Dear Friends,
Tomorrow morning, Wednesday-July 13th, a wonderful fund raiser is taking place and I am honored to be a part of it! For quite some time now, I have worked with the Breeders’ Cup on behalf of the V FOUNDATION for Cancer Research. I am proud to say, very proud, that as of June 30, 2011, I HAVE RAISED (ME—ZENYATTA—A HORSE) $53,332.50 for this amazing cause.
Tomorrow morning, Breeders’ Cup is going to offer a travel package to the 2011 World Championship Races which will again take place at Churchill Downs. It is for the ‘DON’T GIVE UP ESPYS V FOUNDATION AUCTION’. This will take place on ESPN RADIO and ESPN2..during the “MIKE and MIKE in the Morning” program.
The winner also gets an EXCLUSIVE ZENYATTA VISIT! (That’s the part I am contributing to this.) As I’m now IN FOAL, I obviously will not be physically participating in the Breeders’ Cup Races this year…but I will truly be there in heart, soul and spirit!
I want to do MY PART to help in any way I possibly can.
Per the Breeders’ Cup official announcement, fans may bid on the package or donate to the cause by calling 1-800-4JIMMYV.
Bidding on this particular auction package will be offered from 6 to 7 a.m. ET. (To my west coast friends…I am so sorry it is this early in the morning for you!)
This package, that one may bid on during the aforementioned time frame, includes all of the following:
1) Two (2) tickets in the exclusive Trophy Lounge at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday, November 4th and November 5th, 2011 at Churchill Downs, Kentucky
2) One (1) hotel room for three (3) nights over Breeders’ Cup weekend at an Official Breeders’ Cup Hotel
3) Access to an Official Hospitality Center at a host hotel
4) Transportation to and from the track on Friday and Saturday
5) Two (2) tickets to the Winner’s Circle Welcome Party on Thursday, November 3rd
6) Two (2) tickets to the Finish Line Celebration on Saturday, November 5th after the races
7) Exclusive: “Meet and Greet” with 2010 Horse of the Year, ZENYATTA, at Lane’s End Farm. (That’s ME!)
The funds received on the winning bid for this will go directly to the V FOUNDATION for Cancer Research.
Please note: The wording for these 7 listings for the package were taken directly from the BREEDERS’ CUP OFFICIAL announcement which was sent to Dottie yesterday by Jim Gluckson of the Breeders’ Cup.
HOOVES CROSSED that this auction item and all of the others can in some way make a significant contribution to further research and progress in our quest to fight cancer.
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
PS—Dottie was at Santa Anita yesterday morning for workouts and she wanted ME to let you know that Barry Abrams was at Clockers’ Corner. He speaks in a whisper, is texting and emailing often, but looks wonderful. To think, his procedure was only one week ago today is amazing. She told him that I’d wished him great BLESSINGS in the Diary….and how all of you expressed concern. (Per Dottie, he even BLUSHED a bit as she told him this. Hearing this, WE think, certainly touched him.) Barry wanted ME to tell all of you that your kind thoughts, prayers, and best wishes are greatly appreciated.
From ME to YOU…THANK YOU!
Barbara Wood
@Susan in TN–maybe Dawn can meet CHopper too. Is Barbara Grimaldi leaving us?? I hope not.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dj & T. Crow: [seen in traffic jam] ‘God Loves You and I`m trying.’
Kaye
Dottie, is it true that Vertigineux and Street Cry are having another foal? I can’t find any reference for this information.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Barbara Grimaldi: You are in good company. Betty Ford told the newly-placed President she was going with him to the White House because she loved him and believed in him, but would continue speaking her mind. ‘They can kick me out,’ she said, ‘but they can`t change me.’ One voice less and we`re not US; the right to speak out sets us apart from every didactic, petty fiefdom that ever was kept afloat on condition of feudal service. Norman Rockwell and his ‘Four Freedoms,’ and gave a key to this issue, which, like all issues, has its place, but not THE place to crash the site, others following suit. “More connects us than divides us,” said another US President. An excellent 6-part special, “Abraham & Mary Lincoln: A House Divided,” is currently on PBS. Discernment is right up there with wisdom, and you earned your point of view, even where it challenges and is challenged. Why IS it men can argue the seams off a contention, shake hands, and go have a beer, and women get their noses out of joint and freeze? I`m chilling the beer instead. I`ll be toasting you & everybody about 5:00 pm, MST. Kathryn
Abigail from Montreal
@ Trina + Dawn: THANK YOU SO MUCH! High hooves indeed from 2 of my favourite ladies. HUGS to you both!
@ Dawn: Thank you for saying this about Michael Blowen. As I wrote about Charlotte & Noor I couldn’t help but think of Michael. Not only because he has been so generous in extending to Noor a permanent home worthy of a great, great thoroughbred, but because he does everything I said about Charlotte. The fact that he took the tragedy of Ferdinand and acted on it sets an example for us all. We need to protect all of Mother Earth’s creatures. They depend on us to do that. Whatever action we take ALWAYS makes a difference — in these matters there is no such thing as “too small.” I really believe that!
Sharon Call
@Barbara Grimaldi. Please don’t leave. People like PCRMfan seem intent on creating chaos when posting here and taking the exact opposite view of everyone. Unfortunately, this person hit on some tender spots for some of the Z fans and got the response he/she wanted to get. Don’t let that detract you from the overall atmosphere of this site. I learned some time ago to ignore, ignore, ignore people like this. I honestly believe that Diane S’s post was aimed more at PCRMfan than you. If you read back up the posts a way, you’ll see that PCRMfan made the comment that he/she thinks moving Noor’s remains to Old Friends is a waste and the money would be better spent somewhere else. While this person has a right to their opinion, we also have the right to ignore it.
Barbara, don’t leave. We’re so glad to have you back and don’t want to lose you.
#1NewEnglandFan
Congratulations to Queen Z and her wonderful team for raising so much money for so many good causes! You are an amazing, inspiring group.
@Abigail — your writing is marvelous, both content and technique! Thank you for another great piece.
@Happyharriet – you said it beautifully that there should be room for many points of view, and that we should be able to respect the choices others make.
I can only hope that all posters will keep in mind the spirit of friendship and generosity of heart that is at the heart of this diary.
Annie B in MA
Lover of Horses
That trip will go for a lot of money! I’d love to meet you, Zenyatta! Maybe sometime….
Barbara Grimaldi
To Barbara Wood, Kathryn Cogswell and Sharon Call–sincerest thanks for your understanding and your kindness. It’s good to finally have some friends on this site.
Kathryn Cogswell
More than we sometimes know, Barbara G. Remember Jo March [Katharine Hepburn`s is good] in ‘Little Women,’ finishing her story and saying, ‘There! That`s the best I can do. If it`s not good enough, I`ll just have to wait until I can do better.’ Sometimes we wait too long.
Sunny
@Barbara Grimaldi ~ I am hoping that the spirit and love of Zenyatta, brought to us by Dottie, will be enough to make you decide to stay.
DJ
To Khc: Chill another lager for me if you happen to have an extra. ‘Harp?’ :)
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To B. Wood: A candle lit and a hymn for your daughter. How about ‘Love Divine All Loves Excelling?’
…………………………………..
Trina: You are welcome. I never tire of enjoying watching Sweet “Z” benefit from the fruits of her labors!
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To those who would like to start the day with a prayer:
Lord God,
in your wisdom you created us,
by your providence you rule us;
penetrate our inmost being with your holy insight
so that our way of life
may always be one of faithful and kind
service to our neighbor.
…………………………………
Sweet “Z” and little “z” I will check back later for a new hoofprint?!
Barbara Wood
@DJ–thank you!
I’m hoping to hear more from you, Barbara Grimaldi. I figure we’re like family here–we can disagree, even vehemently at times, but we’re still family. Even the best of families have disagreements every now and then. If it’s honest disagreement and not meant to “stir the pot”, then we should be ok.
Sarah Powell
@Kathryn Cogswell – I love what you said and it’s so true – I too hope Barbara will stay – the many points of view are what make this site so wonderful – it’s kind of like TV – if I don’t like what’s on, I flip to something else (basically I come read all the posts on this site – LOL) My point is if you begin reading something that you don’t particularly agree with just skip over it – there’s too much kindness and compassion here not to make room for all.
Kathryn Cogswell
‘Harp!!’ YES*, DJ, [ + 1 ea*. for ‘Z’] . .. on a good note, thank you vvy much.
Kathryn Cogswell
Everybody: chilling more; all come. It must be 5:00 somewhere.
Barbara Wood
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2011/07/07/the-loss-of-a-thoroughbred.aspx?utm_source=WeekInReviewNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20110713&CommentPosted=true#commentMessage
I’m not sure if this link will translate, but it’s the great story of Invisible Ink by Steve Haskin.
Kimberly Potter
@Barbara Grimaldi~ I truly believe that you were only looking out for Zenyatta’s reputation. I also believe that Team Z is very smart in choosing what charities our beautiful Zenyatta will represent with her greatness. Please stay…we are all friends here (99.999%)…Hugs to you.
~Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana!
DJ
To Khc: May I suggest we toast to Buck Brannaman’s Mother’s favorite saying? “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape.” After all, she only raised 21 foster children…we must have at least that number here, counting ourselves, of course. :)
Diana S
@All: I apologize for going over the top last night. Sigh.
diastu in tempe
PCRMfan
Dr. Coley was curing cancer before 1900. Try reading about him. There are many things that have killed cancer cells but they are still using radiation which causes cancer. There are many cancer charities and there is an immense amount of duplication with many researchers doing the exact same research. There are many people who have survived cancer who refused all conventional cancer therapy. All you people in favor of the redundant money wasting research can tell all those people and animals who are starving and the horses sent to slaughter why they should die. There is not enough money to save them all because some people do not want to help them they would rather help the researchers or the arts,etc. I am sure they would like to know the reason others think their lives are worthless. The doctors at pcrm actually care about others and want to help people stay healthy. Ex-president Bill Clinton became a vegetarian (after he required heart surgery) on the advice of his doctors. Eating meat nearly killed him.
Diana S
@Barbara Grimaldi: Let me make it clear – I am apologizing to YOU for my going over the top. I thought you and PCRMfan were one in the same. My sentiments on those issues are still the same, but I should know better than to personalize them in such a way as I did. If you were here in front of me, I would offer my hand, and a hug. diastu in tempe
Kimberly Potter
@Diana S and Barbara Grimaldi~ Hugs!!!
Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana!!
Kimberly Potter
@Kathryn Cogswell~ I will enjoy that beer with you…thanks…:)
Barbara Wood
Dear sweet Z– As I’m writing to you, our thermometer is reading 105. I do hope you are not sweltering in the heat.
Paul
First of all, this is to PCRMfan and Barbara Grimaldi: Where do you guys get off saying that the charity that Zenyatta/John & Dottie Shireffs choose to associate with is no good? If you choose not to donate to it yourselves, that is your privilege as no one is forcing you to do anything against your will, but please leave other posters to this site out of it. It is wrong to force your opinion on other people who might not agree with you. It might help you to do a little research on these things before posting such vile garbage such as what you have posted. Do you guys like it when someone tells YOU how to think?!!!!!! If you’re like most people, the answer is a cold hard NO. Period. I will agree with you on one thing, however. There are some bad charities and bad research out there, which is true everywhere in life, but the bad stuff is in the minority. Once again, if you don’t like this charity yourselves, don’t donate to it, but leave the rest of us alone. If this were my site, I would have you blocked if you EVER pulled a stunt like that again. Do I make myself perfectly clear or do I have to be even more dramatic to make my point? Do you get the picture here?
Zenyatta, sorry about what I wrote above, but you get a moron on here every now and then, but on the bright side, they are a minority on this site. Anyway, I have heard about the trip to see you at Lane’s End Farm which was supposed to have been advertised this morning (Wednesday) on the Mike & Mike radio show on ESPN and ESPN2. That sounds like a great package, but I’m afraid I might have missed it as I didn’t know how to go about trying to win the trip. I hope spending money is provided seeing as I am not exactly a millionaire. I will be happy for whoever does win it, though. If I won it, I might have to be dragged out of Lane’s End Farm kicking and screaming, because I wouldn’t want to leave you or any other horse, Zenyatta. How is your unborn foal doing? Are you taking proper care of yourself & the unborn foal? I look forward to hearing progress reports on that. I heard on the ESPN TV special on Saturday night on the clip that featured you that you are expecting in March of 2012. Keep up the good work, girl! Both in your charity work and in taking care of yourself.
DJ
“Get your Cold Beer Here!! Cold Beer!!”
Trina Nagele
@Paul—I think your post this evening crossed with Barbara’s, who explained to Diana S and others that she is not PCRMfan, but became concerned when she read PCRMfan’s post, and wanted to understand what that was all about. If you read Barbara’s earlier post, you’ll see she was very positive about Z and Z’s charity work, and did not use the very negative language that PCRMfan did. High hoof!
Trina Nagele
@Barbara Grimaldi, Paul, Kimberly Potter, Diana S and DJ—Can I get in on that group hug? That cold beer sounds good, too—and I’m not even a beer drinker! Hugs and high hooves to all.
Kathryn Cogswell
DJ: Sipping here & see now that #296 is up, there is a new page to turn. ‘Cheers!’ ‘Salud`’ . .. ‘Hail & Farewell to #295’ . .. we move right along. ~ To Diana S [really like writing ‘diastu’]: the ‘Z’ Dumpling Tags sound adorable; once my house doesn`t look like it was stirred w/ a spoon, will send funds for handling all this with aplomb & a twinkle. Thanks, Kc.