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
candi cartier
zenyatta is simply the best in the whole wide world with love always candi from florida
Cindy from LA
@Zenyen
There are no rumors. Read the news article that Gary
Provided. It has
Nothing to do with FairHill. It has to do with the
President of Team Valor wishes and he is being interviewed
In the article. His comment about farm Versus
Track where more people around. He has hired someone from
The military to provide security at his barn. Perhaps you need
Some anger management classes or read the article more thoroughly
If you even read it. YOU ARE THE ONE STARTING RUMORS !!!!
Directly as I did.
Lora
In case anyone is interested go to Eblouissante’s facebook page for great updates on “Z’s” little sister. What a nice following of already esstablished fans. Great pics. She is indeed quite stunning– a combination of her Mother’s large frame and height plus her Father’s dark dark shiney coat and appearance. WOW! The anticipation has cautiously begun. ZENNY, I am sure you expected nothing less. The genes in your present family tree may be developing a healthier, more stable line of race horses according to some experts I have read about the last few months. Far less mixed breeding– a clean slate so to speak.
Cindy from LA
Sweet Dreams Zenny. Enjoy your soft hay and
Have fun rolling in the grass in the morning!!!
Holly Zemba
Yes my horses love to play outside too. And it was so nice of you to let this family visit and meet you.
Pedro
Hermosa siempre!!!
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Zenny & Team-Z,
You look so lovely and radiant in these latest photos!! I’m so happy to see you looking so beautiful.
Hugs to all your TEAM. Fondly, OraJean
Zenyen
@Cindy from LA,
I’ll try this in small words.
FairHill is not a farm.
No one from the military is there.
Trina Nagele
The heart-warming story of Royal Flush, Secretariat’s brother that Peggy referred to above, is told by Bill Doolittle in his 2007 article “Counting His Carrot Cakes: Rescued brother of Secretariat is alive and well at age 32.” Royal Flush was rescued when he was 24 and spent his final eight years happy in the Southern California sun.
http://www.secretariat.com/spotlight/secretariats-brother/
Maria K.
Nice pictures. You look so lovely Queen Z. Have fun outside. I miss you so much! I love you. Hugs and kisses!
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
LOVE THE STORY AND THE PICTURES, ANYTHING ABOUT YOU I LOVE TO READ ABOUT…WILL YOU BE WATCHING ”THE PREAKNESS” THIS SATURDAY , I KNOW I WILL BE THINKING OY YOU..LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU
Evie
Prayers are with the father of the family who visited Zenyatta. I don’t know you, but I’ve said a prayer for you. I personally believe Z is a Godsend for hope in miracles. She has been for me, and I hope that for you. Keep your chin up.
Sharon Tupper
That is wonderful news about Lane’s End doing that for the girl’s father. I know both of them will cherish the experience for a long time. Any news on if another breeding took place? Thank you for letting us the news on Berni. Love the photos of you that were posted.
Trina Nagele
This is only for those interested in the security arrangements for Animal Kingdom referred to by others above. The Telegraph article included the following: “Mr. Irwin yesterday told The Daily Telegraph that he had hired a bouncer to provide extra protection at the Fair Hill home of the prize colt…‘It’s an additional presence to take care of the hours between day security and night watchman,’ Mr. Irwin said. ‘He’s an ex-military man and I’m confident he can keep an eye on things. I’m just trying to be cautious because my trainer and I have been very vocal about medication use. We are prime targets if anyone is minded to do something. At the barn it’s out in the open, it’s not like being at the racetrack…It behooves us to do something about it.’” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/8512758/Kentucky-Derby-winner-receives-round-the-clock-protection.html
Let’s please have a truce on this website and not make a mountain out of a molehill or offend each other over small differences. Thank you for your attention.
Good night, sweet Z. Pleasant dreams.
Shaun S. Basch
Dearest Zenyatta: Hello, beautiful girl! So glad to see you are truly enjoying life at Lane’s End. Looks like the guys are taking very good care of you, as it should be!
Matt has the biggest grin on his face that I have ever seen! He’s a good guy, so I know he’s taking good care of your every need along with Charles and the rest of the crew!
Tell Matt, Charles, and Craig that Shaun says hello! :D
Margaret
I visited Fair Hills in 2007. We had a wonderful lecture on polytrack from Michael Dickinson. We got to see a lot of horses out for morning training. Tim Woolley allowed us to visit his barn and brought out all his horses one by one. Even Michael Matz came to the track to thank the fans of Barbaro. He spent upwards of two hours signing autographs and letting everyone get his photo.
I have very pleasant memories of that morning.
Barbaro spent the time between the Derby and the Preakness at FH. By all appearances he had a blast. He played out in a portapod, bucked, rolled. Just had a great time letting down after that amazing Derby he had.
Sure I can understand extra security. With additional consequences if drugs are found on/in your horse it can be devastating.
Kathy Kimber
@Trina Thank you
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL..GIVING, GIVING, GIVING. I love these pics of you, and Lane’s end, for allowing this family to feel your healing power…giving, wonderful. You are so special, I thank God that you are in my lifetime. My prayers to the family. Have a beautiful and wonderful day, Big Girl…Lisa g.
Lisa g
Those ears, too cute.
darlene
Beautiful Z the stars aligened when you were born, there well never be another like you. You are amazing
Susan in TN
Good morning, Zenny! We have sunshine and blue sky here-hope you do,too! Love you!
Cindy from LA
I truely Love Graham Motion and really think
The concept of training on a farm like environment
Is very positive for the horses. They work and get to
Graze and relax after in a quiet environment. How lucky you are Margaret To have visited and spent some time there. Did
Not realize that Team V was so well known for
Being on the no drug side of the current controversy,
Which can make what he said a little more of a
Sensitive issue.
LauraJ
Off-topic post coming up–
@Judy B and anyone else interested in my horse’s progress, keep your hooves crossed for him today. He is supposed to work from the gate and we *hope* he will get his gate card. If he does he will be entered tomorrow for a race on Saturday. :-)
Dorothy Hopper
Zenyatta, it’s nice to see you smiling for the camera again! You must be happy to have met your recent visitors.
Re: Susan in TN; that “gray” (flea bit) mare looks just like several Arab’s at MSU Arabian Center. Do you have information about the previous owners are?
Alexandra Bowdoin
Good Morning Z, raining, cold, miserable here in MA…Hope you have lots of Sunshine!!
@LauraJ, what track is your horse at? Good luck with the gate card. What is your horses name?
Debbie Bassett
What a wonderful gesture from Lanes End to this family. I know from my visit with you in LA that you are something special. When you looked at me and allowed me to touch your sweet face, I felt like you could see into my soul. You have touched so many people and given them hope. You truly are a gift from God. The gift that keeps on giving. I sure miss you in California though. I drove past Del Mar last week, and remembered that was the first time that I saw you race. You’re amazing on and off the track. Blessings on you Zenyatta.
evy
You look great, Zenyatta. How special for the family who visited you, and how understanding of Lane’s End to make it all possible.
Susan in TN
Hey,fellow Z fans! Just wanted to say how much I love everyone’s posts. This site has a BIG heart, like ZENYATTA! I am behind a few posts, so this might be long!
@Peggy from CT: that phrase of your’s-“ripples in the pond named Zenyatta”- I love that. It’s perfect!
@Kimberly Potter: how awesome that you got the Breyer Zenyatta for Mother’s Day! Was it a complete surprise or did you drop hints,like I shamelessly have? :)
@Kathy Kimber: glad to see your “shout out” to Kari Bussell-hope we hear from her soon.
@Marshall(Girl’s name):thanks for jogging MY memory! I had forgotten all about my vinyl-covered,soft-stuffed stick horse! It was a very pale cream color with printed-on red “features.” Sometimes I would sneak out my brother’s handmade stickhorse who had a big,soft black head(kind of droopy). His name was Davy Darkhorse.
@Sue Noel: who knows-maybe we will have a gathering some day! Although, we ARE such a geographically widespread group,aren’t we? There’s Andrea in Germany all the way over to all of our California Z fans! I also love books-and,yes,doesn’t Dawn’s den sound great?!
@Karen Mitchell:Your story about your visit with Zenyatta was so touching. I hope you are healing as much as you can from such a loss.
@Laura J: Thanks for your update on Old Friend’s status and for telling us about both Our Mims the horse and the rescue.Thinking of her fending for herself,left in a field-it just hurts my heart.Hope Better Step Aside is doing well!
@Terry Crow:Love hearing your horse lore stories!
@Vicki B:Thanks for your interest in our
pony Scout. Here is one of my first memories of him: We had bought him from a woman I worked with and she said they could deliver him to our house. So on that morning,we were all outside-so excited! Their truck pulled in the drive,pulling one of the biggest stock trailers I have ever seen.The anticipation was building. There was no sound from within the trailer.Seemed kind of unusual… They opened the back door and out came this tiny strawberry roan foal(his adult height was about 10 hands,so you can imagine how small he was at 5 months!).He looked around-but not in a oh-my-gosh-i’m scared-where-am-I kind of way but like he was assessing the facilities. We should have known then we were in for it.He was like a baby curmudgeon.Not mean or dangerous,just VERY self-confident!
@Linda J: Tell us about your Preakness experience next week! I am pulling for our John’s Mr.Commons!
@Audrey C: Loved your story about Bisbee! And the 7 Stages of Woman Aging on Horseback? I could relate to it so much,I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry!
@Dani:Thanks for Old Friend’s info and for talking about horse rescues,which I am just learning about myself.They sure do need financial help and,like you said,$5.00 can get a bale of hay.
@MLV:Touched by your story of your girl you rescued.I’m so glad she had almost 2 years of your love and care in what sounds like an idyllic setting.
@Sharon Call:Thank you for your story about your mare who had been abused.I liked the idea of you just sitting outside her stall and reading for 3 months.That’s the kind of thing I’m going to do at the rescue,to start with.Glad you liked the story of our gelding and the tail-pulling foal!And I know what you mean about watching the Derby this year with all my new-found racing knowledge.My daughter was home for the weekend and as we were watching the pre-race show,she and I were both kind of shocked at the things I now knew(ex.”Those of us in the know call him ‘Johnny V’-he’s very well thought of.”)
@Shanda Hooton:How is your new horse doing?
@Eveline:Glad you liked “Ed the Pony Being Very Naughty”!Thanks for posting the link-others enjoyed it,too!
@Trina:Thank you to you and others for the link to info on Kincsem-that was fascinating!Also,I plan on looking at the story about Secretariat’s brother.Also,thanks for comment about my new job and am glad you looked at the rescue’s website.Actually,unless it is beyond my capabilities,the owner asked if I could help update the site.There are so many more horses available who aren’t posted.I’m going to give it a try.
@Sue Frederick,Dawn Conrad,Peggy,Shari Volz,Paula Higgins,Amanda G in Alabama,Judy Berube,Margie,Trina Nagele:THANK YOU for your kind words and support of my horse rescue work! It means alot to me and,ultimately,to the horses.I know that unwanted horses are a growing problem both within and without the horse industry.The woman who owns River Edge works as a full-time nurse and her only help is her son(who is a farrier)and a teen-age girl who comes once a week and now me.I don’t know how she does it,but the horses look great-I know I’ve already said some of this stuff-sorry!
@Shari Volz:Glad you and your husband and sweet class enjoyed Ed the Pony!When is school out for the year?
@Amanda G:I thought it was kind of amazing that your “vision” of Zenyatta on a hill matched so closely with that beautiful photo posted a few days later!Hope things in Alabama are improving post-tornadoes.
@Paula Higgins:I donate small amounts to Old Friend’s,too.I really want to visit there some day.Have you ever been there?
@Peggy:I know-just hearing about Secretariat’s brother was heartbreaking and add that to cleaning your Holly’s resting place…I plant flowers every spring in a tub where our precious Sparkle is buried.Most of the time it makes me happy,but sometimes it makes me cry.
@Max,Cindy in LA,Ensign,The Kennedy’s,Laura J,Judy Berube and others in the know: Thank you for the racing knowledge you impart!I am learning alot!
@Dawn Conrad:I loved your story about your big oil barrel horse-your Black Stallion!When you did get a horse,did you ever shorten up your stirrups to see what it would feel like to ride like a jockey(I rode English-guess it would be pretty hard with a western saddle!)? MY GOSH-I don’t know how they do it!!
TO EVERYONE: THIS IS EMBARRASSINGLY and PROBABLY INAPPROPRIATELY LONG BUT I GOT BEHIND! I LOVE THIS SITE AND ALL THE PEOPLE! I THINK WE ALL GATHER HERE IN THE SPIRIT OF OUR BEAUTIFUL ZENYATTA AND HER SPECTACULAR TEAM! As best I can tell,they care about all horses,racing,and US!
Susan in TN
@Dorothy Hopper: I’ll see what I can find out about the gray mare.
Susan in TN
A Margaret:interesting about Fair Hills!
@Laura J:Exciting about your horse!