Good Morning,
Dottie and John thought this would be fun to share with you. Here are Giacomo’s Jockey Club papers. The reason these are REALLY SPECIAL is the 2nd line on the back of his papers have the following information recorded in his OFFICIAL RECORD:
Date Won: 5/7/05
Net Value to Winner: 1,639,600
Type of Race: STAKE
Distance: 1 1/4
Name of Stake or Handicap: “THE KENTUCKY DERBY” Grade 1
Name of Track: Churchill Downs
Racing Secretary or By: Doug Bredar
Now this is truly TOO CUTE! The Kentucky Derby…WOW!
On the front, you see several markings and notes added to his papers. In the comments and responses, many of you have asked what these things mean. Basically, they pertain to health requirements being noted when a horse travels to various states. Giacomo ran in California, Kentucky, Maryland and NY. The NYRA (New York Racing Association) put their tag / stamp at the top of the papers. California usually places theirs by the marking details. Different states have different procedures and requirements and in our sport all of these details must be met at all times. It is what is best for ALL!
Since it is that time of year, and Derby Fever is in the air, MY TEAM thought this would be FUN for you to see. Not many papers have this information recorded on them! YEAH, GIACOMO!
Have a special day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
SmartyCat New Orleans
To Linda Shull – Giacomo stands at Adena Springs Farm, KY. I was fortunate enough to visit the farm and have some personal time with Giacomo last Oct. during the World Equestrian Games. I also saw his former barn mate & John Shirreffs trainee, Tiago, who stood at Adena Springs last year.
Lauren
Dear Zenny, Dottie and Family – Thank you for the interesting post on Giacomo. The Kentucky Derby is just around the corner. Do you have any favorites in the race? Maybe you would like to share some “inside” information with all of us. We love you so much Zenyatta because you are you. You bring so much joy and pleasure into my life. God Bless you beautiful girl.
VickiS.
I am deeply sorry over the loss of the embryo. I know the disappointment well. I have been trying to breed my mare over and over the last 2 years using AI, only to no avail. Now that I’m moving her close to the stallion I want, he’s on med’s and not available for breeding. She’s foaled before, so I know she’s fertile, and she has had every health check and test you can imagine. After every breeding when the preg check was done, and the ultrasound came back negative… the disappointment was very hard to take. Whether she actually conceived or not, I always felt as though I had lost the foal. Breeding, conception, and continued pregnancy are no where near as easy as people think. I wish you the best.
Pattie
Dear Zenyatta:
I’m thinking about you & keeping you in my prayers.
If anyone whats to donate $ or horse gifts, Old Friends needs help to purchase Hillcrest Farm so they can expand their racehorse rescue mission. It would be cool to see the farm sponsored by Zenyatta fans & name the farm: Friends of Zenyatta !!
Roxi Cook
Sometimes when a horse race is being televised, I’ll have my husband tape it because who wants to be watching TV on a beautiful spring weekend afternoon when there are horses to be ridden! So chances are I watched the Derby that year later in the day (trying to avoid the news of the winner on the radio in the pickup); all I remember is a gray (my least favorite horse color) horse won who was ridden by a very emotional jockey. Hadn’t heard of the horse or the jockey before that day and didn’t think anything about it until I got caught up in Zenyatta fever a few years later and learned about this extraordinary TEAM of people. I came across the 2005 video this winter as I was digitizing my video collection. I know the RACES are on youtube, but having the whole program leading up to the race and then all the post-race ceremony, etc., that’s cool to have too. Hoping the TEAM gets another Derby winner soon (even before 2012 Zenyatta is on the track!)…
lizzy
@astrid:
Thanks for putting retirement link up. This would not post on here for me. Folks this is a much watch. Like Z, Giacomo represent what a great trainer John is.
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Here is a link (hope it works) of the Derby-you’ll see some familiar faces too! :)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DIj70vlH58
lizzy
*”must” watch
Jill
I see your guy, Bernie, has a couple of his offspring as Derby hopefuls. Wouldn’t that be exciting!
Suzanne
Dearest Zenny & Team Zenyatta,
I want to express my heartfelt sympathies to you on the loss of Zenyatta’s baby. We don’t know why things like this happen, but they do. Rest up, dear girl. I am sure that you will soon find yourself carrying another precious baby. If, for some reason, that doesn’t happen, we have YOU, and that is the most important thing. God bless you all.
Love,
Suzanne
lizzy
And lastly, my favorite link of Z’s first 14 races. Thought I post as a pick me up (referring especially to negativity on yesterdays diary). Love how Z runs by horses, she seems to look at them like, “oh hi” and then she puts into 5th gear. Boy she just looked so relaxed out there…like it was a walk in the park. AND didn’t realize how close race 12 was, wow!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi0YaVefoeE
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Z, I so hope LE has some special surprises for you tomorrow!!!
Amy Krauss
Dear Z – Hope your team gets to spend some time with you on your birthday. We are all so grateful that you are fine despite this setback. We are confident that this time next year a Baby Z will be frolicking beside you.
If Mr.Commons gets the graded earnings necessary, will John consider running him in the Derby? Also, good luck to Zazu in the Oaks and all the rest of the gang in their future races. Say hi to Bernie – he is a handsome boy!
Sharon Call
@Charlotte. “coach” posted back and apologized saying it was meant for another site and apologized again.
Susan
Lizzy, Thanks for the great link to Giacomo’s win in the 2005 Derby!! What a leggy, talented, beautiful boy!
And there was another wonderful horse in that race who went on to Preakness and Belmont victories – and who also did quite a lot of charity work. Remember the athletic Afleet Alex – and all of the wonderful Alex’s LemonAde stands at the races??
judy berube
Dear Z, Dottie and Z Team: Thank you for all the wonderful info you provide. We look forward to the posts so much. Z, hope you are feeling well and we wait for future news. Love to all of you. Judy and Russ
Jeanne: If you go to Bloodhorse.com and click on their videos, you can find one of Giacomo. It’s very interesting and fun to watch. They have other videos of former Kentucky Derby winners and other stallions at stud and in retirement. Sorry I don’t have the know-how to link.
Kathy Baldwin
That Giacomo is one cool dude! And handsome,
too! ;) Thanks for sharing his very special
papers with us Zenny and “Connections”.
Peace and Blessings to you all,
Kathy from SoCal
Jan
Zenyatta,
Giacomo is a real handsome dude. He seems to be a bit of a prankster and really smart. I think John’s personality and spirit is in each and every horse he trains :) I hope Lane’s End has a big BD party planned for you on Friday, and you get lots of carrot cake, and presents. Seven is a very lucky number.Enjoy the peppermints I sent you :) Be healthy and happy big mama Z. Love from Houston.
Sue Noel
Well,I’ll try this again–I tried to post this once and it didn’t go through.
I,too,remember Giacomo’s Derby. A word to Stephanie–I also got to pet a derby winner—Jet Pilot,who won in 1947,I believe!! My dad took me on a surprise visit to several racing farms around Lexington in the summer of 1950!! I turned 12 that October and after that visit my ambition was to be an exercise rider for Greentree!! I never made that,but never lost my love of race horses and racing. I got to pet the great War Admiral on the nose! Was actually IN the stall with Jet Pilot!! Saw Citation and Coaltown at Calumet,but they were out in the pasture. At that time ,Calumet was the only farm we visited where we could not go into the barns. Ah–the good old days!! My dad had taken me to see Seabiscuit in his retirement home a few years earlier. I was a lucky little girl to have those experiences and to have a dad that supported my love of racing–no one else in the family cared about it. I would sit huddled by the radio,listening to any race I could.
Maybe this will explain why this web-site is so precious to me, and why YOU are,Queen Z!! Love to all!!
Rita Stack
I remember it well when he won, he was brilliant. Thanks Z, I love you so much.
nancy
I know alot of people thought no way in heck would Giacomo would win the Derby, boy did I laugh all the way to the bank :) I love big G to this day and I’m glad to see his babies doing so well. I hope your ready to go see Bernie next week again, not to worry you will be 7 on Friday that is a lucky number, and things will happen when the time is to be right. You are so loved Big Girl. Thanks again to Dottie for sharing such fun things ith us.
Tonya Reems
Such wonderful information that is being shared with us! Thank you, Dottie!! I love reading all of these interesting, educational posts. I keep on learning new things about horse racing that are so exciting. It’s such a thrilling sport but learning tiny details about the athletes makes it even more fun. :)
Queen “Z” ~ I hope you are feeling terrific today there in Kentucky :) Hugs & kisses to you pretty girl ♥
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, do your papers state Breeders Cup 2009? It should. You ran with the best, and left them in the dust. keep us posted on next week. I love you, Sweetheart..Lisa g
Nancy
Zenny my gal pal……………..just made a very nice donation in your name to http://www.americanredcross.org. going to Japan.
xxoo Nancy
Laura Wetzel
Hi Zen, Thanks for sharing those special papers with us. I remeber the day very well, and who was the jockey? Mike Smith, of course, your special friend.
It was a great day. Have fun today, Zen.
Thansk to Dottie and John for always sharing.
Rhonda Clements
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THESE THINGS WITH US IT IS STUFF MOST PEOPLE WOULD NEVER KNOW ABOUT LET ALONE SEE. LOVE TO YOU ZENNY
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z”,
Happy Wednesday :) One bad apple never spoils the whole sweet bunch! I hope you are enjoying some apples and all of your favorite things. I am ready for Derby Day…just need my hat! Blessings to All.
Nancy L
I am glad that your good people have been rewarded so deservedly with the Derby win… and Queen Z.
Patricia Emery
@Jill…Yes, Zenyatta’s beloved Bernie’s “Stay Thirsty” is in the top 10, well, the last I knew. He is a gorgeous colt and he is a good contender. With yesterdays loss, wouldn’t that be Great, if one of Bernie’s boys won the Derby!
I definitely have Derby fever and am hosting my first derby party this year and it will be in honor of our dear Zenyatta, Team Z and all of her fans. I am still in the planning stages, but it is going to be so much fun! and what better weekend to have it, than “Mother’s Day” weekend!
Anyway, I have taken up enough posting space…dear Zenny, I was at the barn today while my daughter had her riding lessons, the smell of hay and horses, nuzzling up to my daughter’s horse and feeling her hot breath against my cheek…I was thinking of you and the enormous joy all of the people who take care of you must experience each and every day…you are a true blessing.
XOXO
Rita Stack
I am so sorry Z, I am so sad for you. I will pray that it will happen for you.
Marilu V
Hello Zeny n Dottie: Thank you for Giacomo’s information. What a coincidence that I was looking for info about him this weekend. He is beautiful. I am learning so much about the industry from all the information you so graciously give us. Hugs, MV
Kathleen Burnham
Hi “Z”, So sorry to hear about your latest scan. Darn it!! They will get you bred back as soon as they can and this time it will stay with you, I feel very sure about that!! Hope you are feeling well and getting lots of goodies!!