Hello Everyone,
It has been a very exciting morning. The final bid on the Breeders’ Cup Experience and a VISIT WITH ME was $11,200. I’d like to THANK and CONGRATULATE J. D. SWEENEY from SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, for this generous bid. These funds will go a long way to support and assist the V FOUNDATION in their efforts on behalf of cancer research.
I can’t wait to meet the Sweeney Party and personally thank them for their wonderful outpouring of support for this worthwhile cause.
It was interesting to listen to all of the updates on “Mike and Mike in the Morning”. Dottie got up quite early CA TIME so she could do so. Then during part of the program…which was hosted by Brian Kenney and Bob Valvano (Jimmy V’s brother)…they replayed a portion of a very famous speech Jimmy gave 7 weeks before his passing. It was March 4, 1993. In this inspirational speech, he introduced his concept to create the V FOUNDATION along with the assistance of ESPN.
Jimmy offered his drive, devotion to this topic, his hope, and his vision. ESPN granted their support to this endeavor via their time, money, and various efforts to enable the V Foundation to get started.
There were several key words and phrases Jimmy used repeatedly in this moving speech which can truly touch so many of us…no matter what is else is going on in our lives:
1) Each day try to LAUGH, THINK, and HAVE SOME EMOTION.
2) Be enthusiastic about things going on in your life…KEEP YOUR DREAMS ALIVE by working hard to try and make your dreams a reality.
3) Don’t give up….DON’T EVER GIVE UP!
These are certainly wonderful thoughts to reflect upon…no matter what you are doing!
I must say, I know one thing for sure. Each of these POINTS holds a very special meaning TO ME…and is also very symbolic to the way I tried to view my life and all aspects of my athletic career.
Point # 1…I really wanted to have FUN each day! I tried to make things unique and entertaining and add my own personality to the tasks at hand. I learned to dance…and did so whenever I could! I enjoyed every moment while at Barn 55 whether I was in my stall, relaxing, training or enjoying some treats while outside grazing and ‘hanging out’ with my pals. Additionally, I truly LOVED EVERY MOMENT I spent visiting with and sharing my daily activities and career with ALL OF YOU!
Point #2…I worked very hard to keep MY DREAMS ALIVE and make them a REALITY. 19 victories in a ROW! I still find this so special and have to literally pinch myself when I think about it. I was the ONE WHO DID THIS! ME, ZENYATTA!
Point # 3…This one is very dear to my heart and it definitely applied to ME during my racing career. No matter what else was going on…I always gave each task MY ALL….and I NEVER, NEVER GAVE UP!
Here’s to wishing each of you a very special day!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Diana S
@Eveline: I am so sorry for your loss. But Ivin will still be there by your side – he will send you signals and you will know. That you keep on truckin’ with the horses and dogs is testament to your fortitude. We wrap you and yours in our arms and hopefully help carry you in this sad time.
diastu in tempe
Diana S
@Barbara Grimaldi: Thank you. I so share your passion.
Trina Nagele
@Gloria Jeanne—Keep hanging with Zenny, and you’ll ALWAYS be a winner. Hugs and high hoof!
Diana S
@J.D.Sweeney: I suppose now I have to start making Z’s Dumplings name tags with gold trim? Well, okay. Clearly you are worth it. Thank you for your amazing charity. PLEASE share your experiences here with us.
@diastu in tempe tagland
Trina Nagele
@KIMBERLY POTTER—Bravo and high hoof for the great ESPN-LA link! Love Z’s photo. Sure looks good to me. Thanks for posting.
Diana S
@Cheryl in AZ: OMG! Another Lizardlander! I love you already!
diastu in tempe – and with my luck – in Latin it would be dirty words!
Trina Nagele
@Eveline—Thank you for sharing some of the details of your life with your dear Ivin. What a wonderful couple you were, together at work and in play, your love intertwining your souls. Ivin will always be with you in spirit, so hold tight to the memory of his love, and continue to cherish the horses and your dog Sparky that Ivin cherished too. I hope you can place a winning bet for him in Delaware this weekend. Which horses are the ones from your barn? And dancing dogs—too cute! They surely will bring a smile through the tears. Bless you. Hugs.
Diana S
@Ms. Cogswell: No moolah needed for your Dumpling name tag. Y’all have earned it with your scholarly and poetic posts.
@ALL: I want my Guinness, and I want it NOW, and I want that sucker ICE COLD! Sheesh, what a day. Let’s go get drunk Barbara and tell stories!
diastu-per in tempe
Trina Nagele
@Kathryn Cogswell-—Since DJ has ceded the field, I’ll share what I found on the Internet. Anonymous gets the attribution for “Let my words, like vegetables, be tender and sweet, for tomorrow I may have to eat them” on the culinary website “A Food Adventure…It’s Alimentary My Dear Fellow” http://alimentary.blog.co.uk/2011/01/30/let-my-words-like-vegetables-be-tender-and-sweet-for-tomorrow-i-may-have-to-eat-them-anon-10466809/
BTW, don’t you just love that “It’s alimentary, my dear fellow”?
And there is a book with the title “Let My Words Be Sweet and Tender… ‘Cause I May Have To Eat ‘Em!” by Ron Wheeler (1996).
J Smith
TROTT will be on the Today Show tomorrow (Thursday) at about 8:40 am! Jill Rappaport was the reporter who came out to do the interview, and her producer filmed over 25 hours over several months. Really short notice I know, but we will probably be able to find it on today.com later in the day. Team Z have been a generous supporters of Trott.
Wonderful diary post today, and WOW, what a fab time the Sweeney party will have. Worth every penny I’m sure. That was a great package to bid on.
@Terry Crow, don’t worry, at least Neptune was the patron Saint of horses in Greek Mythology (learned that from the Guiness ad)maybe he has some really big plans for you! Just tell him your unavailable for the forseeable future.
@Sharon Call, ha! even I have been to Cumming GA. Good friends from L.A. there.
@Eveline, I have spent 20 minutes trying to think of something to say, but realize there are no words to lessen the pain of your loss. However, I hope it is of some comfort to know that many people are thinking of you, and I know the unconditional love of your animals will really help with the healing process.
Trina Nagele
Dearest Zenny—Thanks so much for another inspirational diary entry. I love your philosophy, and you look so beautiful in your philosophical mood. (OK, you look beautiful in every mood!) Good night and sleep tight, sweet Z.
J Smith
Diana S. WHAT! You can’t have Guinness cold, it has to be room temperature. Just like you can only have 2 cubes of ice in your gin & tonic! Worked in a pub in London many moons ago, if I’d have pulled a pint of Guinness that was cold, I’d have been wearing it. Those Brits, gotta luv ’em (that would mean ME). Who has been to UK lately, do they actually give u more than 2 ice cubes in a drink now?
Brenda
Good Morning Zenny, hope you slept well. So many interesting posts since I logged off last night’
@JAG – love the initials, easier to type. I noticed another “Brenda” so may be I’ll go to my initials if you all promise not to be offended – they’re BS!! The Ontario government wouldn’t let me have them on my license plate, said it would be offensive.
@Diana S – Add me to the list of those who didn’t know Latin and didn’t want to admit to it. So relieved to know that I’m not as dumb as I thought.
@ J. Smith – When I left England in 1967 you didn’t even get an ice cube in your gin and tonic so I’m glad to see that there’s been some progress. If any of my relatives came for a visit they’d be horrified to find that I put a couple of ice cubes in my light beer. I’m thinking that they still serve all beer and ale, including Guinness, warm but then they’ve been doing that since 1066. I wonder how Zenny drinks her Guinness.
Have a great day Zenny, it’s a bit cooler right now in Fort Erie, hope it’s the same for you.
Sunny Boyd
Top o’ the morning to you, Zetty,
Mr. Sweeney, you’re one lucky dude.
You’re gonna get puckered by our ‘Z’.
She’s gonna plant a big one. Hehehe
Have a great day
@ Barbara Wood
thanks for the sympathy wishes. Hope your knee is doing good.
Joanna
@signofthetimes: I saw that episode of Across the Board too with Jim Glucksen. I really like the ‘Don’t give up and don’t give in’…words I’ll remember for a long while. Have a great day, everybody!
Lisa g
It is the next day, Mr. Sweeny, nope, it was not a DREAM…Such a lucky human…Again, Congratulations…let us know how your visit with the Queen goes..hope there will be pics…and will be looking for you in November on the TV set in Texas…Such a lucky humman..LOL
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, your heart is so beautiful for all the wonderful things you set out to do and accomplish…I love you, Big, Busy, Girl..Have a great day. Lisa g
Barbara Wood
@Sunny Boyd–thanks. It’s coming along–just takes a long time to heal inside (months and months, I’ve been told).
To all–I’m so glad I ‘fessed up about the Latin. Guess we would still have been wondering–lol!
The Kennedys in San Diego
Watch Blind Luck getting tacked up at Hollywood Park on July 9 — great fun! We will be rooting for her this Saturday in the Delaware Handicap.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/BlindLuckOfficial
evy
All your life you’ve shown us “how to do it”….quite beautifully, I might add. Thank you for your actions….and now, the words that go with them. You’re the BEST!!!
Alene
Hi Zenny. Points well taken. Lucky Mr. Sweeny. I tried bidding until $8700.00. That was it for me. The most important thing is that the proceeds are for cancer research. The most important thing for me was to spend time with YOU!!! Going to the Breeders Cup would have been awesome but it was you the real “STAR” that I wish I could have seen… Maybe next time…Thanks Dottie!! Lots of Big Hugs and Kisses, Alene :-)
Susan in TN
Hi, Z Friends- I had a case of heat exhaustion yesterday and am fine but still a little out of it. Later!
Trina Nagele
@Brenda–May I suggest that you just add an S?
@Susan in TN–So sorry about your heat exhaustion–please take care! If you aren’t worried about your hairdo, I find that dousing my head in cold water helps a lot.
Kimberly Potter
@Susan in TN~ Heat exhaustion is no fun…hope you feel better soon, it might take a few days. :)
@ALL~ I must admit that I thought diastu in tempe was also latin…lol Apparently we all think alike…:)
I am slammed here at work today…have a wonderful day everyone and I will look forward to coming back to my haven this evening.
Love you with all my heart Zenyatta!
Your #1 fan in Montana!
Phyllis James
Z, your race in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup is the best example of never, never giving up I’ve ever seen. Thank you for this inspiration and for the other two points. Humans sometimes forget things, especially to have fun!
Abigail from Montreal
Hi sweetheart and hello from steamy Montreal to Dottie and ALL of you. Boy! I should really get into the habit of reading your diary about every 15 minutes, because if I wait longer there’s just TOO much going on to comment without composing a mini-novel! So I’ll take the sensible route and just tell EVERYONE that these are great posts and with the addition of all those yummy links, a GREAT place to come for daily thoroughbred news!!!!
I loved your message to us today Zenny & Dottie. It isn’t easy to hold onto our dreams (speaking personally) but it’s always worth the struggle. Ditto with never giving up which needs to be emblazoned across every heart, human and animal. And about feeding your joy, laughter and feeling — YES YES YES! I have always found inspiration to do much of this from horses. But my other daily inspiration is my wonderful dog, Jericho. He’s now 11.5 years old and has worn a brace on his right foreleg since he was 4. But being “different” never stopped him from smiling every day, giving affection to his many local fans and living life to the fullest. Jericho doesn’t know “handicapped.” In fact, if asked, he would say that his biggest summer handicap is not being taken for soft ice cream daily!!!! In the grace and dignity of Jericho, I find so much to rejoice. LOVE TO ALL & KISSES TO MY GIRL…..
Janice Ponce
That must have been quite a speech as it touched me deeply this morning just to read those three points. Everyone needs support sometimes, thanks Zenyatta, have a happy day!
Stella Bagwell
Dearest Zenyatta,
You’re simply wonderful!
Have a great day with all your friends and keep on keeping on with your dreams!
Much love,
Stel
Mary
Zenyatta, I will NEVER GIVE UP ASKING; When can we fans without the money to bid, donate a smaller amount to visit you, from a distance, at Lane’s End????
Hugs and Prayers
Terry Crow
@Sharon Call and Kim S-I have my jokes all listed by subject matter. As I use them, I cross them off. Glad you are enjoying them.@Barbara Wood-I just don’t understand how I got on the mailing list for the Neptune Society.–@JAG-Interesting story about racing and internet gambling. I really think that on-site slot machines is the answer. Noted is the fact that there are two competing bills, one backed by the Indian tribes. This all sounds familiar.-@Kennedys in San Diego-This article just shows that a trainer has to skillfully manage his stable to suit all his owners. Not an easy task.–@Happy Harriett-Mr. Commons and Ebby showed a distinct preference for your company when we visited Barn 55. Pretty astute, I would say.@Judy Berube and Deborah G-Good ones. I will have to cross them off.@Judy Berube-I have met George several times in his many forms.-@JSmith-Thank you. Missed you on Saturday.Here is a joke along the lines of the thype of material I have been receiving in the mail-A recently widowed senior citizen goes to the park and spots a lovely senior sitting on a bench. He asks the lady if he could sit down. She likes his looks, and invites him to do so. They engage in conversation the whole day and discover that they are both recently widowed, live within a mile of each other, like the same movies and TV shows, love the horse races and their political views are the same. The old man then says, “I have two questions to ask you.” He then spreads a blanket on the ground in front of her and kneels and says “I know we have known each other but for a short time. However, at our age I feel we should grab whatever opportunity comes along. Will you marry me?” Yes, says the lady. “However, you said you had two questions to ask me. What is the other one?” “Could you please help me up,” said the man.