HAPPY THURSDAY TO ALL!
Yesterday was such a fun day! As I mentioned, Isabelle wanted to RIDE ME ONE MORE TIME for her Birthday. Here is the picture of us out ‘playing and exercising’ together. We look GREAT!
John took lots of photos for Isabelle and put them on a disc for her to keep. We hope she enjoys them…all of them.
Then, notice my saddle towel. When we were at Oaklawn Park for the Apple Blossom this year, the track made a pretty pink saddle towel for Mario to keep. The last few days, he has brought it out to the barn and has put it on me. I do look good in PINK…if I say so myself. (Of course, I also look good in PINK/GREEN as well.) This saddle towel is going to be something Mario will cherish forever.
I have continued to have so many visitors. I just think it is amazing the way people love to come and see me. I must say, I am quite flattered by this!
60 Minutes has been working with Dottie on filming my trip to Kentucky on Monday. They are getting security clearances now to film my leaving the barn and traveling to the airport in CA. This is so special.
I must say, I also love reading all of YOUR comments on the Diary. I will ask if they are going to show my ZENYATTA APPRECIATION DAY on TV. I believe TVG will show lots of it. Not sure about any other channel. I will try and find out for you.
The schedule for the day seems to be staying as we reviewed in an earlier Diary. After the horses leave the paddock to go to the track for the 6th race, I will go there. Then when the 6th race finishes, I will go to the front part of the race track. Too cute!
I also saw that some of you wanted Steve to wear the Jockey Cam one more time…so we could all have one more joyous ride together. John said he’d get the batteries charged up…and see if it will work! Oh, technology! Let’s see how it turns out!
It is all getting so exciting. I am one lucky girl!
With love,
Hugs~
Z
Anna Cottle
Dear Queen Z, It’s ab fab that 60 Minutes will cover your farewell. It was incredibly special to see you at the barn on Tuesday, up close and personal in all your magnificence. Your posts are wonderful so please keep them coming in this exciting new phase of your life. We shall all miss you terribly!
Susan White
Zenyatta, you’ve become part of our lives and we’ll always think of you. Please, please keep up the diary posts that I want to thank you so much for doing (Dottie :)). Sixty Minutes again! That’s more than most people get, but it’s hard not to fall in love with you, Z and I know they have, too. Ah, choking up here…Much love!
Beckiy from Sweden
You are an amazing horse, everytime I watch your first breeders cup race i get goosebumps….. So from a cold and snowy sweden, good luck and you will be VERY missed LOTS OF LOVE
cheryl
gosh i cant read these without tears in my eyes ihave a heavy with you retiring,but i would not want anything to happen to you. you are too magnificant!!!!i hope i will be able to see your party on tv somewhere. i know ill be crying,ill have to hide. you are so loved and have brought so much to the sport, myself included.
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Z, You and Isabelle look wonderful together. Yes, you look great in pink and I love the blue on your legs! I know Mario will cherish that towel and I can’t imagine what feelings he and Carmen are going through as you prepare to leave them. My heart goes out Mario & Carmen because you have such a special relatioship with them and there will be such a void in their life as well as in your life. Zenyatta, I wonder how you will feel when you get to Land’s End and you realize after a week, you won’t be going back. My heart goes out to you, Zenyatta, because that will be a big adjustment for you as well.
The excitement keeps building day by day for your party. I am so excited that 60 Minutes is covering your party as well as the other channels. I love you, Zenyatta, and you will always hold a special place in my heart. I love reading these posts and keeping up with you. I would give anything to be there in person at your party but I’ll watch on TV with tears of joy as you dance in front of the crowds one more time. You are such a special once in a lifetime racehorse and I am so Thankful & Blessed that I got the oppurtinity to see you race and hear & see the amazing stories of YOU in my lifetime! WOW!
Love from Alabama, Amanda
Kathryn
Hi Z…I can’t wait for you to come to Kentucky. You will be living close to my daughter. She also loves horses so we’ll come to see you at Lane’s End. I love the ideas posted of having a disc made of you to sale. I’d buy one.
Enjoy your last few days in California and have a very safe trip to Kentucky.
Ed White
You are a true champion. You gave much more to the sport than you ever took from it. I hope I meet you someday.
Samantha Peck
YAY! I’m so excited to see the video cam! I really hope they brodcast her sppreciation day cause I don’t get TVG :( Hrtv does nothing good :( but I LOVE YOU ZENYATTA!!!!!!!!
Beth
I just love you Zenyatta!
Rita Bangs
Lovely Zenyatta, as hard as it is for us to see you end this chapter of your life, you are about to begin a wonderful new experience. Long, leisurely days of acres of Kentucky bluegrass, and gal pals to visit acrossed the fence, and your world will come full circle when that new baby arrives. Have a long and great life, wishing the brightest future for you.
Mary Davies
Me too!!! All I do is cry when I read these…I can’t even write a post without crying…Love, Love, Love… that is what I feel for this horse and all of those the closest to Lady Z…
Judy Sims
So good to hear from you every day. It will be great to see you on TV again. I think you captured the hearts of the crew at 60 Minutes just like you have captured the hearts of all your fans. I,too, like a lot of your fans shed tears when I read your diary. I’m happy and sad at the same time. Happy you are well and sound and enjoying life with your friends and family and sad that your racing career is over.
You have become a “NATIONAL TREASURE!”
Indiana Dentist
I’m actually rescheduling patients so I can see you at Keeneland. We have been following you for 2 years and finally saw you at the Breeder’s Cup. We staked out a spot in the paddock 5 races before your race and worked with a group of people from IL,IN,TN,NJ,NC, and Washington DC to keep our space. However, when you were leaving the paddock the television cameras blocked our view. You won the race in our minds!!
Jan
Oh yay the jockey-cam. I can’t wait to see it. This is all so exquisitely exciting…making memories as they happen. Please get everything because we can’t see enough! Thanks Team Zenyatta.
Lori Stein
Big Z you look beautiful in everything!!!
Tell mom and dad that someday you would like a date with Midnight Lute. Isn’t he handsome? Can’t wait to see you on TVG. I’ve never had the privledge to see you in person, but maybe one day in KY. Godspeed big girl. Love forever, Lori
Jeanne Reed
Oh Zenyatta….I look thru teary eyes when I read your posts; such lovely thoughts and wishes to all those that have come to know you so well. My goodness, we are going to miss you, my dear~! Love you….
Adrianne
I’m sad you’re leaving some of your friends in California but I am VERY excited that your coming to Kentucky! I live in Tennessee and I will make a special trip to come see you! You are so amazing and just simply beautiful!
Kathy Kimber
Lady Z, you should go to the Olympics in dressage. The way you dance you would win a gold medal for sure. You have the strength and the dedication. Love the pic of you and Isabelle how special for her. Mario and the pink blanket we will cherish it forever you are his little girl. He is going to miss you so much. I’m so thankful he is going with you to Kentucky you are so lucky. Keep sinding us posts I hope it continues in Kentucky. We all need you Lady Z.
Alexandra Bowdoin
A note to Penny who posted a bit earlier
you can buy the 60 Minutes DVD Zenyatta segment from Amazon.
April Crawford
I wish I could have seen you at Oaklawn this year. I will miss seeing you do your prance. Zenyatta, you are definatly the best! Hope to see some Baby Z’s running around the track in the future. Will be watching TVG! I would love to be able to to a pencil drawing for you and your owners. Love ya Z!
Marian M.
I’m so glad that 60 Minutes will do a follow-up story on your trip to Kentucky. I hope that if live video of your appreciation day at Hollywood Park and your appearance at Keeneland is not offered on NTRA or broadcast TV, it might be streamed to your website or to the NTRA website so those of us who don’t have access to TVG may also witness these special events in your life. In many ways, you are to your fans today what Seabiscuit was to his in his day. I call this the Zenyatta Era. Maybe Laura Hillenbrand will write your biography. It’s great to have you in our lives.
Lorie
I hope we get to see you turned out for the first time at Lane’s End. Wish I could be there for your retirement. My biggest regret will be that I have never seen you race in person. However, I have seen every one of your races. Hopefully I will get to see you at Lane’s End in the near future.
Best Wishes & Happy Retirement! You will be greatly missed.
Teresa Drennen
Love your diary posts, and I have to say just one more time…I am excited for your new life. Green pastures and beautiful foals to carry on your racing legacy. Above all I am happy your wonderful owners are letting you retire at peak condition. That is class at it’s very best, just like you Zenyatta. Bravo to you all!
Amy
Love you very much, sweet girl! I sure wish I could meet you in person and give you some carrots and a nice pat…you will NEVER be forgotten. xoxoxox
Marilyn
You and your human family are amazing. I get teary eyed everytime I read your posts. Keep them coming. Will they continue when you are in kentucky.
Debbie
I can’t quit crying, love you Z!
Amanda
You have left a “hoofprint” in all of our hearts! What a special gift you have been to us all… You are OUR horse of a lifetime! In less than 24hrs I will be on my way to CA to wish you farewell, all the way from PA!
Vicki B.
Yeah, this all just makes me sad, altho I like to read it. I will just miss Zenny. I kept wanting her to run some more, to blow by the other horses from dead-last. I always want to see this magnificent animal run, thrilling us doing what she has done best. Always beloved. I wish I could give her a little hug, or even just pat her once.
AnnL
We were so lucky to have had you for three years. We will miss you deeply but love you always and hope to see you over the years. Thank you for all the love you brought into our lives.
Gloria Jeanne
Zenyatta – Zenyatta – Zenyatta!!!! How I am going to miss you! I’ve visited you so many times at the barn. It’s going to be hard to see you leave! Thank you to your team and 60 minutes and of course TVG for covering you so much in the past. You are the greatest ever!! I hope your babies are just as wonderful, exciting and fun as you are. Stay happy and know that so many people and horses of course LOVE YOU! Peace and Love to YOU ALL.