Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #326

Such a FUN visit! Photo by Sarah Campion

Good Morning,

Yesterday was an especially FUN and REWARDING DAY for ME! I was able to relax, graze, and reconnect with dear friends.

As many of you may know, one charity I have consistently worked to help throughout ALL of my career is OLD FRIENDS. This organization which is based out of Kentucky (and now has a branch, The Frankel Division, in New York by Saratoga) works to enable “OLD” racehorses….no matter what their ages….to live their lives with joy, purpose, and dignity.

Michael Blowen is the founder of OLD FRIENDS. Yesterday, he came out to visit with ME and update ME on the progress, accomplishments, and goals we are meeting….and how I have helped in this quest.

A dear friend of Michael’s, for many years…since he was a writer for the Boston Globe….came along for the visit. I think she was truly as excited to MEET ME as I was to be introduced to her! Her name is Angie Dickinson. Angie has spent her life in the entertainment industry and met so many amazing people…but, I must say, I think she really did GET A KICK out of meeting ME! Every time she touched ME…she giggled. Now this is TOO CUTE!

Tickle, Tickle!

Additionally, Angie has also done a great deal on so many levels to support OLD FRIENDS.

I truly believe it is FABULOUS that my dear retired racehorse pals have so many wonderful people from so many different walks of life who constantly do SO MUCH behind the scenes to help. For Angie, Michael and myself….it is a gesture guided by passion and love for the HORSE. We are extremely grateful for all of the generosity and LOVE people show to our dear ‘retired’ racehorse friends.

With Love,
Hugs to All~(Great meeting you Angie!)
Z

Reader Interactions

247 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Wonderful pictures! So glad Michael and Angie visited The Queen herself! Now Silver Charm will be jealous – isn’t he the mini at OF who has the big time crush on Z?! Kudos and love to Team Z for doing so much to help Old Friends.

  2. / Reply

    The mention of Burt Bacharach reminds me of being at the Lady’s Secret when they ran out of water at HP the end of the day!! Such a big crowd there to see Z! Anyway, as many were sidling up to the water hole to get something, anything to drink, there was Burt B… very nice and charming.

  4. / Reply

    @Jo, yes, Little Silver Charm is going to be very put out that Michael didn’t take him along. He has a major crush on the Queen.

    @Sunny Boyd, LOL! So true, unfortunately.

  5. / Reply

    Good for Angie for doing what she can to support Old Friends. May all of our racehorse friends find a soft place to land after their racing careers…

  8. / Reply

    Z, I love you and I love Old Friends. I wish there were more people like Michael Blowen and his wife.
    @Kari B – Love love love the video of Tempo!!!

  9. / Reply

    Hi Zen, so happy to see that you had com pany and was able to meet with old friends and get intructed to a new fan that works for your cause,I know that makes you so happy. You are looking good and that makes me happy, I keep watching the good luck butterflies in my yard and keep thinking of you. You are the one that told us that butterflies are a sighn of good luck and with as many of them that I have flying around here I believe you are right. Love you Queen Zenyatta,stay happy and safe.

  10. / Reply

    Hi Zenyatta. Just listening to taping of HRTV Race Day America and Michael Blowen was a guest speaker and he talked about Angie Dickenson and you and the wonderful horses at Old Friends, both at Kentucky and the Bobby Frankel Division in New York. He also spoke of the development of the Bobby Frankel Museum, as Bobby had donated many of his trophies to Old Friends. I was so fortunate a few years back to visit Old Friends. At the time, I was not able to see Black Tie Affair, one of my favorites, as he was ill, unfortunately, before I could revisit, he died. He is one of my all time favorites as well as his gorgeous son, Evening Attire. I was also fortunate to visit Evening Attire at Akindale Farm in New York. Such a warrior and a huge fan favorite. It is so wonderful that you and your teams are so generous and help with so many charitable organizations. God bless you all. Love you big girl, you look beautiful with Angie – we all know what a special feeling it must have been to be near you and to pet you – just awesome. Stay comfy, eat well for two and have fun grazing with TT and your other paddock friends. Love you, Angel in Disguise.

  13. / Reply

    I have had the pleasure of visiting Old Friends and I must say what a wonderful place it is. It was a pleasure meeting Michael after the tour, listening to his stories of the horses at Old Friends – past and present and being able to ask questions. It truly felt like a visit with “old friends” both equine and human! Awesome organization and so glad you are able to help them in so many ways Zenny!!!

  14. / Reply

    Loved the Tempo and her first bath video. Don’t all kids 2 & 4 footed, love the dirt!!! Too cute. Great post today.
    Glad to see the Kennedy’s posted the Richard Mandella article in the paper and the North County Times had a nice one about Ron McAnally ( not sure if I got the spelling correctly) Gotta learn how to cut and paste or get them on your website.
    Zenyatta you are such an ambassador /ambassadress? of good will and love. Thanks so much for what you and Dottie do for racing.

  15. / Reply

    Thank you all for the kind words.. I appreciate them.. I post once in a while on here but not all the time.. I love reading the updates on Zenyatta and look forward to seeing her foal..

  17. / Reply

    @Delrene…read both articles, when you learn..will you share please? I have tried several times and just can’t get it :)

    Sweet Dream to all!

  18. / Reply

    @Susan in TN—I would love to hear some of your goat stories. I’ll believe whatever you tell me is God’s honest truth. And that was fascinating how the sheep had learned the signals that the border collies followed. Hoof-ray, sheep! Hoof-ray, goats! Hoof-ray, border collies!
    @MLV—I sent a donation to the equine retirement home Our Mims for Elmhurst’s transportation to live where his grandmother Our Mims resided in her final years. Thanks for the link. http://www.ourmims.org/
    @Gary Moulton—Thanks for the advance notice of your January birthday. Would you please let me know the date? Thanks so much. (BTW, it’s a little daunting trying to compose for an epic composer.)
    @Marilu V—I know your birthday is in September. Would you care to share the date?
    @Sally B –Dumpling tags are available free of charge from Diana Stuart in Tempe—e-mail her your mailing address and your name as you want it on your tag at diastu46@gmail.com
    @Anna M-—Hugs to you. So glad that you have found Z’s beautiful site to brighten every day. That’s what it does for me too.
    @Penny—The same as I just posted to Anna M!
    @Sharon in Seattle—Looking forward to meeting you at the BC 2012.
    @Lisa G— The same as I just posted to Sharon in Seattle!
    @Dawn Conrad—AMEN!
    @Karen Mitchell—Welcome back! You were missed.
    @Elizabeth—Thanks for the Philip Larkin poem. I had never read it before.
    @Anne—Thanks for the info about signing up to get weekly e-mails from Old Friends. Even though I have made several visits to their site, I had overlooked this feature.
    @Kari Bussell—Thanks for the JOY of Tempo.

  20. / Reply

    @Susan in TN—I would love to hear some of your goat stories. I’ll believe whatever you tell me is God’s honest truth. And that was fascinating how the sheep
    had learned the signals that the border collies followed. Hoof-ray, sheep! Hoof-ray, goats! Hoof-ray, border collies!
    @MLV—I sent a donation to the equine retirement home Our Mims for Elmhurst’s transportation to live where his grandmother Our Mims resided in her final years. Thanks for the link. http://www.ourmims.org/
    @Gary Moulton—Thanks for the advance notice of your January birthday. Would you please let me know the date? Thanks so much. (BTW, it’s a little daunting trying to compose for an epic composer.)
    @Marilu V—I know your birthday is in September. Would you care to share the date?

  21. / Reply

    @Sally B––Dumpling tags are available free of charge from Diana Stuart in Tempe-—e-mail her your mailing address and your name as you want it on your tag at diastu46@gmail.com
    @Anna M—Hugs to you. So glad that you have found Z’s beautiful site to brighten every day. That’s what it does for me too.
    @Penny—The same as I just posted to Anna M!
    @Sharon in Seattle—Looking forward to meeting you at the BC 2012.
    @Lisa G— The same as I just posted to Sharon in Seattle!
    @Dawn Conrad—AMEN!
    @Karen Mitchell—Welcome back! You were missed.
    @Elizabeth—Thanks for the Philip Larkin poem. I had never read it before.
    @Anne—Thanks for the info about signing up to get weekly e-mails from Old Friends. Even though I have made several visits to their site, I had overlooked this feature.
    @Kari Bussell—Thanks for the JOY of Tempo.

  28. / Reply

    @JB, thank you for the links on my Baby Boy, cannot wait till Saturday, and the link of the 3-year old featuring Thirsty.

    Also, thank for the link on Kensei, I do not undestand, a break down while galloping! I think this should be explained. I know Zenyatta’s John checks their legs every day, and still checks The Queen’s when he visits LE. This is awful. Thank you for letting us know..Lisa g

  29. / Reply

    @Barbara Wood, Yes, I agree that there are too many breakdowns, and Kensei while galloping on a trainig track, and yes, I agree that this will cause people to give up following the horses…Zenyatta has brought so many people back and has brought so many new people into this wonderful sport. I am sick about this as well….Lisa g

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