HAPPY APPLE BLOSSOM HANDICAP DAY!
I just LOVE this race and want to wish all of the participants GOOD LUCK! It was an absolute thrill to go to Oaklawn Park on the 2 different times I participated in the APPLE BLOSSOM HANDICAP—Grade 1.
Mr. Cella and his staff were fabulous to us, the fans outstanding, and the weather was beautiful! I even had a police escort to be sure the traffic was moving right along as I was in the van going to the track from my plane and then when I returned to the plane after my stay in Arkansas.
I must also say that the Apple Blossom trees located by the outdoor paddock were gorgeous! I vividly remember standing under them as I ‘schooled’ for the race. GREAT TIMES and GREAT MEMORIES…for sure!
Also, later today we are drawing the names of the ELITE EIGHT for our contest! The results will be posted in tomorrow’s DIARY!
Again…all the best to MY APPLE BLOSSOM FRIENDS…and to the people who will be part of the ELITE EIGHT! HOOVES CROSSED!
Enjoy your day!
With love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Sophie
@Kimberly I made the ringtone the old fashion way I went to youtube and pulled up the race, turned up my speakers on my computer and made sure the room was quiet and recorded it on my phone. :-)
Tamyatta
Hi Z baby, me and my Oaklawn Zenyatta bobblehead are all cozied up ready for the race. Of course we will watch your Apple Blossom and cheer you on! Miss you on the track sooo much! Looks like Carmen and Michelle don’t draw as good as Isabelle and Cheva…I didn’t make the 16, boo hoo, so I will just have to root for Bill and Linda to bring you to our great state of TX! I’m also rooting for Louann because I know how very much she loves you..I love you with all my heart dear sweet girl. Loving you always, Tammi
Joan
@Kim
There are male and female warriors on the track everyday and they all need the love and support, just like Z did and does now. They give their all, please support them, Z would want you to. Miss Queen Z, oh absolutely, but Black Cavier is something to behold, SHe isn’t Z but oh she is very special, yes indeed.
Debbie G
That’s too cute, Jan. Zenny IS Wonder Woman, and her bum puts Kim K to shame. The Apple Blossom won’t be the same without you, beautiful girl, but we’ll all be thinking of you. Loving you in Lexington :-)
Mary Copelin
Margie, thank you so much for sharing the info. re. Mr. Brooke and the drawing. I am so looking forward to hearing more about available drawings.
Thanks again.
max
The video of you bowing to the crowd at Oak Lawn is incredible. There is no horse like you. You are indeed the Queen.
Dona
I hope you know how much we miss seeing you at the track. You were the best and it was a great ride. Seeing pictures of you enjoying life, safe and sound, means the world to your fans. Thanks for the Memories.
pamela
Have a wonderful weekend Zenyatta. Love and Kisses
Sally (B)
Sweet Z; I am trying to catch up with your wonderful post, and I apologize that I have not read other’s responses. I otherwise am a very friendly person; grocery checkers and others know me by face! Oh Z, I saw you at Oaklawn of 2010 and it was fabulous!! It was the very first time seeing you present. I teared, got the chills, as you pranced with your dance right before my eyes!! This is forever etched in my memory, and I have great pictures!! There will never be another you! You thrilled me and the crowd winning again!!! Whoopee!! love you with a kisws on your nose.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Oh Zenyatta, I really like that pic of you sporting your Apple Blossom saddle towel. Watched the Apple Blossom today and was glad that Havre de Grace won but I have to admit, and shish, don’t tell anyone, this is a secret between you and me, the race wasn’t at all as exciting as last year when you were in it. When you were there, the track was electrifying and there was a charge in the air. It was like that at every track you were at, but not anymore being that you are not racing, what you brought can’t be replaced by any other horse. You are one heck of a special lady, Zenyatta and no matter what, it’s just not the same. But am so glad that we can continue a conection with you through your diary, thanks to Dottie. What would we do without Dottie? She is a spectacular woman and I appreciate all the hard work that she does, she is a great diary assistant to you Zenyatta.
Looking forward to seeing who the eight lucky people are whose cards were drawn from the sixteen today. Wishing luck to the sixteen.
Take care Zenyatta and keep on shining brighter than the stars in the sky!
My Love & Blessings to you
Sharon in Seattle
I had the most wonderful time at Oaklawn and the 2010 Apple Blossom. I got in line at 8 AM and made friends right away with other Zenyatta fans. We were rail birds all day and thrilled to see Zenyatta in all her glory! a truly memorable experience!
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. It’s Apple Blossom Day!! A special day filled with wonderful memories of you, Zenny. Your amazing talent was certainly on display and your beautiful picture still graces the racetrack website. How fun!!! I never made it to the race, but I too remember incredible springtime images of pink blossoms, gorgeous you and your best bud Mario. Isn’t it fantastic to see so many outstanding fillies and mares currently racing. You and Rachel set such a wonderful example. GIRL POWER is on display. This is going to be another great weekend of races. The Arkansas Derby is just packed with talent. Looking forward to seeing how the Factor runs. I am so happy that you are getting to enjoy what horses love most, Zenny. As MLV, Sharon Call, Laura J and J Smith have stated, your life right now is pretty wonderful. You have a large paddock with delicious blue grass growing high, great pals to race the wind with, caring Lane’s End staff to devote quality time to you and a loving family that visits often. What a fantastic life!!! Can’t wait until the drawing tommorrow, it means a great deal to me, Zenny. Love you lots!! Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Shari Voltz – Be sure to tell all of your wonderful kids how much their support means to me and I am sending a big THANK YOU and hug their way. {{{{ }}}}
@S – Love your idea for fun after retirement with a Few New Friends. What a wonderful dream.
@Celeste and Karey R – Karey, so glad to hear from you. Know you are both dealing with some issues, good thoughts coming your way. Bless you both.
@Trina Nagele – Thanks for the update on John Shear. He is remarkable and I am so glad he is able to go home.
@MLV – Your posts have been wonderful. Isn’t it amazing that you communicated with Rum Car most of his life utilizing primarily your hands on the reins, leg pressure or voice, but your connection actually grew when you were walking side by side, eye to eye.
@Regina in NJ – Thank you so much for your wonderful support.
@Margie – What a special treat for you to have an amazing conversation with Mr. Brooke. His gorgeous representations of God’s equine masterpieces make it easy to see that he has a heavenly hand. How gracious his consideration of sharing his image of Zenyatta with us in some way.
@DJ – I was just looking back at some posts today and spotted the one
where you told me your sister was named Dawn. How special!! Love it!
@Peggy – Speaking of sisters, hello my friend!!!
@Karen Mitchell – Good luck to you!!!!
Linda/Maryland
Zenny~
Your Apple Blossom picture is fabulous!!
You are standing so straight and tall, so proud. You are so beautiful.
I am hoping that when ever you can have visitors there at Lands End that I can find a way to come see you ~!!
Love you ~
Sue and Tony
Such grand racing memories came to the surface today all because of you, Zenyatta. You brought thousands of non-racing fans into the sport because of your personality and running style. We can never forget the phone calls we received after friends and family watched you run in the 2010 BC. They were amazed at what they saw…we were there and still are in awe of the way you tore down that track to a photo finish. No other horse could have done it…no one. We simply must thank you again for giving us some of the greatest moments in sports…of any kind. God broke the mold when you were born. We know the lucky winner of that bronze will be thrilled to have such a grand representation of you. Hugs and kisses and sweet dreams tonight.
Ann Maree
Hi, Z,
Still miss you so much on the track. Every once in a while when I want to travel back in time, I go to your page at Wikipedia and whoever put your page up really, really loves you! Your Wiki page is one of the most comprehensive on the web, I think! I mean they also keep it up to date, as well. Every single thing you ever did on the race track, and a lot off, is documented there, including all your awards and even the most recent one! It’s a good place to read all that you accomplished in your long career, and realize what you did will not soon be duplicated! Of course, there are all your racing videos at YouTube and then all your fan videos with your dancing to music. You set the bar awfully high, and I don’t think there ever will be another like you! I know so! Hugs. Your friend, Ann Maree
Mary
Beautiful Zenyatta!
Fond memories for us all. Hugs and Prayers
Marsha
I like hearing about you (on my facebook page), but I could do with less exclamation points on those postings.
Gloria Jeanne
Zenyatta, you have over 76,000 thousand facebook fans!!!! Way to go my sweet girl.
Love
shemas
Dear Z
I so love every new picture I see of you!
Maryyette
Happy Apple Blossom day from Hot Springs, AR. Dottie and Zenny, thank you so much for your kind words about Hot Springs and Oaklawn Park – Arkansas love you, and we are sooo glad that you came from California and graced us with your magic and your beauty and class. We remember that the only other place you raced outside of Arkansas was at Churchill Downs, and that you came to Arkansas twice!
Congratulations to Havre de Grace, who came in first in today’s Apple Blossom, and Switch, who came in second – but Zenyatta, you are still the Queen of the Apple Blossom.
If you go to the home page for Oaklawn Park, at
http://www.oaklawn.com/
the first picture in the slide show is-
ZENYATTA! Love you, California Girl!
Patricia
Hi lovely Zenny – saw you at the Apple Blossom last year – one of the most wonderful memories in my life. I will never forget you, love you always, sweet girl-
Maryyette
Sorry – I meant to say, the only other place you raced outside of California besides Arkansas was at Churchill Downs, and you came to Arkansas twice – we love you so much, Zenny!
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Funny you should mention the Apple Blossom. Around this time last year, I purchased tickets to the Apple Blossom. There was a lot of discussion that Rachel Alexandra would meet you on the track. So I got my tickets way ahead of time. Then Rachel’s connections agreed to race only if the date were moved out. So a new date was set. I was disappointed because I knew it would be impossible to get tickets–and it was. The tickets went on sale at 9am. I tried non-stop until 3pm that afternoon when I finally got through to the ticket office. They said the tickets were all sold out by 10am. So last summer when I went to the Del Mar to see you race, I purchased a beautiful print of a painting by Christine Picavet of you standing by the Apple Blossom trees. That beautiful picture is hanging over my sofa in my living room.
Good luck to everyone in the next around!
Jackie
Good Evening Queen “Z” Yes your Apple Bloosom races were great. I was disappointed to see that Swith came in 2nd today. Too Bad I always liked the competition when she ran against you!
There will never be another like YOU!
I heard the weather was pretty severe in Arkansas. I hope it is not heading North. I have a question. In the event of severe storms such as tornados where do the horses go? Do they have safe places? I certainly hope so.
You and your friends at Lane’s End STAY SAFE!
Hugs and Kisses
Jackie
Valarie Franklin
Oh Z, the Apple Blossom will never be as exciting without you. But maybe someday we’ll see a filly of yours in the race? Hooves crossed!
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
oh, your race videos still have me sitting on the edge, and hollerin’. You were sthg, horses are real scene-stealers, but you were sthg. Yeah, a lot of great care goes into the making of a great race-horse besides havin’ the right stuff. And it certainly was bestowed on you by your great team.
@ MLV
Every time we say hello we say good-bye.
Tough lesson to learn, but never-the-less that one is life’s inescapable lesson for us. I enjoyed your recollections of memories of the ones who accompanied.
Well, Zetty, another tgif, tomorrow you’ll be out and about your paddock, pluckin’ your daily ration of grass, munchin’ oats, carrots, and may be a mint or two :) :) :) Good night, and sweet dreams :)
Peggy
Hi Zenyatta wishing you a wonderful evening. Hope you have been having lots of fun in the paddock with your friends.@Dawn my twin sister, wishin you much much luck tomorrow. It’s almost Saturday we’ll know soon. Someone in an earlier post asked if the horses in Japan were still o.k.. I am still concerned too. last I heard they were ok. I am going to try and find out something more. I try to keep track of them. If anyone knows any updates please post. I called Three chimneys earlier and they said Silver Charm was well. I heard also that Charismatic was too. Would just like another update. I still worry about them. Sweet Dreams Zenny. Love Ya Peggy
DJ
Dearest “Sweet Z”,
Goodnight and sweet zzz’s….
Best of luck to all for tomorrow; and Heidi K.; your “t” can hopefullybe part of the “elite” eight! Best of luck to you!
KIMBERLY
Z, you are simply MARVELOUS!!!!!
DJ
p.s. Margie, so good of you to think of this little “Z” family…blessing to you!