Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #275

It’s ME…on the cover of the 2011 AMERICAN RACING MANUAL! Photo by John Shirreffs

Good Morning,

Each year, the DRF (Daily Racing Form)…in book format…produces a complete recap of the prior year in racing. It is called the AMERICAN RACING MANUAL. The issue currently being released is recapping 2010…and it has ME on the cover. Now this is TOO CUTE!

This resource book is a very complete review of the prior racing year. All graded stakes charts for the year are included as well as the past performances for all horses who won a graded stakes. They also present a summary of every stakes race run in that calendar year with some extra statistical sections for the Triple Crown Races. A great deal of other information is presented to really keep racing fans up-to-speed on all of these topics as well as honoring many historical perspectives concerning our sport. It is truly very informative!

And…the fact that I’M on the cover…even makes it more special!

In reviewing other topics in the RACING FORM, I have to say MY TEAM and I love the photo Jay Hovdey used of ME in one of his current blogs. Jay wrote the words and those are his thoughts, however, the photo is of ME! MY TEAM and I are still laughing at my expression! I must explain. Jay took this photo one morning at BARN 55 when I was really enjoying a post workout bath with Mario and Carmen. I remember it well! Jay got this shot at that very moment when Mario was massaging my back and just touched that ‘perfect spot’. OH-H-H….it felt FABULOUS!

Enjoy!

“Miss me yet guys?” (Quote and photo from Jay Hovdey as used in the DRF)

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

235 Comments

  1. / Reply

    hi Z! once again, you’ve made my day, love love the photo of YOU and congratulations on being a covergirl! love YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo

  3. / Reply

    Hi Zenny, Love the picture of you being bathed now that is too cute for sure. I Congradulate you on makeing it to be on the cover of the 2011 American Racing Manual. You sure are a Funny Girl in your own way and I did have a good laugh when I saw the picture of you being bathed at barn 55. I only hope that you are as happy today. I understand Mike came to visit you reciently and I hope the two of you had a good visit. I’m sure he will visit you when he can and that makes me feel good. Have a good weekend sweet Zen and I send my love along the way to you.

  4. / Reply

    Zenny – Congrats on making the cover of the Racing Manual!! Love the other picture!! Love you beautiful girl!!! Hugs and Kisses from Roswell,NM!!!

  5. / Reply

    Hi Queen Z!

    That is soooo AWESOME!!! You deserve to be on the cover more than any horse!! I absolutely love that photo of you with your tongue hangin’ out! It is sooo YOU!! TOO CUTE!! I’m going to go on-line & order a copy of that issue of the Daily Racing Form. It is a MUST HAVE!! Congratulations & thank you so much for posting Dottie!! Love you baby girl & major hugs, Cara from Texas xxxooo :)

    P.S. A friend of mine that lives in CA sent me a bunch of photos that she took of you!! She also sent a photo of a horse that your John is training (can’t remember the name @ the moment) but the horse is sired by Dynaformer. That’s very special to me b/c that means they’re related to Barbaro!!

  6. / Reply

    ya I don’t like the photo that stock the chain inside the mouth i think that’s uncomfortable.But anyway congratulation on your fabulous photo on the cover you are an icon and a legend a superstar love ya zen here in florida.

  8. / Reply

    Hi there everyone! Zenny — I had seen the Jay Hovdey photo & quote the other day and just loved it! To hear the context — your massage — explains the blissful glaze in your eye. This really is TOO CUTE, big girl! And now to be a 2011 Cover Girl on such an important journal ….well, congrats. All of this should remind you just how much we all respect and love you. What great memories I have of your racing career and I still watch your DVD whenever I start missing you. And every time I do, I am struck by my great luck to have been a witness to your stunning victories and to accompany you in this next stage of your life.
    On another note, I wanted to tell everyone here, especially Charlotte Farmer, that THE VAULT’s donation to Old Friends for Noor’s trip home to a place where his memory will live forever was raised by ALL OF YOU! As you may remember, THE VAULT was once on the google blog site but was hacked into, so we moved to blog press instead. But BEFORE that happened, so many of you contributed to our campaign to raise money for horse rescue. I kept it, of course, and decided to send it off to Old Friends, as Michael Blowen told you yeaterday in Diary post # 274. BUT it’s from everyone here…I was just the messenger. It just seemed a great way to honour Noor and our great community here on zenyatta.com.

  9. / Reply

    well seeing as you are one of the most beautiful horses that ever walked the earth I love seeing you on any cover. I love the picture and I also have one like that of my horse that looks just like you but no white big ears and all but she always stretched her upper lip out as far as she could and if you stood infront of her she would return the favor and give you a great back rub. hope you are having many wonderful days of fun in the sun and great back rubs from your humans and your horse buddies. as always luv you lots!!

  10. / Reply

    Z, you are a great “Cover Girl”. ;) Loved the picture of you enjoying your back rub by Mario. You do have a rather “misty” look in your eyes. lol

  11. / Reply

    Dear Z Fans,
    If you click on the last link I posted, I forgot to say “click on News” at the top of the page. That will take you to a photo of Z and Blame in the 2010 BC Classic. Just below the photo on the right side, click on “Durkin Reunited With My T Bunny”. It’s a long way around to get to the story, but I think it’s worth it. Hugs, J.B.

  12. / Reply

    how much do we miss thee, Z?? Can’t even count the ways!! but still happy to know you’re getting such great care, love and the chance to be a mom! Congrats on the cover – NO SURPRISE for a queen such as thee/Z!

  13. / Reply

    Dear Abigail in Montreal:
    That’s really nice of you to make the contributions part of Noor’s final resting place at Old Friends. I’m so glad it’s working out for him. Hugs, J.B.

  14. / Reply

    Gotta love ya Z! You pull at our heart strings no matter how goofy you might be. Steve Haskins, a huge supporter of Zenny and extraordinary journalist for Bloodhorse is having a live blog on June 21st. You may also submit questions prior to the blog for Steve to address if you can not participate. Go to Bloodhorse.com for the specifics. Have a beautiful weekend all – wish I were going to the Vanity as well, alas, I am on the East coast! Safe journeys to all.

  15. / Reply

    Zenyatta- My heart, Our Queen….It is going on four years now that YOU have brought me nothing but Joy! You always make me smile & Ohhh Sooo Proud. Of course YOU are on the cover with “that face-that face- that cover girl face”….You are sight beyond words to behold like every else I miss you more than I ever thought possible…I love you!
    I am very late with the following replies…
    @Barbara Wood-thank you I am thrilled you enjoy them.Who could go wrong starring The Queen & good music-LOL
    @Abigail from Montreal- Yes! That’s me. I love your video and I meant every word.Thank you!
    @Kathy Kimber- Thank you so much for taking the time to type your very kind generous words. It always blesses me to be able to share my love for Zenyatta with others….

  20. / Reply

    Zenny, I love it, total rapture from a cover girl. Now, I just have to figure out how to get that American Racing Manual here in Canada. I buy Victoria a subscription to Canadian Thoroughbred every year as a stocking stuffer at Christmas so I guess I can order a copy on line – a challenge for the technologically ignorant like me. Once again Dottie and Your John have given us priceless pictures of YOU. YOU have the most amazing family, they keep us up to date on you and give us excellent information on the world of thoroughbred training and racing. How lucky can we get???
    @Judy Berube Thank you for all those links you post. What a blessing for computer idiots like me – I’d never find them on my own.
    Have a great weekend everyone.

  21. / Reply

    SHANNON FROM COOL-the lip chain is not cruel,it helps to keep the horse in control.Would you rather have her rear up,go over backwards and break her neck,or get loose,fall and break a leg?Compare the chain to a choker on a dog,also not cruel.The lip chain is held between your fingers and the pressure is controlled by your thumb.If the horse starts to act up,you simply adjust the pressure.It is like when the dog yanks you the choke collar slides and applys pressure and corrects the dog.Most of the time,the chain goes over the nose,on the gum usually is when they are fired up,as after a race or in this case it was after a work.You must remember,grooms and hotwalkers are much smaller and not nearly as strong as a horse.The worst thing that can happen at a track or training facility is a LOOSE HORSE!I have seen what can happen and once you do you will never think the lip chain is cruel.ARLENE-Gelding a TB has nothing to do with their speed,if anything it helps them,as it makes them concentrate more on their training and not pay attention to those pretty girls like our Zen!They are much easier to handle,it calms them but does not interfere with their desire to run,that is natural to them.When horses are turned out in paddocks as they are on the farms,they constantly compete with each other,its quite beautiful to watch.RANDY-The halter is not too big and won’t fall off,the chain makes halters do that,when its taken off,the halter will be fine.LISA-The lip chain does not produce endorphins,that would be a twitch.The twitch is used sometimes when the vet has to give stitches or castrate them or anything that some of them will not stand still for.Sometimes it is used when they get their manes pulled as it relaxes them enough to get it done without having to sedate them.To those who don’t know what a twitch is-it looks like two billy clubs connected by a short chain,you hold one club in one hand,rap part of their lip in the chain and the other club in the other hand and twist the chain.It looks quite cruel but it makes them euphoric and your able to do what must must be done.This can only be used for 20 minutes,after that it becomes painful.Sorry everyone I don’t want to sound like a know it all,but it bothers me when people ask questions or make comments that are incorrect and rarely anyone helps them learn.Every one must remember that anyone who works with horses usually would do anything to keep them from getting hurt,even sometimes ignoring ones own safety to save them!!! Love to all the Zenyatta fans and family and especially to you ZEN-you are too cute!

  26. / Reply

    Always gret links here and new information really appreciate people taking time to explain and inform.

  27. / Reply

    Of course you are on the cover of the 2010 American Racing Manual — you were 2010 HORSE OF THE YEAR!!! Saw that photo and caption on the blog yesterday; thought it expressed that you were giving a raspberry to the Triple Crown races this year. And YES we miss you SO MUCH in racing.

  28. / Reply

    Zenyatta, you are a photographer’s dream. Every angle is pure perfection, and you will never know the agony of a bad mane day.
    You honor the 2011 Racing Manual with your classically beautiful profile. Jay Hovdey’s photo shows an entirely different side to your personality. A bath, a massage, and perhaps—a touch too much Guiness?

  29. / Reply

    Dearest Sweet “Z”,

    You have just outdone yourself again! With that cute pink tongue and pearly whites! What a GRIN! This is one of my all time favorite photos :) I will look for the 2011 Racing Manual. What a great Father’s Day Gift! My husband and father are both racing fans and with you on the cover….well…it’s a KEEPER! Thank you for remaining with us in Spirit so that we do not need to miss you so much! However, this photo sure tugs at the heart strings.

  30. / Reply

    Wow, that is wonderful and congratulations on being on the cover of the 2011 Ameerican Racing Manual! The editors and publishers made a very wise choice, if I say so myself! And that pic of you, just love the expression on your face-adorable. Hope you are taking it easy and enjoying yourself. Love you lots Zenyatta!

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