Hello Everyone!
I had a great weekend. I thought the Peter Pan Race was very exciting…love those photo finishes. Alternation won that stake in a very tight finish. Then at Hollywood Park, the Lazaro Barrera Stake was also a close, close finish! Congratulations to Bench Points who won that race. Those NOSE FINISHES can be very exciting. I know a bit about that from my racing days!
Bernardini also had a fun weekend. He sired some very nice winners around the country and then Theyskens’ Theory won a listed stakes race in Europe. YIPPEE!
On another note, a few weeks ago, a lovely family came to visit ME! The young daugher wrote a very endearing letter to Lane’s End requesting the visit for her Father. He has been quite ill and the daughter felt this would be a very special and meaningful visit for their entire family.
Lane’s End honored this special request. The family came to visit and then they sent some photos of ME back to the farm. I thought you would enjoy them. I’d been outside playing right before they came to visit ME! Oh, I do have so much fun outside…and YES, I do love to roll in the grass!
A special time was had by ALL on this day! Best wishes to this lovely family and ALL BLESSINGS to them in every single area of their lives.
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Donna
Z you look lovely as usual, i know you must be enjoying that KY bluegrass.
Just watched the Dante Stakes at York UK where I am from and the Queen’s horse Carlton House won impressively, of course he has the same sire as you.
Nice gift from Sheikh Mohammed to the Queen, I hope he wins the Epsom Derby, he is the favorite.
Your sire Street Cry is an amazing stallion, he sired you Queen Z
Brenda
What a kind thing for Lane’s End to do. I’m sure the family will always be grateful. I wish that the horse my grand daughter rides had been rolling in grass instead of mud when she had her lesson on Saturday. Fortunately Victoria enjoys grooming and mucking out almost as much as the riding which is a good thing since she wants to have a career working with thoroughbreds. Every picture of you is a delight to see and I’m sure you’d look beautiful even covered in mud. Lots of hugs and love from Fort Erie.
Marilyn
You and Lanes End are amazing …keep up the good work. Maybe someday ill be able to visit.
luv ya’s
Karen Mitchell
Hi Zenyatta, Every time I hear or read about someone seeing you in person and the magical, mystical, healing effect it has on them, it brings back memories of when I visited you at Barn 55 on your last day there and when I greeted you, you turned toward me and gave me a kiss. The moment was life-changing and I will cherish it forever. It was as if you knew that I had lost my husband and you were thinking of him, too. You have the most amazing power to sense a person’s heart and soul and give them just what they need most — unconditional love and deep understanding. What Ann Moss said about you (that you “choose to be gentle, all the time” is so true and also so incredible. What a special gift you are to our world. I can’t thank you and your team enough.
Barbara
Boy you sure look gorgeous! Thanks for the photos and lovely diary! :)
Lisa in Colorado
Zenny: You are without a doubt the most beautiful creature on the planet. Perfection always.
Thank your connections for always being so kind and considerate of your loving fans.
Laurie Collins
I can’t tell you enough how wonderful I think you are. The story above really touched me. Thank you. Your awesome.
LauraJ
@Paula Higgins, OF always needs money but are out of crisis mode:
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/05/12/donors-rally-for-old-friends.aspx
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. Hello, beautiful. The pictures look wonderful you are so very lovely, thank you to the visiting family for sharing. What a great gift you and LE gave to a family in need of some joy. Ann always said that you touch peoples hearts and I am sure spending time with you lifted the spirits of the entire family. How special is that daughter, Zenny, asking for something that she knew would mean the world to her father during a very difficult time. It was so wonderful of LE to grant her wish. Blessings to you, Zenny, for everything that you do. Love you to the moon and back!! Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Again, thank you to everyone for your amazing messages to me. To be part of Zenny and Dotties diary post not just once, but twice was beyond belief. The smile is still in place and yes, for good or bad I do keep a very clean desk. :) Hope you have seen my responses, they have been toward the end of #247 and #248. Congrats to everyone that is getting or has their very own Zenyatta Bronze! Love and continued blessings to all.
@Susan in TN – Hey girl, hope everything is good with you. Just had to share a story after I read about that stick stable of yours. When I was growing up, we had a big oil barrel that was rounded and just about the size of a 16 hand horse. It was for our furnace and was at the side of the house. Before I got a horse of my own, that was my Black Stallion. There was a curved pipe coming out of the front top. Perfect for swinging up on and holding twine reins. The rides my friends and I had bareback and double on that old barrel live in my memory still. Congrats on the volunteer work, what a great calling.
@Catherine Uher – So glad to hear from you!
@AudreyC – The seven stages of a women on a horse was hilarious.
@Read the info on Kincsem, thanks to everyone who provide information on her. Truly amazing. I love this site so much for all of the varied information that is shared.
@Chris H – How great that your own Sugar was used as a model for a bronze.
@Sue Noel – Wouldn’t a get together be just TOO FUN. I am planning on stopping to see Shari Voltz as I will be going through Ohio on my way from Lexington to my nieces house in New York.
@Peggy – You will get that horse you dream of, I am sure of it!!!
@MLV – The words you shared about your mare were beautiful.
@Anne from Paramount – How special for you to have your letter to the editor published. For those who like to write, it is wonderful to see our words in print.
@Shari Voltz – Hello my friend. Thank you so much for the “beautiful” comments and amazingly kind words. You are one special lady. Keep smiling and keep running and kiss those furbabies of yours. Talk to you soon.
Charlotte A. Farmer
Being with you would make a person feel so much better. You are a healer.
Love you Zenyatta!
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
Hello Zenny, Thank you for sharing another heart-warming and inspirational story. I’m so glad someone at Lane’s End realizes the remarkable connection and healing energy people feel in your presence and allowed this family in need access to you. My prayers go out as well for their health & happiness. It would seem that LOVE already has a home in their hearts. LOVE&PEACE
Jan
Zenyatta,
You look very beautiful and healthy. Love & Kisses Big Mama :)
Christine in VA
Dear Zen,
You are so beautiful and serine ,but I bet you have a great kick up your hoofs roll in the grass fun time
. Love it
LauraJ
@Shari Voltz, here’s an equine charity your students might find interesting:
http://www.ourmims.org/index.html
–
Our Mims is a retirement home for thoroughbred broodmares. It’s rather like Old Friends in its mission, but it gets much less publicity and hence money. It is named after Our Mims, Eclipse Award winning 3-year-old filly in 1977. Despite her success on the racetrack and her service as a broodmare, after she became barren the old horse was left in a field to fend for herself. She was eventually rescued at age 25. After her death at age 29, Our Mims was founded in her honor.
Katie Clawson
Wonderful picture Zenny! You always look so beautiful. When will we all get to come visit you? That is great to hear about Bernardini!
Love, Katie(future jockey)
Chris Balmes
That is very, very special Zenyatta! What good work you do in this world. There is sure no doubt that every part of you still loves a camera and boy do you know how to use it! LOL!
sandra gomez
That was thoughtful of you and Lane’s End to allow the family a visit. I’m sure it made his day.. you would make anyones day! Love you always, Zenyatta
Margaret
@AudreyC from yesterday
Someone was asking me how will Z respond to the changes her body will undergo thru her pregnancy. That’s why I used that term to distinguish people’s view vs an animal’s view to the physical changes. That was the basis for the discussion.
Yes,there are so instances of animals used for therapy–my assistant has a therapy dog. I’m not sure who is more of the recipeient of the therapy–the dog or me. The dog gets petted and loved on and in return he looks up at me with this adoring expression of love. Pleases don’t stop loving on me.
Perhaps I didn’t express this thought as throughly as I should’ve.
sherry drish
THAT IS A NICE PIC OF YOU DEAR ZENYATTA. THE GIFT OF THE VISIT WAS JUST LIKE YOU, KIND AND LOVING. KEEP ENJOYING YOUR GRASS, SPRING IS SO SPECIAL, NOT TOO HOT. LOVE TO ALL..SHERRY D. WV.
Fran
Hi Z. What wonderful people you have surrounding you. All of your peeps are so kind to allow special visits. I bet you also enjoyed yourself with a special visit. Have a wonderful day Z! xxoo
Margie
The daughter who requested the visit for her father was very wise. Zenyatta knows what ails you and if she could be bottled as a tonic, she’d put the pharmacutical companies out of business! I have no doubt that the father’s spirits soared after his visit with beautiful, kind and intuitive Zenyatta.
I wrote on my post card (for the contest) about my experience when I met her at Barn 55. I said something along the lines of “she stared into my eyes and I had no doubt that she saw all the way to my soul.” I am not special; Z gives each person her attention. She “knows” you instantly. I’ve said it before and I’ll always believe it – she has to be an Angel sent from above, I just know it.
Love you, Z, and love your fabulous photos! I’m so grateful you’re happy, healthy and living a good life.
xoxo
Margie
P.S.
@Susan in TN – love what you are doing with your volunteer work. God bless you!
@Karen Mitchell – your post made me cry; I could feel your emotion. I hope each day brings you healing.
Jack W.
DRF writer Glenye Cain Oakford has a nice piece in today’s edition about Z’s mom, sisters and brother. She also confirms the rebreeding to Bernadini a few weeks ago. Check it out. Also, will you ladies please stop the sniping on this site and enjoy it for what it was meant to be!
Judy (Maass) Gadwood Adores Zenny (CA)
@ Cynthia H ~ You know who I am… and I totally agree with how you described being with Zenyatta! Each and every time I left her at Barn 55, I was walking on Cloud 9 (aka 19!) ;-) I wish everyone could have “experienced” what we did!
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Zenny ~ Hi pretty girl!!! You love the camera and the camera loves YOU! TOO CUTE!
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HUGS & KISSES MY QUEEN! Happy Monday! XOXOXOXO
Kathy B.
great to see you still like to pose for the camera, Z! I guess old habits are hard to shake…..it looks like a lovely day there! it’s still a little on the cool side here in CA but is supposed to get warmer later in the week. dawn thanks for all your comments. – we are so proud of you for winning!
Debbie G
Hello, my sweet Zenny. You look amazing in those pictures. But then again, you always do! That is so wonderful that you answered that little girl’s wishes and had her and her sick father out for a visit. I’m sure that that made him feel better. I’ve never met you in person, but I’ve heard what an effect you have on people. You are so incredibly perfect. I love you, Zenny! :-)
Trina Nagele
Dearest Z, You are gorgeous, as always. In photo one behind you we see those lovely fluffy Kentucky clouds you mentioned before. In photo two, it really looks like you are in attentive conversation with us, looking deep into our eyes, and tilting your head just so. It was very gracious of you and Lane’s End to grant that daughter’s special request.
It will be exciting to follow the progress of your little sister Eblouissante. I’m so glad she is in John’s capable hands, especially because she is big like you and needs to be with someone “who is not in a hurry,” to quote from Liza Fly’s tribute to you.
Now enjoy that bluegrass and sunshine!
@TERRY CROW—I always look forward to your horse lore and insights. Please continue!
@Cynthia H.—Thanks for another lyrical post today, and thanks for letting us know yesterday about the bronze of Kincsem in the Chandelier Room at Santa Anita. And I agree—if there is reincarnation, Z must be the great Kincsem come back to earth again. Definitely soul sisters.
@Dani, Susan in TN, LauraJ and others interested in rescue—Thanks for the reminder about the many horse rescues out there that need our help. In connection with that, I don’t think anyone responded to Tamyatta when she asked on #230 about the Castleton Ranch Horse Rescue. A colleague received a request letter from Castleton—she thinks they may have gotten her address because she has made contributions to the Humane Society and Castleton says they are a long term member in good standing of the AHS and the ASPCA. It is a beautifully written letter asking for help to maintain horses they have saved from death. It asks: “What would you have done? …Our feedbags are nearly empty, but we went ahead and rescued 80 horses. We either rescued them, or they would have been slaughtered….So I ask you again, what would you have done?” Truly heart-wrenching. Castleton is located in Lancaster in southern California and has a beautiful website which tells about their rescue of Thoroughbreds and PMU horses among others, their adoption program, and their sanctuary for unadoptable horses. It looks excellent, but Tamyatta and I would appreciate confirmation if anyone has personal experience. Is Castleton maybe on Zenny’s list of horse rescues?
jeanie langford
Love you Z. Hope you are well and happy. Just waiting for news.
Nancy
What a precious gift to give that family! I’m sure you had a wonderful effect and will brighten the coming days for a long time!
Roxi Cook
Mike Smith also won a race yesterday on a 25-1 longshot named Color of Courage. It was a thrilling race, and Mike was so excited and happy, smiling ear to ear afterwards. I don’t think I’ve seen him this happy since your 19th victory! And you look fabulous too, darling …