Good Morning,
I can’t believe how quickly the time flies by. The Preakness is now over and on to the Belmont Stakes. I would like to congratulate the winner, Shackleford, and all of his connections on this victory. He ran a wonderful race, attended the pace the entire trip, and finished with true desire! My pal, Mr. Commons, ran a nice race from the 14 post. He also lost a shoe during the running. He came out of it in good order and is back home in California. He was already out relaxing and grazing this morning at Barn 55.
John and Dottie are also back in California! They are so, so impressed with how many people in Maryland stopped them to ask about ME! I’d mentioned this the other day to you, but more and more people continued to come up to them and share their ZENYATTA STORIES! Dr. Grayson from Florida really touched their hearts. Then yesterday, while Dottie was leaving a church in Baltimore, Betsy, a woman who worked at the church, stopped to visit. She told Dottie and John that she and her friends read My Diary each day. She also commented that she has 2 photos in her office at the church: one of her husband and one of ME! This is TOO CUTE! I really can’t tell you how this makes me feel. Per Betsy, “I was very instrumental in UNITING people and uniting the sport.” What a kind thing to say! I must say, I am truly blessed to have so many endearing and supportive friends!
On another TOO CUTE note, several people were also telling them that their license plates have MY NAME on them. One friend, Candy, received her plates as a birthday gift from her friends. They just arrived and are on her car driving around Lexington as I’m writing this. She sent Dottie this photo to share with all of you! If you see her driving around, please give Candy a big wave and a HIGH HOOF for ME!
With love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Roberta Smith
I love you Zenyatta! I want to get a CT license plate with your name on it too!!!!
Elizabeth G.
High Hoof, Zenyatta!
melinda - in California
Zenyatta….I’m a huge fan..love your posts! I recently had your name tattooed on my left calf muscle. I love the tattoo and the opportunity to share information about you when people ask me “who is Zen…zenya..” “ZENYATTA” I tell them.”she’s the Queen of the sport of kings…19 straight wins …..dances like Muhammad Ali..winner of the Horse of The Year 2010…” your are MY inspiration for determination and unstoppabble need to overcome. Thanks for being YOU!
Sharon Call
@Amanda Gilliland. Roll Tide!!!
@Karen Lamb. I am 66 as well being born on 02-22-1945. I remember Citation and the way he fired my imagination and fed my love of horses. My parents couldn’t afford a horse for me but they encouraged me to love horses and made sure I got to the local horse shows whenever possible. Your story about your horse was both sad and, long term, happy. What a wonderful thing it was to stand there and groom, brush out manes and tails, pick hooves and just enjoy the wonderful smell of a horse. When I did this with my 2 mares and 1 gelding in my boarding barn, it would just free my mind and I could daydream about riding across hills and streams, wind flying in my hair and their manes and tails, ground rolling away under their hooves, the way the sun felt and the sweetness of the air. It was almost an out-of-body experience and I loved every minute of it. Now I daydream about being astride Zenyatta and doing the same thing. It’s a wonderful escape for a little while from the every day cares and aggravations and gives me rest and peace for just a bit before I have to take up day-to-day living again. I think that’s what this website gives to all of us and it’s a good thing to have.
To those folks that have horses now and can go out and ride, enjoy every minute of it and think of those of us who can’t do that anymore for just a minute. We’ll know it and appreciate it very much.
Oops, I’m getting too long-winded again. I’ll shut up now.
Stephanie
mine is. ZENYTTA. ….from Maine lol the whole country from shore to shore loves you Zenny ! Xoxoxo
Sharon Call
@Kari Bussell. My heart goes with you.
Terry Crow
@Max–Agree with description of 2009 BC Classic. Probably the greatest winning race in the history of the BC. I had struck up a conversation with a gentleman sitting next to me and he said that it was remarkable that, with Zenyatt’a running style, she had never lost because of traffic trouble. I told him that if he had been amazed before, get ready to be astounded. And he was. The 2010BC Classic? The greatest race ever run by a horse which ran out of ground.@Sharon in Seattle–As stated, the 2009 Breeder’s Cup classic was the best winning effort ever. You were so lucky to have been there. Ridgewood is one of my favorite places and you can feel Seabiscuit’s presence.@Anne from Paramount-your memories of the 2009 BC Classic is the type of thing that cannot be bought with money.@Karen Lamb-Very moving post. I have known some horses that were in the “family” and it is never easy to lose one. Bless you.@Barbara Wood-Tim Tam was a great horse. Would have won the triple crown if he had not been injured in the Belmont.
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Good morning Zenyatta. Just love your picture and your diary. Love the license plate – you are truly loved by all and you have touched so many people from all walks of life and age groups. I chuckled when I read that Betsy had two pictures in her office, one of her husband and one of you. Our apartment is just filled with your statue and numerous pictures and posters. We definitely are running out of wall space and floor space. Keep them comin! We truly pray you don’t get any of the terrible weather in your area of Kentucky. We pray for all the people in Missouri and Minneapolis who suffered such terrible loss from the tornados. Please stay comfy, eat well, and have loads of conversations and fun with your BBFs. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Mary
This is just wonderful, as always. I’m speechless!
Terry Crow
@Karen Lamb-Citation was indeed a wonderful horse. I’ve said this before, but for the new people I believe it bears repeating and I hope I am not boring the regulars. Citation actually ran in a race, and won, between the Preakness and the Belmont the year he won the triple crown. Eddie Arcaro, a man who should know, called him scary fast and the best he ever rode. Of course, he never rode Secretariat or Zenyatta. It is very difficult comparing horses from different eras. You can’t go by time, because the tracks and even the horse shoes have changed over the years. Was able to see Citation race several times at Hollywood Park. This was later in his career and he wasn’t able to handle a horse which has been discussed here before, Noor.
Lisa in Co
Love you Zenny. FYI, I have a picture of my dogs and my horses in my office,and a picture of you!!!
You are the most beautiful creature on the planet.
Allen
@ Kari Bussell, your post was beautiful.
Shari Voltz
@ Kari I don’t get to read all the post but my prayers are with. May God Bless you always :)
Shari Voltz
@ Kari beautiful post
Robyn Mullhausen
Zenyatta, glad that John and Dottie were able to let you know that you are beloved to thousands of Marylanders too. Wish I could have met them, I think they were as popular as the horses! Queen Z, you and Team Z have had such a positive effect on people all over the world. You are always “Too Cute”! :)
Your popularity will never fade. I just hope your Secretary, Dottie, doesn’t get tired of write in your diary.
Love from Robyn in Baltimore.
Abigail from Montreal
@ Shari Voltz: Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. Since I posted the Secretariat piece, I have heard back from so many soul sisters who were all feeling pretty much the same thing on that day in 1973! I too saved newspaper articles & made a Big Red scrapbook that I still have. And re-watching his Belmont always makes me cry!
@ S(in San Diego):I agree that Secretariat is like Zenyatta — they are both great horses that inspire. Even though I have loved & respected many horses between Big Red II + Zenny, these others gained my affection but didn’t really inspire me. It’s a magical quality that Zenny & Secretariat have & hard to express beyond that. But maybe that’s what Penny Chenery really meant when she told Team Z “I got the boy — you got the girl”!!!
@ Dani: Thank you again for your warm response.
ON another note: I watched the movie, “Temple Grandin” last night and was so impressed with it that I wanted to recommend it to Zenny readers. In case some of you haven’t heard of Temple G., she’s an autistic woman who went on to get her Phd. and wrote 3-4 books on animal behaviour because she claims that both autistic people and animals think in pictures. I read her first book but the movie is just amazing — it does an incredible job of showing how Zenny’s mind might actually work! So, I recommend the movie to everyone. Temple G. specialized in “animal handling” and the movie shows her early career near the end with cattle and designing humane slaughter houses for them. It doesn’t really show much that tears at the heart on that topic, but there is a little though it’s done very tastefully. But the rest of the film is extraordinary. (Content is Not suitable for children!)
eastcoastkid
I am at work and I am sobbing…Abigail’s vault article is the most moving piece yet made about Secretariat. His Belmont was not of this word, she was right. I was also a young woman then and his impact has stayed with me until this very day and always will…He was simply perfection. Zenyatta is the recepient of the next genrations’ love and adoration for she too, is perfection…He ws unmatched from 1973 until Her first race in CA. The emotional impact of these two creatures cannot be understated…they are both simply “gifts from God”
Trisha Veazey
I have the pic of you with your birthday hat, baloons etc, it makes me smile. I get choked up when i see your beautiful pics.
Love, hugs and kisses
Ida Lee
“Everyone knows Mike Smith from riding Zenyatta” !!!!! how cute is that. I know you’re a star in this country My Queen but obviously in Europe too…how cute is that?? and talking about super mares…how about Goldikova…what a Super Mare she is!!! LONG LIVE GIRL POWER!!
DJ
Thank you Abigail for sharing your inspirational words and film. I especially appreciated that it was shown to an audience in retirement homes and spoke of running your own race from the heart. The longest race. You captured the essence of your Spirithorse with perfection. Especially, “Breathe in the Divine” and I follow with..”and breathe out gratitude.” Have a beautiful day!
…………………………
Good morning Sweet “Z”, I will check back later for your next ‘Hello.’
Kathy
Ah, Zennie, we will never forget our Queen. You will forever be in our hearts, as will your wonderful team. It’s a package deal, you see……they helped you blossom and become the amazing mare that you are!
What was up with Pimlico on Saturday? I heard Mucho Macho Man lost a shoe during the race too……
Kathy Baldwin
I am just finishing a book called ” Heaven
Is For Real, A Little Boys Story Of His Trip
To Heaven And Back”. And do you know that
the little boy, Colton, said that Jesus has
a horse with rainbows and Jesus let him pet
the horse. I have always believed that you,
Zenny, were sent from Heaven and that “All”
of your “Connections” are blessed! :)
And to Kari Bussell, you are going to be
fine and remember “Heaven Is For Real”
and there are horses in Heaven! ;)
Continued blessings to all!
Kathy from So Cal :)
Patricia Emery
Glad to hear Mr. Commons, JOhn & Dottie are back to CA safe and sound! The sun, believe it or not, just peaked out for the first time in weeks here in Maine!
I hope you are out grazing on the wonderful Blue Grass and enjoying your day…even when their is no sunshine, you always brighten my day!
XOXO
PS…if you hear from Bernie, tell him we say Hi!!!!!
Maria K.
Wow! that is really neat! Love you Queen Z!
Barbara Wood
@Kari Bussell–sending love and hugs from Texas
@Kathy Baldwin–you might also enjoy “There Is Eternal Life for Animals”. It is a scriptural account that I stumbled on by accident, and it blew me away. I got mine on Amazon.
Snoprinz
Zen, you are beautiful in the picture but you always photograph beautifully.Congratulations to Shackleford and connections for the Preakness win. I’m so sorry to hear about Mr.Commons losing a shoe but finished the race nicely and safely.There will be another time and another race for Mr.C to shine.
I’m so looking forward to hearing the good news, in fact any news, about you (you know what I mean). All I know is that you look good, healthy and relaxed. People still talk about at the races.
georgia harper
I can’t wait to see Mr. Commons run again. He is just beautiful and looked like he was ready to go for the Preakness he was so on his toes. I thought he might pull off a long shot. Congrats to Shackelford we saw him in Florida at the derby and was such a beautiful big boy. Was sorry to hear about Paddy O’Prodo though but wishing him a much success in his new role.
georgia harper
I can’t wait to see Mr. Commons run again. He is just beautiful and looked like he was ready to go for the Preakness he was so on his toes. I thought he might pull off a long shot. Congrats to Shackelford we saw him in Florida at the derby and was such a beautiful big boy. Was sorry to hear about Paddy O’Prodo though but wishing him a much success in his new role. Love the license plate wish I was the one to think of that!!!
RHONDA C
DEAR SWEET QUEEN ZENYATTA, YOUR SIS IS ADORABLE. I READ ALL OF YOUR POSTS AND YOU HAVE BROUGHT PEOPLE TOGETHER-NOT ONLY IN THE RACING WORLD-BUT, ALSO IN EVERYDAY LIFE. JUST LOOKING AT YOUR BEAUTIFUL FACE CAN BRING TEARS OF HAPPINESS TO OUR EYES. YOU ARE SPECIAL. GOD MADE YOU THAT WAY FOR MANY REASONS. THERE’S NOT MUCH IN THIS WORLD THAT CAN BRING ON THAT KIND OF EMOTION FROM FOLKS WHO HAVE NEVER SEEN YOU IN ‘PERSON’-SO TO SPEAK. WE LOVE YOU AND HAVE A DEVOTION TO YOU AS IF YOU WERE A PART OF OUR FAMILY. YOU ARE A PART OF ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. GOD BLESS YOU. ZENNY. XOXOXOX
Marilu V
Hi Zeny:
Mr. Commons looks great and ready for another race. Glad he is OK desptie losing a shoe during the race. So glad the race had no injuries compared to Kentucky Derby.
Hope you are feeling good and healthy!
Love and Hugs, Marilu