Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #250


Dear Fans,

It has been such a wonderful day! I am bubbling over with the great fans I have and the wonderful support you are always giving me. I so appreciate ALL of your kindness.

In the recent weeks, I have been feeling TERRIFIC and doing VERY, VERY WELL! All of the THINGS in my life are fabulous! I know that so many of you have been contacting the farm to find out how I am doing. This is absolutely TOO CUTE!

EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AND AT LANE’S END could not be HAPPIER for ME!

So, let’s keep HOOVES CROSSED that ALL continues to go this well!

WINK, WINK!

With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z

Reader Interactions

319 Comments

  1. / Reply

    I forgot to mention in my other post. I’m here in my home state “Cali” for a family reunion at HP for the Preakness. I would just love to see Zenyatta’s Barn, I wonder if that could happen while I’m there?? That would reallly make my day. :)

  3. / Reply

    MARSHA- 30s is not old! I went back to college at 42and started life as a teacher in 2001. This is where the determination and heart come in. Think of Zenyatta running at an age when most have retired.

  4. / Reply

    @Margaret—Thanks for your personal insight into Fair Hills, especially about the fun Barbaro had there after his Derby victory. That’s a happy thought.
    @Marsha S—My goodness, being in your thirties doesn’t mean you’re old! It means you are just coming into your own! The best is yet to be…. Where are you located? Maybe some people here can point you to someone close to you to help guide you toward your goals of horse ownership.
    @Kari Bussell—You are missed. Hope you’ll post soon. My prayers are with you, knowing that your health is fragile.
    @Susan in TN—That was a fascinating “Diary Post #1” about your experiences at River Edge. It’s great that you got to interact with the horses and meet the gentleman who had to give up his animals. Your work on updating the website will also be a big help to the rescue if you can manage it, as requested. Having a picture on the website can be a tremendous aid in attracting an adopter, someone who might not have come in at all without having seen that picture. Please keep those “diary posts” coming! I also look forward to hearing more stories about your pony Scout when you have the time and energy. He sounds like he was a real character.
    @Charlotte Farmer—Thank you for filling in more details about John Shirreffs and the great Noor. I’ll check out the 1948 Epsom Derby on the Internet. Good luck with your efforts to relocate Noor’s burial site.

  5. / Reply

    Dearest Z, I always find a wink to be attractive and charming! Thanks for wink-winking! Sweet dreams.

  8. / Reply

    @Marsha S, I have a couple of suggestions as to how you can make your dreams come true. First, about meeting a real racehorse in person. Where are you located? If you are near a race track, go there. Stand at the rail and watch, or attend an early morning workout if allowed. Talk to the track’s PR person and ask if you can take a back stretch tour. Your state or county fair may have racing too. Can you make it to Kentucky for a vacation? Possibilities abound. The Kentucky Derby Museum has an on-site equine ambassador. The Kentucky Horse Park hosts champion TBs Da Hoss, Funny Cide, and Cigar. Old Friends is open for three daily tours, and/or you can arrange a visit to Our Mims. The horses at Old Friends are mostly very friendly, as several of us here can attest. :-) Another option is to visit a breeding farm. These are located not only in Kentucky, but in New York, California, Ontario, Florida, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and other states and provinces as well. Many farms offer tours of their stallion facilities, and some will let you handle their well-tempered stallions (but be sure to ask). Finally, check out the horse rescues in your area. Some handle retired TBs exclusively, while others often have a few in their programs. (And don’t forget that Standardbreds are race horses too, as are some Quarter Horses, Arabians, Paints, and Appaloosas.) Most of these rescues would welcome a visit, especially if you show up with a monetary donation, or even a bag of carrots or horse treats.
    —
    Something on ownership to come later; don’t want the post to get too long!

  9. / Reply

    Good morning Quenn Zenyatta. We all hope what your not saying is true WINK WINK. That was 25 winks :) We love you so much and the children ALL want a little Zenyatta running around. Well time to start. Hugs and Many Kisses from Shari and Homeroom 215 XXXOOO

  13. / Reply

    Zenny, I see that sparkle in those eyes! Just reading the posts makes my heart smile :). Want everyone associated with you (especially Dottie) how much these posts mean to so many fans that just adore you. The creativity is so amazing and you just have to smile for the entire day! Hooves are crossed, prayers are said and we’ll just sit back and wait. Love you Zenny (Dottie too). Thank you. :)

  14. / Reply

    @Judy Berube:Thank you for your comment.Yes,that is the only way to look at it-helping the horses helps the man who could no longer take care of them. I will definitely sign up for Horse Watch!
    @Trina Nagele:Thanks for your comments!I am going back today to the rescue.Also,I share your concern about Kari Bussell.
    @Laura J:What great,practical suggestions for Marsha S!
    @Marsha S: I just saw a piece on television about an African-American man who learned to read and write at the age of 98 and became a voracious learner!His grandfather was a slave.He died a few years ago. Anyway-good luck!

  16. / Reply

    @Susan in Tn. It’s always good when you have “help”. The shy horse will come around in time, it just takes patience and letting that horse move at it’s own rate (just like John did with Z and will do with Ebby). How sad for the older gentleman who had to give up his horses and burros. He obviously loves them and I know that decision was hard for him. But, in the end, it’s all about what’s right for the animals. It’s good that he gets to visit them at the rescue. Please keep us posted on what’s going on with your rescue work.

  17. / Reply

    Wink,Wink,:)My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, I am so excited for you and you do look wonderfully content & happy in your photo. Tell Dottie, “Thanks” for sharing & for the wonderful photo. When I read this, YOU made my day yesterday! All of my babies her, 5 doga & 1 parrot have their paws & claws crossed for you. I love you, Sweet Zenyatta so much! Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
    @Charlotte A. Farmer- I love your story of Noor. I love the history of racing and hear the amazing stories of the great horses then. Thanks for sharing.

  18. / Reply

    Dear Zenny — WINK, WINK!! You and Dottie are TOO CUTE. I hope that your feeling great and that all is well with the world brings you much happiness. Your zillions of fans are rooting for you. Our hooves are crossed! Hugs and Kisses. Joan

  19. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta,

    So glad that you are feeling good and enjoying the quiet life. Some of your friends remember the old days when a LADY was discrete about certain matters. One was polite and gracious about the possibility of a LITTLE VISITOR sometime in the spring. This gave the LADY time for rest and care from her FAMILY and MEDICAL staff. We all appreciate the wonderful care that Lady Zenyatta is being given and send our sincerest love to
    you for continued good health and happiness! WINK!WINK!

  20. / Reply

    @Charlotte Farmer–Thank you for the information on Noor. Quite interesting. I saw him beat Citation at Hollywood park. he was a wonderful racehorse. With the triple crown so much in vogue these days, I might add something about Citation that people may not realize. the year he won the triple crown he actually ran a race between the Preakness and the Belmont. How many modern trainers would do that? @Audreyc–Thank you for your comments. There are many stories about my mother’s horses I could tell but the tone of the web site has been somewhat different in the past few days and I will get to them eventually. Her jockey was William Harmatz, who recently passed away.

  21. / Reply

    Hi Zenny,

    I’m so Happy that you’re doing great.
    That is my wish for you, that you live an long, happy and healthy life.
    I’m glad you are enjoying your wonderful life. I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully you’ll meet Bernie soon…(l)
    Hugz and Kizzez from Annika XXX

  23. / Reply

    Wink Wink right back to you…If this is what I think it is, WOW beautiful girl!! We cannot wait for the official announcement. I do miss seeing you Zenyatta on the race track. I hardly watch racing anymore. Anyway, take care of yourself cause you are our Treasure and we adore you and you are definitely TOO CUTE!!!!

  24. / Reply

    More for @Marsha S.! Don’t get your hopes up about owning Zenyatta or her offspring. She’s not for sale, and I doubt any of her babies will be either. :-) However, ownership is not as hard as you might imagine. If you are serious, think about joining a partnership. That’s what I did. Better Step Aside, the horse I refer to as “my” horse, is not mine entirely. I own 10% of him and pay 10% of his expenses. Partnerships come in different price ranges, with different business models, and involve different types of horses. In most partnerships, one purchases a percentage of a horse. I’ve seen percentages as low as ½% on up to 25%. Generally it’s up to the buyer to select a percentage, although most partnerships have a minimum share size. Cost to buy in runs the gamut and depends on the price of the horse, the business model, and the share size. High-end partnerships that buy potential stakes horses can cost tens of thousands of dollars to get into. Some famous partnership stables include Team Valor, West Point, and Dogwood. On the other hand, it’s possible to buy a percentage of a horse for a couple of hundred dollars, and I have even seen a 5% share in a horse offered for free. There’s every price point in between. So buy-in is pretty easy.
    —
    However, most (not all) partnerships expect the partners to contribute their share of the horse’s expenses. A racehorse in training is not cheap to maintain, and certain minimum expenses have to be met no matter how much or little the horse cost. They all have to eat, they all need shoes, worm paste, etc. So anyone who enters a partnership must be able to fulfill his/her obligations. “Step” runs me between $150 and $200 a month while he’s at the track; much less when he is turned out. Most of his expenses are for training. A high-end partnership such as West Point that uses top trainers would incur higher monthly expenses. One can also find partnerships that are structured such that most expenses are paid for up-front. Naturally, buy-in is higher as the horse is marked up considerably. Costs such as mortality insurance and owner licensing will always be extra.
    —
    Most partnerships are for racing. Often the partnership stable buys a horse and then sells shares in it. Usually they buy weanlings, yearlings, or 2-year-olds in training. Another common arrangement is the claiming partnership, wherein the partners contribute toward a predetermined amount that will be used to claim a horse at a track. There are also pinhooking partnerships (buying a horse to be sold later at a higher price) and breeding partnerships (e.g., buying a share of a mare in foal). You can find partnerships on the Internet, on trainers’ websites, advertised in the classified sections of racing publications, on TB forums, or by word of mouth. Groups can form their own as long as someone in the group has enough knowledge to manage the partnership.
    —
    Anyway, if you want to know more, post any questions and I or someone else will try to answer them.

  25. / Reply

    Check out Steve Haskin’s Preakness Report “Mucho Macho Becomes a Man.” With respect to MMM and Kathy Ritvo, he says, “It is apparent that some horses and humans are meant for each other, just as Zenyatta and John Shirreffs were meant for each other.”

  28. / Reply

    @LauraJ thank you for the information. I would LOVE to own a race horse but can’t at this time. I called Jeanne at Our Mims and I am now a monthly donor. This makes me feel so good in my heart. It makes me feel like I have a horse of my own :) I got to ride a rescued thoroughbred. His name is Armondo. He raced by the name of Butter Best (I think). It was a thrill for me to ride him. He is very sweet. My friend Diane saved him from a kill pen and trained him for riding and jumping :)

  29. / Reply

    Best wishes Zen! Does anyone have confirmation that Zen’s half sister Ebbi is actually still at Hollywood Park? Ihav eread conflicting reports that she will be going to Ireland…does anyone have the inside scoop on this? Not to take away from ALL of Z’s excitement, but was just wondering…thanks

  30. / Reply

    @Patricia Emery. Evvy is at Hollywood Park with John. The filly sent to Ireland is a different horse.

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