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
signofthetimes
@ Terry Crow
Ditto, just felt like you might be getting discouraged about Zenny’s lack of perfection. I think that she was billed on that
for all her races, but may not always be true. Everyone loses sometime, and to lose with such effort is so commendable.
You are the tops. Don’t know what I would do without the daily jokes, it keeps things in perspective. Agree “Tastes like Chicken” definately sound like the deep south. Bet there is a good story behind the name.
Peggy One
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J3eQmzw6n3k
Trina Nagele
Beautiful picture and entry, Zenny.My connection went out again–trying to catch up.
Re #335:
@Linda E in Ohio—What a darling tale of the kitty loving getting licked by the horse!
@Sunny Boyd—Great story of the Russian Blue watch cat!
@Brenda S and Jean M who mentioned Kitty was curtseying before the Queen—too cute! High hoof!
Re #336:
@Amy—I’ll get a check into the mail to help the horses in Texas. Thanks for the link.
@Jan and to all who want to be Dumplings—YOU ALREADY ARE DUMPLINGS! To get your official Dumpling tag, send an e-mail with your snail mail address and how you want your name to appear on your tag to the indefatigable Diastu (Diana Stuart) at diastu46@gmail.com.
@Cynthia H—It works! It works! Hoof-ray for you! And many thanks too for the beautiful video of Santa Anita. I tried to spy the statue of Kincsem in the Chandelier Room (is that right?), but didn’t see it in the video. Maybe I can come see it in person soon. Hugs to you and your mom.
Peggy One
the link above is to the tribute Budweiser made to the 9/11 victims. Only shown once, as they didn’t want to make money from it. It will make you catch your breath at the end……Prayers and love to those who survived….
signofthetimes
@Susan in TN
Big lesson learned trying to put two horses together. He may have been the boss for his “mare” so more dominant personality.
Remember feeding time is based on horse heirarchical structure.
First fed is the boss, Chester is a weaker horse and has some obstacles to overcome. Make sure to feed them on = terms. Sometimes they just don’t like each other and can hurt each other so keep a close eye. I know you will.
signofthetimes
@Peggy One
What a lovely video by Budweiser honoring 9/11 tragedy.
judy berube
Dear Jan:
If you e-mail Diana S. at dms@mail.maricopa.gov and give her your mailing address, she will mail you a Dumpling Tag. I told her you would like one and she said to give you her e-mail address. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
You’re welcome. Yes, like minds. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thank you for all the knowledge and info you provide us about horses and their care. Learning so much. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Sunny Boyd:
You have given us some of the best on liners. Thank you. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Kim S.:
Absolutely and Susan in Tn. would agree. She’s a special person, as are you. Hugs, J.B.
Peggy (N)
@Peggy One, I love this video Thank You for showing it for us,
signofthetimes
@Jag
Thanks for posting the link for the article on HDG and Zenny. Very interesting perspective.
Larry Jones is so excited for his filly and he loves his all of his racing fillies. He dotes on them and provides so much TLC for them, which is what they need and thrive on.
Zenny and RA have set the bar for HOY for females and HDG is a talented, poised, professional with a very sweet personality like Zenny. Don’t think at all she is at all a comparison, but a really really nice filly that deserves her chance as Larry says.
judy berube
Dear Brenda S.:
Hope your face is feeling better. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Sue Noel:
Thanks for sharing your adorable tabbies with us. Hugs, J.B.
signofthetimes
@Judy B
Thanks for all the knowledge you share about horses, racing and all of your wonderful experiences.
signofthetimes
@Cynthia H
Such a lovely video of Santa Anita, those CA dumplings are such a lucky group, looks like a great place for history and lots of fun.
Paula Higgins
You said it all in one sentence: “The horses come first.” There is no doubt about that and everything you do with all your horses reflects that operating philosophy. I love that about the people at Barn 55.
Barbara Grimaldi
Dearest Zenyatta: I loved the story about the tracks and how horses are sent to either because of their needs. I hope all other owners/trainers think the way your John does!!! And sweet Zenny, you said something in your message that lifted my heart: THE HORSE ALWAYS COMES FIRST!!!! Would that were true in every place on earth with horses!!! That is my wish…I love you, Zenny!
Carmela Bozulich
Lady Z–Santa Anita is my most favorite. Hollywood Park is great, Del Mar where we went on Saturday is fabulous…I love the California tracks! Even Golden Gate Fields…
tony
Zenny, your John is a very smart man. Horses should always come first…I hope to stand next to you one day and tell you how proud I am to have seen you race.
Char
This brings back great memories. I’ve eaten a few breakfasts at Clockers Corner, there’s even a breakfast named after Bob Baffert. I saw you win the Classic at Santa Anita, it really is a special place.
Karen
What beautiful scenery. Going there one day is on my wish list and going in the morning to watch training would be icing on the cake!
So glad everything is going well for you and it’s hard to be patient.
Sunny Boyd
@ Trina Nagele
That ‘Blue’ was really sthg. He commended instant respect, his sheer size was quite convincing. His paws were good size and so were his claws & teeth. I still remember the store well, it was heated with a small wood stove. That’s all. It was quaint though, it was located right next to a creek. The man, the cat & store are long gone. The cat had similarities with the one I met in Norway. Also a grey cat, but I was too young to id cat breeds then, it could have been just an ordinary Norwegian house cat. But I was amazed that my host parents would allow it to curl up on the kitchen table by the window. My G-ma didn’t allow any pets, and so this was quite extra-ordinary for me. I really learned to love cats.
Sunny Boyd
that should be commanded
Sunny Boyd
@ Judy Berube
too many words cloud the effect.
Zingers, one liners, in a nut shell stuff really stabs nicely.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thank you, but I don’t have any of the knowledge you do about horses. I learn something every day from your posts. Hugs, J.B.
Barbara Wood
@Kim S–thank you. We’re ok so far.
Dear Z–I’ve missed you today. You wouldn’t even believe how my day went.
I want to wish you a good night and a happy tomorrow. Love you always.
judy berube
Dear Sunny Boyd:
Very funny. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Z,
Goodnight and Sweet Baby Dreams. Love you lots, Judy and Russ