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
Christine B
Thank you Zenny & Dottie for this beautiful post! Thank you Ms. Farmer and all of the other Dumplings that made this happen for the Great Noor! It is so inspiring to see what we can make happen when we get together for a cause. I will write to Mr. Garrett as well.
@LauraJ, I agree with your response to EK.
@All, have a wonderful day!
Christine B in Nor Cal
Linda
Awesome!!
What a wonderful thing to do!!
Linda
Jan Doyle
Thank you Charlotte Farmer. What an angel you are. I hope one day to get to meet some of the Z Dumplings. I hope to plan a trip to the BC 2012 and meet so many of the great people on this site. RIP Noor!
Lisa in CO
RIP Noor. You are where you belong.
judy berube
Dear Z and Dottie:
Bravo to Charlotte Farmer and Old Friends. RIP Noor. It wonderful that Noor has a forever home. Z, hope you had a great day today in your paddock with TT. Love you and love to all of you. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Jan Doyle:
I’m hoping the same. Wouldn’t it be great for everyone to meet! Hugs, J.B.
Signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
What a lovely post and tribute to a Champion
Charlotte Farmer, Karen K, and all of those
Involved in moving him ” home” to old friends.
Thanks Dottie for the great tribute and the lovely
photos of the grave site and ceremony. Zenny
You have a way with bringing people together
No matter what the equine cause. Thanks Big
Girl. Hope you had a great day. XXXXOOO
judy berube
Dear Abigail in Montreal:
You have me laughing out loud. You’re too cute. The links you give us from The Vault are precious. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Jodi:
What you say is so true and so sad. Hugs, J.B.
Pat Beck
What a magnificent creature he was. Loved the youtube of him in his paddock; reminded me of a spirited goddess named Zenyatta! Love you always, Z
judy berube
Dear Laura J.:
That’s exactly what horses need to be; valued for themselves. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Ingrid Arnone:
So glad you enjoyed BL’s latest Blog. She really does take amazing photos. Hugs, J.B.
Shannon Jurpik
Z,
Thansk for the update on Noor. SO GLAD it had a happy ending! I was hoping maybe your mighty voice migh talso help the plight of another great thoroughbred who’s resting place in in “grave danger” of development and the farm he spent his life at is in disrepair. Windfield Farm in Canada, the final resting place of the great NOrthern Dancer is in a sad state of disrepair and it would be SO awesome if ssomeone in the industry could step up and make sure this mighty horse gets interred at a place where he can be remembered, memorialized, and respected forever. The great NORTHERN DANCER left such an indelible mark on today’s fine racehorses and his blood flows throug the veins of most of the breeding stock today. Could you PLEASE spread the word far and wide and cross your hooves that this glorious horse gets the permanent and cared for final resting place he so richly desevres. THANKS BIG Z (and baby Z)….LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Here’s the link to the story:
Toronto News: Hero racehorse rests among the weeds – thestar.com
judy berube
Dear Abigail in Montreal:
A couple of posters today have mentioned that Northern Dancer’s remains may be in jeopardy if Winfields Farms is sold to developers. Do you know what is happening there? Here’s an article from 8/25/11. Hugs, J.B. http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/08/25/windfields-farm-reportedly-in-dilapidated-state.aspx
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
I agree with you. In fact, I’m shocked that they have dismissed him so coldly. He was that Telethon for many, many years. Hugs, J.B.
Michelle
This is so sweet it brought tears to my eyes. CHAROLLOTE FARMER YOU ARE AWESOME, THANK YOU!!!
Kip Hannan
Hello fans of Zenyatta and *Noor,
As a small gift to the faithful fans of the great champion racehorse, *Noor, and my dear friend Charlotte Farmer, I have had a little ‘video treat’ uploaded to our
website, hollywoodpark.com (and it’s on YouTube, as well!). There is a story on *Noor’s recent journey to Kentucky posted on Hollywood Park’s website that is linked to the video (starting today, Sept. 1st). In the clip, you will see a happy, dancing, prancing, *Noor, in full color, not showing any hint of being recently retired. Apparently, this is a clip shot at Lin Howard, Sr.’s ranch in Moorpark, CA, circa 1951 or 1952. I had to do a little detective work to figure out that this clip was indeed *Noor. The public has not seen this footage in nearly 50 years, as it appeared in a rare 1963 horse documentary film, at least ten years after the footage was shot.
It is followed by *Noor’s final race and victory in our 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup.
You may have recently seen this clip, as I gave it to Jennie Rees a couple of weeks ago to accompany her article on *Noor in the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Anyhow, relish the magic moments because,
as they say, “a picture says a thousand words” but, to me, “a moving picture
says a million”. Enjoy! … R.I.P. *Noor … Thank you Charlotte! Thanks also must go out to all the wonderful Zenyatta fans on this site and all over the country that contributed their donations and exposed the *Noor situation to everyone in and out of the racing industry. Cheers to you all! A job well done! This really shows what can be done to save the champions AND the history of this sport.
Kip Hannan
Hollywood Park TV Dept.
Here’s the link to the site (the video link is at the bottom of the article):
http://hollywoodpark.com/news/hall-of-famer-noor-laid-to-rest-in-kentucky
Edie Dickenson
Well, Zenny, that warm story made me cry, a good cry!
judy berube
Dear Rhonda Clements:
God Bless you for the work you do, especially with all the sad things you must see. All the little innocents every day that are lost. Sad reality. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kimberly Potter:
Just read your post to me on Diary #331. EYE CANDY FARM, I love it! Will keep buying my tickets too. You never know. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kip Hannon:
Thank you and Hollywood Park so, so much for this video tribute to Noor. Wonderful to see. Hugs, J.B.
Terry Crow
Here is today’s joke–There was this Christian lady that had to do a lot of traveling for her business so she did a lot of flying. But flying made her nervous so she always took her Bible along with her to read and it helped relax her. One time she was sitting next to a man who observed her pull out her Bible and he gave a little chuckle and went back to what he was doing. After a while he turned to her and asked “You don’t really believe all that stuff in there do you?” The lady replied “Of course I do. It is the Bible.” He said “Well, what about that guy that was swallowed by a whale?” She replied, “Oh, Jonah. Yes I believe that. It is in the Bible.” He asked “well, how do you suppose he survived all that time inside the whale?” The lady said “Well, I don’t really know. I guess when KI get to heaven I will ask him.” “What if he isn’t in heaven?” the man asked sarcastically. “Then you can ask him,” replied the lady.
JAG from California :-)
Wishing your “GF” Havre de Grace the best of luck on Saturday!!
Havre de Grace to Face Seven in Woodward:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64802/havre-de-grace-to-face-seven-in-woodward
Larry Jones wears a white hat for a reason ~ he’s one of the Good Guys :-D
sandra gomez
Rest in peace, Noor..you are sadly missed. You had an extremely sweet woman who cared about you and place you at rest, where you could remain at rest; and be respected like you should be!
Margie
Zenny and Dottie, thanks for the wonderful post today. I would never have known Noor’s story if I didn’t visit you all the time. So many Z’ers here are so knowledgeable about racing history and already knew about the great Noor. I feel like a sponge soaking up their every word. I am so proud to have been allowed to be a part of this amazing, emotional and inspirational story. Charlotte Farmer is a hero. Not what she intended, no doubt, but this monumental good deed is hero qualified in my book! She simply set out to do the right thing for a Champion who deserved better, and in doing so touched a nerve in so many of us. What a glorious day yesterday!
@LauraJ – couldn’t agree more re your EK response.
@DianeS – happy for the good news re your sister.
@TerryCrow – What a rotten thing MDA has done to Jerry Lewis (also not my favorite) after all he has done for them. So disrespectful, so wrong. I think they might feel it in their pocketbook this year, and that’s unfortunate.
@All Linkers – thanks for some really great clips that I probably never would have seen. I look forward to these treats every day.
Zenny, love you forever, and you can take that to the bank!
Linda Parker-Fedak
How wonderful! Wish people would do the same for all of the other threatened remains of horses everywhere! There were other horses buried at the ranch. What happened to their remains? Hope they were moved also…
Sharon in Seattle
I’m so thrilled with the tribute to Noor and TOTALLY in awe of Charlotte Farmer. Thanks Dottie to devoting an entire post to Noor and his people! I hope that something can be done about Omaha and Northern Dancer. please keep Z nation updated
Karen Gogue
Kip Hannan
Thank you sir!
Carole #42
RIP Noor thanks to Charlotte a great lady.
Zenny hope you and your buddy are having a great time in your paddock. Love to you and baby. XOXO
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
So, so funny. Thanks. Hugs, J.B.