Good Morning Everyone!
What an amazing photo! I just had to share it with you. I’ve flown several times on horse planes, H.E.Tex Sutton, but those planes do not have windows. Ann was on a plane recently and took this photo from her window. It is so unique to see the reflection of the plane in the clouds! In my opinion, this is truly a WOW moment!
There were other WOW moments over the weekend in racing. The results to the 3 Year Old Derby Preps left the entire Kentucky Derby picture wide open. My friend, MR.COMMONS, ran very well and was 3rd in the Santa Anita Derby. Bernardini’s son, ARTHUR’S TALE, was a closing 2nd in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. The Illinois Derby winner, JOE VANN, ran a very good race…but is not nominated to the Kentucky Derby. To run, his owners would have to supplement him to the race and that is extremely expensive. His team will have to make this decision for themselves as to what they want to do!
What happens in stakes races is the owner/trainer have certain dates they are to comply with in order to nominate a horse to a particular race. With the Triple Crown Series, there are 2 definite times when this opportunity is offered. In mid-January, you can do the ‘EARLY NOMINATION’. This is at a cost of $600 per horse.
During the final week of March, the ‘LATE NOMINATION’ option is offered. This time the fee is $6000. Sometimes, your horse is a late developer so this provides you with a 2nd chance to be sure your horse is nominated.
After this, it is very, very expensive to nominate a horse to the Triple Crown Races. That is why most people try to do the $600 early nomination process. This gives you an opportunity to ‘watch your horse and see how he matures and advances through the early part of his 3 year old year’. If all goes well, you are nominated and ready to move forward.
On a day-to-day basis, the nomination of horses to STAKES RACES is a very interesting process. ALL stakes races have deadlines for nomination purposes before the race. Once closed…(meaning the day after the nomination deadline)… the Racing Office publishes the names of the horses who are considering running. At times, supplemental nominations may be taken for a particular race if you missed the initial nomination date, but that is for a much higher fee.
Thus, when a horse runs in a STAKES RACE, there are normally 3 fees to be paid by the owner: a nomination fee, an entry fee, and a starting fee. When you are at the track in the future, you will see this information detailed at the top of the PROGRAM PAGE or RACING FORM CHART. It will tell you exactly what the fees are to run in that particular STAKES RACE.
Some stakes races are BY INVITATION only. This means that the Racing Office invites the most promising horses to run in that STAKE. When this happens, there are NO nomination, entry or starting fees…the horse is INVITED to run! The SANTA MARGARITA (Grade 1)…which I won last year at Santa Anita…is an Invitational Stakes. I was one of the horses who received an INVITATION to participate in this Grade 1 event. I must say, that was sure a FUN RACE TO WIN!
This is all part of the BUSINESS OF HORSERACING. Thank goodness, I had MY TEAM to take care of ALL of this FOR ME! Have a great day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
PS…The ZENYATTA BRONZE contest is moving along. Barn 55 is drawing the names of the SWEET SIXTEEN today. We will print this list of 16 in tomorrow’s Diary. GOOD LUCK TO ALL!
Linda/Maryland
Thanks Beautiful for all the information. You are so sweet to educate us.
Saw your picture today in the Readers Digest. Beautiful Girl you are everywhere!
Love you ~
suew
@Margaret, I thank you for your insightful post. I think most of us are so anxious because articles published after her recent “loss of foal” mentioned she would be bred again within a week or so. What you posted makes perfect sense…she has to be ready and Bernie has to have an opening in his schedule. Maybe she has been bred but the public will not be informed intil she is safely in foal again. Whatever the case, I have no doubt Dottie will give us the inside info. Zenny’s connections have been so good to us, knowing how much love we have for this magnificient mare.
MLV
@Dawn – My horse traveled beautifully but then he was an ex-race horse and was used to traveling. It all depends on the individual horse and I’ve seen some horses take as long as an hour to load.
My sister and I spent many late nights talking with the Japanese blood agent. It was very difficult and took a long time. If you go into the Old Friends archives you will see our names, Myrna and Patricia and how much work we did back then to bring those beautiful champions back home. It was truly a labor of love from everyone involved. I will always be so happy that we did it because we just happened to find Creator in our efforts to get Sunshine Forever back home.
Guido
Z – We’re going to have to get a horse plane with windows for you in the future! Thanks for all the information, you’re teaching us well!
Jean
Thank You to all that saw the white horse in the picture. Their is also a black one but I did not want to push my visions. Glad I was not alone with what the heaven’s clouds provide for us all to see in a photo. Very special and beautiful
Shari Voltz
Hi Zenyatta I hope you stayed dry today. It rained in Ohio all day long. My puppies were missing their walk. I will try tomorrow. Thank you sweet girl for teaching me about horse racing. I never knew all what I am learning. I could not believe the price to enter races. I now know why teachers don’t have race horses Ha-ha. I don’t think of you as just a race horse. When I fell in love with you it was something with your being you have something special that brings people to you. I know your SUPER talented but you have a giving heart. Children know and can see things the way they really are and my children LOVE you and talk about you everyday. They are coloring pictures for Mrs. Moss which I will send her. They always want to give me pictures and they love to make pictures for others. Well sweet girl I have talked a lot tonight. I must get ready for tomorrow. I love you so much and thank Dottie for taking time to teach us all about the racing world. dottie you are one very special lady :) Sweet dreams and Hugs and Kisses from Shari XXXOOO
@Dawn I am on pins and needles hoping I see your name. Thank you for the compliment. You always make me feel good. You are just a Super Wonderful person. MY whole body is crossed. I am praying I SEE your name. Enjoy your week too. God bless :)
@Laura my husband and I went on the rescue Dob website. The dog Abby looks like our Miesha. I cried about a few of the dogs and so did my husband. How someone could treat a furbaby like they do is just beyond me. Thank you for the info :) You are one of God’s Angels.
Shari Voltz
@Sorry Dottie I was typing fast :)
Nancy McNaul Applegate
Thanks, Zenny, for explaining about the nominations. it’s really fascinating!
Karey R
Definitely a gorgeous horse head in the clouds, and is that Sophie Shireffs just
to the right? Sweet floppy ears, button eyes and nose… More magic from the Queen and her entourage.
Sally (B)
Hi sweet Z! Your owner took an awesome picture (I think I see part of a rainbow!)
I am learning so much about the racing aspect from you. Know wonder there are partnership ownerships too, such as perhaps at the Breeders Cup, there were so so many at times within the circle of the paddock at a given race. Am I wrong? Well, Z, I had my opportunity to run down there this week with my good friend & her hubby, but, my husband was not interested as we were down to Keeneland in Dec to see you. I will miss the adventure I always have with my friend! But, I will come to see you Z at a moments notice; if we fans are given the chance later this year. Just my friend and I ran down to the Breeders Cup. What an experience!! Did you ever see on TV two women with your colors on their hats; & a sign saying “Gods gift to the stallion, with a big Z in the middle?! That is Susie & me. Then to an open house at Lane’s End; saw A.P. Indy,(so loveable),Curlin,Mineshaft, Steven Got Even, etc. etc. It was a fabulous experience to be so close to them. They’d take them out so you could take turns with pictures and a pat. I’m going back! I know why Z that your owners decided on Lane’s End. They are nothing but the best!!! Take care lovely, have fun with your friends! Love with a kiss on your soft nose
Sharon Call
@Barbara Grimaldi. I’ll bet that photo would do really well with National Geographic. People send pic’s in all the time to them and I’ve seen some really beautiful ones but I don’t think I’ve seen one quite like this one. It looks surreal.
judy berube
Dear Jean,
I see the black and also the white horse (plane on the nose) in the photo. Quite lovely picture.
Sally (B)
@Donna; I don’t stay on the computer too much with my neck problems so I miss out on alot. But, I think I saw a message in response to the loss of your filly. Please accept my heartfelt blessings for your loss. God Bless
Ellen Zachary
Hello Ms. Z…cool photo by your mom!! Thanks for the racing info…it’s wonderful of you to share this type of racing knowledge…you got a LOT of invitations, cause you’re TOO CUTE and talented also….loves ya, Z…hugs to all your people…I am hearing great things about that CUTE little Zazu!! You will be with us in spirit at Churchill Downs this Derby…maybe you should stop in and visit!
KIMBERLY
Hi Queen, Thank your MOM for the beautiful photo. Thank you Dottie for all the hard work you put into this diary. I can tell every one of us that read it on a daily basis agrees. Nitey Nite ZZZZZZZZZ.
Jackie
Good Evening Queen “Z”. What an amazing picture Ms. Moss took! It must be a sign! Ms. Moss captured a rainbow that resembles a halo. It must be your halo. You and your connections are all gifts!
Thank you Dottie for the informative post as always. I thought Mr. Commons ran a great race, too bad he came in 3rd! Can anyone tell me what is up with Zazu? Been looking for her. Will she be running in the Kentucky Oaks?
Hoping to go to closing day at Santa Anita. It should be a nice day filled with lots of fun. A day at the races is always fun!
Stay well.
Hugs and Kisses
Jackie
Paula Higgins
A wonderful picture Ann and Dottie! Thank you for taking it and sharing it with us. A great explanation about the nomination process. I had no clue and especially how expensive it is. Personally, I think Zenny should have been “invited” to ALL her races. When the Queen showed up, so did many thousands of paying customers who otherwise might not have been there. She was like the gold at Fort Knox, as solid as a horse can be in racing.
Diane
Hi Queen Z and Dottie! I want to thank you both for the wonderful
education we are receiving from you! This really fascinates me as I have just been a casual racegoer for years until YOU came along Z!
I hope you wait to breed for another couple of weeks cuz I want you to
have an April baby like WE are. Yours was the 1st and mine the 2nd so I hope yours would be one of those or maybe the 3rd! I love you Zenny XOXO:)
Dolores Pshsnychniak
That is an Amazing photo! awesome!
Pamela J Hebert
What an unusual photo Zenny I’m another reader who’s never seen anything like it. Thank you Dottie for sharing it with us & thank you Ann for providing it. Zenny I learn so much from you- you’ve taught me about stakes races today. You’re the best. Hooves crossed for all on the next draw!!!
Cindy from LA
@ MLV
What an awesome thing to do. Bring those champions
Home. Hats off to you and your friend.
Coach
Thank you for all the information you provide. It is quite helpful for a novice such as myself!
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: So good to hear from you!! The photo is awesome. It is every photographer’s dream to capture a picture like that–being in the right place at the right time with the right lighting. Fabulous shot. Thanks for giving us some insight into the business of horse racing. Wow, with all those entry fees, nomination fees, I can see where it can be very costly. What comes to mind is one of the horses in last year’s Kentucky Derby: Noble’s Promise. Seems to me I remember hearing that he was owned by 25 individuals. To me it was an indication of how costly owning a race horse can be. Take care, Zenny. Look forward to hearing from you tomorrow. Love, Linda
Peggy
Thanks to Dotty and Ann for all the great information and beautiful picture. Zenny I hope you have had good days lately and I agree we need some more pictures of you. Maybe to get to see you eating those pears again, just too cute. @Sue hope you have a wonderful trip to the races and Old Friends. Ask to see Pops and give him a kiss for me. He’s a real vocal horse, I just loved to stand and talk to him and get his responses. I told him I was going to carry him home with me and he acted like he understand. I told him I lived in South Ga only about 39 miles from the Fla line and he almost acted like he wanted out from behind the fense. Just absolutely too cute. Everybody laughed at him. It was real cold up there at that time. I think he might have liked the warmer weather. @Dawn, O K now you make that list tomorrow. Going to be sending lots and lots of wishes and prayers your way. OOps might have to peep from work tomorrow…I don’t know I know you know what I’m saying being a banker too. They like for us to stick to the Banking sites. Good luck again. God Bless to everyone. Love ya Zen.
Regina From NJ
Oh my! I got here just in time to say G’night, Zenyatta, and to wish the lucky 32 a high hoof for tomorrow. xoxoxo
Jan
@Ensign or Someone who could answer my
question. I know this is probaly a stupid question, but I was wondering since the stallions breed with many mares, do they get any disease’s or infections..The only information I get on horses is on our chat site. Thanks :
jonni
I believe she was bred back to Bernie a week and a half ago. They are waiting to break the News. They don’t want to Jinx it
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. What a wonderful diary today – it was so interesting and informative. Thank you. I just had to call everyone to look at the photo Ann took – it is too amazing. Awesome. Love you Zenyatta. Enjoy your spring weather, eat well, keep those pears and bananas coming, and have fun with your paddock BBFs. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Kathy
Hi Zenny,
Thank you for sharing the picture. April is also special because it is Autism Awareness month. I personally feel there should also be a special month for the mommies who have to be so strong for our kids. I remember how you could surpass any horse in front of you….it is what will help to keep me strong at our next IEP meeting. I hope that one day when you are retired from your brood mare duties, you may be some place accessable like the Kentucky horse park so I can show my girls the horse that inspired their momma to keep charging forward.
Hilltophorsewoman No Cal
Thank you Ann for sharing this beautiful picture. It is truly a shot from God. Am praying that all is well with you Z.