evening Queen Z. Congrats to all the finalists. All are deserving of the Bronze.
Mike looks adorable as always. John and Dottie having your reins in their hall closet what can I say but WOW!
Sophie, please keep your remarks to your self. You can’t blame Mike for Zenyatta’s only loss. First, our Queen got dirt kicked in her face, lucky she even continued the race second she got blocked. Mike rode Zenyatta’s race and did a fantastic job! She gained more respect than I think she would have had she won! We love you Mike! Don’t read this bad stuff!!!!
Thanks for the beefcake link.
Stay safe.
Hugs and Kisses
Jackie
suew
@Dani…I loved your post. John does have a special love affair with Zenny as well he should. There are a few pictures I have seen where he is looking at her with such love, admiration and reverence it takes my breath away. He has been called the Zenmaster. She no doubt has had an tremendous impact on him personally and professionally. I get the same feeling seeing photos of Ann looking at her. There is such awe, admiration and pure love in her eyes. They owe us nothing but still we can remain connected to Zen because of the Mosses unselfish love for their once in a lifetime horse.
Vicki B.
Hey @Dani, your story of your “favorite John Shirreffs moment” should have been on a winning postcard! (if it fit). Thanks.
Lori K
GOODLUCK to the final four! I would love to vote but i do not have a facebook account. My vote would be for Dawn Conrad. What you wrote was so touching it brought happy tears flowing down my face. I agree Mike is a HOTTIE. I LOVE YOU Z LOVE LORI XOXO….
Valarie Franklin
I kind of wish I hadn’t read the comments on this post, it definitely took away from the excitement of being in the Final Four to see all the bickering and complaining going on here. Dottie did her best to make this contest fair. We all have different opinions about how things should be done, there’s no way to please everyone. Before anyone posts a negative comment, please think of Zenyatta, running through her paddock with her friends. Trust me, you’ll smile and forget what was you were about to write :)
Valarie Franklin
Oh, and Mike looks AMAZING in those jeans!
I love you Zenyatta, sweet dreams dear heart
nancy
It is so hard to pick. Congrats to the final 4, I’m glad at least I got to be part of the contest with everyone else. You truly are special Z we will alway have a great love for you.
Jane in Seattle
@Lisa G, you are right about Mike. The one that surprised me was Garrett Gomez. And Edgar Prado, I just adore. He doesn’t need to take his shirt off for me to buy a calendar with his picture on it. I really liked him for years, then the day Barbaro broke down – I thought Edgar saved him. As best he could. I have adored him ever since.
But about FaceBook, let me say I refused to join for years. I watched a lot of FaceBook pages without joining, I just couldn’t post. Then one day FaceBook made some changes and I couldn’t see Uncle Mo’s page, or Boys at Toscanova’s. I joined FaceBook right then. My family all gave me a hard time about – “you wouldn’t join for us, but you’d join for a HORSE?!” (Well, yeah, I guess.) But I never realized how much FaceBook could keep you in touch with your family until I joined because of a horse. I love it now.
I keep my privacy settings cranked very high, but I don’t kid myself – FaceBook is very intrusive. I just decided it was worth it. And I certainly include Zenyatta’s page and Zenyatta (California Girl).
peggy
@Trina, its funny that you mentioned the starting gates I was just thinking when I was seeing these new, well just babies faces I wish them so much luck in there futures. Just want them all to always be safe and sound. Such precious beings. Some of the ones I saw were not quite 2 yet or just turned 2.
tony and sue
@Carole…your personal experience, so eloquently written in your post, should be on a winning postcard. My, there are so many wonderful words written here…it must be so very hard to chose a winner.
@Dani…we LOVED your post, too.
Paula Higgins
The concept that “everyone is entitled to an opinion” doesn’t mean they should express it at an inappropriate time and on this site. It is unfortunate that anyone would disparage Mike Smith, especially today when he was kind enough to draw the final 4 names. This site has always been notable for its courtesy, warmth and kindness. We need to keep that in mind when we post. As for the comments on how this contest should have been run, what post card should have been allowed, etc. they exhibit a complete lack of graciousness. Fortunately, the vast majority of posters don’t feel that way.
Valarie Franklin
@Jane in Seattle – I get that kind of thing from my family ALL the time. Especially after everything with Barbaro (I can’t even think about him without tearing up) but I grieved for weeks, and only 1 other friend understood how I could be in such pain for a horse I had never met. They are so special, and Zenyatta…she is just extraordinary. :)
Julia B
best wishes to the final four ! very exciting ! Goonight to you Zenny !
MaryAnn Donahue
Congratulations to the Final Four. Your love and appreciation for Zenyatta shines through your words.
Tamyatta
I am so very very disappointed in this contest. I have to admit that I have been uncomfortable most of the way because of all of the comments made about Dawn Conrad. It’s obvious she has alot of friends. They cry for her and one even went to church to pray for her to win a statue…my gosh. I followed the rules and sent a postcard with a paragraph (1 paragraph) of my feelings for Zenyatta with my name and address. I wrote as tiny as I could! I was shocked when I saw Dawn’s “postcard” entry! To me it breaks all the rules of the contest. I saw one person along the way who said she was hoping the final 4 would be anonymous and I did too.
@ Marian M…my thoughts exactly
@Kealy.agree they were all wonderful, otherwise they would not have been sent
@Paula..there are some mighty big postcards out there…I thought the contest stated a standard postcard was to be used..4×6 maybe..
@Mike..essay…that’s a good word for it
As for Dottie not allowing an entry…I can’t honestly see Dottie “disallowing” an entry…and clearly she didn’t.
Back to the really important thing..Zenyatta…looking forward to your posts sweet girl…that’s why we are all here isn’t it? To stay in touch with you Zenny girl…you are in all of our lives and we must “talk” to you and see how you are every day. Loving you forever.
Donation sent to Old Friends in your honor.
Shema
Dear Z, I just love how this contest was designed. You are so creative my sweet Queen. Well, the final 4 posts are each so beautiful and heart felt. I know you are touched by them all. There was a nice progression as I read each one and then when I got to Dawn’s, oh my, she included so much, it seems so fitting for someone to have made the final 4 that so beautifully captured so many rich elements of your life and your gifts to us all. Life is so perfect sometimes. Thanks to all the final 4 and especially Dawn. Love you Queen Z. Hope you had a happy day!
Shema
Z, What a great photo of Mike. You have such great friends Z Z!
Shema
Dear Zenny, I was crying when I read Dawn’s entry. I understand Dottie crying while she typed the entries. What an amazing contest, to now have all these moving tributes to you Zen. Wow! Really something wonderful. I’m so happy to be part of this family of your friends! It means so much to me.
Holly Zemba
I love the picture of Mike holding your reins. I also love the fact that Mike chose the final 4, good luck to all, but I like Valerie Franklin’s comments. I agree with so much tradgedy from Eight Belles and especially Barbaro that you brought new light to the industry.The industry needed Zenyatta!!
susan in tn
loved all of the final four! i know- they could have shared custody! each could take the bronze for three months of the year-lol! THANK YOU, DOTTIE AND JOHN, ANN AND JERRY and the rest of TEAM Z for being so generous-it’s almost unbelievable! great picture of mike-so glad he took part-how special is that?! @ dani and suew: well said! before i was really “in the know” about team z, i had seen video clips on tv where this one woman kept appearing, feeding zenny carrots, petting her, etc. i didn’t know who she was but she always just looked smitten, just looked at zenyatta with such adoration, it was palpable. later found out it was ann moss. ZENNY: happy horsey dreams tonight! we love you.
Gary Moulton
I agree with Joan about Facebook.
.
I don’t want to join Facebook either.
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Is there another way we can vote without joining Facebook?
Trina Nagele
@Valerie Franklin (or is it Valarie?) re your post above: YOU ARE ONE CLASSY LADY and exemplify the style and spirit of Team Z!!! Thank you for your call for civility! (And your entry was right on too!)
sue
I too want to thank Valerie for mentioning the Great Barbaro and Eight Belles. We must remember the past to appreciate the now.
Elizabeth
Tamyatta, I have to agree with your post 100 percent. I, too, though that the contest stated a regular sized postcard, but don’t know how Dawn was able to get so many words on a regular sized one. This tainted the contest for me even though none of my regular five postcards ever made the drawing. I could, and would, have written an essay as well because Zenyatta means so much to me, though I rarely post. I am sorry that this leaves a bad taste in some people’s mouths. I never though it would turn into a popularity contest, which it honestly seems to have done.
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. Good luck to the 4 finalists. They are absolutely wonderful. I am so sorry that I cannot vote. We are not on Facebook and I can’t seem to vote from your wall feature. So sorry. Someone will be so lucky to have your #19 statue. It is gorgeous. Love you so. Stay well, eat those mints, pears and bananas and have lots of fun with your BBFs. Love you Angel in Disguise.
Vicki B.
To those worried about Facebook, you could just set up a minimum acct, vote, and then simply delete your new acct, to be rid of it. Or, as @Carol suggested, set up an account with maximum privacy — on your ‘Account > Privacy Settings’ page, for each option, choose ‘Customize’, and make it visible to only yourself (‘Only Me’). It does work.
Trina Nagele
@Dani—-Loved your exquisite post about witnessing the great love and admiration that John has for Queen Z.
@Carole—Loved your post about your experience with Zenyatta, and you thinking the same as John: “Isn’t she something?”
@Susan in TN—Loved your post about it being evident to you even on videos how “smitten” Ann Moss is with Z -–her love radiates from her face, doesn’t it?
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. How special to see our Mike picking the contest finalist! He is a truly remarkable gentleman. It is my honor to be part of the Final Four. Each lady has written wonderful words of love for you Zenny. And words of love when read should bring joy to the readers heart. I simply wrote from my heart a tribute to one who is pure and beautiful, my beloved Zenny. If my words touch even one other person, then I am truly blessed, everything else lies in the hands of fate. I love you Zenyatta. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Dona
Mikey is soooo cute! Love him, just like you. I’m not on Facebook or any social group but I would do anything I could for you if needed. Good luck to all but can’t help wanting it to be in the Golden State where I first saw you. I didn’t send in a card because I never win anything but I have very special moments of you that will last me all my days. Hope you are happy and secure, I know you are loved.
Vicki B.
@Kitei, I had such a good laugh over your long last post above that ends “May the best postcard win!” Your clarity and candor on controversial issues here, is wonderfully refreshing. And to top it off, you’re a good sport about it. Kudos!