Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Mike Relva — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 03:46:14 GMT

DAVID Zenyatta had the kind of connections that every horse should be lucky enough to have. Bravo.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Sue M — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:53:58 GMT

What a great article. I miss Queen Z, too. I miss her wonderful exciting races. But at least all of these articles and being able to keep up with her helps ease the pain a little bit :) What a special horse. My husband and I saw her in the BC at Churchill Downs and I will NEVER forget that day, ever. It was a historical moment for the sport and we were there. (And we met Zenyatta and John the next day at CD.)

Thanks to David for finding such a wonderful horse, and thanks Samantha for tell us more of Z's story.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Linda in Texas — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 16:57:03 GMT

Would have loved the question posed to David since his dad was also involved in racing, does he think that people are born with horse racing in their genes, or do they acquire it by osmosis?

David is truly a natural with a compassionate heart.

Was listening to the announcers on HRTV talking about prices paid for horses, one mentioned that Zenyatta sold for $160,000 at the sale. I tried hard as i could to contact them and tell them, no,

she went for $60,000. So it isn't always the price you pay for something, it is how you work with what you have.

Thanks for this nice interview. And we will be looking forward to Zenyatta's sister when she heads to Barn 55 in California.

And Amen, Deacon, Freetex and all who think the same way.

I have finally come to the resolve that i can never let her go and i have a lot of company.

Thankyou to David, his dad Mr. Ingordo, Mr. Frankel for the knowledge he passed on, Dottie and John and now Lane's End but especially to The Moss's. And above all Zenyatta!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

maryann727 — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:30:36 GMT

Love the photos!

I wrote a longer post a few days ago in response to this, but I guess it has been lost in cyberland. It was all positive, but I can't recapture my thoughts now.

Thanks for the article about Zenyatta.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Anita in Ca — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 21:54:56 GMT

Thank you, David, for bringing us Zenyatta and for the look inside her world. We who love her are always craving new info about. So good to know that she's happy and well looked after by a family member, since I and other fans feel like family members too. Thanks to Samantha for this also.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Barbara W — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 16:39:11 GMT

Great article! I'll be forever thankful that our Z ended up in the right hands!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

smartycat — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 14:28:24 GMT

Fabulous article on the incomparable Queen Z! David - thank you for your valuable time to share your uniquely personal & thoughtful insights. Like others, I cannot get enough of Zenyatta & am so grateful that your Mom keeps up her fantastic website, which I read everyday; and I'm always looking on the BH website for articles on her before reading anything else. I hope you can provide the industry with the help it desperately needs with marketing - you hit the nail on the head with this one - as well as to use some of your energy & influence to assist those retired and/or displaced racehorses who are not as fortunate as Queen Z & those like her who are assured of loving care all of their lives. Thank you for all you've done for racing, its fans, and mostly, for probably the best pick you'll ever make - selecting Zenyatta! I am eternally grateful to you & your family & all of her connections. Lane's End is very fortunate to have you.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

200 Pound jockey — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 07:32:24 GMT

I went to see Z run at Churchill Downs in the BC Classic. It broke my heart to see her lose that race, it took me weeks to get it out of my system. I still think she was the best horse that day, 5 more feet and she would have won. I've always loved Mike Smith, but thousands of us in the stands were not too happy with him that evening. Looking back now, I'm just as proud of her in defeat. She gave the world her classic thrill run, like the champion she is. She is a once in a lifetime horse, and will always be loved by her fans. I can't wait to see her offspring! Lots of love girl, and Mike, we all forgive you. That must have been tough for you, but you were a champion on her back, and that makes you one lucky guy. Go Team Z!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Karen — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:31:23 GMT

Thanks so much for the wonderful article!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Delrene — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:19:14 GMT

David- You have the best job in the world! And you are obviously very good at it. thank you for sharing some of your insight into Zenyatta's world and your work. It was such a privilege to see Zenyatta race at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Del Mar. A thrill of a lifetime for sure for me.

Best regards!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Linda Bulger — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:23:38 GMT

She is a special gift and will always be. I know her foal will carry her spirit on. Love you Zen

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Big Brown's Buddy — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:30:51 GMT

A tremendous Thank You! to David Ingordo for discovering "our" Zenny all those years ago! What a great find you made, not just for the business, but for all of us fans,too! Zenyatta's a treasure!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

maryann727 — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:50:33 GMT

Thank you Samantha Clark for a great interview with David Ingordo, the person who "recognized" that the young dark bay filly, who would be named Zenyatta, had that indefinable something. She has certainly moved me like no other and once again reading about her touched something within that prompted tears. Maybe, it is as simple as my heart knows I will never see another like her. Like her legion of fans, I am forever grateful for the Zen experience and thankful that her Team Z has been so willing to share her with her fans. Perhaps one of the reasons for Zen's sweet, kind nature is that she has always been surrounded by love and generous spirits. May her great good karma continue in her new role as broodmare. Thank you again for the article and the great photos. I never tire of looking at her. What a fortunate mare.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Stephanie Q — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:05:05 GMT

She's look so much like a Horse now and I love it!! Here's hoping for Baby Z!!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Holly — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:38:59 GMT

The real tribute to John Shireffs and crew is how she has let down so easily at the farm. I know from personal experience how difficult it can be for lots of horses coming off the track and coming off the drugs used on them for years, whether legal or not. It can take up to a year for them to get their weight right and function like a normal horse. I am eternally grateful to John for taking such good care of her.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

GJU — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:16:03 GMT

I enjoyed reading about David. I'm glad it all worked out the way it did. Nobody deserves more credit than Team Z. They are the greatest bunch of people in horse racing. As much as I love horse racing, it's just not the same without Zenyatta. Yes, she nearly gave me a heart attack, but after her races, it was worth it. She's just plain special.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Deb — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:41:14 GMT

I still love Z.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

DBH — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:50:13 GMT

Wonderful interview !

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Zen4Zen — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 10:43:31 GMT

What a lovely article and great photos too! I'm so glad to hear from someone who knows horses so well that she's adjusted so well to farm life and is a happy horse. I'm really looking forward to learning next week if she's in foal!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Deacon — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 08:03:10 GMT

No words on any blog can amply express the love we all feel for her. Zenyatta is a once in a lifetime animal. She came to us, crossed our paths we all are the better for it. She may not be the greatest race horse to ever look through a bridal (that is certainly debatable)but she will always be the greatest to her fans. NO race horse since Ruffian has ever moved me the way Zen has. Love you forever baby, you go girl............

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

jennie muller — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 07:23:02 GMT

Nothing has ever inspired me more than Zenyatta. She is a force. I miss her and will always feel honored to have met her and to see her race. She will be a wonderful mother.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Ofelia — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:14:19 GMT

Wonderful! Thank you David! You are truly one lucky guy who deserves all the great things that have happened to you. I hope you can dedicate some of that energy in finding homes for those that do not become Zenyattas.

Good Luck in the future.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Karen in Indiana — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:09:07 GMT

David, you are truly fortunate to have the opportunity to do what you love so much. And what's more - we the public get to watch the fruits of your labor and appreciate it. Thank you!

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

Robin from Maryland — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 02:44:27 GMT

Loved the article. I too, miss seeing her on TVG. David you have the BEST job in the world. If I had your job, I would probably spend all my time out in the paddocks with the horses - nothing would ever get done. Now the waiting game begins. Next year will be one to remember, Queen Z's foal and RA's foal. Just alittle piece of history we all will witness. Hope that both the girls deliver HEALTHY babies! In the meantime I'll look forward to hear any news on the Queen. Best wishes to all.

re: Zenyatta, Horse of a Lifetime for David Ingordo By Samantha Clark

SusieQ — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 01:56:01 GMT

I love these articles on Zenyatta...especially when her history is covered. I've said it many times...everything in her life was meant to be...from the very beginning of her life to her eventual training at Barn 55 with the "Zenmaster". Now that she has come full circle and is back in Kentucky we can finally reflect in amazement just how special and unique her racing career was. She truly is a once in a lifetime horse. Kudoos to everyone who has or is caring for this magnificient creature from God.