HAPPY # 300 to ALL OF YOU!
I truly can’t believe that this is Diary Entry # 300! I guess I must be one very chatty female….with so many things to say! I can’t thank Dottie enough for expressing all of my personal thoughts, hopes, dreams, feelings, and achievements in such a way as ALL OF YOU….my dear friends….can also take part in my life and share so many things with ME!
Racing is an amazing sport! I truly feel deeply blessed for what I was able to achieve ON THE RACE TRACK. Yet, I feel equally as appreciative for the things I have been able to do FOR MY SPORT…and most importantly FOR THE FANS!
Yesterday, in a news article discussing the final statistics for the Hollywood Park Meet, they noted that the on-track attendance was down this season. Per the article, “he partially attributed this to the absence of a big draw such as Zenyatta, who raced at the 2010 spring-summer meeting”. Jack Liebau, the track President, commented…”Last year, we had a big day on account of ZENYATTA that we didn’t have this year.” (Thank you, Jack! Blush, Blush)
I know all of the numbers were up in the BREEDERS’ CUP attendance figures each of the year’s that I raced. My goodness, over 20,000 people came to see ME walk on track and say ‘good-bye’. For this, I am so, so proud!
In life, you hope to do things to make people feel good. You hope to achieve and make some type of mark. You strive to do your best and TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE! But…to make history, to make people feel good about a sport again, to bring fans closer together, and to have people love ME so much not only for what I achieved as an athlete…but for ME, my personal qualities,….is truly something one DREAMS could happen to them!
One of the FACE BOOK responses yesterday by Marie Stoyles-Moura was very touching to ME. She said, “I don’t think your pedigree should read Champion–See Record—–It should read “QUEEN–See Record.”
Upon reflection, having a racing career which spanned 4 years, to have statements like the ones written above said about YOU…is so, so rewarding and extremely appreciated. MY TEAM and I can’t thank you enough.
I am one very, very grateful HORSE….for all of the gifts I have been given…which totally includes the LOVE, HONOR, AND RESPECT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN FROM ALL OF YOU!
Again, THANK YOU from the bottom of MY HEART!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
alene
Zenny you deserve all of the accolades felt and written about you..As well as your team!! Big Hugs and Kisses, Alene :-)
Lucia
Thank you Zenyatta and Dottie! I hope you are all doing well like I am. I love you Zenyatta and that picture of you is gorgeous. Love,
— On a side note, HP 7 Part 2 was amazing! I found myself crying for Snape- that suprised me- as well as Fred, Remus and Tonks- no suprise there. If only you could really read Zenyatta, then you would hopefully love Harry the way we all love you, and him.
Gloria Jeanne
Thanks to Everyone – you are all so wonderful – you all lift my spirits up too. It’s nice to come to this site and read all the wonderful things you have to say. Zenyatta has given so much and will give us so much more in the future.
Deirdre Slater
That picture is beautiful…of course it is because you are! I just want to say thank you for “Painting” pictures at Santa Anita. I bought one and it is wonderful. I share it with my preschool students in our Head Start Program in South Lake Tahoe. I talk about you alot. These children don’t have the chance to horses very often.
Thanks Z…
k
Lordy girl, but you look gorgeous!
s in san diego
Picture Perfect!! You look amazing and so happy.
@Gloria Jeanne-Praying for you and your Mom.
Mary
Thank you Z and Dottie for these wonderful posts…look forward to them every day. I love the picture of you…put it on my background on computer. I change them on the background but they are always of “you” Z… We all miss you on the track…I am glad you were never hurt and are safe…but wish we could see you…maybe you could be the mascot for Hollywood Park once you have your foal…you could just come out and dance and prance for the crowds….no racing…want you safe. I know that is silly…you are so happy where you are …and that makes me happy. Hugs to you Z….
Maryp
The remarkable spirit that flows from such a beautiful creature and her people will never be duplicated. Zenyatta & Team Z have engraved a place in history. Love to all.
Ida Lee
Zen honey…you know things are just not the same since you retired. It’s like something really really big is missing from the track. But I will say that the great mares – Blind Luck and Havre de Grace – had a spectacular race this weekend. GIRL POWER was definately on display with these two wonderful and super talented Ladies. PS you look adorable with your baby bump..
Jodi
You look so beautiful and content.
DJ
To Gloria J: “Sweet Z” has pulled us through so much, hasn’t she? With her joy for speed, quest for perfection and indomitable Spirit, she pours out all she has in each task (including enjoying a Guinness!). Still in the ‘Valley’ oftentimes myself, but just remembering that she is still doing the same Good, only from a different Mountain Top helps this Dumpling. A big hug for your Mom. I would give more than a few years just to hug mine one more time..
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Trisha V: The 8th Natural Wonder! Zenyatta tears – a wash of awe and gratitude :)
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Deborah R: Goldie sounds so pretty. I am glad “Z” shared her 14 carrots for that ‘gold dust’.
Patricia Emery
Photo…simply breathtaking! You are just always a pleasure to see! Hugs & Kisses
LauraJ
If I’m not mistaken, there’s a gentleman who has a tattoo very much like the super-heroine picture in the frame. I’ve seen it in photographs a few times. The other picture is lovely and serene. Z looks quite content.
Jeanne from Texas
Gosh, where to start? All of the posts are so great; you can feel the Zenyatta “Spirit” moving through the words! My oh my how this mare brings such wonderful sentiments from every person. For Gloria Jeanne, we will all remember your mother in our prayers and safekeeping. Keep the faith. Read each and every post and you will be lifted up! Thank you Dottie and John for all you do for us and Zenyatta. I would give anything if she could come back home with you until she’s ready to foal. Sunny California is where she belongs! (Now I’m from Texas and that’s saying alot for me)! Jerry and Ann….please give this a thought because I know Zenyatta would be so happy to come home. You can’t tell me she doesn’t miss everybody there. I can see it in her eyes from the picture above! Thank you again for sharing this great mare with us! We love her dearly!
Cheryl Heath
Amazing and loving each and every post!
The Queen says it all.
Love the photo. And special thanks to Dottie for giving you voice. Just the most wonderful thing I can ever think of is you, Zenyatta.
I saw you at Churchill Downs last year, on the backside and on the track… I will remember it always. So special.
judy berube
Dear Z and Dottie,
Thank you so much for this stunning photo. Z, you look absolutely serene and gorgeous. Dottie, thank you for this Diary and for your wonderful posts, for your humor and your dedication to including Z’s fans in her life. Love you Z and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
Sarah
Completely unrelated but kinda fun–my husband was trying to get me to race him home this morning and I just wasn’t into it. Then he said he was Rachel Alexandra and I was Zenyatta and took off. I kicked his butt…. :)
Sarah Powell
@Deborah Richman – so glad you’re babies are thriving! Goldie sounds like the perfect name – I had so many I just named my last mama “Mama Kitty” it surely was appropriate but I finally tamed her and she had surgery!!
Sarah Powell
@Sarah – way to go – he should have known better!!
judy berube
Dear Deborah Richman:
What you and all the other Z Fans do for these beautiful animals is so selfless and caring. Sharon Call’s determination to help them is remarkable. God Bless all of you. Hugs, J.B.
Ingrid Arnone
Zenyatta my adorable Zenyatta, you look so beautiful in that photo… I will always say you are one in a million! In addition, your team is one in a million! Love you Ingrid.
RuthAnn
Thats because you are a QUEEN!!! You are the best and you always will be. It doesn’t matter that you didn’t quite make the full 20 as we all wanted…you are still the queen in my eyes!! The fact that you came from so far behind and gave it your all to the final second means more than anything. Watching you do that gave me determination to something that was very difficult for me in my life at that time. Thank you for your shining example!! long live QUEEN ZENYATTA!!!
Kathy Kimber
@Sue Fredrick:
Your donation was important every single donation was important large or small. If not for the people on this site coming forward to help with this quest it might not have come off. But because you and people like you rallied around Noor the whole thing turned a corner and made all the difference. You all of you have become very important and will never be forgotten. The trip is on funds will continue to be needed for main tenance and I guess other essentials but you people helped make it happen. Thank you. Hugs
Ingrid Arnone
To: Dottie, and to all Zenyatta’s fans, all your posts, they are incredible.
God Bless you all, hugs, Ingrid.
Nancy Bickford
You’re looking great, Z! Wish we could see you in person! Any word from Lane’s End as to whether or not that will come to fruition? Any answer at this point would be welcome!
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
So sorry if you thought I was offended. I guess my of ruse of being so was too convincing. I thought your wild guess was so funny, I was laughing out loud. I do get your wonderful sense of humor. Hugs, J.B.
Lil from KY
To all Z-sters—–What an exciting day I have had!!! Went to OLD FRIENDS, what a wonderful place, a heaven on earth for retired horses!The place is huge, spacious paddocks with lush grass & shelters in each one for protection from heat or storms. All the horses are in great shape, fat & sassy! We saw Little Silver Charm, who is quite a character, his soccer ball was lying there, but he is not allowed to play soccer now because of the heat. The cemetary is in a beautiful quiet spot, with grave markers on all the graves. Lovely place with large trees shading it.
The horses were so interesting, seems each had their own individual personality!
I gave the folks there greetings from Zenny and all the Z fans and they said to tell all of you hi. I hope you all can go there, believe me ,it is an experience.
To lovely Zen, all the horses were nice, but none as sweet & wonderful as you.
The folks there spoke highly of Jerry & Ann moss & Z’s connections.
Just thought you all might be interested in hearing about this—-soooo much more I could tell you, but I would be here all night!
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
PS: Loved today’s joke. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Lil from Ky:
Would love to see that little critter. I think he is so adorable. Thanks for sending our greetings to them at OF. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
To Sarah:
Very funny. Hugs, J.B.