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
Sheri
Have safe travel Zenyatta! Wow i can imagine how hard it must of been to go onto the track and not run! haha! Love you Z and i hope you really like your new home. I’m surethere will be a very big welcome! :D
Stephanie Lambert
Sweet grazing love girl……..
Marie
Thanks for the most wonderful memories Queen Z!!
stay warm and enjoy your new home
enjoyed watching your party online, you looked gorgeous
looking forward to reading about your new life and home
Janie
I was at Hollywood Park yesterday and you are so beautiful! PLEASE keep us posted about your new life in Kentucky. We love you so much, Zenyatta.
Ms. Lee Deison
Can’t wait to see you at Keeneland tonight Z!!!!
Dolores Pshsnychniak
I hope you had a safe flight Zenyatta as well as Mario and the rest of your wonderful, special and loving staff. I will miss knowing you are in California, but happy to know you have retired safe and sound, Thank you for being with us one last time at Hollywood Park yesterday, you are Beautiful and we love you.
Elena Erdman
My dear Zenyatta, I was at Hollkywood Park yesterday and saw you at the paddock, how glorious you were and serene and how you stopped and stood there so tall and elegant and patient with you little cotton balls in you gorgeous ears.. it is like a fairy tale for me, so so beautiful.. I saw you in the winners circle but could not get too close, I was by TVG and as I saw you walking away slowly swinging that marvelous behind of yours, I lost it.. I am still in tears, you have meant so much to me in my life and now you are in Kentucky.. I am glad you have warm clothes for those cold days.. please keep us up with what you are doing.. I hear your appearance at Keneland is going to be two hours late.. I hope you don’t feel too cold.. when I want to think of something nice all I have to do is think about you… thank you and the Mosses and Mario and Dottie and John.. I did not know I could have visited you even though I did not have a pass to the backstretch and I never called again, and then I found out other people like me went in to see you and that they were giving passes out.. that really saddens me.. I just believed the public could not go to see you.. I will miss seeing you race and knowing you were so close to me, only 45 minutes.. it made the air good.. Thank you, thank you all for sharing Zenyatta with us.. how you have touched our hearts it is unbelievable.. I will always see that picture of you in the paddock.. always.. I love you so much.. the letter you wrote today is fantastic, just like you and all the wonderful people that surround you.. I love you, keep the news coming.. I love you, I love you.
S
Dottie thank you for keeping Queen Z apart of our daily life. And how wonderful yesterday was at Hollywood park. She looked beautiful and you all were so gracious to all of us crowed in around the paddock and winners circle . Every horse should be so fortunate to be cared for, owned, and trained by a group (team) like all of you! Would love to see a video of her first turn out at Lanes End. Can just imagine a couple loud snorts, head high, tail up and off she goes!
Teresa Jimenez
I’m so happy to have been there at Hollywood Park to see you yesterday. I already miss you. Have a safe trip and sending lots of of love your way.
Carole
Gary Moulton — an absolutely beautiful tribute! It brought tears to my eyes.
Dani
*It was something unpredictable…but in the end we found…you gave us all the time of our lives* (words rewritten from Green Day song). Zenyatta, a safe journey to you. I hope they had good meal service and a movie for you to watch. When you arrive in Kentucky I think you are going to need more than just cotton in your ears. You are going to need ear muffs for the cold weather. Love you bunches and bunches and will stay in touch through your diary – it’s just like being pen pals, isn’t it? P.S. Beautiful poem Gary.
Lauren
God Bless you Zenyatta. I love reading your posts each day. You looked so beautiful at your special celebration yesterday. I hope you enjoy your new home in Kentucky and can’t wait to see pictures of you and your beautiful babies.
Jan
Zenyatta,
Watched you on TV yesterday. Like all super stars, you look young, in good shape, and beautiful. Will miss watching you race, but I am glad you are going to Lane’s End Farm, where I’m sure you will be doted upon twenty four hours a day.Keep us updated on your website. Oh by the way,I live near the other Lane’s End farm in Hemstead,Texas and it’s just paradise. Hugs & Kisses from Cypress, Texas….
Patricia
WOW! Gary Moutlton’s poem for Zenyatta about 12 posts back…I thought I had cried enough tears for today until I read that. I encourage everyone to scroll back & read his post.
Zen? Are you in Kentucky yet? Have been searching for latest stories on the internet, but only found your arrival now at 6pm! Miss you so much already.
Judy Sims
Have a safe trip and have a wonderful life in Kentucky.
Stay warm, well and happy. When one door closes another one opens. You will be sorely missed by your friends and family in California but know you will charm all around you in Kentucky.
God bless you and keep you well.
Hope you still get your Guinness.
Love you, Queen Z.
Sandra
ZENYATTA IS HORSE OF THE YEAR!
HORSE OF THE CENTURY!
Nancy Bickford
Hope you’re having a good flight, Z. I can’t be there to see you at Keeneland today (I just sprained my ankle!), but I WILL see you at Lane’s End. Be safe, my Queen!
Helen & Guido
Zenyatta you certainly sparkled in your pink yesterday! You looked stunning! We wish you safe travels, we look forward to meeting you next year in Kentucky. We thank you for your posts and hope they continue because you and your family are truly a gift to all animals. You show the emotions, love and intelligence that all animals possess and that we humans often forget. Love you Z!!!!!
valerie chase
Its amazing how Z has affected the lives of so many in so many ways. It finally really hit me this morning, like a family member leaving after a long fun visit, maybe because I had a moment to reflect on the day yesterday and that she had left California this morning, but I sobbed all the way to work. I can only imagine the emptiness you and the rest of the “family” is feeling this morning. Dottie, we can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate your generosity in sharing these posts with us. You really have a knack for writing! Hugs to you and know you are in our prayers.
Darrell Meisberger
Please keep us posted about your amazing life. I’m not far from you at your new home and will come to visit. I’m one of the thousands if not millions that love you. Stay healthy. Love
sheree white
Be safe Beauty Girl! Hope to one day see you in person–if a horse can be my hero–you are IT!
Gloria Jeanne
My Dearest Zenyatta- I Love You! And will always miss and remember You with happy thoughts. I went to say goodbye to you last night but you were already in bed with the lights out. Mario said you were tired from the days events and you had to get up early to catch a flight to Kentucky in the morning. Be safe and say hi to Life Is Sweet for me. Love and Hugs!!!
Sue
These post replies are just heart-wrenching!! I’m so happy that you are still strong & healthy; you looked absolutely GORGEOUS yesterday!! How hard it is to say ‘goodbye’!!!
But now I Need this questioned answered….”DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE Zs’ MAMA IS???” Could she possibly be near, or in Kentucky; & would they be able to ‘meet again?’ Would not that just the heartache out of this departure??? I pray that may be a part of her new life.
Safe travels, girl..I think of you CONSTANTLY!! XXXOOO Sue
Ella Emery
Zenny! This is Ella, your 5 year old fan! I understand snow delays…my bus to school today took a little bit longer than usual due to snow! I hope that they show some video of your arrival to Keeneland. You should be arriving in about another hour. I will have my mom check back…I wouldn’t miss seeing you for the world. I talked to the kids at school & we are going to draw a picture of you & try & come up with names for your babies & send it to John, Dottie and all of team Z! I have some great ideas.
talk again soon. Love, Ella
Rosanne Glynn
HOLY COW! I mean horse….I couldn’t find the end of this blog! Wow all the wonderful good wishes to Lady Legend! I am going to google why you’re plane was delayed. I won’t stop worrying until I find out you landed safely!! I hope the barn is heated when I read 11 degrees. The Calif. Girl is not going to be fond of that temperature! Please don’t forget to write when you land in KY. Love you more than you’ll ever know! kisses & hugs..Rosanne
Rosanne Glynn
update on Zenny’s journey-Monday 12-6 5:12 pm
Zenyatta’s departure from Hollywood Park on Monday morning was delayed about 90 minutes because of a flight delay caused by inclement weather in Kentucky. Zenyatta will reside at Lane’s End Farm, and will be bred there early next year.
Zenyatta had been scheduled to leave the racetrack at 6:30 a.m. Pacific, but Steve Willard, her exercise rider, said at 7:45 that her hour-long ride to Ontario Airport had been delayed. She was expected to leave around 8:15 Pacific, he said.
Zenyatta was scheduled to appear at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., at 4 p.m. Eastern today, but she is now expected to arrive around 6 p.m., according to Keeneland. Due to darkness, Zenyatta will be paraded in the lighted outdoor show ring at the back of the Keeneland sales pavilion. She was previously scheduled to be in the saddling paddock and walking ring.
nancy
Well Z your on your way or perhaps by the time this is written you might be in KY already. Yesterday was wonderful I’m glad I was one of the many thousands that came to send thank you to you and be safe in your new home. It was something once you said goodbye to everyone and I started to head home is started to rain, bitter sweet in a way, I figure CA was crying because you were leaving us also perhaps crying tears of joy for you as you now take on this new life in front of you. I’m so glad to know everyone will be with you for a few days, Mike even said he was going to be there as well, to help get you settle in. It is going to be hard at frist for all of us here knowing that you are away from us, but time will heal that void that is being left will soon find it’s place and we will always have you in are hearts, we will never forget you. You have become everyones hero. Please keep us posted on your amazing life ahead we all are now wating on mommy news, we know that will come soon enough when the time is right. Missing you already Z. We love you very much, The time I had with you upclose will stay with me forever. Stay warm I’m glad you have stuff to keep you warm and safe, And I hope your flight did not take too long. Forever four life you are the greatest.
Bridget Benenate
I wish there could be a Zenyatta reality t.v. show with hidden cameras. 24-7 Zenyatta. I wish we could just see what she’s up to. That way we all wouldn’t have to miss her so much! I want to know what her new blankies will look like. I want to see her get off of the plane, I want to see her new beau! I want to see her new house. She’s the best celebrity we have! The world is just better with Zenyatta in it!
Henrietta Wolfe
Zenyatta, I LOVE YOU, I MISS YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE DONE. YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND, YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND. GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE. I will be checking on you every day. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!! xoxoxoxxoo
RuthG
What can I say that hasn’t already been said by so many. You will always be in my heart Zenyatta, you have a special place in history and take so much love and respect with you to your new career. Thank you Team Zenyatta for sharing this beautiful spirit, this Amazing Amazon Queen with all who love her. For me, she will always be the Dancing Queen who stole my heart. Via con Dios Zenyatta.