Hello All,
I am having the most fun today….doing a bit of exercise and relaxing in the sunshine. It is a bit brisk and cool…but the sun is out and it is wonderful.
Lots of things are happening this week at the barn and in my life. It is exciting. We are having the party for all of my friends at the barn…so I can THANK THEM for taking such great care of me for all of these years.
Then on Sunday, I’m parading at Hollywood Park. I get to go to the paddock and visit with all the fans. This should be great fun! Then I’ll walk out through the tunnel to the front part of the race track. I’ll get to see everyone! I can’t wait.
On the 6th, I leave for Kentucky. I am really getting excited about this trip as well. Steve and Mario will go on the plane with me. Ann, Jerry, John and Dottie will meet me in Lexington. We are hoping Mike comes along as well. I will get to visit with everyone upon my arrival and say HELLO.
I am one lucky girl. As the other details come out, I will share them with you.
Have a great Monday.
With love,
Z
Leslie Simis
Zennie…we will miss you SO MUCH !! Good luck with producing many Zennies in the future. You will always be my Horse of a Lifetime !! Godspeed Queen Z.
Vicki
Have a great trip and maybe someday we will meet! Huggs and kisses!!
Fran
Wow Z, I am so glad you are having such a grand time. And, I am so glad you are looking forward to living in Kentucky. I hope you will settle in quickly in your new home. Take your warm blankets because Kentucky will be cold this time of year. You will probably love the cool weather! I wish that all of your family could stay with you but i know that is not possible. Enjoy your grand life in retirement, and all of your fans in California are going to miss you. Wish I could see you in Los Angeles, but we live 4 hours away and my family is all heading North for a marathon. Have a wonderful party and don’t forget to stay in touch when you are in Kentucky!
rosemarie bandura
How can I get hired to help look after Zenyatta – Heck I would do it for FREE! :-) Wishing you all the best in Kentucky!!
Stephanie Quilichini
I hope Ann does another video like the one she did when you arrived for the BC in Kentucky! It was a great video she shot! We would love to see you arrive at your new home:)
Jenn
I have one wish before you head off to unfamiliar grounds….Your number 1 fan, and hopelessly devoted man, Mike Smith, can have just one more ride on you Zenyatta. Just you and him, together on one of those cool mornings on your home track at Hollywood Park!
Barbara Riddleberger
I am looking forward to reading posts about you letting down, being turned out, and truly learning to be a horse…and then, becoming a mom!! Hugs
Henrietta Wolfe
Zenyatta, I love you! Thanks for the memories!!!!!!!!! and more to come!!!!!
Cathy P
WOW you are one lucky lady Zenyatta. I hope the staff at Lexington will take EXCELLENT care of you there, like John, Dottie, Mario, Steve and the rest of the Zeyatta team has here in California. We will all miss you here in California Zenyatta. BIG BIG HUGS, Love you sweet girl.
Cheryl Heath
Have a wonderful week. Enjoy all your wonderful friends in California! They will miss you so much.
Hope you keep writing posts. I love to read them. I also hope we can visit you in Kentucky. I love in southern Indiana and went to Churchill Downs to see you. Will never forget my visit with you. Lane’s End farm is the most beautiful and I wish you all the luck in the world. You deserve the very best.
William
We all thank you from the bottoms of our hearts and hope life for you there in kentucky is as good as has been for so many years. I wish I could see you in california for the big party but I live in Texas and can’t make it there. Perhaps if allowed when I go to Ohio in march I could drive down to meet you!
Lots of love!
William
Mary Davies
Our hearts will always follow you…wherever you are we will be there also. How lucky we are to have you in our life time. Good Luck to you and enjoy your weekend and have a safe trip to Kentucky. You are going to love it there.
Beth
If I didn’t almost 2,000 miles away, I would definitely be there for your appreciation day at Hollywood Park. I sure hope you enjoy your party and celebration and also your new home in Kentucky. Lexington is a beautiful place and Lane’s End is my favorite so it is only fitting that you are going there! I hope that Lane’s End will have Zenyatta Open House so that all your fans on this coast can come and see you! You will forever be always in my heart……..
Beth
If I didn’t live almost 2,000 miles away, I would definitely be there for your appreciation day at Hollywood Park. I sure hope you enjoy your party and celebration and also your new home in Kentucky. Lexington is a beautiful place and Lane’s End is my favorite so it is only fitting that you are going there! I hope that Lane’s End will have Zenyatta Open House so that all your fans on this coast can come and see you! You will forever be always in my heart……..
Sarah
I can not wait to see you on Sunday!! We will be showing our love and respect with home made banners and goodies!! I can not wait!! My 5 year old daughter is getting to go for her birthday and cant wait to see you and Mike!!! Much love Queen Z!
Jan
So much fun hearing all the news. I hope Mike gets there to be with you too. XOXO
Carolyn
I’ll be there — with tissues. Wish you could be bred and then just come back to California and drop a Cal Bred! Our breeding industry would appreciate it more than Kentucky I think.
Rosemary McCauley
We’ll be there to see you on December 5. We will miss you very much and hope you enjoy your new home and STAY WARM. We are going to plan a trip especially to see you in Kentucky. Thank you for the memories that we will keep a lifetime.
susan spurlock
You are wrong about us Kentuckians not appreciating this opportunity. After all Kentucky is the horse racing capital of the world and we know a champion when we see one. I can’t wait to see her first foal.I hope she/he is as big and beautiful as mom. Z is a TRUE champion and is loved and will be missed by many.
Lynette Lucas
You are the greatest Z!! I hope you keep your posts going after you move to Kentucky next week so we know how you are doing in your new home!!!
Alexandra Bowdoin
Dear Zenyatta,
I am so glad that Mario and Steve are traveling with you. I hope they stay on the farm for a while in order to help you get acclimated to this new home of yours.
We want to make sure your new people know how to take care of you!! I wish I could be in California, but I live in MA and can not get away with work and all. I have your picture from the Bloodhorse on my wall next to my computer here at work…Hugs and kisses
Ginny Wood
I hope you continue your diary after you arrive in Kentucky. I’ll be seeing you in July, 2011 when I come to the Kentucky Horse Park for the Robert Murphy Horse Show. God’s speed and blessing for you Queen Z.
Georgia Harper
Have a safe trip and we will definately wait to hear how you are doing once in Kentucky. I keep thinking there will be breaking news that you have decided to race one more year, but know that would just be selfish. You are a lucky girl to retire healthy and so very much loved. I am already counting the years when we will see one of your little ones in the starting gate. Please keep your posts going so we can keep in touch. Hugs to you and Team Z – LONG LIVE THE QUEEEN!!!
catherine tyerman
Enjoy your big day Queen Z! Thank you for the excitement,and the big personality,and to all your classy humans too! Blessings on your new life,and please keep up your diary,I will await news of who will be your baby daddy,and then the arrival of Zenny jr. with as much love as if you were my own mare
Lanie Johnson
it does all sound so exciting! I, too, am glad you will have company on your way here to Ky!! Wishing all of you r friends and fans in CA the very best..because they are the BEST fans and have loved you so!!
Enjoy the sunshine and have a great day making plans! Hope Mike will be coming too..he gets home today from Japan! We here would love to give you a wonderfull down home welcome..so you’d know that we are here for you!!
It is cloudy and some warmer here today in the 50’s..rain rain rain is coming however. I sure hope we do get to see video as some of us don’t have satellite tv and may miss your big day!!
Be at peace sweet girl…the Bluegrass awaits and we all will be devoted lifetime friends to you and yours!! Hope you dance for everyone on Sunday!! God bless..here from me under the cloudy skies of Ky!! You need to come and brighten this place up!!!
Ann Maree
Hey, Z-girl, I have many mixed emotions about your going off to a strange place to start your new life. I wish you every success and happiness…I truly hope you are happy and content there. But, if you aren’t, I know you will let someone know!!! You aren’t bashful! I will be watching the festivities, hopefully, on TV or the internet. Lots of excitement this week for you and your family. Best wishes for a great week and beyond. Hugs.
Susan
Love right back at you always! much love to you!
Melinda
It’s so nice that you are sharing your last few days in California with us….I hope this diary continues once you reach Kentucky (with photos) can’t wait to hear about your new home and friends. Mario, Mike, John, Jerry and Ann have made it obvious that they only want the best for you so I know you will be safe, happy and healthy. You will always be an inspiration to your fans and the standard used to mark true talent and the love for competition. Love and hugs Queen Zenyatta!!!
Mary Alice Kier
Hello again Zenyatta…I now have the fabuolous Blood Horse photo of you framed and its helping to get me through this tough time of saying good-bye to you on Sunday. So glad that Mario and Steve will be flying with you and I hope that they both will spend sometime to assist in this transition as I, along with all your fans, are concerned about your well being. It’s wonderful that Ann, Jerry, Dottie and John will be waiting for you when the plane lands. I hope that this is televised so we can be there in spirit with you. Zenyatta you are our Horse of the Year!!
Isabelle
I can’t help but feel sad that Zenyatta is being retired away from her owners, John Shirreffs, and all the staff at his barn. I wish she could have been retired close to home. Animals know who their caregivers are and I wonder what she’s going to feel like when everyone walks away from her in Kentucky. I’m sure Lane’s End is a fine business but Zenyatta will be missing the one thing she has always had in California…..LOVE.