GOOD MORNING TO ALL MY DEAR FRIENDS!
HAPPY DIARY #100! WOW! It has been an amazing time!
In thinking about this DIARY ENTRY, I really wanted to tie in so many of the past experiences we’ve shared and open the door for all of us to enjoy other unique moments together. I am one very, very fortunate HORSE! I’ve had an amazing racing career. I’ve received so many incredible acknowledgements and prestigious awards. Yet, most importantly, I have been completely BLESSED to be loved by so many wonderful people.
I’m now living in Kentucky. Hopefully I’ll find out soon about my IN FOAL status. I promise, I will definitely let YOU know the results as soon as possible!
To honor #100, I have one very ‘PRECIOUS’ experience of mine to share with you! My adorable JOHN helped ME put this together for YOU! Even though I was officially retired last November, I was still at BARN 55 for over a month before going to Lane’s End. During that time, it was necessary for me to exercise each day and stay in ‘somewhat’ my normal routine. I was a very fit athlete getting ready to ‘change my focus to farm life’…so John wanted to help ME with this transition and keep ME relaxed, fit and HAPPY!
On my last day of exercise while in California, John had a great idea. He had Steve wear the helmet cam while riding ME. MY ADORABLE JOHN thought it would be very special for ALL OF YOU to go on my LAST GALLOP WITH ME!
The next day, I moved to Kentucky and my daily routine changed to that of becoming a BROODMARE. In modern day terms, Dottie tells me that I am in the process of RESTRUCTURING MY CAREER! TOO CUTE! I think I’m doing quite well at this!
I truly can’t THANK ALL OF YOU enough for the continued LOVE, SUPPORT and ENCOURAGEMENT you have given ME! As I have stated many times before, I really could never have done it without MY TEAM and ALL OF YOU!
Again, HAPPY DIARY ENTRY #100! Please enjoy joining me at the racetrack for MY LAST GALLOP!
Check out the video HERE!
With LOVE,
HUGS to ALL~(and I truly mean this)
Z
P.S. Dottie wanted me to let you know that we will take a few days and get ‘some business things organized’ and work on some future projects. Between all of this and counting the days on my ‘in foal status’, please keep thinking HOOVES CROSSED!
Renee
Thanks for sharing the video! Loved watching your ears!
Robin A.B.
Z – NO ONE HAS EARS LIKE YOU!!! LOVE the ears and LOVE the video. Congrats to Dottie and the Team. Hope you feel all of the love coming your way. Z – take it easy and relax with your pals. All fingers, toes, hooves, and paws crossed!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. The Zenyatta Bob video is hilarious!
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, Sophie is so cute and perfect for the 100th Post. I can’t Thank John enough for a ride of a lifetime. This has always been a dream of mine since I have seen you race. What it would feel like just to be in the saddle look down to see how tall you are & feel the experience of a ride! Steve did an excellent job with the camera! After I saw the 60 Minute interview with Mike and he said Zenyatta is smooth as silk, there’s nothing like her just sit there and she does the work. WOW! I finally got to experience that smooth as silk ride. She is just incredible with those wonderful ears moving and she is always taking everything in. I could almost feel the wind between her ears on my face and not wanting the ride to end! Thank You John for making this tribute to her so her Fan Family could feel her grace & beauty float around the track. I will love Zenyatta as long as I live for her magnificent natural racing ability, her grace & beauty, her heart to win,her pure determination to never give up & the love she has given to her Fan Family and the magical power she has for all of us to love her. I am keeping my hooves crossed for her to be in foal. I pray she has a safe & healthy pregnancy. Dottie, you gave us a perfect treat for her 100th post. Thank You!!
Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Kathy
The video was amazing, Zen. I haven’t galloped a horse in many years and haven’t even cantered lately. You reminded me of how it was done, and I really want to thank you for that! Now I am gonna get back out there and run with my own horse. You are such a gift to us all!
Hilltophorsewoman No Cal
Dear Zenyatta and connections. Thank you for sharing your Last Gallop. It brought tears knowing that this was truly the end of your racing career. I felt your acceleration and power, then the slowing down…it almost felt like the end of a movie with all of the fans standing there so quietly saying goodbye. I never want good movies to end and I have a feeling that this one isn’t going to. Praying that you are in foal and everything is good.
Karey R
@ENSIGN, Just wanted to let you know that I did catch the reference to ‘traffic patterns’ in terms of left lead going into the turns. You got an appreciative chuckle out of me on that one.
Karey R
@ENSIGN, So does racehorse traffic indeed go in the other direction in England? And is it terribly challenging for horses who move from country to country?
Coach Thomas
Dottie, thank you for the diary post and allowing us to continue to enjoy Zenyatta! I look forward to reading her diary everyday:)
susan
how lucky are we?! that video was like a dream come true. i love you,zenyatta.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening, Zenyatta
boy, what a ride, the video took awhile to load but it was well worth it :)
Your ears are going every which way, looks like they have life of their own. I had no idea, ears could be this lively, it’s like a propeller on top of your head, I have to try that out in front of the mirror :)
It looks great, but I think I just as soon watch you take off like a rocket with sby else strapped on to your back. Ha.
It’s not for the faint hearted riding the great Zenyatta. Thank you so much for the link, and now drum roll…tatatataaa…
ladies & gentlemen, the test envelope, please, and the results are… to be continued in the near future :) :) :)
Hooves crossed :)
Your little friend Sophie, as usual perfectly coiffed, just like a little princess. Too cute. You take care, good night, sweetheart, sweet dreams :) :) :)
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z– what a perfect video for diary entry #100! I’m sure Steve really misses his rides with you, but those of us who have never ridden got to go along for the “last ride”. Too perfect.
And Dottie, thanks for including the shot of the ever-adorable Sophie.
Sleep tight, sweet girl. Love you always.
Dona
Thank you. I knew the #100 post would be special but I wasn’t prepared for this. What a treat.
Now for confession time, I cried during the entire video. The sheer beauty of your last gallop was just too much to handle and the finality of it all was incredibly sad. I cried for joy also, seeing all those people lined up to watch your last workout. It was so touching and I felt such pride for you. You have earned everthing that comes your way and then some and we are forever in your debt for just being you; allowing us along for the ride. Zenyatta, you are a National Treasure and your team are such wonderful deserving caretakers. The Best of Everything for each and everyone of them. Thank everybody for seeing that you are safe, sound and living life as a Queen should.
Today was special, my long lost brother’s name is Wilburn.
Valeria Cannon
Hi Lady Z and Z fans, a hardy congrats on 100 posts,even tho I’m in hospital recovering from pneumonia. I wouldn’t miss it for the world! Keeping in touch with you and all of Team Z, makes recuperation a whole lot easier!! Congrats to El Vino, Zazu, Lutess, and Wilburn, they were rocking and a rolling, today. Thanks for the ride, even if I am afraid of heights, I knew you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me. I’m trying to learn the Zenyatta bob too, just the way Mikey does it! Teal and Pink is on fire this weekend, so get comfy with galpals, some quinness, and some goodies and watch your team blow them off the track, just the way you taught them too. Will talk soon, are we having brunch tomorrow?
Hugs and kisses (from afar),
Valeria
Michelle
Thanks for the video, it was great! I didn’t mean to but the tears just started flowing. I just cannot put into words how much I love you.
MK
Thanks so much for that video. Exhilarating!
Sharon in Ohio
John..thinks of everything. What a wonderful idea to video your last gallop Z! Making memories for all of us. Thanks so much !! It was a thrill to feel like we were part of that wonderful ride.
Sophie, looks so cute…a lovely picture on your 100th post. You fans appreciate all that your family does for us !!
@ Kilei and @ Cheryl, thank you for the link to Hootie Zenyatta’s Horse Pony,to his FB page. Hootie, is retired and is a spokes Horse for retired racehorses, and lives on a beautiful ranch in Cali. I really enjoyed reading about his new life and how much he loves you Z.
Have a great weekend everyone !! xxxoxoxoox
Tamyatta
Well…that “first 100” raced by!!! I can’t imagine my life without you in it Zenny. I pray every day for God to keep his guardian angel on your shoulder and keep you safe and healthy in his loving arms. Always loving you, Tammi
linda garvin
Thank u so much for the video. Love your ears Zinny
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Wow 100 posts!!! Zenny, you have had such an incredible journey. I am so glad I came to know you and became a fan. You have brought a lot of joy to my life. I look forward to reading your posts everyday, and I am really looking forward to reading about you in the days ahead. Thanks so much Zenyatta for the fabulous ride. The video was great! I remember when us fans asked John if he could give us another ride on Zenyatta. I thought may be that idea was nixed because of so much going on during Zenyatta’s last days in CA. This was great that you saved this very special video for this 100 post milestone. Thank you Dottie for keeping Zenyatta’s diary fresh with interesting posts everyday. We know it is a lot of work, and we really appreciate you for doing all this for us. Thank you Team Z for letting us get to know and love Zenyatta. Zenny we will love you forever. Love, Linda
Linda in NJ
P.S. Sophie you look so cute sitting there. You are just adorable.
Linda Henderson
Thank you for the wonderful video. It made me hold back tears. We all miss Zenyatta.
Kait
I was in that throng of people that day at the barn. Today I watched the SA Handicap and it just brought back so many great memories of you. I miss your ears back and just streaking towards the finish line. It was good to see those ears again on the last gallop video.
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. Wow, that was awesome. It shows how really tall you are and those cute ears, you are so adorable!!! Though I have never ridden a horse, I can understand why people fall in love with horseback riding, exercising riding, any sport involving being on the back of a horse. I can’t believe it is post 100 – I look so forward to them each day and thank Dottie for putting your daily thoughts in print; you are the best! The picture of Sophie at Santa Anito is so precious – what a cutie. Thank you so much for bringing a smile, chuckle, or tears to my eyes each time I read your diary. I truly love you so, Angel in Disguise.
Anita in CA
Hi Zenny!! It was so great to see you running on the track again. I’ve missed that. But it’s OK cuz I know you’re so happy at Lane’s End. Congratulations on Post #100. I’m keeping Hooves crossed. Love you Big Girl so much!!
Holly Zemba
Wow!!!!! I almost felt like I was riding you!!! Now I know where “Bob that Head” came from. I loved watching your ears. Thank you so much for sharing this with your fans!!
M2 + Little Bit & Ready Lady (The team from the Little Bit Ranch)
Thank you for the 100th post and all that came before. Loved the ride, wonderful. Yatta, Yatta! You are the best.
Fran
Hi Z! It is very late on Saturday. It is already Sunday morning in Kentucky, but here in CA it is a little after 10 p.m. Thank you so much for the last video before you left for Kentucky. You are so thoughtful to all of your fans and that’s why you are so loved by everyone. I am so looking forward to finding out if you are in foal. That is going to be so wonderful. Should you not be in foal, don’t be disappointed because none of your fans will be disappointed. We love you very very much. Have a wonderful Sunday Z! xxoo
Diane
Happy #100!!! What a wonderful treat and surprise you gave us
John! Zen you are so darling and special – love your ears
going back and forth. I love you forever and can’t wait
to hear about your little one on the way:). Big hugs to you and
all your familyxxxoooo
Mike Sekulic
I saw myself on the video. It was an honor to be there. What an experience it all was! I mean the whole ZENYATTA experience, not just that particular day.
Margaret-Rose Batterman
Thank you John for the awesome idea for Zenyatta’s last official “gallop”! Loved the ride!!!
Man O’ War has been my “horse idol” for 40 years….and now his distant offspring is right next to him in my heart.
They are horses from heaven.
Thank you Team Z for all you do. We LOVE Zenayatta!!
I am SOOO grateful I bought her litho right away before it sold out…..#102 baby!:)) Top on my bucket list is to see Zenyatta in “person”….that would be like seeing the Dali Lama of the horse kingdom:)
PS….Please let’s not forget our Wild Mustangs that are constantly being rounded up by the BLM with heartbreaking stories. Please support Madeliene Pickens tireless efforts to perserve their right to our Federal lands at http://www.supportamericasmustangs.org
Thank you for listening!
Zenyatta just sent me a big nod of approval:)
Margaret-Rose Batterman