Hello Everyone,
I have been one very busy girl of late. In addition to my normal activities each day at the farm, I have recently hosted a few visitors. Last Friday, Jim Rome, who nationally hosts several sports talk programs on radio and television, happened to be in Lexington on business. One of his stops was at Lane’s End Farm.
The cute part is that he asked if he could visit ME!
While we were spending a bit of time together, Jim ‘tweeted’ to his fans…”I’m here, kicking it with THE QUEEN.”
I must say, Jim was also very, very kind in his comments about ME. He is a great fan of racing and is a big supporter of our sport! When someone commented that I was the 2010 HORSE OF THE YEAR….he quickly responded that in his mind I was HOTY more than just one year.
What a guy! I am extremely flattered! (Blush, Blush!)
It is truly a great feeling in life when you hear that your hard work and efforts are respected, appreciated, and recognized by others. His kind words really made ME feel so proud and very special!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Helen (Michigan)
@ Kari Bussell:
Thank you for the gift of Zenyatta. Most beautiful video of her I have ever seen. You spoke from the heart.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
You were 2010 Horse of the Year but to me, you are the Horse of A Lifetime! There has not ever nor will there ever be a horse like you! You sparkle and shine brighter than any star up above. I love you more and more as time passes on-you help me get through each and every day dear sweet Zenyatta!
Terry Crow
@Charlotte Farmer-I should have known you would know that piece of trivia. Mr. Ed’s voice was Rocky Lane, an old cowboy actor as I’m sure you know. My Favorite old cowboy is Johnny Mack Brown, who actually came out west as a member of Alabama’s Rose bowl team. @Judy Berube-You’ve got some good ones there. Henny Youngman would be proud. But, even when you know, you never know. I’m still looking for that football salesman.
Cynthia H.
@Lisa g: Bless you, Lisa. Thank you so much for your help. I agree, to know Liza is to love her.
@Kari Bussell: THANK YOU for the link to your “Horse-of-the-Year” video—my favorite (although it is hard to single one out over all of the others!). Stunningly beautiful! Straight from the soul.
Joy Hale
Zenyatta, you are horse of the Decade & horse of the Century. There will never be another Zenyatta, unless of course you are over there cloning yourself. The most would be, you be making the next Triple Crown winner. I believe you would’ve been the Triple Crown winner, if only they had let you raced 5 months earlier.
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
Can’t find ones as funny as the ones you post. So true, even when you know, etc., etc. Hugs, J.B.
Lisa g
@Kari, you did this? Forever Queen? If so, thanks for the tears. It was beautiful. You did this, right, I am reading the posts correctly? You are fantastic.
Charlotte Farmer
@Cynthia H. – Your post from yesterday regarding being out of the closet and part of the S.S.C.C. just add me to your group. I loved Etched in Stone, and like everyone else who has read it, you will love it. Lucy Zeh, the author did a fantastic job in sharing the stories of those that have passed on. The only monument some of them have is in the sharing of their stories. Kit, Charles Howard’s gg grandson teases me that I am going to become known for dead horses. I shared with him, once, that if I ever got back to Chesapeake, MD I wanted to visit Woodstock Farm and pay my respects to Kelso, where I would probably cry my eyes out. I was almost able to pay my respects to Quicken Tree and Lamb Chop (who I followed) there at Santa Anita but at the last minute I got sick and was unable to make the drive, eight hours one-way.
@Lucia – I am not sure about an address i.e. to have Mike Smith and John Shirreffs sign something. You could try the address that was used during the contest or address it to:
John Shirreffs, Barn 55
Hollywood Park Racetrack
1050 S. Prairie Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90301
@Terry Crow – Loved the joke, Mormon horses. Wow, thank you so much for adding Jim Rome to the list and for continuing to champion Noor’s cause. When I spoke with Bill over the weekend letting him know how much had been collected up to that point he was shocked. In fairness to Bill, not being able to put an address with his article was a major stumbling block. Also, not making the public aware that they have to write somewhere on the donation that it is for Noor, but that is the L. A. Times policy. I will let everyone know this Friday, when I call Michael, how much has been collected to date. Hold good thoughts.
I got a response back from Paul Post of the Saratogian thanking me for the information, and only time will tell if they write a piece on Noor. Harry Bryan, of the Courier-Journal there in Louisville, said to send him information and he would see what he could do. My intent is to get the word out across the country. The Baltimore Sun decline stating that there is no interest in racing and that the only time they cover it is during the Triple Crown. Now that is a sad commentary on Baltimore, MD.
Lil from KY
Lisa G—–You are so kind, keeping me & my sons in your thoughts & prayers, thank you.
Kari Bussell—–My son is showing slight improvement with his therapy, for which I am very thankful. I do so appreciate your prayers for my situation, I am trying to stay positive. It is good to know that people care about one another.
Bernie
Kari * very nicely done. Thanks for sharing.
Zenny, how wonderful you are, stay health, and happy.
Christine in Michigan
Hi Zenny! Let me say you look fabulous! I just finished reading a book by John Hawkes called Sweet William – A Memoir of Old Horse. Has anyone ever read it? It’s all about a thoroughbred horse from life to death. This horse however, was very mean. A sad story. Are there naturally mean horses in real life? Horses that no amount of love can change? I figured you would know, gentle one.
judy berube
Dear Nicholas Newman:
Thank you so much for that link to the video of Creator at Old Friends. What a beautiful chestnut he is and what an entertaining video. Hugs, J.B.
Karen
You are a Hoty in every way, Queen Zenyatta–always have been and always will be.
Yvonne and Maurice Kirby
Hi Zenyatta. It was so nice to see Jim Rome visiting with you and, of course, you should have been Horse of the Year three years running!!! Love you beautiful angel; you are in so many hearts and souls; you are loved by so many. Stay comfy, eat well and enjoy those mommy talks with TT. Love you, Angel in Disguise.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta and Baby, sleep well, hope to see another pic tomorrow..with or without cute guys surrounding you…I love you, Busy Girl…Lisa g
Kari Bussell
@Lil from KY- If I could leave but one message to the world it would be-
Stay positive and really trust God will never give you more than you can handle…..try to look for the lesson in everything….and fill your world with what brings YOU ….Joy & Laughter……(for me that is ZENYATTA)….
Feel all the love & prayers here and let it lift you up …
One more thing in the end we All go Home….no more worries …..no more pain…JOY!!!….Like Zenyatta here on earth ….I just know it will be Pure Joy1
tony and sue
Zenny…we would love to schedule a road trip to see you at LE. Since you love visitors, let’s go ahead and do it!!!!
That Jim Rome is a lucky man…you look great in the picture just as you always do.
Sweet dreams. Hugs and a high hoof!
Paula Higgins
Zenyatta is Horse of the Century as far as I am concerned. Now that our girl is retired, people everywhere realize what a gem we had in racing. The (I am sorry to say this because I love all horses) not so exciting crop of 3 year olds we currently have, makes us appreciate The Queen all the more. Once again, it is the girls who are racing now that are making the sport exciting. Even so, Zenyatta has set a standard that will never be met again in my lifetime. It is not surprising to me that anyone with even half a clue about horse racing wants to meet her.
LauraJ
@Christine in Michigan, sadly yes, there are. Temperament is not the primary consideration when breeding racehorses. Of course everyone prefers a pleasant horse–they are easier and safer to work with–but a fast horse can be forgiven almost anything. Hastings, the grandsire of Man O’War, was noted for his ill temper, which he inherited from his dam Cinderella. Grooms carried brom handles when around him. Man O’War himself was more manageable, but not exactly gentle. His son Hard Tack was as mean as Hastings. Stallions with bad reputations include Ribot, Halo, Dynaformer, Sunday Silence, Danzig, Round Table, and Devil His Due. Note all were/are very successful at stud. John Henry was famously gelded due to his bad temper; he used to smash steel water buckets. Some mean horses improve with age or when they’re removed from the breeding population, but not all. Mares can be cranky also, and it’s not always hormonal.
Cynthia H.
@Charlotte Farmer: The “creepers” would be highly honored to welcome you as a member! Thank you very much for the input on “Etched.” I christened it by spilling tea on it at lunch today, because I cannot seem to put it aside! I respect you so much for all that you have done and are doing for Noor, and for your faithfulness iin remembering those “horses of our hearts,” which are being forgotten more and more, now that those of us who had the opportunity to see them or read about them in their day are slowly exiting the planet. I saw the beloved Kelso only twice, the last time being when he was paraded at Acqueduct at a very advanced age, along with Forego. He died shortly thereafter (colic?), and I have often wondered if the trip back to the racetrack had proved too much for him.
Quicken Tree, with his white stockings, I recall very well at Santa Anita, and I cried my eyes out the day that Lamb Chop broke down—one of the first track tragedies I ever witnessed. She was so exquisite, with her flaxen mane and tail.
I can tell that we would enjoy a major marathon gab-fest were we ever to meet! Thank you so much for stirring these memories!
Shari Voltz
@ Librarian I forgot to ask you are you a Mountaineer fan or Buckeye? I couldn’t help but ask :)
@Lisa G You introduced Uncle Mo to me. I never knew who he was. I love your comments. I can tell you know horse racing. Also I can tell how much you love the horses :) Who is Todd? I only know Uncle Mike and have talked with Kelly.
@ Brenda I wish I could be there all week. I would have loved to meet you too. I have the time but Larry does not. I did not want to travel alone. None of my friends are horse crazy.
@ I sometimes am just blown away how we all have connected. We are a Zenyatta family. Reading the posts it is like we are all related to each other.
DJ
To Terry C: Take II – “Amen!!! Ouch!!!Alleluia!!!”
Sarah Powell
Dear Judy Are you kidding? I love to talk about them – never mind anyone asking questions. They all came to me because owners couldn’t take care of them but none were racers. Several are “special needs” horses. I was in Special Education for 30 years and when I retired I told everyone I just traded special needs children for special needs horses!! I have 11 presently ranging from 2 to 26. Thanks for the interest. Hugs back at you.
Kari Bussell
@PRIM BOSTONIAN—I love you too!!!
Write that book!!!!!! You saw Kelso??? See you have such a story to tell and you are blessed with a amazing talent to tell it really PLEASE…..
You are are very, very rare true poet…..expect a book from me as soon as move is over 10 days or so…..Kari-…also thank you for your support & awesome friendship!…12th of never & I would walk through fire!
LauraJ
@Paula Higgins, ITA! It’s entirely possible that we will have a female HOTY for the third year running if one of the boys does not step up. The older male division is also pretty dull. Blind Luck versus Havre de Grace is setting up as a nice rivalry, and Awesome Maria is in the mix too. Girl Power!
janet
Queen Z.. You are so very special!
Kari Bussell
@ Prim Boston…..that should read expect a hand written letter the size of a book …..we all know I should never, ever try to write a book…transferring thoughts to written word not my strong suit…..LOLOL….
LauraJ
@Shari Voltz, Todd = Todd Pletcher, Mo’s trainer.
Kari Bussell
@Shari Voltz- I so agree..We are a family!!! thank you for sharing then story about your children and the DQ video…it blessed me beyond words…so thing about precious, innocent children watching my own footage touched me deeply….Zenyatta is the gift that keeps on giving….
Diana S
@Charlotte Farmer: Just a quick note before I head home – If the wonderful Steve Haskin writes a story on Noor’s final journey, it will rock the house! He can make a statue weep.
And thank you for the Top Kick link. I’m gonna buy one of those books for my collection.
diastu in tempe (c’mon monsoons!)