Good Morning,
What a weekend! There was such great racing around the country. My pals all ran wonderful races…and were so competitive. I am very proud of all of them.
On another note, it was a weekend of great PRIDE for ME! Not only did my owners receive the PINCAY AWARD for their contributions to our sport, but there was a fascinating one page article in Sunday’s LA TIMES sports section titled,
THE GREATNESS SOCIETY
Here’s a membership list for one of sports’ most exclusive clubs: The best of all time
By Douglas Farmer and Matt Stevens
In this piece, Farmer and Stevens have named the athletes for several major sports who are ‘the best of all time’ and a comment about each. They have listed them by the date/years each participated in his/her particular sport. Per their article, here are the “MEMBERS OF THIS CLUB”:
Basketball Guards: Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant
Basketball Centers: George Mikan, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal
Women’s Tennis: Margaret Court, Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, and Serena Williams
Boxing: Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Manny Pacquiao
Hockey: Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Mario Lemieux
Football Quarterbacks: Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady
Soccer: Pele, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi
Football Running Backs: Jim Brown, Gale Sayers, O.J.Simpson, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders and Emmitt Smith
Golf: Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods
Baseball Sluggers: Babe Ruth, Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr. and Albert Pujols
and
Horse Racing: Man O’ War, Native Dancer, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and ME…ZENYATTA!!!!!
What can I say! I am SO HONORED and SO INCREDIBLY PROUD! (Blush, Blush)
MY TEAM shares these emotions with ME! To have one’s name included on this list, considering the exceptional levels of achievement and prominence by the other MEMBERS OF THIS CLUB, is so incredibly humbling and quite overwhelming!
This is truly an extraordinary feeling for ALL OF US!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Suzen
Z, WOW ! The only girl on the list AND those are some pretty great boys on that list. You SO deserve all the honors and accolades. Congratulatons to you and the team.
BTW, I think you should think about “dating” Hard Spun next year….
Maggie
My dearest Zen:
Never in my life will I see another great horse like you are. It gives me great pleasure to have seen you race. Now I’m waiting for your future to unfold with the new generation you will bring forth. You are so deserving of The Greatness Society. Zen 19 wins out of 20 races, who does that???? YOU!!!
Karen Gogue
Ivin is Eveline’s husband..
Karen Gogue
@HappyHarriet
Wonderful to see you back posting!!
Kim Noble
Well of course you should be on the list Zenny! But so should Ruffian and Spectacular Bid. Hope you and Baby Bump continue to thrive!
Cheryl Harshall
Wow!!! Awesome to be on that list and very much deserved. Congratulations to you Queen Z and to all your connections!
Annie
Oh, if only Street Cry and Vertigineux could bring another Zenyatta into this world… I know there will never be another just like you, Zen, but the news is exciting. Miss ya.
Savvy
Loved the ESPN segment, but watching the 2010 Breeders Cup is still difficult even though Zen ran a valiant race. Will some of us fans ever get a chance to see you, Zenyatta? Dottie, will there be a window of opportunity some time in the next two years? Stay healthy, Zen.
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Eblouissante/143117319085172?sk=wall&filter=2#!/pages/Barbaro/246791808668866
Sarah Powell
@ Diana S would love to have a Z dumpling name tag – is there an e-mail address to send you our mailing address? I’ll never get to Cal. unless I win the lottery – can’t feed my babies and actually travel anywhere!LOL
@Barbara I think at the very least you can use Zenny’s colors in your wedding – I can see the bridesmaid’s dresses now!! I’m sure many on this site can come up with ideas of how to incorporate Zenny into your special day!!
Terry Crow
In honor of today’s all-star baseball game, here is today’s joke–A horse shows up at a ball park and heads towards the manager of the local team. The horse said “I”d like to try out for the team.” The manager eventually gets over the fact that a horse can talk and says “Ready? I”d like to see you catch a few.” The horse walks over to third base and catches every bill hit to him. The manager then asks the horse to throw. The horse whisks the ball lover to the first baseman with amazing accuracy and speed. The horse then picks up a heavy bat and proceeds to hit several balls over the center field fence.The manager then says “outstanding. We could use a player like you. Now, let me see you run.” The horse then said “If I could run I’d be at Santa Anita.”
Terry Crow
that should be every ball hit to him and whisks the ball over
Brenda
@ Diana S – Are you including Canadian Dumplings? I do hope so. I have a US Post Box in Buffalo and will happily post the address and reimburse you for any costs if you would make two – one Brenda S and one for Victoria B. What a great family we all belong to!!!
Kathryn Cogswell
Swallows are soaring under an upstairs portal, designing an adobe sling exactly where a former family returned year after year about a decade ago for several nestings a season. Timing being the ‘x’ factor it is, this seems late, but they are a different swallow family and look different, too. Ann Maree, on ‘Z`s’ FB page yesterday, featured an article by Art Wilson, posted June 30, 2011, http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_18385383 ‘Stars need to align for racing industry.’ Jerry Moss comments on their choice to retire Zenyatta, and his pleasure at watching others doing well anew. ~ ‘Build it, and [they] will come,’ seems timely here. I can`t figure the rationale for dismantling Hollywood Park, right at a time when, in the LA TIMES, comments are coming in to the effect that new lanes & laterals for California`s freeway system, rather than decreasing traffic, will only open the roads for more congestion. Robert Moses caused a jam in NYC with is first freeway system ever . .. Why doesn`t that apply to a new wave of a sea change in horse racing? Building — or renovating – beautiful venues anywhere seems as if the laws of attraction would fall into play, just like gravity. It`s a paraphrase, but at one frustrating point in ‘Z`s’ career, while a honking chorus of voices was calling for the next big horse, Mr. Shirreffs pointed with some irony at Zenyatta. “She`s right here,” he said. That ‘the incomparable actress in the brown fur coat’ [overheard in Bill Nack`s crisp narrative, Gold Cup Saturday 2011] could be overlooked by anyone, means there is a need for track lighting of a supernal origin for all racing. Big football and basketball are quarreling over billion dollar futures; great as they are, the athletes therein could take a page or three from thoroughbreds — or horses of any nature. Families of four now drop between $400-$700 [maybe $200 sometimes] for an event within the NBA & its football cousins` pro leagues, and, after all, it is the fans that finance these futures, and their taxes that build the forums. Reaching to the choir makes this no less true, but my money, on the best in Horse Racing, returns more sheer joy than even baseball, `though my dad taking us to watch the Cardinals` Spring Training still induces memories of him happy but frustrated with us, when we wound up under the bleachers in the dust by the end of the day. ~ Not only luminary thoroughbreds deserve devotion. Every one of those hearts beats hundreds of years of preparation for the ages, if they never see greatness. And they`re here, over all the globe. Right here.
Barbara Wood
@Karen Gogue–thanks for the info. I will pray for her peace and comfort.
Trina Nagele
@Judy Berube–Thanks for the great Lisa’s Booby Trap links! I hadn’t seen that race video.
Trina Nagele
@Cara Ezzel–I think it’s fabulous that your horse did a 100-mile race! High hoof to him! What’s his name?
Deborah Richman
@Diana S…I would love a Dumpling name tag! Am hoping to meet up with the So. Cal. Dumplings in the not too distant future :)
It would be fabulous if there were Z Dumplings all over the U.S.! Look what you’ve started!
Kimberly Potter
@Diana S~ A Dumpling name tag? I would love one…I am in Montana. Please let me know know where to send my address. Thanks!
Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana!
Susan in TN
EVELINE: I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hang on to your dog, hang on to us – hang on to Zenyatta. <3
Susan in TN
From Yesterday:
@Peggy N(neighbor!): Hi back at you! Have you melted yet?!?
Thank you to all for asking about Lou! He continues to improve:)
Rescue Work: Haven’t been out in several days due to heat. Jane said the horses are just sweating and swishing tails! She said Chopper has stayed with the herd and seems content, so that’s a relief. I am going out tomorrow.
@Sharon Call: Decided I am going to give Chester a bath tomorrow :) Will get pictures!
Diana S: I believe there are enough of us in the southeast to form a Southern Dumplings chapter…
@Terry Crow and others: I am apparently at that “awkward age.” I get AARP stuff AND emails entitled,”Susan-meet other singles in Lyles,TN!” or “Susan-meet other Asian singles in your area!”- 1) I’m married 2) I’m not Asian 3) if you could see our “area,” you’d see how laughable the whole idea is!!
judy berube
Dear Trina Nagele:
You’re welcome. What a sweet story. Hugs, J.B.
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. Wow, what a great honor. You so deserved to be mentioned as one of the greatest horses of all time if not, the best!!! You are so loved by all and have done so much for this great sport – you are an ambassador to be proud of – your are my best horse of all time!! Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Debbie G
@Eveline – So sorry about the loss of your husband. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Sally (B)
P.S. I have never seen such a deserving, most fabulous, loving horse such as you and I absolutely loved this picture!! Another kiss on your soft nose!!
Shari Voltz
Dear Zenyatta. I am so very proud of you sweet girl. You so deserve to be the company of those other horses. YOU ARE THAT GOOD. I knew in my heart when I first started following you that you would be making history. CONGRATULATIONS! “YOU ARE THE QUEEN. THE GREATEST RACE THAT WE’VE EVER SEEN.” I love you so much. Hugs and many many Kisses, Shari XXXOOO
Shari Voltz
I am sorry for my mistakes tonight. I am tired. Sorry sweet girl :)
Tory
No surprise here. And I bet you have a 22 pound heart to go with it.
Susan A.
Zenyatta,
I wanted you to know that I rode bareback on one of the grandsons of Native Dancer!!!
This great horse’s name is Cerullean!
This occurred right before my birthday at the end of May. And–I thought it wasn’t going to be a great birthday because my 99 year old Dad recently passed away.
But, the kindess of Cerullean’s owner helped me to have a great birthday by allowing me to ride him!!!
Hugs,
Susan, M.A.
Brooke (From Mrs.Voltz class)
Zenyatta ur just soooooo beautful!!! And Mrs.Voltz ,my mom, my dad, my brother and me might all go to the Breeders cup and see ur sister!!! I think she awesome at racing! She gets it from her big sister Miss.Z! <3 u Miss.Z have a good nig a be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love ya