HAPPY WEEKEND!
I truly want to THANK all of my fans for the total JOY you have expressed upon finding out that I AM IN FOAL! One fan, Barbara, sent this photo to Dottie yesterday. She took it of ME with her friend, Donna Kruck, 4 days before I left Barn 55! (I think Frank looks great here too. Love his T-shirt!) The encouragement by all of YOU for ME to become a wonderful MOM started so many months ago. I sincerely appreciate your kindness!
I also want to thank the fans who are sending ME my favorite craving of the moment, BANANAS. They are fabulous and very tasty! Charles and Sarah send a big THANK YOU as well. There is no reason now for them to make late night trips to the market to get some for me! YOU GUYS ARE TOO CUTE and so kind! You think of everything!
On another note, my dear jockey, Mikie, is riding some stakes races in Arkansas today. He just called Dottie and wanted to share this bit of news. As he was driving from the Airport to Oaklawn Park, there was a HUGE BILLBOARD of ME…winning last year’s Apple Blossom Handicap. It is on the point where Highway 30 meets Highway 70 on the way to the track. It is titled…WIN CITY, Hot Springs, Arkansas–OAKLAWN PARK! Mike commented that HE and I both look TERRIFIC in the photo! (Blush, Blush!)
I want to wish MIKE great luck with his racing today. Also, I have noticed that 2 of my very dear competitors from last year, Switch and St. Trinians, are both running in the Santa Margarita-Grade 1 at Santa Anita this afternoon. I won this race last year…and wish them both ALL THE BEST! This should be a very exciting contest!
Additionally, several prominent 3 year old stakes are taking place around the country today. I guess I know what I’ll be chatting about with my Lane’s End friends this weekend…GREAT RACING! GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Please don’t forget…set your clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed tonight! Day-light savings time is here!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(With Special Blessings for our friends in JAPAN)
Z
Debbie
It’s me again Z, I’m so sad after what happened at SA today:-( But I’m so happy you are healthy! Please be careful in the paddock, love you Z!!! xoxoxo
Trish & Mike in Colorado
We missed you in the Santa Margarita but we’re very happy for you. It’s sad to say this, but St. Trinian’s has never been the same horse since she ran her heart out, trying to beat the great one, Queen Z !!
Signofthetimes
@Trish and Mike
It is funny St Trinians trainer said that last year after
The race. Remember The Queen did that to quite a
Few others and some workmates. I am sure things
That happen to them on the track affect horses performance .
Always a princess fractured the sesimoid bone
Will have surgery tomorrow and become a broodmare.
Jan
Good luck & prayers for a speedy recovery & a good life to beautiful Always A Princess. :)
Alene
Hi sweet stuff, Zenny, all I can say is how much I love you!! You`re sweeter then any banana. Just think, you`re going to be a mommy. How exciting. You and Rachel at the same time. WOW.. Lots of Big Hugs and Kisses, Alene
Kathleen Marsh
I was over on the website voting for your mom for Broodmare of the Year, and I saw that Bernies mom was also a previous Broodmare of the Year. Not only is your baby going to have GREAT parents, but look out for those GRANDMAs!
Dona
Greetings my Queen. Glad you are enjoying life and so loved. Watched your man Mikey win a race at Oaklawn today, good on you Mikey! I bet he misses you, as we all do. Santa Anita is not the same without you. Hope everybody has a great week-end and stays safe. Love to all. P.S. Bananas are my favorit, I have at least one every day!! :)
Sarah Powell
So glad to see another post – for some reason they are not showing up on my facebook page any more. I look forward to hearing how our sweet girl is getting along – sounds like you are getting plenty of “treats”! You deserve the best. What a credit it is to John and your entire team that you ran so many races and came off the track so healthy, happy and well adjusted. Prayers for all in Japan (horses, humans and other animals.)Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, I love the photo of you, Mario & Barbara with her sign. Dottie, can you get a photo of the billboard so we all can see. That would be great! I’m glad you are liking your bananas. You need to tell us what else you like! We would like to send it to you! Zenyatta, do they have a big screen TV so you can watch the races. I bet you & your friends would get a kick out of watching that and hearing the fans. Dottie, now that would be a great shot having Zennyatta & the girls watching a race with the fans screaming just to see their reactions! I bet they would love it! I love you Zenyatta, thinking of Japan. Yes, we must remember them in our prayers. My heart breaks for all the loss of life & just the unknown of what is to come in their days ahead for the Japanese. Zenyatta, be safe, eat plenty & sleep well. Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Thanks Dottie for the wonderful post!
Sheri Osborne
That is awesome Zenny! You’re on a billboard!! How cool! I love you Zenyatta! by the way, I was just wondering why we are in the 200s in diary posts… love you Z!!! :D
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. I watched all the racing around the country today – Mike won the stakes race at Oaklawn. I am so excited about the billboard. We go there a lot from Texas but take Rt. 30 all the way down. Will try to locate your billboard. I was not able to find your billboard while attending Hollywood Park and always regretted it. Perhaps Mike can take a picture of the billboard on his way back to the airport and post on this site. We just love you and look forward to seeing your baby. Take care of yourself, eat well, have fun with your BBFs. Will you be placed into another area with expectant momies and make new frineds? Love you Angel in Disguise.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Really miss seeing you run at the track Zenyatta but now it is your time to put your energies into being a Mama. I have no doubt that you will be as good at being a mama as you were on the track! And enjoy your bananas, they are alot better than pickles.
You take care of yourself and enjoy your time with your galpals as there will be a time when you will be busy with a little one by your side.
Keep on sparkling brighter and brighter!
Love & Blessings to you Zenyatta and your special little unborn foal
Julie DuVall
What an eventful day at Santa Anita today! I am glad now that I didn’t go to the track. Always a Princess went down after the Santa Margarita with broken sesamoids but she should be able to recover and start a new career as a broodmare.
And John Shear, the paddock guard at Santa Anita who just turned 90, jumped in front of a loose horse to save a little girl before the 3rd race! I’m sure you remember John, he is a little man but has a great heart. He was knocked down by the horse but they say he will be okay.
I hope everyone will keep Always a Princess, John Shear and the people of Japan in their thoughts this weekend.
Mel
Big Mama Zen! Here’s hoping you have a healthy and happy colt or filly in 11 months. If anyone could give us another Triple Crown winner it will be you.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
how nice to hear from you tonight! I can use some cheering up, :(.
And it does cheer me up seeing you’re doing swell. If I hadn’t read the explanation for the pic, I would ask if that is your maternity dress? :) :) Haha
Yeah, I certainly hope your Mike is going to win!! And I’m not surprised they still have you going on in Arkansas, you’re unforgettable, look how long you’ve been retired and we’re still writing to you as if it all happened yesterday :) :):)
Well, Zetty, dear girl, get a good night’s rest and dream of nanas, mints, carrots.
vivian
Queen Z, I am so happy for you, get plenty of rest…eat lots of bananas and know that you are very much loved.
Be safe and healthy.
mary bobolis
That was great news about Mikey calling about the billboad of the picture of the both of you. John said that you had many visitors to your stall at last year’s Apple Blossum. Your fans are everywhere. In today’s Santa Margarita today poor St. Trinians had her fist race back since you dusted her last year in June. I really thought she’d be competitive in today’s race, but she wasn’t. I believe that last year’s stretch run trying to keep up with you and hold on at the wie really took a lot out of her, and that she will never be the same. I will never, ever forget that race, the closet winning race you ever had. I nealy had heart failure in my living room. Enjoy your wonderful new life, bananas and all.
Love you and miss seeing you on the track. It’s just not the same without you.
Jamie
Your diary posts are a highlight in my day and I read every one with joy and love. I miss seeing you on the track and hope to someday see your babies there. Best Wishes, hugs, and kisses to Zenny and her team. Thanks for making my day. :)
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. First I want to join you in the prayers for the people of Japan. Such devastation is overwhelming. It puts into preseptive, the importance of “we the people” being there for one another in good times and bad. Love is both healing and supportive. While emergencies such as this are so tragic it is uplifting to see how we can truly make a difference in the lives of others, whether it is rescue workers on the ground or individuals making a donation at the local Red Cross a world away. I am also reminded how that same care can be expressed through very simple actions each day, such as a smile or a hug, being wonderful parents, good friends or great co-workers, remembering our military, supporting quality education or feeding a carrot to a retired thoroughbred champion. We all effect so many things, so positively just by deciding to reach out beyond ourselves. You, Team Z and many of the individuals who post here have been a great example of that phylosophy Zenny. I too hope that everything is well with the various horse facilities in Japan. I also send my heartfelt wishes to Always a Princess and her connections for her recovery. I understand that she has broken both sesamoids in her left front, but that they believe she can be saved. In every race, it is something that we always hope and pray will not occur. In the midst of it all, Zenny, it is always great to share a little cup of joy with you and Dottie. I could literally feel my smile getting wider with every post I read congratulating you on starting down the path to motherhood. It was GREAT!! And what fun is everyone having with your banana graving. If Charles and Sarah begin acting a little chimpish we will know thay have shared one to many. So, wonderful to hear from Mike, I hope his racing season is fantastic. You and he are still a hot couple in the magazine cover and billboard world. HOW CUTE IS THAT! Watched several races today, including Uncle Mo, Brethen and others. The excitment is building, will this be a triple crown year? We never lose the hope, just like my dream to meet you beautiful, it may happen someday. I just have to believe. Of course my greatest wish is for a safe and healthy pregancy, Zenny. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
KIMBERLY
Hi Queen, Glad to hear you are doing well. Keep eating the bananas and enjoy life. Soon you will be taking care of a little one, so just rest on the hillside with your gal pals… God Bless the people of Japan going through this terrible tragedy….. Hope to see you soon Z. P.S. A pic of the billboard would lighten our day!! Love you too Mike.
Dawn Conrad
@Val from OZ – Noticed this was your first post, welcome to the wonderful world of Zenyatta!!
Leslie R.
Hi Zenny, I hope you had a wonderful Saturday. I’m glad you’re getting your banana fix. Enjoy!
Congrats to your Mikie for winning the Honeybee today! That is great!
Thanks also for the reminder to spring our clocks forward an hour today.
Have a good night, sweet girl.
Love and hugs to all,
Leslie
Janie
@ Andrea from Germany: I’m with you. I’m glad Zenyatta is off the track for the sake of her safety – especially since Santa Anita has gone back to dirt this year. They had changed to synthetic after Barbaro’s breakdown at the Preakness and I’d hoped they’d stay with it, but they didn’t… and they’ve already had more problems than last year. And thank you, pretty Zenyatta, for thinking of our friends in Japan and, as much as I miss you being nearby, I’m glad you’re no longer in earthquake country here in L.A. Having been through two big ones in my lifetime (Sylmar in 1971 and Northridge in 1994) and their many aftershocks, I wouldn’t want you to experience such a thing. Love you, pretty girl!
Vicki B.
@Val from OZ, that’s great news about Zenny’s two half brothers winning. Thanks!
Teena Dennis
Be happy and healthy Zenny! God bless you!
Barbara Wood
So many dire events going on in the world to pray for–the people of Japan, friends we know who are ill, friends on this site, and now Always a Princess. Someone who can–please keep us updated on her situation. I saw the video, and it looked terrifying. All these reasons give us even more to be thankful for our dear girl Zenyatta and our friends on this site, including all of Team Z.
Good night, precious girl. Sleep well. Love you always.
jeanie langford
Love you and can not wait for the posts each day. I am still thinking of the special gift for the horse who has everything. Hey another name just popped into my head Zpectacular. Hugs and kisses
Annie
Zenyatta, I would love to see a video of you dining on bananas. Also would enjoy seeing a photo of the billboard that Mike Smith mentioned. I truly hope that you are OK, Zenyatta. I know that you must miss racing and all of your friends at Barn 55. Hope many of your good friends continue to visit you so as to keep your spirits high. Love You sooo-ooo much.
Buddy
Hay Miss Z – bananas – one of my favorite foods – mom give me one today – oh they make my mouth feel so good – squishy and yummy. They give you potassium – whatever that is – but its good for us horsies. I heard I’m gonna get another one tomorrow along with an apple – hmmmm – wonder if its my birthday??
Your Fren,
Barb France
Zenny, another great photo with one of your many, great fans that love you. I too, send lots of prayers to the people of Japan. I remember all to well the feeling of those quakes in SoCal. Saw so many good races today although I was horified to see Always a Princess go down. Stay healthy and happy!!