Good Morning All,
I am just getting ready to leave Barn 55 at Hollywood Park and go to the plane. I can’t thank everyone enough for the kindness, generosity and love you have all shown me during my racing career.
We have had a terrific ride together…20 fabulous races over a 3 1/2 year span. I have been able to travel and visit with so many wonderful people. I have made so many wonderful friends.
Last night I spent some time just thinking about how GREAT it has been. I looked outside and saw the wonderful area I have grazed on for years. I have shared it with so many loving friends: After Market, Life is Sweet, Tiago, Giacomo, Zardana and Harmonious to name a few. It has been a blast!
Yesterday’s ceremony at Hollywood Park was so special. So many of my dear fans came to greet me. I had fun looking at everyone in the paddock, up on the stairs, and in the balcony. Then walking to the track for the last time…was a bit emotional…for me. I knew I wasn’t running…as all of my normal pre-race stuff was not happening…and my dear Mario…was not wearing a NUMBER. (That was a big clue.) I paraded and went to the Winners’ Circle…even did an encore for my 2 presentations from the Dodgers and the San Pedro Winners’ League. It was special!
John is looking at me now. It is time to bundle up (I’m going to heavy coat weather….good thing I have a great wardrobe)…and get on the van.
My 2 dear friends are in the picture in this post…Dottie and Sophie enjoying the night on my ‘grazing grass’.
I will miss everyone…HUGS, HUGS, HUGS!
Again…THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU…for EVERYTHING!
I will keep in touch! I would not miss visiting with all of you for anything.
Blessings to all!
With love,
Hugs~
Z
Linda
Lanie, thank you for your thoughtful post. I think you put a lot of us at ease.
Sharon Call
ANOTHER ANSWER TO MY E-MAIL. Lexie, one of Bill Farrish’s assistants answered my e-mail this morning at 8:32 EST. Here is her answer:
Dear Sharon,
Sarah Campion, David Ingordo’s assistant, is handling all of the inquiries regarding ZENYATTA. I can tell you that she is doing very well and is adjusting nicely to farm life. It is amazing how many people who have been touched by her and are concerned about her, but trust me, I have worked at Lane’s End for 21 years and I know that she is in one of the very best places as she begins her new career! I will pass on your note to Sarah but thank you so very much for your concern and appreciation of this great mare! She is as loved here as anywhere!
Sincerely,
Lexi Calabrese
Lane’s End Farm
P. O. Box 626
Versailles, KY 40383
(859) 873-7300
(859) 873-8969 Fax
Here is Bill Farrish’s answer from last night:
Dear Sharon,
All is good with Zenyatta. She is hand walking many times a day and adjusting to the cold Kentucky Temps. She will begin to get turned out next week. I’m sure the posts on Zenyatta.com will become more regular.
Best Wishes, Bill Farish
I just figured out that I could copy and past to this post. Duh! I, too, rested very well last night after hearing this good news. Now we know she’s OK and Sarah will take up the posts as soon as she is able. I imagine they’re pretty busy there getting things organized and waiting for the Moss’s and Sheriff’s to get to CA and get some rest before they take up their routine lives again. Writing to this website is cathartic to me. It’s what I do when I’m worried about something or, in this case, a very special being in horse form. When we get the first post from Sarah, I’m going to ask if she can take a picture or two of Z being turned out the first time so we can see if we’re all right about her rolling. I just know she will. She’ll roll on one side and either flip over or get up and lay down on the other side and roll some more. When she’s through, she’ll get up and just shake like crazy. There will either be dust or snow flying off of her. I’d love to see that. What a picture in my mind.
Sharon Call
Patricia:
I went to the Lane’s End website and found contact us. It shows a list of the key people at LE and when you click on their name, it shows their e-mail address. My post that I just entered has the replies from Bill Farrish and Lexie, one of his assistants. It shows Lexi’s phone number but Bill’s replie was sent from his phone and there is no number. I don’t think we’ll need it now that contact has been established with the farm.
Gloria
Thanks Sharon for sharing your messages with us. Thinking about Zenyatta and hope she’s doing well….
sue
Sharon: God Bless You! I appreciate all the information you’ve provided from Lane’s End about our wonderful Zenyatta. I am sure we will hear something soon from Sarah. For the record I am a certified Zenn-alholic, too and want no part of a 10 step program. :-)
Quarterhossgal
Sharon….thanks again for sharing! It sounds like Z is getting the treatment she deserves. We’ll all just have to wait for the first post from Lane’s End.
Sharon Call
Hey, Folks:
It’s Sharon again. Thought I’d share this really cute video with you. It’s not about Zenyatta, but if you love horses you probably love most all animals, too. This is good for a smile or a chuckle. Wonder how they edit this and get it so seamless.
YouTube – Animals of YouTube sing “Deck the Halls”
Hmmmmmm. I don’t think you can just click on this and get there and I’m sure you can go to Youtube and type it in. It’s worth it – made me laugh.
Linda
Hi Sharon:
Thanks for posting the notes from Lexi Calabrese and Bill Farrish. I think that is really great of them to appreciate our concern for Zenyatta. We can rest assure that Z will not be just another horse at Lanes End. It sounds like they have all fallen in love with her already.
Busymom
I’m not worried about Z becoming a broodmare, she’ll love being a mom! It’s this year that she has nothing to do, while she’s pregnant, that may be tough as she is no longer in the spotlight and getting all the attention that she is use to getting. So… I’m hoping that during this year LE will allow the public to see her and give her the adoration that she is so use to receiving.
But once Z has a foal at her side, she’ll be happy as can be. I worked broodmares for years, and I know that most all of them loved being moms and they seemed lost in the years they were barren and didn’t have a foal. We had one older mare who had been barren for 6 years and then finally got in foal again. As she was late in delivering, she was in the foaling barn for a long time. Any newborn foals and their dams were kept in the foaling barn for a couple of days before being moved on to another barn. Anyway, this old mare would neigh and whinny continuously whenever she saw a foal in the barn. She wanted one so badly! In fact she even found a knot hole in her stall wall and would plaster her eye against it so she could watch a foal in the next stall. She’d talk to it off and on all night long. So, the mares love being moms, and so will Zenyatta. She’ll be so happy and content when there is a little prince or princess romping around her… it’s just getting to that point, though. So until then, I’m hoping that LE will keep her occuptied by letting her fans come out to see her!
Carole
Thank you, Lanie — a lovely post.
Toi
Thank you Sharon for being diligent and getting the info on Zenny! Great job!
Lisa
Thank you for being an inspiration to everyone! Enjoy the next chapter in your life and you will always be loved!
jeanne
Zenyatta has touched us all. What a thrill!!! I was thinking to send her carrots and oats and Guiness but that’s silly. This is one horse that we KNOW will be well taken of. I’d like to send a donation (in her name)to a charity that cares for less fortunate horses. Does anyone know of a really good one?
Toi
Jeanne – CANTER and Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue are two excellent organizations that have been supported by Zenyatta and her team with donations.
Sarah Campion
Dear All,
Thank you for your support and interest.
The welcome party at Keeneland was huge success with over 1,000 fans in attendance. Footage of this fantastic affair can be seen on the Bloodhorse, Thoroughbred Times, and DRF web sites.
Zenyatta is acclimating well and loves the snow!
Updates will soon follow. We are currently working on a plan to keep all of Zenyatta’s caring fans up to date with her new life.
Many thanks,
Sarah
Alexandra Bowdoin
Hi Jeanne,
There are a few organizations you can send money to:
Trott, which John Shirreffs works with
ReRun Horse Rescue
Canter Horse Rescue, Bobby Frankel was
affiliated with this one I belive.
Old Freinds Farm in Kentucky
A great Gift to give in Someone’s name.
Ann Maree
If Zen is happy in this new environment and doesn’t show signs of being bored or depressed, then by all means, that would be great, and all of my concerns would evaporate and I would be overjoyed! I truly want her to be happy and content. But, as sound as she is, as tough as she is, and as much as she seems to love training, not to mention racing, she may actually be safer on the track racing than in the breeding/foaling barns! I don’t think Zenyatta has ever indicated in any way that she didn’t like what she’s been doing. Of course, there may be many reasons, other than those publicly stated, for the course of action her connections have chosen, and I greatly respect their care and handling of Zen. Her welfare and well-being have always been uppermost with them. I’m sure when whatever is causing this delay in communication is resolved, they will let us know….waiting is just so hard!
Lanie Johnson
I felt sure she was doing well..they are top of the line and the news is good. Thanks so much for posting updates!!
Hi sweet girl….happy to hear you are doing well…take care…I love you!
Lanie Johnson
Thank you Sarah… I know you all are going to update,etc….I appreciate your post so much!! I KNOW she’s in the best hands!!
Jean Moore
Sarah, Thank you so very much for your update re: Zenyatta. I know you must think we are impatient but we have become spoiled by the daily posts from Dottie. Just knowing Zen is settling in well makes us comfortable and grateful to you.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, you love the snow. I bet you do, you love everything. Ask Sarah to post pics of you dancing in the snow. God, I miss you. Lisa g
Ann Maree
Sharon, thanks so much for your info. Sure helped put my mind at rest. Would love to look you up on Facebook. BTW, I posted your info out there at the Zenyatta FB page. Everyone has been so eager to find out what’s going on, and many were getting concerned. So, your message will be a welcome relief to a lot of folks. I’m sure it will spread around Facebook like wildfire! If you can, email me your contact or FB info. Many thanks!
Also, with nearly 500 posts here, it is extremely difficult to parse through all of the messages looking for those from Lane’s End, or folks like you who have gotten some info… posting at Facebook would be a whole lot easier, I think on eveyone. I sent an email to Lexi with this suggestion. Thanks again, Sharon. Your work is greatly appreciated!
Ann Maree
jackie
Thanks for the update. I have to say the outpouring of concern for our beloved Queen “Z”. She has had a profound affect on the public and if only our two legged friends had the same effect, maybe just maybe this would be a better world.
I cancelled my New York Trip with my friends this month just so that I could attend her send off at Hollywood Park and will use my plane ticket in the spring to come visit Queen ‘Z”.
Miss you so much.
Hugs and Kisses!
Patricia
Great work Sharon! Thanks for the update that Sarah will be handling the posts. I am sure she is trying to absorb it all & figure out her own strategy to help all of us move forward…I am sure it is a huge undertaking & she does not want to let anyone down or leave anyone out!
Glad to see the Lane’s End people being so cooperative & understanding…
OraJean Stevenson
Thank-you, to all (Sharon, Sarah, Lexi, David, Bill, etc.) who take the time to keep us, Zenyatta Fans, up-to-date on what’s going on, with our Queen-Z !!!
Best wishes and many thanks. Fondly, OraJean
Zen-Fan
Lanie! Great post & glad to hear your perspective since you are in the heart of Kentucky! I have only been to Churchill Downs & that area twice, but loved it for the brief moments that I was there. You are absolutely right, Zen will only have “top-notch” care & after reading some of Mr. Farish’s comments on Zenyatta, he seems to feel the same sentiment that many of us do…she is truly remarkable & with all of the publicity & attention surrounding this horse, that last thing he would want is any reason for bad PR!
Linda Bulger
Like to know if Mario, Steve, John, Mike . team Z are in touch with the KY crew or are their roles now gone with the Queen?
Roxanne Cook
Thanks, Sharon Call, for alerting me about the Moment of the Year. I was at the Vanity this year–only my second time ever to a racetrack–and it was the most thrilling race I’d ever seen. To be in that crowd with Zenyatta flying to the finish line at the very last moment–it was heart stopping. I’ll remember it to the end of my days. And yes, I voted!! Everyone vote and make Zenyatta the horse with the Moment of the Year, THREE YEARS IN A ROW!
Bren
Thank you Zenyatta and to Zenyatta’s Team for all the beautiful memories. It saddens me to know that you will no longer be so close to us. My family and I have shared many happy moments @ the races seeing you cruise on the track. The Zenyatta Experience has brought us MUCH joy! Thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Moss for bringing Zenyatta into our & everyone’s lives. Thank you Mr. John Shirreffs for doing such a WONDERFUL job in training or FAVORITE girl! Millions of thank you’s from our family.
Jill Mabry
Sarah, thank you so much for the update. Please give our girl a big hug and kiss for all of us adoring fans. We miss her so much and love her dearly.
Thanks again,
Jill