Mike Smith hugs Zenyatta goodbye at Keeneland 12/6/10 (4 of 4)

Near the end of her farewell to racing and welcome to Kentucky ceremony at Keeneland, Mike Smith puts his arms around Zenyatta's neck and gives her a hug.

Over 1000 people had braved the 17 degree weather, snow, cold, and a two hour delay of Zenyatta's plane due to weather conditions, to greet her at Keeneland. The ceremony was originally scheduled for the saddling paddock near the track, but had to be changed to a lighted place. Zenyatta once paraded in this very ring as a yearling, before being led into the auction ring to be sold to Mr. and Mrs. Moss. Five years later, she was back after a stellar career, to give her fans one last dance before retiring to Lane's End farm to a life as a broodmare.

John called out to Mario at the end of the ceremony, "Come on Mario, it's time to go home." Before Zenyatta could be led away into the night, Mike Smith rushed over and threw his arms around her. The crowd went, "Awwwww...." As she was led away, they yelled, "Goodbye Zenyatta, we love you Zenyatta."

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Zenyatta
• Keeneland
• Mike Smith
• jockey
• hug
• Dick Tracy hat
• fedora
• John Shirreffs
• Mario
• dance
• Lane's End
• parade
• auction
• yearling
• Lexington
• Kentucky
• horse
• horse racing
• mare

[mshobohorse]

@yankeesfan2006 Wow.. Would you like an award with that shitty mouth of yours?

[DeviantEquine]

She is such a stunning animal :)

[chamaco64]

@Ducknbob8 ...Mario is a fairly BIG man...Mexican or otherwise...

[MsJen58]

Wonder what they put on her coat; she just gleams! What an extraordinarily beautiful horse. Hope her penchant for "strutting her stuff" is passed through to her foals.

[Ducknbob8]

I know mexicans are generally fairly short but man she sure towers over her groom @ 1:15 !!!!

[littledrawingfan]

@diangofango You're right bernardini and Zenyatta will make not just afine foal a great great great foal 'cause.........Bernardini and Zenyatta...they're both awesome!

[diangofango]

@yankeesfan2006 How can you tell already before the first foal is even born, that Zenyatta sucks as a broodmare???

Are you a phsycic?

I think the to (Bernardini & Zenyatta) will make a fine foal together.

And why keep racing af horse and run it into the ground?

I sure don't hope that you ever will own, race or train racehorses.

[1337ballin]

@yankeesfan2006 This might be one of the dumbest comments I have ever read on YouTube. l0l

[205seeme]

Yes Mr Moss...thanks that one more year:) Seems the really good ones retire wayyyy too soon:)

[ruffianruleswolfrule]

Mike smith was hurt i know his was cause i talked to him :)

[RuffianZenyatta15]

@yankeesfan2006 Most racehorses are retired to breeding when there careers are over. They dont want to race her until she gets injured or breaksdown and has to be put down. And if you knew anything about TB sires and breeding you would know that Bernardini is one of the best sires out there with Graded stakes winning foals.