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
darlene sanner
I leaned back and hollered right at the same time Mr Moss did Almost a mirror image a thousand miles away Except Mr Moss was dressed so nicely,as were the rest of the team,and I in my pjs And it was so great to see Mike Smith grinning ear to ear again Now Zenya you have your special BC blanket Are they going to have a special HOTY blanket made for you to wear on special occasions? That would be really super
Sam
Congratulations on your HOTY win, Zenyatta! Sooo excited! I really enjoyed a post on Keelerman’s blog about your win, if you would like to see what he said it is at this link: http://triplecrowncountdown.blogspot.com/2011/01/zenyatta-horse-of-year.html
Again–congratulations!!!
Bryna Dambrowski
You and your team are fabulous and well deserving of this award that caps your racing career – more videos please of you running in your paddock :)
Donna
Congrats to the most deserving Queen!!! You have given such joy to thousands of people, including me. Just read of the special award, “The People’s Award” that will be presented to Jerry and Ann Moss for you by the owner of Secretariat. What a wonderful gesture! I look for news of you and your diaries everyday. They mean so much to me because otherwise it would seem as if I’d lost you. Looking forward to the announcement yet to come. I hope he is “sort of worthy” of such a great lady.
Carole K
I just love your celebratory gallop around your paddock with Sea Gull. I bet your tail was flagged!
Patti
I love this band called The Avett Brothers and they have so many uplifiting lyrics. I think you would really like them, Zenyatta! There is one line that jumps out at me and sums up your racing career:
“Do your best and it won’t go unseen.”
You did your very best in every race you ran and the Horse of the Year award proves that it did not go unseen.
I am so so happy for you and your team!
Mary McQuire
Cool…totally cool.
Lynda Pellitteri
Zenyatta, you and your team deserved this award! You all have been so gracious in letting the rest of us into your life. You all deserve every award that you get. And congrats on recieving the new Secretariat award too!
Jacalyn
Your Majesty,
I know this may sound strange, but as wonderful as it is to win Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards, the award that means the most to me is the “Secretariat Vox Populi Award”… not because it includes us fans in its consideration, but because it was established by Penny Chenery in memory and honor of Secretariat. You are the Queen of Racing and Secretariat the King. This award is established by two of the greatest, noblest, most honest souls in the history of racing. It was awarded to souls who equal them in integrity, heart, and wisdom.
Karen
The card is fabulous! In how many living rooms across the country (or world) did we all sit watching the TV and, hearts stopped — hoped, prayed — for what was on THAT CARD!! And in how many living rooms did you hear screaming and tears of joy for, finally, something so deserved to have happened!!! It gives you hope for good things. But that’s what Z always does!!
Helen & Guido
Zenyatta-It is the DIAMOND EXCLAMATION POINT on your career. And no one, NO ONE deserves it more than you. You’ve worked so hard and brought so much good to many, many horses and to racing. If it had not been your name on the card it would have been an awful injustice. BUT IT WAS! And now you are HORSE OF THE YEAR as you have been to all of your fans for so long!
jessie baker
like i said if they did not vote you hoty we would halve went to the eclipse awards with phsyciatrists cause the committe would have been crazy to vote for blame or any other horse
Kim F.
Zenyatta…Thank you so much for everything you have given and everything you have meant to all of your fans. You are such an awe inspiring ray of light in our lives. Even when things are not so great you give us joy and inspiration. Congratulations to you and your entire team on this award…it was not only well deserved but long over due. Enjoy your retirement…you deserve it! I can’t wait until we see your babies, I know they will be as magnificent as you. Take care!!!
Carole J
Congratulations!! many times over AND then the Peoples Choice award from Penney!! Can’t beat it. Am anxious to hear who the lucky guy is!!!
MK
I can’t wait to pay homage to her Majesty in person when that becomes possible. Enjoy the snow in KY!
Trisha Veazey
Z your journey is not over by a long shot. I know i speak for all your fans. I have been so anxious all week waiting for the nest post. It is the first thing I do when I log-in every morning. I am keeping everything i can find written and published about you. You bring so much joy.
Congratulations not only for HOY but for the first Secretariat award. I don’t think congratulations is a good enough word for you but it is the only one that comes close.
Please please keep us posted in the future. We want to know all about your retirement as well.
You are the best, gorgeous girl. The greatest queen ever, Zenyatta.
Love hugs and kisses to you and your team .
I hope your first date is as beautiful as you. Although I do not know how that could possibly be.
Love you
Lydia Ward
Precious Z… We’re so proud of you and Team Zenyatta. Can’t wait to hear who will be the lucky stallion.
Darla
Thank you Zenyatta for including your fans as part of your TEAM!!! We love you for it!!
Debi
Oh Zennie! ~ I am SOOOO glad that you received your due honor, and I want to thank you for restoring for me a long lost love of horses! I very much liked seeing you play in the snow in that recent video. You are such a girl!! You just make me smile ~~~ I would love to meet you sometime – and give you carrots… !!!! xoxoxox
Stephanie Q
How about a picture with you and your trophy!!!
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, Thank you and you entire Team. I love all of you…Lisa g
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, Tears still falling…but when is the announcement, did you make your decision…Mr Moss hinted sometime this week when he accepted your award. I love you….Lisa g
Robin Porcelain
Congratulations Team Z. It was a great victory and a wonderful ending to a stellar first career. Now all the fans will be watching for Zenyatta’s foals (and will be pretty impatient I suspect because of how long it will be until the first gets to the track). ESPN has a wonderful video about why Zenyatta’s size and stride made such a difference in her style of racing. Everyone should check it out! I would also like to congratulate the team for Zenyatta winning Penny Chenery’s new Vox Populi award! The Voice of the People was certainly heard!
Jeanenne Cliffman
THANK YOU for sharing YOUR life with us, we are the ones that are TRULY blessed to have you as part of our lives!!!!!!!!! No one deserves Horse of The Year more than you. Lots of Love XXXXOOOO
Gloria
Dear Zenyatta (and ALL of Team Z),
It’s been a great journey, indeed. As a fan, you don’t have to thank me. I thank YOU! I heard Dottie make the exclamation point comment on TVG. I imagined what that might look like. I’d love to see a t shirt or brooch type pin. Oooh! Hey, I’m always thinking about souvenirs. You take care, Big Mama Z! Stay happy! Hope the rest of Team Zenyatta is still on cloud 9!! XOXOXO!!!
Marion
Zenny you are truly God’s gift to racing and to us all. There is no horse more deserving of it all then you. I hope we can soon see our beloved horse become a mom. I cant wait to see a little wobly baby develope into a racehorse going to the track. You give us all so much to look forward to ….Thank you for sharing it all with us.
Robin
Hi Zenny!! We have missed you, but totally understand you are just busy with your new friends and talking to your family about your win!! I am SO happy for all of you..FINALLY what you have deserved for SO long!! Look forward to the pics! Missing you in Cali big girl! Stay safe & warm! MUAH!! XOXO
Stacey
Now go figure out who daddy will be for your first baby.
Trish & Mike in Colorado
We are still celebrating here in Highlands Ranch. But one of the other greatest experiences was getting to know, through this website, stories and TV, of the kindness, generosity and good humor of Dottie, Ann, John and Jerry. What wonderful people you all are, thank you for sharing your journey with us. We loved Mike Smith’s comment on the great night, also.
Karen Mitchell
Dear Zenyatta and all of team Z: I was overjoyed, thrilled, and relieved to hear your name called as Horse of the Year, and just so happy when everyone in the room rose immediately and gave you a standing ovation. And the two previous awards, not to mentioned all the special remarks about you made by other winners, made it all the more special. With regard to the BC Classic, you ran an amazing race and I didn’t see it as a loss; my sadness was that, because of those few inches, you did not get to parade before the grandstand, go to the winner’s circle, and get the incredible acclaim you have grown accustomed to. I also felt so sad for Mike and was so glad to hear him say that everything was OK now that you are HOTY. One more thing: in naming everyone on your team, one person is rarely mentioned, namely Steve Willard. He, along with Mario, was so patient and generous with his time and love in being sure that all of us got our pictures taken with you at Barn 55. He took my Facebook profile picture of you giving me a kiss. So I just wanted to give him a big thanks too, along with the all the members (both named and unnamed) of your fabulous team. You are the most amazing horse I have ever met or seen race and I thank you again for making so many of my dark days, since my husband died, hopeful, bright and joyous. May all your future days be as wonderful as you are and as happy as you have made your tens of thousands of loving fans.