Great News for all Horse Racing News aficionados. The results of voting for Female Athlete of the Year for 2009 are out. Editors of U.S. newspapers that are AP members took part in the voting, and of the 158 votes cast, 66 went to tennis superstar Serena Williams. But more surprising is who came in second. Zenyatta, the 5-year-old mare who retired undefeated in 14 starts as the only female winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert added, "That's pretty darn good. (Year-end sports awards are) for doing something extraordinary and spectacular and these horses did that and deserve the recognition. They are about half human, anyway."
With this vote by the AP, their historic campaigns transcended horse racing system and captured the attention of sports fans around the world. I am eager to see which Thoroughbred will be voted Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards on January 18."
A day before the vote result was released; Zenyatta worked 4 furlongs in 49 4/5 over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, but is not expected to race again. Instead, on opening day of the Santa Anita meet, December 26, she will make a farewell appearance before her hometown crowd, and will be shipped to Kentucky for breeding at an unspecified date. Trainer John Sherriff’s said, "As far as I know, Mr. (Jerry) Moss retired her. Zenyatta is just winding down from her regular training regimen. Breeding season doesn’t start for another month and a half."
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert added, "That's pretty darn good. (Year-end sports awards are) for doing something extraordinary and spectacular and these horses did that and deserve the recognition. They are about half human, anyway."
With this vote by the AP, their historic campaigns transcended horse racing system and captured the attention of sports fans around the world. I am eager to see which Thoroughbred will be voted Horse of the Year at the Eclipse Awards on January 18."
A day before the vote result was released; Zenyatta worked 4 furlongs in 49 4/5 over the Cushion Track at Hollywood Park, but is not expected to race again. Instead, on opening day of the Santa Anita meet, December 26, she will make a farewell appearance before her hometown crowd, and will be shipped to Kentucky for breeding at an unspecified date. Trainer John Sherriff’s said, "As far as I know, Mr. (Jerry) Moss retired her. Zenyatta is just winding down from her regular training regimen. Breeding season doesn’t start for another month and a half."
