Happy Thursday to all!
I’d have to say, I’d be able to recognize this guy anywhere no matter what he is doing. It is MY JOHN and look what he is wearing….my Z HAT! On the back, it says… ZENYATTA…2010 HORSE OF THE YEAR! I don’t feel I’m being biased….but I really do believe it looks terrific on him.
One of our dear fans, Daniel Sigal, sent this photo to Dottie. It was taken at Del Mar last week and he thought she’d enjoy seeing it! As you may know, MY JOHN is a hat person. He wears a baseball type cap ALL OF THE TIME! As I’ve written earlier, we even played our own version of the HAT GAME when I was at Barn 55. TOO CUTE!
Thank you, Daniel, for sharing this photo!
Yesterday’s Del Mar Futurity sure had some anxious moments. Creative Cause is a wonderful 2 year old colt. He truly ended up getting the worst of it all when being crowded and bounced around from both sides during the final part of the stretch run.
As a result of all of this ‘bumping’, the inquiry sign was posted on the tote board as soon as the horses crossed the finish line. The Stewards, who are the ‘chief guardians’ to monitor our sport closely, immediately evaluated the different views of the video tapes involving this race. In slow motion, they are also able to review every angle of the action in great detail to aid them in making the proper decision.
Every race track around the country has its own set of 3 Stewards on duty each race day.
After much evaluation, they disqualified Majestic City and placed him behind Creative Cause. They felt MC was the horse who initiated the chain of events for the infractions which took place in the stretch. Drill remained the winner as they felt he just reacted to what was started by MC.
It is the official policy of racing that the horse who causes the interference MUST be placed behind the horse he or she bothered in the race. Thus, Majestic City originally went under the finish line 2nd…and Creative Cause 3rd. However, after the Stewards’ review and ruling, Creative Cause was moved up to 2nd…and MC was placed behind him in 3rd. This policy is true in every racing jurisdiction around the country. The Stewards work very hard to keep everything fair and carefully monitored for our sport!
RACING LUCK is also a very big consideration. You do need to have it. As you saw yesterday in the Futurity, a horse can inadvertently end up in a position where the opportunity to run his/her best race is definitely compromised!
With the Del Mar Meet concluding Wednesday, the balance of the horses will be leaving that track and returning to either Santa Anita or Hollywood Park to continue their training. The Santa Anita Fall Meet begins September 30th.
Starting tomorrow, on the Southern California circuit, The Los Angeles County Fair Meet at Pomona will run for the next few weeks. On the East Coast, Belmont Park opens tomorrow for their fall meet of racing!
That’s another great thing I love about our sport…it is always filled with action!
Have a wonderful day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Theresa Buck
Ms Z your Mike is riding in the Super Derby on Saturday woohoo
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Dearest Zenyatta,
The futurity was a very exciting race–even with all the drifting and bumping! I was sad to see Del Mar close for the season, but on the other hand I’m always excited to see the other tracks open. I love the way they all roll one into the other so that we get to see fabulous racing all year long. Of course, no track is the same now that you’ve retired, dear Queen, but my heart smiles when I think of you becoming a mother. :)
I hope this day is a lovely one for you!
Kisses, treats, and hugs,
Stel
Margaret
Z I Your John is Too Cute! He is nice and sweet to all the fans. No wonder you love him so much!
Marty
Good afternoon, Zenyatta. I wish you a good day. You are awesome.
tony and sue
Zenny, Love this picture of YOUR John! We leave today for our trip out west so we’ll miss your daily diary entries. No computer for us…:-) BUT, surely there will be great news for us when we return in about a week. Your CA family is coming to visit so we eagerly await new pictures. Stay safe and happy.
JAG from California :-)
Good morning Zenny!
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Here’s the link with the Del Mar Futurity that you speak of (video included) – it was like bumper cars for sure. Thankfully, to my knowledge, no horses were hurt! Praise the Lord!
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When I stood in the Del Mar gates I could only IMAGINE your gorgeous butt fitting in there lol On the other side of the coin, a small horse like MINE THAT BIRD could turn around in there – just kidding! I love Birdie!!!
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Have a glorious day everyone! :-)
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big kisses & hugs to Queen Z, and her beautiful unborn foal, Baby Z XOXOXOXOXO
Eveline
Hi Zenny, racing luck is something you always created for your self, since you were so great!
JAG from California :-)
DAH!! I forgot to share the link:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64925/drill-prevails-in-wild-del-mar-futurity
Pam Zacek,
wow, thank you for the update on the race I could not see, sounds fair and square, i knew they do something, but how they work it I did not know so thank you for your in put on that issue for me, and hey your John looks, good in that Hat, Have a good day Zen, in the field, of dreams, hahaLOl, take care
Ann Maree
Hi, sweet girl! I watched the Futurity and the stewards’ inquiry and was more than a little upset with the jockey riding Majestic City….it was his over-use of the whip on the left side that caused MC to veer to the right. I have been told that disciplinary action will be taken, but have not read anything about this. I realize that jockeys are in the “heat of battle” so to speak, but, constantly hitting a horse the way he did was not a pretty sight. Racing insiders may consider this “par for the course”, but as a relatively new fan, I think I speak for others who view this type of behavior by a jockey to be abusive and not called for. I have read that there are rules and recommendations on the use of the whip, and also, that the whip has been modified in recent years to be a little more “humane”, however, it still stings, I’m told. The fact that this was your old jockey didn’t make it any more palatable (Flores).
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Love you, big girl! Be sure to tell Dottie she’s the greatest for keeping us up to date with racing info and also news about you. Would sure like to see some new video of you with your buds in the paddock! Big hugs! Ann Maree
JAG from California :-)
@ Z FANS: Since Dottie and her son, David, are experts on pedigree, I thought I’d share this link I found today about pedigree.
Genetics and Pedigree Go Head to Head:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/64926/genetics-and-pedigree-go-head-to-head
Terry Crow
I have never learned how to time these things. I left a bunch of notes at the end of the last diary. Enjoy.
Cathleen
Dear Z, I have one of your Horse of the Year caps just like YOUR JOHN. I wear it every day to the fitness bootcamp I’m doing. It’s one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done and wearing YOUR CAP makes me work harder, run faster, and gives me the inspiration to never give up no matter how hard it gets! They call me “Z Girl” at bootcamp because I’m always wearing my Z cap. Cathleen XOXOX
Kit
Love these updates and the information about racing. And of course, keeping up with Zenyatta.
Eveline
Hi Zenny ,your good friend Julie Krone won a race yesterday in England. She looked fantastic!! Her little daughter is the one on the Zenny t-shirt sitting down feeding you grass. On HRTV this morning they mentioned that Julie walked the course with Michael Dickenson, He trained Zenny’s mother. Small world! Tomorrow opening day at Laurel Park, YEAH !! http://www.drf.com/news/krone-wins-benefit-race-england
Tracy
I think it must be his favorite hat to wear,it still makes him feel close to you Z!
Denise Carrera
When is Zenyatta due to have her baby?
Doreen
Zenny – enjoy your day, I hope it isn’t soggy like the Northeast has been the last couple of days.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all who live or have family in Texas. It’s been such a terrible year as far as disasters around the U.S. and the world, natural or otherwise.
I’m looking forward to Belmont opening back up again for their fall meet and watching the prep races for the Breeder’s Cup, which is just around the corner.
Well wishes to Sean Avery, I hope they do right by him and retire him. Coming back from a bowed tendon and still competing at a high level is an accomplishment, but after a second time, I’m sure the racing gods are trying to tell you something: http://www.drf.com/news/vanderbilt-winner-sean-avery-sidelined-bowed-tendon
Gloria Jeanne
Hi Zenny!!! Just a quick note – today on my way into work I saw a HUGE HORSE TRAILER on it’s way to Hollywood Park!! I was so excited I had to share it with everyone…. ah ponies!!! My Favorite.
So John’s Hat – yes, I got to see you play “THE HAT GAME” with YOUR JOHN in person one day, it’s such a cute game and it makes John smile so BIG.
Thanks for sharing Z
Trisha Veazey
The bumping scares me, i don’t want to see a horse injured in anyway. Wasn’t that the jockey’s fault?
I am glad you came away withjout any injuries , big girl. That would have broken my heart.
Love hugs and kisses
Sharon Call
I finally got a chance to go to Ebby’s facebook page and read the article from DRF with quotes from John about her. It’s so nice to hear that he’s excited about her. He also discusses the differences between Z and Ebby or “Lil Sis”. Good reading and good news!
LauraJ
@Denise Carrera, she is due around the 10th of March 2012. Horses don’t have firm due dates, and she could deliver as early as late February or as late as the first week of April. Horse gestation averages about 340 days, but is considered “term” after 320 days. Some horses carry as long as a year.
Debbie
hi Z! YOUR John is unmistakable for sure! I love when he’s shown on TV, and always with YOUR hat on;) and YOU are too cute!!! The Del Mar Futurity race scared me sooo much when the bumping started and seeing it head on was even scarier, I’m just extremely happy they all came out of it safely!!! love YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo
Susan in TN
Zenny- your John does look very good in YOUR hat! I wish I had seen you play the hat game with him, but I can imagine how it went! Hope you are having a beautiful day in Kentucky, as we are in Tennessee. I watched the Futurity yesterday and I’m glad everyone is okay! I really appreciate how fair the stewards try to be. I’m sure it isn’t always easy! Love you SO much <3
Susan in TN
@My Z friends: I hope you are all having a glorious day!
My thoughts and prayers are with everyone in Texas. Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society in Texas (that I have mentioned) has a direct link on their website where you can donate to (equine) wildfire victims with Paypal.
@Terry Crow: I know exactly what you mean about timing- I haven’t read the end ofyesterday’s posts yet, but I couldn’t pass this up!
Doreen
Eblouissante worked out today:
Track: DEL MAR
Distance: Three Furlongs
Time: 38:20 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 4/6
JAG from California – thanks for the link about genetics and pedigree, it was both interesting and informative.
Susan in TN
@MLV: from yesterday- enjoyed your story!
@Terry Crow: Well, I hadn’t thought of that, but rolling around in the dirt…redneck all the way! HAHA on the Hefty bag but who is Slim ?(forgot last name)?
@California Dumplings: I have enjoyed so much all your tidbits about Santa Anita, HP and Del Mar!
suew
Zenny, that is the best hat ever and the guy wearing it isn’t too bad either! Thanks for all the racing info….it really pays to be a Z fan!
Jill Franks
Z, I have 2 great photos of John with your little sister,E. Is there any way I can get them to you? I took them at Del Mar.
Paula Higgins
Love the picture of John with the hat! I too have a Z hat thanks to JMG who sent me one after a race in California. It is in pristine condition and my husband is allowed no where near it. He has his own collection of baseball hats and they will have to do.