After tearful goodbyes and long last gazes, racing has bid its’ final farewell to one great mare. Zenyatta touched the very soul of her fans in a way that few believe they have seen in their lifetime.
And, for those who love Zenyatta, they may wish that she could have raced forever if such a dream were possible in reality. I certainly wish it was.
So, should we just close our racing programs now and stand outside her stall?
Not in my view.
You see, this isn’t the first saddening goodbye ever spoken or written about in the world. And, when I think of one of the most beautiful farewells in literature, The Grapes of Wrath comes to mind in the moment where Tom Joad has to leave his mother. In the famous passage, he conquers the finality of a farewell.
It is the moment where he marvels at the idea that human beings may not simply hold one solitary soul, but rather, they are all part of a larger soul that includes everyone. He realizes that if this is true, there really is no finality in a farewell. She would see him again. Although it may not be in the flesh, his “ghost” would appear in nearly every human act that embodied a part of his spirit.
I view racing in the same way.
The soul of racing isn’t defined in one single horse, although it may seem like it when you are in the presence of a great one. In my mind, every horse is part of the soul of this sport. The ones that get beaten in a race are as necessary as the ones that deliver the dream. There is no victory without a defeat.
And, if every racehorse embodies the soul of the sport, you’ll see a flash of Zenyatta in plenty of races in the future. There is no finality in her farewell.
You can see a flash of Zenyatta in Awesome Feather, an undefeated two-year-old filly with six career starts, including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.
And, the spirit of Zenyatta appears when you see Turbulent Descent being hand-ridden toward her third victory at Hollywood Park in her perfect two-year-old season.
You can see a glimpse of Zenyatta when two-year-old Cathy’s Crunches wins three consecutive stakes races in a row, including an outing against male horses.
And, you can see Zenyatta in Uncle Mo, who is stirring attention across the racing world as we wonder exactly what dreams he may behold.
Finally, you’ll see Zenyatta in stories throughout the ages. It would be nearly impossible to talk about the Belmont at length without reminiscing about Secretariat’s otherworldly performance. I don’t think you could talk about finding a fairy tale at auction without mentioning Seattle Slew. And similarly, you’ll see the spirit of Zenyatta when the next filly steps into the gates at the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
There is no finality in her farewell so long as fans look to the future of racing. She is part of the soul of this sport. And, a “Flash of Zenyatta” could appear in any race.
In my view, the greatest honor to give Zenyatta is to watch for those fleeting moments. Because, in the heart of those moments, you’re seeing part of her spirit as well.
I can’t wait to see her again, even if it is in the flash of a moment.
And, I’m looking toward the future to find that moment.
Note: As a new year approaches in racing, The Saturday Post will begin a regular segment. The site will feature compilation videos of standout horses that are making their journey on the trail toward the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
I would personally like to invite the friends and readers of The Saturday Post to email me directly with any of your picks for Triple Crown hopefuls that you feel should be featured in the coming months. You can email me at jenniferjwirth@yahoo.com.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to everyone who has read this site, shared a link, provided an interview or posted a comment throughout the year. In a single year of writing this blog, I have met some of the kindest people in the world and had some of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Thank you to everyone. I look forward to hearing from you in 2011! - Jennifer Wirth
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