Good Morning,
It is so hard to believe that another year has passed and Breeders’ Cup 2011 is now over! It is amazing how quickly the horses leave to return to their home bases. I know my pals, HARMONIOUS and MR. COMMONS, returned to BARN 55 the very next day.
It is quite interesting how the flights are scheduled and coordinated. The horse division of the Louisville Airport is very close to Churchill Downs.
My two BARN 55 pals and several other horses returning to California left the Churchill barn area Sunday morning by van around 4 a.m. for their flight. Their Tex Sutton Flight was scheduled to land at Ontario Airport in Southern California…also a special area that is meant for horse planes. The vans then pick up the horses from the plane and return them to their respective barns. The flight takes approximately 4 hours…give or take some time depending on weather conditions etc.
The Sutton Plane then turned around and returned to Louisville to pick-up the next load of horses. They will return to their home bases. I think the next load was going to New York.
When a horse travels like this, he / she must have all of the proper paperwork for safety procautions. Each horse MUST HAVE a current Coggins and also a health certificate stating exactly where the horse is leaving from and the exact destination.
A Coggins is a blood test that checks for antibodies to equine infectious anemia (EIA), a disease that affects horses worldwide. It is a viral disease that has no cure or vaccine for prevention. That is why it is SO IMPORTANT to test for it. Blood is drawn from the horse for the test and sent to a lab for testing to see if these EIA antibodies are present. You want the results to come back NEGATIVE!
Many states require a Coggins to be done once a year. California and other states require this to be done every 6 months. All horses sold at public auction must have one that is no more than 6 months old. The sales company determines this time frame for each sale.
A Coggins is one of the very important things that the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT requires to document that a horse is negative for equine infectious anemia (EIA). As mentioned above, it must accompany the health certificate when a horse is traveling from state to state. It is mandatory by law.
ALL of this is done to protect the horse. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!
Several of the horses who competed in this year’s Breeders’ Cup did not return to their barns….they were retired! GOLDIKOVA is going to become a broodmare…just like ME! GIO PONTI, COURT VISION and DROSSELMEYER are going off to stud. I’d like to wish all of these horses and all others who are retiring a very healthy and happy 2nd career! From my personal experience, I can say that life at the farm is great FUN and this 2nd career aspect of one’s life is quite intriguing.
With Love,
Hugs to All~(Hollywood Park opens their fall meet today! Good luck to ALL!)
Z
Leslie R.
Hi Zenny, thanks for the informative post. Your posts are not only fun, but they are educational too.
I also want to thank John for sharing the pics with us. He takes good care of us!
I’m so happy that your second career is fun and that you are enjoying life on the farm. You deserve nothing less. You are truly one of kind, sweet girl.
Love to all,
Leslie
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
Dear Zenyatta. What another great morning post. I am learning more and more each day from you and Dottie. I bet it is really quiet at Churchill Downs after all of the excitment of the year end championship races. Horses and people came from East, West, North, South and foreign lands. Another Breeder’s Cup is in the record books and dreams continue on. Your party was a great success and I am crossing hooves that I will make it to Santa Anita next year!! I wish the very best to all of those that are entering retirement. May they have happy horse lives forever more. Gio Ponti looked so sweet soaking up some fall sunshine. He has had an amazing career. So exciting that Hollywood Park is opening for the fall meet. I wish everyone on the track safe journeys and good luck to all involved. Love you, Zenny. I keep thinking about you feeling your little one fluttering inside. The beauty of new life is such a miracle. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO
@Cynthia – Your words brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. Kari’s candles are burning brightly for you all.
@Barbara Wood – Thank you for the link to DynaKing. I know he is going to continue to need our prayers and is traveling a long road. When you see how far he has come and how he loves life, he just steals your heart.
@signofthetimes – Glad to hear about the great Frankel, he deserves every recognition. Applauding Animal Kingdoms return also.
@Especially Horses – HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Hope you have a wonderful time with you husband in San Diego. It is such a fun city.
@Trina – Loved the birthday poem!!
@Mary Meek – Thank you for providing such great info about V’s offspring. What a remarkable mare and family.
@LauraJ – I appreciate so much all of the fantastic info you share!!!!
@Marty R – YIPPEE!!!!!!!!! I celebrate your great report, what wonderful news!
@Sally B – Have not been to Pin Oak, although it is on my list. I have been to Airdrie several times and think they are wonderful. Thanks for telling us about your visits.
@Kathy Kimber – So sorry to hear Marquetry had to have colic surgery. I will pray for the recovery of this great champion.
@The Kennedys – I could not agree more!! Your description of Zenyatta was spot on. She is remarkably talented at what ever she does.
@JAG – I lite some candles for our beautiful Zenny last night. The glow warms the soul.
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
@Marilu V – Had a good giggle watching the pups and police horses. Thanks.
@Susan in TN – What a great idea, Tex Sutton stow aways!
@Brenda S – How exciting to hear about Vic’s plans. Living out her passion for horses through her career plans is fantastic. It can bring such satisfaction to life doing what you love. And of course Zenny is there to provide education as well as motivation.
@Judy Berube – So good to see your post. You and Russ are always in my thought and prayers. Hugs back to you!
Theresa Buck/Texas
muuah
Julie DuVall / Ontario, California
I know lots of Z-fans are rooting for Havre de Grace and Drosselmeyer for HOTY but I have to give a shout out to ACCLAMATION. He was won G1 stakes on turf and synthetic this year, including the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. I have a soft spot for him because he was bred and is owned by the folks who run OLD ENGLISH RANCHO which is now located in Sanger, CA but used to be in Ontario RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE AIRPORT where the horses are shipped in and out! I used to go visit the yearlings and weanlings in the pastures when the farm was still down here. Now it is a business park but I still think about those curious babies every time I drive past it. ACCLAMATION is also a son of Unusual Heat, one of our top stallions here in CA. I met his son Unusual Suspect last year and he was such a silly boy! He recently ran in the Melbourne Cup and finished 9th out of 24.
Katie Clawson
Great photos, Z! Will we be able to come visit you sometime? We miss you!
Jan S. in Houston
Zenyatta,
Thank you for all the informative info. I learn something every day from you. :) I am so happy for GP, CV, D, and Goldi going into retirement. I’m sure they will have fun on their farms too, just like you do. Stay healthy and happy Big Mama. xoxo
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
HOLLYWOOD PARK / THURSDAY’S CARD:
RACE 5 (2:34 PT) POST 2 ~ TIZ GIANNI (GIACOMO) ~ Shirreffs/Smith
RACE 7 (3:36 PT) POST 5 ~ WALLSTREET (STREET CRY)
RUN SAFE…
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
My dear Zenyatta, thanks for all the information. In addition, to the horses that are leaving, good luck to them in there second careers, they going to be miss, love you Ingrid.
Marilu V.
@ Hi Dawn!! Glad you watched the video. Wasn’t that adorable how horse and dog can communicate. Regards, Marilu
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Dearest Z–thank you for all the fascinating information. I know horses are up before the chickens, but I never thought about their pilots! I’m glad I don’t have to keep their hours, but I would love to fly horses like YOU around the country.
Love the pic of Gio mapping in the sun– a well-deserved nap for sure! Too cute.
Chris H/Colorado–you are right about the thieves. I got word from a local rescue site on FB that a trailer with 5 horses was stolen from Malvern, AR. No word on any news yet. Very scary indeed.
@Margaret–great question.
@Pamela Hill–thanks for the extra Coggins info. One would think that that disease would be eradicated if everyone would just be responsible.
Especially Horses–have a great b and Amen to your last statement–He is!
Susan in TN–you crack me up. Headline: “Woman undergoes equine blood test to stow away on plane!”
I left an update on DynaKing at the end of #374. Nothing new this morning, but Diana S. reports his abcesses are improving. They will keep him in AZ and scrap plans for him to go back to KY, since he hates the cold.
Kathleen Marsh
I didn’t get a chance to post yesterday to say how beautiful your half-sister is. I wonder if she will be a champion someday too. Do you know if your mom is back in-foal and if she was bred to Henrythenavigator again? I hope she will be able to have another Street Cry filly.
sharoninseattle
@Kennedys – thanks for saying exactly how I feel about Gio Ponti. BRAVO, indeed, on such an outstanding career.
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
Zenny thanks for the info on how they coordinate all those flights for the horses and requirements needed. When we showed in dressage I found out about the Coggins test and other details required, there sure is a lot of preparation needed for each horse before they race!
Just thought I tell anyone interested about my visit to Claibourn farm and what a nice tour they gave. We saw a number of stallions including Pulpit and Blame (both so handsome) and were saddened to hear of the nasty things said and done after Blame’s win over Zenny. Blame is a very lovely stallion and certainly deserved kudos for his accomplishment. We saw the cemetary of stallions and of horse Secretariat’s grave. Someone asked me to put a peppermint on his stone (not sure if that was Trina or who, brain fart) but I put several on his stone. Such a lovely historial farm…..must see!
Then of course to Lanes End (no Zenny in sight) but I got my Indy hat and a mug and had a wonderful luncheon, and of course saw the beauties, even left a lipstick smootch on Indy’s nose. Met new friends who I hope keep in touch, especially a couple who just had one of the last Indy babies, a filly who looks exactly like Rag to Riches. She promised to email me with news. Zenny has fabulous digs!!!
@JAG left a message for you on yesterdays post.
@Ann Maree, Pat Beck, Laura it was so much fun to meet you at Z’s party.
Luv you Z kisses on your nose
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Julie DuVall, in several articles that I’ve read, Acclamation has been mentioned as a HotY candidate. So he’s not flying under the radar. How fun to visit the youngsters in their pastures.
signofthetimes
@Joe Boots
Remember Drosselmeyer is a bit lazy. Mikey had
to ride him very aggressively the whole race. Zenny
Is push button, point and wait and shoot.
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
@ Karen G – Since HP opened today will you be going to the track and posting first hand all the exciting news for us????
Elaine
I’m excited that the Breeder’s Cup will be at Santa Anita next year! It will bring back memories of being there to see your big win!!
signofthetimes
@The Kennedys
Thanks for reposting from last post articles on
Drosselmeyer. The were posted earlier today on yesterday’s
Post.
Alex Bowdoin - MA
@signofthetimes, I just loved the: Zenny
Is push button, point and wait and shoot.
That just put a huge smile on my face remembering Mike asking her and she would lower a bit and just take off…That was Great!
PatB from NM
@Sue Fredrick–Lovely to meet you too at the big gala; hope there’ll be a sequel at SA next year. Glad you got to see those wonderful stallions. I want to do that someday!
Z, nice post today; very informative! Love you always!
Lynn
Everytime I see “broodmare”, I just can’t picture you as one!! I wish there was a better description, you are much too beautiful and exciting.
Pat Miller
Just wonderered if Zebyatta had her baby yet. When is is due? Loved allthe races and entertainment she brought to racing. Will there ever be another like her? Miss the excitment she brought.
Georgia Harper< Seattle, WA
Such great information so happy to see how they protect the horses as they travel. Love Love Love Gio Ponti,t he only time I ever cheered against him was your BC. He looks like he is ready to take a nice rest. Happy to see Drosselmeyer will race another year we placed a bet on him when we rent to the Belmont what fun!!!
@Especially horses – will you be going to the Florida Derby we went last year and had so much fun planning to go back this year.
Looks like next year BC is already gearing up and wouldn’t it be fabulous to see Frankel so happy we are planning to come.
Love you Queen Z you and TT have a wonderful day.
PS is there any information of Life is Sweet I know she had her baby but thats all would love more information if available.
Carole #42 Wisconsin
Zenyatta, Thank you and Dottie for all the wonderful posts..
@Marilu, very cute video on the police horse and dog.
Love to you Z. and kisses on your soft nose. Take care of baby Z/B. XOXO
Julie DuVall / Ontario, California
@LauraJ – My sister and I used to get lunch and park along the street by the pastures to eat. By the time we were done, the kiddos had drifted over to the fence to see what we were doing, so we’d get out and pet them over the fences. Horses are so curious! :)
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
YOUR JOHN is such a wonderful photographer. Great photos of those empty quiet barns after the world championships.
Hope you are relaxing and mowing the grass with TT in your beautiful sweater.
Just thought of this, maybe you will have a grey foal like Bernies mom; TOO CUTE !!!
Max
A lot can happen in a few days. Churchill Downs looks so quiet in those pictures compared to the excitement of race days.
For those who are interested in the great jumper Hickstead, this link tells a bit about his character and his close relationship with Eric. Let us hope that Eric stays in competition. It is early days since so profound a loss, but he has another very talented horse, the young mare Coriana van Klapcheut. Here is hoping that she can ease the pain of this huge loss. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/11/10/lamaze-lost-a-friend-with-death-of-hickstead/
M. Kern
Nice article on Mike Smith by Jay Hovdey.
http://www.drf.com/news/mr-smith-goes-town-classic
signofthetimes
@Ingrid
So very well said. These young horses have their whole lives in front of them and should race to at least 4 or 5 for both colts and filly/mares. Who are you handicapping for the Clark Handicap, you are great. It would be exciting to see Drosselmeyer race next year, maybe he is coming into his own and with MIKEY aboard, who knows. Did you follow him as a 3 year old????