Good Morning Dear Friends!
I am absolutely elated this morning! I am so honored and thrilled to share the news with you that SANTA ANITA PARK, The Great Race Place, has commissioned Nina Kaiser to create a life-size bronze statue of ME. It is to be installed directly across from John Henry’s statue at the south rim of the Kingsbury Fountain.
I will be located right there to GREET the fans as they enter the track through the main grandstand gates. I will be facing eastward and right by the path the horses take when they walk from the receiving barn to the paddock area directly before each race.
I am SO EXCITED and SO DEEPLY, DEEPLY HONORED!
Nina created this beautiful JOHN HENRY Statue (shown above) for Santa Anita….and now she is completing the finishing touches of ME…a LIFE-SIZE ME!
Another thing that is so special about all of this is while I was at BARN 55, NINA took all of my exact measurements. She visited the barn on several occasions when MY JOHN felt it would be comfortable for ME so she could measure and study ME. Nina knows ME very well….every precise INCH OF ME….from these ‘measuring sessions’! So this statue will truly be a very accurate representation of ME!
From all reports, track management’s plan is to unveil ME during the fall meet at Santa Anita….which usually begins late September and this year will run through Breeders’ Cup. To date, MY TEAM does not know the date when this will take place.
As I hear more of the news, I will definitely keep you posted.
Please enjoy the article in today’s Daily Racing Form written by Jay Hovdey and his interview with Nina about her work on this project, (Blush, Blush!)
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
M. Kern
This is fantastic news! I read it yesterday and it made my day. I cannot wait to see your statue. I will definitely be there when they unveil it this fall. Queen Z, you deserve this recognition so much. Thank you Santa Anita for doing this. I love you Zenyatta and you too Tasty.
MaryAnn Donahue
Wonderful news, excellent article about you Z. A life size statue will be a magnificent tribute to you, to your historic racing record but of course to me you are larger than life. Truly, you are the best thing that happened to and for racing in decades; no horse can compare to the excitement and love you engendered on the track and continue to do in your new role. You are magic. Thank you for all you and your Team do, thank you for sharing.
much love,
Mary Ann
JAG / Extremely Happy Auntie Judy / So. CA
♥ Good night, My Queen – I hope you Baby z have a restful night – get all the zzzzzzzzzzzzzs that you can! :-D We will catch up with you in the morning…. I’m going over to facebook to write on my wall about how HAPPY I am with the news of your statue! ♥
JAG / Extremely Happy Auntie Judy / So. CA
I’m tired! Correction – I meant to write: I hope you AND Baby z…..
JAG / Extremely Happy Auntie Judy / So. CA
Zenyatta Measures Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qMzqwwoK84E
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Judy, I love the music with this vid — as Nina ‘flits’ around Zenny measuring her every little part. From Irving Berlin’s “Cheek to Cheek” (film ‘Top Hat’ with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers)
Heaven… I’m in heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
And I seem to find the happiness I seek,
When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek.
Heaven… I’m in heaven,
And the cares that hung around me through the week,
Seem to vanish like a gambler’s lucky streak,
When we’re out together dancing cheek to cheek.
——————————————–
Doesn’t that say it about Zenny!
JAG / Extremely Happy Auntie Judy / So. CA
I know! I loved the music they chose!!!
Terry Crow
Fred and Ginger-Quite a bit different from Madonna and Ozzie Osbourne.
Nancy
I’m very excited for you and for us, your fans, that you will be immortalized with your very own statue at Santa Anita. It will be a true reminder to all who see it of your greatness for many years to come. Congratulations on being the exceptional mare that you are to merit this. We love you.
Joan Walls
Dear Zenny, Everyone has already stated your exceptional qualities. I just wanted to add that through the wonderful kindness of Dottie and Team Z, you have become a “talking” person. Your diary posts let us into what is going on in your world. Thank you. I am also PACING the floor like so many others awaiting the arrival of your foal. I also am thinking about Tasty. Have a great day. Love you.
Stu
Man, God created this website for Zen , her connections and ALL of us. When you have a tough day come here, it’s SPECIAL. Zen, you really are a special girl and your statue with the great John Henry! Gets no better. He was special to.
Always loved never forgotten.
Terry Crow
Stu-In agreement with your sentiments.
casey
My Queen- this is such wonderful news-I was there the day they unveiled John Henry (actually saw him BEFORE they veiled him, heehee) and I will do my best to be there when your statue is unveiled. I have to say, though, as talented as Nina Kaiser is, and I KNOW how talented that is, your statue will only be a shadow of your beauty, grace, courage, strength and sense of humor, (yes, I’ve seen some of the things you would do to Mario and Carmen during your bath). But, as Kentucky is a long way from California, I will strive to visit “you” each time I’m at SA.
Elizabeth in NM
ZENNY, it is so exciting to think of YOU (well, Nina’s bronze of YOU) greeting everyone at Santa Anita! Congratulations to Nina Kaiser. She is such a talented artist! This is almost too much fun… here we are pacing awaiting your new Baby Z, and to think of YOU being honored in such a wonderful way in California! Hope You and Tasty are getting all of the knitting of foal slippers just about done. LOVE and many blessings are prayed for You and everyone in Your Family.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Laura J– thanks again for the reminder of the timeline. It truly could be the BIG DAY any time now. Dearest Z and TT–I do hope you both are not miserably uncomfortable. Those little ones will be here very soon.
I hope the weather holds so that you can be out and about as soon as possible.
Sue Simpson
I had read the DRF article yesterday while at work. Great article, great news and congrats once again. Cant wait to come out from VA to see it!
Lisag in Texas
Ms Zenyatta, congratulations and what a big honor this is for Santa Anita Park. Wow, wish I could be there when they unveil your bronze beauty. I love you…Lisag
Jeanne O. (CA)
Congratulations! I believe that this statue honors not only the beautiful Zenyatta, but all of Team Z and Barn 55. From the Mosses and the Shirreffs, to the grooms (Mario, of course) and the hot walkers. Together, they all helped Zenyatta become who she is today. With their love and guidance, they allowed Zenyatta to blossom at her own pace. And, all this time, sharing her with her thousands of world-wide fans. So, I feel that this wonderful statue is a tribute to them all!
Lisag in Texas
@Sophie, I am beginning to think you are as curious as Ms Zenyatta. Soon you will take a photo with Ms Zenyatta’s bronze…you are just too cute, Sophie.
casey
Wondering if Our Queen’s statue will have a crown on her head???? ooooh maybe one of flowers!!!! teal and pink?????
Cathy Braun-Emig
Congratulations, I am so proud of you! That is so cool!
>^..^<
Sheri
omg how amazing Zenyatta! What better than a statue to honor the queen of the track? haha this would be cool, but maybe a but more difficult, but wouldn’t be amazing if it was in the pose of you dancing? Haha what an honor well deserved to you Zenny! We all love you do much!! :DD ♥
With love,
Sheri!! :-)))
Robyn Mullhausen
It is NINA who is honored to be chosen to make a lifesize statue of you Queen Z. :)
Melanie
This is fantastic news Zenny, can’t wait to see your beautiful statue. By the way, when is the Lady’s Secret Stakes going to be named back to the Zenyatta Stakes? :)
I also wanted you to know that I got your gorgeous Momma Z picture framed and hung on the wall with Secretariat on one side and Kelso on the other. Ahhhhhhhh, looks amazing!
Love ya Z with all my heart
Anita in CA
Zenny, I am so excited about your life size bronze!!!! How wonderful for all of us to be able to go to Santa Anita and see your likeness along with Sea Biscuit and John Henry. This is such an honor for You…. a well-deserved honor, I might add. Am so proud of You. I love you, Big Girl. You are so Awesome!!! Eagerly awaiting the arrival of Your Foal And Your Bronze!!! XXXOOO 12th <3
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Queen-Z & Team-Z,
What wonderful news !! Nina’s bronze of “The Great John Henry” is magnificent,
as is her mini-bronze of you…”Dancing-Z” !! I was at the unvailing of “John Henry”,
and I hope to be there for your debut, too.
Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday weekend. Hugs. Fondly, OraJean
Annmaria
Zenyatta,
What a wonderful way to honor you….a life size statue at the track. You so deserve this sweet lady!
Love you,
Paul
Zenyatta, congratulations to you for having a bronze statue made of you at the entrance to Santa Anita right across from the John Henry bronze statue! You’re lucky that it was done by a woman who knows every inch of you. If I ever go to Santa Anita park and see the bronzes, I am bringing my camera with me and saving those pictures the rest of my life. This is further proof that you are going places and going up in the world, girl! This puts you in high ranking company if you weren’t there already. A brush with greatness, or however you want to say it.
MARY
YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEE I FINALLY GET TO PET YOU AND GET MY PICTURE TAKEN BY YOU!!! HOW EXCITING!!!
My husband and I spent our honeymoon at Santa Anita…and every year for our anniversery we are going to Santa Anita (April 7th is our first anniversery) instead of buying each other gifts, as going to Santa Anita is our Heaven on earth…
AND WE WILL BE AT THE BREEDERS CUP…AS WE ALWAYS ARE WHEN ITS AT SANTA ANITA!!!!
I CAN’T WAIT TO PET YOU ZENYATTA!!!!!!!
I NEVER COULD GET CLOSE ENOUGH AS YOU WERE TO FAR TO REACH!!!!!
BUT MY HEART FLEW WITH YOU AS I WATCHED YOU GO OVER THE FINISH LINE FROM THE RAIL MANY MANY TIMES!!!
ZENYATTA “I LOVE YOU” !!!!!!!