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Zenyatta: Best Racehorse Ever?

October 31, 2010 5:15 PM

If Zenyatta wins the Breeder's Cup Classic to cap an undefeated career of 20 straight victories, some say the 6-yr.-old mare might just be the greatest thoroughbred racehorse in history. Bob Simon reports.

Is Zenyatta The Best Racehorse Ever?

60 Minutes OverTimeZenyatta: A horse with charisma?

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by jamchi May 2, 2011 11:04 PM EDT
i will be rootin for you zenyatta. hope you win and have a good peaceful retirement and that the people that you have come to know throuout your life dont forget about you. you are one hell of a horse. GIVE THAT HORSE A GREEN TARTY APPLE AND SOME JUICE FOR ME.
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by reedgirl1505 November 10, 2010 7:15 PM EST
I truly believe this horse has an amazing trainer and jockey! It was so sad that she didn't win the Breeders Cup, that would of been an awesome way to end her racing career! I do have to say 19 out of 20 races, great job Zenyatta, what a trooper you are, and to finish 2nd in the Breeders Cup was still amazing, against all those males! To Zenyatta, the trainers, owners, jockey and all those peeps behind the scence, you have all done an amazing job :)
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by horsetownlane November 6, 2010 9:02 PM EDT
I'VE BEEN AROUND HORSES QUITE A BIT, AND I HAVE TO SAY SHE IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND MASSIVE FILLIES I HAVE EVER SEEN. SHE'S A TRUE CHAMPION, AND HAS DEFINITELY EARNED IT. I SAW THE BREEDERS CUP RACE TODAY,NOV 6TH, AND IT BROKE MY HEART,NOT FOR ME,BUT FOR HER. IF SHE HAD JUST ACOUPLE OF MORE SECONDS,SHE WOULD HAVE PASSED BLAME.SHE'S AWSOME! I REALLY LOVE HER OWNER AND TRAINER FOR LETTING HER MATURE AND COME INTO HER OWN. SEE, EVEN 6 YEAR OLDS CAN RACE SPACTACULAR,EVEN OFF THE CHARTS. I THINK HORSERACING SHOULD BE CHANGED TO NOT ALLOWING SUCH YOUNG HORSES TO RACE.THEY GET HURT TOO EASILY AND NEED TIME TO MATURE AND DEVELOP. YEA, JUST ANOTHER COUPLE OF SECONDS, AND ZENYATTA WOULD HAVE GRABBED ANOTHER GEAR AND LEFT 'EM IN THE DUST. MUCH LOVE TO YOU SWEETIE
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by marfa4 November 6, 2010 5:01 PM EDT
This 2 commercial thing is just lame. And you need to get your confirmation system fixed...took me forever to confirm to post this comment.

Good story tho!
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by anitatenzin November 6, 2010 1:32 PM EDT
60 Minutes you did a great job with the Zenyatta story! Totally enjoyed it and her!
Tukchche- anita
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by jkmooreelle November 4, 2010 11:33 PM EDT
Zenyatta certainly is one of the best fillies/mares of all time, but to call her the greatest? Just proves how short sighted people are today. She has only faced males one time, granted it was the Breeders Cup Classic.There have been other greats like Secretariat, Spectacular Bid, Dr *****, Citation, Man O'War and many more.If she raced against males her entire career people could make a case of calling her the greatest. Her and Ruffian stand tall among the great female runners. Oh BTW the earlier post said that Man o'War had trouble in the starting gate. There were no starting gates when he raced.At the time horses were led up to barrier or long line and all the horses would have to be in line. Man o'War was completely turned about face when the race started. Also an earlier post said that Secretariat set three track records, he was wrong about the Preakness,Secretariat never (offically set the track record) because of a clock malfunction.However that has been embrioled in controversy for decades.In closing Zenyatta has been good for the sport and has touched a lot of peoples lives. Good luck to her, the world will be watching.
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by nyragirl November 4, 2010 11:20 PM EDT
As the days,hours,minutes and seconds get closer to the big day BREEDERS CUP DAY ,my heart and mind is running its own race.I'm filled up with the Zenyatta anxiety and fever. So I could only imagine what the owner, trainer and jockey feels,even the fans of Zenyatta.I want her to win this race and retire 20 for 20 and be undefeated.She surely has charisma and know what she's about when she steps out on the track.And having a jockey like Mike Smith is like icing on the cake.Bon Appetit!!!Good Luck Zenyatta and Mike Smith ,I'll be watching to see you both cross the finish line first.!!!Go Zenyatta Go!!!!
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by Chocoholic59 November 4, 2010 12:34 PM EDT
Thankfully her trainer had the wisdom not to put her through the rigors of the 3-year-old races or this magnificent girl might have seen the same fate as those that broke down on the track running their hearts out. Kudos to Zenyatta's owner and trainer for choosing to allow her to go out with style. It's a sure bet she will miss the racing as a horse that comes from behind like she does loves what she does.

I have a beautiful, big TB mare who is a product of what happens when a horse is over raced as a young horse. Her life has been one of pain until arriving at our place due to unthinking or uncaring owners. Even at 17, I see the racing blood in her every time the horses run in off pasture, she has to be in the lead in spite of what racing did to her physically. But I'm glad she's here and did not earlier on end up on a truck to the slaughterhouse which is where so many TB non-winners and those that burn out wind up because it's an easy way to "dispose" of them as Thoroughbreds represent the third largest breed group going across the borders to slaughter.

I hope Zenyatta's success gives breeders pause as there's no telling how many young horses never had the chance to come into their own.
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by Taurus0722 November 3, 2010 7:58 PM EDT
What about the great Ruffian? She was a champion in her own right. Zenyatta may be great for her time, which is now. Do not discount the champions from the past in the quest to compare them to the champions of today. Each to his or her own. We are all champions in our own way.
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by MyHorseBabies November 3, 2010 4:18 PM EDT
I am so glad that we had 60 Minutes on last Sunday night. Zenyatta is a beautiful horse with a beautiful personality. Horses do understand totally and as I see in the video she does act like a star because she basically stopped for pictures when walking just like the actors do. Her trainer really impressed me with the love and respect he shows this 'animal'. I told my husband that I love this man and he knows what I am talking about. Our neighbour owns race horses and I go and spoil the babies and the two 2007 babies he had there are wonderful! And still when I see the one in the winner circle I make sure that I get right in front of her face and she and I lock eyes and she confirms each time with a slow blink that she still loves me too. These babies helped me through the loss of my dog, my son going to university and dealing with my mom's cancer and her death...there are wonderful creatures and yes they listen to every word! Mr. Sherrit you are wonderful too...the men in my life think I am nuts.
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