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
Kathryn Cogswell
What ‘Sarah Powell said’ about ‘Z’ looking into the camera to the heart is exactly so.
Dona
Greatness List…But of course!!!!!
Must admit the tears flowed when I saw Native Dancer and you. My great loves. Sadly, Barbaro never got the chance to prove to the world that he belonged there. Many racing pundits believed he was going to become the greatest turf horse ever. He was that much better on turf. Tears for what might have been.
Love you, Big Girl.
Barbara Hawkins
Finally Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss gave you the credit you deserve on Saturday’s broadcast of the Hollywood Gold Cup. They acknowledged that you ran the best race in the Breeders Cup Classic and if you and Blame were to meet 10 times that you would have more wins. All of us who love you already knew you were the best!
mary bobolis
Fantastic to be mentioned as one of the greatest thoroughbreds ever! CONGRATULATIONS ZEN GODDESS!
Roxi Cook
How wonderful to be included with the all-time greats!
@Judy: I noticed the empty stands for Saturday’s races as well. Good thing we all have access to every race now via the Internet!
@Ensign: thanks for the breeding report. Very interesting to see how the Z family is increasing.
Arlene
Beautiful pictures, Zenny! Great to hear about your membership in the “greatest of all time club”! Enjoyed seeing you in the ESPN coverage of the Golden Cup.
@judy berube: Thanks for your link to the ESPN coverage – http://espn.go.com/espn3/player?id=202894&league=NTRA
Ingrid Arnone
!ONE IN A MILLION YOU! Love you my adorable Zenyatta… Ingrid.
Susan in TN
@The Kennedys: I don’t know if I mentioned it before, but those pictures you posted of E are gorgeous! And I just saw the pic of some(?) of the Z Dumplings-everyone looks so happy and relaxed! I can just make out the little Dumplings on the name tags!
@Ensign:Thanks for the updates-sorry to hear about Balance’s foal. Where are Balance and Treasure Trail stabled? Good to see you post!
@Anna Wiley: Good to see you post, too!
LauraJ
@Ensign, wow, I am astonished. Is this a temporary truce, or the beginning of detente, I wonder?
Susan in TN
P.S. Very exciting that Vertigineux was bred to Street Cry!!Don’t know how that came about and don’t care!
Joan Walls
Dear Zenny, What a tremendous honor! I know that your team and all of your beloved fans are extremely PROUD of YOU. Blush, blush, — we never get enough of seeing you. I also want to thank you and your team for informing us. I know that I would have more than likely never heard about this honor. Thank you. Hugs and Kisses, Joan
Marty
You are the greatest of all time!!!
Diane
Congratulations dear Queen Zenyatta! I knew the
second I saw you that you were indeed the greatest horse
of all time! You and your Team Z have given us
such a phenomenal gift….thank you so much to all of you.
Love and highest hooves to you beautiful Zenny –
Diane from Solana Beach
LauraJ
@Ensign, hey you wouldn’t happen to know what’s going on with Better Than Honour these days, would you? She had a Street Cry filly a couple of years ago, IIRC? And then another one?
Brenda
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Zenyatta, it’s not only recognition for YOU but also for your well deserving Team Z. They had the best to work with and they supported YOU in your road to being the best. All the loving care that surrounded you during your racing life helped you along on the path to greatness.
As a Canadian, I’m a bit disappointed that Northern Dancer didn’t make the list but I did notice that it was a sweep for the Canucks in the hockey category.
Hope you got a little extra treat, extra HUGS and KISSES Zenny.
Pamela J Hebert
Congratulations Z!!!! You ARE the best!! Of course you should be included on that honored list of the best. I’m soooo happy for you & Team Z. You’ve managed to have me tear up again. God bless you honey. Thank you Dottie for sharing this news with us. Hooves held high. Hugs to all!!!!
Karen Gogue
@Eveline
We are here for you if you need us, dear lady. How is Ivin? Prayers still everyday for him.
debbie
so glad to see Zen on the greatest list. i agree with the earlier posts about Barbaro and Ruffian. Ruffian started my love for the girls. Secretariat started my love for all horses. i truly believe that Barbaro would have won the triple crown. still so sad for what could have been….
Allen
You deserve it Z !!! Some might say that you are in good company, but I think they are in good company being on the list with you. Loved the ESPN special Saturday, and that still shot of you, is all I can say is you look beautiful. Have a great afternoon Queen Z.
Anita in Ca
Love you Baby Girl Forever!!!
Karen Gogue
@Sarah Powell
DRAT! DANG! #*/@#*%!! New computer – still trying to post link to photos from Z dumplings on Sat.!! %#*%#/@% to be continued!
Karen Gogue
@Judy MG
No problem – that’s the way it was. Glad you corrected it, our dear leader of the dumplin’s to Barn 55!
s (in San Diego)
Another Well Deserved Honor! Congrats Sweet Girl.
@Ensign, thank you for the great info.
Happy Monday everyone.
judy berube
Dear Z,
You belong on that list. You are the only girl to beat the boys in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, you won 19 consecutive races and you can DANCE. Love you and love to all of you. Judy and Russ
DJ
Almost Forgot! Today – 7/11 is FREE SLURPEE DAY :)
…………………………………
For “Z” Fans who are faring a heat-wave, just thirsty, or don’t want to pass up a freebie :) Have a cool one!
http://lifeinc.today.com/_news/2011/07/11/7058748-free-slurpees-cash-in-7-elevens-coffers
#1NewEnglandFan
If there were ever a society that should include Queen Z among its members, it would be the Greatness Society! No ifs ands or buts about it. Z, you are in great company, and you deserve it! MIKE summed it up perfectly with his beautifully simple response about what makes you so special: “She’s Zenyatta.”
What’s wonderful is that Team Z and all your fans didn’t need to wait 10 or 20 years before you began to get the recognition you deserve. For me, Secretariat and you will always be at the top of the list.
Loved the piece on ESPN on Saturday, the first 15 minutes of the show were about you!
I’m glad to realize that there are so many others who suffer from Z-tears Syndrome! It’s a stange disease. Symptoms: Tears flow automaticallly when you watch a Z race or read an article about Z or read this blog. It’s a mysterious condition, but I don’t really mind it!
Best to all from Annie B in MA
Ray Lopez
Congratulations Zenyatta-I been very lucky to have a picture taken with Muhammad Ali and with you Zenyatta. But the picture of you and me at Barn 55 in my office at work. I hope you are doing well, and will try to see you in Nov. when I come to Kentucky for this years Breeders Cup.
judy berube
Dear Ensign:
So nice to have you back posting. Thank you for the amazing news of a full sibling to Z. What a surprise. John might end up training Life is Sweet’s foal and Z’s foal by Bernardini. Wouldn’t that be something! Really sad about Balance her her foal. Hugs, J.B.
Sharyn
Very impressive list – well deserved! And, congratulations to your owners on their award – they are pretty special people as is your whole team!!
judy berube
Dear Arlene:
You’re welcome. I don’t think it worked as well as it should have. Hugs, J.B.