Good Morning to EVERYONE!!!!!
I hope all is well with all of you! I’m doing GREAT! I just had to share this photo with you this morning. Maggie Yount took it and sent it to Dottie. John and I have this game we play. As many of you know, John ALWAYS wears a baseball type cap! I have truthfully NEVER seen him without one. (Dottie even teased him that he needed to wear one when they got married. IT IS JUST SO MUCH A PART OF HIM…and HIS PERSONALITY.)
The object of our game is that I would try to take the CAP OFF OF HIS HEAD! Well, on this afternoon, this is the first photo…me sniffing around his head and nuzzling his head/cap. Then guess what happens next????????? I WIN! I grab the cap…and start playing with it. John just laughs. After a bit, I do let him take it back. John and I would do this often at the barn. THIS IS OUR SPECIAL GAME!
The other cute thing of this photo is that this cap is an AFTER MARKET CAP from Lane’s End. Well, AFTER MARKET was trained by John and was at the barn while I was there. He and I used to graze together in the afternoons. He would be grazing by one tree…and me by the other. AFTER MARKET is now a stallion here at Lane’s End. I hear his foals are lovely! In our industry, they refer to a group of horses born in a particular calendar year as ‘A CROP’. After Market’s first crop…they are currently yearlings. They will turn 2 on January 1st. As you know, that is the official birthday of race horses.
Breeding farms have a stallion area and a broodmare area. AFTER MARKET is in the stallion division in another part of the farm from where I am. When John is here, he also loves to visit his friend, AFTER MARKET. He was a terrific race horse and won some fabulous GRADE 1 races on the turf while he was with us. John is very proud of him and his accomplishments.
We have had such fun…and so many terrific memories!
Oh…the delivery truck is arriving at the main office. I’m hearing that LOTS of people are sending me Holiday Goodies! I guess I have been ONE VERY GOOD GIRL!
Thank you so, so much for thinking of me! Happy Saturday!
With Love,
HUGS TO ALL~
Z
Marie
Sounds like someone’s in lust — Queen Z have you picked out your new boyfriend????
of course, you’ve been a good girl this year and I’m sure Santa will be making a very special delivery for you in January sometime === HOY!!!!!!
Jeanie langford
Zenyatta are you giving us a hint about your first beau? Why would you bring him up instead of some of the others. HMMM. Saw his picture, he is very hansome. Lot of Secretariate there.
nancy
Super Picture!! John is so proud of you and loves you unconditionally.
Paula Higgins
Zenny you are hoot! When they handed out personalities, you cleaned up. I am sure John really misses you, as does everyone at the barn. These updates are just wonderful and very educational. I think Dottie was once a teacher, so the two of you are teaching us alot. We love you all.
Kbuckeye
I love reading your comments every day, Zennie! You are such a special girl. How sweet of Dottie to type your posts and help you share information about you and the sport we love. You have a wonderful home there at Lane’s End…..I visited there in November. It has a positive, everything-for-the-horses vibe….the perfect place for the Queen of Racing!
Dona
Lady Z,
You are the Best. Happy Holidays to you and your family, am looking forward to the New Year for you and all that it will bring. By the way, if you should miss California and want to come home, I think Santa would love for you to share his sleigh. Peppermint and Apples for everyone at Lanes End!
Nancy
Dear Zenny
Thanks so much for sharing your game with John. How very
special. You are such a gift to all of your fans, but
we must all remember you are a multiple million dollar
Champion race horse that is now going to pass on
your impeccable lineage. It is sure going to be fun to continue
to share in your new life. Thanks to Dottie and everyone
for allowing Zen’s fans to share and learn. I vote on AP Indy
as well. He is so awesome and where else can you find
Seattle slew and Secretariat. He is an older man, but
another May December relationship like you had with Steve
might really be very special. So gla your check up went
went well. I have been wondering what you are
like when you are in season. Very marish? I hear
your moneighs arrived at Rerun and I am one first
in line for bidding. Just love your charity work!!!!
Have a wonderful night and enjoy your Christmas in the
snow.
Maria E. Hill
It is almost Christmas, and I was thinking this week what a gift you have been this year. I wish you the best over this holiday season. Thanks again for your wonderful spirit.
Gloria Jeanne
AFTER MARKET! Nice Choice- keep it in the Moss family
Janet Cutting
How Cute You Are Zen— Funny that you are talking about Hats— I just got your pink Z hat from your website store in the mail– Its going to be my Xmas present from my hubby—I hope to visit you in the summer and I will be proudly wearing it !!!!! Hey, enjoy all the goodies you are getting and I hope your Team Z gets to visit you really soon. Happy Holidays to everyone near and dear to Zennys heart—-love janet
Liz Mahoney
Queen Z ~ You certainly deserve all of the goodies you are receiving and the best goodie you most decidely deserve is Horse of the Year. Who has done more for the sport than you? To turn you down again this year would be such a travesty.
Also there’s a top notch guy there on your farm by the name of A.P. Indy. He’s an older guy and I think you should give him a chance while he’s still healthy and able. Can’t beat his pedigree and I bet he’d give you an incredible 1st baby….pass that tidbit on to Jerry and Ann for me!
Amanda Gilliland
My Sweet Lady Zenyatta, You and John looked great together and I’m glad to hear about the cap game. I know that’s very special to you. Zenyatta, you have been a very, very good girl this year and Santa told me you would be getting HOTY! Santa better deliver it to you! I’m so happy you are having a wonderful December. I like hearing about After Market. I bet you two could share some real stories about racing. I know John misses you as well as all of Barn 55. Zenyatta, nobody will ever forget you because of the impact you have had on all our lives! I love you, Zenyatta! Keep the posts coming. My day would not be complete without hearing from you.
Love with Hugs and kisses from Alabama, Amanda
emmy
I,too,am under your spell,Zenyatta!!! my question for you and Dottie….what is the process for designating races Grade 1or Grade 2? Thanks….and best wishes for the Holiday Season!!!
mary bobolis
I love the picture of you and John. Dottie and John are such rare folks. I can’t imagine any other trainers doing daily postings to keep the fans happy. Frankly, it’s unheard of. I can’t imagine how much they must miss you Zenyatta. It must be so difficult for them. I adore the video in Thoroughbred Times that Lanes End posted with the music by Lisa G. I don’t feel quite as bad now as some had suggested originally that you would be receiving generic care. I can see that is not the case. What an awesome responsibiity for Lanes End. Just think the eyes of all the world of fans are upon them and the fans won’t tolerate anyting but the best for you. You are not being treated like a typical broodmare.
debbie gustafsion
Hey Zen, luv, that is so cool hat tag. lol..,,You won….You have some awesome loved ones, the Mosses are soooooooo good to you,, You are one lucky Girl, and One heck of a Queen,,,,,,,I am trying to find a way to send you your Christmas gift,,, hope to get it to you soon as I can,,,,,You will love it !!!!!!I hope,,,talk to you tomorrow, Oh by ,, i sent Mr. Paul a email…I was very nice and didnt say nothing about Blame,
Just i thought you should be horse of the year,,,,Just look at her records,,,,how could she not be,,,19-1 aint bad…..luv u !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
margie
Z, you are most definitely the Best Girl ever! I’ve been admiring your lovely hoof work on the Moneigh note cards I got recently. You’re not only the best on the track, you’re an excellent artist, too! I love everything about you and want you to be happy forever. Love you.
Mel
Dear Zenyatta,
You are my Horse of the Year for 2010. And the best filly or mare I’ve seen since 1965!!
Be safe, be happy, be healthy. Kudos to Dottie for this website and to the Mosses, John, Mike, Carmen, Mario and Steve for your stellar career. You deserve the best and you’ve gotten it.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
You are always in my thoughts dear sweet Zenyatta! Be happy-you are loved by so many. So glad that everyone can come here and get the news on how you are doing.
Love & Blessings to you sweetie!
LouAnn
Sue
Hi Sweet Thing!! Hope you had a wonderful day!! You keep giving soo much, to soo many , & we are soo GRATEFUL. Have a warm, cozy night with the girls tonight…we still miss you so much in Calif….. don’t know if we’ll ever get over it; but without these posts we would all have died, for sure, from broken hearts. XXXOOO Sue
Sarah Powell
What a cool picture! We love seeing any pictures of her – hope she gets lots of treats in her Christmas stocking!!
Joan Aebi
I have a question why are mares not ridden. I know they will ride a stallion. Is there some reason? Maybe Queen Z would like to gallop until she is breed. I just was wondering since she is such a special horse.
Barbara Wood
Dearest Z–
I just sent an e-mail voting for you for HOY. I would like to encourage all the Z fans to go on John’s website, backside55.com, and read all the info. there. It is fascinating–everything from pictures of the barn cats and their stories to John’s ucoming horses for next year. I admit Ican’t think about next year because I’m spending my time keeping up with you! It is good to learn the names of some of the newcomers.
By the way,
Giacomo is looking great! And you definitely take after your mom. At first, I thought she was you! Good night, sweetie. We love you always.
Linda / Maryland
Thanks for the Pic Zen. With your special friend John! I am sure that you miss him very much. When will he come to see you again? I hope he does.
Glad you are having enjoying your new life. We sure do miss you at the track. We used to wait each month to see where you were going to run next!!
Love you ~
Cynthia
You have been a VERY good girl this year. I hope Santa has a HOY Eclipse Award for you in his sack!
Jan
What we all do with our lives when Zen will no longer fill this need she and the Mosses supply? She is astounding. Something about horses is mystical and satisfying. We will visit her,then what? How will we cope? What will fill this empty void?
Margaret
Hi Z
If you don’t hear from me for the next week please don’t worry. I’m in the middle of some serious issues trying to get online. As this computer has been showing illness prior to today I asked Santa for a new computer for Christmas. Gosh, I hope he got the message and will be able to get me one.
So while I’ll be in and out I will do my best to catch up when I’m able to get online.
You take care sweetie. I hope you have a lovely week and that you get to go play in the snow soon all on your own.
Nancy
I think Zen would have to be retrained to be ridden
on the farm. Maybe John could tell us about this. Galloping
on a race track is very different from galloping in a field. Different
tack and skill. More like fox hunting I guess!!!! Also, Zen loves
dressage moves when she choses. Not sure she would be happy
all “collected up” and directed to perform the moves. She seems to
be a dressage free spirit. Zen, Thanks so much for being
you. You are so special.
Kristoffer Nielsen
Great post today–and After Market was a very superior race horse–has a very interesting dna pool, and should be quite a good sire. Zenyatta–are you planning to support this young sire with writing your name in his book?? (Not such a bad idea–his dam Tranquility Lake was an incredible race filly, too!!)
Jackie from Maryland
Hiya Z. It’s great to see you are having so much fun at your new home. Can’t wait to see you running around free in your paddock! I love all of your posts, and especially the posts that explain about the way things are done at the great thoroughbred farms. I’ve been interested in that sort of thing since I was a little kid, but wasn’t born into that life, so never had a chance to actually do anything about it. So, I hope you keep letting us know about the different things that go on there….it’s so very interesting! Take care my beautiful Z. Stay warm and have a great weekend. Lotsa love and hugs from MD!!
Maria
Zenny that is a lovely picture of you and John. So, you’re getting lots of goodies from eveyone. Lucky girl!