The Magic of Zenyatta
- Kaeli Bartholomew
- Jun 29
- 2 min read
Zenyatta is one of the greatest mares the racetrack has ever seen.
Her signature "dance" before each race, her neck bowed and her front legs stretching out with each prancing step, pawing at the ground almost rhythmically, won over the hearts of thousands. Her self-confidence and sheer desire to compete were awe-inspiring.
At over 17 hands high, Zenyatta was too large to break from the gates like a rocket, but that didn't matter. She preferred to run at the rear of the field anyway, patiently awaiting the cue from her jockey to unleash her speed. And once he told her to go, her turn of foot and powerful stride allowed her to inhale each competitor with dangerous ease.
She won 19 consecutive races in this fashion, clearly besting every horse of her own gender who dared to face her. She even silenced naysayers when she became the first mare to defeat males in the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic.
Though Zenyatta's 20th and final race did not end with her in the winner's circle, another garland of purple and yellow Breeders' Cup Classic flowers draped across her withers, the loss only added to her legend. To have at one point looked hopelessly beaten, trailing much too far behind the field, only to come up just a head short of victory, proved that her heart, her talent, and her desire to win were perhaps greater than anyone had ever imagined.
The five Eclipse Awards she won, including Horse of the Year after her defeat, every magazine she graced, and every television feature and article telling her story were all so deserved.
It's now been nearly sixteen years since Zenyatta last raced and three years since she delivered her final foal, yet her fame has not dwindled in the slightest. She still receives mail from her devoted fans, and people travel from across the country hoping to catch a glimpse of her at her home, Lane's End Farm.
At 22 years old, Zenyatta is still every bit as magnificent and inspiring as she was during her racing days, a living reminder of just how magical horse racing can be.
Comments