Happy Friday to All~
I can’t believe another week has gone by…and so quickly! Lots of different things have happened during the course of this week and I’ve heard lots of good news. We’ve certainly had fabulous health updates for several people including our friend, Dawn Conrad! All of this news is so, so special!
Remember the HAT GAME I used to play with MY JOHN? Well, apparently it is still going strong at Barn 55. I guess because MY JOHN always wears a baseball type cap (and I do mean always) that the horses he works with each day just love to play with these hats.
Yesterday afternoon, while Mr. Commons was outside grazing, relaxing and enjoying the California sun, he decided it was his turn to play my game. Bruce was there with him! He let Bruce sit on the saw horse bench, scratch his neck, hug him and play with him. In return, Mr. Commons decided he would ‘tease Bruce’ and started playing with his cap! Within moments, Mr. C was playing the HAT GAME with him…and totally took off his cap and handed it back to Bruce!
It was all TOO CUTE! Everyone at Barn 55 was laughing…and Mr. Commons was really proud of himself for getting Bruce’s cap. I know this feeling. I loved to play this game with MY JOHN.
There are so many FUN THINGS like this one that happen each day in our lives. The experiences are so sweet, yet extraordinary, and most importantly they make us LAUGH! I’ve been told that there is a very famous saying which describes what I’m trying to say…..TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE ROSES! It is really so much fun to truly appreciate the joy and beauty of these special moments.
Lucky US!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sharon Call
What a breath of fresh air this diary is! Just when I was starting to get grumpy, I pulled this website up and there is a new post that made me LOL. Lucky Mr. Commons and lucky Bruce that they get to play this game together. Lucky me that I got to laugh at it.
@Theresa E. I know what you mean in a way about Z still racing. Still, her time of racing needed to be closed and Z needed to move on to another phase of her life. There she is in KY healthy, sound and strong enjoying her leisure time with her paddock mates, standing under her tree surveying her kingdom and nurturing the baby growing in her. All is right with her world as it is now and her fans are happy for her. Yes, Ruffian, Barbaro and Eight Bells were great horses, but they are gone from this world way before their time. That didn’t happen to Z but could have if she had been raced another year. Let’s be grateful that she wasn’t and we get to follow her and her progeny for many years to come.
Can’t wait until the Belmont tomorrow. I’m liking AK, Nehro and Mucho Macho Man but nobody really knows until that finish line comes around. I believe that I heard on Versus that they are telecasting 8 races this year and I think the next one is June 25 from Saratoga. I’m on Comcast cable here in GA and don’t get HRTV, darn it, so I have to make do with what cable carries.
Gayle Daniel
I love you Zenyatta and think you are the greatest thing on four legs!
Love Ya
Gayle
Cathleen
Love it! Z Hat Game lives on at Barn 55! TOO CUTE! Love that Mr. Commons! xoxox
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenyatta. Hello, beautiful. What a wonderful picture of Mr. Commons (he is so handsome) and what a fun game you have created for your friends and family to enjoy. Thank you so much for the great pictures of Tiago and the information about Belmont Park that you posted yesterday. I am so looking forward to enjoying a great day of racing on Saturday, looks like there will be a good amount of TV coverage. I certainly wish everyone a safe trip. There were some great stories concerning Secretariat in post #268. How fantastic that the two of you will be forever linked in time. I along with many others fell in love with thoroughbreds and racing because of Secretariat. His Belmont triumph can still stir our emotions as one of the most remarkable moments in racing. As I have mentioned before, my mother and I have been taking a long driving trip each year. What a great time we have and what amazing sites we have seen. We have been drawn to the eastern side of the U.S. as so much history lies there. One of the top places on my wish list was Kentucky and specifically Claiborne Farm, the home of Secretariat. As I drove between the stone pillars at the entrance of the farm for the first time, I could already feel the lump in my throat. As I got out of my car, I could see the small brick office building and next to that, the farm’s graveyard of champions. Here lie some of those whose names appear throughout horseracing history. Horses such as Gallant Fox, Round Table, Citation, Mr. Prospector, Swale and Riva Ridge, just to name a few and by itself in one corner, the grave of Big Red. The headstone is a simple marker of grey stone etched with just one word “Secretariat”. No engraved tributes or bronze statue, yet that one word strikes to the very heart of all those who gaze upon it and the memories flow like water. Up the hill is the breeding shed where Bold Ruler met Something Royal and across from that is the stall he called home. On the door, a brass plate reflecting the following names: Eddington, Unbridled, Easy Goer, Secretariat and Bold Ruler. Down the way, in the center of the barn is a small room filled with items one normally sees in a tack room, but on the walls are pictures and on the pegs hang the halters of racing greats, past and present, Buckpasser, Nijinsky, Pulpit, Arch, War Front and of course Big Red. Outside is the paddock, not just any paddock, but his. A sloped grassy area where he held court to the loyal subjects who came in the thousands to pay their respect. Just like you, Zenny, he spent his days munching on bluegrass, napping in the sun and displaying dazzling bursts of speed as he raced his shadow from one side to another, perhaps remembering days gone by. It is all there, just as he left it. When I got ready to leave, I met a woman carrying a large crystal vase filled with red roses. She explained that she was from the local florists and that they still delivered flowers from many fans every week to his grave. How amazing that over 30 years after his greatest triumph, the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, he lives on in our hearts. We still celebrate his amazing accomplishments, we still pay tribute and we still shed a tear. Blessings to you, Zenny. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
JSmith – Thank you for sharing the link to the lemonade story. It is always so great to hear such positive stories.
Stephanie – Thanks for the Ebby link. Isn’t she just beautiful!
Sally Hopkins – Happy Birthday!!
Brenda – How wonderful that you were able to see Secretariat in person! Amazing!! There was a great special that ran on TV ages ago called Sports Century that showed Secretariats Triple Crown run. I do not know how to link it, but it is out on You Tube.
Sue Noel – How sweet you are!!!! I am so sorry if I worried you. Ebby is very, very special. I will certainly give Z a pat for you.
Kim S – Thank you for mentioning the Legends Series and giving it a positive review. I had been looking at ordering some.
Karen Mitchell – Congrats on getting your Z. It is surprising large and heavy, just perfect for those love pats as we walk by.
Karen Gogue and Trina Naggele – Count me in for D-Day. I posted my contact info a couple of weeks ago, but if you need it again, let me know.
Trisha Veazey
have a great weekend everyone
Love hugs and kisses
Judy (Maass) Gadwood ~ CA
TO ALL!
If you’re like me ~ cannot afford the Zenyatta statue by Nina Kaiser ~ I found a cute Trail of the Painted Ponies horse that reminds me so much of Our Queen. The title is SWEETHEART!! I got mine this week and it is TOO CUTE!!! She has jewels on her body the shape of HEARTS!!! She has her right front leg up as if to be “dancing”. Her mane, tell and hooves are “gold”. The brass plate on the side has Sweetheart.:-)
Just a suggestion…….
Dawn Conrad
Shari – Hello my lovely friend!!! Hope you have a fantastic weekend. Enjoy the Belmont!
Judy (Maass) Gadwood ~ CA
My goodness, Judy!!! Learn to type!!! It’s “tail” not tell :-)))
jean
Wonderful hat game! It shows how alike horses and humans are…we all have a sense of humor…we understand one another, how fabulous is that? Have a great race day tomorrow. Love, Jean, Freddy and Honey, (my dog companions).
Dawn Conrad
Zenny, I did want to thank you for mentioning me and my great test results. You and Dottie are just TOO SWEET, keeping me in your thoughts. You were such a bright light in an often dark time for me. Your positive spirit is so uplifting. And then of course there were my wonderful Z friends, whose support and prayers were remarkable. You have all touched my heart. Love and blessings to everyone.
Sharon Call
@Dawn Conrad. Thanks so much for your wonderful description of Claiborne Farm. I can almost see it.
@Everyone here is a link of the NBC coverage of the Belmont tomorrow. It also has the post positiions.
http://www.chiff.com/recreation/sports/belmont.htm
judy berube
Dear Z,
So great to see Mr. C. and Bruce having fun. Mr. C. looks great. Your Dear John gives his horses “Time to Smell the Roses”. Love you and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
To Sherry Drish:
Loved your story about your mare, Black Magic. Hugs,J.B.
Selene McCarthy
That Mr. Commons is a HUNK! I would have big plans for him if his racing career doesn’t pan out! He looks very similar to my own horse..dark bay with dapples. Love it!
Selene
Patricia Emery
What a great post! On a sad note, I just read an article on the news wire about the challenges facing ritred horses & their owners in this economy. I am so happy that you are in a loving and safe environment, but my heart aches for those horses that are in difficult situations. There are so many organizations that need help right now and no gift is too little…it does take a community, even to help out horses!
XOXO
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
AWWW!!! THAT IS SOOOO! CUTE! MR.COMMONS IS SUCH A CUTIE!
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
Wow, I’ll have to pay attention to that scene the next time I watch the movie. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Patricia Emery:
The number of horses that need help is upsetting to me too. We try to make little donations as often as we can to different rescue organizations. Hugs, J.B.
suew
Zenny, I REALLY want you and Dottie to write a book! The two of you give us such important life lessons with humor and your unique kindness. Every day when I read your diary I feel blessed and take pause to think of the good things in my life…and they are plenty. Thanks for the adorable picture of Mr. Commons. See, big girl, this is just another lesson you taught one of your own and it brings smiles and joy to those of us who witness it.
judy berube
To Margaret:
What you said is so true. The loving, bonding moments are important. Hugs, J.B.
Gloria Jeanne
Too Cute – thanks for allowing me to smell the roses with this speical moment at barn 55.
Love you!
dunie
You are the best rose of all, Zenny!
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
I think you are so right. Polls are basically someone’s opinion. I don’t think you can put too much stock in them. There are great, great horses from the past. Great ones now, like Z, and there will be great ones in the future. They will all have accomplished something outstanding that makes them special and unforgettable. Everyone will have their own favorite(s). It’s all good. Hugs, J.B.
Victoria
Mr C. sure is a cutie! I love his dapples!
Astrid
Thanks for the adorable pic.! Mr. Commons sure looks very fit and fabulous! Hugs to you Zenny, keep your hooves crossed for tomorrow’s race.
Debbie
Dawn.. thank you so much for your post!
Z have a great weekend!
Paula Higgins
Dawn glad you got good news! Mr. Commons is one handsome boy and he’s a hoot too!!!! Love these pictures Zenny/Dottie. My husband wears baseball caps non-stop too, even inside. When he goes to bed, he places it atop one of the 4 posters on the bed. He wanted my Zenyatta cap that Judy G. was kind enough to get for me and I said “Nothing doing buddy.” That one is my very own.
Jo
Oh yes Zenny That’s what I love about the horse business horses teach humans to slow down and smell the roses and savor life and enjoy the simple bonding of what relationships are all about The business world is not like that it’s more like that stupid survivor show how I miss the racetrack
Terry Crow
@Judy Berube–Thanks for the kind words. You are so right about polls. How can one be objective when we all have opinions? I must say though that when you examine the race record of Kincsem Laura J has a strong case. Went 54-0, beat everybody that lined up against her. She should be higher than 144 on the list. Best of all time? Tough call, but certainly should be considered.
Kathy Kimber
@DawnC. Thanks for the great post of Clairborne farm and Secratariat. I’ve loved him from the first no matter if one cares or doesn’t no matter how many he won or lost you have to give him his Belmont what a great race what a once in a lifetime heart pounding moment. We are lucky to have lived and been able to see it if only on TV or a news reel or you tube.
Dear Zeny, we mean no disrespect when we talk about other horses. I took time yesterday to speak of Silky Sullivan, whom, I believe you would have liked very much. I love the links people put up here and I love horseracing and appreciate it when people bring to my attention things I don’t know or have missed. I really appreciate it when they can answer lingering questions of by gone times and horses. Horses of today stir interest too. I like Black Caviar she is a beauty but you my dear are the Queen and no one will ever take that away. The good ole boys and the nay sayers just never got it when it came to you but I truly believe they will realize they were wrong in time. You sweet lady reign supreme. Thanks to all the Z fans who make this a wonderful uplifting site to explore. I like the idea of D day what can the “masses” (us) do to help. Dawn it is good to have you back I”m glad all is well I’ve been worried. Hugs
Sharyn
Mr. Commons is a handsome one – such a cute picture playing the hat game!! I bet there were peppermints he was looking for!! Enjoy the race tomorrow from your comfy quarters and lets just hope everyone has a safe race!!