Good Morning EVERYONE!
Wow! What a weekend of FUN and GREAT RACING!
MY PARTY was a huge success! The KICK-OFF Portion is the part I attended…via the beauty of today’s marvelous technology. I also got to view all of the party goodies and the party favor seat cushions that everyone received as a gift for attending. I loved all of them! I hope you did too!
Then Ann, Jerry, my John, Dottie, and Mikie all were there to visit with the fans. I heard the food was terrific! They played my races and everyone visited and just ‘hung out’. Later, Mikie had to leave for the jockeys’ room (all riders have to check in so many hours before they ride…and I think they gave Mike a bit of a break as they knew he was at MY PARTY spending time with FANS). MY JOHN had to return to the barn to be with his horses. The rest stayed to visit and enjoy the fun.
CHICKEN GREASE played the music and they were absolutely terrific! All of this truly added to the pre-Breeders’ Cup race day fun!
The afternoon session also went very well! People were able to eat, relax, and enjoy the races in the Derby Cafe in the Museum.
Once the Ladies’ Classic was finished, the AFTER PARTY started. I heard this was really GREAT FUN! It was the perfect place to go after the races while the traffic was clearing out. MY JOHN, Mikie, and Dottie attended. I heard they signed tons of items for fans and posed for zillions of photos by my painting and the many posters of ME in the room. CHICKEN GREASE played and it was all very festive!
There is a new DRINK (adult beverage) named for ME called the ZENYATTA! People were enjoying this at the AFTER PARTY great food, and other tasty things. There were even M and M’s with MY NAME on them. Now all of this is TOO CUTE!
I hope you enjoy the LIFE-SIZE painting of ME that was also unveiled at MY PARTY. Above, you see Ann standing next to it. I truly believe the artist, Jaime Corum, did an amazing job on this piece. I AM REALLY ME! The reason for this is that it is done PRECISELY to my measurements…every single part of my body in this painting is exact. IT IS TRULY ME! While working on the project, Jaime would send emails to MY JOHN and they’d review it. Then when he was in Lexington for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Keeneland mid-October, he drove to Louisville to her studio to review the final details with her. EVERYONE WANTED IT TO BE A PERPECT REPRESENTATION OF ME. I’m hearing that it will displayed at the BROWN HOTEL in Louisville for the balance of the Churchill race meet. If you have a moment, please stop by to see it. It is gorgeous….if I say so myself! (BLUSH, BLUSH!)
I’d like to personally thank everyone who attended MY PARTY and Leonard and Dottie for working so hard to ‘make it happen’. As with so many things in my life, ALL OF YOU have helped to MAKE THINGS BE SPECIAL, JOYFUL and FUN! I can’t THANK YOU ENOUGH! I hope in some small way, I HAVE MADE THINGS FUN AND SPECIAL FOR YOU, AS WELL!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(A HIGH-HOOF to all of the Breeders’ Cup winners…and a special HUG to GOLDIKOVA on an amazing career! I am so, so PROUD of HER!)
Z
PS… I’ve heard many of you took photos at the party. I can’t wait to see them. We’ll share more details on different things as the week progresses. Enjoy your day!
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
More on Mo’s retirement:
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7203093/uncle-mo-retired-racing
According to this and other articles, Mo’s liver enzymes are elevated. They feel that keeping him in training will stress his liver and could lead to a relapse of the liver disease from which he suffered earlier this year. It is not genetic, so it shouldn’t affect his babies. It’s too bad he has to be retired, but it seems to be the best thing for his health.
Maddy
Wish I could have been there but my mom would not allow a 12year old girl to fly from Canada to Kentucky to go to a party…But I did ask up to the point where she grounded me…lol congrats to Mike who won the classic, on Drosslemeyer who ran a beautiful race.
Eveline / Maryland.
Hip 196 in the ring. blind Luck is # 210 A http://apps.keeneland.com/livesales/livevideo/frameset.asp
signofthetimes
Zenny’s weanling half/sister by Henry the Navigator and her mom
“V” sold today for $15 million
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66081/zenyattas-half-sister-brings-15-million
Susan Romano
Z and Dottie, All I can say is, “WOW”! Susan in So Cal.
signofthetimes
OOPS 1.5 million not 15 million for Zenny’s weanling 1/2 sister by Henry the Navigator.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Especially Horses, it’s 3:39 pm EST, and Hip #198 is in the ring. Definitely by 4:30, maybe sooner.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
The dam of St. Liam sells next. His half sister is selling now.
Kris O. - Chicago area
@JAG – I saw John Henry at KHP years ago – still regal and impressive. I live near Arlington Park, but unfortunately was not at either of his Million victories (too young!). I did get to see one of my favorites, Gio Ponti, in the Million this year (he finished 2nd to Cape Blanco). Gio Ponti reminds me of JH in that they’re successful on different surfaces & distances for many years. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed even more for March 9 now!
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
The half sister (#201) to St. Liam brought $2.6 million.
Ann Johnson
WOW!! Yes, that really is you!! Terrific job by the artist. Queen Z you like marvelous darling!!!!!!!!!!
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Another half to St. Liam just went for $3M. She is Quiet Giant, a G2 winner.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
Only 5 more horses until Blind Luck. Tune in now if you want to see her.
Jane D
Hey party girl … you are so beautiful. Hope to see you in person one day.
Hugs
Tressia Phoenix, AZ
No one has posted yet on the live video feed from Lanes End. Did you all get to see our Girl….what was she doing during the party?
Eveline / Maryland.
BL next http://apps.keeneland.com/livesales/livevideo/frameset.asp
Debbie
What an absolutely gorgeous painting. I wish I were there to see it live. It sounds like it was a wonderful day all around. Miss you Sweet Z!
M. Kern
Blink Luck was sold for 2.5M.
Ellen
Beautiful picture of you. would love to see pictures from the party.
Zenyen
Wow, relatively speaking, Blind Luck went for peanuts. I would have expected her to be the sale topper.
Elaine G from Deerfield, Illinois
What a weekend of racing! Ny husband and I curled up in front of the TV for the full two days! Mike rode two fantastic races– he is one terrific jockey.
Still, even with all the excitment I missed the Zenyatta story line…I started out loving Citation as a little girl and ended up totally capivated by Zenyatta and her connections. John is my special favorite–his kindness and sincerity shine through each time I see him interviewed. One time I recall him saying how he would often tell Zenyatta his troubles–that there was something about her that seemed to invite him to share his problems and how she would seem understand and commiserate with him. I remember him saying that he would thank her for everything she had done for him. And she would listen with kind and gentle eyes. How many people would admit to this on national tv? What a guy! What a horse!
janet guidos
What a beautiful picture of you Queen Z!
Watched both days of Breeders Cup on TV,
but the excitement of it all was lacking compared to last year as we all waited with bated breath for you to walk over.
Your presence has been missed this year.
We so LOVE you and miss you out there.
Jan
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ Kris O. – Chicago area
Small world ~ my friend (also a Judy) lived in Chicago. She saw all of JH’s races at Arlington. I met her because she’s an artist and I purchased a print she did of JH. She now lives in LEX.
~~~~~
Not only did John pass away on my birthday, but I was actually there to kiss him good-bye hours before. I’d make the trip to the KHP to visit him for his birthday and mine. I was blessed for being able to say good-bye to my dear friend…
Georgia Harper< Seattle, WA
Dear Z you look absolutely gorgeous oh how I wish we could have been there but hopefully your wonderful team will do it again for the folks on the west coast. Thank you Dottie for keeping our Queen still part of all our lives. ?What a wonderful weekend of racing lots of surprises but then again we just love them all. Congrats to Mike for his two wins and how he still talks so lovingly about you.
@JAG – when we had to put my beautiful big Alaskan Malumute to sleep due to cancer and he was not even 5 years old my vet sent me a card with the “Rainbow Bridge” poem so beautiful.
@Dawn Conrad – thanks for the link to the interview, there is so much great information shared
Happy Monday to all and love you Queen Z can’t wait for March :-)
Leiana from Santa Barbara
A great big Thank You! to Team Zenyatta. The party was simply fabulous!!! I had a great time. The M&Ms even said ‘Too Cute’ and the food was to die for! Salad, Kentucky Burgoo stew and pulled pork sliders…. Delicious! It was great meet
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Tressia, they brought her over to the paddock fence and fed her carrots. They also introduced her to the new plush animal Zenyatta, which will be for sale soon. She sniffed at it for a while. Eventually she decided that it wasn’t edible. They fed her a banana, and then turned her so we could see her baby bump. She is definitely round.
Cynthia/Where Zenyatta Danced
Could have bought Blind Luck at Filene’s basement! Hope she will stay here in the U.S.
Leiana from Santa Barbara
A great big Thank You! to Team Zenyatta. The party was simply fabulous!!! I had a great time. The M&Ms even said ‘Too Cute’ and the food was to die for! Salad, Kentucky Burgoo stew and pulled pork sliders…. Delicious! It was great meeting all the Zenyatta fans, getting to see Zen on the video feed and relive her races! I loved the seat cushion party favors. I’ll treasure the poster I got of that fabulously gorgeous painting of you and getting my picture with Ann and Jerry in front of it. Thanks ever so much for making my first trip to Kentucky so memorable, the party was definitely a hit! See you all at the races!
Abigail from Montreal
Hi Zenny, Dottie, baby ZeeBee & Zen-sters:
Thank you for the terrific recount of your party, big girl, and the photo of Ann in front of the Jayme Corum portrait of you is just wonderful.
Amid all the post-Breeders’ Cup news, some sad news from Canada. Eric Lamaze, our 2008 Bejiing Gold Cup winner in single competition in the show jumping lost his best friend, Hickstead, in Verona Italy on Saturday, of an apparent heart attack. Hickstead was the greatest show jumper in the world & perhaps the best ever….show jumping’s Zenyatta. Eric had a tough life in foster homes, followed by substance abuse, until he discovered horses & show jumping. Hickstead was the horse no-one could handle….until he met Eric. The stallion was only 15 years old. It is a tragedy for Canada and the world.
Here’s the CBC report & there is an excellent video there — one that does NOT show Hickstead dying in the show ring. Thanks to CBC for showing its class — unlike some of the people who post on YouTube…..
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2011/11/06/sp-lamaze-horse.html?cmp=rss
Annie
congrats to all winners this weekend, I saw all the races I could with my soccer tournament (i won too, what a weekend for wins!), which wasn’t very many unfortunatly because I was so busy. What I did see was thrilling as always! Still wish I could have gone to your party, parents said no, dash it all :( I’m glad it was a success all the same