WELL…HOW SPECIAL IS THIS! I AM SO PROUD!!!
Good Morning Everyone! Dottie and I were just reviewing the morning news and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND! The Associated Press did their review of the TOP FEMALE ATHLETES in the world…and for the 2nd year in a row…I AM #2 !
Now this is amazing…as, in reality, I am a thoroughbred race horse, so to be honored in this way is quite special! People often comment that horse achievements do not translate to other sports…or outside of racing…but LOOK! HERE I AM! I think this also means that people recognize the fact that I had to train and work hard to achieve in my sport just as a human would to succeed in his/her sport!
I SO APPRECIATE THIS POLL!
They had 175 people voting for this honor and ranking. Here are the top 4 per the AP:
1…Lindsey Vonn…she is a TOP OLYMPIAN and had a great year. 3 CHEERS for Lindsey! She received 77 votes.
2…ME…ZENYATTA!!!!! YIPPEE, YIPPEE!!!! (To quote the AP press release…”Zenyatta’s 32 votes placed the racehorse No. 2 in the AP Balloting for the second consecutive year. The 6 year old mare retired with a 19-1 career record and a North American earnings record for female horses. Her only loss was a narrow one in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” (Yikes…as they said ‘narrow one’…it was just a few inches. In my heart, I know I ran a winning race! I must also add that I truly appreciate the fact that everyone makes me feel so good about how hard I tried in the Classic. All of my friends have repeatedly reinforced the fact…EFFORT APPLIED DOES MATTER!)
3. Maya Moore…she is a wonderful college basketball player. I believe she is playing in a big tournament today…and her team is working on a big streak of their own. Good luck today, Maya! (I will have the guys at the farm check the TV Guide to see when her game is scheduled. This way, I can check on how she is doing.) It is important to be supportive of my fellow athletes. She received…29 votes.
4. Serena Williams…a fabulous tennis star…………14 votes.
****Per the AP article…no one else got more than 5 votes.
This is truly a complete HONOR…and I am totally BLESSED to share this recognition with all of these highly talented women. Again, LUCKY ME!
So, as I am standing here in KENTUCKY…I hope you can all see the HUGE SMILE on my face! I am so proud and grateful to all of these voters, my Barn 55 friends, and my wonderful, wonderful FANS who have always honored my work and made me feel so special and LOVED!
Enjoy your day! It is chilly here…and per all reports from CA…totally ‘pouring’ there!
Stay warm and cozy! With love,
HUGS TO ALL~
Z
Stephanie Quilichini
Your Number 1 to us but it is great the AP actually recognized you as Number 2:)That’s alright your going to get HOY!!!
Sasha
I ,3 you baby girl i hope you love your new home!!!!!
Sasha
i meant <3 not ,3
Lynette Lucas
Congratulations on being #2 for the second year in the row!!!! You are one amazing horse!! I can see your huge smile in Roswell,NM!!
You are a queen and always be a queen in my heart!!!!!
Hugs and kisses from New Mexico!!
Karen in CA
Z, you are still #1 to your fans.
K
Cheryl
Dear Gorgeous Zenyatta – you totally deserve the recognition as female athlete. If I am any kind of an indicator of the “average” person, your achievements, heart and spirit touched me deeply and continue to touch me daily. I am going to be so happy when you get Horse of the Year I may just burst!! Love you girl, Cheryl
Debbie Bassett
You’ll always be number one to me….for a million different reasons!
Cheryl
Just checked out that guy After Market for you – if you go back far enough there are some nice horses, Danzig, Norther Dancer, Secretariat, Rahy..but aren’t the Storm Cat horses known to be kind of bratty and not much on distance? Just thoughts from the uniformed fan who loves you!
Julie Roberts
Why not learn Dressage? You can all ready dance. You would be beautiful and you can still carry a baby while you learn. It would give you something to do. Love you Zen!!!
Richard K
Congratulations, Zenyatta! Two years in a row — number 2 female athlete in the world. You deserve every honor you receive. However, I do believe you are #1 athlete in the world — male or female. Your 2010 Classic can only be described as heroic.
Maureen
You go girl!!! Congrats. I know it’s an honor to be included with the”humans”, but you are #1 by far!! Love you Z.
Astrid
CZenny, ongratulations!! What an honour although you are number 1 in my books (and all your fans:)!! You are the BEST!
I am happy for you and your connections! You so deserve it with all the hard work you and your wonderful team put in!
Happy smiles, lots of hugs and stay warm!
P.S. Thank you so much for those lovely updates!
Clara Aker
You are prettier than Lindsey…
Trish & Mike in Colorado
Zenyatta, you are a fountain of joy to all of us. Your personality, your beauty, your breath-taking racing style and accomplishments make us happy to be fans. There won’t be another like you in our lifetime. P.S.–just don’t let them talk you into selling cold medicine on TV commercials like Ms. Vonn.
Dolores Pshsnychniak
Congratulations Zenyatta!
Kim Curtsinger
Zenny-sun is melting the snow and ice. I hope you can get outside this week. Congrats for being honored as #2 female athlete. Of course I think you’re number 1. Hope you’re having a wonderful day. I love you and always will
Fern Gordon
Congratulations! Well deserved! You will always be no.1 in my book. Happy holidays and much joy in the coming year.
Kimberly
What an honor! You are truly #1 to us!!
Heather S
I really think you should have been number 1 here. What you did in the Classic was athleticism at its best. You are an amazing athlete, Zenyatta. I tend to shy away from ranking-type discussions, but as far as female athlete of the year… I do not think any human even comes close to Zen… just amazing.
margie
Precious Z, congrats on the recognition as a superb athlete. Not news to all your fans, is it? :-) You’re the Best of the Best and always will be. Shame on Bloodhorse for accepting that picture of Blame; I’m sure his people think it enhances his reputation, but they should let him stand on his own merit and not use Z to try and make him better. And as for that picture they’re using of that “particular” race, EVERYONE knows who was about to wipe the boys out once again – a beautiful girl named Zenyatta. Stay warm, Z, and I’ll try to stay dry here in CA. Love you…
Elaine
You will always be #1…..and if you are not voted Horse of the Year something is seriously wrong!
Fran
Happy Sunday Z! I just got back from the barn. Even though Doozey is at our trainer’s place, I still have Petie (quarter horse), Oliver (pot belly pig), and Bun Bun (flop) ear rabbit to take care of. It has been raining non stop, but not as much in Fresno as it has in LA (they are really getting a horrible storm). I came home drenched! But, all the animals are nice and toasty warm. I am so proud of you for the award you received. You are the Queen in my book. Stay warm Z and have a fun day!
Leslie
Congratulations Zenny! It is well deserved. You are Number 1 in my book!!
As to the Classic, you were awesome!! What you over came was truly amazing. You did run a winning race! Blame just got all the breaks and you didn’t. You are not only horse of the year, you are the horse of a lifetime.
Yes, it is pouring here in Cali.
Have a nice afternoon, sweet girl!
Love you,
Leslie
Jess
Yeah, I totally agree Zenny, you are number one!!! Hello Horse of the Year. See ya soon in Kentucky. Your loving fan Jess.
Terri
Congrats Zenyatta! You are truly deserving.
Richard K
Kitel, thank you for referring us to the wonderful article. My wife and I were at the Breeders’ Cup and the author describes it perfectly.
.sandy
Congratulations Zenny. YOu are a very special lady and number 1 in my book also. You did good and gave everyone one last thrill with the very, very close Classic race. You won in all our hearts.
We are happy to see you adjusting well and hope you and your team continue with the postings and photos as well as some education for those of us who do not know alot about horseracing. We love you.
Gina
Zenyatta – Fabulous!!! Fantastic you’re getting the proper attention due! You’re #1 with me!!
bridget
Zenya: YOU lift the vibrtional frequency of this universe!!!!!! I LOVE all of your fans!!!!!!!! Every one of them writes something so beautiful. Because of you… beautiful thoughts go out into the world. Makes me feel so good to know that people care so much about you. Faith in people is always lifted when I read your posts!
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! So grateful for a being so perfect!!!!!
Paula Higgins
Zenyatta, you are Number 1 to all of us, but we will take Number 2 because the humans had to pick a human as Numnber 1 LOL. This is quite an honor to you and your connections.
As for your BCC 2010 race, I will shout it loud and clear, it was the greatest race I have ever seen run by a horse short of Secretariat’s Belmont. My jaw dropped when I saw it. I didn’t even care that Blame beat you by a nostril (Ann was right, you should have stuck your tongue out LOL). I was just amazed and stunned by that closing run from so far back. Even Scrooge aka Andrew Beyer couldn’t believe it and had to acknowledge your greatness. Just love you. Dottie, you are one great woman acknowldeging the other female athletes. You go girls!