Good Morning,
What a week of CELEBRATION and FUN! Earlier this week, I was involved in the INSPIRE Portion of the Professional Business Women of California Conference. Then yesterday, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED!!!!
As you know, this year at the Eclipse Awards, MY TEAM won the SPECIAL AWARD for their CONTRIBUTION TO THE INDUSTRY. The Awards Committee technically named the recipient…TEAM ZENYATTA! That evening, Ann and Jerry accepted the Award on behalf of MY TEAM! Then something absolutely fabulous happened. My wonderful, loving, and charming owners went to the Eclipse Committee and worked with them during the past few months to have an Eclipse Award made for EVERY MEMBER of MY TEAM. This is so sweet, so generous, and so loving of them! Thank you, Ann and Jerry, for making this wonderful moment happen for each of them!
John and Dottie received their Award from Ann and Jerry the other evening at dinner. Ann gave Dawn her Award Tuesday en route to the PBWC Conference in San Francisco. April and Jeanne Mayberry live in Ocala…so their Awards were Fed-Expressed to them. David was given his by the Moss’ when they visited ME while here for the Kentucky Oaks last week! Isabel will receive her Award later this week.
All of the other Awards were given out YESTERDAY AT BARN 55! Each person went out on ‘my grazing area’ and opened his/ her box! Each Award has the individual’s name on it…along with the proper acknowledgments and inscription from the Eclipse Committee! There were tears and smiles of complete JOY! Every single person in this group (except Mike who had 2 for his riding accomplishments) commented that they had seen the awards on TV…but NEVER thought they would have one of their own!
As for ME, I truly am elated to see this photo! I love these people so much. They devoted so many hours to helping ME to be the best I could possibly be, and they shared countless hours of training, work, and love with ME!
From the bottom of my HOOVES, I also want to THANK Ann and Jerry for doing this for every member of MY TEAM! In life, it is these special moments that can be cherished forever. To know you are appreciated, and your work and all of your efforts did not go unnoticed, means so very much! As a matter of fact, it means more than words can ever express!
May this photo bring a smile to your day! It did mine!
With love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
P.S. This is TOO CUTE! Carmen (Mario’s wife and one of my hotwalkers for years) was not able to be there at this time. So Mario rewrapped the box very neatly…so she could have the thrill of opening it up and being surprised. How adorable is this!
Donna from Baltimore
And THIS is why your followers grow by a couple hundred a day. NO ONE can hope to duplicate TEAM ZENYATTA. The story goes on and just gets better and better. We will never see this again in our lifetimes – it is SO SPECIAL. I am really happy that we fans are included so fully in your life – by your wonderful connections.
Casey Phillips
What an incredibly gracious and generous gift! Ann and Jerry truly epitomize class in their devotion not only to you, but in recognizing the invaluable part each of these people have played in making YOU the phenomenal racemare you are. Having had the opportunity to meet not only your team but Moss’ as well, Team Zenyatta really does raise the bar for all other owners, trainers and team. Thank you again, Team Zenyatta, for giving the fans the opportunity to know our beloved Queen, but also all of you.
Mary Stanford
Z….that is a wonderful picture. You do have the best owners ever…Jerry and Ann are wonderful people!! You did have the best team ever. I am so happy us fans get to share in all these special moments with you. Hugs to you Z….
Jan
Zenyatta,
This is what CLASS is all about :):):)
Christine Coleman
Hi Zenny! What a beautiful pic! If folks in the racing world want a recipe for success, they need only look at this photo. The patience,combined horsemanship, knowledge and true affection for you paid off unbelievably! I want to thank them also for their contributions in developing you as “Our” horse too! Legally, your name is Zenyatta Moss, but in my heart, you are Zenyatta Moss-Coleman! LOL
Barbara Hawkins
What a thoughtful gesture by the Mosses!
Barbara
How cool! This is so special thanks to all of your team they are a very special group! Love you Queen Z!!! :)
Pam
Very, very thoughtful gesture on the part of the Mosses. I have heard many racing fans say that it’s often hard to remember who was Horse of the Year — even just a few years ago, and even though it’s the highest award in horse racing. But thanks to you, Zenyatta, and your exceptional humans, we will never forget who was 2010 Horse of the Year.
Judy (Maass) Gadwood Adores Zenny (CA)
Zenny ~ another reason I know Ann and Jerry are “classy” is because Ann gave me a long stem red rose from her bouquet after your win in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes last year ~ I have it preserved!! TOO CUTE! :-)
Maryyette
Ditto Pam’s comment – great observation, couldn’t express it better –
NorCalFan#1
Yes, indeedy, a very big smile to my heart! What a tremendous joy–holding that award must feel like you’re still within their grasp! A very special connection…infinite joy and love through you! I’m so very happy for everyone!! Thanks for sharing, Zenny & Dottie! Great shot, Jerry!
Smittie
The Moss’s are truely special people. What a special thing to do. You were so blessed to have all these people in your corner!
Jeanie
I would like to work for Ann and Jerry! Wow! What lovely people they are.
Hope to hear good Mommy news from you soon honey! Love you!
Jeanie
Robin S
The gesture from the Mosses and the smiles on everyone’s faces has me speechless. I’m so blessed to have experienced the Queen and Team Z during my lifetime! Love to all!
Karen Line
The generosity is incredibly moving. There is such graciousness and respect amongst this group, it is uplilfting.
The only thing missing in this picture is you in the flesh, sweet Zennie!
Look at all that you are surrounded by . . . what greatness of spirit!
Cheryl Heath
Zenyatta, this team you hang out with, amazing. What special people. The best of the best.
Jean in Seaside
Mr. and Mrs. Moss seem to define “class” very satisfactorily, and thereby provide lessons to a world that could use them. Thank you for sharing this wonderful picture. (I love going to this site, but almost every time, I end up ruining my face crying! Honestly, Ms. Zen, your makeup is always perfect, so you can’t imagine how tough this is! LOL!) You all reflect so well on each other! – Love an thanks.
Leslie R.
Oh Zenny, your Jerry and Ann are a class act! That was a very thoughtful thing to do. Your entire team is amazing. They are all so supportive and caring. Thanks for sharing the pic! Seeing this put a big smile on my face.
Love to all,
Leslie
georgia harper
What kindness and respect is shown by Ann and Jerry Moss. This Team just never stops amazing us with such generosity!!! I hope this wonderful website never ends it fills each day with a little happiness and a big smile (or sometimes tears)
Sheri
Wow they are so lucky! But they deserved it! How cool! I love you Zenyatta!!! :D
Jen Johnson
congratulations to all your team for their well deserved awards – and an especial thanks to Ann and Jerry for making it happen. Definitely a class act!
Marilu V
@ ABIGAIL OF MONTREAL – Hello Abigail. Thank you for the link on Giacomo. It’s a wonderful tribute to this great horse and his TEAM.
I wanted to thank you earlier but could not find your post. I enjoyed reading the your article as it gave so many insights on the life of the Mosses, John, Dottie and everyone who handled Giacomo. Thanks much! Marilu
Robyn Mullhausen
Congratulations to Team Zenyatta on receiving your individual awards. You deserve them so much. Only Ann and Jerry Moss would think of doing something that heartfelt and thoughtful for all of you. What a great group of people who brought, in my opinion, the greatest Race Horse in history to the people and continue to share her life with her fans. xoxoxoxox
Shortskinnylady
I am beyond moved with the Mosses’ generosity in getting the Eclipse Award committee to approve of, and paying for, these awards for each person. At the time of the awards, I thought that the grooms, hotwalkers and exercise riders, among others, deserved it as much as anyone, but never in my wildest dreams did I think that Ann and Jerry would be thinking the same thing. It just goes to show what classy people the Mosses are — which we all knew anyway, but it just makes it more evident. Dottie, kudos to you for keeping this blog going. It’s a lot of work, I know, but so appreciated to keep hearing about the connections and Her Majesty the Queen. With all your other commitments, it’s incredible you have time for this. Thank you….
Shannon J.
I would have LOVED to be a fly on the wall to see Carmen’s face when she opened her box!!! The love she had for Zen was SOOOO obvious on Zen’s last weekend at Hollywood Park…CONGRATS to all the members of Team Zenyatta on their awards and especially many thanks to Jerry and Ann Moss who always seem to find a way to pay it back…or pay it forward!
LOVE YOU BIG Z!!!!!!
Ellen from Mariposa
What a great gesture to have an actual Eclipse Award created for each member of the Team Z!
(And what a fun idea to pose the team in front of one of the “Zenyatta Way” signs!)
LauraJ
@Marguerite, according to the DRF in an article a week or so back, Zenyatta has gone back to Bernardini. There has been no announcement of a pregnancy, but the assumption is that they’ll say something once the pregnancy has been firmly established, around the 45-day mark. That said, “Zenyatta” has been dropping some hints (references to Mothers Day next year and the like) that she is in foal.
bobbykstrel
Team Zenyatta has a team of very special people – congrats. And what wonderful owners!
Sharon Call
@Marguarite King. Zenyatta was bred to Bernardini. I think you’re thinking about Rachel Alexandra. She was bred to Curlin.
Nina Kaiser
Wow. Now that’s class.