Good Morning Dear Friends,
What a special time this is for our industry! This week the ‘bones’ of NOOR, a very famous racehorse, were moved to OLD FRIENDS in Kentucky for truly their final resting place.
NOOR resided at Loma Rica Ranch in Grass Valley, California…after retiring from his very successful racing career. He was a strong and magnificent thoroughbred who was famous for his racing achievements which included beating Citation. For years, he stood as the ‘Senior Senator’ in the stallion barn at Loma Rica. Upon his death, he was buried there.
Henry Freitas was the manager at Loma Rica during this time. MY JOHN later spent a great deal of time at this Ranch during the early part of his career….and adored Mr. Freitas. MY JOHN, to this day, considers HENRY to be his greatest MENTOR in the thoroughbred industry. He was an excellent and very practical horseman…and shared his knowledge, skills, and love for the horse with all who were blessed to be under his guidance and work with him closely.
NOOR was one of those horses.
As happens in today’s economic environment, this property has recently been sold. It is going to be redeveloped for commercial purposes. Enter…CHARLOTTE FARMER. She has worked endlessly during the last several months to have ‘NOOR’S REMAINS’ properly moved to a new resting place…one where his memory will live in dignity. She contacted our friend, Michael Blowen from OLD FRIENDS in Kentucky, and a plan was created.
Ms Farmer did all of her homework to be sure everything was done perfectly to protect NOOR. She contacted people who worked at the Ranch during the time NOOR was there and even called MY JOHN to see if he could help her with details. John was not there at that time…but knew Henry and how he might do certain things. The information proved to be helpful. They were able to find the exact place, size, and depth of Noor’s grave…and were able to move HIM proudly to OLD FRIENDS.
What is truly special about all of this…is that PEOPLE REALLY DO ÇARE. Without being asked, so often people step up and work with great passion to encourage and assist ‘the right thing to happen’.
For NOOR….the RIGHT THING HAPPENED!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(With great appreciation and love to Ms Farmer and all who helped her with this endeavor!)
Z
Debbie
hi Z! BRAVO MS FARMER!!! love YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo
Debbie
wow I was first again;)
Samantha
Awh! R.I.P. at your new home Noor!!
Dear, Zenny, is there anywhere we can email you pictures, I have a HUGE zenyatta collection in my room and would love for you to see it!
Joanna
Welcome to your new home, Noor; you’ll rest with the greatest of company.
Thanks much for sharing the outcome of this story with us.
DJ
Dearest Sweet “Z” and little “z”,
Please thank your Team for such a beautiful Post! All so true! We do appreciate all the effort Charlotte put into this endeavor for all of us!
JAG from California :-)
NOOR ~ Now you can truly rest in peace, Champ!!! XO
——–
Kisses & Hugs Mamma Z and Baby Z XOXOXOXO
Leslie
so very sad about the Ranch being sold and developed… but a bitter-sweet thing to have NOOR moved safely to a forever home… Thanks John and everyone who helped and thanks to OLD FRIENDS… what a great place!
JAG from California :-)
P.S. Thank you to YOUR JOHN, Zenny. Truly a gentle, compassionate and kind man!!
Marge
Amazing!! :)
Nena Winand, DVM
This was such an important effort. All fans should be grateful to Charlotte, Mike and the others who assisted them. A fitting end for this magnificent horse.
Marcee
That is so awesome!!! Thank you Charlotte Farmer!!!
Trisha Veazey
RIP NOOR! Sometimes we humans do “step up to the plate”. I wonder how many more wonderful horse remains will be left behind without anyone caring about them! Sad, so sad. Kudos to Ms Farmer, well done.
Gorgeous Z hope you have a wonderful day.
Love hugs and kisses
Pat Cannon
Thank you Ms Farmer for seeing to it that such a great horse can have such a wonderful final resting place. Its people like you who make this world a better place for animals & humans alike. Also thanks to Team Zenyatta for the info.
Robin SoCal
What a wonderful post and RIP NOOR now you are truly home.
Love you Z and baby Z…
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXXO
Thank you JOHN and Charlotte Farmer!
Kim F.
What an awesome story! Noor…Now you can finally Rest in Peace. Love you Z!!!
Chris H
Thank you Charlotte for your effort to memoralize and honor *Noor. Now he will Rest In Peace where he will be visited by those who love and appreciate these remarkable athletes!
Bobbi
Cool story! Ms. Farmer has a huge heart.
Susan Benoit
she is an angel, isn’t she? and Michael too. and all the people who helped to make this happen. Sometimes horses are angels for people and sometimes it’s the other way around….
Lorri
So glad that Noor is at his final resting place! And a perfect one at that! Thank you Ms. Farmer for caring so much! And to John, without his help it might not have gone as well! Hugs Momma Z! xoxo
LauraJ
@Samantha, my suggestion: put the photos on Flickr or another photo sharing program, then post the link here and/or on her Facebook page.
Pam Zacek,
Wow, thanks to Mrs, Farmer, What a great thing to do, and RIP Noor too, in your new home , I Hope all is well with you Zen, that was the nicest thing,to put in your diary, thank you Dottie, for remembering, Noor, and his great racing, career.. People are showing how much they care for the racing horses. Good for them especaially those in retirement..
Leslie
Here’s a great article about Noor: http://community.tvg.com/t5/History-and-Photos/The-horse-who-beat-Citation-Noor/td-p/121540
Sue MacGray
This is a wonderful story, with a wonderful and deserving ending for Noor. It’s a tragedy (to me) when some of these beautiful horse farms must be sold and then broken up for different purposes. It makes me sad for any other horses that might have been buried there, but I’m glad Ms. Farmer, John and others were able to help in moving Noor’s remains to a place where he will be remembered and revered as he so deserves.
Misty
I think this was very touching!! It’s nice knowing people still care and will do what they can to protect and honor our furry friends!
Kimberly Potter
BRAVO for a job well done to Charlotte Farmer and all those who helped to bring the great *Noor to Old Friends where he truly belongs! RIP Champion!
Zenyatta’s #1 fan in Montana!
Gloria Jeanne
GREAT JOB!!!!!
Heidi Kreizinger
Dear Big Z and little z:
How are you two doing? I hope fine. This is exactly what I would have done had I known about it. I never made enough money to take in a retired thoroughbred. Maybe my next life. Where is Noor buried? At the Horse Park?
Kimberly Potter
@Diana S, JB and Laura J~ left you a message at end of Post #331.
HUGZ
Barbara Wood
R.I.P. dear Noor.
Sue Noel
oH gOODNESS!! i CAN HARDLY SEE THROUGH THE TEARS TO TYPE THIS!! tHANK YOU FOR SHARING THE WONDERFUL PICTURES AND THOUGHTS WITH US. cHARLOTTE IS A TRUE HEROINE!! wHAT A LOVELY SPOT AND MARKER FOR A GREAT CHAMPION!! oNE DAY i HOPE TO VISIT IT!! i’M AT WORK SO i’D BETTER COLLECT MYSELF AND PRESSON,BUT HAD TO SAY THANK YOU—AND A VERY HEARTFELT thank you TO cHARLOTTE!!!
Just noticed–someone had put my CAPS LOCK on!! I hate it when that happens!!
Sweet Z,have a lovely day with the sun on your back and a soft breeze to ruffle your mane—LOVE YOU!!!!