Good Morning Everyone!
This photo is TOO CUTE! It’s my guy, Mike Smith, who helped us select the FINAL 4 for our ZENYATTA BRONZE CONTEST! Mike stopped by Dottie and John’s last night and held my reins in his hands…just like he did when we were racing. I think this definitely got him IN THE ZENYATTA MOOD to select our Final 4! This photo brings back great memories…for both Mike and I! We had lots of great times together!
The names of the FINAL 4 will be given…along with the thoughts each person expressed as to what I meant to he / she. Go to the bottom of this diary post and click the button next to the person whose entry you think deserves to win. Click the Vote button, and you’ll see the current results.
We will allow the voting to take place for one week. The winner will be announced next Wednesday, April 27th. John will look at the polls before he leaves for the barn that morning (5 o’clock in the morning, CA TIME) and the winner’s name will be posted.
The poll has been moved from the Facebook page to this website so that non-Facebook users may vote!
GOOD LUCK TO ALL 4 OF YOU!
ENTRY #1…..VICKI L. VINSON……APPLE VALLEY, CA I knew Zenyatta was “one” special horse the first time I saw her in person. She came over to me and stuck her nose right in front of my camera. That was before the ’08 Lady’s Secret. Little did I know that a year later she would become the best medicine in the world, in helping me through the worst time of my life. I’ll love you forever Zenyatta!
ENTRY #2…..VALERIE FRANKLIN….DAVISON, MI Zenny, you have made people believe in horse racing again. Our sport has suffered so much tragedy and in this time of economic disaster and with Barbaro and Eight Belles so fresh in our minds, you have given us a chance to escape and to dream. We love you more than you could ever quantify.
ENTRY #3…..GEORGIA HARPER…..BELLEVUE, WA My obsession began half way through your first year and such enthusiasm could not be ignored by my husband. After 49 years, my husband and I have become such good friends but are so busy with work and family we don’t always take time to actually think about one another. As a gift for our wedding anniversary last August, I received an email at work from my hubby with an itinerary attached for San Diego saying “Tickets for my queen to go see the Queen”. We not only had a wonderful day at Del Mar, never leaving the paddock and visiting with so many young people who had been there to see only you but we really enjoyed our time together. I’m not sure what we will do for our 50th this year, but I don’t think it will compete with the happiness we shared last year watching you come across the finish line and celebrating as best friends enjoying not just a horse race but watching the most magnificent thoroughbred ever. We miss you, we love you, and look forward to cheering on your foal.
ENTRY #4…..DAWN CONRAD…..CEDAREDGE, CO Dearest Zenyatta. “Why are you special to me?” Is it the stately stature of the Queen like carriage? Is it the glistening brown coat with the diamond dapples? Maybe it is the dance or those still moments with your head held high? Is it your intelligence and fathomless brown eyes? Was it your first run free or perhaps a camera-ride on the back of Pegasus? Is it posters in the stands, a warm crowd on a cold Kentucky night, the excitement you bought back to racing? Your place in its history and future, the Breeders Cup, 60 Minutes, Horse of the Year, Vox Populi Award? A Fred Stone portrait, Jamie Corum lithograph, Nina Kaiser bronze? The cheers I shouted the tears I shed? Certainly your beauty, power, grace, breathe taking speed, final kick, heart stopping finishes and 19/1. Absolutely your gut wrenching, never give up, try! It is all of this, yet more. It isn’t only who you are, but what you mean to each of us. With Team Z, you are Jerry and Ann’s pride and joy, John’s soul mate and patient masterpiece, Dottie’s muse and she your voice. Mike’s talent, guidance and prayers brought you home safe each race. At Barn 55, you had care from Mario, workouts with Steve, walks with Carmen, loving star struck visitors and kisses from all. At Lane’s End, paddock pals, peppermints, pears and precious motherhood. Your family embodies the word generosity and together you have been transformative. You give pure happiness to thousands. You are a horseman’s ideal, a child’s dream, a friend to charities, a moment of healing to someone ill, a smile in the face of sadness, a sweet memory to all those you meet and a wish of all those that you haven’t “including myself”. While totally unique, I see in you the memories of my youth: the Black Stallion, Flicka, Secretariat and my Cinder (a gift from a brother leaving for Vietman), live again. There were endless summer days of best friends, bareback rides, Breyer’s horses on the bedroom shelves and glorious Triple Crown winners. With you, I am that horse loving girl again. What fun! I have my own challenges in life, as everyone does. While I seek to remain positive there are those moments. You are there to lift my spirits and touch my soul. Your diary is a place of remarkable civility where information, support and all things Zenyatta are shared and celebrated. Facebook, over 70,000 and still counting! The experience has been once in a lifetime and continues to be a magical ride. In the end my love cannot be fully explained, it is simply heart felt and joyful. It is no mystery why the word “angel” is used to describe you, for you are a creation of God, a blessing to us all and a remarkable gift. For everything you are and everything you mean, Zenny, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are truly UNBELIEVEABLE! As always, sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
Wow! I hope you enjoyed reading these as much as I did! Dottie commented that she was literally in tears typing them for ME!
Vote for the ENTRY of YOUR CHOICE!
Blessings to All OF YOU who participated in this contest! I can’t THANK YOU ENOUGH for ALL OF THE LOVE AND KINDNESS you have shown ME!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Rosemary McCauley
I think it’s quite heartwarming that Zenyatta meant enough to one of the final four that she and her husband spent a very important milestone in their lives with a day at the races to watch Zenyatta and another one mentioned that Zenyatta helped her through a particularly rough time. Says it all about Zenyatta and her team.
Kathryn Cogswell
Quartets of strings mean different things to various listeners. A trained ear, or someone who knows music, hears what an artist may visualize and a carpenter may appreciate for the seasoning of the wood being used to resonate the strings` voices. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me, reading the random cards picked for voting, is how they compliment one another, and how their timing, whether before, on or after the beat we may expect, does say it all and brings out things perhaps not realized but felt. When a prize and its contenders makes me happy they are there,as if in my place, something quite magical is happening. You played nice, ladies. And what fun to be in the hall.
Vicki
I can sympathize with my fellow Zenyatta fans, I didn’t have a Facebook account either when this day started. But I opened one just to make sure I got ONE vote. So just hold true to your feelings and beliefs about Facebook and enjoy what we have right here on Zenyatta.com because that is what we are all here for.
DJ
Sorry Janie, mine was done over a year ago and it is possible that it has become more secure and added information is needed. I may have indeed signed up, but the key is, I never submitted a “profile.” Thus, if my name is looked up, there is no personal information (profile) on me. However, if you do choose to sign up without a profile, you will begin to receive notifications from Facebook about ‘friends….etc’ and all you have to do is input them with your spam or junk files one time, and you will no longer receive messages in your e-mail from Facebook at all if you are not interested. Good luck and I do hope you can participate. I have only used Facebook for Zenyatta :)
Mary
ZENYATTA I LOVE YOU!!!
cheryl
#4—-AMAZING! I hope she wins, she earned it and deserves it.
suew
Good luck to the final four. I can’t vote since I’m not on facebook and really don’t want to join. Each of you wrote from the heart and expressed in different words why we love our Queen! Mike sure looks great in the photo…I’ll bet he’d move heaven and earth to ride her one more time.
Kathy
SO LUCKY to have a card picked by Mike. I loved reading all of the entrants. I voted for #3 because it reminded most of my wonderful supportive hubby. I tried very hard to stick to the one paragraph rule. I don’t think Zenyatta can be kept in just a few sentences. I agree with a previous writer about the more than 1 paragraph rule that Dawn exceeded with multiple topics, BUT what she wrote sure was lovely and did make me cry too! Hugs to all!
MLV
Congratulations to the final four. All very deserving of winning the statue.
I did really want the statue so I went ahead and ordered one for myself. Heck, what are tax refunds for anyway? Something nice to spend on yourself would be a good answer! So I did. Besides, I had quite an investment in postcards.
I don’t understand the whole Facebook thing as I am terrible with computers and trying to figure them out. I don’t have a Facebook account, don’t even know how it works but I just clicked on the link in the diary and it took me to the Facebook page and from there I could get on the poll.
Good luck final four!
tony
Good Luck to each of the ladies in the final four. We wish everyone who entered the contest could win…it’s been a wonderful experience just participating in this ocntest. Zenny means so much to allof us.
Kirren
Vicki, after reading over all four contestants a few times, I came down to yours and Georgia’s, so I’m feeling relieved that I don’t have to narrow it down any more than that! That mistake was a blessing in disguise. Good luck to you!!! :D
Kitei
@Sharon Call – even though my card didn’t make the drawings, it had as much on it as would squeeze — and it was regulation postcard size with postcard postage! I did not criticize anyone, and am sorry about your so-not-nice negative mind-reading. I have no idea about the size of anyone else’s postcards & never said I did! Good luck!
April Crawford
kind of hard to choose. they are all so good in their own different ways. Good Luck to all in the final four. :)
Cindy from LA
@Georgia Harper
What a touching story and s wonderful husband
Zenny really brought you together. You got my vote.
Dear Zenny
Mike is sooo cute holding your reins. Does bring back some
Fond memories. Love this contest and all of the 4
Responses. It is amazing how many lives you have touched
And brought soooo many people together. How exciting
For the person who wins. Good luck everyone. Sweet dreams
Playing in the mud, enjoying your fruits and veggies and playing
With your friends. XXXXXOOO
Joan
@ Georgia. I am not joining FB but if I did, you would have my vote. Good luck to you all. I could relate to husbands and wives drifting, in this busy world it happens. Hats off to that husband of yours for engineering a perfect wedding anniversary, you are one lucky lady. Good luck.
Sharon Call
@Kitei. Your criticism was implied with your post outlining what is in a paragraph. Have a pleasant evening.
Randy
I’m with all those who apparently are members of the “MIKE IS HOT” club… he’s absolutely adorable (despite the spelling of my first name, I’m female). I didn’t enter the contest because my thoughts would’ve vastly exceeded even the largest postcard, but I’m amazed, impressed and grateful that such a contest with such an incredible prize was offered to us. That statue is absolutely gorgeous, and being #19 makes it that much more special. Many thanks to everyone who makes up Team Zenyatta… your kindness, empathy, respect and willingness to include Z’s fans in so many aspects of her life is remarkable and very much appreciated. To Zenny, our “DANCING QUEEN”, we miss you in California but I hope you’re enjoying springtime in Kentucky. Losing your winter coat yet? Best of luck to the Final Four. I think I would have to close my eyes, spin around three times and take a pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey approach to pick a winner.
Hernan Tovar
My dear Zenyatta: What size of postcard did Entry #3 & #4 used to be able to fit the Constitution of the US OF A, in one paragraph? I wrote: Zenyatta… Diva,
Beauty, Sweetness, Charisma, Dancer, Invincible, Best Horse, Best Mom!!!!
And I thought it was to long that’s a paragraph!!!
What entry #3 & #4 wrote… that’s a book!!
Ingrid from South Beach.
Sharon in Seattle
GEORGIA – you made the final four – congratulations!!!! and good luck to everyone. I still haven’t read them, but am looking forward to it!!
Alex Bowdoin
It was so Great to see Mike…Yes..I am so Glad he picked the final 4. I have been sobbing since reading these. Zenyatta our Beautiful Thoroughbred, what you have brought to the Racing Industry!!!
You are such a Special Horse….We will love you forever. Thank you Dottie, John, Ann and Jerry and all of Team Z for this amazing ride we are on…
Robin
I just read these was not a good idea since I am at work and tears are running down my face! It is going to be a hard decision to just pick one person. Zenny you are forever in my heart. Love you always….
Robin
PS..Mike looks AWESOME!
Sophie
I really dislike this jockey, Smith. I can’t understand why the Mosses still want to have anything to do with him after he cost zenyatta’s perfect 20-0 career. Didn’t anyone notice that how long his rear end was up in the air (which gave the horse the signal to slow run) during the first half of the race? He only gave Zenyatta the signal to run after Zenyatta was already 30 lengths behind. It was absolutely absurd! And all that fake tears after BC during the press conference. Boy, it made me sick. He either did it intentionally or he is just a horrible jockey. I haven’t met any trainer or exercise jockey who don’t agree me about Smith in the local tracks in Maryland. I hate to vent but I really would like NOT to see Smith’s face or name again to be related with Zenyatta.
Trina Nagele
Congratulations to the Final Four, and condolences to the many who are not among these fortunate few. All four have written beautiful and moving tributes to the Queen, and each expresses the Truth, as DJ put it, so well. I’m sure Dawn must have used a large postcard (I thought about that since it didn’t say anything about size) and a small font size to print it. BUT if anyone out there feels that Dawn got an unfair advantage by fitting so much on a card, I request that you judge her entry on ANY FOUR SENTENCES THAT YOU CHOOSE TO SELECT rather than scratching her from the race. I hope the Facebook issues can be resolved for all to vote without fear—-maybe DJ’s suggestion above to log in with just your e-mail address and a password will work for everyone, or as someone said, just following the link in the upper right-hand corner of the diary. Good luck and good spirits to all, and as always many, many thanks to Team Z.
@Kathryn Cogswell—Beautifully said-—the four entries do unite in a musical, harmonious whole.
Alex Bowdoin
@Dawn, I did not realize you have not met
our Zenyatta either..I so hope to see her in the “flesh” someday. I look at her photo and I smile…..Imagine meeting her?
Celeste
The picture of Mike with Zenyatta’s reins is so adorable! I think it is beautiful that her headstall and reins, including the beloved shadow roll, are retired there in John & Dottie’s home. Such a loving tribute to our Queen in a quiet and understated way. Beautiful. All of the writers whose cards were chosen for the final four have stated so well what Zenyatta means not only to them, but also to many of the rest of us. I will study them some more before I attempt to vote on facebook because I feel kind of funny being put in the position to judge what others have written about how they feel. I can relate to each one in a different way and each individual post cards expression strikes a chord of familiarity in my heart, so it is a tough choice. Thank you once again, Dottie and Zenyatta, for bringing us this diary entry.
judy berube
Dear Hernan Tovar”
I’m still laughing out loud at your post. Very funny. Let’s all just love Zenyatta. Judy
Nancy
I don’t know why it always feels so good to tell you that you are appreciated and adored and loved, but it does. So I will! Love you Zenyatta! We all do, and somehow I think you know.
Kathy
@ Sophie. See, you too are a seceret Mike is HOT fan. Shame on you for only noticing his “butt.” One would hope the Zenyatta community would be more contagious.
Eveline
Wow ,that was awesome! Dawn you found a large postcard lol, very creative, sure made my day.