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!
tony
Zenny, coming from a guy who knows a thing or two about nice looking ladies…you and your Ann sure top the list in this photo. The painting is the best I’ve ever seen of anything or anyone.
Karen Gogue
Zenny, some news on Blind Luck
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66090/dedomenico-buys-blind-luck-for-25-million
Yvonne and Maurice
Hi everyone. Just read on the Bloodhorse that Dr. Dedomenico bought Blind Luck – she is going to be horse for awhile, then a broodmare. Whoa, what great news!!!! I am so relieved!!!
WILD HORSES
I love you Big Z!!!
Penny
Beautiful Zenny, Thanks to TVG network for the film they showed of you and the bump! The painting is amazing; wish copies were available for purchase…20 x 24 would be fine. Congrats to Mike on the big win. The races were not as much fun this year with out you. XOXOXO
Rosemary McCauley - Southern California
I am already excited for next year’s Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita. Hopefully, Zenyatta will have another party and those of us who couldn’t go this year, will be able to attend next year. Can’t wait for more party details and more photos. Everyone who worked on organizing this successful event should be very proud.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Roberta Smith, I posted the ingredients for the Zenyatta cocktail earlier. Post is a bit before the halfway point. I think someone posted it on yesterday’s thread also.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Just love the lifesize painting of you Zenyatta-it is fantastic and looks just like you. The artist has done such an exceptional job.
So glad to hear that your party went well and that everyone had fun and enjoyed themselves. Your connections and family always outdo themselves and make all your fans and admirers feel so special and cared for. It sounds too that you had a great time and a wonderful BC weekend. Sure missed seeing you though at the BC races, you have been there for the past few yrs, and not being there left a whole and some of the magic was missing. You always have given everyone so much Zenyatta and I will always remember the excitement and magic that you have brought into my life. Thanks so much-you still inspire me and you always shine and sparkle brighter than any star up above. I love you so much Zenyatta! You are always in my prayers
Shari VoltzOhio
Dear Zenyatta What a BEAUTIFUL picture of you and Ann looks lovely too. You are so special and so is your family. I just got off the phone with Dawn. I am so lucky to have her in my life. She always makes me feel so good. We talked about You and your picture. We also talked about summer vacation. I sure hope it all works out :) Well sweet girl I have a little work I must do. I love you so much and as always You make the world a Better place. Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO Sweet Dreams
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
@ Abigail – You would never have posted a link to Hickstead’s last moments but some TV stations have and so I’ve had to be very alert, muting the volume and closing my eyes. Recently, a TB just acquired from the track, and housed where Vic rides, was in sad shape due to colic. I watched as the vet assessed and then treated one of Bold Executive’s offspring. This was a much more graphic experience than watching “All Creatures Great and Small” on TV. I spent a very anxious weekend worrying about the colt who, at last report, was recovering quite well. I am looking forward to seeing him, and giving him a treat, this Friday when Vic has her lesson. My sympathy goes to all the people at the event in Italy who witnessed Hickstead’s passing.
Sue Noel/Sun Valley ID
Oh Zenny–What an incredible portrait–and such a perfect photo of YOUR ANN!!
Thanks to all for the wonderful tales of the party of the year!!
Am I the only one who went back to # 370 to catch up on postings today???
There is a frightening post 5 up from the end from Stephanie J. Lambert,saying that Kari Bussell was in a bad accident after seeing Zenny! It was written on the 4th–did this happen on her way home from the party?? I read through all of the subsequent messages looking for more on this and saw nothing. Does anyone know any more about this???? @ Stephanie,could you give us more info??? Kari is so loved by us all and I know prayers will be flying heavenward for her!!
Please–anyone with info,please share!!!!
Abigail from Montreal
@Brenda: Please give this TB a peppermint and/or a pat for me!
sharoninseattle
it seems that Blind Luck’s future really will be LUCKY. I’m so relieved to hear about her sale to Dedomenico and THRILLED that she will be here in the NW at the Pegasus Center!! Can’t wait to find out if it will be possible to visit/see her!
Ann Maree / Tennessee
@Sandy from Ohio: Thanks for commenting about the photo. It took several tries to get the lighting right, since the spot lights on the painting tended to create a glare. I am curious about where the permanent home for the portrait will be.
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@Laura J/Cincinnati: Enjoyed so much meeting you and our visit and watching the Friday races with you! Would like to stay in touch!
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For those who missed the party, it really was a super nice event, well run, food was very good, and I am just bowled over at how generous Z’s connections are with their time. I’m sure they all had writer’s cramp at signing so many pieces of Z memorabilia. My only disappointment is I didn’t get one of the numbered prints and have it signed by Z’s family, but, I ran out of money!! LOL! They had special pricing at the party.
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About the only suggestion I would have for future such events is it would have been nice to have name tags with our “handles” we use on here, as well as on other venues, along with our “real” names! I think we all would have interacted more with each other with the “ice-breaker” of name tags! I met a few people, but very few whose names I recognized! I was very surprised at how many people attended who while they may read the diary, they don’t comment!!
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One person I was very glad to meet was Steve Haskin!! He was strolling around, taking in the whole thing, and I just went up and introduced myself. I so appreciate and love his behind the scene stories at his BloodHorse blog.
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Looking forward to January and a new Derby Prep season. So many good juveniles coming along, and I understand there may even be a filly who might be pointed to the Kentucky Derby!! W-h-o-o H-o-o-o!
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Was so glad to read that Dedomenico may have bought Blind Luck back! I plan to follow up on that story. She is only 4, for pete’s sake! I hope if she’s healthy and if she acts like she wants to race, that they bring her back! That filly only had one clunker in 22 starts! She was ITM in 21 of 22 starts! The HOY is quite muddy with no clear-cut winner from the BC, and I am hoping she is given serious consideration for either the HOY or at the very least, Older Female!
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Cheers, Big Z! Love you. Big hugs! Ann Maree
Karen Gogue
Now this is a wow! and a gulp!!
http://www.drf.com/news/christmas-kid-42-million-tops-14-million-dollar-sales-keeneland
Jan S. in Houston
Zenyatta,
Your picture is a Picasso. ;);) Glad to hear your party was a success. It was a wonderful two days of racing. Goldikova is a Champ, gonna miss her. Sweet sixteen for that other beauty, Black Caviar, she makes it look so easy. Hope you get lots of R & R after your big weekend. Stay healthy and happy Big Mama. xoxo.
ZENYATTALOVERAMY!!
awww! so cute! i wish i could have gone:( but im very glad it was awesome! FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
Tracy in NH
I haven’t posted in a long time but read the wonderful postings on this site every day. I have mixed emotions about the Breeder’s Cup – – thrilled for Mike Smith and Aidan O’Brien but disappointed for Uncle Mo and Havre De Grace. I do think that HDG deserves Horse of the Year though regardless of her 4th place finish.
Last Friday, in anticipation for these great races, I stopped to see the horses at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton, NH with my young son. Right up close to the fence was Gander, a lovely grey, who ran in the 2000 and 2001 Breeder’s Cup. He also is a descendant of Noor, who I know many on this site did so much for recently.
Thanks to Z’s connections for keeping her close to her fans and to all of the fans who provide such great information on this site.
PS – I’m going to try the “Zenyatta” drink this weekend – – sounds yummy :-)
The Kennedys in San Diego
We are absolutely elated about Blind Luck. Thank you, Mark Dedomenico.
Sunny Boyd
Good evening Zenyatta,
look at you & your racing girl figure. What a looker you are :) :)
Now what is in the Z-drink? Is it carrot- orange colored, did it have a sprig of mint decorating it? Did they send a taste home to you?
Well, I knew your party was going to be a total success.
Sleep tight, and dream sweet
Debbie
hi Z! YOUR painting is absolutely stunning and Ann looks gorgeous standing next to it!!! I love YOU beautiful mama xoxoxo I’ll write more tomorrow;)
Ann Maree / Tennessee
P.S. @Evie (Santa Ynez, CA): enjoyed very much your two pieces on Zenyatta. You are a gif
ted writer!
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Also, for those who don’t get on Facebook, here is a link to view and download the photo I took of the Z painting:
http://db.tt/LNVZWeCl This is a safe site and link.
Kim S in Tampa FL
Zenny, what a beautiful mural of you. I wish I had a wall of you :) Ann looks absolutely smashing as well.
So glad Team Z’s party was such a success.
The video of you and TT was adorable too.
Prayers and thoughts to everyone.
Lotsa love to all.
AJ from CA
@Ann Maree/Tennessee – I agree with your point on Blind Luck getting some consideration for top prizes this year with all the success she had minus the “klunker” but am relieved that the good doctor bought her back. He is a real class act and I remember how he praised Z at last year’s awards.
I also love Uncle Mo and hope he regains full strength so his breeding career can take off. He is something special.
Patty Smith
It’s all been said already, but what a beautiful portrait of our fantastic Queen Z! The photo with Ann in front of it is just perfect too. I do hope that the portrait will find a permanent home in California somewhere – Santa Anita perhaps? If destined to live elsewhere permanently, I hope that it will at least travel out here for all of her California fans to see since all of us weren’t able to get to Kentucky for her wonderful party. Wish I could have been there! I’ll be toasting you with a Grey Goose “Zenyatta” cocktail regularly! Love it! Best wishes to all!
Alene
ZENNY, Your Painting is EXQUISITE!!!!!! I`m sitting here with a huge lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face. I want to thank you for all that you have given to me personally as well as everyone in this world that knows the name, “ZENYATTA”..Ann,Jerry, Dottie,John,Mike and everyone involved with you I want to personally thank for keeping you close by. Even if its not at the race track. God bless all of you. Zenny, you are very very special and I love you and extremely proud of you for everything you`ve done for horse racing!!!! Now all I have to do is stop crying…Lots and Lots of Big Hugs and Kisses to you And all of your VERY SPECIAL FAMILY….xxxxooooAlene
Alene
Zenny, sorry I forgot something that you mentioned. I to want to congradulate the GREAT GOLDIKOVA… She to will never be forgotten. I want to also thank the Wertheimers for sharing her with us as long as they could!!! BRAVO,GOLDIKOVA!!!!!! much love, Alene
Beth Buckley
Gorgeous painting.
Alene
Zenny, sorry but I have two more questions. At some point in time will your portrait be made into a print and will the “Z” pin become available??? Love you!1 Alene
suew/Va.
To all the new posters on this wonderful diary, it’s a pleasure to hear from all of you. I am overwhelmed by the number of people who literally love our Queen. And the links to articles and videos posted here are welcomed and much appreciated. It seems as if over the past several months Z has created a great, extended family.