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
Mary Jane
It fills the heart to know that people like Charlotte will go the extra yard for what they believe in. Just like you, Zenyatta, and all your wonderful connections. Thank you for sharing an inspiring story!
suew
Zenny, thank you for sharing Noor’s story with us. Charlotte Farmer and everyone connected with this effort should be applauded for their untiring efforts to have him finally rest in peace at a beautiful place. It’s amazing what love can do.
tony
Good afternoon, Queen Z.
To Charlotte Farmer and all connected with finding a resting place for Noor in Ky, thank you for a job well done.
Allen
Rest In Peace NOOR. Thank You to Charlotte Farmer and Michael Blowen for all there hard work and dedication. Love You Z, hope you have a great day.
Margaret
I know I’ve heard about this but I guess it all just didn’t register until the past couple of days. I will endeavor to send some funds to Old Friends tomorrow–at least for the general fund to benefit all the horses. Charlotte I’m sorry I was paying closer attention but as my dad use to say “ya done good kid”!
.
Hats off to all at Old Friends for a tribute that looked every bit as respectful as one could ever possibly hope for. I hope when it’s my turn that I’m treated half as well.
Linda
What a great thing to happen.
Kendra
What wonderful news. I wish someone would do this for Omaha. He is the only Triple Crown Winner that was sired by a Triple Crown Winner. His bones are now somewhere on a defunct race track in Omaha, Nebraska. There are only 11 Triple Crown Winners, so I believe this should be a top priority for the racing community.
Marilu V
Dear Zeny and Dottie: Thank you for the pictures and information on Charlotte Farmer and Noor. She is a remarkable lady to do this for Noor. Thanks to her Noor is in his final resting place. We need more Charlottes who truly care and have the passion to do the Right Thing.
This is a story with a happy ending.
Hugs and Kisses to you Zeny! Love, Marilu
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Judy B, thanks for the link, stunning photographs of Barbara Livingston, hugs Ingrid.
Sheri Deets
What a heart warming story. I am so glad that people took the time and effort to do the right thing for one of our passed four legged friends! RIP in your new home,Noor.
Sally
Great story with a happy ending! Thanks Charlotte and Michael!!!
Bonnie MacRaith
Thanks so much Dottie for bringing this story here and spreading the word about a caring group of people and what we ALL can do when united. I also appreciate these words of yours:
“What is truly special about all of this is that PEOPLE REALLY DO CARE. Without being asked, so often people step up and work with great passion to encourage and assist ‘the right thing to happen’.”
Jen
Thank you, Charlotte. Noor, you are finally home.
Peppermint
Hi Zenny and Baby Z,
What a great story about Noor! It is so nice to have your web site to read and learn from. It always makes my day.
@Terry Crow-not a Jerry Lewis fan either, but you are so right about the very disrespectful treatment he received after doing so much for so many years!
@Dawn Conrad-You write so beautifully, I love reading your posts. Also really enjoyed hearing about your trip to Kentucky. We will be going there in October and I’m looking forward to visiting Old Friends and the Kentucky Horse Park. Hopefully some farm tours too. Could you mention the Bed and Breakfast place that you stayed at in or near Lexington. Would appreciate any info you can give us. Thanks.
Blessings to Charlotte Farmer for her work on behalf of Noor.
Mary in Fla.
I couldn’t agree more with Criminal Type’s comments. I saw the article about Winfields also. How sad that the great Northern Dancer is not receiving the place of honor that he deserves. I am interested to know what Abigail from Montreal thinks about this. I hope something is being done.
Elizabeth G.
Thank you for this touching story and your special caring of others. We will say a prayer for Noor and your continued health and happiness.
Georgette
I just watched that race that Noor beat Citation on HRTV. He was beautiful. What a nice story. Anyway, hi Z!
Barbara Wood
@Crinimal Type–welcome! I remember you from Bloodhorse blogs, where I used to visit before I came here and became a Dumpling.
@Terry Crow–I agree with you about MDA/Jerry. I’m not a fan either, but that is disgraceful. No loyalty anywhere, it seems. I had to decrease my donation this year because of economic necessity.
LauraJ
@EK, I respectfully disagree with your comment. First, most of the regular posters on this thread contribute as much as they are able to various equine rescue organizations. Some of us do hands-on volunteer work. Others are working diligently to help pass anti-slaughter legislation, to save wild horses from abuse, to pressure race tracks into enforcing their anti-slaughter policies, and so forth. True, many of us made donations to help bring Noor to Old Friends. I’m pretty sure that most of these donations were on top of, rather than in lieu of, our regular donations. I doubt any horse went hungry because of Noor. Second, Noor is a part of thoroughbred racing’s rich history—a history worth preserving. Noor is as worthy of his memorial as any human athlete. To those who loved and admired him, he had value that was unrelated to money. He was valued for himself. Isn’t that what at-risk horses need–to be seen as beings with their own intrinsic value and not just as drains on someone’s pocketbook?
Gae Seal
EK Indeed, let the dead bury the dead. The Loma Rica Ranch where *NOOR was euthanized still can be saved from unfelicitous development if enough people contact Steve Garrett, Castle Companies, P.O. Box 5160, San Ramon, CA 99743. Garrett has promised to set aside 2,000 square feet for a monument to *NOOR. Please write him and thank him for his generous offer to preserve this famous stallion’s last home.
Jane D
Happy to hear that Noor is safe forever.
Zenyatta … how are you doing?
Keri Mattingly
It is so touching to see that there are people in the world who do truly care about the respect these great athletes deserve. Thank you Ms. Farmer for working tireless to honor Noor. Rest peacefully Noor, you are finally home.
LauraJ
@Peppermint, think about staying at Old Friends! Michael and his wife operate a B&B out of their house right on the premises. You can look out your bedroom window onto the paddocks. Rates are competitive with other B&Bs in the area, andyou get a private tour. (Not personal experience, BTW, as I only live a bit more than an hour north. But I’ve been to OF several times.)
Abigail from Montreal
Zenny: BRAVO to you for honouring our Charlotte in this way. Here’s a video tribute to NOOR that starts with footage of him in his paddock, followed by his 1950 victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITp4K8o55kI&feature=player_embedded
Jodi
This is my first post but read about Zenyatta daily being a life time fan of horse’s since I was a small child i truly enjoy the daily post made by Dottie on behalf of my beloved horses. Omaha needs moved to Old Friends 11 triple crown winners and he is in a field somewhere what a shame. For the most part i see scam artist running horse rescue’s here in California anyways for there own profit if your horse is useless and you cant afford to keep it put it down.
Sorry i feel this way but it is more fair to the horses who suffer because of people who use the money collected for themself
Abigail from Montreal
Welcome Jodi!
Also picked up this clip of Havre de Grace arriving @ Saratoga for the Woodward:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFwkU9fuqb8
…and now, I’ll stop being our precious Judy Berube!
Dottie Moore
Thank you, Abigail, for this tribute
to Noor. Greatly appreciated…
Dottie
Dottie Moore
Abigail, ditto for the clip of Havre de Grace…
Dottie
Max
This is a very nice tribute by Zenyatta to Charlotte Farmer and all of those who helped her in this very great effort for a wonderful horse.
@LauraJ. I agree with you that horses deserve our every respect. Ms Farmer, as she is now known to Z, is to be admired for the truly outstanding work that she has done for this remarkable horse.
Barbara Grimaldi
Zenyatta and Dottie: so grateful you gave this story to us in the diary. This is an exemplary deed by an exemplary woman. I send hugs and love and so much respect and admiration to Charlotte Farmer. She never quit; she achieved her dream. A huge Bravo to you Charlotte, and hearfelt thanks.
Terry–I was a fan of the original Martin & Lewis shows on tv and the very early movies. After he went solo, I sort of fell away. But he dedicated himself to research for this disease, worked hard for it for so many years…he certainly did not deserve this treatment. I hope he is cool and collected on his television speech.
Laura J: thank you for capturing the spirit of all of us who are working to achieve the goals you so beautifully expressed in your comment. That’s what our new website is dedicated to…helping our horses in any way we can.