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!
CeeSee
That’s why TEAM ZENYATTA deserved the award, it has always been a ‘TEAM.’ Very deserving. Jerry and Ann Moss are outstanding human beings, they always be remembered for being the ones to make a difference in racing and other aspects of life, that’s something they have earned. CONGRATULATIONS to BARN 55, TEAM ZENYATTA, ZENYATTA, and, of course, Jerry and Ann Moss.
Trina Nagele
Hats off again to the Mosses for their very generous continuing support of Old Friends, as reported by Michael Blowen.
@ Judy (Maass) Gadwood—Thanks for sharing that beautiful story about how Ann Moss gave you a red rose from her bouquet after one of Zenyatta’s races. Yet another moment showing us what a lovely lady Ann is!
@Anna Wiley—I admire your posts for your wit, diplomacy, enthusiasm and articulateness. You seem to be “wise beyond your years” for someone who is not yet one of “the adults.” Well done!
@DJ—Thanks for the heads up about Tiz Gianni with Mikey up on Saturday.
@ Kathryn Cogswell—Loved your exquisite post about regaining balance (on #345). Kudos to your gelding M for staying resolutely with you despite repeated hornet stings until you were once again on his back. What a great guy, and what a beautiful metaphor for this website. Thanks too for the link to the very apropos poem by Emily Dickenson as quoted in Seabiscuit.
Maria K.
What a beautiful picture. Yes, you’re lucky that you had a great team. But they were also lucky that they had you. Ann and Jerry Moss are caring and thoughtful people. We love you Queen Z. Hugs and kisses!
tony
@LauraJ … thank you for the update on Old Friends. And for Zenny, the Mosses, Dottie and all of Team Z, if I may take a moment and say from a male point of view, you really are too CUTE!
Michelle
Best thing EVER!
Is that Mike there in front! How cool he could be there….lots of frequent flyer miles@
Stu
To Zenny and the Mosses – your simply The Best!
Maggie
This is so thoughtful of the Moss’s to do this for barn 55 team. It shows the kind of people they are, caring, loving and appreciative of all the work you do. Queen Z your still the best. Love you much.
FLA Fan
Agan, this goes to show what exceptional people the Moss’s are. Truly wonderful for TEAM Z! Thank you for that great picture. We fans love everyone on your team ZENNY. They are all very special people. Congratulations to ALL! Love and kisses to you QUEEN ZENYATTA!
Mary H.
Your story is one of never-ending love and paying it forward. I feel so blessed to have witnessed and been a part of this love fest. I never thought that another horse could come even close to capturing my heart like Secretariat had. That is saying something because in my heart I believed there would never be another one like him. I was wrong. My heart has plenty of room for Big Red and Zenny. What a blessing. Thank you Team Z for making this world a much better place.
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z–what a wonderful photo and tribute to YOU and YOUR team. SO deserved!
@Jerry and Ann Moss–just received the Old Friends update yesterday. Thank you so much for your contribution to help get Old Friends over the hump. I’m sure it was substantial. As I sent mine in, I was praying it would be multiplied by others.
Lois Gillespie
Zenyatta, you are the gift that keeps on giving. I am beyond words reading about the Mosses’ wonderful expression of gratitude to all who took such good care of you. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Moss, for your incredible generosity of spirit.
Shari Voltz
Good morning sweet Zenyatta. It is beautiful here so I hope Kentucky is also. The children are researching different states for their end of the year project. A couple of students picked Alabama. Did you know their state horse is a Racking Horse that was used during the Civil War? This horse was used for its stamina and disposition. It is also known for great beauty. We did a little research on this breed. What a beautiful horse. The children also learned about a Hyperbaric Chamber for horses. The children watched a video on the process this morning. How cool :) Well sweet girl we all hope your outside and with your girlfriends. We love you bunches and send Hugs and Giant Kisses from Shari and Homeroom 215 XXXOOO
Sharman
WOW, I want to Thank the Moss’s for this wonderful thing, they did for your Team Z. That is so AWESOME, I am just in Tears!!! How deeply caring, loving these owners are to share this – and have these all made for the entire Team. WOW, is all I can say !!! Still crying with happiness. :)
evy
How wonderful and deserving for all of Team Zenyatta.
Abigail from Montreal
Never mind “too cute” — this is just AMAZING! When I worked in education I had a team of 5-7 people with me every year and I never doubted that without them we would have gotten nowhere in helping teachers & students. We always had an end-of-the-year party where everyone got a special gift and a handmade card (from me) to tell each one how deeply appreciated they were. The truth is that a great team will go miles for each other. Ann & Jerry’s gift says to me that they know this well. And Mario …. what a beautiful and loving thing to do for Carmen!
Kathleen Marsh
Wow! What special people the Mosses are—we already knew that—just for a fan like me to see how much they care about the horses and the people around them. And it is wonderful to see all the people who worked so hard to take care of The Queen be recognized and to have something so special to help keep her close to them even when she is far away.
Carol from CT
Reading this put a smile on my face and brought tears to my eyes.
Zenyatta is a wonderful horse and the people who surround her are equally as wonderful.
Zenyatta is truly a gift and a gift that has been shared with so many, many people.
Paula McCaleb
Zenyatta……..You are surrounded by such a BEAUTIFUL human family, you are very blessed our SWEET ONE! Congrats to everyone, very well deserved.
Kim Noble
If all owners were like the Mosses we would not have any trouble in racing. You are very lucky Zenny, and so are all of us.
Terry Crow
@Shari Voltz and Abigail from Montreal-Your charges are extremely lucky to have educators such as yourselves. If only all students were as fortunate.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny, You have been blessed in so many ways and when the Moss bought you that was your first blessing and when loveing John became your trainer and you were at barn 55 where all your friends helped you succeed in your racing talents,giving you time to develope into your size was yor second blessing. You developed into such a special racehorse, so full of talent and desire to win each race and with such a special, loveing personality. I am glad that Ann and Jerry fought hard to get the Barn 55 people who were all involved with working with you their own award. Congradulations to the Moss for their efforts. Thanks to Dottie for keeping up the Zenyatta post. I’m so happy to be able to keep up on how you are doing and if you are happy. You are so special and need more attention than the average horse because of what you are. When you were at barn 55 you had attention always with your caregivers and your fans who all love you dearly. I think of you daily and always wish you much happiness. You are Heaven sent and I love you my sweet Zenyatta.
Liz
This brought a HUGE smile to my face (almost like I got an award!!!). Zenyatta and the Mosses are truly the gifts that just keep on giving. So happy for all these wonderful folks for being “officially” recognized and forever connected to one of the greatest race horses that ever lived. So happy for all of them!
Charlotte A. Farmer
Congratulations to the entire Team and you Zenyatta. Rest up this weekend for the Preakness will soon be upon us.
Love you Zenyatta
Denise
I come here everyday, but have only commented once…
this post today brought tears to my eyes~~ what an incredible gift!!
Mr and Mrs Moss~~ you are wonderful people!!
Dottie~ thanks so much for keeping in touch with Z… Denise in AZ
Denise
oops~~ keeping us in touch with Z
LauraJ
@Susan in TN, to elaborate on what Judy said, a “maiden” is a horse that has not won a race. Maiden Special Weight races are non-claiming races; that is, the horse is not for sale. MSWs allow trainers to run their talented youngsters without fear that they will be claimed away. There’s no rule against moving between MSW races and maiden claiming. However, a horse that starts in MSW company usually stays there until she either wins (breaks her maiden) or it becomes apparent that she is outclassed and needs to drop into the claiming ranks. Zenyatta started in a MSW race. It is fairly unusual for a horse to win her first race, and winning at first asking, as she did, is a good indicator of real talent.
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@Peggy, I think I survived that day on hot cider and coffee. It was a great time, though. Did you see the ladies with the pink “Z” ball caps and horse ears complete with cotton? So clever! Old Friends is one of my favorite places to go, too. I’ve developed soft spots for several of the old boys. I hope I can make the memorial service on Memorial Day. I had a share in Jade Hunter, who passed a few months ago.
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@Judy B, I’ll let you know how things go with the gate.
Jeanine Coogle
What amazing owners you have Queen Z! Not only did they take excellent care of you & share you with your fans, they take great care of their staff. You don’t find too many owners out there like that! They are special people!!
Barbara Wood
@Shari Voltz–I love your daily comments and keeping up with your students. As a former teacher myself, I LOVE the way you can sneak horse knowledge into regular material. I would love to visit your class, but I’m down here in central TX. Keep up the good work.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Denise in AZ: Your home state, and my native one, is much on my mind. Found a receipt from ‘Heart of Tucson,’ mailed about the time ‘Gifted,’ a ‘Dynaformer’ colt was rescued starved & wandering, needing quick intervention, which he got. Family loss over several months and the Tucson shootings added concern, but many wonderful resolutions also appeared, one being the miraculous ‘Gifted,’ now happily healthy, precious and full of himself .. . it is impossible to recall how close to death he was. Thank you for your note — it sounds as if you always were here, and always knew you were welcome. ~ Trina Nagele .. . thank you. Just found a 2011 calendar from ‘Front Range Equine Rescue’ http://www.frontrangeequinerescue.org noting stepped up efforts since 2005, initiating its ‘Save the Wild Horses’ campaign, and appended lovely quotes, so will, from time to time, send some along, as they are ageless in wisdom, full of love for horses and other living things, and good for the heart.
Lisa g
Ann and Jerry, Dottie and John, Mario and Carmen…ya’ll are the best. I never thought we would see this day, when we were back in the day….Wow, Zenyatta, you are the best.