Good Morning,
It’s contest time! Dottie is off to Hollywood Park this morning for the drawing of the “64 contestants”. Good luck everyone!
I wanted to share with you a pencil drawing that Sherrill Brooke did of ME! It is one that MY JOHN really loves. He has it hanging in his office at the house right by his desk. This way, I am right there with him each day!
We will post the 64 names on the web-site later today. My Barn 55 friends are going to help us by drawing the cards out of the containers. They will do a very careful job! I told them NO PEEKING! This is TOO CUTE!
With love,
Hugs to All~
Z
sandra gomez
ZENYATTA, THE DRAWING OF YOU IS SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL; YOUR BEAUTY TAKES MY BREATH AWAY! I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE DRAWING, I’M SURE EVERYONE IS!I WOULD LIKE TO WISH EVERYBODY GOOD LUCK. WHOEVER WINS THE NO.19 BRONZE STATUE OF YOU IS GOING TO BE THE LUCKIEST PERSON ALIVE!! WE ALL LOVE YOU ZENNY.. ENJOY ALL OF THIS GORGEOUS WEATHER WITH YOUR PADDOCK FRIENDS!! THANKS AGAIN FOR SHARING THOSE SWEET PHOTOS OF YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY. GOD BLESS YOU, Z…. UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!!!
Cathy Marshall
Hi Zenny! That is one beautiful picture. I hope you and your pasture gals enjoy Springtime in Kentucky!
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
This drawing is extraordinary!! The beautiful highlights and dapples. The look in your eye and confirmation. Wow, and double wow. The artist seems to really “know” you. Any chance this will be reproduced and available for mass sales? Is that Spring fever or Z fever in the air? Good luck to all in the contest – what fun! X -O -X -O -X Zenny
suzanne swanson
I have a very good friend who is a Prix De West artist – one of the best. Would it be possible for him to paint Zenyatta??
Suzanne
Paul
That is an absolutely beautiful drawing of you, Zenyatta. It looks exactly like a horse. I would love to have a copy of it myself. I am looking forward to your tournament and to see what names are drawn.
Robyn Mullhausen
This contest is very exciting. I wonder if they know how many post cards came in. That must have been one busy Post Office! :)
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Queen-Z & Team-Z,
The drawing of you is so very lovely, and I was thrilled to see the web-site of Sherril Brooke, the artist, (thanks to Trina Nagele for posting it). Thanks also to “Kitei” for sharing the site of the ESPN’s report on Z in Equine Sport Science…that was very interesting. This Z-Diary is really fun to read, and there are so many tallented fans responding and sharing on it. Thanks Dottie for giving us this very unique site to learn about the thoroughbred racing industry, through Zenyatta, the QUEEN of the sport of racing!!
The contest is very exciting, too. Good luck, to all. Hugs. Fondly, OraJean
Trina Nagele
@Kim S—Condolences on the passing of your father; you had many special times together.
@Michelle—Thanks for sharing your personal story of loss followed by the sunshine of getting to see Zenyatta run—I love how you credit your dear departed mom for arranging it with the Man Upstairs that this once shattered dream still came true.
@Jan, Carolyn, Susan and others: Many thanks to those who mentioned valuable resources to help people deal with the loss a beloved pet: to Jan for the website http://www.rainbowsbridge.com; to Carolyn Caswell-Brown for the book A Dog’s Purpose by W. Bruce Cameron; and to Susan for the phone numbers of vet schools that have grief counseling hotlines: U. of Illinois (877) 394-2273; Washington State (866) 266-8635; Cornell (607) 253-3932. On behalf of all those trying to cope with such a loss (if I may be so bold, as Zenny says), thank you for the helping hand, and thanks to all in the Z community who expressed condolences to those who posted about their losses.
@Dawn—Yes, I saw your message to me. Thank you, and best of luck to you in the next drawing!
DJ
Dear Dawn,
Thank you for thinking of me. Whenever I see your name, I think of my older sister named Dawn. We are all “D’s.” She was the one our horses were bought for to hopefully help her traverse through the difficult trials of adolesence. She wrote beautiful poetry. Reading the ‘horse-stories’ did bring me back to a time long ago… Thank you for your always thoughtful contributions and lovely way of expressing yourself. Your gentle manner is refreshing and appreciated. Wishing you a joyful today and “Good Luck” in the drawing for our Sweet “Z”.
DJ
p.s. Yes, isn’t it a paradox that when our hearts are hurting they are growing…
SHERRILL BROOKE
Ms. Trina Nagele,
Mr. Brooke has been reading your post about Zenyatta and about the pencil drawing he rendered for his friends John & Dottie. He is very honored to be a small part of Zenyatta’s life. Jerry, Ann, Dottie and John and Mike Smith are his dear friends. Mr. Brooke has been told by several of Jerry’s friends that he has to be the very best in the world if he is painting for Jerry Moss, as Jerry knows Zenyatta’s conformation, and is the ultimate of perfectionists ! The artwork has to be xactly on the money or he will not except it. Sherrill will actually tell you he thanks his Lord Jesus Christ for the opportunity to paint the greatest Thoroughbred in his opinion that has ever lived. He’s not just another artist who paints horses.
Mr. Brooke is a very respected horseman among horsemen of the higher end of the Thoroughbred Industry ie, John Shirreffs, Todd Pletcher, Bob Baffert, and a host of others.
His next birthday, he will be 63. Mr. Brooke’s daddy was a horsman, his daddy before him, and his daddy before him. He come from several generations of horse men. His grandpa was a jockey. He is of Irish and English orgin, His family came from Central Ky and Tn. He was honed on the finner points of horse flesh by Bobby Shelton Vice President of The King Ranch, Inc. As well as many other great Thoroughbred horse men.
He has been commisssioned to paint the great ones from Raise A Native, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid, The Great Northern Dancer, John Henry, Storm Bird, Storm Cat, A.P. Indy , Ouija Board, Azeri, Rachel Alexandera, Giant’s Causeway, just to name a few. He has painted almost 200 Champions.
Zenyatta in his opinion transcends the aforementiond horses. She is by far more intelligent. I have heard him say, He would rather have a horse with brains over their heart anytime ! She has better structural soundness, functional effiency, symmetry, and overall balance than any of these horses. Mr. Brooke praises GOD that he is the only artist that was ever asked to join the Keeneland Selection Committee by the world renowned Dr. DeWitt Owen. Dr. Owen knew of his knowledge of horse flesh. In fact, he has had owners to ask me to help select racing prospects for them. He would do it except ihe thinks it would conflict with his painting. He can also list every physical characteristic about Zenyatta that has enabled her to be the champion she is. Sherrill Brooke looks at horses as racing machines and every part has to fit. Mr. Brooke has been trained by some of the world’s greatest Thoroughbred horse men. He knows every bone and muscle in a horse. I can personally tell you he has forgotten more about a horse that most artists know. You can tell that from his paintings. His paintings and pencil draawings are acually three dimensional. I have been his assistant a few years. I may be a bit bias, but I have watched him draw Zenyatta and paint her. The photo on his web site does not do the original painting justice. The original painting justice, it is absolutely breath taking !!! Mr. Brooke is considering doing some Pencil drawing & painting prints of Zenyatta for her many faithful fans.
Ms. Nagele Email Me at linda@brookeart.com and I will give you Mr. Brooke’s private cell number. He would like to speak with you.
Thank you and God Bless you,
Linda L. Shelton
Personal Assistant to Mr. Sherrill Brooke
DJ
God bless you Mr. Brooke…your vocation speaks volumes about your faith. I am in good company flying with the same Pilot as you!