Dear Friends,
In life, one may experience so many emotions for a great number of reasons. Today, I am feeling such a sense of GRATITUDE as I’m hearing all of the reports from Louisville in relation to their very strong storm last evening.
From this morning’s updates, last night they had tornado warnings in Louisville. The National Weather Bureau alerted this area the storm’s path was in line with the University of Louisville and Churchill Downs. As this is the middle of the racing meet at Churchill, the barn area had approximately 1400 horses based there as well as backstretch workers in residence. I’m not sure of the numbers for the University, their grounds and housing etc.
At about 8:10 in the evening the storm hit Louisville. As you can see from this photo MY JOHN took while we were there last Breeders’ Cup, the University is very close to the race track. Per Darren Rogers, the Churchill Downs publicist, “9 barns were damaged to some degree and the Track Chapel. They were barn numbers 5, 21,22,23,24,25,26,28 and 40.” (I know this backside well. I stayed in the barn located somewhat behind these when I was there. I walked around this area and these barns each day while preparing for the Breeders’ Cup.) “NO backstretch workers or horses were hurt,” per his report….”but the strong storm did create significant damage.”
Without a doubt, everyone is extremely GRATEFUL to the Louisville Fire Department, their Metro Police, the local Gas and Electric Company and The Downs personnel for all of their work, help and guidance to these people and horses during this time.
I’m also hearing via additional reports from the DRF and The Bloodhorse that Rogers Beasley from Keeneland is working with Churchill to offer stalls for the horses and housing for the workers at this race course. Keeneland is in Lexington…so that is about an hour or so trip from Louisville. Sallee Van Company is working with Keeneland to coordinate the transport of the horses and workers during this time.
It is amazing to ME the different things that can happen so quickly….in a moment or so…and then suddenly change the path or direction of one’s life. One minute, these horses are quietly in their stalls resting, the workers enjoying their lives…and the next minute things are in such a completely different state.
All of this simply reminds ME for the zillionth time, one must really ENJOY and APPRECIATE each MOMENT! You simply do not know what will happen in the future!
Blessings to ALL at this time who are dealing with the results of this storm. I am so GRATEFUL that we are hearing NO ONE WAS HURT…either human or horse! This is truly something to be THANKFUL for today!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Karen Gogue
@Shari V.
Have sooo much fun! You deserve it! Wonderful everything is A-OK so far. :)
Sue Fredrick
@ Shari Voltz-I know you don’t have much time but take a ride into downtown Lexington and see the statues and fountain at the Thoroughbred Park…it’s fabulous. Life sized horses and jockeys caught in an actual race. They are so beautiful done in bronze by Gwen Reardon….you won’t be disappointed!!! Have fun.
Brenda
@ Shari Voltz. Like you, I will be in Lexington next month but I arrive the day you leave. There is so much to see it’s hard to recommend but the Horse Park is great, also Keeneland and the Training Centre and, of course, there are horses at every turn. If you are interested in history and/or birds, I suggest the Lexington Cemetery, it is a really pretty, peaceful place well known in the birding community. My trip will be my sixth or seventh and I feel that I still haven’t seen everything but I tend to repeat visits to those places and horses I love, like Claiborne for Secretariat and Danzig and Three Chimneys for Big Brown and Dynaformer. This will be my first time to Lane’s End, Adena Springs for Giacomo and Old Friends. Sadly, no visits to Zenyatta, Bernadini or Rachel Alexandra. I hope you enjoy your visit, have a safe trip.
MK
Amen!
Sharon Call
@Judy (Maass) Gadwood. I just saw your message about Frankie. I was so hoping that she would make it through all of those injuries but it just wasn’t meant to be. She is past the pain and struggle now and can be free and light in a better place. I am awe-struck by the efforts of the Bear Creek Mobile vets. No one could have done more for her and I’m so glad they didn’t let her suffer.
@Susan in Tn. I so agree about living each day like it’s your first and also about the memory thing. I’m right there with you. I learned how to pronounce Versailles from a friend of mine that was raised in KY. When I was talking to her one day and gave Versailles the french pronunciation, she laughed and said “That sounds really good, but it’s ver-sales”.
@Lil in KY. I missed that article completely. Wish I hadn’t – I was a bit confused for a while. Thanks!
Well, back to work – wish I didn’t have to but I do.
Morgan
Wow this is so scary. Good thing no one was hurt.
Morgan
Wow this is so scary. Good thing no one was hurt.
Luv ya Zenny!
mary Bobolis
So happy no one was hurt at Churchill Downs. That was an absolute miracle! These tornadoes come through so fast and are so unpredicatable that no one has time to take cover or run. It’s so scary!!
mary Bobolis
So happy no one was hurt at Churchill Downs. That was an absolute miracle! These tornadoes come through so fast and are so unpredicatable that no one has time to take cover or run. It’s so scary!!
Terry Crow
@Charlotte Farmer–Noor just a horse? When Man O’War was retired to Kentucky the local people wanted to hold a parade in which there would be marching bands and children would spread flowers on the path to the farm where the great champion was to spend his last days. Samuel Riddle, the owner, nixed the idea by sending a telegram to the people who were organizing it. The telegram read “He’s only a horse.” He was as wrong then as the powers that be in Grass Valley are now.@Judy Maass Gadwood–So sorry about Frankie. I hope the little one is playing with my old hound next to the rainbow gate.
Alexandra Bowdoin
@Shari and Brenda, A Must See in Downtown
Lexington is The Thoroughbred Park. Life size Bronze horse statues. They are Beautiful. Here is the link below
http://www.gwenreardon.com/lifesize-thoroughbred-park.html
Terry Crow
@Sharon Call, Deborah Richman, Charlotte Farmer and Kim S–I decided to post this joke separately because of the serious nature of my last post. @Kim S-These ARE the jokes your father used to tell. Due to a diminishing number of requests, here goes–and I hope the nature of this one doesn’t offend anybody–A man was at the racetrack losing bet after bet when he observed a Roman Catholic priest going over to a horse in the walking ring and sprinkling it with holy water. The horse won. Next race, same thing. The man thinks to himself that if he sees the priest do it again that he will bet every last dime he has on that horse, Sure enough, the same thing occurs. However, this time the horse drops dead about 100 yards out of the starting gate. The guy was devastated, as he had lost everything, including the rent money. He goes over to the priest and says “Every horse until now that you sprinkled with holy water won but this one dropped dead.” The priest looked at him and said “You are not a Roman Catholic are you?” The guy admitted that he was not. “How did you know?” the man asked. “Because if you had been, you would know the difference between a blessing and the last rites.” I have heard two versions of this, one this way and the other in which the priest was giving the blessing with his hands.
Sarah T.
Zen, you are so right about appreciating each moment and how fast things can change. I am glad to hear that no lives were lost and amazed as well, considering how quickly that tornado came upon them. How great it was to hear about everyone coming together to get the horses safely out of the barns that were hit.
judy berube
Dear Susan in Tn.:
Just received a copy of your River Edge Farm Horse Rescue Newsletter in the mail. You did a super job putting it together. Love the photos, especially Cheyenne Morningstar and “Happy”. Russ and I will send little donations as often as we can. Hugs, J.B.
Sharon Call
@Alexandra Bowdoin. WOW – I had no idea. That has tipped the scales for me -I have to go KY now. I probably won’t make it this year but definitely next year. This will be on my list of things to see.
@Terry Crow. My Dad’s family is Catholic and I don’t see anything offensive about this joke at all. It’s pretty funny. Can’t wait for the next one. I’m still laughing about the race horse and the milk wagon.
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
As a Roman Catholic, I figured out the punch line before I read it. Ha, ha. Hugs, J.B.
Cynthia H.
Live each day as if it were your last,, because someday—you will be right!
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Judy [Mass] Gadwood: Trusting it comes true for you that little Frankie (like the 2-year-old in the story about this notion] was not only created for his brief life on earth .. . he was created for eternity. And he was beautiful.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Judy MG: Please forgive the dropped ‘a’ . .. and missing that Frankie is ‘she.’
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta and everyone. We were so thankful that no horses or humans were hurt. It is truly a miracle. As soon as we heard about the weather conditions, I immediately went to your website to make sure you were o.k. Love you, Angel in Disguise. Stay comfy, safe, eat well for two and have loads of fun grazing and being with your BBFs.
suemar
Zenny. This picture reminds me of seeing you coming out of the barn, heading towards the track for a morning workout. We were taking the backstretch tour during Breeders Cup and were in a van. All of a sudden there you came. So jaw dropping awsome. SOOO TALL. Its a memory that always will be with us. Just beautiful.
Sally (B)
Sweet Z; I still am trying to catch up with your posts! Oh, wow, I am grateful that no horses or human were injured and sorry to know there is damage to some barn areas. Does Lane’s End have a plan in place for you & the others there? Life can be very fragile at times. love with 2 kisses on your soft nose.
Diana_NV
So thankful there were no injuries to humans or equines at CD. Truly a miracle. A higher authority is still looking out for this sport!
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, I am so thankful for the safety of the horses & everyone there. It is so devasting to see what winds can do but we can always replae he buildings, it’s an inconvience, but we can never replace life. Zenyatta, life is such a gift from God and we should always enjoy every minute because we are not guarenteed the second beyond the breath we take. For a lot of people it takes a bad situation to appreciate what we have. That’s one of the wonderful things about you & your family, appreciate life and the Blessings you have been blessed with. My thoughts & prayers are with everyoe that was inolved with the tornado. I love you, Zenyatta. Sending Hugs & Kisses From Alabama With Love, Amanda G.
Paul
Zenyatta, I’m really sorry to hear about the damage that happened to Churchill Downs and possibly the University of Louisville. I’m really happy, however, to hear that no person or horse was hurt. I hope that the 9 damaged barns and whatever else was damaged gets rebuilt as fast as possible. I hope all the displaced horses have a place to stay while their barns are being repaired. Ditto for workers living there whose places were damaged by the tornadoes. I hope no one or no horse has to go through that ever again. That picture of you coming out of the barn at Churchill Downs brings back memories of when you raced there in the Breeder’s Cup last year as well as past years. I’m more than sure it brings back many very fond memories for you as well as for other people and horses. This year’s Breeder’s Cup will not be the same without you racing in it, but I will still be watching it just the same. If any of your buddies are racing in it, I will be rooting for them.