Good Morning,
I remember this TREE so well. It’s located on the grass area just outside the Churchill Downs’ barn where I stayed during the 2010 Breeders’ Cup. Cheers to my BARN 55 pals, FRANK and HARMONIOUS! There they are out enjoying the sunshine together this morning. MY JOHN thought they each looked so relaxed and happy. He also got a kick out of the sign and wanted ME to share it with you.
The Kentucky weather is really quite lovely right now and the future forecasts all look to be very encouraging…clear, sunny, and temperatures ranging from the mid 60’s into the 70’s over the weekend. A bit of rain is forecast for Thursday….so I’m sure ‘paddock schooling today’ for all of the participants will be very active.
My Lane’s End buddies have commented that many of the horses appear to be training forwardly and looking strong each morning. RACE DAY is getting close!
In reading your Diary comments and responses, I’ve noticed so many of you are really enthused about MY PARTY! Thank you! I must say, I can’t wait!
The film crews are being organized so I can attend the event and be right there with ALL of you! Leonard is sending Dottie various other party details so she can share them in my Diary during the next few days. This is so much FUN! A party like this has never been done before, thus, this thought really adds to the anticipation. You know ME…I love being FIRST….but I must say, what truly makes it even more SPECIAL…is I can share this activity with ALL OF YOU!
Yippee, I just heard that members of MY TEAM are coming to visit ME tomorrow afternoon. They were last here in mid-September! I’m sure they’ll think my ‘baby bump’ is progressing splendidly. I also have such a fabulous GLOW about ME. This mom-to-be ‘track’ (no pun intended) I’m now enjoying in my life is truly agreeing with ME….if I say so myself! (Blush, Blush!)
In between all of these other activities, I’m doing my handicapping! There are so many great races to review…and I want to be sure to study every single detail. One thing I’ve definitely noticed, MY BERNIE is well represented with his progeny in this year’s WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. He has some very solid opportunities for his offspring to perform CLASSICALLY! HOOVES CROSSED!
Have a glorious day!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Ooops, that’s March 7, 2012. How time flies!
Hootie
Can’t wait ’til Friday and Saturday!!! Wish I could be thefe in person…please post photos’m of all the excitement at your party…you look fabulous, by the way!!! Love reading ylur blog every day!
Becky
Don’t forget to pull for Alabama Zenny. You are the Tide’s good luck charm.
Abigail from Montreal
@ signofthetimes & ALL RE: SO YOU THINK. “Sign” you are right about the blinkers. I just did some research & found that he won the Cox Plate in 2009 wearing them!!! So, this also might mean that Aidan O’Brien has been having a good chat with SYT’s previous trainer, Bart Cummings….I had thought it might help with the dirt in his face, too, when the news first came out. At least we now know that the blinkers aren’t going to be another built-in handicap for this fine horse!
JAG Adores Zenyatta & John Henry / So. CA
This may have already been shared…
Top 10 Breeders’ Cup Classics – With Video
http://www.horseracingnation.com/blogs/horseracingnation/Top_10_Breeders_Cup_Classics_123
QUOTE: “…the most thrilling race the Breeders’ Cup has ever seen.”
That’s our Queen!! XO
Patricia Emery
Hey Zen…I just watched the recent video from “E train!” You look so happy snacking on grass at LE. When they were discussing about the “energy” you create and bring out in each of us…how unique & special that feeling…you are “ONE OF A KIND!” I tell people that are not familiar with horses, that you are like the one thing that can turn a rainy day into a sunny day; a time of sadness into a time of joy; from feeling cold to feeling warm…and when times are good, they turn to times of “GREATNESS!” I never imagined that over the course of time, that even with you in retirement, just reading your posts, watching you at LE, and watching clips from times of your past, the stronghold that you have on my heart! You really are “miraculous” in every way…to me, it cannot get any better than this! I cannot make your party on Friday, but hope that you will continue this as a tradition…my request to Santa is to go to your party for BC 2012! Best Wishes & I am so thrilled to here you will be getting special visitors tomorrow.
XOXO
Marilu V.
Dear Zeny: I am so happy for you and your team. Yes, you are the first to have such a party and I read it will become a tradition. I wish I could attend and experience the entire event. Take care! Hugs, Marilu
Paul
Zenyatta, I’m gettinng so excited about the races that it isn’t funny. I think it’s great that they have a tree in your honor at Churchill Downs which is outside of the barn you stayed in last time you raced there in the 2010 Breeder’s Cup. The weather is supposed to be great in Kentucky this weekend. Your party is getting closer and closer every day and it will be here before you know it. You have been excessively popular with film crews. Hopefully, the result of that will be that people get to know or know of you better.
Margie in So. Calif.
Hi Zenny, I know you’re excited about all the activities. Your Team coming to visit, your party! I will be watching as much as possible and wishing I could be there. Today I watched a lot of the videos posted and for heaven’s sake, I cried over each one. Watching you is so overwhelmng sometimes. My heart fills up with such love, joy and pride at seeing your most incredible self. You are the Queen, indeed, and will be celebrated forever. You’re in the history books, pretty girl, and it’s a done deal! Thank you, Dottie, et al. for allowing me to visit you here. It means a lot. So, get ready to party, Zenny. I hope you’ve clued Tasty T in on how things “happen” around you (lights, cameras, action!” You better work with TT on her close up, just in case. You gals have fun, and don’t forget to tell us all about it. Love you.
Marilu V.
@ signofthetimes: Thank you for the links on Goldikova. She is a remarkable horse and I wish her all the luck. I hope she can win it again. I want to see her retire in good health and enjoy the rewards of her career. I wish her an easy life like our dear Zenyatta. Thanks again, Marilu
Kathleen Kimber KC.MO
Wonderful pictures. BC is coming and the excitement builds everyone have a great time and please stay safe. Say a prayer before each and every race that all the horses and riders come home safe.
Kathy B.
It is so nice to have your presence at the BC again this year! I am sure your party will be fabulous and everyone will have a great time. There is a lovely picture of you and Tasty in the recent edition of the Blood Horse mag (Goldy on the cover). That baby bump is quite noticeable now….I hope you are feeling okay. It must be a big change from how you felt in training. But KY certainly is beautiful, and although we miss you here in CA, it is good you have such a nice home for your new adventures!
mary bobolis
What a wonderful idea to have the party in your honor to benefit charity. Due to mobility problems and being in a wheelchair/scooter for much of this year, I cannot attend. I’m hoping this will be an annual event so that I can attend next year when I am more mobile. A few years ago I attended a charity event for the Secretariet Foundation in Lexington and met Penny Chenery and Jim Gaffney(now deceased) in person. It was simply one of the greatest experiences in my life like when I met Secretariat in person in 1973.
I hope you and your team have a wonderful turn-out for this year’s special event!!
Sybil
Dottie, sure hope we get your beverage recipe soon, so we can serve them at our Breeders Cup parties. If anyone is looking for a purple drink to match the Breeders Cup colors:
1 1/4 oz vodka
3/4 oz triple sec
1 splash grape juice
1 splash cranberry juice
Shake and strain into a shot glass.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Dearest Z– it sounds like the excitement is reaching a fever pitch. I wish I could be there. However, I will tolerate NO phone or any other interruptions. I don’t want to miss a word.
@California DUmplings–you better batten down the hatches to prepare for the onslaught of DUmplings to SA next year! We will have more time to plan and save up. This one sort of caught us by surprise.
@Gloria Jeanne–Happy Birthday Friday!
@Dawn Conrad–sorry to hear your diagnosis. Can you go to physical therapy? Has that been given as an option? It did wonders for my rotator cuff tear(partial).
I know many of you get the Old Friends e-mails. Please note the campaign to fund a documentary to provide aftercare for horses. Here’s the link for info.:
http://www.oldfriendsequine.org/
tony
Zenny, we are anxious to learn what the Zenyatta drink is all about…I’m ready to jump into action and make some.
Mary
Zenyatta;
Please, please answer;
Will there be a Zenyatta Party in CA at next years BC? I could not come this year :(
Hugs and Prayers
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
@Dawn Conrad – Thanks for mentioning, I had missed the @The Kennedys in San Diego story about the Zenny Bronze in Halloween regalia (#368) — that sounded great! Wish I’d thought of it myself, but my Bronzatta went nude.
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
In honor of gypsy Terry C. and the redneck club: You might be a redneck if you have to go outside to get something out of the ‘fridge. You might be a redneck if you have a rag for a gas cap. You might be a redneck if you’ve ever climbed a water tower with a bucket of paint to defend your sister’s honor. You might be a redneck if you try to hitch your horse to the tree “on the grass area just outside the Churchill Downs’ barn”.
M. Kern
Thanks for the info. Have fun with your visitors tomorrow. They are lucky to be able to see you. I love you and say hi to Tasty.
Alene
Hi sweetie pie. I`m sure you and all of your team is very excited about your party. It`s so awesome. Your team and the Mosses know how to do things right!!! They always do. Dottie does such a great job. We know she wouldn`t want to be doing anything else but she worls hard 24/7… I`m most excited about seeing you of course taht goes without saying. But the painting must be magnificent. It will bring tears to my eyes and I`m sure alot of peoples… I pray all the horse just stay healthy most importantly!!!!! Lots of Big Hugs and Kisses, Alene :-)
Rosemary McCauley - Southern California
@Vicki B – GREAT redneck joke about hitching your horse to a tree. But what a horse it is. Harmonious is a lovely, very talented horse. Frank takes such good care of her. I met Harmonious once and fed her carrots. I felt privileged to do so. Maybe Frank can be an honorary redneck.
Jan S. in Houston
Zenyatta,
1 more day.. Can’t wait. Cute interview with John. Can’t wait to hear about your party. Stay healthy and happy Big Mama.
@ the dumplings attending Z’s party, have a blast and have a Zenyatta drink for me. ;);)
Jeanie
@Diana S
Please don’t forget to send your email so we can work off line on the Omaha project. Looking forward to working with you and the other Z’isters.
j
Elizabeth in Oregon
Here is hoping all the horses and jockeys will be safe in the BC races. Hugs to you, Zenyatta! Have fun at your party. :-)
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
Thanks Barbara!!! I hope everyone going to the Party on Friday has a wonderful time – I’m sure it will be a blast!!! Can’t wait to see and hear all about it. I’m really hoping that this will be an event that is going to each year of the Breeder’s Cup – I think it’s a great way to get fans close to the excite, owners, jockey’s and of course the ATHLETES of the sport – the horses the trues hero’s.
My goal is to own racehorses – what a blast….
harriett (Oklahoma)
Thanks, everyone, for all the great links to new stories and videos about our girl! I hope those of you Dumplings who can go to The Party take lots of photos for the rest of us.
Sue Noel/Sun Valley ID
Dearest Zenny-Know you will have sweet dreams tonight with your loved ones coming tomorrow!!!What an exciting week for you!!
I will surely be with you in spirit at your party,while I’m working away on Friday–will have to catch up with the Friday races later that night. Saturday,I will be glued to the TV after I get back from playing with Casey early in the morning!! Last week,after I got him all groomed we put a saddle on him and just walked him around the arena with it on—he was so funny–his back was so humped up,if anyone had tried to get on him I think they would have been bucked clear over the fence!!We then just tried him with an english saddle pad and he calmed down a bit. Saturday,we’re going to try an english saddle on him and see what he thinks of that. My friend rode him a bit the day we looked at him to buy, and she felt he was ready to explode. The vet who examined him thinks he may be un-sound. His “mom” only weighs about 95 or 100 pounds,so she may try to just walk him around the arena,if he doesn’t mind the english saddle too much. She loves him whether he can ever be ridden or not–the main thing is that he stays well and happy! She is a wonderful lady who adores him! She is so generous to let me fuss over him and groom him and “love on” him as though he were mine. I know he understands that I love him–the look on his face when I talk to him about how wonderful he is and how much I love him is so sweet!! I told his mom all about this web-site and she is going to check it out–hope we will gain another new dumpling!! When I told her that people all over the world had heard about Casey (and his other Aunt Sue’s horse,Traveler)she asked me to tell you all hello from Casey’s Mom!!!
Casey’s other Aunt Sue just did something wonderful for me–she handed me a bag with a surprise in it—my very own Breyer Zenyatta!!!!! I nearly fainted!!!Now “you” will be with me to watch the races,Zenny!!!
@ Dawn Conrad-I was SO sorry to hear that you are having more health issues! Take good care and bounce back soon. I so love your posts and so hope that we will be able to meet at Santa Anita next year for Zenny’s next party!!!
@Trina-That Halloween joke was priceless!!!
@Maddy-Can’t wait to get home tonight and see the video! My computer here at work has the sound turned off so I can’t check out the links here! Welcome aboard the Z Train!!! You will love it here!
So glad Burning Lady was saved!! My payday is not until Friday so couldn’t be a part of it–many thanks to all who stepped up!!
Hope all Z-sters have sweet dreams tonight,dreaming of the fun to come!! Love you all!!
Pat Beck
See you Friday, my wonderful Zenyatta. All the tributes have me tearful but joyful. Love you always!
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
I am so happy that things are going so well for yu Zenyatta and too that your connections and some family are coming to visit you, I bet you are surely looking forward to that. I wish you the best and hope that you have lots of fun and really enjoy your party-so sorry that I am unable to attend. Just had another chemotherapy for the cancer today and am doing quite well, I am so fortunate even though it is considered terminal and the treatments are actually to just give me a bit more quality time here. But heck, I do believe and hope and pray and there are miracles. And there are those who defy the odds and go on to live way past beyond their predicted time, I hope to be one of those fortunate ones. I want to be around for a long time, I am not ready to leave here as of yet. The thoughts of you and the memories you have given me watching all your races on tv and etc. keep me going and you have been a true inspiration for me though all this difficult health stuff. You really are my Queen-I love you Zenyatta and wish you the best, and surely looking forward to yourlittle foal in February.
Love & Blessings with hugs to you!