Steve Willard, Zenyatta’s exercise rider, died last week. He was a beloved member of Team Z, and he played an important role in Zenyatta’s life and career. The photos and videos below show Steve as we will always remember him.
Steve was a kind, generous, and thoughtful man. He was a great horseman with lots and lots of experience, which is something I value. He has ridden so many famous and accomplished horses throughout his career for not only myself but trainers as Jack Van Berg and Richard Mandella. He worked on the track for decades. Steve was a jockey, an exercise rider, an assistant trainer, and most importantly a guy who loved the horses and the racing business. Steve was someone I enjoyed working with and I miss having him around the barn each day.
-John Shirreffs
As a Jockey, Steve rode on the mid-west circuit. He specifically rode at various tracks in Louisiana and also at Oaklawn Park. When we went to the Apple Blossom with Zenyatta, Steve thought it would be fun if he looked up some of his old friends. He did…and he had a great time revisiting the past with them. They came out to the barn, to the track to watch Zenny graze, and several even went to the Winners’ Circle with us. This was a very special time for Steve!
-Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs
John and I spent time with Steve in the hospital before he passed away. While I was there, I revisited with Kiki all of the great times we had and the wonderful horses and memories we shared. She and I had a lovely time doing this and knew in our hearts Steve could hear us. Michelle (John’s one assistant) and Dawn (Dr. Hunkin) also stopped by to see him… his pals from our Barn 55 Days.
We have all been blessed to share a very, very unique and special gift named ZENYATTA. She helped to create a bond that will be with her BARN 55 friends forever!
In loving memory of Steve Willard
-John, Dottie and the Team
Steve and Zenyatta on the training track. Video by John Shirreffs.
Zenyatta at Del Mar, 2010, featuring interviews with Steve Willard and Mike Smith.
Bluegrass Girl
What a beautiful Blog remembering and honoring Steve Willard!
I wish I had met and gotten to know this special man and horseman.
Rest in peace, Steve!
My deepest sympathy to all of you who loved and loss Steve.
Kathy
BEAUTIFUL tribute. RIP, Steve. You were a big part in shaping the Queen.
Beatrix Zilinskas
I had the pleasure of meeting Steve one of the time’s I went out to see Zenyatta at Hollywood Park – what a nice man! Kind, gentle, warm – I will never forget having met him. I hope his passing was without suffering, physically or otherwise. Rest in Peace, Mr Willard.
Jane
I remember the video after Zenyatta won the Breeders Cup that showed his reaction. There were no words – pure joy. A lovely tribute to a lovely man. As a fan I will never forget him. Thanks for the memories!
Kathleen
You were all Blessed to have had each other!
Rita
God speed Steve Willard. You made a difference on this earth.
Sue MacGray
Teary of course!! What a beautiful tribute to Steve. Thank you.
sharon in seattle
RIP Steve. I’ll always remember overhearing Steve comment aloud as Mario brought Zenyatta out of the barn following her 2009 BC Classic win “no question now about who is horse of the year”!!!!
Celeste_in_TX
Thank you so very much for publishing this beautiful tribute to Mr. Willard and sharing the photos and videos devoted to his love for and bond with our Queen, Zenyatta. My heart goes out to all of Steve Willard’s family and friends, including all of Team Z. Thank you for sharing your memories of him with us so we can better appreciate all his contributions to making Zenyatta the star she is. May he rest in peace.
Kalar Walters
Absolutely beautiful! ♥ I’m sittin’ here in tears. :'( Great photos and clips! The photo with the sunburst is sublime! The Del Mar clip is one of my favorites next to the 2009 BCC. Steve pacing back and forth. I can almost hear what he’s thinkg, “Come home safe and sound, Z.” I’m so glad he was able to work with Zenyatta the last years of his life. What a thrill that had to be for him. You will be missed, Steve!
Roxanne Cook
What a sweet and loving tribute. Though I haven’t met any of the Z team in person, my life has been touched by all of your lives. RIP Steve. You will be greatly missed.
Barbara Braun
Rest in Peace, Mr. Willard. Your love and affection for Zenyatta was apparent. Everyone on Team Z was lucky to have each other, people and horse included. Thank you for posting such a beautiful tribute.
O. Lim
What a great ride he had. RIP.
Abigail1849
Thank you, Team Z, for this wonderful tribute to Steve Willard.
Even though I never had the privilege of meeting him, I watched so many videos of his kind ways with Zenyatta and her fans. He seemed to offer endless opportunities to talk about his “Great Girl” to those who met up with him and I learned so much about Zenny and Team Z from Steve’s candid comments and stories.
I ate up photos of Zenny and among my absolute favourites is the one above, by Coady photography. My other special memory of Steve was during Zenny’s first retirement celebration @ Hollywood Park when she and Steve came down the track. In the video, they were dappled with golden light and I wept like a baby.
I send each of you my deepest condolences at a loss that is so profound. Your support and care of Steve is what friends do, I know, but I thought it was beautiful.
VALE, Steve. You are in my heart forever and I believe that the sun is more radiant, the oceans more vital, the rain softer and the breezes more playful because they are touched by you.
From a Z Dumpling who loved you.
Abigail1849
Could whomever is responsible for the Z Dumpling wreath please get in touch with me, either by clicking on my name here and leaving your coordinates on THE VAULT or by going to my FB page (Abigail Anderson)? Thank you.
Bluegrass Girl
Abigail,
I sent you an e-mail today.
Hugs, Blue
Elizabeth in NM
Thank you Team Z for this amazing tribute to Steve Willard. What an amazingly kind and dedicated man he was. We’ll miss seeing him working with Zenny. He was and will always be an important part of Zenyatta’s ‘story’. with love, Elizabeth
Z13Rulz
A beautiful tribute to a wonderful man. Rest in Peace Mr. Willard. Find Z Princess and share with her all the stories you have about her mother.
Maureen
What beautiful tributes – both in photos and words to Steve Willard. All of us who loved (and continue to love) Zenyatta were deeply affected by his passing. For those of us who were able to visit The Queen at Barn 55 – he treated us like family. Friendly, warm & caring – just a sweetheart of a human being. And how he loved Zenyatta! He gladly shared that love with us, and happily answered all our questions – no matter how trivial they may have seemed to him – you could tell how honored he was to be a part of anything to do with her. Steve and the entire ‘Team Zenyatta’ remain in our hearts & memories forever. RIP Steve – we’ll never forget you.
Love, Maureen
Mary Margaret in Central Georgia
Beautiful tribute for Mr. Steve. I cannot add to all the truthful comments everyone has already said. Mr. Steve was the Best. RIP.
Neva Rae Powers
I was priveleged enough to meet Steve at Barn 55 the same day I stood next to the one an only Zenyatta for a photo op. What a day! RIP Mr Willard.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Dottie, John and Team Z:
Lovely tribute to Steve W. and thank you for sharing it with us. Wonderful person and horseman and a remarkable group of people are all of you. Love and Hugs, JB
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
PS: That last video has me in tears again; the magnificence of Our Queen does it every time. Love and Hugs, JB
Donna Carlson
Beautiful tribute for a wonderful, caring man by a equally wonderful group of caring people. What a blessing that your lives have been interwoven. The smiles and look of happiness on the faces tell it all. Thank you Team Z.
Diane
Thank you Team Z for a beautiful tribute to a special man who touched so many.
Billy P
Spectacular tribute to a very good guy! R I P Steve.
Alexandra Bowdoin
A wonderful Tribute! Thank You Team Z.
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Thank you for this beautiful tribute to Steve Willard, who was clearly a wonderful man and a great and loving horseman.
My husband and I saw Mr. Willard at Oaklawn Park when Zenyatta won her last Apple Blossom. We will always remember him as the Queen’s rider.
Our prayers are with all those who loved him.
Stel
Ellen
A Great Tribute! RIP Steve. You will be missed
Beverly Brown
On the 2 occasions that I got to meet Zenyatta I had the privilege of meeting Steve Willard also. The first was at Del Mar after her narrowest of wins in the 2009 Clement Hirsch – we walked by the barn the next AM and the Queen was out for a walk. Steve was gracious enough to have her led over so we could say hello. Of all the times to have left the camera at home!!!
The second meeting was at Hollywood Park Barn 55 in Nov 2010 when so many people were allowed to come to the backside to have a ‘meet and greet’ with Zenyatta. I was at the end of the line and in fact Z had been taken back to her stall. Steve took me in the barn and let me meet her there where I did indeed get a photo…taken by Steve.
Both are cherished memories….not just of the Queen but of Steve also. You could tell he loved his job and really loved showing off Zenyatta. RIP….you indeed had a great ride!
vicki
In tears at the library. Such a wonderful tribute for a loving and caring man. Team Z the best ever.
Margaret
My first time seeing Zenyatta, John asked Steve to escort me to her stall. Z saw Steve approaching (never mind me!)and started pawing for carrots!, just like her dancing! Her ears were all over the place and I clucked to her…get her ears up. Steve very gently asked me not to do that, cause clucking to her meant GO! He didn’t want her tearing through the webbing on her stall. Of course I immediately stopped. I found a kind gentle soul, who although a bit older, had more visitors than Carter had pills. Yet Steve never got annoyed at it. He realized all the fans wanted a piece of Z memory all their own.
The weekend before Z went to Kentucky I was able to get back to the barn. I stood right next to her, looking all up and down trying to memorize EVERYTHING. I knew i probably wouldn’t get to see her again in this life. Two things stood out on that Saturday morning. Her dapples. From nose to tail, and from the tip of her ears down to her hooves DAPPLES ON DAPPLES ON DAPPLES! I’ve never seen such a coat! Everything screamed healthy and happy!
And now for the one thing that I noticed. On her right fore heel bulb are two white blotches. For those that only have model horses or pictures…the heel bulb are the notch just about the hoove. If you look at the hoof…you see the V (that’s the frog). Coming back to the edge of the hoof–the notch (heel bulb)is right above those grooves. I hope I explained so those that aren’t so familiar with horse terms could follow. Zenyatta has two stockings on her hind legs and a tiny bit of white on the right fore.
Steve I know you were there watching Ziconic last Saturday. I like to think he did you proud. He acted like he remembered all the lessons you taught as did Mikey. If you see Princess help her to understand how much we all hurt when she went away. I’m sure it was confusing for her. Maybe both of you can help care for one another till the rest of us get there.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Margaret,
You have written an absolutely beautiful post. I am typing this through tears — I love how you describe your visit with Zenyatta and Steve. The last paragraph is so poignantly sweet, too. Thank you.
Hugs and Love