Happy Saturday Everyone!
It has been a very exciting morning. In Europe, they ran the Epsom Derby today. A horse named CARLTON HOUSE, owned by THE QUEEN of England, was running. This colt was foaled in the United States and was sired by my father, STREET CRY! For these reasons, I was cheering for him. He ran a wonderful race and finished a very accomplished 3rd. I must say, I am enjoying the opportunity to watch the different races around the world now. It is great fun!
Royal Ascot is starting soon. I’m hearing that GOLDIKOVA will be running there. She won her first start of the season…so this will be a race of great interest.
As you know, I have done a great deal of charitable work during my career. My TEAM felt from the very beginning that it was extremely important for ME to be philanthropic and to help others.
At this time, GOLDIKOVA and I are working with the Breeders’ Cup to help raise money for the V FOUNDATION for Cancer Research. I have been doing this for a few years now. What a tremendous cause this is! I truly hope I’m helping to whatever degree possible.
During the last several weeks, Brad Stephenson (in the photo above) worked on a project with MY JOHN to help the ARTS PROGRAMS at Highland Oaks School in Arcadia, CA. (This is the community where Santa Anita is located.) I’m hearing that many of the ARTS programs in quite a few school systems are currently having some difficulties due to budget cuts. It is truly very important for children to be able to participate in and learn about all of these things. Education is so, so incredibly important! Thus, from what I’m hearing, schools are having AUCTIONS to help fund some of these various programs.
The Highland Oaks Designing Dads Auction was a huge success. It was held at Santa Anita. My shoe/photo as pictured above (Brad did a great job framing it) was the highest priced item sold at the entire auction. Andrew and Nana Shen very generously purchased this item.
What a thrill! Everyone at Highland Oaks School is so excited! Fortunately, the children at this school are going to be able to keep their ARTS PROGRAMS for another year due to the success of this auction. The families and members of the community all worked together to make this a success! I am so happy I was able to do MY PART to help!
Recently, one of my halters was auctioned by CANTER. This is an organization I try to work with as often as I can. Their primary goal is to help retired race horses retrain for their 2nd careers. Ali, from Canter, emailed Dottie the other day and said my halter raised $4,600. for their charity. HIGH HOOVES TO EVERYONE at CANTER for this!
Then today, in the Thoroughbred Daily News, they have a piece stating the 8th Annual Night of the Stars, a fundraiser for Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, will be auctioning one of my halters and also a VISIT WITH ME at their June 18th fundraiser. “This organization is a 30-year-old therapeutic riding program based at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington.”
Per the TDN, Pat Kline, on behalf of the organization stated “Zenyatta touched so many people during her racing career and created such excitement for Thoroughbred racing, and now her magic is helping CKRH. We see the healing power of the horse every day at CKRH and are honored to have Zenyatta’s contribution.”
Needless to say, Blush, Blush, I AM THE ONE WHO IS TRULY HONORED TO BE ABLE TO HELP!
Have a wonderful weekend!
With love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Penny
Good Morning Sweet Zenny,
Your team is truely amazing with their generosity; sharing you and your power to raise money for good causes is outstanding. I was watching CBS Sunday Morning show and they did an interview With Herb Albert. Saw some cute pictures of a very young Jerry Moss…long before you were such an important part of his life. I have my Zenyatta photo from the
V Foundation in my office. Be well beautiful lady.
I’m a Zenyatta Groupie!!!
XOXOXO
Lisa g
@LauraJ: Amen to spell check…but I think everyone knew………………
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. What a wonderful diary – your charity work has touched the lives of so many, both human and equine. You and your loving teams are gifts from God. It was a wonderful weekend of racing. Looking forward to the Belmont Stakes and Royal Ascot, especially Frankel named after our own Bobby Frankel, who is missed. Love to you gorgeous Zenyatta, eat well for two, play and have fun with your BBFs. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Terry Crow
@Andrea–I was moved by your post. One can only wish that all animals received the special care that your daughter’s horse has and will receive. God bless you.
suemar
I cant wait to see little ZENATINI. Great name for the little one!
Abigail from Montreal
I realize that I’m posting late in the day here but hope I’m not too late to join in the conversation! Team Z: I am so deeply moved by your ongoing commitment to education and equine charities. I’m also delighted that you make some of your work public because that way it becomes an inspiration to others in the thoroughbred community. Seeing your support for Highland Oaks school was particularly meaningful for me because, like Dottie, I was a teacher and then the curriculum person for the province of Quebec at our Education Ministry.
Whenever schools in Canada are subjected to budget cuts, the first to go seems to always be the Arts — music, dance, plastic arts like drawing, painting and sculpting. It really is a tragedy because like every subject in the curriculum, the Arts have a special gift in store for the development of the brain. So many students who aren’t traditionally “academic” excel in the Arts and having the opportunity to find success also contributes to their overall school achievement. As Dottie has said: every person is unique and different and, therefore, has individual gifts that need support and development. So this is just WONDERFUL to hear and sets still another standard of the highest sort!
@ Signofthetimes, Susan in TN, #1 New England Fan, Sue frederick, Peggy(N), Arlene & Judy Berube: Thank you for the lovely & supportive comments about the latest article on THE VAULT that tells the story of Secretariat’s daughter, Terlingua. Before there was a Zenyatta, there was Terlingua in my life and I owe her more than words can ever say. But hearing from so many of you is the BEST of the BEST! It means so much to me. HUGS to all — Zenny too!
audreyc
@Andrea – I second Terry Crow’s statement.
I love my trainers, for they keep their lesson horses forever, and are with them at the very end. I remember we all cried when “Ginger”, finally had to be euthanized at 30. There is currently one mare, named “Blossom”, who is approaching 31 or 32. Of course, she has been retired for quite a while now. She gets turned out with two of her equine friends, and everyone at our barn, chips in to hand walk her, bathe her, and give her love.
Maggie
I’m so happy to hear your helping retired race horses. There is a farm near me in Medford, NJ, that does just that. I read this in the Readers Digest, she purchases them when they are not needed anymore for racing and keeps them on her farm until she finds good homes for them. She claims no race horse should go to waste. We need more folks like her. I know your doing well, keep up the good work. Love you sooo much.
Mary Copelin
@ENSIGN Thanks for clarifying for me.
I appreciate it. Mary
Sharon Call
@Kari Bussell. Loved the video showing Rags. What a feisty girl!
@audreyc. My big, pink mare, Jess, was a walker/saddlebred mix and could rack a hole in the ground. I also had a half walker/arabian gelding who racked on the trail. The rack is a diagonal gait in which the hooves strike the ground left front, right hind, right front, left hind. Tennessee Walkers usually have a lateral gait in which the legs on one side move together, then the legs on the other side, which is called a pace. The pace is rougher to ride than a rack. I know you saw in the video of The Virginia Gravedigger, where the rider’s hips barely moved at all. A true rack is very smooth to ride and if the gait comes naturally to the horse and isn’t achieved by shoeing then the horse can do that gait any time, any where. My gelding racked on the trail usually when the ground was packed, like a dirt road. He would just fly along with his head turning from side to side taking in the sights. It was pure pleasure to ride and he could do that for miles at a time. The naturally gaited rackers like the Gravedigger are the ones that people should concentrate on for breeding and not the horses where the gait has to be shod to achieve. However, we all know that the right thing to do is not always the thing that is done. I’ve seen many racking horses that were wearing more pads and wedges on their front hooves that you could ever imagine to achieve that gait. This is not at all good for the horse and if the horse is retired, then the pads and wedges have to be taken off gradually until the horse is let down to a natural leg length on the front. If all of the pads and wedges are taken off all at once, then the horse will probably have tendon problems for the rest of it’s life.
Oops, here I go again, on my soapbox. I stop now before this turns into a book.
Judy (Maass) Gadwood ~ CA
Hi Zenny!!!!
I was at Hollywood Park on Saturday ~ sure not the same just knowing you’re not living at barn 55! Of course, we said hello to “your Mikey” and wished him good luck in his races :-D
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We had hoped to visit Big E, but it didn’t come to fruition :-( Maybe next time…!!!
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HUGS & KISSES MY QUEEN XOXOXOXOXO
Marilu V
Dear Zeny!
Thanks to you and your wonderful family for all the help and contribution you give to the community as well as your retired friends and other honorable causes. Hope you feel good today. Hugs, Marilu
audreyc
@Sharon Call – Thanks for your post. Very cool that you had Jess, & your gaited gelding – they seem delightful. I totally agree with you, that only naturally gaited horses should be bred. It is totally wrong, and irresponsible, to try to achieve something using artificial means ….ahh – humans. Years back, I was afforded the opportunity to ride a Paso Fino (one hour), tolted an Icelandic (one time), and one time rode a Standardbred pacer (when doing some volunteer work for the Standardbred Retirement Foundation). I did not have the knowledge, at that time, to really appreciate them. I would like to try it again sometime….
Marilu V
Hi Zeny! I forgot to mention – I am cheering for GOLDIKOVA too. She has given her share to racing. She is a beauty! Good Luck to her! Hugs again, Marilu
Barbara Grimaldi
Zenny and Dottie–this message is so impressive and shows the heart and spirit of Team Zenyatta. You have to include Z’s constant appeals for Old Friends, too. And the warm cheer and smiles she brings us everyday via these messages. When will Zenny be inducted in the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame, or is she already in? Love you both!!!!!
Stella Bagwell
Dearest Zenyatta,
I’ve been away from the computer for a few days and now catching up on your diary. What wonderful news that you’re in foal!! I’m praying that all will go well for you this time.
The pics of you grazing are beautiful—the grass is so lush–you must be in heaven! The drought here in South Texas has burned all the grass, but hopefully it will break soon.
Have you picked out a favorite for the Belmont? I love the long distance of this race. Only the horses with true grit stay to end—like you, dear Queen! :)
Your giving heart inspires me everyday, Z, and I know that thousands of others have been touched by your generosity. Bless you and your team for all that you do for horses and for humans—you’re the best!
Much love,
Stel
Jenna
Love my girl :>
Gloria Jeanne
Zenny – you are too cool!!!
MaryAnn Donahue
Dear Zenyatta,
All the work you and your Team do for charity, your efforts to help others not as fortunate as you, gives added meaning to “the Heart Of A Champion”–you possess it in abundance. I love reading your philosophy of life. You and Dottie are amazing women and your whole team is a blessing to the world of racing. Thank you for sharing your post-race life with us.
with love & gratitude,
Mary Ann
Barbara Wood
@Kari Bussell–thank you for the link to the YouTube video of Ragsy and the other champions. Wow! What a temper she has! It is ironic that when I was accompanying our daughter to pick out a horse (and trying to talk her OUT of it because of the expense), I fell in love with the kind eyes of the one she did buy. His name is Money n Jewels, and we ADORE him.
Kathryn Cogswell
Perspective on all that matters sails out the gate w/ the first mustangs released to their new wide open spaces in Nevada on Madeleine Pickens` ‘Mustang Monument;’ many hundreds of acres where their lives will return to some semblance of what it means for them to be a horse. ~ Repeating ‘Eveline`s highlighted note about the video & story [above] see* http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/2011/06/042.shtml *There are more Mustangs in BLM holding pens than run free, the article says. .. . Thank YOU, again to Madeleine Pickens, her supporters, & to Eveline.
Annie K
Ahhh, so humble :)! You really are awsome Z. I know you changed my life and gave me courage and it’s so great to know that other kids out there are getting the same joy.
Lots (and lots) of love and thanks,
Annie K
judy berube
To Kari Bussell:
Thank you for the link to the Shed Row. It’s fun to see the horses playing and interacting with humans. (Rags to Riches NOT). She is quite a character. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Laura J.,
Please let us know how Step is progressing. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Abigail from Montreal:
You’re welcome. Love The Vault and the posts and links you share with us. Hugs, J.B.
Marilu V
@ If anyone is interested in getting the cute paintings made by GIACOMO, his dad, Holy Bull, Street Cry, dad of Street Sense and Street Sense and Reprint of the painting made by Zenyatta go to http://www.Rerun.org. It is another Thoroughbred Retraining and Adoption Charity Home. They did it with their tail, muzzle and hooves. Marilu
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I missed seeing your post this Saturday. What wonderful things you are doing to help others. It is so nice of you to take others into consideration and offer your help. This is just one more reason why we love you so much. Linda
Sally (B)
Zenny’s from heaven! Sweet Z, sure seems to be because your an angel in disguise!! Thanks for all you do for charitble organizations; for just being you. Your team is the icing on the cake. Love you, with a kiss on your soft nose!!
Sonia
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for donating such an amazing item to Designing Dads!!! It was such an exciting item to have at our auction. It was extreemly genorous of you. Brad did such a beautiful job on the framing and it really helped make it a one-of-a-kind item. As a mother of one of the children your donation has helped, THANK YOU!!
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Queen-Z & Team-Z,
You do such wonderful GOOD. You’re a real inspiration to us all.
Hugs to you all. Fondly, OraJean