Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #396

Good Morning,

So many fun things are currently happening in our industry. Last year, as you may remember, I won the First Secretariat “VOX POPULI” Award. Mrs. Penny Chenery, who bred, owned and raced Secretariat, felt an annual award should be established in our industry “acknowledging the star horse who brings the most excitement and attention to the sport”.

Per Mrs. Chenery, “It is my hope that the Secretariat ‘Vox Populi’ Award will be an honor that reflects the heart and soul of racing and will help build upon the devotion the public has for a horse they love.”

It was Mrs. Chenery’s desire last year that I be honored with the first Award. (Blush, Blush!) I was and still am so touched by this thought and deeply appreciate her kindness in granting ME the privilege of being the first recipient.

The fans attending MY 2010 Ceremony!

This year and in future years, a tradition is being established encouraging ALL FANS to vote on-line for the horse of their choice. Public voting concludes on January 2, 2012. The results will then be announced and a presentation ceremony will take place at Santa Anita on January 15th.

The winner will be determined based upon the results / thoughts of the following equally weighed 3 sectors: 1) The Public Poll which fans are participating in right now, 2) the “Vox Populi” Committee, and 3) Mrs. Chenery.

The NOMINEES for the 2011 ‘VOX POPULI’ Award are:

Uncle Mo
Rapid Redux…. (He’s running at Laurel today at 2:55 EST. Hooves Crossed!)
Goldikova
Havre de Grace.

To vote, please go here.

Mrs. Chenery so wants the VOICE of the fans to be heard. Your love and the admiration you have for various horses does ‘matter’. As Mrs. Chenery stated, “Vox Populi is an age-old Latin expression that literally means ‘voice of the people’. The award gives recognition to the horse who generated the most fan response during the year.”

All 4 of these horses have had such a great year in his / her own way. I’ve followed their races and careers very closely.

Decisions, Decisions! Hmmmm! WHO IS MY VOTE FOR 2011?

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

144 Comments

  1. / Reply

    @Brigid Matthews, I think the Vox Populi award is intended for horses who appealed to the American public and who ran here. Neither Frankel nor Black Caviar has run in the U.S.

  2. / Reply

    Queen Z…if I could, I would vote for you this year. Maybe that foal of yours will be a future winner of this great award…time will tell.

  3. / Reply

    @Past the Grandstand
    What a lovely blog that was created from your work in bloodhorse.
    Lights is all heart at whatever he does, a great and true characteristic of a TB. Thanks for sharing.

  5. / Reply

    @Terry Crow
    Love the jokes, especially the short one; HA HA HA !!!!

    Thanks to other who also contributed jokes today.

  6. / Reply

    @Margaret
    Rapid Redux is winning, sound and loves his job,happy.
    When a horse is not treated right, they don’t win, they are not sound (injuries, crazy behavior) and they don’t like their job.
    It is hard for us humans to put not put our feelings and emotions on to situations. The trainer evaluates the horse mentally and physically for a race; receiving communication from the horse in various ways; eating, weight, coat shiney, and happy. RR has won very little money compared to the joy he has given his fans, owner and trainer.

  7. / Reply

    @Dawn and Ingrid
    Definately agree they should update regarding Zenyatta on Street Cry’s video, but may be political since she is having Bernie’s foal and that foal will be followed as Bernie’s crop with Street Cry as sire. They may put all Zenny’s stats on Bernie’s with advertisement for Street Cry after Zenny foal’s or Zenny’s foal begins to train.
    That is a long time to wait, but Darley is very nationally and internationally political.

  8. / Reply

    This has been a very busy evening – phone calls to Vic from her Mother, relatives and friends – my job has been to play Ernestine on the switchboard. In between phone calls I’ve been thinking about all the horses who could have been on the VP list and how it must have been a really difficult choice. No one horse was a real stand out and I have to ask whether quantity equates to quality when the choice has to be made from the US horses. We don’t see too many years like the year of Secretariat, thank you Mrs. Chenery for the award and for Big Red and Riva.

  10. / Reply

    It is so hard to pick just one. Each of the nominees had their own challenges to overcome. They all have a special place in my heart for their courage, heart and beauty. Z you will always be right up there for me along with Secretariat, where my love affair for the horse began.

  11. / Reply

    Just voted for Gracie, but I sure love and admire Goldi! Thanks for making the voting so easy! Thank You, Dottie, for sharing Zenyatta with us! Happy Holidays!

  12. / Reply

    Hi Zenny: This is such a tough decision. All the nominees are so worthy of this award. It’s so hard to pick just 1. Like you, I am really going to have to think about this. It would be really nice if Rapid Redux won because there are no awards given to a horse at RR’s level. He has beaten so many records. It would be a shame not to acknowledge his accomplishments.

    @signofthetimes and @Margaret: I just read an article that indicated the trainer and owner have kept RR sound because they have picked the spots and didn’t want to push him by entering him in allowance or stake races.

  13. / Reply

    Note: RR career record is 27 wins from 41 starts with earnings of $351,919 and his starter allowance condition set to expire at the end of the year
    Rapid Redux rolls to 21st straight victory, ties Citation’s season record
    Posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 6:05 PM
    by Joe Nevills
    Thoroughbred Times
    Rapid Redux extended his modern North American record to 21 consecutive victories and matched Citation’s remarkable run of 19 wins in a single season on Tuesday with another of his trademark front-running performances in a $5,000 starter allowance race at Laurel Park.
    The five-year-old Pleasantly Perfect gelding displayed his usual reluctance to load into the starting gate prior to the race. Once settled, he broke from the inside post and quickly assumed the lead from his five challengers. He was ridden easily by jockey J.D. Acosta through the first turn and across the backstretch, chased by First Nite and Awesome Rhythm.
    With the win, Rapid Redux tied the United States single-season record for wins in a year, set by Citation during his Triple Crown-winning campaign in 1948. He surpassed 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta and Peppers Pride for sole possession of the modern North American record for consecutive victories in his previous start on November 21 at Mountaineer Race Track.
    Rapid Redux covered 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.08, going wire-to-wire on a track rated as fast. To no one’s surprise, he was the overwhelming post-time favorite at odds of 3-to-10 and improved his career record to 27 wins from 41 starts with earnings of $351,919.
    With his starter allowance condition set to expire at the end of the year, Wells hinted that Rapid Redux may take a shot at sole position of the seasonal record.
    I would love to squeeze one more out before the end of the year, but it is up to the horse,” he said. “It is amazing he has stayed sound so long. He trains well every day. He is always at 80-plus percent. A lot of days, he is at 100%.
    http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2011/12/13/rapid-redux-wins.aspx

  15. / Reply

    Hi Zenny
    My vote would be for Blind Luck. It is too bad she does not get the recognition that she deserves. Part of her charm is that she is a small horse. And she could go the distance.
    Good luck to all the other choices
    Ida

  16. / Reply

    @ida garrett….i too like blind luck…another smaller horse that could go the distance…lady’s secret…one of my fav’s/// do so love the stories…
    goodnight zenny and baby z…..goodnight tasty and baby tt

  17. / Reply

    So happy that RR won and is going out on top. Kudo’s to his owners for putting the horses’s interest first. Has anyone tried to vote more than once for the Vox Populi award? I tried but it didn’t work.

  18. / Reply

    First, let me say thank you to Dottie for posting this link. I also especially want to say thnak you to Penny Chenery for her wonderful award. It was a great idea and to include the fans in the process was a kind thing to do. It was also a smart thing to do because it generates enthusiasm for the sport. I think it is very interesting that the women in the sport are thinking outside the box to engage the fan base. Way to go ladies. All the horses nominated are very worthy. It is a great list to pick from. But to me, the most worthy of all is Rapid Redux. This little guy is all heart and I really hope the industry honors him and his connections. They are most deserving.

  19. / Reply

    Congrats to Rapid Redux…I hope they give him a much deserved retirement at Old Friends.
    I,too, feel that Blind Luck should be on the list for the Voice of the People Award. She certainly provided some exciting races this year! Her record with all the traveling she did is amazing! She showed what she was made of in all of her races. She is all heart.
    And you Queen Z our champion will always be #1 in the hearts of your fans.

  20. / Reply

    Hi Zenny!
    Just wanted you (and Dottie!) to know how appreciative I am for your diary entries. They always bring a smile to my face and I look forward to them each time I log into your site. It was especially true today when I needed some cheering up. I lost my horse today after a year long battle with laminitis. Just seeing your diary today brought me a little bit of comfort. Thanks for continuing to be such a heartwarming inspiration and friend. I love you, Zenny!
    Love,
    Caitlin

  21. / Reply

    @Caitlin – My dear, Caitlin. My heart goes out to you. I am so sorry for your loss. How I hope that some day laminitis will no longer exist. It is such an terrible sickness and has taken far too many sweet horse souls from us. Please know that I and all of the other friends on this site are here for you. We are truly family. You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Love and hugs, Dawn

  22. / Reply

    Dear Caitlin – Please accept my sincere condolences in the loss of your beloved horse . I’m sure he or she knew how much you cared and how he is at peace now and without pain. This is a good place to bring your joys, your sorrows and troubles. Please accept a big hug from all the Zenyatta lovers.
    @I said so too the other day. Blind Luck should be on that list!!!

  23. / Reply

    Dear Catlin,
    So very sorry to hear about the passing of your horse. So very glad you came to this site for comfort and caring. It is a wonderful place and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

  25. / Reply

    Caitlyn, I too am sorry for the loss of your friend. Laminitis also took Secretariat as well Barbaro. I hope he did not suffer too much.

  26. / Reply

    @Caitlin We’re so sorry for the loss of your beloved horse. It’s never easy to have to make that decision, but you should take comfort in the knowledge that you tried your best to help him or her recover. To quote one of the Leanin’ Tree sympathy cards, “Not gone, just waiting patiently at the end of the trail” It is a beautiful card and shows a horse waiting at the end of the trail with mountains behind him.

    Just voted for RR and will look forward to seeing him at Old Friends or KHP next year when we are in Kentucky.

  27. / Reply

    WHAT??? Zenny losing FB friends? What in the world? Did they die? Move to another planet? That is unthinkable. If I could “friend” her twice, I would.
    @Dear Caitlin– I am so sorry for your terrible loss. Sending you virtual hugs and prayers to find peace in the midst of the storm.
    @Barbara Grimaldi–love the “you are Santa Claus all year to us” phrase.

  28. / Reply

    My Queen,
    Every positive word ever said about YOU is even more true today than it was yesterday….I am honored to have been a part of it….I love you with all my heart..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-cmLa5Fhg8
    @Terry Crow- great jokes today.Please check your email.
    @Cynthia H- I would know YOUR face anywhere. 12th heart.
    Congratulations to Rapid Redux!!

  29. / Reply

    Hi Zenyatta. Caitlin, so sorry to hear of the loss of your horse. I know you will always treasure your memories of your faithful friend.

    Thanx so much for the link to voting for this wonderful award. I voted for Rapid Redux. We went to Lone Star Park today and put $2.00 win bet on Rapid Redux. High hoof to him. I understand his jockey lost his whip in the final run, but Rapid Redux had enough heart to win – wow he is so awesome. I understand he will retire the end of this year, Gulfstream Park has put together a race for him at the end of year, uping the purse to $25,000 and will pay his expenses to and from the track, but he has never been on a plane. Just as long as he is safe. He has deserved retirement! Love you gorgeous mommy to be. Stay toasty, eat well for two and enjoy company of Tasty and all of your barnyard friends. Love you, Angel.

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