Good Day Everyone!
Speaking of SLEEPING BEAUTY…..I’d like you to meet BRONZE BEAUTY!
She is an adorable 2 year old filly (by Latent Heat) who lives at Barn 55.
She finished her appetizer (in the little black bucket MY JOHN always had for US)
and then totally relaxed and took a nap.
The curious part of this is that she also did not want to ‘miss a thing’. She kept her
head close to the door to ‘check out’ what was also going on in the barn.
I remember it well! When I was at Barn 55, we would all be in our stalls after our
training, baths, and breakfast. Then between 12 and 3 each day, My John always
wanted everything nice and quiet and relaxed for us in the barn! It was our special
time to really stretch out, take it easy and rest! (Just like Bronze Beauty is doing in
this photo!)
During this time, he also kept the fans running for 2 reasons: (1) to keep the barn area
nice and cool for us and (2) allow the humming sound they provided to serve as a bit
of a distraction from all of the outside noise that could go on during this time.
Dottie teases him about this often…saying it is like providing a safe environment
and scheduled NAP TIME for a baby! My John just smiles. I know he really feels having
a routine is very important for all of us! Then, of course, in so many ways I know he
looks after ALL OF US as though we truly are his adorable “DUMPLINGS”.
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sue Fredrick
To anyone interested I just saw “See You At Peelers” win her 21st straight race. Wow what a filly, it sures seems the ladies are burning up the tracts these days.
judy berube
To All the California Dumplings:
What wonderful memories you all have of seeing Z at Barn 55. Thank you for sharing with the rest of us. Can only imagine how great it must have been to see her and how hard it was for all of you when she retired to Kentucky. Hugs, J.B.
Jill
If any one is interested, here’s the link to ReRun. http://www.rerun.org/
judy berube
Dear Gary Moulton:
Just read the Reincarnation poem by Wallace MacRae. Very funny and I think Bobby would like it too. Hugs, J.B.
Shari Voltz
@ Judy Berube thank you for WV Derby info. Just post it if you find anything :) Also the video of John waking up Life Is Sweet is the kind of things I like to show the children. That video is too cute.
Sunny Boyd
* * * * :)
judy berube
Dear Sue Fredericks:
Good for See You At Peelers. More Girl Power. Hugs, J.B.
Barbara Wood
@Karen Gogue–I saw your picture at the rail! Love the red hair.You all must have been devastated that day. I had been dreading it for a year, but I didn’t see her as much as you did.
Dearest Z–I wish you could know how many people love you! We love coming here and making friends with others who do as well.
Your fans literally cover the globe. Good night, sweetie. Take care and sleep well. Love you always.
judy berube
Dear Shari Voltz:
You’re welcome. As soon as I find the probable entries for the WV Derby. I will post them for you. I think the children will love the video of Life Is Sweet. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear DJ and Kathryn Cogswell:
Love your clever banter back and forth. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Anne from Paramount:
Just read your very enjoyable post from Diary #306 and you’re welcome. Hugs, J.B.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear JudyB: A bit concerned re: DJ`s day & not cracking the code. .. left a candle lit on that site & my e`mail address back where we were talking about ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ [favorite of all time], so thank you & send one of your major hugs, OK?? . .. The little group ‘The Swat Team!’ by Robin Laws [also back a bit] takes whacks at each others` pests & it works. Take care & thank you. K.
judy berube
To Terry Crow and Z Fans:
You mentioned “all time cowboy movie, Blazing Saddles”. That movie was so funny. Was written by Mel Brooks with the very funny help of Richard Pryor. Although he is not an Old Time comic and his material is “edgy”, I really thought he was very funny. He could be raw, but his comedy held a lot of truth. The movies he made with Gene Wilder are some of my favorites; Silver Streak, Stir Crazy, See No Evil – Hear No Evil, to name a few. Have any of you seen them? Hugs, J.B.
Peg
I’d like to be in that barn taking a nap. The gentle breeze, sweet smell of hay and horses making gentle noises. Sounds like heaven. Take care Z Girl
judy berube
Dear Kathryn Cogswell:
DJ posted the Evening Prayer, so maybe she just turned it early. You’re welcome. Hugs, J.B.
Kathryn Cogswell
Dear Judy Berube: ‘The Swat Team!’ by Robin Laws http://www.robinlaws.com/swat-team.htm ~ Her life-size bronzes are sculpted from a population in her barnyard, ranchlands, and the wilds of Colorado, it says on her webSite..
judy berube
Dear Shari Voltz:
Here is the very first article I found on the West Virginia Derby. Hugs, J.B. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64241/57-nominated-to-west-virginia-derby
judy berube
Dear Kathryn Cogswell:
Thank you for the link to Swat Team. Those sculptures are adorable. Pals, A Walk With the Kids, Sidekicks. They’re beautiful. Hugs, J.B.
Holly Zemba
Yes that is too cute, my horse has the same stall guard. We keep fans in the barn too to cool the horses down in this heat!!!
sue
Zenny: This is really too cute!! No wonder John does so well as a trainer. Wow! Now we have an even better idea of why you turned out to be the winner you are :)
Love ya, sue
Snoprinz
Bronze Beauty is such a lucky horse for having John to train and take care of her. Barn 55 is a truly a haven for all the horses-in-training. Zen, your John brings out the best in the horses that he trains. What a great guy, your John is.
Zen, keep cool and stay hydrated in this hot weather. Send my regards to Dottie for being your voice and “executive secretary”.
Jane Wade
How cute is that?! We’ve been at the barn during “quiet time” and it’s very peaceful! Everyone (horses) was very relaxed. John know how to treat his “babies” and keep them in a good routine!
Have a great day Zenyatta! We miss you!
Linda Henderson
If I ever am able to afford a thoroughbred, I will beg and plead for John Shirreffs to be the trainer.
Signofthetimes
@Judy B
Will check out Galileo video on 305. Missed it.
Love the LIS sleeping video. Bet she is not getting
Much sleep or her foal it getting a bite when he
Tries to wake her.
Dear Zenny
Any new pics of baby LIS? He was sooo cute at birth.
I am sure she is busy. Hope the experienced mares
Are helping her our. I love the way mares ban together
And help the new mom’s when foals try to take advantage.
Just a little nip and a kick and they will get in line.
XXXOOO sweet dreams
ira
have fun
Trina Nagele
This touching tribute to AWAD by Jane Turner was posted on Old Friends e-mail update Thursday:
About Awad… from his friend Jane Turner.
I just got news today that one of my best friends has passed on. His name is AWAD and yes he is a horse. First I want to acknowledge that I shouldn’t be so torn up about it because for one, I haven’t spent any real time with him for many years and two, he has gone on to greener pastures. Hearing of his passing brings to surface the wonderful memories of the time I was so blessed with his daily presence in my life. As with any passing it is those left behind who are sad.
For starters I like to say THANK YOU to all of those at OLD FRIENDS in Kentucky for making his last years of life as close to perfect as a horse could want. Who knows where AWAD would have ended up after he was no longer useful in the breeding shed if not for all your great work. The job you do providing for these retired horses is amazing!
Who was AWAD? As far as racehorses go he had a blessed life; for starters he was sound, he was fast and he had a heart bigger than he was. In the racing business you would call him an “iron horse” because as some might say “he never missed as dance.”
He ran from 1992 -1998. His official career summary says 70 starts, 14 wins, 10 seconds, earnings of $3,270,131. Of course those simple stats leave out the noses, necks, ½ lengths when he was 4th instead of winning partially because his breath taking, heart pounding come from last flying finish running style left him susceptible to a slow pace. It also set him up to break records when they set a lightening pace in front of him.
I met him the spring of 1993 when I went to work for David Donk at Belmont Park. I started galloping horses in Middleburg, VA for Paul Fout and all you ever heard was the “good ones run in NewYork” I was blessed by falling into jobs with excellent horsemen everywhere I went from Mike Bell in Arkansas and Kentucky to Eddie Gaudet in Maryland, Niall Brennan in Ocala and then Al Darlington In Aiken. It was Al Darlington who suggested I go to work for Dave. I thought I’d be there a year or two maybe. That was in 1993 before I met AWAD, my Little, BIG horse.
He was the first horse I galloped around that 11/2 oval and it was love at first bouncing step. Here was the horse that every other trainer or rider who had known one before tried to tell you about, simply the horse of a lifetime. A horse dreams are made of !! A horse whose simple presence in my life made me feel like a champion too. I was lucky to work with amazing people like Dave and Fay Donk and all of the horses were my best friends but traveling the US and then to Japan with AWAD was stuff of a fairy tale.
The first road trip was to Arlington for the Secretariat. The stabling was portable stalls in the parking lot because the stable area was under quarantine. I remember walking him after training and he would stop and look directly at the cameras but he was a long shot so they didn’t take so many pictures. He tried to tell them!! When we went out to Santa Anita together we would back up and stand. I’d see some people pass by on 4 or 5 different horses. They’d joke with me “I hope you get paid by the hour not the head.” Riding him took me out of this world to a place of peace like none other.
Some people thought he was crazy because he liked to talk a lot and show off but he was a great horse to ride and work with. He screamed all the time and announced his coming and going. We always got to ride in the front of the plane so he wouldn’t disturb the rest of the horses and we didn’t have to listen to him the whole way
I’ve ridden quite a few horses in my 23 years at the track and having worked for Todd Pletcher and now for Christophe Clement; I’ve been on some extremely talented and successful ones. When I sit on one that gives me goose bumps, that feeling of floating on air; One that takes you into your own little world where it’s just you and a horse and hooves barely touching the ground, it’s AWAD I compare them to because we spent 365 days a year for 5 years in that elevated space.
When I first came on the track people told me “don’t fall in love with them it’s a business.” I disagree I’m here because I love them and as their keeper asking them to give their lives to me in service I owe it to them fast or slow, My heart will break a million times but I’ll keep loving them all one-by-one. There will never be another quite like him but he taught me what to look for. He had that rare combination of cockiness, talent and heart that all exceptional athletes possess. He was a true champion and how lucky was I to be along for the ride.
I read this quote many years ago before I had a horse but it describes my boy to a t:
“About the head of a truly great horse there is an air of freedom unconquerable. The eyes seem to look on heights beyond our gaze. It is the look of a spirit that can soar. It is not confined to horses even in pictures you can see it in the eyes of the Bonaparte. It is the birthright of eagles”
John Taintor Foote
Thanks WADIE for letting me soar with you.
Yours Always,
Jane
Trina Nagele
@Sue Fredrick–WOW! Congratulations to you and See You at Peelers!
Trina Nagele
@Kim S—Thanks for your great post with the story of Mike Smith and Holy Bull and that bit of prognostication by Steve Haskin that was destined for a rewrite when the Queen came along.
judy berube
Dear Trina Nagele:
What a beautiful tribute to Awad by Jane Turner. Thanks for posting it. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Think you will see Frankel in his Dad. Hope we can see some recent photos of Life is Sweet and her little one. Have been checking on the web, but could find nothing since his birth. Hugs, J.B.