TPA BSOT 2009

"TEAM ZENYATTA" NAMED WINNER OF THE 2009 BIG SPORT OF TURFDOM AWARD

The Turf Publicists of America (TPA) announced today that "Team Zenyatta" composed of owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs and his wife Dottie and jockey Mike Smith, have been chosen as the 2009 winner of the organization's Big Sport of Turfdom award. The award is presented annually to a person or group of people who enhances coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with the media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.

"The management, conditioning and picture perfect rides had a synergetic effect that brought this true champion to light before thousands of fans throughout her career," stated Turf Publicists President John Engelhardt.

"Right up to the final start of Zenyatta's brilliant career, the Moss' and Shirreffs showed great sportsmanship by electing to test her against the greatest male horses in training and Mike Smith followed through with an electrifying ride in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Throughout her undefeated career the entire group associated with this history making mare exuded class and made themselves very available to all members of the media."

On Wednesday Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs was given the news about the Big Sport of Turfdom Award. "We are very happy and honored to accept it," she spoke by phone. "As a matter of fact we had a television crew here at our house early this morning. Who would have thought there could be a moment in racing that could be as wonderful as winning the Kentucky Derby!" In the true team spirit that exemplifies the Shirreffs operation, Dottie was preparing for a Zenyatta Party later in the day.

"I'm on my way to a 'thank you' party outside of her barn right now and am putting together a party pack for the entire staff with a personal note from Zenyatta, a 'Perfect 14 for 14' t-shirt and an envelope with a little something extra in it. Getting to announce the news of the award will make it even better. "

"Team Zenyatta" will receive the 44th annual Big Sport of Turfdom award on Tuesday, December 8 in Tucson during the keynote luncheon of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program Symposium on Racing & Gaming. The Symposium will be held at the Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson from December 7-10.

Zenyatta's victory in the $5,000,000 Classic capped an amazing 2009 Breeders' Cup for trainer John Shirreffs. He also saddled Life Is Sweet to capture the $2,000,000 Ladies' Classic - a race Zenyatta won last season. In doing so, he became the only trainer to ever win those two races in the same year. Shirreff's wife, Dottie, is racing manager for Jerry and Ann Moss. She and her son, bloodstock agent David Ingordo, were instrumental in the purchase of Zenyatta for $60,000 as a yearling.

Owners Jerry and Ann Moss have been to the heights of racing before with Shirreffs. Together they campaigned homebred 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo and his half-brother Tiago, a winner of four graded stakes races including the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Jerry Moss co-founded A&M records with Herb Alpert in what would become the world's largest independent record company.

Jockey Mike Smith was the regular rider for Giacomo and Tiago. With his flawless ride aboard Zenyatta he registered the 13th Breeders' Cup victory of his Racing Hall of Fame career and helped Zenyatta surpass Azeri, whom Smith rode to victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff, as the leading North American based female with career earnings of $5,474,580.

The TPA is an organization consisting of approximately 150 publicity and marketing personnel from racetracks and racing organizations around the country. The Big Sport of Turfdom award has been presented every year since 1966.

This will be the second "Team" presentation of the Big Sport of Turfdom that includes the owner, trainer and jockey. In 1996 the award went to "Team Cigar", composed of owner/breeder Allen Paulson, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jerry Bailey. Other previous winners of the Big Sport of Turfdom include Joe Hirsch, Penny Chenery, Jack Klugman, Jim McKay, Tim Conway, Chris McCarron, Pat Day, Bill Shoemaker, Carl Nafzger and Larry Jones.

Additional information about the luncheon may be obtained by contacting John Engelhardt, the TPA president, at (513) 354-8243.

Big Sport of Turfdom Recipients

2009 - Team Zenyatta

2008 - Larry Jones

2007 - Carl Nazfger

2006 - Dr. Dean Richardson

2005 - Pat Day

2004 - John Servis

2003 - Sackatoga Stable

2002 - Ken and Sue McPeek

2001 - Laura Hillenbrand

2000 - Laffit Pincay, Jr.