Zenyatta, John, and Me

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Slew — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:26:38 GMT

That was great! Thank you for reminding everyone that Zen swept this race last year.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Caliente Dave — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:00:29 GMT

Mac is top notch all the way... Del Mar should name a burger after him!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

The Regular Guy — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:20:57 GMT

Mac - That was marvelous! It was as if I was standing alongside the two of you. What a vivid memory and wonderful piece of writing. Hope I can repost with the next T.P.A. Newsletter.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Marci — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:57:39 GMT

I am shaking!!!!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Freetex — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 02:35:03 GMT

I wondered who the mysterious fellow was with John Sherriffs. What a great experience for you!

You know you added to the celebration of The Queen's victory just that much more.

Thanks.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Susie — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:15:46 GMT

That was awesome! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece. You are a lucky man to have been able to be so up close and personal with Zenyatta and John Sherrifs. What a thrill it must have been.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

txhorsefan — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 21:10:14 GMT

Mr. MacBride, thank you so much for sharing your wonderful story and video with us! It's so great to hear from an insider more about what is going on around this beautiful mare we've grown to love so much. Your description of the racing action was brilliant and I felt like I was watching it again even before I clicked on the link to the video. My heart is already jumpy in anticipation of these BC races and my wish is for all horses to come back safely and if at all possible for Zenyatta to win for us one more time. My heart thinks she can, but I've seen so many races when I was thinking she'd never get to the wire in time, that I don't know if I can take the stress - lol!

Again...thank you.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

quarterhossgal — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 20:35:06 GMT

This has to be one of the best written pieces I have ever read. I watched the same race that you did but you made me feel like it was a new experience. Such a talent to put into words what we all witnessed, I'll never forget this win. I was lucky enough to be at Churchill Downs when Alysheba came through the darkness to win the Classic. I am from Omaha ,Ne., so I had known Jack Van Berg so that was a great experience but Queen Z is in a league all her own.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Zen's Auntie — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:48:50 GMT

God Bless them all! What a great story. The 2009 Classic was the best race I can remember watching for many reasons mostly because of my renewed Love of the game with my kids.

Thanks for sharing your amazing expereince.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Keith Kohnhorst — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:03:15 GMT

Dear Mr. McBride: You're a fantastic writer. Where will you be for this year's Classic?

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Oldie — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 18:00:29 GMT

This is really a superb retelling, thank you for sharing it with all of us.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Terry — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:48:45 GMT

What a great story! It put me right there with you. Wonderful!!!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Wildhorse — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 17:24:31 GMT

Wow, what a great story! I knew the outcome, but it made me feel like I was there. Thank you! Let's have a repeat in the 2010 Classic (well minus QR gate problems and Z gate problems).

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

TomF — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 16:55:40 GMT

Wow! Probably one of the best written racing pieces I've read in a while. I didn't want it to end.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Jerry C. — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:38:20 GMT

Great article. How do we make sure John is on the Hall of Fame ballot for this year? Nobody deserves it more!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

vikki — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:34:35 GMT

what an incredible piece of writing! That was so much fun, to be there with you and John. Thank you so very much for sharing with us.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Deb — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:18:19 GMT

Goose bumps still after reading your story and thinking of the race.

Z is a great gal. Win or lose on saturday, she is still a great gal.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

DebbieJRT — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 14:08:44 GMT

Thank you for a wonderful viewpoint on what has to be one of the best races ever.

The most memorable moments of that race for me were the utter panic when QR was losing it in the gate - I was so sure we were going to see tragedy. The other one is the towards the finish. I hadn't been home for the race,so I was watching it on tape delay on my DVR and after the hold up at the start I was panicking that the stupid thing would cut off before we saw the finish - I just kept yelling for her to go and hoping that I would see it.

Fantastic.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Fran Loszynski — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 12:06:56 GMT

I will always remember a little Spanish man in his 80's running to the simulcast T.V. at the casino and yelling "ZENYATTA" "Mucho Grasias"! That's what horseracing is all about. You can't top a racehorse and his fan.

I'd like to wish Smarty Jones a safe trip to Pennsylvania (his St. Christopher medal by his side) and he will love his new-old home. After all those Philly horses--WOW!!!Don't be sad though Kentucky fans-the white fences and the breeze of Kentucky will always be in his heart. Before Afleet Alex there was Smarty Jones !

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Zen4Zen — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 09:52:16 GMT

Great article; thanks for the memories!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

donkeyhotey — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:18:53 GMT

Thank you for capturing what it has meant to me to get to be there for all of her CA races since the Classic. My husband and I will always think of 2010 as our Year of Zenyatta as we have followed her around. All of the strangers around you suddenly become your friends as you experience something so beautiful and so pure together. John, and all of her connections have shown the world a new and better way to care for our sport horses: to truly love them and put their interests first. Safe trip to all of the lovely horses on the 5th and 6th, and thank you Mr. McBride for sharing your experience so wonderfully.

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Bellwether — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 05:54:59 GMT

THAT WAS STRONG...ty...LONG LIVE THE KING BABY!!!...

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Teddy — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 03:09:06 GMT

Best story/recap I have ever read about a horse race.

Please write another after the race this year.

Please.

(Bloodhorse - You need to sign this guy to write for you.)

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

ruffianruns — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:48:21 GMT

I emailed this story to friends and said it reads like a thriller!

Brings back all the excitement of that race and those moments.

Thank you!

re: Zenyatta, John, and Me

Sarah K. — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 02:39:29 GMT

Mr. McBride, I always wondered who it was with John Shirreffs in that shot too. I am jealous of your front row seats! I was there that day too, in the grandstand, and I've watched the race replays hundreds of times, but nothing else made me cry with joy all over again like this piece you just wrote.

I'll be there too on Saturday, and hopefully I'll have reason to cry for joy again!