Good Morning,
Thank you so much for all of the kind messages you have sent ME offering congratulations on my IN FOAL news! Dottie and John were reading them last night and told ME about them! I am still chuckling at the cute names all of you are suggesting.
I also thought it was TOO CUTE when you referred to ME as having a BABY BUMP! I’m still giggling over this comment! And a name that is still making me smile is WINK WINK! How precious is this!
I promise I will do my very best to eat properly and stay nice and healthy. As you can see, I’m out enjoying the lush grass with my dear friend, Mona De Momma! She is a Grade 1 winning mare by Speightstown. As a matter of fact, Mona also raced in California…so we have a great deal in common.
The weather is quite warm in Lexington now. The rain has stopped for a bit and the sun is shining.
I’m one very happy HORSE!
Again, thank you for all of your kind messages. Happy JUNE!
With Love,
Hugs to all~(Especially my dear JOHN on his birthday!)
Z
WILD HORSES
Thank you so much for these great current pictures of our beloved QUEEN Z. I love seeing them. She is soooooooooooooo special.
You take great care of yourself and your little tiny dancer. Your foaling date is very close to my BD March 30. That would be amazing. It is also close to your BD April 1. Be hearing from you soon. Love Ya Big Z Lori
TX Lady
“Dear John” – today would’ve been my grandma’s 125th B-Day – so I’ll be thinking of her & Lady Z’s so patient & wonderful trainer – have a very WINNING & HEALTHY year
Brenda
You look so contented and calm with your friend Mona enjoying the lush grass. I guess a girth wouldn’t be feeling so good right now – I think I see signs of a bump – but how healthy you look. That is another super photo by Sarah, you seem to be a little lower down your hill in this shot. Many Happy Returns to John and lots of hugs to you Momma Z.
Dona
Terry – Meryyette
When we speak of Native Diver, we are talking about one of California’s greatest stars of all time. He was Mr racing in the 60’s, so admired and loved. There was over 50 thousand fans that day at Hollywood Park and I was down at the rail for the race with my friend Candy and her brother. We didn’t dare go to the saddling paddock, afraid of never making it back through the crowd. Quicken Tree and Biggs were both in that race, also. Loved Quicken Tree because of Bill Shoemaker often rode him. Native Diver didn’t just beat the field when he ran, he was up against the best speed horses of that time. I’m not sure but I believe he was carring 130 lbs that day. Tall, Black, tail out like a rudder, he was a glorious sight and all Jerry Lambert did was hold on. You didn’t ride Native Diver, you were just a passenger.
Deborah Richman
Happy birthday John!! Hope you are having a great day :)
Kimberly Potter
Happy Birthday John~ the Best TB trainer in the world!
Zenyatta~ How is it possible that you are more beautiful every time I see you. You are glowing. You have taken us on such an amazing journey…I look forward to the ride every single day with YOU!
I love you to the Heavens and back!
Your #1 fan in Montana!
marcia deeb
Dear Zenny, at last the wonderful news of your impending baby foal! I am so happy for you. Baby Z would be a good name, wouldn’t it? I can’t wait to see what the foal looks like! take care of yourself and do a little dancing, but carefully! love Marcia
Rosanne Glynn
I am so happy you are in foul! Now even on those hot summer days if you are dying to crack open a Guinness….remember only have one!! You are one lucky horse and the baby will be the B.O.T.Y. !!! LOVE YOU ZENNY!! KEEP EATING THE CARROTS.
Charlotte A. Farmer
I am glad Dottie and John enjoyed the posts and all the congratulations that you are receiving.
@The Diver and Kelso – It is nice to read about The Diver once again. The sports fans today missed one of the greatest horses to run here in California. Thank God for the Internet where they can watch and be amazed. He wasn’t all that big but he was powerful, and when he broke from the gate that was all she wrote. For the rest of the pack all they saw was his tail. Speed was his specialty. The greatest California Stakes horse ever. I loved him and cried the day he died. My Thoroughbred scrapbook, that I still have, has all the clippings from his races.
There was an even greater gelding, Kelso. Kelso lived on the east coast and set his hoof print in turf history by winning the 2-mile Jockey Gold Cup five straight years in a row under high weight. Those five wins garnered him, which will never be seen again, 5 straight Horse of the Year honors. I have one of the last postcards that were sent out from Bohemia Stables by Mrs. du Pont along with a note and a beautiful picture of him.
Had east met west the $64.00 question would have been, who would have crossed the finish line first? Knowing both of them I think it would have been too close to call. Carl Hanford, Kelso’s trainer, was asked if he thought Kelso could race, I believe, 3 miles and win? He thought for a moment then said it would take a pretty hard person to send a horse out at that distance, but he believed Kelso could have done it. Kelso’s power and The Diver’s speed, what a race that would have been.
Milo Valenzuela, Kelso’s jockey, once related that he would never forget how his arms were paralyzed for four days after trying to haul Kelso in from his 10-length victory over Guadalcanal in the 1962 two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup.
I try and not think about what might have been had either of them not been gelded. but their memory lives on in those of us who remember. Kelso and Native Diver were the definition of class and greatness, and we proudly enter Zenyatta to that rare group of Immortals.
I love you Zenyatta!
Trina Nagele
@KEN—Loved your video tribute to Zenyatta. Nice that you set it to Liza G. Fly’s song. Thanks for making and sharing.
Hernan Tovar
Dear Judy B, yes I like Mucho Macho Man, especially for his birth story, and his trainer great story is very touchy… Hugs- Ingrid.
barb france
Happy Birthday, John! You must be excited about your “baby” having a baby of her own. Have a great day, everyone!
darlene
Hi Zenny when are we going to get to visit you at the farm? cant wait to see you love ya always
Linda Deutsch
Happy Birthday, John! You and Dottie are just amazing people/trainers, always putting your horses’ needs first. We watch all your horses run when we can and cheer for them all. What a happy birthday present our Z’s being in foal is for you, too! Love you all – and a big hug and kiss to Z and a gentle pat for the baby bump. You all brighten our days!
Gloria Jeanne
http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/08/the-morning-line-a-list-of-believers/
Looking back, thought some of you might enjoy this, it’s a little old news but still worth reading.
Gloria Jeanne
Happy Birthday “my dear John” hope you are enjoying your Birthday and I hope that you and Zenny got to chat today.
Smiles and Hugs
Sally (B)
Sweet Z; I love to know your happy & healthy!! Just think you stopped racing at the 2010 Nov Breeders Cup, and we keep loving you!! It will always be. Happy Birthday to John. He did the best for you Z, John is the greatest. I can come up with alot of musical names myself; but I did like the suggestion “Singular Zensation”. Or how about Singular Senzation?
WinkWink is so cute because we all know where that came from! I am sooooo excited but I am glad your grazing and enjoying. No pressure on you my love!! O.K. then,
how about “GotZmotion” from You’ve got the motion. Both colt or filly. I’ll stop here for now. Have the best sunny days Z, I am so hungry that your bluegrass looks so enticing !! Oh please, I forgot to wish “Congratulations to Bernie”.
Love you always with a kiss on your soft nose!!! xxxxooo
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaDA1cNK1w
This is cute too :)
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.drf.com/blogs/celebration-mike-smith
Kari Bussell
To my hero Mr. John Shirreffs may this be a Birthday full of all the joy and love you gave us. You are a great mentor and teacher in your own unique kind, gentle way.You are the man who tirelessly, patiently taught our Queen to rule…and in watching you we all learned so many life lessons. You and the Queen created a magic that will be remebered for all time. I will always be in your corner. I learned so very much from Zenyatta & all of Team Z- I could never thank you enough. May you have nothing but pure Joy Love & Happiness always…..Of all the people on planet earth you are sincerely my hero and the one I most admire. I mean this from the bottom of my heart…..I love you Dottie – Zenny and everyone with a passion….Best of Everything to you always!!
Zenyatta- Congratulations!!! I am soo happy for you. Stay healthy my precious one…I am beyond thrilled to know you are Happy!!! this video says it best for me….I love you Joy indeed Mr.Shirreffs….Pure JOY!!!.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWADn1cNK1w
Robyn Mullhausen
Zenyatta, you are soo special. Please thank Sarah for the beautiful photos of you. And if you talk to John, please wish him a Happy Birthday from me.
So glad you are enjoying life. I’m sure you will see lots of suggestions for names and I do agree WINK WINK is TOO CUTE! Hey, that’s another one TOO CUTE. :)
Hernan Tovar
My adorable Zenyatta, how about these names for your foal, Queen Z and King Z, I like then because they are very easy to pronounce, what to you think, do you like them?
Please tell John, happy happy birthday…
I love you always, Ingrid.
Elaine
You are giving John a really nice birthday present being pregnant! Another name suggestion: Hooves Crossed. LOL
Kari Bussell
OOps try again…Joy Pure Joy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWaDA1cNK1w
Alene
Hi Zenny, You look gorgeous and so does that beautiful and tasty bluegrass.. You`re going to be a mommy!!!!!!! it`s sooo awesome i just can`t stand it. 2015,you and Rachel the next triple crown. I can feel it in my bones… When can we visit you???? Stay well,gorgeous!!! Lots of Big Hugs and Kisses, Alene :-)
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5zHsQiRDFI&feature=related
sue
Oh, my…the links you guys put up for videos an articles today is so impressive. Every time I see her or read anything about her I tear up…she is my once in a lifetime horse and always will be.
Thank you to all who read here and share the Zen love…especially today on John’s birthday.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Such a lovely picture of you Zenyatta with Mona De Momma. It is so wonderful that you have a California friend right there with you now in Kentucky. You both can share memories and enjoy munching together. Wishing John a very happy birthday and let him know he is doing a fantastic job with all the new horses he has in his barn. And Dottie, she is doing a fantastic job as usual here with the diary. It is absolutely wonderful when there are so many people who work together to keep a good thing going. Take care dear sweet Zenyatta and keep on enjoying the wonderful weather. Love you lots and sending hugs your way!
LauraJ
@Teresa E., IIRC, the notion of a “baby shower” arose a few months ago when someone suggested donating to a milk mare/Premarin foal rescue in honor of Zenyatta and her future foal. In that context, the term fits pretty well. It’s still a good idea. There is certainly no shortage of equine charities that need our help. :-( BTW, Pirate Queen is still sharing the same paddock with Zenyatta, along with Mona de Momma and another mare whose name I can’t recall. Alys and Sea Gull were moved to an adjoining paddock as they were on a different schedule. They can all still see each other.
—
@Everyone who has commented on Zenyatta’s weight, it’s way too early for a baby bump. The fetus is the size of a hamster in a 1200-pound body. Zenyatta now looks like a normal, healthy mare, whereas we were used to seeing her as an athlete in training. I also think the picture angle has something to do with it.
–
@Everyone, I’m enjoying the links, thanks!
Linda Henderson
You look marvelous!