The Magic of Zenyatta - Part 3
November 24th 2011 05:19
The Magic of Zenyatta
Part 3
A contribution for Thoroughbreds Worldwide & RacingWrite by Vicki L Vinson.
Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
Not long after Zenyatta’s second retirement ceremony there was good news in the racing world from her owners Jerry and Ann Moss when they decided that Zenyatta would race one more year with a goal of defending her Breeders’ Cup Classic crown in November. You probably heard a lot of screaming and carrying on if you were anywhere near a Zenyatta fan at the time. I know I sure was happy as I still felt a little cheated by not being there in person for her last big win in the Classic. Her first race as a 6 year old would be the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita on March 13, 2010. You may recall from part 1 of my story on Zenyatta that this is the race she was scratched from the very first time I had hoped to see her in person.
Zenyatta looks towards the track from outside the receiving barn
When there are nice stakes races at Santa Anita I love to go back by the receiving barn to take photos and see the horses up close. There is usually just a small group of us there but on this day of Zenyatta’s return to the races there was a line of fans stretched out from the paddock guard shed all the way to the barn area. I took some photos as Zenyatta had her shoes checked then hurried over to the fountain area in the paddock to grab some more shots during her cross over to the saddling paddock. Next it was off to the trackside rail to nail a spot for photos but the rail was already pretty crowded with fans waiting for Zenyatta however I managed to squeeze in. I took a few shots of her there in the post parade but wanted more so I gave up my precious spot and headed down to Clocker’s Corner in hopes of finding a spot there thank goodness it wasn’t too crowded at that end of the stretch. I’m not going to reveal how I managed to get the following shot without the rail in my way.
Zenyatta and Mike Smith prior to going into the gate for the Santa Margarita
Zenyatta broke out of the gate and dropped to the back of the field as usual. I was in a good position at the top of the stretch to get a shot of Zenyatta as she swung wide to pass the field but again she surprised us. Mike carefully guided her between horses much like he had done in the Classic and she pulled ahead by 1 ¼ lengths for her 15th straight win.
Since the time the Mosses had decided to race Zenyatta for another season there had been a lot of rumors and squabbling between sides, those on the side of Zenyatta and those who were fans of Rachel Alexandra the horse that had stolen Zenyatta’s Horse of the Year honors for 2010. In 2008 Zenyatta had gone to Oaklawn Park and won the Apple Blossom Handicap there, that’s where John Shirreffs had decided to run her after scratching her from that year’s Santa Margarita. Well Oaklawn had promised to boost the purse for the Apple Blossom if both mares would run in the race. Zenyatta wasn’t afraid so it was off to Oaklawn again, too bad connections for Rachel weren’t as confident about the win as Zenyatta’s team was, they didn’t bother to show up for the race which would become Zenyatta’s 16th win.
Next it was back to her home in Barn 55 at Hollywood Park where Zenyatta would prepare for her third try at the Vanity Invitational Handicap. I hadn’t been to see any of Zenyatta’s races at Hollywood Park and really wanted to see her there at least one time. I made special arrangements to meet my friend Penny in Pasadena then she would drive the rest of the way to Hollywood Park, bless her heart. When we arrived at Hollywood Park it was like old home coming week I saw so many friends there even my pals Daunice and Megan from back east. The track was giving away Zenyatta bobble heads but that did not matter to her fans, they would have been there anyway.
Zenyatta and Mike Smith in the walking ring at Hollywood Park
My friend Doreen and I teamed up for our planned attack on the photo taking opportunities of Zenyatta in the paddock. Doreen held on to a spot along the rail and I ventured up to the north end of the paddock to grab a few shots of our girl as she came into the paddock area. There weren’t too many people at the north end but I had to fight my way through a mob to get back to Doreen where she let me squeeze in beside her. Click click click went our cameras. After Zenyatta left the walking ring Doreen and I found ourselves in the right place at the right time as we bumped into my friend Holly. She happened to have some extra room in her box seats overlooking the winner’s circle and asked if we would like to join her. We didn’t have to think twice, “Yes!” There had been so many people in the paddock it was a chore getting to those seats but we did it just as Zenyatta was getting ready to load into the starting gate for her 17th win.
Zenyatta and her connections in the winner’s circle following the Vanity
Zenyatta would ship south to Del Mar to run in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap for the third year in a row even though trainer John Shirreffs said she didn’t really care for the racing surface there, that would come to be win #18. I wouldn’t get to see her again until she came back to Hollywood Park to race there as they hosted the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting there for the first time that fall. Zenyatta was making the rounds using almost the same races each year to prep for the Breeders’ Cup. Why mess with perfection?
October 2, 2010 Zenyatta would race again in the Lady’s Secret for her third win in a row for that race and use it once again as her final prep before the Breeders’ Cup. It didn’t make any difference to Zenyatta that this time it was at Hollywood Park, heck that was her home track all it meant to her was she wouldn’t have to get on the van for the drive on the freeway to Santa Anita. I drove the freeway again to Pasadena and my pal Penny drove the rest of the way right through downtown LA, she is almost as good weaving her way through traffic as Mike Smith is on horseback. This time Hollywood Park gave away Zenyatta ball caps, but I still preferred my “9 for 9” version of a Zenyatta cap to wear. Doreen showed up at the track to try our teamwork steps again to get as many photos as possible. This time I got on the rail near where Zenyatta would be saddled in the paddock stalls and Doreen hung out on the paddock rail again. You never know what stall a horse will use at Hollywood Park as they were built as an afterthought when the track found out some horses and/or horsemen preferred not to saddle up out in the open under the trees. Luckily I was close enough to the right stall to get several photos. As Zenyatta left the stall area for the open paddock I tried to get to the paddock rail again like I did during the summer but there were just too many people jamming up every inch of the rail. On a whim I tried something new and went up one of the stairway ramps to the grandstand and took some quick shots over head of Zenyatta and the huge crowd in the paddock.
The Zenyatta team gets her saddled for the race
By the time I made my way to the trackside of the grandstand the horses were already coming out of the tunnel. More spur of the moment thinking I decided to join some of the fans who were standing on the benches along the rail so that I could see over the railing and get a few more photos. At first this perch worked pretty well but when the race started it became a balancing act as the long bench got pretty wobbly from the excitement of the crowd. As Zenyatta started to pass horses in the stretch you could have sworn we were having an earthquake as our girl scored her 19th consecutive victory. This would be Zenyatta’s last race in California a month later her winning streak would sadly come to an end losing the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a head to Blame.
Zenyatta and Mario head back to the barn at Hollywood Park
I would like to take this time to say it was a great ride Zenyatta. Thank you for all the special memories. Thank you Team Zenyatta for taking such good care of our girl and being so nice to all of her fans. We look forward to hearing the sounds of little hoof steps next year, that foal will have some mighty big horse shoes to fill.
Part 3
A contribution for Thoroughbreds Worldwide & RacingWrite by Vicki L Vinson.
Words & photography by Vicki L Vinson.
Not long after Zenyatta’s second retirement ceremony there was good news in the racing world from her owners Jerry and Ann Moss when they decided that Zenyatta would race one more year with a goal of defending her Breeders’ Cup Classic crown in November. You probably heard a lot of screaming and carrying on if you were anywhere near a Zenyatta fan at the time. I know I sure was happy as I still felt a little cheated by not being there in person for her last big win in the Classic. Her first race as a 6 year old would be the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap at Santa Anita on March 13, 2010. You may recall from part 1 of my story on Zenyatta that this is the race she was scratched from the very first time I had hoped to see her in person.
Zenyatta looks towards the track from outside the receiving barn
When there are nice stakes races at Santa Anita I love to go back by the receiving barn to take photos and see the horses up close. There is usually just a small group of us there but on this day of Zenyatta’s return to the races there was a line of fans stretched out from the paddock guard shed all the way to the barn area. I took some photos as Zenyatta had her shoes checked then hurried over to the fountain area in the paddock to grab some more shots during her cross over to the saddling paddock. Next it was off to the trackside rail to nail a spot for photos but the rail was already pretty crowded with fans waiting for Zenyatta however I managed to squeeze in. I took a few shots of her there in the post parade but wanted more so I gave up my precious spot and headed down to Clocker’s Corner in hopes of finding a spot there thank goodness it wasn’t too crowded at that end of the stretch. I’m not going to reveal how I managed to get the following shot without the rail in my way.
Zenyatta and Mike Smith prior to going into the gate for the Santa Margarita
Zenyatta broke out of the gate and dropped to the back of the field as usual. I was in a good position at the top of the stretch to get a shot of Zenyatta as she swung wide to pass the field but again she surprised us. Mike carefully guided her between horses much like he had done in the Classic and she pulled ahead by 1 ¼ lengths for her 15th straight win.
Since the time the Mosses had decided to race Zenyatta for another season there had been a lot of rumors and squabbling between sides, those on the side of Zenyatta and those who were fans of Rachel Alexandra the horse that had stolen Zenyatta’s Horse of the Year honors for 2010. In 2008 Zenyatta had gone to Oaklawn Park and won the Apple Blossom Handicap there, that’s where John Shirreffs had decided to run her after scratching her from that year’s Santa Margarita. Well Oaklawn had promised to boost the purse for the Apple Blossom if both mares would run in the race. Zenyatta wasn’t afraid so it was off to Oaklawn again, too bad connections for Rachel weren’t as confident about the win as Zenyatta’s team was, they didn’t bother to show up for the race which would become Zenyatta’s 16th win.
Next it was back to her home in Barn 55 at Hollywood Park where Zenyatta would prepare for her third try at the Vanity Invitational Handicap. I hadn’t been to see any of Zenyatta’s races at Hollywood Park and really wanted to see her there at least one time. I made special arrangements to meet my friend Penny in Pasadena then she would drive the rest of the way to Hollywood Park, bless her heart. When we arrived at Hollywood Park it was like old home coming week I saw so many friends there even my pals Daunice and Megan from back east. The track was giving away Zenyatta bobble heads but that did not matter to her fans, they would have been there anyway.
Zenyatta and Mike Smith in the walking ring at Hollywood Park
My friend Doreen and I teamed up for our planned attack on the photo taking opportunities of Zenyatta in the paddock. Doreen held on to a spot along the rail and I ventured up to the north end of the paddock to grab a few shots of our girl as she came into the paddock area. There weren’t too many people at the north end but I had to fight my way through a mob to get back to Doreen where she let me squeeze in beside her. Click click click went our cameras. After Zenyatta left the walking ring Doreen and I found ourselves in the right place at the right time as we bumped into my friend Holly. She happened to have some extra room in her box seats overlooking the winner’s circle and asked if we would like to join her. We didn’t have to think twice, “Yes!” There had been so many people in the paddock it was a chore getting to those seats but we did it just as Zenyatta was getting ready to load into the starting gate for her 17th win.
Zenyatta and her connections in the winner’s circle following the Vanity
Zenyatta would ship south to Del Mar to run in the Clement L. Hirsch Handicap for the third year in a row even though trainer John Shirreffs said she didn’t really care for the racing surface there, that would come to be win #18. I wouldn’t get to see her again until she came back to Hollywood Park to race there as they hosted the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting there for the first time that fall. Zenyatta was making the rounds using almost the same races each year to prep for the Breeders’ Cup. Why mess with perfection?
October 2, 2010 Zenyatta would race again in the Lady’s Secret for her third win in a row for that race and use it once again as her final prep before the Breeders’ Cup. It didn’t make any difference to Zenyatta that this time it was at Hollywood Park, heck that was her home track all it meant to her was she wouldn’t have to get on the van for the drive on the freeway to Santa Anita. I drove the freeway again to Pasadena and my pal Penny drove the rest of the way right through downtown LA, she is almost as good weaving her way through traffic as Mike Smith is on horseback. This time Hollywood Park gave away Zenyatta ball caps, but I still preferred my “9 for 9” version of a Zenyatta cap to wear. Doreen showed up at the track to try our teamwork steps again to get as many photos as possible. This time I got on the rail near where Zenyatta would be saddled in the paddock stalls and Doreen hung out on the paddock rail again. You never know what stall a horse will use at Hollywood Park as they were built as an afterthought when the track found out some horses and/or horsemen preferred not to saddle up out in the open under the trees. Luckily I was close enough to the right stall to get several photos. As Zenyatta left the stall area for the open paddock I tried to get to the paddock rail again like I did during the summer but there were just too many people jamming up every inch of the rail. On a whim I tried something new and went up one of the stairway ramps to the grandstand and took some quick shots over head of Zenyatta and the huge crowd in the paddock.
The Zenyatta team gets her saddled for the race
By the time I made my way to the trackside of the grandstand the horses were already coming out of the tunnel. More spur of the moment thinking I decided to join some of the fans who were standing on the benches along the rail so that I could see over the railing and get a few more photos. At first this perch worked pretty well but when the race started it became a balancing act as the long bench got pretty wobbly from the excitement of the crowd. As Zenyatta started to pass horses in the stretch you could have sworn we were having an earthquake as our girl scored her 19th consecutive victory. This would be Zenyatta’s last race in California a month later her winning streak would sadly come to an end losing the Breeders’ Cup Classic by a head to Blame.
Zenyatta and Mario head back to the barn at Hollywood Park
I would like to take this time to say it was a great ride Zenyatta. Thank you for all the special memories. Thank you Team Zenyatta for taking such good care of our girl and being so nice to all of her fans. We look forward to hearing the sounds of little hoof steps next year, that foal will have some mighty big horse shoes to fill.
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