Champion Zenyatta Retired

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Jerry and Ann Moss’ champion Zenyatta has been retired from racing. The 6-year-old Street Cry mare will be boarded at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Ky. She is expected to arrive in early December. Breeding plans are undecided.

"The decision was made a while ago," said trainer John Shirreffs. "We knew going into the (Breeders' Cup) Classic (gr. I) that would be her last race. Everyone agreed she had done enough as a racehorse and it was time to move on."

Zenyatta Slideshow

Zenyatta's career in pictures!

“We think Lane’s End will do a great job with her,” said Jerry Moss. “They’re good people, and I’m happy we could work something out with them. We’ve talked about her public following with Bill Farish, and we’ll abide by what the farm’s requirements are as far as security for her and how they want to handle that as it concerns her fans.”

Bill Farish said, “We’ve had some great mares on the farm like Miesque and Azeri, but this transcends that. We want to do what we can (about accommodating the public), but it’s difficult with broodmares. It’s not like a stallion situation where you have the barn right there. We’re still wrestling with that and I’m not sure how it’s going to work. This is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Her reach is incredible. It’s exciting and I hope it goes smoothly, and we’re going to be working on plans. Her arrival will be open just to the media.”

Trained by John Shirreffs, Zenyatta won 19 of 20 races, with her only loss coming in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) when she ran second, beaten a head, after coming from far off the pace. She was retired as North America’s leading female, with earnings of $7,304,580. She was ridden first by David Flores and then by Mike Smith.

Thirteen of Zenyatta's 17 stakes wins came in grade I events, including the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic and the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic (gr. I). Zenyatta earned Eclipse Awards as champion older female in 2008-09 and finished second in Horse of the Year balloting both years.

“Zenyatta was one of the most memorable Thoroughbreds ever to grace the American racing stage," said Alex Waldrop, president and CEO of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association. "Her record stands on its own merits, as does the impact she had on millions of fans all around the world. We salute Jerry and Ann Moss, John Shirreffs, Mike Smith and—most of all—Zenyatta, herself, for what was an unforgettable career.”  

Eric Kronfeld's Maverick Productions was the breeder of Kentucky-bred Zenyatta, who was produced from the Kris S. mare Vertigineux,