>> shirreffs: yeah, well, i...you look up into her face and look in her eyes, and... and you just say, you know, "you're doing great. you're the best ever. thank you for everything you've given me." and you just see that really kind look. you know, you have a feeling that she's actually understanding you. >> simon: maybe she is. >> shirreffs: yeah, yeah. you have to believe it, don't you? >> simon: in january, zenyatta was named horse of the year. and that's just the beginning. she is clearly destined for membership in the thoroughbred hall of fame. >> smith: i think she could arg... arguably go down as one of the greatest, if not the greatest horse of all time. >> simon: greatest horse of all time. >> smith: definitely. >> simon: she's retired now in kentucky-- seems to be okay; still enjoys her little dance, . even if nobody's watching; makes friends easily; doesn't let anyone know about her glorious past. she's going to have a good life after this-- green pastures, motherhood. >> smith: yeah. they often talk abo

john shirreffs has been her trainer ever since. >> shirreffs: we were just really blessed and fortunated you get her so cheap? >> shirreffs: well, i... i think, because she had skin disease. she had a form of ringworm, so she wasn't particularly attractive at the sale. >> simon: she had a rash? >> shirreffs: had a rash. yeah. >> simon: so, it's been from rash to riches? >> shirreffs: ( laughs ) yeah, yeah. >> simon: i don't quite believe i said that. under john shirreffs' tutelage, zenyatta has won more than $6 million, but she was a late starter-- not ready and too immature, shirreffs thought, to run in the big races when she was a little kid. when she was three years old, why didn't you race her in the kentucky derby? >> shirreffs: you know, she wasn't... as a three-year-old, she... she wasn't ready to race. you know, it took her a long time to... to mature in... into the horse she is now, and we just had to be patient with her. >> simon: shirreffs gave zenyatta time to grow up and insisted on doing it at his own pace, without ever losing his temper. he thinks horses know when people