To all my dear, loving fans,
I want to THANK all of you for your support, encouragement and love.
I gave it a good GO in the Breeders’ Cup Classic…and tried my best! I’m home now at my Hollywood Park Barn. The flight back to California was great. My friends, Mario, Frank and Harmonious, traveled on the plane with me. It was a smooth trip!
The last week has been exciting and thrilling! I had a great time in KY and everyone was so kind to me. I posed for hundreds and hundreds of photos yesterday alone with so many fabulous fans. They brought me Z cakes, apples, peppermints, and carrots. They hugged me, kissed me, and made me feel so special. I am one lucky mare.
Then when I got back to the barn there was a great WELCOME HOME ZENYATTA sign hanging at the barn. People signed it with such sweet messages for me! Everyone makes me feel so special.
Today, I’ll walk and relax a bit and, of course, GRAZE! LUCKY ME!
Hugs to all…and again…THANKS TO ALL OF YOU for being so loving and supportive of me and all of TEAM ZENYATTA.
With great appreciation…
Love,
Z
Brent Zimmer
I couldn’t begin to express my gratitude.
Lisa
All of us at TISPORTHORSES send our love and thanks to your connections for making the last 3 yers in racing unequaled. You are 1 of a kind.
Susan from Fl
You’re are still #1 to me!
Leonardo
To all that think that she deserves and sapecial award, i will wait because what she deserves this year is HOTY, the eclipse can not let the best horse we have seen and in my concept the best ever let it go with out been crown, i talk to a jornalist some of you might know, Brad Free and the question was , is Zenyatta the best horse over all? and he answer “I don’t know is arguable, you might find one like her in the history books like in the 30s, 20s or 1800 but Seabiscuit lost, Waradmiral lost to seabiscuit, secretariat lost all of this are not better than Zenyatta, if you find one more impresive than her and her running style in the books let me know…
Thank Zenyatta and you Team for coming back to defend your title, thats brave, you did not retire after the succes of last year, you came back to revitalize the sport and bring new fans in to it you always draw abig crowd to see you not just to see tradition or make it to the race with the biggest name in the sport, you are for horse racing what Brazil is for soccer… The best in the sport…
Daphne
Dearest Zenyatta-
You are and always will be The Queen! Thanks for an amazing ride for 20 races! Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Moss, John, Mike, and the rest of Team Zenyatta!!!
Love To You All
Daphne
Cheryl Danzl
Dear Zenyatta and Team Z: What all of you have done, not only for the world of horse racing and its fans, but for people in general in a daily life plaqued by uncertainties and difficult times, is give us a wonderful, entralling ride, renewed hope and wonder at your magnificent spirit and beauty (mixed with some abundant charm and sillyness too). I have a 20 year old daughter who suffers from an extremely rare progressive disorder, she is in a wheelchair because of it. She was born in the Year of the Horse (sometimes I think she is part horse) and she absolutely is in love with you! She studies your every move and is captivated by your dancing! We tried to see you in person at Del Mar on August 7th in the paddock, but could not even begin to get close because of the wheelchair; nonetheless, it was a thrill to see you from the grandstand! Watching your races and following you online is something that has become our special time together and for that, I will always be grateful for what you have given us and have a special place in my heart for you. I have nothing but respect and admiration for all of Team Z who have treated you so wonderfully (their loves shows in all they do), they are to be commended for showing the world what you can accomplish when you do the right thing. May you continue to have the wonderful retirement that you soooo deserve – graze to your heart’s content!
Georgia Gagliardi
Zenyatta,
Thank you for being a magnificent force in my life, and for all of racing. You single hoofedly brought racing back to life again. You are a brilliant star that will shine for all eternity giving hope to all who follow. Thanks for being you. You are loved that much, I promise you.
Love, your biggest fans,
Georgia
Debbie
Thank you Z and Z team! What a great ride!
Please let us know where Z will be living now so we can visit her:-) love you Z!!!
Kim
You are the ultimate! Who you are and what you can do are amazing. Don’t go away, disappear from those who love you (and you like to meet too). I hope your team will allow you to continue on being the ambassador for the horse world.
Gloria Jeanne
I think Zenyatta should stay in California. Read the attached, it’s a great story.
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/eticket/story?page=101104%2FZenyatta
Lisa g
Ms. Zenyatta, I love reading your posts and the posts all write to you. I miss you already,knowing you will not race again..to me that means I will not see you prance or dance again. I love you and will always love you. I have not felt this way since Ruffian. Did you know that you won everybody’s heart?
TRACY LARSON
DO U KNOW AFTER THIS WEEKEND’S “INCREDIBLE” ZENYATTA OUTING ..THE BOX OFFICE WENT CRAZY IN PEOPLE GOING TO SEE “SECRETARIAT”..I WENT AND SAW IT SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I CRIED SO MUCH CAUSE OF HOW MUCH ZENYATTA REMINDS ME OF HIM..TRUE GREATNESS!!!
Terry Crow
I would like to thank the members of Team Z for allowing this fabulous mare to race this year. Her appearances have stirred the soul and gladdened the heart. There will never be another like her. Good luck in the future.
Dawn
Zenyatta,
I had the honor of meeting you at your barn Sunday morning after the Classic. You were such a lady and posed for so many pictures.
I can’t wait to find out where your journey will take you next, and I will definitely be there to visit you.
We love you!
Mary Alice Kier
You have danced & raced the light gantastic in my heart and soul since your first race through the 20th. Whether YOU decide if you want to keep racing is your decision Zenyatta, after all you weren’t ready to retire last year at this time! But in any event, you WON the essence of the race and our hears again. You are a unique champion that will go down in history as one who has INSPIRED, ENLIGHTENED and EMPOWERED us beyond just being voted Horse of the Year. You are the Horse of the Decade, the Horse of the Century…the Horse of a Lifetime!
Thank you Zenyatta and your loving Team for also making this a Ride of a Lifetime!!
I will always remain head-over-hoof in love with you!!
Bonnie MacRaith
Dear Mr. Shirreffs, The roses sent today with carrots in the bouquet were sent by Friends of Barbaro. Just wanted to let you know that…the name “Nancy Smith” was an error. Another cheerful package to arrive later in week. Thanks for all your dedication to the horses. Bonnie MacRaith, F.O.B. (Friends of Barbaro)
Penny
Dear Zenyatta,
You didn’t lose.
The finish line came 26 feet short. One more stride, and glory was yours. Please believe that, your fans do.
You didn’t lose because for your three years of racing, you were perfect. You never failed to triumph, never failed to fill us with joy.
You were gracious and gentle with your fans. They photographed you, they petted you, they loved you.
On the most stressful of afternoons in Kentucky, you kept your composure as the shouts of tens of thousands of those fans surely penetrated the cotton in your ears. You raced on a track you’d barely seen against the best boys in the world, all considerably younger. You didn’t let us down.
Yet as thrilling as those 20 races, what won just as much for this fan, a lifelong horse owner, was your family, whose careful care brought you to such heights.
Horses aren’t machines. Your trainer, John Shirreffs, understands this. He allowed you to be you, watched you day and night, adapted your training to your preferences.
Your groom, Mario Espinoza, was with you every step of the way, spending many hours answering your desire to nibble grass near your barn. When your nose came up short, he reached out to comfort your jockey. His wife, Carmen Zamona, tirelessly walked you round and round the shed row after your workouts, surely struggling to match your mighty strides.
Your exercise rider, Steve Willard, helped you through your youthful antics, taught you how to wait, how to pass all horses. A grandfather, who might have long ago retired to a safer occupation, if not for a giant brown mare.
Your jockey, Mike Smith, loved you above all others. He helped teach you how to gear up and set sail past all others. Knowing when to push the pedal down, rarely a whip reminder, he brought you back to parade before admiring fans.
For your owners, you were a delightful gift to be treasured. It was they who made the courageous decision to let you keep doing what you loved when most other racehorses are retired on farms. You wanted to keep running, and so you did. Most admirably, they resisted calls from the racing press to send you all over the country and meet the boys before the November. Even you of indomitable spirit could have been broken by such gut-wrenching competition. No, they saved you to give your best at the last.
You did.
You are the greatest!
Kayla
Dear Zenyatta,
You’ve touched my heart in a way no other racehorse (or horse for that matter) ever has, or I have a feeling, ever will. Thank you so much for all you’ve given me…us… horse racing. We love you so much!!! Long live Queen Z <3
enrique
hay zenyatta te amooo eres majica no te vallas nunca …
Heather Flores
Some might erroneously argue you are no more of a champion after the BCC, but no one can say you are any less. You truly have the heart of a champion. Thank you for sharing your beauty, grace, and power time and time again. May you be blessed with health and happiness for the rest of your days.
Darla
Great Race!!! I saw more heart and soul than I’ve ever seen in a Race horse!! You truly are a Champion!! Way to go Zenyatta! Tell Mike to hold his head high! He’s the best jockey out there!
Patricia Emery
Dear Zenyatta & Team Z! WOW…I have tried to keep up with reading all of the wonderful comments. The outreach is just incredible! I know that you & the team probably feel defeated, but when you do, just read all of these wonderful things people feel about you as you are relaxing drinking your daily Guinnes. Please keep us posted as to what you are doing & where you are. I would love to take my daughter out for a visit. You took so little & gave us SO much…
xoxoxoxoxo
Patricia
Joy Wilkins
Zenyatta, Zenyatta, ZEN YA TTA…a name we’ll NEVER forget. There are not enough words to describe how you have touched our lives. You put CLASS back into horse racing and took it to a level that we’ll probably never see again. May the Racing Gods continue to guide you as you were truly a gift from above.
Lauren
Zenyatta – You are simply beautiful and a precious gift from God. I hope one day you will make it back to the East Coast to where I live in New Jersey. I would love to see you in person. By the way, you are another reason why I love California. I am a loyal devoted Lakers fan. All the best Zenyatta and God Bless you and your owners and your staff.
Linda C
I flew out from NJ to the BC just to see you run. And I was not disappointed. Even though I’m sad that you lost, you still ran like a champion. Please thank your owners for keeping you in training long enough so that I could see you run.
OraJean Stevenson
Zenyatta and Team Z, I’m so happy to hear
that you are back home and feeling well.
Thank you all for the wonderful thrills
and beautiful memories you’ve given me and
so many others. You’ll never know how many lives you have touched, in such a positive way. Zenyatta, you are, simply,
the BEST !!! You deserve to be “Horse of
the Year”, and so much more. You are the
true “Racehorse Industry Champion” of the
past 30 years !! Keep in touch.
Fondly, OraJean
Kiki
Hey Z hows life at home? You must be excited to be home and I’m guessing you’re almost caught up on sleep. When I first heard about you I was watching “Jockeys” on Animal Planet and I knew as soon as I saw you I was Team Zenyatta all the way! The funny thing about the show is that Mike Smith was (and still is) my favorite jockey. He doesn’t have a big ego. Anyway I hope you have a happy long retirement. Can’t wait till you have your first foal! Hopefully it’s soon! Just to give you a heads up I think Afleet Alex has eyes for you. I Will Never Forget You! You’ve done the impossible in my life (I’m only 12! No one will ever have a place in my heart like you do,you have a higher rank than my boyfriend! Good thing he’s a fan of you! I LOVE YOU FOREVER! LONG LIVE THE QUEEN! QUEEN ZENYATTA!
Barbara Wood
I forgot to mention that I have loved the Mosses since I learned from Michael Blowen that they helped him start Old Friends by sending him their Ruhlmann(RIP). And then they won the Derby with Giacomo right after! Have there ever been more gracious owners?
Mike Smith has our undying love and gratitude for his love and care for “our girl”. But I do think he might want to amend his opinion that she’s the horse of the decade–she’s the horse of a lifetime, and we are so privileged to “know” her.
I truly feel she is God’s gift to those of us who can appreciate her. Thank you, all members of team Z, for what you have done for us. I am fervently hoping to see more of her. HOY, definitely!
Gloria Jeanne
How is Zenyatta doing- We have not heard anything about her on any websites. She is ok – eating good – getting walks – visitor’s? Please give her fans an update on how Zenyatta is doing after hr fantastic race. Thank you
DJ
We saw you victorious in your last three races here in California and we flew to Kentucky to see you in the Breeders Cup. Joy and sorrow are constant companions and we wanted to be with you for either. You are truly perfect in our hearts and we take a bow to you! “Keep running like a Girl!!!” We will be watching and waiting for your little “Z’s” but for now, enjoy your “zzz’s” you deserve your R&R.