We’re excited and honored to share that Zenyatta has been elected to the 2016 class of the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place Friday, August 12 in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Zenyatta began her racing career as a three year-old, under trainer John Shirreffs, winning her maiden race in 2007 at Hollywood Park. She rewrote racing history by beating the all-male field in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2009, becoming the first mare ever to win that race and the first horse ever to win two different Breeders’ Cup races. Zenyatta retired in 2010 with a record of 19-1-0, having won a total of 17 graded stakes, including 13 Grade 1s. She was named Champion Older Female in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as well as 2010 Horse of the Year.
We’d like to give a big thanks to everyone involved in Zenyatta’s career including John Shirreffs, Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, Mike Smith, David Ingordo, Jeannie and April Mayberry, Mario Espinoza, Carmen, Michelle Jensen, Frank Leal, Cheva, Dawn Hunkin, the late Steve Willard, the rest of Barn 55, and Zenyatta’s fans around the world.
Kimberly
This is WONDERFUL news!! Zenyatta deserves this!!!! Yay Zenny!! ??
Aymen INKEEP
I hope to breeder the queen to distorted humor
Gwen
Congratulations!
Beth Alexander
As it should be – she will always be THE ONE! Love you always Z!
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Zenyatta, Team Z, LE and all Z connections,
I can only echo what others have said already — CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!
Being inducted into the National Museum’s Racing Hall Of Fame is SO great and SO very much deserved. Our Queen is the epitome of racing royalty. Truly legendary!
Thank you for keeping us in touch, Team Z, with this wonderful blog! The last paragraph of the above announcement is beautiful — I got a bit misty-eyed. You are all so very special. ???
Hugs and Love to all ❤️
Donna Alsabrook
What wonderful news for Zenny, Team Z and all the adoring fans. Hoping we get to see pics of the ceremony. (Hint, Hint)
Donna in Wyoming
Dee in the Hudson Valley
Yippee! The National Museum of Racing is a fantastic place and Saratoga Springs is one of our favorite places in the world (and we’ve been around, I can tell you). What a thrill to have Zenyatta and e-v-e-r-y one connected to her getting their historic accomplishments recognized and enshrined for posterity. So now we can believe that young racing fans a hundred years from now will learn all about Zenny and fall in love with her, just as we all have… Congratulations, Team Z!
Crystal M.
This is awesome! Congrats! \o/ Well deserved!
Donna
Congratulations. Zenny you earned this honor . You dazzled the world with your talent, your dancing and your joy! Thank you to Ann and Jerry Moss for letting us ( her loving fans) come along for the ride.I love you Zenny and thank you to your connections and Lane’s End.
pamhomeier
Congratulations Zenyatta and everyone connected to you! Very proud of your accomplishments on the track and at Lanes End. Thank you very much with keeping us in the loop with her Team Z. We love her!!!!
Sharyn
Well deserved honor for Zenyatta and her entire team!! Just love her!!
Janet Newman
Congratulations to all and especially to the one of a kind Zenyatta!
This announcement comes at a time when all of our hearts need some joyful news.
Barbara Brayton
Yey! A well deserved honor.
Karen Line
First nomination and IN THE HALL OF FAME !!!! Deserved, and as it should be.
Happy and wonderful news!
The entire Zenyatta team, led by her loving and dedicated “owners”/The Family Moss, should be so full of pride for the earnestness of their actions in cultivating the life of Zenyatta. It’s a win for a way of thinking, a way of training and treating equine athletes, and a way of embracing their journey after the track. A nod to Steve who is with the babies.
Congratulations, with love for the experience Zenyatta’s joyous existence and your generous inclusion has given us !!
XOXOXOXO Zennie!
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Congratulations, dear Queen Zenyatta! No one deserves this honor more than you! For your incredible athleticism on the track and your charming personality that drew thousands of new fans to horse racing.
I hope you know that you will forever be adored and cherished by your countless fans.
Congratulations, too, to all of Team Z! God Bless you for the wonderful care you’ve given our lovely Queen.
Much love,
Stel
Diane
Congratulations to Team Z for this wonderful recognition and honor. So well deserved for everyone involved in Queen Z’s legacy.
Margaret
Hooves up for Z! And a big thumbs up to all the humans! Hooves up for all the horses that helped Z become the horse she is…the late El Vino, the sweet, sleepy Life is Sweet etc
carolinarkansas
Zenny…..you are IN! As far as I am concerned it was never in doubt. Now treat yourself to a day at the spa…mud baths included…love you…Carol
Suz CATX
So wonderful to receive this prestigious recognition. To all who contributed to her success and to all who love her…..Congratulations
Fran
Congratulations to Zenny and the team! Congratulations to the Moss’s and the team that takes such wonderful care of Zenny. She deserves the honor for her accomplishments! I am so happy for all of you.
janet luzell
CONGRATULATIONS ZENNY!!! There will never be a horse past, present or future, who deserves this honor more than you. THANKYOU ZENNY FOR MANY WONDERFUL YEARS OF WINNING RACES, DANCING, AND BRING SO MUCH JOY TO ALL YOUR FANS. A big THANK YOU TO MR AND MRS MOSS who have kept us all in the loop regarding our precious Zenyatta. I love you all. ESPECIALLY YOU ZENNY. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ZENNY!!!
Jeanie
She totally deserves this! She was greatness epitomized!
Sue Noel in Sun Valley,ID
CONGRATULATIONS beautiful and wondrous big girl !! I am SO happy for you and all of your Team !! You are one for the ages, for sure !!
To all of the Z Team, most especially Ann and Jerry Moss, you have all been the perfect examples of the very BEST in racing. Your constant nurturing love for Zenny, and all of your stable,is nothing short of marvelous, and your generosity to all of the fans who love her so is such a blessing. Thank you all–for ALL you do !!
Julie Summers
I am English living in Sheffield, through Zenyatta.com, I have got to know the great mare herself, and hope that Zenny enjoyes romping with her girlfriend, Vixana, I am so sorry about her little colt by War Front, and little Z Princess, her sweet little filly. Cosmic One would make a lovely stallion, as would Zirconic, I am a racing fan and love horses full stop. The Peak District is near me, and the Bakewell Show where I have been to has had many horses , mares and foals especially , as well as show-jumpers, shire horses,etc,and have loved it all. Maybe Zenyatta will have a foal again, she is a beautiful mare and.a loving mother, love to all at your stud farm.
Julie Summers
I think personally that a mare or filly, who races when they are three year olds and onwards not only reach maturity, but they also can stay in racing longer. Congratulations to Zenyatta for being in the Hall of Fame. She is a great and lovely mare, but I am also very sorry to hear about horses who break their legs and have to be euthanised. Two cases of that which I saw on TV, were very upsetting, one was the death of a beautiful grey gelding called Dark Ivy, who when Beachers Brook (in the Grand National) had a massive ditch , fell into it and badly injured himself, they had no choice but to kill him. The other was a bay colt called Horatio Nelson trained by Aiden O’Brien, who broke a leg in the Epsom Derby, and also was euthanised. But the good news is that Zenyatta through herself and her two sons , will leave a lasting mark in racing and breeding history.
Lynne
Congratulations to Zenyatta and all her team.
A great honour.
Lynne from British Columbia
Mrsrebaker
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! The Queen got this title in part to her owners being so open with her life, to me anyway. She is a true Hall Of Fame champion and so her connections should be too!
Marty R / Colorado
Congratulations to Zenyatta and all of her connections throughout her career. Well done, indeed. Very many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Moss for providing Zenyatta with everything good for her life and for continuing to share her with all of us.
The Kennedys in San Diego
Bravissimo Zenyatta! From Italy.
Leslie R.
Congratulations to Zenyatta and Team Z! This is great and exciting news! I’m very happy for everyone involved.
Hugs to all,
Leslie
judyhughes
Absolutely the GREATEST news!! So well deserved!! Love you, Zenyatta. CONGRATULATIONS!!
Ingrid Arnone
Oh wow ! wonderful news !
She deserves this and much more !!
Zenyatta is one in a million !!!
Love you forever !!!!
Hugs Ingrid.