Good Morning,
I wanted to share something FUN that is happening tomorrow, October 7th, at Santa Anita. They are having PHOTOGRAPHY DAY! It all starts tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. / Clockers’ Corner. Santa Anita is offering all of the fans a chance to really participate in photographing the different areas of the grounds as well as the day’s racing events.
For $20, a fan can attend the all day event. It starts early with the opportunity to take photos of the horses while they are training during workouts. This is followed by a late breakfast at Clockers’ Corner and a Q & A session with members of the Benoit group who are the Official Photographers for all of the Southern California Racing Circuit, a trainer, and some members of management.
The trainer who was asked to guest this year is MY JOHN. As many of you may know, photography is one of My John’s favorite hobbies. HE ABSOLUTELY LOVES TO TAKE PICTURES. He will be there to answer all types of questions with his NIKKON CAMERA in hand. As a matter of fact, just last night he was commenting that without a doubt “ZENYATTA was one of his best subjects”. (BLUSH, BLUSH)
After this, the fans will be given a PRESS CREDENTIAL and race track access for the day of racing. They will be able to go into the paddock, winner’s circle, and other parts of the grounds via this special pass. For someone who really enjoys taking pictures, you could not have a more beautiful setting than Santa Anita. The Foothill Mountains provide such a breath-taking backdrop for one of the most amazing racing settings in all of our sport.
If you have the time and live close by…what a great way to spend the day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
signofthetimes
Dear JAG,
Today is the preamble for the October B-days. The great celebration will be on the 8th your birthday at SA. Have fun
CA dumpling’s. Yours in cyber happy hour.
Warmest Hugs
JAG / California :-)
ALL
It’s so interesting that a picture of JH’s statue was shared today. I spent Saturday morning recording a home movie about where John Henry is located. I plan to share that on my fb wall. :-D
signofthetimes
@JAG
Thanks for all the great links, What a perfect photo for you
JAG and OCT B-day folks; Anne in Paramount CA is this week,
too I believe. What could not be better than Sophie Sherriffs and John Henry; but Zenyatta and John Henry. Sophie looks like Z only smaller a great canine model. I wonder if she dances.
judy berube
Dear Diana S., Kari B. and Everyone:
Planned a day off with my Sister yesterday. When I got home and tried to access my e-mails, my computer went on the fritz. Finally got it fixed. Will be back later. Thank you all for thinking of me. Computers are temperamental sometimes. Hugs, JB
Kari Bussell
Time to get the party started…..Official Birthday Weekend celebration!!..All are expected to attend in spirit.
Happy Birthday signothetimes!!!
Happy Birthday JAG!!!..
Happy Birthday all with Birthdays!!!
I did this for the Queen’s Birthday….thought you might enjoy it…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI02arFNGWk
Doreen
For those of you who are interested as to whether Rick Dutrow Jr. will continue training in New York or not, a decision is expected next week: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65408/dutrow-decision-due-next-week
Kari Bussell
@Judy B- I am so glad you checked in. I had already thought to check the other site, but could not find where you had posted since Oct.4. I was worried and very relieved when Diane let us know you are okay….
@Barbara Wood- I think of you and pray for you every day too.
@Diane S- thank you for news of Judy and I will get my address to you…Karen G has it…I had it in my head it had been shared with you.
Vicki B.
I’m glad everyone seems to dislike Rick Dutrow about as much as I did, when first reading his quote posted by @Barbara Grimaldi, about how much he liked to give steroids to his horses. I could not then post my opinion intact.
@Terry Crow – Nero was my first thought too. And good jokes, esp. “Cow of the week”
@Denise in AZ – LoL at your redneck joke, but awful, too.
Kimberly Potter
@Denise in AZ~ Dear Lord and Heavenly Father…..
Also: LOL at loading the dishwasher…TOO FUNNY!
Kari Bussell
@The Kennedys in San Diego- Add me to the list of people worried about Blind Luck. I hope you report good news about her and enjoy your visit.
@Terry Crow- great jokes today!..I need to refresh my memory regarding that movie..I am very curious about that scene…
@Denise in Az…I hope your husband nailed his interview and you get great news soon….loved the “dishwasher.”
@Sharon in Seattle- Praying for you.
@Abigail in Montreal-thinking of you.
@Lisa g- still missing you.
Brenda S..
Today has been a beautiful Fall day here in Fort Erie. Vic’s school had their Fall Festival and she came home with bright pink Z’s painted on her cheeks. She managed to drop both the Principal and the Vice-Principal in the dunk tank and won a ticket for the Halloween dance so she’s had a good day.
@signofthetimes – Hope you are having a wonderful day. Happy Birthday!!!
@ JAG – Bonus day for you – John Henry and Miss Sophie. Early birthday wishes for you.
@ Judy B – Glad to see you back, hope you enjoyed your day with your sister.
@ Dawn – Vic says thanks and Hi to you and Mom. I never really thought about how lucky I’ve been until I read your post. I’ve seen some amazing horses even if I didn’t see them all race except on TV.
@ Kari B – Would you mind if I send you a message via Karen G.
@ Terry C – Laughing again. Hope Don is doing well.
@ Denise in AZ – Fingers and hooves are crossed.
@ Diana S – Is it this weekend that you will be at Santa Anita?
Terry Crow
@Susan in TN-The change in Don is amazing. Glad you liked the jokes. I especially like the redneck cockroach joke. As far as Let it Ride goes, even when you know, you never know. My favorite part of that film is at the end when Teri Garr comes back to the track right before the running of the last race and Trotter tells her he bet it all. She then says it’s only money. A sweet moment. @Rosemary McCauley and Vicki B-All stories about Nero fiddling while Rome burned are false. However, if the stories were true, then he was playing a hoedown right before a barbeque. That is definitely redneck. @Barbra Wood-It is always funny when one of the redneck jokes apply to yourself. @signofthetimes-Hope your day was the best ever. @Kari Bussell Denise in AZ, Rosemary McCauley and Susan in TN-You might be a redneck if, during your wedding, you kissed the bride/groom and your John Deere hat fell off. You might be a redneck if there is graffiti on the bathroom wall in your own house. You might be a redneck if you wished that your outhouse was as nice as those at the state park. You might be a redneck if you think that a 401k is your mother-in-law’s bra size.
Cynthia H.
Thank you so much, Dottie, for devoting an entire entry of Zenyatta’s Diary to this very special event. There will be early morning tram rides through the backside area also, for the enjoyment of Santa Anita’s shutterbugs. The weather promises to be gorgeous after our early autumn rain, and I would not choose to be anyewhere else in the world tomorrow (or any other day)!
Pati
You should make a guest apperence in Kentucky on Classic Day. That will bring out the cameras!!
Barbara Wood
@Kari Bussell– thank you.Love the Z birthday video.
Calling lisa g, calling lisa g….and what about Sarah Powell? Haven’t heard from Karen Gogue in ages. We’re missing some dumplings here.
@Doreen–thank you more than I can say. The horses will thank you too!
@Denise in AZ–love the new pictures and the redneck joke. Big-time prayers for a job tomorrow!
@JAG–we’ll be on the road Saturday on the way to Colorado, so Happy Birthday early!
suew
@Pati, I agree!
Sharon call
@Terry Crow. My one really lame attempt at a redneck joke – you might be a redneck if you think the Mississippi Delta is a southern airline. I heard this on “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” courtesy of Jeff Foxworthy.
JAG / California :-)
@ ALL
Black Caviar, a national treasure, in race to equal Phar Lap’s record:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/black-caviar-a-national-treasure-in-race-to-equal-phar-laps-record/story-e6frg7mf-1226160665963
GIRL POWER!!! ;-)
Judy
Debbie G
That picture of John Henry and Sophie is too cute! I love you, Zenny! :-)
@signofthetimes – Happy Birthday. Libras rock!
@Terry Crow – I’m glad your friend Don is doing better.
@Kari Bussell – I love your post on #350. I have a feeling it’s going to be 27 and counting!
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
I wonder wich track will have a life-sized statue of you? i am guessing it will be hollywood park,or santa anita! Thanks for the photos! FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
LauraJ
A step in the right direction:
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/archive/2011/10/06/thoroughbred-horse-show-association-launched.aspx
Terry Crow
@Debbie G-Thank you. I let Don know about all who wish him well. It does seem to cheer him up. @Sharon Call-Good thing you have already been inducted. That joke will make you sergeant-at-arms on January 27. @Kari Bussell-That particular scene impressed me so much but you are the first person I have known who is worthy of a comparison. It wasn’t much and I don’t even know the name of the actress but when I think of it I think of you. If you cannot find or know anybody who remembers it, I will quote it to you verbatim tomorrow. I would not want a person such as you to spend too much time on such a trivial thing.
Sue Noel
What fun it will be at Santa Anita tomorrow!!! Wish I could be there!! I LOVE the photo of Sophie with the John Henry statue!!She must have learned from you,Zenny,just what to do when she sees a camera!!
@ All the Arizona Dumplings–You may remember that I mentioned having lost two friends to cancer in the last week. One of them you may have known of or remember. My dear friend Pat Murphy was the Publisher of the Arizona Republic for several years in the 1980’s He was a famous newspaper columnist as well and was a wae correspondent during the Korean War. If you Google him the articles that the Republic did on his death will come up. He retired here in Sun Valley several years ago,and,in his “retirement” wrote a great column in our local paper,The Mountain Express. Besides his beautiful wife and two daughters,he had two of the greatest and sweetest yellow Labs you could ever meet! Their names were “Spud” and “Tater” and he adored them!! He would bring them to the market where I work every day,park outside my window and I would run out and give them treats–what fun!!He was one in a million and I will miss him forever!!
The photos you have been sharing with us lately,by Your John and Sarah Campuion have been just dazzling!! We simply cannot get enough of beautiful YOU!!!!!
I loved the peaceful one of you and Tasty T. grazing together. I had not mentioned before that one of my dearest friends,who grew up with her own horses and who had actually run two riding operations here in Sun Valley several years ago,gecided to bring the joy back into her life and buy a horse. She bought a lovely mare,grey with black mane and tail and named her “Traveler”,after Robert E. Lee’s famous horse of the same color.She is keeping her at another of her friends’ lovely 5 acre spread. Shortly after putting her there,they decided that Traveler was lonely and that maybe they should find her a friend. My friend,another Sue,saw an ad in the Twin Falls newspaper and one Saturday morning we made the 70 mile trip down to see what turned out to be a gorgeous bay boy,with two white socks on his back feet and a white blaze—-Hmmmmmm–sounds slightly familiar!! The lady who owned him had to sell him due to severe financial trouble. She had him for ten years (he is 19 now) and just loved him. When my friend rode him to try him out,she could tell he was “off” but we both fell instantly in love with him so he bought him anyway to rescue him He is obviously part thoroughbred,his head is so lovely,and,he has that “look of eagles”! When he got to her other friends house with him,she fell instantly in love too and bought him for herself!It’s really great for all of us as she can better afford to care for him .She is giving him all kinds of expensive supplements and he is thriving. Every Saturday I get to go out to the farm with my friend and play with them both!! I am so lucky!! I act aas Sue’s groom as Traveler is a difficult horse who breaks lead ropes if she is tied. It is fun for me and I get to spend a lot of time with Casey,the bay with whom I am madly in love!!!Don’t know if he will ever be able to be ridden again,but he is a love and is adored by his “mom”,as well as by both of his “Aunt” Sues!!! I just love grooming him and feeding him,listening to his crunching his hay and grain–such musice to my ears. He loves pears,just like you Zenny,and adores watermelon!! Anyway,sorry to go on so long,but it is such fun for me to be able to “horse around” for real these days and to throw my arms around Casey’s neck and tell him how much I love him!! He is a really happy horse and I am happy too!! The photo of you and Miss Tasty reminded me that I should share all this with fellow Dumplings—when we drive up and see the two of them at a distance,it looks almost like it is you two!!!!!
It is still raining here and last night we got snow on the top of Mt. Baldy!!! It is supposed to warm up again this weekend–thank goodness!! Hope you had a sunny day and that you have swwet dreams tonight and the sun on your back tomorrow with a soft breeze to ruffle your mane—-LOVE YOU!!!!!
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Hope all is well with you today. Your friend Sophie looks so cute or should I say Too Cute,sitting there. I missed writing to you the last couple of days. I brought a color printer so I could print my pictures of the STARS at the races. Of course I printed out my photos of you at the Del Mar back in 2010. I have to admit I had your pictures printed out and professionally mounted in frames. I look at you every day. Love you, Zenny.
Sue Noel
My goodness,I was so excited sharing all of that with you that I made up a lot of fractured words!! Sorry–I think you can tell what I meant!!! LOve to alll!!
Sue Noel
Happy Birthday to Signofthetimes!!!! Trina–you really are a genius!!!! My Lucky,the jumper I had years ago was an off-track TB–what a fabulous boy he was He looked just like the horse in National Velvet!! My dream horse as a child,come to life!!
The Kennedys in San Diego
We will be rooting for Gio Ponti on Saturday, have always loved this horse, but agree with Steve Haskin — run him in the BC Classic.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/65355/clement-still-pointing-gio-ponti-to-bc-mile
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Kari Bussell — Thank you for posting your beautiful Happy Birthday production — you are so talented and special.
D Stuart
@Denise in AZ: Hooves crossed for hubby! And that was one of the best redneck jokes ever – – – but why ya talkin’ about my Mom that way???
diastu in tempe
D Stuart
@All: I’m gonna out-do all the October B’days. Tomorrow is my Auntie Helen’s 101st Birthday!!! She lives in Broken Arrow, OK and a sweeter woman never walked the earth. She is the last standing of my Mom’s tribe.
diastu in Tempe