Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #336

We're BACK! Photo by John Shirreffs

Good Morning,

Santa Anita is such a gorgeous facility. As you can see, the mountains in the background totally add to the overall environment. When you go to Santa Anita Park in the morning for workouts, they have the ‘CLOCKERS CORNER’ experience available to you at no charge. Just park your car, walk into the grandstand area, and enjoy yourself.

Rosie, who operates the CLOCKERS CORNER CAFE, is a terrific person who will go out of her way to help all of the fans. If you are in the area, going to workouts at Santa Anita is truly a wonderful way to spend your morning.

Additionally, on race day mornings, Clockers Corner is the location where they televise FIRST CALL on HRTV from 8 to 9 Pacific Time. So, you’ll also get to see this program being televised live while you are there.

I must say, though, just looking at those beautiful mountains glistening in the morning sun and watching the horses as they train…is worth the trip!

It is now the time of year in the racing calendar where the horses are ‘moving’ back to their individual home bases from the summer seasons at Del Mar and Saratoga. The vans are arriving at all of the different barns and the horses are carefully loaded on them and sent ‘home’. The tack, the staff, the barn offices…all must be shipped as well. It is quite a job…but it is amazing how ‘in stride’ people take all of this. It is part of racing…and everyone pitches in to make the move go smoothly and to be sure the horses are healthy and happy while all of this is happening.

With my Barn 55 friends, they are en route to Hollywood Park.

The last few days horses have been shipping back to Barn 55 from Del Mar. Several more will leave tomorrow. My John likes to ship a load of 6-8 at a time so they can settle in and get acclimated to their ‘new’ environment before another group of horses arrive. Some of the horses who trained at Santa Anita for the summer will also be transitioned to Hollywood Park. The decision on which location, Santa Anita or Hollywood Park, a horse is housed is based upon their personal needs, personalities, and which environment is better for them overall…to meet their training needs. It is something that is thought out very carefully and in great detail. The horse always comes first.

Throughout my entire racing career, I stayed at BARN 55 at Hollywood Park…except when I would be shipped to Santa Anita (or other race tracks) for a race. I absolutely loved the open spaces there. I had the 2 big grass areas for grazing and I loved my stall..#85. After almost 5 years in that environment, it truly was HOME TO ME!

Have a terrific day!

With Love,
Hugs to all~ (Del Mar…have a great closing day!)
Z

Reader Interactions

163 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Santa Anita is a treasure. Thanks to you Zenyatta, western tracks and horses finally got some more respect!

  2. / Reply

    I KNOWN MOVING IS A PAIN BUT THE RELOCATING OF OUR HORSES TO HERE WAS SCARY. WE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 23 YEARS. I HAD THREE HORSES THEN ONLY TWO NOW. ONLY ONE,MAGNUM, THE FOAL, IS THE ONLY ONE FROM THE BEGINNING. WONDERFUL MEMORIES ARE HERE. LOVE TO ALL,SHERRY D. WV.

  3. / Reply

    That’s a gorgeous picture of Santa Anita! If John ever gets tired of training horses (like that’s going to happen!), he could probably be successful as a photographer. Zenny, we Californians still think of Barn 55 as your home, even though you’re thousands of miles away. I hope all the horses have a safe trip to their home barns and here’s hoping for a wonderful fall and winter racing season.

  5. / Reply

    Good morning! Love the graceful palm trees, but probably your current home trees give better shade and the grass is certainly greener on your now side of the fence!
    Hope you are enjoying a lovely almost fall day and all is well with Junior or Juniorette :)

  7. / Reply

    JOKE..THE DEVIL WALKED INTO A CHURCH, EVERYONE INCLUDING THE PASTOR WITH FEAR RAN OUT.EXCEPT A MAN SITTING ON THE FRONT PEW, THE DEVIL ASKED ARENT YOU AFRAID OF ME?? the MAN said heck no , I HAVE BEEN MARRIED TO YOUR SISTER 35 YEARS….SHERRY D.

  8. / Reply

    I went to Santa Anita once…for the 2009 Breeders Cup! It sure was awesome to see you in person Z, and your win was the most thrilling thing ever! I was standing by the winner’s circle cheering you as loudly as I could. :) Yep, Santa Anita is a nice racetrack, and I’m sure the weather there is good most of the time too!

  9. / Reply

    I love going to Santa Anita. It’s my favorite race track. The mountains in the background are so beautiful. I will never forget November 7, 2009 when you won the Breeders’ Cup Classic there. To me that was the best horse racing ever. I love you Queen Z.

  11. / Reply

    I have always loved this view of the mountains. To me this is Santa Anita. Unfortunately, living in the Louisville,KY area I most likely wont get to see it first hand but I do get to enjoy live horseracing at Churchill Downs in the spring & fall. ( Yes I have been to the Derby, Oaks & Breeders Cup events held there.)

  12. / Reply

    Zenny ~ Happy~Hump~Baby~Bump~Day!
    **********
    SA is my favorite track!! I loved going to Clocker’s Corner and “rubbing elbows” with jocks, trainers, etc. It is truly a FUN place to be. Of course the horses working out is also a treat! And the food is great! :-)
    **********
    You mentioned HRTV. Ah! I was interviewed by Zoey Cadman the morning of 2/5/11, the Secretariat/Zenyatta print signing day. I came with my Zenny manicure and poster sporting photos of YOU (aka my photo diary of memories). :-) Nina Kaiser saw me and just “had” to point me out to Zoey, She said “You have to talk to Judy, she’s Zenyatta’s #1 fan.” At that point I CRINGED!! I’m NOT you only #1 fan! I nearly froze with fear! I was going to be on TV talking about YOU!!!
    **********
    I was like a deer caught in head lights! I spoke of how my Beloved JOHN HENRY died on my birthday 10/8/07, and how I felt I’d never stop crying after kissing his precious head goodbye. Then, YOU came into my life! Tears of grief turned to tears of JOY! Thank you, JH, for sending me your “adopted sister”, Zenyatta :-) He’s our Guardian Angel, Zenny! XO
    **********
    Kisses & Hugs to Queen Z and Baby Z XOXOXOXO
    **********
    p.s. I hope to see some of the Z Dumplings there this fall meet! Oct. 8th is going to be a very special day for me ;-)

  13. / Reply

    Santa Anita is my favorite racetrack. I love the European-style downhill turf course.

    Favorite things to do at the track:
    Get there early and watch the babies being schooled in the paddock/walking ring – Take pictures – People watch -Get myself a roast beef sandwich and beer and enjoy them over by the walking ring -Visit the gift shop – Study the racing form (and not because I plan to place a bet, but because I want to see what stallions/mares have off-spring running).

    How about all us Z bloggers forming a syndicate for Zenny’s little half sister? Wouldn’t that be fun? Ouch! Someone just pinched me and I woke up from my dream.

    http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64851/zenyattas-half-sister-to-sell-in-november?&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20110903

  14. / Reply

    I too love Santa Anita (use to work there :-)) and I watch “Last Call” every weekend morning. Love to hear about Rosie serving breakfast and all the happy fans on the rail too.
    John is so wise and sensitive to the horses needs, no wonder he is so successful.
    Great report.

  15. / Reply

    Hi Precious Zenny,
    I will have to go to Santa Anita for morning works someday soon. Sounds like a perfect way to start out the day. Heading to Del Mar for closing day. Wish me luck. Love YOU OOOXXX

  16. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta. Hello beautiful girl!! The picture of Santa Anita is wonderful, thank you John! I have been to Santa Anita before when I lived in California, but I will have to remember Clockers Corner the next time I visit. It does sound like a great place to spend some enjoyable time. Once again your John thinks about what is best for the horse when deciding where they will be housed. He is such a fantastic man and trainer, putting the needs of his horses first. What a job packing up and moving must be. I am very glad that the team is heading back to Hollywood Park. There are so many memories of you there, especially your stall #85. I loved visiting!! Enjoy your day, Zenny. Love you lots. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO

  17. / Reply

    Here is today’s joke–Woman of a certain age goes for her annual physical examination. She returns home and tells her husband that the doctor said that she has the body of a 30 year woman. Her husband responds “And what did he say about your big behind?” She replied quickly, “Your name never came up, dear.”

  19. / Reply

    @Jag – Your description of Clockers Corner does sound fun. How great that you were interviewed about our wonderful Zenyatta and on such a special day too! I never got to meet John Henry in person, he had passed away just before my first visit to the Kentucky Horse Park. He was amazing and you could certainly tell how much he meant to all those that had cared for him. There was a reverence and joy in there voices when they talked about him.

  20. / Reply

    @Sherry Drish and Terry Crow–too cute!
    I have a story about Einstein. They said that when he came to SA for the first time, he just stood and looked at the mountains for the longest time. I’m sure he had that in common with many people.
    Zenny–good day to you! I am so thankful that YOUR John always took everything into consideration before making any decisions, and that his decision was based on what was best for the horse. We are so grateful. If I ruled the world, his number would increase dramatically!

  23. / Reply

    It is great to have all this insight from you Z! We appreciate it :) Have fun watching the Del Mar Futurity today! Keep an eye on the up and coming 2 year olds ;)
    Enjoy this great weather Zenny and take care of yourself and your baby!
    Love, Katie (future jockey)

  24. / Reply

    I remember my first glimpse of Santa Anita, the mountains, the trees, the gorgeous racetrack. I was breathless!! And so much racing history. My goal is BC 2012 at Santa Anita

  27. / Reply

    WELCOME BACK! John Shirreffs’ photo of Santa Anita is beautiful! The San Gabriel Mountains, which provide a dramatic backdrop to Santa Anita’s racing action, are glorious and are forever changing. Whether cloaked in their finest white raiment in the crisp days of January, when the air seems to crackle in the breeze, and the horses’ breath is expelled from their bodies in huge bursts of steam; or cloud-shrouded in the February rains, when they are hardly visible, dreaming of brighter days to come in their mid-winter sleep; or brilliantly vibrant and alive, swept clean by the Santa Ana winds of March, so clear that one feels as if one could reach and pluck spring from the hillsides; or in April, when they are as verdant as they will ever be, kissed by sun and caressed by more gentle breezes, the sky the color of a robin’s egg. Santa Anita….where I hang my heart.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Despite Trina Nagele’s excellent instructions, I will pobably goof sending this Youtube link to a splendid video featuring some of the gorgeous highlights of Santa Anita, the track which many of us call home. It is called “Santa Anita Tribute,” and is by executivefactor. He says it better than I ever could.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC1t7_ZCbBM

  28. / Reply

    Z … I know you brought so much joy to all the people at Barn 55. I am sure you were the “light” of their day …seeing you dance…..ears pricked….watching everyone….sticking your nose real close at times checking things and people out but with a gentle touch. Hope you are enjoying your grazing in KY….hugs to you Z!!!

  29. / Reply

    thanks again for the good informationm and wow what a view, with the mountains and all, Hope your enjoying, you day, where you are now, hope all is well, with your health. days, go by so fast, soon you will be the Mommy, for the little one, and you know, I love your information, I did know a truck driving, person once who did, transport horses for a living, wow, lucky him I thought hes all over the place, seeing the USA and taking care of horses, have a great day, Zen, thinking of you,

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