Good Morning Everyone!
What a fabulous last few days it has been! I have been receiving so many letters, notes, calls, hugs and kisses! Your DIARY posts have been amazing! THANK YOU! I am still rejoicing in the announcement…
The 2010 HORSE OF THE YEAR
IS
ZENYATTA!
These words will echo in my mind FOREVER! What a beautiful way to cap off my RACING CAREER!
I wanted you to see the OFFICIAL CARD used that evening. When Alex Waldrop was standing on the stage…opening the envelope…then announcing…AND THE WINNER IS…THIS is the official card he was holding!
It is all still so exciting for me! My beloved TEAM was here visiting with me on Sunday and wishing me GOOD LUCK before going on to Florida. Pictures will come soon.
Then, the big night arrived! After the announcement, I was able to TANGO with MY TEAM. Everyone has been so, so kind.
On Tuesday morning when they called, I think the news finally began to SINK IN! Ann and Dottie were talking to me on the phone, and suddenly I KNEW WHAT ALL OF THIS REALLY MEANT! I am so, so proud! I began to dance and prance all around my paddock. Then SEA GULL and I began to do this free spirited gallop all around the field. It was truly a moment of great celebration!
Again, I want to really THANK ALL OF MY FANS for the huge role you have played in my career. As Dottie mentioned to several members of the press that evening, it was ALL of YOU who helped to keep everyones’ spirits so positive and encouraged as we traveled along this journey together! We truly can’t thank you enough! I really knew how much you were there for ME!
What a fabulous feeling this is! Reflecting upon everything that has happened to me during my entire racing career…this accomplishment is THE DIAMOND EXCLAMATION POINT after my name! It really makes my career feel complete!
As John told Dottie…”this entire experience during the last 4 1/2 years is positively a wonderful FAIRY TALE…and yet it really happened to us in our lives!” I think they are still ‘pinching themselves’.
To my dear, dear fans….Thank you for sharing this DREAM with ME…and ALL of TEAM ZENYATTA!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Barbara
Thank you all Team Z for this beautiful diary. It makes me tear up with joy. I am so happy for this deserving award for you all. Thank you so very much!
Patti
THANK YOU Zenyatta!!! You deserve it! We love you…
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To SUNNY FARM: I don’t know if you saw this post among the more than 1,000 in #61. In case you didn’t, I’m repeating it here;
Your poetic tribute to John Sheriffs was magnificent! I also wanted to thank you for a kind, kind post in response to my first post (#33) about how Zenyatta was retiring, as was I. I was aware that horses talk to us (you had said that your horses talk to you all the time). I wanted to express amazement that for the first time I enjoyed a horse that spoke in human speech (as a child I preferred books in which animals did not speak human words)! Thank you again for your compassion about my retirement.
Becky
Zenyatta, at the Eclipse Awards your owners were asked who you will be bred to, and his reply was sometime in the next week we will announce it….well it has been a week! When are they going to announce the “Man of the Year”? lol. I hope you are enjoying your retirement and all the free time and social “girl time”. You deserve all the greatness that has and is coming your way!
Linda
I am so glad you are back to writing in your diary. I missed it so much. I don’t want to lose touch with you. Could the Mosses put a camera in your stall so we could watch you whenever we want?
Rachel Fabrizi
ZENYATTA YOU ARE MY HERO FOREVER AND ALWAYS!! I AM SOO HAPPY TO HAVE LIVED THRU YOUR CAREER AND WILL FOREVER PASS ON YOUR STORY, PHOTOS, EVERYTHING! I am making a Zenyatta album binder, with pictures, quotes, and stories, I will keep it forever. My dream is now to be able to meet you one day!! Hopefully in the future that can work out.. but for now YOU EARNED IT GIRL!!!!!! CONGRATS!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Oh sweet and dearest Zenyatta-It has been the most wonderful and exciting years in my life the moment you appeared and set your hooves on the racetrack all the way through to your now running free, playing and enjoying being with your horse friends.
So glad that you are 2010 Horse of the Year-you have earned it and there isn’t any other horse that deserved it more than you.
I want to thankyou for all that you have done for me-you have given me hope when I felt there wasn’t any, and you have taught me to dream. You are proof that dreams do come true! You are a horse of a lifetime and you will forever be in my heart. You are worth more and mean more to me than all the diamonds in the world but I will settle for a diamond exclamation point after your name.
Zenyatta 2010 Horse of the year! But truly, horse of a lifetime!!
(Dottie, you are doing an exceptionally wonderful job here, thankyou!)
Love & Blessings to you Zenyatta and all your connections!
LouAnn
Suzanne
Everyone is so elated for you, Z! Congratulations on something so well deserved. So, the award really energized you…or maybe the sight & sound of your (CA) family & their voices did, too! Are you able to cover as much distance in your paddock as you are used to running? How large is it? Enough for you to crank up your freight train speed? Maybe you’ll tell us next time you write. With snowy hugs & peppermint kisses, SD
Sue Ann Wilson
I am so proud to have witnessed this, again, tears.
Pam
I already said congratulations, so now I’ll just say, I hope there was carrot cake and Guinness all around! Maybe not Monday because it was late in your time zone, but Tuesday for sure! We are just all so thrilled for you and your “family.”
Katie Clawson
WHO IS THE STUD? WHO IS THE STUD? WHO IS THE STUD? :D :D :D I HAVE BEEN DYING TO FIND OUT!!
Diana Hanson
You truly are a wonderful horse. I recenly watched a documentary about horses. One of the statements was “They still lay claim to your heart – the horse.” I couldn’t think of a more wonderful creature than you to lay claim to my heart. Thank you, Zenyatta.
Astrid
Thank you! What a beautiful card and how 5 words can make thousands of people so exhilarating happy! Love the video of you and your buddies! So glad you got to tango with your family:). I can only imagine how thrilled and proud they are! Thank you again, Team Z, for your generosity of sharing Zenyatta with us!! Have fun Zenny, Horse of the Year!
Sarah Dufton English
Perfect choice. We all love you!!!!
Susie Cartwright
Z, like Seabiscuit you gave people something to be happy for (I wasn’t born then but I read his book). Thanks to all that include me in your story. I do love you!!
Kristoffer Nielsen
Well said Alysse, about the impact those words “Horse of the Year, Zenyatta” have had on so many lives–and no worries about the math–however many words they were, they had a long, resonant, and very just effect on so many lives, and on the history of horses and the sport.
Kristoffer Nielsen
LouAnn–words well spoken, thank you. And Becky–it will be interesting who Zenyatta will be bred to! And it won’t be a week until Monday–so Team Zenyatta still has a few more days…:)
Cindy
Dear Zenny,
It is SOOO nice to hear from you again after your fabulous week! You are also getting yet another award from Secretariat’s owner, but I’m sure you’ve been filled in on that. I have to say that I got choked up looking at the non-descript card. But it says a thousand things about you! And what about all the posts? Over 1,000 posts wishing you well. You are such a special, special, horse!!
Dottie/Ann and the rest of Team Zenyatta –
I just wanted to thank you again for mentioning us at the awards ceremony! Honestly, I was quite surprised to get a mention. It was truly wonderful to hear those words. We swelled with pride knowing that you feel that we are very important in this business. I only hope that changes will be made in the racing industry to include the fans in a much more prominent way. Thank you for taking the lead and being such a great example on how to do it with class!
Just a request – quite a few posters were wondering how they could get access of the tribute by Priscilla Clark that Jerry Moss read at the end of his acceptance speech. I read it on another site, and it is hauntingly beautiful. I was wondering if you could post if for all to read?
Thank you, and once again – CONTRATULATIONS TO ZENYATTA AND TO HER FABULOUS TEAM!!
Cheryl Denton
Congratulations to you, Zenyatta, and to your wonderful family as well. I’m still grinning about your great win on Monday night. I have been a fan of racing since I was a kid back in the 70’s, and I have never seen such excitement and so many great feelings surrounding a horse. Smarty Jones came close, but it wasn’t like this. This is such a good thing! We all really appreciate you and Team Z!
The Kennedys in San Diego
HORSE OF THE YEAR! A joyous celebration of the gift that is ZENYATTA.
Quarterhossgal
Z…so happy to hear from you. Glad to hear you were celebrating!! John and Dottie, thank you so very much for allowing all of Z’s fans to follow her everyday activities.
So sorry to hear about Miesque, she was a beautiful and talented mare. I was thrilled to watch her second Breeder’s Cup win. She was a wonderful champion and will be missed.
Patty Smith
It’s a dream come true for all of us, Zenyatta! I was starting to wonder whether I would ever see another great race horse in my lifetime…and then YOU came along! Even better than I expected! Thanks so much for bringing so much joy and for all of the wonderful memories we all now have!
Jenna
Loooooove and Kisses back to Zenyatta…and Team Zenyatta. Your thanks to us but I am truly thankful for you all. A shining star at a time when there are very few, if any.
I just hope we, all 5 million of us (!) can remain involved in Zenyatta’s life and that we’re not shut out. I think I speak for everyone when I say, we’re here for life. Her life and beyond.
Now, on to….her mate. Very exciting! I hope it is for her :)
Congratulations. And a big congratulations to Dottie.
Zendotti!
suew
Zenny…thank YOU and your team for allowing us to be truly along for the ride. I jumped for joy on Monday night. Finally, you got official recognition for everything you accomplished. When Jerry read that quote from the Tranquility Farm calendar it was so appropriate. You have captured the human heart like no other in my lifetime.
Dottie…I can only imagine how busy you have been. Just seeing this diary continue is special in so many ways. And…the video today was icing on the cake. It’s been an honor to be a fan.
Allen
Z, I am so glad the posts are back,this has been a long week. Once again congrats on HOY. Zenyatta you are the best and long live the Queen. Love from Tennessee and stay warm.
Shari Voltz
Dear Sweet Zenyatta and Team Z, I am sitting here crying. These posts just touch my soul. I am so so happy for all of you especially Zenyatta. The next day in school everyone heard(from me) that Z got HOTY. I was singing and dancing in the halls. The children were yelling and dancing around. Miss Zenyatta you are so much apart of my life and the lives of my students if you only knew. We will be sending you cards next week. We did not have school today because we got 5 inches of snow. Just know that we love you and only want the very best for you always. Big hugs and kisses from Shari and Homeroom 215 in Ohio XXOO
Alexandra Bowdoin
Dear Zenyatta, I love that card, SIMPLE and Elegant….Your Name….Zenyatta….
Horse of the Year! You truly deserved this award, although, You are Horse of the Decade to ALL OF YOUR FANS….and another award coming your way soon! We will miss you on the race track, but I am so HAPPY you are retired Healthy, Happy and most of all SOUND. That is due to your most wonderful Team Z at Barn 55. I
hope to meet you some day. I live in Massachusetts which had ANOTHER snow storm today…I will get to Kentucky to see some races at keeneland and I hope to meet you. I will most likely cry…
lOU IN TX
Dear sweet Zenyatta…you are now HORSE OF THE CENTURY!! I want to thank you for such a wonderful ride you have let us travel with you. Wish you loads of happiness and good health through your next journey in life. I soo much appreciate Dottie and all connected to this web site for sharing you with us. The industry could sure take lessons from your Team Z. Love you so much and am so happy for you being named HOY…Lou
cheryl
a well deserved award!!! there should have been no doubt. congratulations to team zenyatta. cheryl from cold ohio
Leeann
Thank you so much for sharing this special moment!!! Watching you has inspired our family in so many ways!!! We just love you!!! Thank you once again for sharing all your wonderful daily experiences with us. My mom and sisters look forward to reading your dairy every day! love from our family to yours! xoxo