Good Morning,
I’m hearing from MY TEAM that ‘working the sale’ requires a great deal of effort, hard work, concentration, and energy! They get up very early each morning and leave for the sales grounds. By that time, David and his crew have already gone over ALL of the horses to be offered that day and come up with the ‘short list’ which Dottie, John and The Moss’ review. All aspects of the individuals are evaluated: conformation, size, pedigree, walk, and other physical qualities! Monitoring the horse’s overall temperament is also a part of this process.
Each horse on this list is inspected. If they make this ‘cut’, the veterinarian then examines the horse and his / her xrays in the repository. The VET also scopes the horse’s throat to be sure “all parts are working well’ for good breathing to take place. A good throat is essential for a race horse!
Once a horse passes all of these steps, the decision is made as to the fair market value of the horse. As many of you may know, at an auction people can get caught up in the bidding. MY TEAM tries to be very careful not to do this. They thoroughly appraise each horse before the bidding begins and really try to stay within those limits while bidding.
If all goes well and the hammer falls while a particular HIP they are bidding on is in the ring, they sign the ticket and he or she is now a part of the racing stable!
Attending a sale as this one, is really a fun process…but truthfully a great deal of hard work. Every moment of every day while there is totally consumed with the SALE. It is all about planning for the future and getting the RIGHT HORSE for the program!
As you can see, BABY REAGAN is resting up for all of the company and activity this week. I think she wants to stay up a bit late on Monday night to see my relative, HIP # 147 sell! I do too!
By the way, HRTV is carrying the first few sessions live on their programming schedule. Otherwise, the internet is the best way to follow the events.
HMMM! This baby thing is rather interesting to ME! Reagan was born on March 7th, 2011. That is about the time MY BABY is due in 2012! I just didn’t realize human babies are so small! They told ME my baby will weigh about 125 pounds or so when he/she is born.) This becoming a MOM is really a fascinating process! I’m learning!
Enjoy the week, the racing, and the sales! Dottie is attending them this week and also spending time visiting with ME! When she returns home, we will update you on all of the action. She also promises that MY JOHN will take some terrific photos of ME to share with all of you!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(To my dear fan who made the Z BLANKET as a thank you….THANK YOU! It is absolutely priceless!)
Z
Brenda S..
Zenny, Baby Reagan is just TOO SWEET with her Z blankie. I wonder if the talented person who made Reagan’s blankie will knit one for Baby Z. I thought, only thought, that I caught a glimpse of YOUR JOHN last night but it was likely my imagination. It was a very exciting evening watching all those beautiful babies strut their stuff. I’ve visited the sales pavilion at Keeneland but never when the sales were taking place, it’s a very impressive place. On one visit, just after the sales had finished, my father and and I decided to take a stroll around the stable area and spotted a horse. Dad was approaching the horse when a voice, apparently from nowhere, said “Don’t go near that SOB, he’s one of Nasrullah’s”. A gentleman then popped out of the next door stall and cautioned us that the yearling was quite feisty and to just look but not touch.
A visit when the sales are taking place is on my bucket list, to experience the real thing would be awesome but the live streaming, like Kari’s videos, is the next best thing.
Dottie must be so busy, attending the sales and keeping us up to date, how does she find the time to do it all. Did Dottie bring Sophie to see you, maybe we’ll be lucky and get photos of all your family together, real family portraits.
Thanks Dottie for finding the time to keep us in the picture.
Dawn Conrad
Dear Zenyatta. Hello beautiful girl! Baby Reagan is just TOO CUTE and you have to love that Z blanket. Thank you for the all of the info on the sales. What an exciting week for Team Z, although very busy from the sound of it. I certainly hope they are very successful in picking and getting the horses they want. I watched the first nights activity and it was great, so exciting, seeing such gorgeous thoroughbreds all in one place. I can see why you have to plan the amount you want to spend up front or temptation might take over. I know it must be very special for your family to be so close to you. They can run over every chance they get and spend time with their wonderful Zenyatta. TOO FUN!!!! I spent a lot of time in front of the TV this weekend catching as many of the 9/11 specials as I could. It is gratifying to finally see fitting memorials created for those who died, giving the families a place to go and reflect. I understand the one in Pennsylvania still needs some more work to complete. In his speech at their service, Bill Clinton promised to make that a priority he would pursue. The awful images and memories of that day will stay with us always, but there also such amazing stories. Stories of how people reached out for each other on that awful day. There are of course the brave firefighters, police and emergency personal that went up into the towers, while others were going down. But there are also many, many individuals who tried to make a difference. People helping others escape, carrying some if they could not walk, forcing doors open, removing debris, leading some through the darkness with light. A blind man making it out with the help of his guide dog, Ruby. Hundreds of private boats, tug boats and ferries all responding for the cry for help to get people out of lower Manhattan. They removed 9,000 people in 9 hours. The list goes on and on. Some pretty miraculous things happened on that day. Tragedy and triumph lived in the same moment. Perfect strangers put themselves in harm’s way to help others and isn’t that a remarkable legacy to us all. A microcosm of that same spirit is alive here on this site, Zenny. The willingness of both friends and strangers to try to make a difference in each other’s lives. When we are asked, we make donations or lend our voice to a worthwhile cause. We share our support, our hopes, our prayers and above all our love for Zenyatta with each other. Heart to heart. Love you very much Zenny. Sweet dreams. Hug and kisses. XXXOOO
judy berube
Dear Z,
Love cutie Baby Regan’s Z blanket. Really looking forward to your “bundle of joy” next year. What a beautiful baby he/she will be. Love you and love to all of you, Judy and Russ
judy berube
Dear Kari B. and Z Fans:
RIP Invisible Ink – Steve Haskin, Hugs J.B.
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2011/07/07/the-loss-of-a-thoroughbred.aspx
Quarterhossgal
Queen Z….Reagan is too cute!
Susan in Tn: Sorry to hear about your loss. You are so kind to think of others at this time. I’ll say a prayer for you and your family.
judy berube
Dear Terry C.:
Did not expect that ending to the joke. I’m cracking up. Ha, ha. Made me think of Dick Cheney. Hugs, J.B.
luvscritters
Such an amazing education we get here regarding the “behind the scenes” aspects of horse racing! Thanks for sharing your life with us, Z!
judy berube
Dear Terry Crow:
Love the redneck jokes too. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Susan in Tn.:
So sorry for your loss. Hugs to you and the Family, J.B.
Kari Bussell
I just love this blanket.
Dottie thank you so much for sharing this with us. I can only make a chain.That blanket clearly took a lot of time with so much love & thought put into it…Reagan is too precious for words!…just like YOU Zenny!
Zenyatta I love YOU and hope you are having a great time with your family. I am looking forward to seeing your “Dear John’s” photos and maybe video? of YOU….
I”LL be watching again tonight…
Cynthia H- and her fascinator will be tied up somewhere being fascinated…I am securing purchases.
@Judy B- thank you- for posting link for me…Hugs & Joy to You.
Eveline
Just got caught up on yesterdays post.@ -all the sales watchers : you guys are too much! LOL! @ Doreen – thanks for the words to Taps. @ DianaS & Linda in NJ & others that shared – Your stories are incredible, what a hard day to get it all brought back. @ Kendra- great trip! @ Terry C. – keep the jokes and redneck lines coming! @ Trina Nagele – Thanks for Mattie heartsong poems. I met Mattie quite a few times. Ivin and I volunteer in Childrens Hospital in DC with our dog Sparky. Mattie sure was special, I’ll always cherish the moments spent with him. At Ivin’s memorial service I included a couple of Mattie’s poems.
mary bobolis
Many thanks for the update Dottie. We watched some of the auction last night on HRTV. Unfortunately, they don’t tell you who the buyer is. We were really interested in seeing who bought what and if your team bought anything. We are anxiously awaiting the pictures of you and your family. I imagine they saw you yesterday..Thanks again.
Debbie G
@Terry Crow – Thanks for filling me in on the rest of the story about the 1968 KY Derby. Pretty interesting stuff. Here’s another redneck joke – You might be a redneck if you go to your family reunion to pick up women (or men).
@Sunny Boyd – Good one. Don’t you just love Rodney Dangerfield?
@Dawn Conrad – Beautiful post
@Susan in TN – I’m so sorry about your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
JAG from California :-)
First Three Winners Sunday At Belmont: 9-1-1:
http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/spread-sheet/201109/sundays-first-three-winners-belmont-park-9-1-1
JAG from California :-)
@ TERRY CROW
Alright! I don’t want you to think I’ve missed your all your comments about my “uniform”. You wrote: @Cynthia H – JAG has the prison guard uniform which doubles as a wrestling referee. You are too much!!! :-))))
Sharon in Seattle
@Susan in Tn – my sincere condolences. Sending you warm wishes and a hug.
I wonder if Reagan will want to share that beautiful Z blanket with baby Z?!!
Marty R
@Eveline- Thank you so much for the information about the chifney bit and also for the picture. I’m pretty new to horse racing and this site has so many knowledgeable folks. Another thing I’m wondering is how do horses get weighed? I’m sure I’ll come up with other questions as time goes on. Thanks again for answering .
Patricia Emery
@ JAG from California
Yes, I just read that article in regards to the winners at Belmont Sunday! Life works is wonderful in mysterious ways.
GOD BLESS all of the victims and their families and GOD Bless America!
Great post Zen…baby times will be here before we know it…how exciting
XOXO
Ingrid Arnone
So cute, so cute, love you my adorable Zenyatta, Ingrid.
Terry Crow
@JAG-Just a little friendly ribbing. @Doreen- Taps was actually composed by a civil was general in an attempt to devise a distinctive bugle call so that his soldiers would know the call was for them. Thank you for your service to our country. @Judy Berube- Glad you are enjoying the jokes. I have a bunch of jokes similar to that one, but they are difficult to adjust so that they can be told on this site. @Susan in TN-Sorry to hear about your trouble.@Debbie G-Good one.Hits close to home as I think I have done that. You’re in the club. Eveline-Glad you are enjoying the jokes. Are you applying for membership in the redneck club? Baby Reagan is just about the cutest child I’ve ever seen.
Terry Crow
thaty should be “war” not “was”
Terry Crow
that should be that and not thaty. I should quit.
tony and sue
Zenny, what a cute photo! Yes, your baby will bring lots of excitement and huge cheers from all your fans. We’re counting the days right along with you, our Queen. Dottie, the information you “scribed” for us in this post is very interesting. We are still hoping for a Z book with you as the author!
Barbara Wood
What an adorable “Z” blanket. Reagan is one lucky baby.
I ahvea question for anyone who knows: Does Team Z have a limit on the number of horse to buy at a particular sale?
@”Charlie”– agree with everything you said.
@J Smith–we’re working hard on the retirement angle.
@Susan in TN–my heart goes out to you. Please share if and when you feel comfortable.
@Terry Crow–I can easily see how someone could have missed the news on a particular day. Thanks for sharing. Love the hunter joke. I”ll tell it to friends tomorrow.
Paula Higgins
@Susan in Tn very sorry about your loss. You will be in all our thoughts. @JAG thanks for the link and also the 9-1-1 story. God Bless all the people who died and their loved ones at the hands of those monsters. God Bless all the first responders who tried so desperately to save lives. God Bless our military, FBI and CIA who have fought the good fight keeping us safe since then. God Bless Zenyatta who continues to add joy to our lives.
Rosemary McCauley
I agree with all the comments about Baby Reagan being one of the cutest and certainly fortunate to have that wonderful blanket.
@Terry Crow and all redneck club members: You might be a redneck if you have refused to watch the Academy Awards since Smokey and the Bandit was snubbed for best picture.
Doreen
@Eveline – you’re welcome.
Here’s an updated link about A.P. Indy’s offspring being in demand in the Keeneland September Sale. When I saw the colt that sold for 1.4 million, my jaw dropped, not because of the price, but he looked like an exact duplicate of his sire: http://www.drf.com/news/keeneland-september-ap-indy-pensioned-still-demand
Doreen
@Terry Crow – you’re welcome. I took Civil War History several semesters ago and the origin of Taps wasn’t even mentioned. The reasoning behind it makes sense. Thanks.
JAG from California :-)
http://www.fasigtipton.com/fasig-tiptontv/index.asp?t=3&pag=1&channelId=10a6872a21054b99b571f6af5df0a317&mediaId=9ca427a091a94880babb6e09eb98e267
Brenda S..
@ Terry C – Don’t you dare to quit!!!