Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

captainsmistress — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:23:01 GMT

Just looking back.Steve, you bring tears to the eyes with your prose. Thank You, Zenyatta is truly a Gift from God!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Melissa — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 23:01:27 GMT

I followed Zenyatta like a groupie this past year and also saw her in person at the Clement Hirsh in Del Mar and it was as if she were the only horse there. We packed the paddock so tightly you couldn't move. She did her dance and you just can't describe how powerful a physical force the Queen posesses. She takes your breath away. My brother and I took several pictures but my favorite is all the other owners and trainers watching her, instead of their own horses that were in the race. Thank Jerry and Ann Moss, John and Dottie Sherriffs for sharing this wonderful horse with the fans. Never has an owner and trainer done so much to make a horse accessible to the public. They made us feel like we owned a little piece of her.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Linda / NJ — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 23:53:19 GMT

This is such a beautiful article. I attended the Clement Hirsh Race at the Del Mar this past August. I like so many fans lined up along the paddock. I watched as one horse after the other started making their way from the paddock to the racetrack. When Zenyatta turned the corner and I saw her for the first time there was something so magical about her. Her presence was unlike any of the other horses that passed by. She truly is larger-than-life. I never had the opportunity to touch her. But I feel so fortunate that I had the chance to see her.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Savanna — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:12:53 GMT

You are right Worried Too. Also remember Exceller,yes that Exceller who raced aginst Seattle slew. Where did that beauty end up when his stud career was over. In a slaugtherhouse! And look at everone who is trying to get Strike The Gold back from japan or wherever else he is.And it has been forever the last time we heard of trying to get the son of Alydar out of there. FOREVER! I really want to know what has happened to him. Just hope he isn't in some slaughterhouse.Ugh!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Savanna — Sun, 12 Dec 2010 03:02:33 GMT

Zenyatta and her half-bro have really stirred emotions for me. Not like teary but I mean excitement when street Sense became one of the only horse to conquer the BCJ and the KD. That stallion had HEART.So has Zenyatta when she became the only female to win the BCC. This mare also had HEART. Street Cry really is the man of the moment. I will never forget these two remakable horse. Merry christmas Street Sense and Zenyatta.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

girlsrock — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:44:51 GMT

Truly one for the ages. The best is yet to come with a foal bursting with her genes and soulfulnes. Thankyou Zenyatta for the memories!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Racefan66 — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:26:54 GMT

What a wonderful article! My daughters and I have felt so blessed to be able to watch Zenyatta's races and cheer her on. It is such a priviledge to get to see one of the greatest. She really is an inspiration and I am so grateful to the Mosses' for their willingness to share her with us for so long and to have the guts to challenge her in the Classic. Zenyatta may have officially lost by a head, but it was the greatest race I've ever seen and I will never forget it.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Colleen H — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:00:42 GMT

Steve,

thank you for your encouragement. Maybe one day you can help me figure out how to get something published!

Sherpa, Mike, JayJay,

thank you everyone for your caring posts! I will for sure keep reading and commenting on articles. I miss the racetrack so much, so I love staying in the loop haha!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

zenyatta mondatta — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 12:27:02 GMT

I do believe we Zenyatta fans are really going to be depressed starting in 2011, because thats when the reality of Zenyatta not being with us on the race tracks anymore will finally set in.

It hasnt really hit us all what she has meant to us in the past three years and especially in the last year. She really has impacted her fans in such a great big way.

I hope the Mosses keep her website updated very frequently when she goes to LE. Its going to be the only satisfaction that we, her fans can have. I hope and pray Lane's End takes wonderful care of her. I hope they also realize that the QUEEN of horse racing is in their barn and care.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Horses Rule — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:44:49 GMT

1) Steve - Thank you so much for checking with Dottie re: my concern over Zenyatta not getting the atention and human interatcion to which she is accustomed.

2) Dottie - thank you for taking the time to address my concerns. I've been thinking how confused Zen will be when she is suddenly being cared for by strangers - so I am very relieved to know she will still have family there on a daily basis. You gave me much comfort.

3) In turn I wish we fans could give comfort to you, John, her wonderful groom, her owners and all those who have been with this magnificent animal from the beginning - I hope you will all be able to visit her on occasion.

(I have been rescuing abused & abandoned dogs and cats since 1983 and find it hard to let them go even if they have only been with me for a few months!)

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Soldier Course — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:22:31 GMT

Worried too:

The horse with one eye that you have mentioned in connection with Old Friends must be Ogygian, who once stood at Claiborne Farm.

Ask someone at Old Friends to tell you how Ogygian found his way to a compassionate retirement at Old Friends and who helped him get there. Very interesting and enlightening story.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Kathryn Cogswell — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:54:20 GMT

Hemingway said, "Just write one true sentence," so I'll try to keep this brief. The true in this article and all your responses prompts me to implore an inquiry into how we might best insure the retirement and pension of ALL our American horses, domesticated or wild. They mean so much to our history and heritage and they ask so little. I was fortunate to love horses early, know excellent, though unsung, horsemen and women, and later care for some of my own. Before my years on earth end, my prayer is that we have legislated for the most appreciative and humane aging of our horses, right to the end -- as if they all could be loved and cared for as well as the blessed Zenyatta. Thanks to each of you for the sensitivity of your words in her behalf, and for appreciating her owners, trainer, jockey and handlers .. . . Khc.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

jill — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:14:12 GMT

The times Zenyatta was to run, she would be in my thoughts and prayers the whole day; she never disappointed. In the BC this great mare was more magnificent in defeat than she had ever been before; She had run from last with so much dirt kicked into her face, her usual dark shiny color had been transformed to the color of mud; Mike Smith (did you notice the color of his boots?) used six or eight goggles during the race, while Zen hadn't had that option; She had been unaccustomed to running on the dirt, and yet had run on courageously, giving her best as always; if the race had only been two or three jumps longer, she would have won. What a gallant brave heart.

(I hope everyone has seen her marvelous workout on u-tube with the camera on the rider's hat-it is close to actually being up on her back!)

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Worried too — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:50:30 GMT

I agree with diastu and her comments. I looked up Lane's End where Zenyatta is going and yes, they are an award winning breeding farm.....BUT aren't they the very SAME Breeding farm that Charismatic was at? Where is Charismatic NOW? JAPAN, yes JAPAN, where horse meat is a delicacy, and also at the VERY SAME Breeder that Ferdinand was at and ended up in a slaughter house. Now, I do NOT know how these, Kentucky Derby winning horses get from Kentucky to Japan but it makes me sick that the FACT is they do. I suggest that everyone who LOVES Zenyatta make a $5 dollar donation to OLD FRIENDS FARM also in Kentucky they are trying to raise $50,000 to get our US horses back from Japan, they say the flight will cost $50,000. Charismatic is one horse they are trying to negotiate with Japan to get back on American soil. The excuse given by the Breeder/Owner in Japan for killing Ferdinand was Old Age. Old Friends say that they have even gotten a horse returned missing an eye but they are able to show so much love and kindness to this horse anyway. They are ready, willing and able to take back our American horses in any condition. By the way it was Bloodhorse who broke the story about Ferdinand. Zenyatta is like a pet, would you send your dog to Kentucky to a Breeder? It is not her climate, the water the food, everything will taste different, smell different and be different. Ferdinand I hear was the sweetest horse, just like Zenny, I wonder what happens between the time of the cheering fans at the Kentucky Derby to the slaughterhouse in Japan. What transpired, and when did the fans stop cheering for these amazing horses when they go to these Breeders and somehow slip into other countries? All I know for a FACT is that Charismatic was at this same facility and is now in JAPAN. How did that happen, why did the fans allow this to happen. Or is it just that we the fans only have a say if we go to the track and bet on these horses and then after they have raced their hearts out, and they are sold in auctions and shipped off to other countries we have no say. www.ultimate-fighter.ca/.../viewtopic.php

Oh by the way the Pelerin horse in the above story I bet $600 to win this beautiful horse finished last in the race. I did not care at all I was happy to buy his hay for a day.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Ellie — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 04:55:41 GMT

There is really no way to describe how unique Zenyatta is, but Steve comes the closest to pulling it off! Also very unique are the Moss'es- Wow, they have gone so above and beyond to share Zenyatta, really all of this wouldn't have been possible without that. (Of course, Z loves it or they couldn't have done it:)

And Steve- LOVE the pics of you and her- Lookit her, she loves you! I got a kick out of that- Thanks for all you do, even though you make me cry:)

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Kimberly Wales — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 03:57:19 GMT

I am a freelance writer for equine magazines. As a former jockey, exercise rider and horse trainer I think you captured the true essence of Zenyatta, the fans and the horse racing industry in a really special way. It brought tears to my eyes.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Jakesmom — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 23:08:52 GMT

Zenyatta-now and forever great. Love you, Mare!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Soldier Course — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:01:33 GMT

MonicaV:

I agree, and I think the time has come for the fans to retire to the wings and let the HOTY voting proceed in due course. I'm not sure the petition is a good idea. All has been said. People can become spiteful if they get too much pressure.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

texaszippeee — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:04:20 GMT

Thank you for your wonderful article on Zenyatta. My dream is to see her in person and touch her. She is truly a special horse. How could anyone not know that she is the Horse of the Year?!!!!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

ALL4ZEN — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 20:33:24 GMT

I know she's moving on to a wonderful new life ... but it seems mean to send a California girl to Kentucky in the dead of winter.

Happy trails, Zenyatta!

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

wildblueroan — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:54:41 GMT

Thank you for soliciting comments about Zenyatta's future lifestyle. Its hard to imagine her being happy as a baby machine and without the level of human interaction she has enjoyed. She deserves to retire but she will be terribly missed, and it is good of her connections to take into consideration her relationship with her many fans.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

MonicaV — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:51:42 GMT

All Zenyatta Fans,

I really and truly think that Zenyatta will be HOY. I think it's a wonderful ideal to have a petition but I really think she has it in the bag.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

diastu — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:49:25 GMT

Dottie,

Thank you for your response. It helps me feel a little better that she will have some of her people family around and will not be isolated. But I offer this also: Once she is safely in foal, aren't there fine farms in California where she can raise her babies? From a bio-physical standpoint, she is used to the climate of California; she is used to the sun angle and photoperiod; she is used to the micro and macro nutrients in the water and feeds she consumes. From the meta-physical standpoint, she is a California girl regardless of where she was born, and most of the "17 hands of love" John once wrote about would be closer to her and better able to love on her more. Who will share a Guiness with her now? Respectfully and thankfully for you and all her people, Diana Stuart, Phoenix, AZ

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Alfonso — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:45:10 GMT

El caballo del NO, es el caballo de la era moderna del turf.

re: Zenyatta Stirred the Emotions

Alex Bowdoin — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 19:22:56 GMT

It is official! She is going to

Lane's End and I hope to meet with

AP Indy. Do you think she will finally meet up with RA. Curlin stands at Lane's End. Interesting!

The could be out in one of those big fields together....