Good Morning,
I love this photo! This is my dear friend, April Mayberry, who came to visit ME while
she was in town this week for the Fasig Tipton Yearling Sale.
As many of you may know, I spent my very early training days with April and her Mom,
Jeanne, at the Mayberry’s Training Center in Ocala, Florida. Once purchased at the
September Yearling Sale, and my skin disease was cleared up, I was then able to
travel. Dottie made my vanning arrangements and I was off to Ocala to start my early
lessons with April and Jeanne.
They have literally known ME from the very beginning stages of my career.
It was with them that I learned so many of ‘the basics’ about being a race horse
and the foundation for my early lessons about equipment, riders, galloping, jogging,
and breezing down the lane was established.
I stayed with them until the beginning of May of my two year old year…and then I
was off to Barn 55! It was absolutely FABULOUS to see April and spend some time
with her! I even got to show her MY BABY BUMP! So much has happened in the
last several years since I was a ‘darling little yearling’ living in Ocala!
SUCH WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL MEMORIES!
It has really been an eventful week. This is very special! A second party contacted
the Breeders’ Cup on Wednesday afternoon and asked if they could MATCH
the $11,200 donation to the V FOUNDATION for the Breeders’ Cup Experience and
VISIT WITH ME! They really wanted to participate in all of this!
The BC emailed Dottie and told her of this request. Needless to say, we agreed to help
and were more than willing to make this happen. Thus, it is now $22,400…that
will be contributed to the V FOUNDATION for this BC Package and VISIT WITH ME!
Then yesterday afternoon, I was able to TANGO on the phone with ANN and wish her
a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She was very excited to hear from ME…and SEE ME!
During our visit, she added one request…she wanted ME to be sure and THANK ALL
OF YOU FOR THE WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY GREETINGS! She was truly touched by
ALL of your thoughtfulness!
It has really been a quite a busy and FUN week. I have so enjoyed touching base with
so many of my dear friends…and of course, MY TEAM….and ALL OF YOU!
HAPPY FRIDAY!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Mary Copelin
JAG- I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your sister, Mary. No one can know how you feel, but I embrace you with love.
Meeting you at HP reinforced what I knew from your postings that you were a loving and sensitive woman. Blessings to you.
Mary
Debbie G
@luvscritters – You are not nuts. You remind me of my mom and stepdad. They live in the country and have a lot of feral cats hanging around. My stepdad captures every one he can and gets them spayed or neutered. A few years ago he bought storage building and fixed it up just for the cats. It has air conditioning and space heaters and several beds. He also installed a kitty door going out to a large screened pen. He does let them out once a day if they wish, but they always come back. I guess they know they’ve got it good!
Sarah Powell
@Debbie G and luvscritters – I can top that one – in my horse barn, I have flooring across the top of both sides (over offices, feed room, etc.) I have 3 cats that were born up there (that’s where my feral moms would come to have kittens). All other cats came down eventually but these 3 have never come down. I climb a ladder twice a day and give them feed and water, they have beds, a litter box, fan in summer, all 3 have been spayed/neutered, shots, tested for feline leukemia, etc. but have no desire to come down. They chase each other across the roof, lay out there in the sun or shade of a tree. That’s the crazy thing, a tree is right beside the barn and they could easily climb down but never do. They love to be petted and come in off the roof when I call them. I tell everyone that they are my penthouse cats – Tiger, Honeybear and Evil Sabrina (because she wouldn’t let any other females eat with her – only males.)
Amy K
DJ – Knew it was too good to be true (my connection). Lost another post to the “CyberZone”. Ah well, here goes: I believe the Racing App is currently just in Japan, but what a great way to keep track of your favorites while on the go. I contacted Karen just before her deadline while I thought I had a sufficient connection – made it! So happy to be a part of the Top Secret “D”umpling Project! I am copying this before I send this time just in case it “get’s lost” again.
@ Trina – great tech tips, I shall have to employ them more often.
DJ
Amy K: Hooray! For the post connection, our connection and the Top Secret connection! Connecting all the dots.. for a perfect Day :)
Kathryn Cogswell
Breaks my heart to hear Life At Ten was whipped to a 3rd. And can`t claim to know what may be her treatment off-screen, but this mare has issues racing, and a horse`s issues are human based . .. Those dears who state these concerns for horse — and all animal — care create a vocal pudding, the proof of which may be closer than we think. People pained one or another way often empathize to the benefit of others. How a community`s sentiments become law can be slower than molasses in January, but the world turns on just treatment for the unprotected. Hadrian, quoted by Red Pollard to Seabiscuit, when they had only four good legs between them, holds true for the gristmills of God: They grind slow, but exceeding fine .. . “Brick by brick, my citizens. Brick by brick.” Thank you ALL. Kc.
J Smith
re Life At Ten. Haven’t had time to read all posts, but having seen 1 talking about excessive use of the whip on LAT, I know there must be more. I have seen postings on various fb pages re. same. I urge all concerned to DO SOMETHING about it. You can complain/voice concern via email to, the racetrack, the jockey club, the owner, possibly the jockey, the jockeys agent, the trainer, the state racing board, and even your local paper’s horse racing staff writer. You only need to write it once, then copy & paste. Just google and find ‘contact us’ on thier websites. If nobody tells the people who can make changes, nothing will ever change. If all those people get a lot of email on the subject, they know the public is on the case. If they don’t know any one cares, they have no incentive to make changes for the protection of the horses.
Debbie G. my friends dad did the same thing for his rescue greyhounds, a heated shed with down comforters for them! How about my grandad, putting butter on the dogs Milkbone, said it was too boring for the dog without! We were on our own, you’d be lucky if he got you a glass of water.
Amy K
K Cogswell and J Smith: Can’t agree with you more. I believe it was Frankie Dettorie at Ascot who was penalized for excessive use of the whip. I like it when I see a horse in deep stretch buck when presented with a strong whip – that usually costs the rider the race. I’m a firm believer in “hand-riding”, as is Black Caviar, the Australian wonder mare’s trainer, Peter Moody. If the horse doesn’t want to run, there’s a reason.
Debbie G
@Sarah Powell – What a great story. That’s so funny that they won’t come down. I guess they figure they’ve got it made, so why leave? They’re lucky kitties! :-)
@J Smith – Sounds like your granddad was awesome, as well as your friend’s dad. Putting butter on a Milkbone? That’s great. I think that a lot of dogs and cats live better than humans. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) I know mine do!
Barbara Wood
@Sarah Powell–thanks for sharing the ‘penthouse” story.
Regarding LAT, I heard Jerry Bailey say once that he rarely thinks it does any good. I re-watched the Delaware Handicap and agree with Terry Crow–no reason to whip LAT when she wasn’t going to win.
Trina Nagele
Dear Eveline,
I was in a rush with my earlier post to you, so let me continue here where I left off. Your dear departed husband was looking on from above yesterday, I am sure, and bursting with pride in you and your horses. He was saying to everyone up there, “Look at the beautiful job my wife did grooming those horses for their races. Isn’t my Eveline wonderful? Don’t the horses look magnificent? I am so gratified that she is continuing the work we did together for so many years….” High hoof to you, Eveline, for carrying on. Hugs.
Yours, Trina
Amy K
Dettori gets 9 day suspension for excessive whipping at Ascot:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/horse_racing/13784767.stm
Charlotte Farmer
@Phar Lap – During the making of Seabiscuit there was a lot of information on George Woolf. What I found interesting was that George was given Phar Lap’s kangaroo saddle after Phar Lap’s death. He never rode without that saddle even through his days on the ‘Biscuit. As the story goes, the day he was killed there at Santa Anita was the only day he did not use that saddle. When George Woolf’s Derby Restaurant went up for sale with all the memorabilia, again from what I understand, Laura Hillenbrand bought the saddle.
judy berube
Dear Amy K,
This guy just doesn’t get it. I hope they ban him for as many days as he whips the horse. Hugs, J.B.
Charlotte Farmer
@The Derby – Correction, The Derby Restaurant did not go on sale just a large portion of the memorabillia.
DJ
To Diana S: LAT’s treatment was to say the least, hideous! I can easily guess what your ‘first’ thought was, as I concur. Thank His Goodness the majority of us do not react to our first thoughts, but accept responsiblity for our second. (St. Therese of Lisieux). Otherwise, this often-times cruel world would be so much more cruel. This is no consolidation.. except hopefully a smile for ‘water-boarding’ of a different kind (see video).
………………………………..
To Kc: ‘Brick by Brick’ IS the only Way. So…”slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch…” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCbXl-BR-9U
………………………………….
DJ
To Amy K: Good timing! Consequences are on the menu…and the specialty of the day at that.
judy berube
To Luvscritters, Debbie G. and Sarah Powell,
Thank you for sharing your stories about feral cats and God Bless you for taking such good care of them. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Charlotte Farmer:
Thank you for sharing then story about George Wolf and Phar Lap’s saddle. Hugs, J.B.
DJ
To Eveline: Praying Trina N’s prayer for you..
judy berube
To Ingrid Arnone:
Dear Ingrid,
Look forward to your posts. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Sue Fredrick:
Sound like my sister and I. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Diana S., Debbie G., Cathryn Cogswell, Terry Crow and Z Fans:
I guess a lot of us will not be able to view that movie. I have nightmares too. Hugs, J.B.
Dear Debbie G.:
You’re welcome. Phar Lap was a Great horse, but his ending is so sad. If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s very good. Have a lot of tissues handy. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
None of your jokes are offensive. They’re funny and make us smile. Hugs, J.B.
Terry Crow
@Anne from Paramount-Glad your aunt enjoyed the joke. However, I think it is a federal crime to transport it across state lines by any means. @Barbara Wood,, Kathryn Cogswell,Diana S and J Smith–Life At Ten just doesn’t want to do it anymore. This filly, I believe she is four now,was once a top flight horse, second choice in the Breeder’s Cup Ladies Classic. A horse of this type has no business getting beat by 14 lengths, I don’t care if it was Blind Luck and Havre de Grace. We don’t really know what the situation was in the Breeder’s Cup race and we probably never will. This wonderful horse was so far back in the Breeder’s Cup that you could not see her by the time the horses reached the first turn. Why? What is the explanation? This poor girl deserves a dignified retirement. @DJ-Maybe that joke is not a good idea after all.
Kathryn Cogswell
Lovable Lucy & ‘Martha,’ DJ. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJJW7EF5aVk&feature=related ~ ‘Coyote catches Road Runner.’
DJ
To Terry C: “If you have doubts…” or “Would “Z” need cotton in her ears?” or some of us blinkers :)
judy berube
Dear DJ:
Imogene Coca and Sid Ceasar; Show of Shows. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
I agree about Life at Ten. She really has not been right since the Breeder’s Cup. I hope they retire her. Hugs, J.B.
Kathryn Cogswell
Oh, Barbara Wood: Thank you. Please know you do fine, indeed; still teaching as you go, too. Watching The Weather Channel for a break in Texas` climate, and cattle surviving this drought. All the best. K.