Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #369

GOLDIKOVA on the track this morning. Photo by John Shirreffs

Good Morning,

Happy November 1st! I hope all of you had a fun Halloween! I heard that my dear pal, SOPHIE SHIRREFFS, dressed up for the celebration. She wore a black and orange pumpkin costume as she helped Dottie hand out the candy. Sophie had a terrific time as she truly loves children and adored the ‘pats on the head and hugs’ she received from the trick-or-treaters. TOO CUTE!

My evening was rather relaxed here at Lane’s End. TASTY and I enjoyed our time together and the pleasant weather. Let’s hope it stays nice and dry this week for all of our Breeders’ Cup visitors and participants! So far, the weather reports look good! HOOVES CROSSED!

This morning several of the European horses were able to go to the track and stretch their legs. Here’s GOLDIKOVA on the right and directly behind her is SARAFINA. They are safely through their initial quarantine procedures. Now it is back to the track for all of these European horses to continue their daily training programs for the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The post positions were drawn yesterday and the fields are now set. The morning lines are published and the various talk programs and handicappers are reviewing the fields and studying the past performances. It was cool this morning, but as you can see in the photo the sun was trying to ‘peak through’.

My day started with visitors from TVG. They were teasing as I went out to the field and started to prance around that the main times they saw ME in the early morning was for their WORKS PROGRAM. That is the case with today’s visit as well. TVG is going to do a segment on prior BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC WINNERS….and I AM ONE. (YEAH!!) They wanted to include ME in their piece. TOO CUTE!

MY PARTY is really getting organized. We have some fabulous items for the SILENT AUCTION. I know Lane’s End sent some things of mine as a halter and shoe. Such fun! Friday is getting close! Oh, here comes Sarah with my afternoon schedule. Let’s see what other FUN THINGS I’m doing today.

Enjoy your day!

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

150 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Dear Zenny
    Saw some footage of Goldi on the track this morning.
    Looked like she was feeling really good in the chilly
    KY weather. She was really jumping around. Best of
    Luck to her in beating the boys number 4. Sounds like
    You had a great day and things are getting busy awaiting
    Your party. You and Sophie are the best hostesses
    With the mostest. XXXXOOO

  2. / Reply

    @Pam WIlson–congratulations! We’re so glad for you!
    @Carole #42–thank you! Z fans are the best.
    @Jeanie–thank you. And you are right–there will be–sigh.
    @Susan in TN–oh my goodness! I can’t believe it. So glad Choctaw is better now. He considers you his herd.

  3. / Reply

    @ Maddy – I should be packing my suitcase to get ready to babysit grandkids in Mo, here I am looking at the different videos of Zenyatta and I do believe that is the first time I’ve seen the one set to Taylor Swift. THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting it. As Trevor Denman says, She is unbelievable!!!! That had lots of great pictures. Everyone have a wonderful time and all be safe and warm.

  4. / Reply

    I am so excited!! I can’t wait till Friday!!! My wonderful husband is bringing me to Louisville to your luncheon. I can”t wait to meet wonderful Dottie. You are so special. I love Zenny’s diary, thank you for “transcribing” for her!

  5. / Reply

    Wish I could be there this weekend but will definitely be there in spirit! I am really excited for those who will be able to attend Z’s Party. I wish you all a safe, happy journey. Z, please thank Dottie for keeping us up-to-date on all the racing activities. It is all so exciting!! I can’t wait to watch everything on TV. Could you please whisper to Dottie and see if she might be able to post a photo of Sophie in her costume . . . would love to see her!!
    @ Maddy: Thanks for posting such a wonderful video tribute of our queen!! So glad you’re here!!

  6. / Reply

    @MADDY—Welcome to posting on Z’s site! The video set to Taylor Swift’s LONG LIVE is exquisite! Thanks for sharing, and we look forward to hearing more from you. I’m going to e-mail Terry Crow about your post since he is off-site now–I’m sure he won’t want to miss it.

  7. / Reply

    @ Maddy – welcome to the Paddock! so to speak. I wish I could have had this wonderful website when I was your age. Enjoy it and I join in with all the other ladies and gentlemen who post on Zenny’s blog to welcome you to the Z-Dumplings, young and old and young at heart.

  8. / Reply

    Good evening Zenny,
    Got home from work tonight and my Blood Horse was waiting for me on the table. Started going through it and WOW what a surprise… a beautiful picture of Precious YOU and Tasty. Your highlights are gorgious. You both look amazing. Always love seeing pics of you. Love YOU

  10. / Reply

    I’m so excited for the BC races this year; haven’t decided who might win each race yet because there’s so many wonderful horses competing. Wish I could be there for the party; please make it an annual event–definitely going to be at Santa Anita for next year’s Breeders Cup!

  13. / Reply

    @Susan in TN—What a touching story about Choctaw! It would seem that without you and your hubby, he saw no reason to get out of bed in the morning. Wow, he must love you two a lot. I hope he is reassured enough now to let you go to Kentucky–it won’t be so long as your trip for your son’s wedding. Blessings to you and your dear Choctaw.

  14. / Reply

    There are so many beautiful Z tributes and retrospectives as the BC approaches. There will never be another Zenyatta! Thank you for everything, Z and Team Zenyatta.

  15. / Reply

    @Omaha Z-sters: His final resting place needs to be deed restricted, or have an “in perpetuity” standing so that his remains are never disturbed or lost again.
    End result and fund raising may go hand in hand if Old Friends would like to have Omaha in their Hall of Fame Cemetary. They were the repository for the Noor donations that paid for his move. And word of pen here and on numerous other blogs brought in donations from afar. The racing press also got involved.
    @Charlotte Farmer: If ever there was a time for you to come out of hiding, it is now. At the very least, could you give the “Omaha Honor and Rescue Society” some tips on steps to take – or not take – to make an attempt on his recovery? You wrote the book on this.
    Humbly (and it doesn’t happen often) diastu in tempe

  16. / Reply

    @Zenny and Z Dumpling friends: Well, I’ve no cable (yikes, Diana, you dinosaur, you)so I made reservations for both days in the Clubhouse at Turf Paradise here in Phoenix! A little TV at each table, a remote, and an all day buffet, plus live racing! I’ll wear my Dumpling tag, and make a total fool of myself! Any Phoenix area Z-sters are encouraged to join me!
    diastu-the-tech-challenged

  17. / Reply

    It’s great that you will be part of the TVG segment on the prior Breeders’ Cup Classic Winners. I am looking forward to see it. I love you Zenyatta!

  18. / Reply

    Good night, sweet Z, sleep tight till the morning light.
    @Gloria Jeanne—Zenchronicity is a great suggestion! High hoof!
    @Vicki B—Good redneck jokes!
    @Pam Wilson—Congratulations on your partnership with Mr. President! We look forward to hearing more, and I bet John Shirreffs will be tickled to hear all about Mr. President’s new life with you! Are you in So Cal?
    @Vladislava—Welcome to posting here on Z’s site!

  19. / Reply

    @All: Two more days!
    You might be a California Redneck if you collar a hapless security guard near the LA Zoo carousel and insist he file a stewards inquiry against the redhead jockey on the grey that interferred with the blonde jockey on the bay horse!
    GN,ST,DLTBBB
    diastu

  20. / Reply

    @Diana S. – I received an e-mail of your invitation. I will share what I know in the hopes that it might possibly help with Omaha. I first had to go back through prior posting on Z’s site regarding the situation with Omaha and I must say I am happy at what I read; the enthusiasm to located Omaha touched my heart. At the end of the day that enthusiasm will translate to passion and that is when things begin to happen.
    **They are on the right course, research; checking city/county records to see how the property changed from the time Omaha was buried until the grave was lost. I would also check with the Assessor’s Office. Some times they have aerial shots. You would want shots that would show the pre and post period of his burial. Counties here in California take aerial shots from time to time. Also, see if the local newspapers have an archive section. Many times they keep files of certain events and Ak-Sar-Ben definitely should have had a file. There is the possibility that they sent their papers to a local library where they get turned into microfilm. There you could go blind looking, but take the dates of his burial as start looking through that particular issue. It should have been front page at least. It would be a longshot but I would also check with the Keeneland—Library and see if they might have something on it.
    **Once it is determined that his grave is not, being 100 percent sure, under a building then I would bring in a company that deals with hi-tec ground penetrating radar. Never dismiss it. In *Noor’s case Tom Nicholson did the best he could but there are different levels of equipment and I can cite Norcal Geophysical Consultants out of Cotati, California as a primary one. Here is their link and it will give you a glimpse of what can be done. http://www.norcalgeophysical.com/default.htm
    When you get to the site click on “Services” and then go to “Underground objects.” It will enlighten you. Ken Blom is the person I have spoken to on two occasions dealing when it came to C. S. Howard. I couldn’t cover the cost for Ken to send a crew to Grass Valley, $1,500+ that is when I found Tom Nicholson who was willing to offer his services for free.
    **Tom’s equipment was definitely not on the level of Ken’s, but I will be forever thankful, regardless that we were off, because up until that point the word throughout the city/county agencies was his grave was lost and without knowing the location it was a moot issue. Tom gave me the leverage to continue to champion *Noor’s cause and that is when the city/county and the Getty’s started listening.
    **At that point I would HIGHLY recommend you have a certified archeologist onsite. I can’t explain what it was like to watch Erin and Denise do what they did best, identify soils and other materials. In fact I would recommend that they talk with Erin. I am in awe of the knowledge that she has and the meticulous way she goes about her work.
    **That long day, at Loma Rica, finally came down to four people, Rocky, Gary and Eldon Parke, and Erin. Rocky remembered certain things and Gary, Eldon, and Erin put the rest of the puzzle together trying to think as Henry Freitas would have and the backhoe once again started digging. It took Erin’s expertise to identify what was coming up as the backhoe continued to dig down and finally there he was.
    **Nothing is ever lost per Erin, and she has been on some pretty amazing digs. Regarding fundraising I really like the idea of taking Omaha to Old Friends, that is, if Michael is willing to accept the remains.
    **Allie in Texas had a wonderful thought, purchase bricks. In the town where I was raised they have a landmark that burned down and so the town fathers decided to see if they could recreate it, too costly. So instead they decided just to recreate the clock tower and funds were raised through the selling of bricks which people could have the names of their loved ones put one. Those were the hottest selling bricks ever and the clock tower now stands at a testament to what a small community could do.

  21. / Reply

    For whatever reason my last paragraph was lost.

    Don’t ever give up if you believe in something, and if they need to contact me there are ways. I would be more than happy to help in whatever capacity I can, but from what I can see they are definitely on the right track.

  22. / Reply

    @Sue Fredrick – Wisconsin: Wishing you a GREAT, GREAT time. Please fill us in all on the details when you get home. How exciting!!!!!

  23. / Reply

    @Diana S: Hey Diana that sounds like fun. It is always much more fun to be around people and share the many moments of excitment. Have fun!!

  24. / Reply

    @Susan in TN: What a touching story about Choctaw. Sounds like he was really missing you folks. How sweet is that. So glad to hear he is better. I sure hope your husband can look after him so you can go to Z’s party.

  25. / Reply

    Good Morning Zenny, I think you and Tasty are going to have a pleasant day in your paddock, the weather is going to be good and I’ve already seen Cigar out in his paddock. Two days from now you will be the popular horse ever as you host your very own party and the the BC event. I so wish that I could be there but the TV will be a very poor substitute.
    @ Delrene – Thanks for the link to the G. Gomez story, very interesting . Vic and I were introduced to him at Saratoga in August when we were wearing our Z Tags and I had no idea that he’d ridden in such pain. He said he was pleased to meet two such great fans of the Queen.
    @ Susan in Tn – What a heart warming story about Choctaw and so sad that you may not make to CD. Hopefully your husband can provide Choctaw with all the TLC he needs for a couple of days.

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