Hello Everyone,
It is cool and a bit overcast here this Saturday morning at Hollywood Park. I am in the midst of such a great deal of fun!
Earlier in the week, Isabelle got to ride me for her birthday present from John.
Then Michelle, my masseuse, wanted to get a chance to ride me around the walking ring at the barn. Michelle is an extremely experienced horse woman. She has been riding for 25 years…and was the regular exercise rider for horses like Starrer and Hollywood Story whom John trained. She absolutely had a BLAST! Too cute!
The visitors are still coming in groves. John said the barn crew will have to go on ‘mini-diets’ after I leave because so many people have been so generous about bringing LOTS of TREATS for my friends at the barn: cookies, candy, cakes (carrot, of course) and danish. They LOVE IT ALL…and wanted me to THANK YOU personally!
Also, I am hearing LOTS of people are reading the Diary each day. This is great news. Last night, Margaret, Tom Halpenny’s wife, (Tom is my wonderful blacksmith)…said they heard from a friend in Australia who was able to locate them via reading my Diary. Now this is GREAT NEWS!
Tomorrow is my HOLLYWOOD PARK FAN APPRECIATION DAY! It is getting exciting. Then on Monday, I will be honored at KEENELAND. I am really getting excited.
Dottie was talking with my new Lane’s End friends about things I will be doing when I get there. As I have mentioned before, David, Dottie’s son, lives in Lexington and will be there with me. I hear Lane’s End is getting MY NEW BARN organized…and they will have SEVERAL NEW GIRLFRIENDS for me to meet upon my arrival. They are also having Sarah, David’s assistant, work with Dottie on all of my updates. So, we will able to keep ALL of YOU posted on what I am doing! Sounds exciting!
YEAH…time to go get a bit of exercise…and then meet more FANS! WOW…I just took a peek outside the barn. There are LOTS of PEOPLE OUTSIDE AGAIN TO SEE ME. LOTS!!!!! I’ll smile…PRETTY… in all the photos!
With love,
Hugs~
Z
pamela louiZe
Dear Zenyatta, I want to thank you for the best racing I have ever enjoyed.You and your crew have been truly amaZing. i will be down to see you tomorrow to send you off to a well-deserved retirement, although you will be sorely missed.I will never see anything in racing that overwhelmed me as much as your 2009 Breeders Cup win, though I never had a doubt that you would be sucessful.How you and your crew held to the consistancy and high standard that you have all this time is deZerving of more than Horse.Trainer,Mare, and Owner of the Year.You have set a high bar but knowing you, you would be able to jump it!(lol)You are the abZolute best.Thanks for the ride. l
pharmacy technician
What a great resource!
Leslie
Hi Zenny, I’m glad you are having so much fun. You deserve it!
I’m happy to hear that your fans will be able to visit you at Lane’s End. It is cool that you are getting a new barn and will have new girlfriends to hang with.
The best news, though, is that you’ll have family watching over you. David and Sarah will make sure that you are well taken care of and it is exciting that Sarah will be updating your diary. I would have been crushed if your diary was no longer updated.
I hope you enjoy your celebration at Hollywood Park. I was hoping to make it but it looks like I’ll have to watch it on TVG. You are very special to my mom and I but she’s recovering from cancer and can’t walk long distances so we’re going to watch it together at home. I just wish I had been able to meet you in person and give you a big hug. Maybe I’ll get lucky and get that chance at Lane’s End.
Have a safe trip to Kentucky! You will always be the horse of the ages to me. Thanks for the ride, Zenny and to Team Z, thanks for taking such good care of this magnificent horse and for allowing us to share a bit of her life. You’ve made many fans very happy.
Love,
Leslie
Leslie
I just went over to the store and saw that all the adult t-shirts are gone. Are there going to be more? Thanks!
Leslie
Jane
So good of you, Z., to keep up these posts in spite of your busy schedule (ah, the life of a star). We, your fans, want to keep in touch!
jena hobert
Hey Zenyatta. Will today is the big day. One more time around the track and its done. I sure will miss hearing your name called. I got my special edtion from The Blood horse about you this past week. I have your picture already framed an in my “Zen room”. I have a friend holding a Breyer of you until I can pic it up. I hope to see you in Kentucky this coming spring. I hope I get home from work in time to watch you on TVG. Have a safe trip to Kentucky. I think about you always. God Bless the Queen!! From Secsea Dance, Salawgi, Simon, and Picasso. We LOVE You Z!!
Kathy Kimber
Lady Z, I’m so glad the updates will keep coming. And I’m glad Lane’s End is going to try and accomodate the public. After all you need to see your fans as much as they need to see you. It will make the move easier for you. Enjoy your day on Sunday and have a safe trip to Kentucky
Patricia
Zenyatta…oh! Today has finally come…thanks Dottie for one last post before her party today…I know you all have been so busy making sure everything is perfect for our girl!! It is gracious that you have made such an effort to keep us in touch.
WOW! As John said a few days ago, Lane’s End is imminent & here it is…I just don’t know what to say, except ” I LOVE YOU, & THANKS for all of the memories & good times to come!” Will say a prayer for all of you today…XOXO
Linda Edwards
Hi Zenyatta:
Greetings from NJ! Well today is your Special Day at Hollywood Park. Today you can just relax and enjoy all your fans. Sure wish I could be there. Wishing you all the best Zenny! Lots of love will be with you today, and tomorrow as you travel to Kentucky and always. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again TEAM ZENYATTA for doing all that you have done for us fans! We have truly enjoyed and appreciated the this incredible journey with Zenyatta, our horse of a lifetime. Love, Linda
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, will your FanFarewell be on TV? I will look it up and see if I can find any info. I am so sad that you are leaving, I hope Sarah does as good a job as Dottie helping you with your diary. I love ya so, Lisa g
Linda Edwards
Hi Zenyatta Fans! If you are attending today’s parade, please take lots of pics and videos. For those of us that cannot be there we would really appreciate you sharing them with us on Facebook. Looks like ESPN will not be covering today’s event for us east coast fans!
Margaret Murphy
Dear Zen:
I have your picture on my study wall, the one with you and Mike winning the Breeders Cup in 2009 you wore #4 that day. Well you will always be #1 to the world. I hope they take care of you there in KY. God has given you great speed in racing, may he bless you now with many little Z’s You gave us the time of our lives. My prayer for you is the best time of your life in Kentucky. Hugs and kisses.
Maggie M
Samantha Peck
Could you post the video of it later? I guess East cost isn’t allowed to see it. :(
Kathy S.
Zenyatta, I hope you have the best time today at your parade! You are the Queen! Thank you for all the wonderful memories. Love you!
XOXO
Victoria
This is your day Lady Z!!! I’m in Indianapolis, but I will be watching you on TVG. I cry tears of joy and sadness, but mostly joy that you are not completely done with racing…I await the Baby Z!!! Please speak with Mike about staying around to rid Baby Z??? Love you Z!!!
Mary
Good morning Zenyatta. I so look forward to reading your diary every morning. You have become such a good friend to me and you don’t even know me, but you do know there are thousands like me that love you. I watched the recording of you winning your 19th race last nite, my James had bought a racing form with your picture on it, I have many of them framed, and I will frame that one too. You brought the Horse to horse racing Zenyatta…your record is perfection as are you. Tell Mike Smith hello for me, I think you two are beautiful, John Sheriff is an awesome man, I think he is why you are such a gentle soul. I love you Zenyatta, I will look for you tomorrow, the next day and for-ever.
Grandma Bea Gobee
it’s december 6th, your day sweet thing. Good luck today Zenyatta and enjoy your day. You are the best both now and forever. Stay warm, enjoy the sun and the crowd. Wish I was there but I am on the other side of the country with no TVG. But will be thinking of you today at 6 my time. You are the best and we love you here in the pocono mountains of PA. This is your day, enjoy it. Love Grandma Bea, Ladee Elizabeth, Remington Barbaro & Bashful Gobèe WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, have been watching your videos this morning and just crying my eyes out. What a magnificent lady you are that God has blessed the world with just to watch you and say your name. God has given us a wonderful blessing through you. I miss you, Love, Lisa g
nancy
Well Z here it is Dec 5th your last full day here in CA. We are starting to miss you already. Boy the time has come and gone so fast, it just seems like yesterday you were heading down the track, coming from way back like you always did. I know you look forward to your new life in KY and becoming a mom, you injoy the bluegrass and your new digs and all of your new found fans/friends you will have that will come and see you. We are all sad here in CA to see you go, but you will always be in are hearts and in are thoughts. Will be at the track today to say goodbye for the last time. You have been great for your sport and there will only be one Queen Z. I’m glad that Steve, John, Mario and Jerry and Ann will be with you when you get to Lanes End for a few days and that the new staff will take great care of you. Will check your post to see how things are coming in your new home. With lots of hugs and kisses Z.
Shanna
Hi Zenyatta! I’ll be looking for you today on TVG :)
Kathryn Cogswell
‘A Mare’s Prayer’* ~ ‘Lord of the winds and fragrant grasses, You have given me flight and calm in my heart. Soon I will carry life, not on my back, but bred for the fresh air of life. Embrace us with caring folk, learning the way of this trail. May my foal know kindness and challenge and reward, as I have known them. Thank you for sturdy stalls, fresh straw, well-cured hay, sweet grain and sparkling water. Give the world love for my foal and all horses .. . the way it should be.’ ~ *Dear Zenya: Nearly forty years ago, an old mare never before settled was under my care. She became a wonderful mother of a little colt, with something like this prayer under us. Nothing smells as sweet as a foal. Blessings all the way, to you and yours. Khc.
Lori Koellner
ZENYATTA, I hope you enjoy your appreciation day. I will be watching on TVG I really wish I could be there to see you. I really hope that Lanes End will let your fans visit you and keep us posted on how you are. I really can’t say enough how much I LOVE YOU Z and appreciate you and the entire Z-TEAM. Love Lori XOXO…
Rita Stack
Hail to the Queen, have a wonderful farewell you certainly deserve it. I will cry the whole time as i did every race I watched you in. You are truely the greatest, both on the track and off. You brought people together regardless of Politics, religion, race or financial status, you made all welcome. This is how the world should be. You truely are the Queen and I love you forever. Thanks for great memories and the promise of more to come. God Bless you and your family. Have a wonderful life, we will all be following you.
Donna
Z
I just wanted to let you know that AP Indy is the best stallion for you.
He is mature and solid and experienced also expensive, his rating is A++ with you.
Only the best for a queen !!!!!!!
Lynda Pellitteri
Hi Zenyatta!
Hope you have a great day today with all your fans. I live here in Lexington and wish to see you at Keeneland tomorrow, but it’s only going to be 24 degrees and way too uncomfortable, so I am waffling on going. It’s snowing right now and the high is 31 today. I sure hope you are going to be ok with going from over 60 degrees one day to being out in 24 degrees the next!! :O( Is there any way to postpone your “visit” with us until it gets warmer?
A concerned fan, Lynda
Linda (Canada)
Good morning Queen Z
It’s your day today! Thanks for everything you have done for racing – glad that the posts will keep coming – we all want to know you are OK. I was the same as an earlier post, where the writer could hardly watch your last race, as she was worried about you – so was I – I just wanted you to be safe! Canada loves the Queen Z! I think I’ll have a T-shirt made with “Barn 55” on it, in pink and teal…only Zennie fans will know what that meana :)
Deneen
Enjoy your day today Beautiful Zenyatta!! Thanks for being such a wonderful ambassador to racing and for allowing your fans the opportunity to share in your life!! My hope is that one day I will be able to see and touch you and to give you a BIG hug and kiss on your muzzle sweet girl!! You have given us hope that there can be a better tomorrow and that there STILL IS purity and goodness in this world!! You and your family members have been so inspirational and loving towards the fans — you’re the light that shines in our hearts and souls!! We all love you SOOOOO much – words cannot fully express our feelings and emotions!!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! Blessings to Z, her family and all of her fans!!!!
Gloria Jeanne
Thank you for the memories Zenyatta and Team/Family. I cry everyday, hoping you will be happy in retirement and thinking you did something wrong. I cry for the Team and the loss of You Zenyatta not being right there in Your stall. Then I remember all the joy you have brought Everyone and I smile again. Love You Queen Z!!!
Linda (Canada)
Please please let us know when the 60 minutes special on your retirment is being aired – I taped the 1st special on you – and would like to add the 2nd segment to it. We love you Zennie!
Delrene
We are heading off right now to visit you for your last day in Ca. You are an inspiration to all the world. You will never,ever be forgotten. I’m glad you have a family member living right in Lex. May they all watch over you with the same love and care you have received in your home at barn 55. Things won’t ever be the same here in Ca. But, GOOD LUCK TO ZARDANA TODAY!!!!!
Love to all your caretakers and a safe flight tomorrow.