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
Paula Higgins
Judy Maas Gadwood, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister. You and your family will be in my prayers. Please accept my sincere condolences.
Paula Higgins
Congrats to John and Dottie on Nereid’s victory.
Deborah Richman
Lynn…really enjoy your daughters website! Thanks sharing it.
Diana S…now I am thinking of you as “diastu, tagger of tempe” :) Thank you for your labor of love.
Susan in TN…glad you are feeling better.
Barbara Wood…happy to hear Charlie is better.
Everyone…It has been hard to keep up lately. A week ago the adorable feral cat I have been feeding surprised me by bringing five kittens to my kitchen door. I have been tending to them ever since, trying to tame them. They are about five weeks old and their antics are so adorable I can’t tear myself away!
Cynthia H.
@Judy Maass Gadwood: Prayers will be said in memory of your dear sister, and for the comfort and strength of you, your mother, and the entire family. I am so very sorry to learn this sad news.
Amy K
@ Norcator : He is a mighty fine MORGAN/Standardbred cross! Here’s the link with pedigree:
http://books.google.com/books?id=GaJUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA131&lpg=PA131&dq=horse+Norcatur+17855.+Walnut+Park+Farm,+St.+Joseph,+MO&source=bl&ots=3f_st0ClgP&sig=7UIVq5NJN56oZ7nA4XYuRBspvGg&hl=en&ei=Ey0iToy7GuSLsgLZ7uDeAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCkQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=horse%20Norcatur%2017855.%20Walnut%20Park%20Farm%2C%20St.%20Joseph%2C%20MO&f=false
judy berube
Dear Z Fans and especially California Dumplings:
A profile of Best Pal. Hugs, J.B.http://alexbrownracing.com/wiki/index.php/Best_Pal
judy berube
Dear Deborah Richman:
They must be adorable and more than a handful. Hugs, J.B.
Amy K
@ Norcator – Getting too tired!!! He is indeed a FULL BLOOD STANDARDBRED – hope that helps. Good night – Happy Sundays to all.
PeggyOne
Yes, they split the money in a dead heat. The money for the win is added to 2nd place money and then split between the two winners.
PeggyOne
I was thinking about something someone posted about horses starting many times and I thought of Easy Jet, a Champion Quarter Horse and Leading Sire in the late 60’s, early 70’s.
At the end of the 1969 racing season, he was named World Champion Quarter Running Horse, Champion Quarter Running Stallion, and Champion Quarter Running Two-Year Old Colt by the AQHA. He was also the highest money-earning horse and only the fourth two-year-old to be named World Champion. During his two year old year of racing, he started 26 times, won 22 and placed (came in second) in another three.
Now that’s quite a record. His owner, Walter Merrick, said he was the soundest horse he’d ever seen and never took a sore step a day in his life. Merrick also said if he didn’t run every week or so, he felt so good a person could hardly walk him and if he was going to run him, he just as well make it count!
Sunny Boyd
Good evening ‘Z’,
hope it’s not as hot as here. I started painting real early this morning, quit half an hour earlier the humidity was just too much. And it’s going to go on and on and on. Thank God for AC.
Hope you have plenty of fan power to keep you and all your buddies cool.
@ Barbara Wood
glad to hear Charlie is doing okay. I know how it is with not eating, whenever my Marmelade stops eating, it requires an extra Prednisone. So far anyway, but the Lysodren is powerful stuff and at some point could affect her liver. She’ll be 14yrs old on Valentine’s Day. So I always hold my breath. And as you pointed out none is cheap, well worth it but not cheap. My Sky lived to be almost 18 yrs, so he did good, he died back in the 90’s.
Good night Zenyatta, dream cool.
Barbara Wood
@Deborah Richman–bless you for taking in the kitties.
@Peggy One–thanks for the heads up about Easy Jet. Great story.
Karen Gogue
Judy Maass Gadwood (JAG)
My heart is heavy with your loss…HE has Her now in his Heart… her new home with HIM will be truly blessed with HIS love forever more….Rest in Peace Mary….We will Pray for your loved ones here on this Earth for strength and His love….
Barbara Wood
@Sunny Boyd–we must have been posting at the same time because I just now saw yours. You have really taken good care of your pets. Hugs.
Sunny Boyd
@ Deborah Richman
those ferals break your heart
I had mine broken by a feral cat. I named her Tigerlilly. Her mother Lillybelle is still with me. She’s at least 14 yrs old, could easily be 16 though. Those two were a pair, climbing over fences, over rooftops. Always together. And after a long re-cuperation period from leg & tail amputation needed because of an accident during the dead of winter, she was hit& killed by a car. She supplied me with plenty of mice, voles, moles, which she left infront of the door. Once in a while a half eaten bird. Even on three legs she was any intruding cats’ terror. Good luck with your little ones.
Karen Gogue
YEAH BLIND LUCK!!!! Sweet little
baby girl won!!! Great race too!
DJ
To Susan in TN: Thank you..my favorite will always be the one with the harnesses because you shared the story with me. I pray I can some day visit your equine sanctuary :)
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To Ingrid A: Blessings and hugs to YOU TOO!
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To Carole: Thank Y.O.U. for praying with me.
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Judy MG: Praying in a special way…
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Deborah R: ‘Five’ little kittens who lost their mittens?! See here, See here, and they began to cry? Well, Good Mother dear, they shall have no fear, and with you, they shall eat their pie :) God bless you, don’t they just know where to go?
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Tagging Diana S: You will be rewarded! I believe, someday, you will see all…or most of, your beautiful name tags attached to their smiling owners ALL in one place!! I do so hope…
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Charlotte F: Thank you for taking the time to gather and share the information that you included. I would not have thought of that route. Continued blessings to you in your endeavors with Noor and his sacred final resting ground.
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Barbara W: It will break my heart when my Shawnee breathes her last; even though I know it will come as life brings change, wanted or unwanted. I am praying for Charlie too..
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Amy: Thank you for finding the ‘Norcatur in the haystack!’ That is exactly the horse I have a photo of, but it is drawn from the popular artist that the other ones in the article are drawn from ‘Rob Dicksey?” There was also an Amy Norcatur, so I guess you were led on the mission by the Spirit! I so appreciate your care and effort and with that in mind chose an evening prayer about gratitude.
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Terry Crow
@JAG-I add my voice to the sentiments just expressed by Karen Gogue. @Barbara Wood-Good news about Charlie. My daughter lives in the Fort Worth area and has a lab.@Judy Berube-It looked to me that there was a hole and it was closed by some questionable riding. The term blind mice was perhaps coined to describe stewards. The DQ has been a lively topic of conversation ever since it happened.
DJ
For those who would like an Evening Prayer
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O Lord and Vivifier, Your grace has achieved for us all that You had spoken and promised.
Grant us access to the place of Your peace.
For You are our Vivifier; You are our Consoler,
You are our life Remedy, You are our Standard of Victory.
Blessed are we, O Lord, because we have You and each other!
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Brenda S
@ JAG Dear Judy, My deepest condolences in the loss of your sister. No words can really comfort you at such an awful time but please know that my thoughts are with you and that time does heal. A big HUG.
LauraJ
@Judy Maas Gadwood, my sincerest condolences on your loss.
AJ from CA
Great match-up between Blind Luck and HDG today but happy with the outcome!
To Judy Maass Gadwood -my sincere prayers and a warm hug to you.
Barbara Woods – I’m like you that I would do anything for my beloved pets…so glad to hear Charlie is better (a warm hug to him too!)
DMCQ
@JAG: So very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers for you to be comforted. Lighting a candle.
@Linda M.: Thanks for the Buck information. I’ve signed up on Amazon to be notified when a copy is available. I just got my copy of More Old Friends and love it.
@Lynn: I looked in on your daughter’s web site today and enjoyed the visit! Thanks for sharing it.
@Judy berube:Thanks for the site on Citation. Over time, people tend to forget the extraordinary accomplishments so I tend to keep going back to find out about past heroes. I’ve been looking at Phar Lap’s history too. He was also magnificent.
@Terry Crow: Thanks for the smile! (and thanks for not leaving us without one for Sat.!)
For Zenny and Dottie: Hope you had an interesting Sat. and look forward to seeing you on Monday!
@All Dumplings: My father-in-law once asked if I thought animals like dogs, cats and horses would ever be able to talk with us. I told him that they may not use standard English or spoken human language, but that they already communicated with any human willing to pay attention and listen by watching and feeling. I reminded him of how close he felt to his own special dog. Today, I remembered that conversation as I walked with McDude (our yellow lab rescue) and a squirrel threw a pear at him from a pine tree:) (McDude and I were both glad that the pear missed. They hurt when they hit you.) As I was writing this, I was thinking how Zenyatta communicates and how we can see it even through videos and pictures. She danced for us, she poses for pictures, and she understands that we adore her! And she shows that she loves individuals like Ann, Her John, and in this latest picture, April. Have a peaceful Sunday.
Trina Nagele
Congratulations to John and to owner Eric Kronfeld on Nereid’s dead heat win. High hooves!
Congratulations to John on Star Billing’s third place.
Congratulations to the Mosses, who bred Irish Gypsy (finished 1st by a nose at HP in Race , the A Gleam Handicap– Grade II)
@Deborah Richman—Blessings to mama cat for bringing her babies to you, and blessings to you for your taming efforts. I wish you every success with that and with finding them homes when they are ready.
@Barbara Wood—Glad to hear Charlie’s on the mend.
Kim S
HOpefully a happy Saturday to you Zenny. Skimmed the posts after my post last night to check on a few Dumplings.
@JAG–so very sorry to hear about your sister. Strength to you and your family at this time.
@Diana S–I know you will relay all of the messages to Judy so here’s Dumpling strength to you too.
Zenny, I didn’t get to all the posts, didn’t want to see any race results yet since I was out all day with my daughter, shopping, at her riding lesson (I visited and watered some of the horses), lunch then off to one of her friend’s house for our girls to swim the afternoon away.
I will try to catch up tomorrow, Zenny but got a ice cream fund raiser at the horse rescue and
@Lucia and Susan in TN–gonna try to squeeze in a trip to Hogwarts to visit with Harry Potter.
Have a great Saturday night Miss Z and hugs to everyone that is in need today.
Lotsa love to all.
Karen Gogue
@Trina
Couldn’t have said it any better! Thank you Trina. Ditto!
Karen Gogue
@DMCQ
Well said! Thank you!
Karen Gogue
@Terry Crow
Thank you! And how are you? Love those jokes, just wish I could remember the ones I’ve heard over the years! er, maybe not!
Barbara Wood
@AJ from CA–hugs back to you.
@DJ–thank you for the prayers. I love, love love your evening and morning ones. It wouldn’t be the same without them to “bookend” our day.
@DMCQ–McDude! What a great name! I can just see him.
Good night(again), sweet Z. You can have sweet dreams of all your victories. It tickles me to this day that you are the only mare pictured in the Stallion Register..gotta love it! (If you don’t have one, it’s on Blame’s page).
Susan in TN
Good night, Z friends <3
I just wrote a (too) long post and then lost my wireless connection, briefly, and lost the post. Will write tomorrow.
@Barbara Wood: Yay for Charlie!! :)