WELL…HOW SPECIAL IS THIS! I AM SO PROUD!!!
Good Morning Everyone! Dottie and I were just reviewing the morning news and GUESS WHAT WE FOUND! The Associated Press did their review of the TOP FEMALE ATHLETES in the world…and for the 2nd year in a row…I AM #2 !
Now this is amazing…as, in reality, I am a thoroughbred race horse, so to be honored in this way is quite special! People often comment that horse achievements do not translate to other sports…or outside of racing…but LOOK! HERE I AM! I think this also means that people recognize the fact that I had to train and work hard to achieve in my sport just as a human would to succeed in his/her sport!
I SO APPRECIATE THIS POLL!
They had 175 people voting for this honor and ranking. Here are the top 4 per the AP:
1…Lindsey Vonn…she is a TOP OLYMPIAN and had a great year. 3 CHEERS for Lindsey! She received 77 votes.
2…ME…ZENYATTA!!!!! YIPPEE, YIPPEE!!!! (To quote the AP press release…”Zenyatta’s 32 votes placed the racehorse No. 2 in the AP Balloting for the second consecutive year. The 6 year old mare retired with a 19-1 career record and a North American earnings record for female horses. Her only loss was a narrow one in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.” (Yikes…as they said ‘narrow one’…it was just a few inches. In my heart, I know I ran a winning race! I must also add that I truly appreciate the fact that everyone makes me feel so good about how hard I tried in the Classic. All of my friends have repeatedly reinforced the fact…EFFORT APPLIED DOES MATTER!)
3. Maya Moore…she is a wonderful college basketball player. I believe she is playing in a big tournament today…and her team is working on a big streak of their own. Good luck today, Maya! (I will have the guys at the farm check the TV Guide to see when her game is scheduled. This way, I can check on how she is doing.) It is important to be supportive of my fellow athletes. She received…29 votes.
4. Serena Williams…a fabulous tennis star…………14 votes.
****Per the AP article…no one else got more than 5 votes.
This is truly a complete HONOR…and I am totally BLESSED to share this recognition with all of these highly talented women. Again, LUCKY ME!
So, as I am standing here in KENTUCKY…I hope you can all see the HUGE SMILE on my face! I am so proud and grateful to all of these voters, my Barn 55 friends, and my wonderful, wonderful FANS who have always honored my work and made me feel so special and LOVED!
Enjoy your day! It is chilly here…and per all reports from CA…totally ‘pouring’ there!
Stay warm and cozy! With love,
HUGS TO ALL~
Z
Keta
Next-Horse of the Year!
Karen Morgan Knowles
You, Lady Z, are an inspiration for all women across the board whether they’re two leggeds or four leggeds. Love to you from all of us.
Kim Noble
You should have been #1 baby girl. No one is a better athlete than you!
OraJean Stevenson
Good morning, Queen-Z & Team-Z,
Congratulations on your AP honor!! You all should be soooooo proud !! Of course, you’ll always be # 1 in my heart and thuoghts. Enjoy the week ahead, and stay warm. Thanks, Dottie, and everyone who helps you do these “Diary” entries!!
Happy Holidays !!! Fondly, OraJean
Allen
Zenyatta congratulation on your latest honor. The next one will be here in about 30 days, HOY !!!!!
Marian M.
Congratulations, Zenyatta! Female athletes don’t get the media attention they deserve for their accomplishments. Of immediate note is the University of Connecticut Huskies who matched the all time NCAA basketball winning streak of 88 consecutive games. You have have helped to elevate public awareness of your sport and the excellence of female athleticism, Z. Thank you.
Judy Sims
This award brings to mind the immortal words of Penny Chenery, the owner of the great Secretariat, after he was voted one of the best athletes along with humans back in 1973: “He was a contender!”
Queen Z is all that and more.
Strapper Nick
Babe, you wuz robbed! You should’ve been voted #1 in a landslide. Must’ve been a few hanging chads. Recount!!!
Deborah Biediger
Z, congratulations. You SO deserve it. I watch undefeated horses go down repeatedly after only 2 or 3 wins. Most only race a couple of years. Few top racehorses ever enter 20 races like you did. And, I would rather watch you any day than any other athelete in the world. You are always tops for me. So, you would have been my NUMBER 1
Barb Wilson
That is special as so many people, even many sportswriters, are not very familiar with horse racing. You deserve the recognition. Few outside of the sport could realize the enormity of what you accomplished on the racetrack. It still gives me chills!!! Love you!
Kari Bussell
Queen Zenyatta- You will always be number 1 to me in every way conceivable. I send you all my love, hugs and kisses. Stay warm and may this winter be short. I am sooooo proud of you. You more than deserve all the recognition in the world.
Maria
Queenie, you’re the best and my number 1 athlete. It’s so wonderful that those AP voters recognized your achievement. I just hope & wish the Eclipse voters for the HOTY will see the same. Thanks for post & we love you!!!
Lauren
Happy Monday Zenyatta – Congrats on your achievement in coming in 2nd as AP Female athelete of the year. You are still No. 1 in my heart and should be horse of the year. You are the best. God Bless and have a wonderful day.
Lauren in New Jersey
cindyb
Now if we can just get the folks that vote for the Eclipse HOY to see that you ARE HOY, all will be well in the rhoroughbred world!
sg
APPRECIATE THE POST, BUT MISSING VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF Z AT LANES END.
PLEASE POST SOMETHING SOON.
THANK YOU
Lori Koellner
ZENYATTA, CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU ARE SPECTACULAR. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU. THIS CALLS FOR A GUINESS!!! I LOVE YOU BIG GIRL. STAY WARM. LOVE LORI XOXO…..
Barbara Wood
Precious Z–
I just read that marvelous column Vickie recommended. What a great account. I love you so much for all the qualities that you embody that we as Americans value: bravery, heart, willingness, gentleness, kindness, loyalty, intelligence, perseverance, and so many others.
I pray for you every night, that you and your human family will be protected and safe. You are truly a gift from God for those who can see it. Love you always.
Laura Miller
Congrats Z! What a great honor for you. Happy Holidays to you and your friends and family!
Liz
Z, what you have done for women everywhere is immense and you have accomplished it just by being you. You’re simply, and inexplicably, a transformational figure. I no longer read the articles about Horse of the Year because it stopped making sense to equate you in those terms. You don’t need an award. You are the award, a gift bestowed on the world in a difficult time. You make us stand back and stay “WOW, the impossible is possible. The Universe really is spectacular.”
Jody
Congratulations Z! What a great honor! You are #1 in my book!
maggie
You are number ONE in my opinion Zenny…and that is of all athletes, not just female. no other has done for sports what you have.
Patricia
Has anyone seen the latest photos of Zenyatta posted about one hour ago on DRF!!!!
Go take a look…she is leaping & running in the snow!!!!
That’s our girl!
Richard K
OMG!! I went to the DRF.com and my breath was literally taken away by Barbara Livingston’s photos of “Zenyatta at play in her Lane’s End paddock” taken today (Monday).
Carole
What a thrill to see Zenyatta running around her paddock with no one holding a lead — just pure joy!
Eileen
Zenyatta ~ you are number one in my book…a truly great athlete!! TVG ran a repeat of your 2009 bredders cup win today…..it gives me goose bumps everytime I see it. We are soooo going to miss watching you race. Best of everything to you ALWAYS!!!
Sharon Call
OMG is right. I just looked at the photos on DRF.com. Grins from ear to ear to see she stretched all the way out! That must have felt so good to her. To SG, go to the top of the page here and click on the Facebook icon and you’ll find all of the videos and pic’s of her at LE.
BTW, does anyone know where I can find a Zenyatta sweatshirt?
Zen-Fan
Yes, Richard & Carol-Isn’t it what we have all been waiting for since she has been at Lane’s End!
I would have loved to have been a “fly on the wall” to see John & Dottie’s expression when they initially saw these photos!!!
Pure Joy for the Great Z!!
Thanks to Barbara Lvingston for the photos-phenomenal job!
Chicago Girl
Well Zenny, next time Lindsey Vonn races the men will be the FIRST time she does! You deserve to be #1.
Regardless, it is an honor to be included in what is normally a category for two legged creatures!
xoxo
Carole
Just read an updated post that the Mosses, John, Dottie, Mario and Carmen flew in for the event — Zenyatta’s first free run. At one point she made a bee-line for Mario.
Sharon Call
Hey, Everybody: I just went back to DRF and looked at the hotos again. There was a little text that said John and Dottie, Jerry and Ann, Cario and Carmen had flown in for this event and were in the paddock when Z was turned loose. The text said at one point, Z raced up to Mario and gave him a nudge. I’m going to try to get that last picture of her stretched out full-length, just her and the fence and the snow and trees. Just absolutely gorgeous!!!