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
Paul
Zenyatta, kudos to the guy who paid the highest bid at an auction for some stuff of yours which helps to fund arts programs in the schools which are lacking in funding for such things-the school in Arcadia, California, home to Santa Anita race track in particular. Your work in raising money for charity is highly appreciated by many people and it benefits many people as well. Also, it’s amazing that your father sired a horse owned by the queen of England which ran in a British race. I hope the horse did well. I hope you did well in your fundraiser which raises money to help horses have a second career. I will be following the Royal Ascot Races with interest and how Goldikova is doing.