Good Morning, Dear Friends!
Last night, Dottie and MY JOHN’S copy of THE BLOODHORSE’S magazine…..The 25 MOST INTRIGUING Horses and People of 2011 arrived. When they opened the package…and saw ME…as the #1 HORSE of 2011…they were so, so proud.
WOW…ME….#1. I truly believe, as do they, that ALL OF YOU helped to make this possible. I can’t THANK YOU enough.
Then…to see that MY JOHN was #5 on the list of INTRIGUING PEOPLE for the year…was also very special. AGAIN…THANK YOU! We so appreciate all of your support, love, and kindness on so many levels!
The photos, the various highlights illustrated for 2011, and the stories about Rachael Alexandra and I now that we are MOMS-to-BE are all beautifully done and written.
I must say, both Rachel Alexandra and I look quite fabulous enjoying our ‘new looks’ for our current careers. ‘BEING IN FOAL’ rather becomes US! (Blush, Blush)
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone on each of these lists for their accomplishments and hard work throughout 2011.
***HORSES listed in the order presented in the magazine:
Zenyatta, Havre de Grace, Goldikova, Frankel, Animal Kindgom, Blind Luck, Shackleford, Drosselmeyer, Uncle Mo, Royal Delta, Black Caviar, Rapid Redux, Caleb’s Posse, Hansen, Cape Blanco, Flat Out, Union Rags, My Miss Aurelia, Stay Thirsty, Bernardini (MY BERNIE), Acclamation, Amazombie, Winter Memories, Ruler On Ice, and The Factor.
***People also mentioned in the order they appeared in the magazine:
Mike Smith, Bill Mott, Graham Motion, Bob Baffert, John Shirreffs (MY JOHN), Chantal Sutherland, Rosie Napravnik, Scooter Dickey, Steve Asmussen, John Velazquez, Mike Repole, Todd Pletcher, Jerry Hollendorfer, Aidan and Joseph O’Brien, Ken and Sarah Ramsey, Bobby Flay, Dale Romans, Corey Nakatani, Barry Irwin, Kathy Ritvo, Marylou Whitney, Rick Dutrow Jr., Benjamin Leon Jr., Bo Derek, and George Strawbridge.
Again, CONGRATULATIONS to ALL! Here’s hoping the year 2012 is memorable and successful for all of these individuals/horses…and EVERYONE else (both horse and human) who works so hard each day helping to make this a very special and wonderful sport!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Kelly, Allentown, Pa ^-^
Love you Zenyatta!
Alia Abu-Bakr
Congratulations Queen Z!! You SO desereve to me #1. I hope the magazine also noted that you are the MOST BEAUTIFUL and SPECIAL girl of ALL TIME. I love you SO much. Smooches-MUAH!!
Gail McDaniel
Queen Z,
Why, bien sur, ma belle, that you would be 2011 #1, as you are #1 in our hearts.
Oh, be sure and watch HRTV’s program, Across the Board, featuring Trevor
Denham, great racing announcer. He is going to have very very complementary
words about you…tonight 1/11/12 on HRTV 5p.m. pacific time. GM
kathy cooper
YOU are the most amazing to me !! <3
Delrene in Carlsbad, Ca
You will always be number one with us Zenyatta.
I’ll bet Little Silver Charm at Old Friends is putting another picture of you up on his stall wall. He is so smitten with you!
What a happy day. Can’t wait for my mail delivery
Sierra
I actually saw that picture on his stall! It was very pretty picture of you Z!
Marty
You will always be Number 1…. Have a wonderful day!!!
LaurieK
Rachel AlexANDER? Heavens!
JAG ~ Queen Zen's Auntie Judy ~ So. California
Everyone is capable of mis-typing… this is no exception! I’m sure Zen (aka Dottie) know it’s RACHEL ALEXANDRA……..
Judy G
Denise in AZ
I have no doubt it was unintentional… even though a little funny.. RA’s one of my all time favorites :)
Erin
I noticed that too! thought it was funny!
LizS
Heh, I noticed that too. :) But if you listen to Tom Durkin’s calls from some of Rachel’s races, even he says “Alexander”. Oh well. :)
So cool that you were the #1 horse, Zen!!
Ingrid in MA
You didn’t mention that your Mikie was the #1 Intriguing Person. You and Your Mikie, both #1 together, again! Only fitting, I think! If your legions of fans have anything to say about it, you will ALWAYS have the #1 spot on this list! Love you, Sweet Zen!
Lorri
That’s so awesome Momma Z! You are spotlighting the most greatest job in the world, and that’s being a Broodmare! There’s no better joy than being in foal (or in humans cases, pregnant) ha ha Definitely going to have to get that issue. Glad to hear that your Bernie & John are both in there as well! Hugs & High Hoofs! xoxo
Kim
You will always be Number One with so many people!!!
Gloria Jeanne in the "O.C." SO CAL
Zenyatta and John – you are very welcome and well deserved awards!!!! I ordered mine and can’t wait to see it!!!
Thank you DOTTIE for all the hard work that you put into updated Zenyatta’s huge fan base – YOU ROCK!!!!
Hugs
Kathy S.
Hello, GORGEOUS! Congratulations to YOU, all the other horses and the outstanding people in the lists. You are all very accomplished and we Z-sters are very proud of you!!
Carole J in MN
You & Mike at #1… very much more than coincidental!! Great work by All. and a wonderful 2012 to Racing! Thank you for the great insights into the workings that you fill us in on… I love learning the ins and outs of racing and breeding!! Best to John & Dottie tooooo!
Shema Satya
So well deserved … both you and John!
Abigail from Montreal
WOW! Talk about “knocking it out of the park”! YOU, YOUR JOHN + MIKEY all made #1.
But I think you would agree that for MOST INTRIGUING DIARY, OUR DOTTIE is in #1 as well!
Love to you, big girl. I’ll be rushing out to get my Blood-Horse copy ASAP. I just love that both YOU and RACHEL had your “moments in the sun” in this issue. You both gave us all the VERY BEST of yourselves — excitement & thrills — and such pride.
Love & hugs to all
Keta
Hi,
Just so you know this is a Special Edition published by The Blood-Horse
You can order online. Here is the link
https://www.bloodhorse.com/special-products/products/104/bloodhorse-25-most-intriguing-horses-people-2011
Cost is $7.95 with free shipping.
Hope this helps.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Thanks for the link. I’ve called their customer service number to get single copies of other issues, but this was really easy!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Thanks so much for the link, Keta!
Margaret
Geez, they didn’t mention Mom and Dad Moss? Gross oversight! I want a recount!
Rachel Alexander am I seeing things? I ALWAYS thought it was Rachel Alexandra…
JAG ~ Queen Zen's Auntie Judy ~ So. California
It’s a “TYPO”…. I don’t think Dottie needs to be reminded of this NUMEROUS times today ;-)
JAG ~ Queen Zen's Auntie Judy ~ So. California
Zenny ~ TOO CUTE!! I got mine yesterday, too! I sat on the bed and read it from cover to cover :-D
Judy G
p.s. #1 Mike along side his #1 Girly Girl ~ YOU!!!!
Nancy Freeman
Not only a delight to see you, but hooray for the girls who come in as the top 3! So nice to see Havre de Grace and Goldikova right on your heels!
Jan S. / Houston
Ditto..
Rachel
Rachel ALEXANDRA should have been high up on thatlist. Actually, number one or two. Because they were GREAT with allowing fans to visit her. I had the time ofmylife seeing her. Dont get me wrong im a huge zenyatta fan, my license plate even says ZENYTTA however I am very disappointed in the fact that no one has been able to see her yet. Hence Ihave grown tohave much more of a liking of other connections. I know things take time im glad Zenyatta is doing well. I just hope they can let people visit her soon.
JAG ~ Queen Zen's Auntie Judy ~ So. California
This is how the votes came in…
Gloria
Rachel,
There is a 4 page article on Rachel Alexandra in the magazine with picutres, but she is not listed in the top 25 Most Intriguing. When fans were allowed to vote for the top 25 online, the horses were already pre-selected by BloodHorse. Just wanted to clarify if you haven’t seen the magazine.
Ingrid in MA
If I’m not mistaken, once she retired, you didn’t really hear much at all about Rachel in 2011, whereas EVERYONE was still talking “YATTA,YATTA,YATTA!” through the whole year, what with all the awards and the special BC party. And we may not get to visit Zenny in person, but we hear from “her” (a la OUR wonderful DOTTIE!) every day. So there isn’t a day that goes by that someone, somewhere, is talking about Zenyatta!
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
There’s a big difference. Stonestreet, where Rachel resides, is a private farm owned by the heirs/partners of Jess Jackson and everyone there is employed by the heirs/partners. All the mares including Rachel are the property of the heirs/partners. So when they have guests, they’re doing it on their own property and their own dime, and are incuring any risks to their own horses. Lane’s End, on the other hand, is a commercial boarding and stud farm. The folks there aren’t employed by the Mosses. They have duties and responsibilities to other owners and their horses. Either Lane’s End management has decided they don’t want to incur the risks of having large groups of people visiting the mares, or they’ve decided it would be a huge PITA, or both.
Sally B. (cherish Z- Wi.)
Rachel; It is too bad you feel that way. We all feel Zenyatta is priceless so we have to honor the requests made by Lane’s End; no visitation. Besides, gosh if I owned Zenyatta, I’d be very protective of her and now her and baby z. I can not even fathom how valuable Zenyatta is!! She is just priceless !! Some day perhaps we will all be able to see her. She deserves to be selected #1
signofthetimes
Don’t count on any enmass visiting; doubt if Lanes End
Or the Mosses will allow; to disruptive for a broodmare,
Who needs to concentrate on growing healthy foals;
Expect her charity work will bring small controlled time
And number until she is pension, which will be a long time.
Abigail from Montreal
WHOOPS — YOUR JOHN was actually #5.
No matter. We all know that he’s YOUR SPECIAL #1!!!!!
JAG ~ Queen Zen's Auntie Judy ~ So. California
FYI ~ before I get back to work, I just had to share this emotional video of “survival”!!
Video: Dog rescued in Gulf of Mexico had just survived car crash
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/video-dog-rescued-gulf-mexico-had-just-survived-213513061.html
I cried………. :-((((( Poor Baby!!!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Unbelievable!
Janie (in L.A.)
Thank God the darling doggie trusted the man to help him. Sweet boy.
Ingrid in MA
I cried right along with you. Wish I knew how to copy links, there was a story in my hometown newspaper yesterday about a stray dog that fell thru the ice, and 3 teenagers worked as a team to rescue it. And then in today’s paper was a story about a 24 yr. old morgan horse that got stuck in a “bottomless pit” mud puddle, and couldn’t get out because of a layer of ice that he kept slipping on. Took fire fighters from 3 stations to get him up and out. Both stray dog and horse are doing well (the horse plays Gen. Grant’s horse in Civil War re-enactments, so he was used to the noise and took everything in stride). I can take bad things happening to people without blinking, but anything with animals, I’m a complete mess!
Celeste in TX
Awww. That is just so sad. Sweet and sad. I hope the doggie gets back to his remaining family and is all right. Thanks for sharing.
Keta
Congrats to Team Z! Well deserved.
Did my part in voting.
Saw there are storms in & around KY.
Stay safe.
Georgia
Our Dearest Queen Zenyatta, there will never
BE any other “Number One” than you for your
loyal fans. God save the Queen! May your heirs to
Z thrown grace us with a mere glimps of a revival of
your race days. Special goes on and on. :)
Cindy M. Ottawa, Canada
We all knew in our hearts you, John and Mike were number ONE !!! Now the whole world knows it.
Congratulations!!!!
Can’t wait to get my copy.
Leslie R.
Hi Zenny, congratulations to you and John!! That is very exciting!! A big high hoof to all on the list!
I hope you and Tasty have a great day!
Love to all,
Leslie
Dianne Meyer
And next year you and your baby will be on the LIST
Jan S. / Houston
Zenyatta,
Congratulations to you and John. You certainly are the BEST of the BEST.. :) Hope you and Tasty are having a fun day. Stay healthy and happy Big Mama.
Andrea from Germny
Hey Zenny There s not so much time left till march !! I think it will be a VERY special day for all of your connections even though they are used to foaling mares. Can ` t wait. Dottie deserves an award for the most intriguing fb horse page too. Love you Zenny.
Gloria
Whoo hoo! I got my BloodHorse 25 Most Intriguing copies yesterday, too, Big Mama Z.! There is SO much Zenyatta in the magazine! #1 horse, #3 most memorable moment in 2011 (for winning Horse of the Year), a nice 4 page article on Zenyatta (called Still The Queen) with a picture of Zenny and Tasty grazing. Page 5 is great! A picture of Mike on the left and a pic of Big Mama Z on the right grazing away. Fun magazine. Glad to see John in the top 5 and Zen’s partner in horse racing crime, Mikey Smith at #1! It has some fun information in it too. Highest payouts to win and to show, Largest margins of voctory, and other fun stats. Hey, if Zenyatta’s involved in it, I WANT IT! Congrats Zenyatta and to Zen’s fans who all voted for the Queen! Rock on!
Joanna from TX
My congrats, too, to you the lovely Zen, Mike and YOUR JOHN. I’m also was very pleased that some of my other favorites made the lists too…Rachel A, Uncle MO, Winter Memories, Hansen, Stay Thirsty, Uncles Mike and Todd, Bob Baffert, Gracie and Royal Delta. I’ll have to see about getting an issue!
Gloria
Oh, oh, oh! I forgot! Page 56 of The BloodHorse’s 25 Most Intriguing is a full color shot of Zenyatta with her snowy whiskers! “Too cute”!!
Rhonda Clements
No one but Queen Z could be at number 1 that is a no brainer!! your not just #1 for 2011 try for the entire decade!!! Love you all, Congrats John, I think I voted in this poll!
Molly
Zenyatta and Dottie, I also received my Bloodhorse Magazine this week. Loved the article and pictures of Queen Zenyatta. I think one of the reasons that Zenyatta has been so protected was covered in the story. I won’t be a spoiler and tell. I loved Dottie’s quotes and Lanes End explanation of Zenyatta’s process of going from racehorse to broodmare. Lenny Shulman wrote the article on Zenyatta for this publication and I think he did a great job. I enjoyed Anne Eberhardt’s photographs of Zenyatta as well, especially the picture of Zenyatta looking over the fence. There also is a cute picture of Tasty Temptation and Zen. So glad that I ordered this publication. Zenyatta you are the most intriguing thoroughbred of all time in my opinion. Sending peppermints and kisses your way.