HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ISABELLE!
What a fun day! Today is Isabelle’s birthday. She is one of the exercise riders at our barn. I was fortunate to have her ride me for 3-4 months last year when Steve was out nursing his sore back.
Isabelle and I get along just great! You may have seen her photo in the Daily Racing Form when they included some pictures of me. Anyhow, today is her SPECIAL DAY…and the gift she asked John for was…TO RIDE ME ONE MORE TIME. So today, Isabelle will be on me when I go out for my daily exercise.
How special is this! We’ll have some fun together, for sure! What a great memory for both of us!
I told you in an earlier diary that this is a terrific week. I am having such a wonderful time with all of my friends here. I am also trying to share some words of wisdom with my barn friends…hopefully sharing some RACING ADVICE with them.
I’d like to think I have been a good role model for all of the other horses in the Shirreffs’ Barn. I have tried hard, worked hard, and been one very cooperative horse. My message to them is always try to do your best…and don’t give up! Keep trying! Keep being positive…and keep putting your best ‘feet’ forward. It will be fun to watch the progress of my friends. I will be cheering them on each and every day…and each and every race!
I will ALWAYS be a part of this BARN! My footprints, John tells me, will ALWAYS BE HERE with all of them! That means a great deal to ME!
Yeah…here comes the Birthday Girl to see me! I’m off to PLAY with Isabelle and help to celebrate her special day!
Hugs to all~
Z
Joan
Well, the day has almost come hasn’t it big girl. I must admit I have tears in my eyes. Just don’t get it. I could never let you go, not in a millon years. But that is not my decision to make. I know we all will miss you very much, but I wonder if anyone realizes how much you will miss what your life has been everyday all these years. On 60 minutes it was said 14 people touch you everyday, which is wonderful, but I so worry you will miss that special connection you have with your people and all people. That has been your life for so very long dear Zen. I bet if you try real hard you will feel all our love everyday. Good thoughts travel you know and as special as you are you must also be physic too!!!
See you Sunday, have a good day tomorrow.
Julie DuVall
Happy Birthday, Isabelle! I hope you and Zenny had a wonderful run around the track. I got to touch her last week and that was amazing enough; I can’t imagine what it is like to ride on her back! I’ll bet all that energy and joy just flows into you as she runs.
I will be at Hollywood Park on Sunday, at the rail in the paddock for one last “closeup” of the Queen. Hope she has extra cotton in her ears; the cheers will be deafening!
Mary Alice Kier
Dear Zenyatta – I’m sure you gave Isabelle the best birthday present she could ever have with the ride today. Your racing advise to your barn friends is sage and something your human friends sometimes need reminding of. And your footprints will always be in my heart! See you on Sunday at your party!!
Leslie
Wow Isabelle!! How fantastic! And John that is very generous to give this incredible gift to Isabelle. And Z… how nice that you’ve stayed friends with Isabelle… You’re such a friendly and kind girl. This news makes me cry… It’s the “one last time” that chokes me up. What a bitter sweet experience Isabelle… You are so lucky to get to ride Z again.
I also think a lesson would be Z if you could give advice to other trainers to treat their horses the way John has treated you. You were blessed with a slow and careful start and your safety and welfare were of utmost importance. Now there’s a role model for the horse racing industry.
Thank you John and the whole Z team for keeping this beautiful girl safe and happy.
Happy Birthday Isabelle!! I’m jealous! lol
Stephanie Lambert
Your hoof prints will Always be on my heart, I love you z xoxoxoxo
Jan Glover
Hi, Big Girl and please be sure and wish Isabelle a very Happy Birthday for me!! Hope you and Isabelle had a blast today!!
You are an Inspiration for all of us in more ways than you’ll ever know!! Big hugs for You, Z!!
Liz
Horse of a lifetime Zenyatta….
Looking forward to your party on Sunday.
Happy Birthday Isabelle.
Sandra Bennington
Hi Zenyatta, My Birthday was Tuesday, nov 30th, wish you could put a HE Haw out to me!! Love you, You were the SUNSHINE of my life this past years and will dearly miss you!!!
jahlgren
I came across a wonderful picture of you today with your “parents”, Jerry and Ann. I wish I could remember where I found it on the internet, but Ann is looking up at you with her hand on your beautiful large neck and you’re looking at the camera. Ann’s expression just radiates pure joy as she’s looking at you (and Jerry’s too) – you just have the kind of effect on people, Zenyatta. In these very tough times, it’s really a pleasure to feel that joyfulness about something or someone, and you’ve obviously brought it out in a lot of people. Bless you, dear girl.
marsha roliardi
hi zenyatta, we love the posts, i’ve never followed any one like this before, you are so special. this is great, to whomever is keeping us updated on zenyatta’s daily routine. am going to be sure and watch her on sunday. we are planning our day around it and we’ll be sure to have alot of tissues. Zenyatta has been an incredible part of our life. seeing her in person is on our bucket list. we hope that lanes end will be smartenough to allow her fans to get a peek at this beautiful creature. love and kisses to all involved. marsha & joe roliardi
Irene Caty
Happy Birthday Isabelle and have a great ride on Queen Zenyatta. It is good that the two of you could get together one last time. I will be looking forward to seeing you in the paddock on Sunday and watching your parade. Have a great day Zenny, I love you.
Lynn Feathers
Hi Zen, I am so sorry not to be either in California or Kentucky this weekend, but my baby girl is getting married next Saturday and we have many preparations yet to do. I so wish your connections would not have done it on the same weekend b/c I would have either flown to Ca. or driven to Ky. Oh well, beautiful Zenyatta, strut your stuff. I am so thankful that you came along in my lifetime, and that we drove to Louisville to watch you run in the Breeder’s Cup….it is a memory that I will always cherish. I’m still smiling when I think of that day. You were the BEST, even in your narrow miss. Love you!
Anita Carville
I bet you and Isabelle had a great ride today, Zenny! I’m happy for that. I am hoping to see you this weekend! I have been feeling really sad not having another of your races to look forward to. I am blessed that I have gotten to see you race 3 times — at the Santa Margarita, the Vanity, & the Lady’s Secret. It will be wonderful to see you again.
Jennifer Hodell
Zenny… your are always making the people around you so very happy. I’m so lucky to have been with you in this time and place able to witness your amazing adventures. It has been so much fun…. As always… kisses on the nose from me…MUAH!!!!!
Mary Adkins-Matthews
Zenyatta, I am not sure about this HOY thing and if it even matters to me anymore. For me, I will remember your racing career and most of all how you have touched so many people including myself.
I have never met you Zenyatta but I have actually had dreams about you. I will be at Keenland on Monday to see you in person and thank you for all the wonderful memories that you have given everyone. Never forgotten!
Mel
Before you leave for your new life, be sure and give some special words of encouragement to Makoma. She looks like she could be something special too!
Margo Johnson
yes Queen Z is an awesome force but people get real, the writing is from a person! we don’t really know how the Queen is really feeling getting taken away from all her people for the last 4 yrs or the roar of the crowd that makes her dance or all the adoration she loves. she’s going to a quiet place to have life in her belly, not excitement, how would you feel about the difference? I am concerned for her mental/heart feeling. Is she gonna think “where are my friends? who are these people around me? where’s my screaming fans? what is all this silence? where’s my riders?” I am deeply concerned about this transition from alot of attention to a minimal amount without her groom who was 24/7. I just don’t think she will be comfortable with it. they tried to retire her once. then again I don’t want to see her race more any break down but I feel she should have more of “her” people around her as she transitions. but is any one going with her to KY?
Jan
hi margo, yes, someone will be going with her to kentucky, please read zenyatta’s diary post #18. steve and mario will be flying her and the rest of team zenyatta will meet them in kentucky. and david lives in kentucky and will visit her, too, i’m sure. the Queen also has one of her close buddies, Life is Sweet, in kentucky. and she has a lot of fans on the east coast that are looking forward to seeing her in kentucky!!
Linda Weiss
Dearest Zenny, You are a great role model for us all. Love & miss you “Z”. xoxoxo
Mariel
So happy for Isabelle! That is a moment she will cherish forever & I envy her that time with you. What a lovely family you have, Zenyatta. How inspirational to hear of the close knit love that is shared in that barn! I have a tremendous amout of respect for John & his completely Zen way of managing his racing stable. No wonder you flourished under his care. Love to you & yours!
Rita Stack
Happy Birthday Isabelle, what a wonderful gift that you will cherish forever. You have the best employers in the world. Hugs to Zenyatta, I just love her and am blessed to have been able to see her, she is the most wonderful horse ever.
OraJean Stevenson
Hi “Queen-Z” & “Team-Z”, Thanks for the up-date, and I hope Isabelle had a won-
derful Birthday, one she’ll never forget!
You are so very loved, by so many people,
you’ll never be forgotten!! Looking for-
ward to seeing you on Sunday.
Fondly, OraJean
Sally Blank
Happy Birthday Isabelle. I know you will have fun with her as rider. I can tell. My heart just fills up with happiness for you. love
Lanie Johnson
Hi! Can’t come Monday to see you at Keeneland..have to work!!! :((((( sad sad sad
but I will see you at Lanes End
Have a great day Sweet Girl!!
Whatawonderfulworld
Thank you, ‘Zenyatta’…you are such an amazing little girl. Though you aren’t so little! Isabelle will probably have a very very happy birthday.
Barbara Wood
Happy Birthday Isabelle! Today is my birthday, and I’m glad we can share our love for Zenyatta. You are one lucky girl to get to ride her.
I’m just praying that the folks at Lane’s End will let us come to see her later on. I’ll be working around 2 knee surgeries next year, but I don’t even want to think of not getting to see you again. That would be unbearable. Love you always.
Shari Voltz
Good afternoon beautiful Zenyatta. I also want to wish Isabelle a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I hope she enjoyed every minute of being with you. I would love to ride you. I ride but I am still learning. My friend who is teaching me to ride let me ride a retired race horse whom she saved. It was such a thrill for me. He was so gentle and sweet. I was a bit nervous thinking he might want to run but he took good care of me. I kissed and thanked him after the ride.
I want you to know that you are helping me through some difficult times. When I feel a panic attack or I feel like I can’t handle something I think live like Zenyatta. Oh special girl you are doing so much for so many. I just wanted you to know how very very special you are. Love and kisses, Shari
Cheryl Smith
The closer is comes to your move to Kentucky, the more bittersweet it becomes. You are a gift from heaven and you will be loved forever!
Lise
SO happy that Isabelle’s birthday wish has come true!!! Happy Birthday Isabelle! :)
Peppermint kisses XO
Richard Cope
Zenyatta, I still have not seen any information about whether your fans will be able to visit you at Lane’s End or not in your retirement. Can you answer this big question for your fans in one of your next posts?