Good Morning Everyone!
I’M BACK!
It is a wonderful Wednesday morning in Kentucky! All is terrific…but a bit wet. We have had a substantial amount of rain lately in Lexington and I understand Louisville has had their share as well. With all of the Kentucky Derby and Oaks preparations going on in that city now, the rain has even caused some changes in the training schedules for several of the horses. It is supposed to lighten up soon….so HOOVES CROSSED. Dottie did tease me and say that it is sunny and pretty in California right now.
I truly want to thank ALL OF YOU who participated in the contest by either mailing in an entry and / or voting for one of the four contestants. All of the cards were beautifully done and very sweet and emotional to read. As stated in an earlier Diary, right before leaving for the barn this morning, John was going to check his computer at 5 a.m. CA TIME and finalize the WINNER. He did just that!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ZENYATTA BRONZE WINNER…..DAWN CONRAD!
Wow, Dawn! You really recapped so much of my life. Thank you for all of your thoughtfulness and kind words. I AM SO HAPPY for you! I can’t wait to hear where you place ‘ME’…once I’m settled in at your home in Cedaredge, Colorado.
This contest has been so MUCH FUN! What has been especially meaningful to me is how much I have meant to so many of you. I did realize people really enjoyed watching me DANCE, RACE and TRAIN, however, I did not get the full impact of what my efforts and achievements symbolized to so many of my friends until this contest. I am deeply, deeply touched.
May all of you have a very special day! I know you have really made mine a day to remember.
Again…YEAH, DAWN!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Especially Horses
@Dawn. Heartfelt congratulations! I know you will enjoy your Mini Z. A funny thought…fifty years from now or longer if the Antiques Roadshow is still around I can just imagine someone saying “well it’s been in my family for as long as I can remember and the story is my Great So&So won it in a contest and I think the bronze is of a famous racehorse…and well that is all I know. And my family would never think of departing with it, but we’d like to know what it is worth”.
Please make sure you document how you came to acquire it, LOL.
Tressia
It would be interesting to know how many cards were submitted. Kind of a measurement of how many folks adore the Queen. Congrats Dawn, wish it would have been me but hey I was in the first 64 Woo Hoo! Thank you Team Z for giving us all the oppurtunity to win our very own Queen Z, it was so much fun!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
For Dawn: Congratulations on your win in the postcard contest! I’m sure the spirit of Zenyatta infuses the shiny bronze statue you will have by your side always.
victoria racimo
Thanks for writing — didn’t realize how much we treasure your posts until i suddenly realized that it was a long time since we heard from you. But you’re back and sound well. let’s hope all is good for thhe Oaks and the Derby — kinda wish you were there — even just to walk around….
Paula Higgins
Dawn, I am so happy for you!!!! Congratulations. It is stunning and you will love it. To the other ladies, I know you are disappointed but your entries were lovely as well. All were beautiful expressions of what Zenyatta means to them. Dottie, thank you for posting again. Tonite we are getting those “off the scale” (according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution) storms with tornadoes. I hope they don’t hit Kentucky.
Barb Zylbert
Hey Zenyatta, heard you were bred again in early April….well, have your Z Team checked for a heartbeat yet????? Wishing you positive pregnancy thoughts!!!! Please let us know in the your next Diary note, okay?
Mary
Dear Zenyatta,
Hope the rain stops in KY soon. I bet you would love to go back for some CA warm weather for awhile. Hooves crossed that the rain stops for the first Friday and Saturday in May. Hugs and Prayers
suemar
Mikey! What a big postcard that is!!!
Margie
Zenny! Missed you, Angel Girl. Dottie, too (and thank you again, Dottie)! Hope you are both having a wonderful day. It’s always good for me when Zenny pops in for a visit.
@Dawn – I said it before: “meant to be” I’m happy knowing someone who will treasure #19 as much as I would will have it for their own. I know you will take good care of Z-Bronze19 :-) and love it, too, as much as I would.
Everyone: I’m sure we all wrote very touching, emotional and stirring post cards, too. Zenyatta just brings it out of us, doesn’t she? I would love to read them all, but I’m guessing I’d spend the day sobbing over each one – I know they would all be so great. Congrats to all of us! Love you, Z, Horse of my Heart.
Katie Clawson
Congrats Dawn! Zenny! We have missed you! I’m glad you are back. Keep us posted one EVERYTHING!
Love, Katie(future jockey)
Sharon Call
Hey, All: Check out this article in today’s Bloodhorse. I love seeing this and knowing that there are organizations out there offering retired race horses another chance and that they are getting coverage from major publications like this one.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62709/z-fortune-up-for-adoption-via-new-vocations
Maggie
Congratulations to Dawn!! Zenny, I was so happy to see a diary post from you today! Really brightened an otherwise very gloomy day. Wow, with all the rain I bet the Kentucky landscape is vibrant green!! Would love to see some photos of you out and about with your friends! How is Pirate Queen? I have a great fondess for her too, your first friend at Lane’s End. Love you sweety…Hugs to you and Dottie.
suew
Zenny…it’s SO good to hear from you today! And a big congrats to Dawn who won that bronze. Everyone who entered was certainly deserving…I’m glad it’s found a proper home with a true fan.
Abigail from Montreal
Congratulations Dawn! What a special, special prize! And, as I said earlier, everyone who entered is a winner in a different way, since I’m certain that taking the time to write down your thoughts has already brought beauty into your lives.
Zenny: I miss you so much! John said some time ago now that once you were no longer racing people would begin to understand what a great athlete you were and are. Well, I’m there. Hugs & kisses big girl!
tony and sue
Zenny…thanks for posting the news of the “official” winner. We’re glad to hear you’e safe at LE…not too bothered by the terrible weather. Hopefully you’ll have some other great news for us…soon. :-)
Nancy
Congratulations, Dawn! All of the final four were beautifully said.
Zenyatta, hope the weather straightens for you soon.
Charlotte A. Farmer
Congratulations Dawn Conrad. You must feel like you won the Kentucky Derby. I read your piece and was very moved. I too missed the posting and could not believe how much I had come to count on reading what you had to say. Although, must thank Dottie for translating your words. Again, congratulations. Love you Zenyatta!
Barbara Wood
Way to go, Dawn! I know you’ll treasure your bronze forever. If it’s not too intrusive, we’d love a picture of the presentation.
Lynette Lucas
Congrats to Dawn Conrad!!! Zenny I’m glad to hear that you are well!! Love you Zenny!!! Hugs and Kisses from Roswell,NM!!
sug
Congrats Dawn. And welcome back Zenny. We really missed reading your daily posts.
Janet Cutting
congrats to Dawn!!!!!! Maybe you can post a pic of your Zenyatta Bronze in its new home–Enjoy , enjoy !!!!
Margaret Murphy
Congrats to Dawn. Hope you enjoy having Zenny near you.
Shannon From Cool
Congratulations to Dawn! Lucky girl you are.
Bobbi
Dawn, your “acceptance speech” was perfect! Your day and that day are ones we will truly never forget!
Ollie
Zen,
Happy to hear from you and that all is well. Cheers to Dawn winning the contest.
Thank you Dottie for all the dairy posts.
I miss you so much Zen and I always will.
Love,kisses and carrots.
Brenda
It’s wet and windy here in Fort Erie, Canada Zenny so we are going to have a wet and soggy track when racing starts. Hooves are definitely crossed for better weather in time for the Derby. Congratulations to Dawn on becoming the lucky owner of what is surely a very special bronze – others may have a Zenyatta bronze but nobody else will have #19.
darlene
HI Zenny how are u? any more news on when you are going to try again with Berni?
Sue Fredrick
Hi Zen, wow its been a while since we from and about YOU !! I hope you got my luv vibes the day I passed Lanes End and blew you a kiss out the car window.
@Dawn, congrats on your fabulous win, you touched me by reminding me of the horse statues I played with as a kid…..instead of dolls, my grandkids have those Breyers now.
@Kt, I’m with you …. bring on the Mike raffle!
@Especially horses, what a great scenario for Dawn and her bronze. I second it!!
Luv you Z and kisses on your nose
Delrene
Congratulations to the winner and all the entries. So glad to see a post today… Glad you are back and letting us back into your life. Dear Zenyatta – it’s one of those glorious California days here in Carlsbad….. Miss seeing you at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park. Enjoy your retirement and thank you Team Zenyatta for the post. We missed hearing from her.
Nancy L
Congratulations Dawn. Great sentiments and great writing!