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
audreyc
Congratulations to the four! I voted, based upon that which was written on the postcard, and the feeling I got based upon the writing. I did not take any person’s name into account; however, I tried very hard to ascertain for whom, this wonderful bronze statue, might mean the most. Anyway, good luck to all!
S (in san diego)
Congratulations Final 4. Four wonderful tributes.
Judy Maass Gadwood Loves Zenny/CA
Good Evening Zenny My Queen!
Wow, lots to read in those post cards!
Mikey is such a doll and a sweetheart! TOO CUTE!!
I’d like to read some of the other cards posted here on your diary, if that’s at all possible :-)
HUGS & KISSES ALWAYS XOXO
audreyc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPs3qg7CpMs&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Also, while all are waiting to see who wins the bronze statue, please do not forget our mustangs. The BLM was just approved, despite budget cuts, the full amount, to continue to round up and remove, our wild icons, the horses of the free, from OUR western public lands. As wonderful as a bronze statue of Queen Z is, any one of these lives, is worth so much more, than a statue. Please, view – and visit rtfitch.wordpress.com, for further info. Make your voice known. You, as a taxpayer, are paying for this.
Marshall (girl's name)
Once again, judging by the bickering and nit-picking about what constitutes a paragraph (highly subjective as long as on topic), we (the human species) have proven ourselves somewhat inferior to the equine species (as well as other cousins).
Please leave the partisan politics in D.C.
We all love Zenyatta and Team Z! Good luck and congratulations to ALL 4 finalists! All the Best!!
Trina Nagele
Some words about the contest rules (given in Post 206:
1) First, people who are now complaining about the final winner not being chosen randomly may not have read the instructions carefully in the first place. It was stated that there would be four drawings to winnow the number of cards down to four finalists. I quote: “The cards will all be put into a big container. Then they will be drawn out in a timely fashion… in the same type of format as March Madness. 64 cards will be drawn from the entire group. Then from this 64, we will draw the SWEET SIXTEEN….next the ELITE EIGHT CARDS….and ultimately the FINAL 4.” After the drawing for the final four, however, it says the winner will be SELECTED (not DRAWN. I quote: “From these 4, we will post the comments on the Web-site, for ALL OF YOU TO SHARE IN WHAT WAS WRITTEN. The WINNER will be selected from the FINAL FOUR cards.”
2) As to the size of a card, nothing about “standard size” was mentioned.
3) As to the number, we were told that we could send in “more than one.” I quote from the diary: [Zenyatta speaking]“I would like for you to write on a postcard … one paragraph…I will give you the address to mail the postcard or cards to …. You may send in more than one.”
4) Finally, as to what constitutes a paragraph, there are no set rules as to how many sentences can be in a paragraph—there is neither a minimum nor a maximum (@Kitei—Yes, I AM an English teacher—at Ventura College). Dawn’s paragraph is indeed long, but that does not mean it can’t be a paragraph. You will note that everything she mentions is a supporting detail for her topic sentence “Why are you special to me?” So her paragraph is cohesive, if not concise, as was pointed out by someone else. And, mind you, poetic spirits are rarely concise.
I hope some of you who have had negative thoughts about the resolution of the contest will feel differently upon reflection. I recommend to all, if I may be so bold, that you take the words that Valerie Franklin (finalist # 3) posted above to heart:
“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 it was you were about to write.”
Congratulations again to the four finalists, each of whom has written an inspiring tribute to the Queen. We, her loyal subjects, give heartfelt thanks to Team Z.
To Valerie: I hope this meets with your approval.
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, First I want to Thank Dottie & Zeyatta for having a contest to show their appreciation to her Fan Family. The Nina Bronze Statue #19 is such a special gift for the winner to own. The contest provided each of us a chance to send in what Zenyatta means to us and what she has done for racing. I thought that was a wonderful idea because Dottie & John can read the cards and maybe one day put them together in a book for Zenyatta as a collection. I felt it was an honor to be able to send a card. After Zenyatta finished racing, The Mosses could have placed Zenyatta in privacy to never hear from her again. The Mosses have graciously given Zenyatta to the public because of the love we all have for her. Dottie has sacrificed her time to do this Post.I thought how the picking of the cards was special because they were picked by Team Z. Mike was the perfect choice for the last pick. Yes, Mike’s smile melts my heart as Zenyatta melted my heart from the 1st day I saw her. This beautiful, perfectly porportioned horse took the world on a ride of a lifetime. 19-1 and the 20th showed what Zenyatta was made of. Unbelievable race to see over & over again. What she accomplished in that race with her unbeatable attitude against seemingly unbeatable odds is priceless. If Mike had not been riding her, she might not have even finished the race with the challenges she faced. He settled her down so she could focus. She then saw her goal to finish what she had be chosen to do. That day she became The Great Zenyatta, the greatest filly in racing history because that was truy the 1st time she had ever been challenged in a race. She faced it and ran a race of her life. Aren’t we all lucky & Blessed to have been born when she was. Zenyatta lets us all be winners for loving her and being able to share that love with others. That is the greatest exercise of the heart- to bend a knee and lend a helping hand. Zenyatta showed us that with every prance step she did. She gave to us the best way she knew how. To dance into our hearts and run like a superhorse she is. We only race once and can never race it over. I love Zenyatta more than she will ever know. Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Congratulations to the Final 4 that was picked by Zenyatta’s Mike. I am really excited to see who the winner is and a sincere Congratulation for to the winner.
Fran
I historically NEVER make a negative comment on Z’s page, but tonight I make an exception.I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings because all of the comments of the four finalists are wonderful. Dawn did make a wonderful statement or should I say letter describing Z and what Z has done, AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL AND WELL THOUGHT OUT SENTIMENT. However with that being said, I did not vote for her basically because she may have not followed the same rules as everyone else and by the length of her written feelings, she seems to have gained an unfair advantage over the other finalists. For that reason, I did not vote for her even though it was a beautiful tribute to our Queen Z. I decided to vote for the individual who actually followed the rules. And, I am sure that they could have all written an additional tribute if they decided to use the same type card as Dawn. I really have to apologize for my comments but . . . And, Dawn’s comments are beautiful but she didn’t follow the paragraph rule like all of the other finalists.
Kathleen
This latest development in the contest is beginning to seem like some sort of clandestine psychological experiment in human response to an authority figure playing loose with the rules. Are you all being played?
Vickie
Well… I love Z, Dottie and TEAM ZENYATTA I volunteer to coordinate contests as an impartial entity – Best of luck to the FINAL FOUR!
Trina Nagele
OOPS—The correct Diary Post was #205 for the rules of the contest. Sorry for the error.
LOU IN TX
Hey Queen Z…Love the picture of Mike holding your reins. I have a question…can we only vote once? I’m assuming that’s so. Have a great rest of the week and a very Happy Easter to you and all your people in CA and there at Lane’s End. Love ya loads…Lou
Susan
Hi Z,
Love the picture of Mike….and even your shadow roll hanging there! Can we have a contest to win that!!! Hope you are doing well!
J Smith
Dawn, your heartfelt words certainly touched me. It was a joy to read your words, as it was to read all 4 entries. Each is special in it’s own way. Congrats to all 4 ladies.
Dani, lovely post. Let us all aspire to have people look at us with pride and say ‘isn’t she something’. Which I can’t say I am doing today!
Joani
As an impartial (I did not enter this contest) but interested party, I fail to see how numbers 3 and especially 4, written by hand, could fit on a mere postcard. Even if it was spaced out over a certain number of postcards, only ONE card was drawn and could be counted.
I don’t even know how large an oversized postcard is but even then either typed or handwritten would take up a lot of space. Even as computer typed as above that would not fit on a postcard. And While the sentiments are indeed worthy of winning something, and even true of the way so many of us feel about Zenyatta, nothing was mentioned in the rules about allowing oversized postcards, which many obviously never even thought of.
When one says postcard, which is rarely even used in today’s society, one immediately thinks of a small sized one, what? about 4 by 8 (?) With half the side for an address? I would think an oversized postcard would have a bit of an unfair advantage in a drawing.
Just my thoughts on this, the beautiful sentiments on #4 are TRULY the way Zenyata affects all of us, but I should like to see this ONE PARAGRAPH simple postcard that is listed above.
Tamyatta
I have thought about Zenyatta running in her paddock and I have not changed my feeling about this contest. The first time I saw the rules..Say what Z has meant to you on a postcard in 1 paragraph..I thought..WHAT?..how in the world can I possible express my infinite love for Z and explain how she has changed my life in 1 paragraph on a postcard..but I tried. I honestly think that to “present” the final 4 as above is embarrassing. How can a 1 paragraph postcard compare to…as some referred to it….”Dawn’s story”? Rules are sometimes broken in order to win, especially when the prize is something as cherished and otherwise attainable as a limited bronze statue of Zenyatta. If #4 had sent in her thoughts in 1 paragraph on a postcard (with entries anonymous) and won it would have been fair, this in my opinion is not. No matter how you slice it, this is not 1 paragraph on a postcard. My excitement and anticipation for this contest has turned to sadness and utter disappointment.
Kathy Kimber
The four ladies in the final four have expressed things that touch all our hearts to bad there aren’t four statues because each is deserving, may the best one win.
OLD FRIENDS Is having a rough time if we could all just donate a little it would be a huge help. This is one of Zenyattas favorite charities and it has done so much good helping not just the famous but those not so famous. They get good care and lots of love. A couple of dollars here and there would be greatly appreciated. Let’s do it is Zenyatta’s honor. Thanks to all of you wonderful friends and fans
Tamyatta
I meant “otherwise UNattainable”.
Mary G
Congratulations to the final four! What an honor to still be in the hunt for the statue of our beloved Zenyatta! I thought when I read the entries one would jump right out at me but they are all wonderful…I’ll have to mull them over for a few days and then vote…Hoping somehow we will get to read some of the entires that did not make it to this point. It is nice to read all the heartfelt comments about our wonderful girl and her amazing team!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To Trina Nagele: You are surely right that a paragraph can be very long. Henry James or William Faulkner or Cormac McCarthy come to mind.
However, these writers and others like them did not write on postcards.
What, then, is a postcard? Most of us thought of the conventional size card. But there is such a thing as stretching the rules. For example, think of the kindergarten children who sent a life-size drawing of Zenyatta on a floor to ceiling birthday card. Why not custom make a postcard so large that it doesn’t fit into a bucket, perhaps penned in calligraphy? Or an accordion postcard that could stretch around the girth of the earth? Or a large, large postcard using 6 pt. type, the font size landlords use in their tenants’ contracts?
I woke up this morning thinking that if this postcard contest, which has gone on and on as contestants were winnowed out, gains Zenyatta the PRIVACY I’ve several times said I think she needs in order to breed and gestate up to 45 days or beyond–11 months even!–I’m all for the shield they have provided. From an energetic point of view, if one believes in such things, it couldn’t help to have at least 77,000 pairs of eyes upon Zenyatta when she is trying to become “in foal.”
Alexandra Bowdoin
@Amanda, Thank you for that wonderful post! I feel the same way. Mike did not loose her last race, circumstances did.It was cold, nighttime, she had never run over the Churchill track before and had so much dirt thrown back on her. She perservered because of her Big Heart and desire to pass every horse in front of her. God Bless Mike, he took care of her everytime he rode her, he loves her too…
As far as the post card issue, we were never given dimensions on how big or small the post card should be…Dawn wrote how we all feel about Zenyatta and Team Z. Please stop this bickering. We post here because we ALL love our great Zenyatta and appreciate Team Z!
Barbara Wood
Good morning, sweet Z. I’ll be glad when the contest is over and we can get back to being all about YOU.
I hope Old Friends gets a ton of donations. I did send mine in, but I think I forgot to mention it was in your honor. I’ll remember next time. Love you always.
Ginger
Reading some of the comments here I just hope that the 4 contestants and especially Dottie do not get their feelings hurt! This draw was in the giving spirit of Zenyatta so it is all good for me:) Just think how imperturbable Zenyatta stood for all the masses of people to take her picture, to pet and even kiss her. No human has that kind of patience!
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Thank you Team Z for your generosity and for Dottie taking the time out of her busy schedule to let us be part in Zenyatta’s life.
BTW, my card was was a normal size card and I printed the context at 9 pt. font and I managed to get quite a bit on it – like No. 3. All sentiments are beautiful but if I were to vote I’d go with No 2 as I mentioned the loss of Ruffian…
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Good luck to all and happy days to you Zenny! I am mailing our contribution to Old Friend’s today in Zenyatta’s name. Wished I could give more but ther are so many worthy causes – wolves, seals, dogs, livestock, dolphins, turtles. It never seems to end.
Jan Doyle
Good Morning Zenyatta.
@Amanda G.. What a lovely post. I couldn’t agree with you more. Good Luck to the final four… Thnaks so much Team Z for all you do for Zennys fans.
Sally (B)
@peggy; Don’t think your rattling on, it’s enjoyable to read! Do you know if there are thoroughbred horse farms one can tour in Ocala like those in Kentucky?
Beth
Just curious, have you been back to see Bernardini yet? It should be about time shouldn’t it?
karen g
So sorry to hear this morning of the passing of Curlin and Rachel’s owner Jess Jackson. Love him or not, he did great things for industry over the years.
Abigail from Montreal
Congratulations to the “Fabulous Four.” I loved each of your stories and thought it lovely that they were all so different. Good luck to each of you — you’re all winners as far as I’m concerned. Even the people whose postcards didn’t get picked. I’m sure Zenyatta would agree!!!!
Dorothy Hopper
I was in tears as I read Dawn’s tribute to Zenyatta. I had not heard of Zenyatta until I saw the 60 Minutes special. The day of The Breeders Cup race, I went to Ruby Tuesday and politely insisted they change the TV channel to the race; much to the rage of all the males who were watching the football game, the staff changed the channel. Nobody there had heard of Zenyatta and I told what I knew of her history, that she is on the level of Man O War and Secretariat, to people sitting near me and that this race is special because it’s one female in a field of males. Many scoffed at you, trailing the herd by several lengths but we saw in disbelief, your incredible and unforgettable challenge from the rear as you caught the leader and lost only by half a head! Even Man O War lost one race, (20/21) so you rank girl! Where does that desire and wish to win come from? And Dawn, like you, Zenyatta has inspired me to pick up my abandoned, adolescent love of horses. I’ve checked out of the library every horse book and video 10 times; I’ve emptied the horse section of Barnes & Noble bookstore; no kidding, I went there recently for a new book and found their shelf depleted of horse books and wondered what happened to all of their books. Then I realized I had bought them! I’ve watched every horse race on You Tube since Man O War and I began riding lessons; now what? I guess I ought to buy a horse!
Mike
#1 you have my vote. You were able to say simply in 68 words what #4 tried to say in 460. You are the best medicine in the world. Enough said.