Happy Friday!
It is always so hard for ME to believe how quickly time is literally flying by. It is already September 2nd….and the closing weekend of racing at both Del Mar and Saratoga. Labor Day is upon us…and students all over the country are returning to school.
I hope all of you enjoy your weekend and all of the great racing that is scheduled. The 2 year olds are starting to step up to stakes activity on both coasts….and then Havre de Grace is going to take on the males in The Woodward Stakes–G1. Additionally at Del Mar, the Del Mar Derby G-2 will be showcased. All the best to all of the participants and their connections.
Yesterday, a few dear friends of mine sent Dottie a link regarding an article in the September, 2011, issue of THE AMERICAN TURF MAGAZINE. The piece is written by Mark Shrager. In it, he is listing (in his opinion) the TOP 10 AMERICAN RACE HORSES EVER!
Guess who is there at #6? ME!!
Now this is very special…and I so appreciate Mark’s ranking. The list of horses and how he rated the TOP 10 are as follows:
1) DR. FAGER
2) KELSO
3) SECRETARIAT
4) SEATTLE SLEW
5) CITATION
6) ZENYATTA…….THAT’S ME! (BLUSH, BLUSH)
7) AFFIRMED
8) MAN O’ WAR
9) SPECTACULAR BID
10) JOHN HENRY
Click here for the article.
This is a list of some amazing thoroughbreds with massive racing accomplishments. I am so PROUD to be included with this elite company. Dottie was commenting to John last night that I AM THE ONLY FEMALE on the list. Also, I am the only horse to be included who ran in the last few decades. John Henry won his HOTY titles in 1981 and 1984. All of the other horses represent decades of racing before that time. This is truly significant and as I mentioned earlier, I am extremely PROUD and HONORED to be in such company.
I hope you enjoy the article, your weekend, and some great RACING! Cheers to great handicapping!
With Love,
Hugs to All~ (Thank you Camille and Jim for sharing this article with US!)
Z
Kari Bussell
Way to go HDG!
Congratulations Larry Jones!
She made it look easy!
Wow! …..
Girl Power
I love YOU Zenyatta-I hope you are having day filled with JOY!
Abigail from Montreal
And I should add: Congrats! to trainer Larry Jones, who also trained the great, great EIGHT BELLES.
Abigail from Montreal
Here’s SO YOU THINK winning the Irish Champion Stakes from a determined SNOW FAIRY (filly) earlier today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT6yjlZGWTM
Signofthetimes
Great Trip HDG!!!!
She is a wonderful filly and
Was ridden perfectly by Ramone Dominguez
Not sure how the commentators can say Blind
Luck is still better????
Susan in TN
@Barbara Wood: Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society’s p.o. box is in College Station but they do not have a rescue site, per se. They have an extensive fostering system that covers quite a lot of territory. Despite not having one official rescue location, it seems to be very well organized and run. Anyway, they have a website and FB page. There is a horse expo coming up that sounds neat. Hope you are a little cooler! <3
Dawn Conrad
@Congratualtions HAVRE DE GRACE, the beautiful girl wins the Woodward. Fantastic!!!!! How wonderful for Larry Jones and all of her connections.
Brenda S..
Congratulations HDG – Way to go girl.
Kari Bussell
Go Cloudman
GO!!!!!!!!!!
Cynthia H.
The Woodward was very exciting, but I have to say—the clips showing some of Zenyatta’s high moments were even more so! She is the gauge by which they will measure the greatness of all future performances of her kind. I am so happy to see Larry Jones rise from the ashes of tragedy. It took courage and conviction to enter HDG in this race. I was extremely apprehensive as to the possible outcome. He is much like John Shirreffs, in that he is a complete horseman, and trusts his instincts.
JAG ~ California :-)
CONGRATS Havre de Grace (aka Gracie)!!! Beautiful win! I’m so happy for Larry Jones. Let’s pray she came out of this race sound. XO
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Havre de Grace, congratulations this is really women power! I think we are better that the opposite sex… I had a great racing day I win with her also with Alpha, and with Jackson Bend, love you dear Zenyatta, Ingrid.
signofthetimes
Does Larry Jones ride all of his horses as a trainer? Does he not use exercise riders?? I guess he is so big (200 lbs) that the weight and of course great riding gets them in shape.
signofthetimes
@Abigail
Thanks for the link on the Irish Stakes; saw the end on HRTV;
So You Think, one great horse and of course Snow Fairy (love that name) Euro filly’s are a tough group. They run against the boys quite often.
Also did not realize that HDG sire St. Liam won BCC. Maybe a good plan for her. Blind Luck is a little small I(15.3) to be running against the boys on the dirt, only an opinion. HDG did is so very effortlessly, comments have been Rachel was more challenged, but I think the colts were a better group.
Trina Nagele
Raaay, Havre de Grace! “The filly did it!”
signofthetimes
@ Judy B
Guess Z’s 1/2 sister must have some Chestnut somewhere.
Also, thanks to you and and S (in San Diego) for information on Shackelford. I hope he is not mentally discouraged and decides to throw in the towel. He made an emphatic statement in the Travers Stakes at the one mile. He is such a great personality and has so many followers.
Louise Castello
Just curious, does anyone know how tall havre de grace is?
signofthetimes
@ Judy B
Steroids are actually used to decrease inflammation, but if given in too high of doses or two often can delay wound healing and cause tissues to tear apart. Laminitis is inflammation as the tissues tear away, so should be given very carefully. Delayed wound healing is a very big complication of steroids and often seen in organ transplant human recipients.
It is always a tenuous balancing act when giving these powerful drugs.
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for the information on Bernadetta, could not find anything on her. She is a beautiful bay filly. Hope you can find a picture.
Maybe back or foot issue or training style, surface ?????
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
I really think he needs some time off. He’s such a sweetheart. I would like to see him rested and return sound and ready to run. How about Havre de Grace. Maybe we have another female Horse of the Year. What do you think? Stay Thirsty 3 Year Old of the Year? Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Keep looking for Bernardette’s photo. Cannot find one. Will keep trying. Hugs, J.B.
signofthetimes
@ Judy B
Yes, these equines are so wonderful it is so hard to chose.
@Laura J
Thanks so much for the genetic equine information. The passing of the genes throught the XX and XY is very complicated. Very interesting how Secretariate stamped his daughters and not his sons. It is so interesting how a stallion can pass on his characteristics like Bernie to his son’s, Bernie’s daughters are not doing so well; maybe Z will give him that BIG Z stamp and a Champion daughter.
signofthetimes
@ DJ
Love the morning prayer as I had to get up and work today.
@Terry Crow
Another joke made my day. Thanks
Kurt
im not old enough to have seen several of those but i do remember bid, john, affirmed..always felt “bid” in 1980 was the greatest horse ever! but no-one ever gave me greater thrills..and heart failure..more then the mighty zenyatta. your races always assured me..afterwards..that my heart was healthy..since i didnt collapse and tears in my eyes..long live the queen!!
Paula Higgins
Havre de Grace ran a brilliant race!!! So happy to see another girl step up to the challenge of beating the boys. Although her running style is different from the QUEEN’S, it brought back memories of her win over the boys in the BCC.
JAG ~ California :-)
VIDEO: Havre de Grace win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5YKrudLrTg&feature=player_embedded
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thanks for the info on steroids. I think some horses are given them and are being asked to run sore. The steroids probably mask the inflamation, but the horse runs the risk of really serious injury. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear JAG:
Thanks for the video of HDG. Was out with friends all afternoon and missed it. She ran a brilliant race. Hugs, J.B.
Sue Fredrick
Hi Zenny, can’t believe no one has mentioned Alpha won at Saratoga today…..he is a Bernie baby and blew the competition away! Congrats to HDG on her big win….hard to believe that Blind Luck has beat her 3 or 4 times!
signofthetimes
@ Barbara Wood
Thanks for the Hurricaine alert, I missed it and it is going southeast due to a high pressure system that is pushing east and not west.
signofthetimes
@Peggy N
Many Z ster’s posted the article about Z half sister in the Keenland sale, no worry to repost and it makes it easier not to have to scroll up and look for it. Thanks .