The Magic of Zenyatta - Part 2
November 23rd 2011 11:15
The Magic of Zenyatta
Part 2
A contribution for Thoroughbreds Worldwide & RacingWrite by Vicki L Vinson.
Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
In 2009 owners Jerry and Ann Moss decided to keep Zenyatta in training much to the delight of her growing legion of fans but she was given a bit of a rest from of the rigors of racing and did not start her 5 year old campaign until the Spring/Summer meeting at Hollywood Park. I had to be content to stay at home and watch her win twice at Hollywood and once at Del Mar on TV before getting a chance to see her in person during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. This is where Zenyatta came through for me on a personal level. Five days before the Lady’s Secret I suffered a mild stroke. I had not spent any time in the hospital since I was a kid and the experience of taking tests and everything was pretty scary and unsettling. But I had the perfect thing to focus on to help me get well and that was Zenyatta. As Zenyatta ran in the Lady’s Secret my only concern was trying to find the race on the hospital TV, alas no luck. I was restless all night waiting for my Mom to bring me the sports section of the local paper the next morning. I was relieved when Zenyatta’s win was confirmed, but then I knew it would be! I went home a couple days later with thoughts of the upcoming Breeders’ Cup on my mind.
Trainer John Shirreffs (in ball cap) applauds Zenyatta along with the fans
I knew it was highly unlikely that I would actually get to go to the Breeders’ Cup that year, but just thinking about the race gave me a much needed distraction from the changes in my life. The week of the Breeders’ Cup my friends Daunice and Megan were back in California for the races true racing fans that they are and the paid me a visit, we even got to watch the post-position draw live on TV together. During the time preceding the Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta’s connections had swayed back and forth deciding whether to race her in the Ladies Classic again or face the colts in the Classic itself. We cheered together in my room to learn Zenyatta would indeed run in the Classic.
The crowd was enormous at Santa Anita that Breeders’ Cup Saturday and I wondered if my little corner on the tree path was filled with fans this year? The television crew knew Zenyatta was the real story of the Breeders’ Cup as the camera followed her through the paddock. I especially enjoyed the bonus clip of Len Goodman from Dancing with the Stars and his take on Zenyatta’s dance moves, too cute. After some anxious moments in the starting gate the horses all broke out running for their place in the history books. As usual Zenyatta was at the back of the pack and I didn’t appreciate that track announcer Trevor Denman kept referring to her as being “dead last.” As the horses turned for home, Zenyatta and Mike fooled them all by picking their way through the pack passing them all with Zenyatta becoming the first female winner of the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Trevor redeemed himself with his UNBELIEVABLE stretch call. In a world torn apart it was great to see and hear so many people come together to root for one horse. Thank goodness for Kleenex.
Zenyatta sports her Breeders’ Cup towel at her “retirement” celebration
In the heat of the moment shortly after Zenyatta’s Classic win her owner Jerry Moss made an informal announcement that she would be retired. Plans were quickly made at Zenyatta’s home base of Hollywood Park to have her make a special appearance there for her fans before she left to become a broodmare in Kentucky. At the same time rumors were flying that they would do likewise at Santa Anita on opening day December 26th. I was bound and determined to follow doctor’s orders so that I could see Zenyatta in person one more time. What a great present that would be!
Only in California could you have found a more perfect day weather wise the day after Christmas. The fans turned out in droves and picked out spots early to line up the length of the track along the rail. I was lucky enough to get a spot by the cutout for the first infield tunnel, a must to take photos unless you are tall enough to shoot over the rail. Following the 6th race we could see Zenyatta emerging from the gap at the top of the stretch with her regular exercise rider Steve Willard on board. Trainer John Shirreffs was walking along the path between the rail and the hedge toward us with a smile lighting up his face from ear to ear. The crowd roared like a wave up the stretch as Zenyatta made her way to the area by the winner’s circle. Now we know why John puts cotton in her ears. At the winner’s circle Steve hopped off and jockey Mike Smith got on, the roar of the fans grew even louder.
Zenyatta along with exercise rider Steve Willard and her groom Mario Espinoza
Zenyatta and Mike walked around on the track and they had a little ceremony in the winner’s circle with the rest of “Team Zenyatta.” Then sadly it was time to head back to the barn and even though it was sunny out it seemed as if a huge gray cloud had appeared as a sadness draped over the crowd thinking they would never see Zenyatta again. The only thing sadder was that the Eclipse voters did not think this was enough to garner Zenyatta the Horse of the Year honors.
Part 2
A contribution for Thoroughbreds Worldwide & RacingWrite by Vicki L Vinson.
Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
In 2009 owners Jerry and Ann Moss decided to keep Zenyatta in training much to the delight of her growing legion of fans but she was given a bit of a rest from of the rigors of racing and did not start her 5 year old campaign until the Spring/Summer meeting at Hollywood Park. I had to be content to stay at home and watch her win twice at Hollywood and once at Del Mar on TV before getting a chance to see her in person during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita. This is where Zenyatta came through for me on a personal level. Five days before the Lady’s Secret I suffered a mild stroke. I had not spent any time in the hospital since I was a kid and the experience of taking tests and everything was pretty scary and unsettling. But I had the perfect thing to focus on to help me get well and that was Zenyatta. As Zenyatta ran in the Lady’s Secret my only concern was trying to find the race on the hospital TV, alas no luck. I was restless all night waiting for my Mom to bring me the sports section of the local paper the next morning. I was relieved when Zenyatta’s win was confirmed, but then I knew it would be! I went home a couple days later with thoughts of the upcoming Breeders’ Cup on my mind.
Trainer John Shirreffs (in ball cap) applauds Zenyatta along with the fans
I knew it was highly unlikely that I would actually get to go to the Breeders’ Cup that year, but just thinking about the race gave me a much needed distraction from the changes in my life. The week of the Breeders’ Cup my friends Daunice and Megan were back in California for the races true racing fans that they are and the paid me a visit, we even got to watch the post-position draw live on TV together. During the time preceding the Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta’s connections had swayed back and forth deciding whether to race her in the Ladies Classic again or face the colts in the Classic itself. We cheered together in my room to learn Zenyatta would indeed run in the Classic.
The crowd was enormous at Santa Anita that Breeders’ Cup Saturday and I wondered if my little corner on the tree path was filled with fans this year? The television crew knew Zenyatta was the real story of the Breeders’ Cup as the camera followed her through the paddock. I especially enjoyed the bonus clip of Len Goodman from Dancing with the Stars and his take on Zenyatta’s dance moves, too cute. After some anxious moments in the starting gate the horses all broke out running for their place in the history books. As usual Zenyatta was at the back of the pack and I didn’t appreciate that track announcer Trevor Denman kept referring to her as being “dead last.” As the horses turned for home, Zenyatta and Mike fooled them all by picking their way through the pack passing them all with Zenyatta becoming the first female winner of the Breeder’s Cup Classic. Trevor redeemed himself with his UNBELIEVABLE stretch call. In a world torn apart it was great to see and hear so many people come together to root for one horse. Thank goodness for Kleenex.
Zenyatta sports her Breeders’ Cup towel at her “retirement” celebration
In the heat of the moment shortly after Zenyatta’s Classic win her owner Jerry Moss made an informal announcement that she would be retired. Plans were quickly made at Zenyatta’s home base of Hollywood Park to have her make a special appearance there for her fans before she left to become a broodmare in Kentucky. At the same time rumors were flying that they would do likewise at Santa Anita on opening day December 26th. I was bound and determined to follow doctor’s orders so that I could see Zenyatta in person one more time. What a great present that would be!
Only in California could you have found a more perfect day weather wise the day after Christmas. The fans turned out in droves and picked out spots early to line up the length of the track along the rail. I was lucky enough to get a spot by the cutout for the first infield tunnel, a must to take photos unless you are tall enough to shoot over the rail. Following the 6th race we could see Zenyatta emerging from the gap at the top of the stretch with her regular exercise rider Steve Willard on board. Trainer John Shirreffs was walking along the path between the rail and the hedge toward us with a smile lighting up his face from ear to ear. The crowd roared like a wave up the stretch as Zenyatta made her way to the area by the winner’s circle. Now we know why John puts cotton in her ears. At the winner’s circle Steve hopped off and jockey Mike Smith got on, the roar of the fans grew even louder.
Zenyatta along with exercise rider Steve Willard and her groom Mario Espinoza
Zenyatta and Mike walked around on the track and they had a little ceremony in the winner’s circle with the rest of “Team Zenyatta.” Then sadly it was time to head back to the barn and even though it was sunny out it seemed as if a huge gray cloud had appeared as a sadness draped over the crowd thinking they would never see Zenyatta again. The only thing sadder was that the Eclipse voters did not think this was enough to garner Zenyatta the Horse of the Year honors.
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