Reign of the Queen

The second Sunday in June I went to Hollywood Park and experienced one of the most exciting days of my life. I had been invited by Bo Derek who is on the board of the Racing Commission to come and see a horse named Zenyatta run her 17^th race in the Vanity Handicap cup and pass the legendary Citation for consecutive wins. Zenyatta is the only filly to have ever won the Breeder’s Classic cup. She had retired and at six years old had returned to the track to make a run for an unprecedented second Breeder’s Cup, which will take place in November at Del Mar.

Being with Bo, who has a deep love for horses, and has saved so many of them through her work, was itself a thrill for me. This is a very genuine and kind person who has a wonderful family who joined in for the day.  With Bo as our guide we visited with Hall of Fame Jockey Mike Smith, who had ridden Zenyatta in 13 of her 16 wins and was a trip in himself. Mike has agreed to sponsor our Heart of a Horse benefit at the Bombardier Open on August 15, and to help us in our efforts to find homes for race-horses at the end of their careers.

When the Eighth Race was announced we went down to the paddock to see the horses. Bo also introduced me to Zenyatta’s owners Jerry and Ann Moss, who were there and are wonderful people and real horse lovers.

I had been told that Zenyatta was something special in the paddock but it was still a surprise to see her awareness of the crowd and how she performed to elicit their adulation and applause. Just to behold her was something in itself. At 17.3 hands she is stately and beautiful but to see her prance before her fans – really the only horse to do so — and throw her head to side in response to the applause that burst out spontaneously as she took her turns was an experience to cherish.  There were people carrying signs that said “Girl power!” and to see how much love they had for their heroine was something else.

Afterwards, when we talked to track officials, they said that on a normal Sunday about 4,000 people turn out for the races.  That day there were more than 15,000. After watching Zenyatta in the paddock parade I thought I could see why.

I thought I did, until l saw Zenyatta run. For the race she was weighted down to handicap her so that she carried 129 pounds. The nearest horse to her was carrying 120 pounds and the rest of the pack less than 112. She started the race dead last, 12 lengths behind the leader and stayed there for six furlongs of the eight furlong race right. Though she came closer into the backstretch, even the track announcer showed concern as he reported that the two lead horses – still several lengths ahead – “were setting it up for the Queen if she’s good enough today.”

Seconds later, I saw that with a burst of enormous energy and strength she was making make her run. Normally this would have carried her past the pack. But as she came within two lengths of the lead, her stable mate St. Trinians, showed legs as well and the pace grew torrid. Even those standing with us who were used to Zenyatta coming from behind gasped as the possibility that she might not win took hold. A very seasoned track official said to me afterwards of what happened next, “It was the most exciting race I have seen in forty years at the track.” We all knew that Zenyatta was carrying a lot weight and St. Trianians was barreling ahead and all of our lungs collectively stopped breathing, than in the last 1/16 she lunged and gave a final burst that took her past Trianian’s and she won by half a length. “The Queen continues her legend – seventeen in a row.”

Bo and I then went to the Winner’s Circle (where you can see me standing next to owners).  My heart was truly touched as the crowd cheered and I heard a tearful Ann Moss say to Zenyatta, “Baby, do you hear that, it’s for you.”

This was a day to remember. Thank you Bo for making it possible for me to have been there.