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
signofthetimes
@Max
An article said yesterday that Eric Lamaze is looking for a Grand Prix horse and has until Dec 31, 2011 to find one. Maybe his mare is not ready for the Olympics.
signofthetimes
@Max
Yestedays post had a video interview of the article you posted. Having a Grand Prix horse is something so special, much closer relationship than having a TB race horse for rider and horse. Hickstead has semen available now, was $5000 for one AI, but I am sure will go up. He is a very special special horse. Definately comparable to Germany’s Shutterfly.
All the talk about veterinary visits, aneurysms are not ever detectible unless a slow leak, not sure that could be found in a horse because of their massive chests. It could leak for quite a while before symptoms.
Susan from VA
Are there any other “airlines” for racehorses other than Tex Sutton?
signofthetimes
@M Kern
Love the article on Mike Smith, wonderful.
Yes, I agree. He and Chantal are over. He is a Hall of Fame rider, she has only a few hundred races under her belt. No comparison. He ran a very strategic, Hall of Fame race. She was out ridden twice. I agree lets turn the page and move on through the book.
Margaret
I just looked and the poster is NOW AVAILABLE!!!! Go to Zenyatta.com and then click on merchandise. You will the poster. It’s 40 dollars. Which is SUPER REASONABLE. The poster is 20X28.
For an additional 85 dollars you can get a foil thingy that has Team Z’s signatures. I don’t know if you can buy that separately–like buy the poster this month and then pay for the foil thingy next month.
Monies also benefit the Moss Foundation. Not sure exactly what this is. I hope this means that monies will be used to help Michael at Old Friends or other horse rescues. I know its difficult to choose which ones to help and sponsor. I think you should choose and then stay with the one/s you know and feel comfy with.
YYYYiiiippppeeeee!!!!!! Thank you Team Z for making this available!!!!!!! Thank you Jaime for an UNBELIEVABLY GORGEOUS poster. Even more thank you for making this so affordable for so many.
I know 40 dollars in this economy sounds like a lot–it is for me right now. But this poster before the economy went south would have cost TONS MORE.
Finally just because I need to holler it one more time…YYYYYYYYAAAAAAAYYYYYY MIKEY!!!!!!!! I’m just really really pleased for him for his outstanding ride last Sat.
signofthetimes
Horse of the Year Talk
Daily Racing Forum
http://www.drf.com/news/horse-year-2011-showdown-letdown
signofthetimes
Talk is Goldi will be bred to the Great Galileo; wish we could have a http://www.goldikova.com, probably could not read it cause it would be in french, though.
signofthetimes
OOPS!!! It is in Chinese.
signofthetimes
Love the Steven Crist article
Maybe Rapid Redux for HOY with the current choses ??? Not really his is too slow to compete at the level of the Eclipse Award, but definately a talent in himself and he does deserve some recongition.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Pat Miller, Zenyatta’s foal won’t be born until next year. She is due in early March 2012–around the 7th. However, due dates for horses are inexact, and pregnancies can last anywhere from 320 days to 360 days, sometimes more. They’ll start looking for physical signs of imminent delivery around mid-February. We’ll all be on pins and needles!
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Susan from VA, I googled–there are several equine air transport companies throughout the world.
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I am sure that JAG already posted this link, but if not Royal Delta needs some fans. The photo of her and Bill Mott is so sweet.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-Delta/136545119771002
Kathleen Kimber KC.MO
I love the picture of Gio, thank you for sharing. I’m so happy these great champions are retiring healthy, They deserve the good life, which they will certainly receive. Thanks Dottie.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@signofthetimes, Rapid Redux proably won’t get serious consideration for HotY. But wouldn’t it be nice if he and his connections got a special award or something? he deserves some recognition.
Suzanne CA/TX
Meant to post this on Monday 11/7…..after a fabulous BC and being at your party….how could anything get better? Well it did on Sunday when before driving home to Dallas we decided to take a detour just to see the beautiful horse farms in Versailles . Ran into a lady in the Keeneland gift shop who told us about the Open House at Lanes End….right where you are…..so off course we drove over and were so excited when they were actually bringing g the Stallions out for show. I got to see and take pictures of Curlin, Street Cry, and best of all the great retired Stallion AP Indy. What an honor. Of course I inquired about you and the LE representative said you were several pastures from there. I sent you Queen Z my greetings from there…..hope you received my good wishes. You truly are at a first class home and how wonderful that by pure chance we got to attend. have a special day in beautiful Kentucky ….love you always…Suzanne
Marilu V.
@ Signofthetimes: I agree Rapid Redux should received some award. He deserves recognition. Marilu
suew/Va
Zenny, you continue to amaze me with your wealth of knowledge…thanks for sharing it with us. One year ago you were back at barn 55 getting ready for your next career…how time flies! Soon that baby bump will be a beautiful little Z scooting around a paddock with you.
Max
@sign. I of course leave it to Eric to know his horses and on whom he can rely for London. Coriana is a young mare, but she won 4 Grand Prix titles in the month of May alone. She is a daughter of Darco and may have a very bright future in jumping with Eric. I hope that he stays in competition. I also would like to see the fillies and mares do well.
JanetH
Thank you Z, for mentioning Court Vision, in your diary post…This son of Gulch, went out in style, winning the Breeders’ Cup Mile in his final race and as you stated will be retired to stud,,,I followed his career for a long time and enjoyed seeing him race one last time…he will be missed by his fans…
kate
Especially horses/california. I don’t usually respond to emails, blogs etc. but I was struck by your celebration of the magnificent creatures (horses) that God created and Zenyatta is obviously one of the best. But I also celebrate Poco the pony I’m (finally) learning to ride on. They are all wonderful and Z would be the first to second that. Hope you had a happy birthday!
Emily
I agree that Rapid Redux should receive some type of recognition. Regardless whether he ran in allowance races only, winning 17 consecutive times is outstanding in any caliber of sport. Go mighty RR.
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
http://www.drf.com/news/darley-doubling-bernardinis-fee-150k
Bernardinis fee doubled to $150K
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@kate– you are so right! All the Dumplings who read or post here are crazy about Zneyatta, of course, but they are ALL worthy of our love and care.
The Kennedys in San Diego
Let’s see — Bernardini and Street Cry now both standing for $150,000. Could this have something to do with The Queen?
Paula Higgins
Gio Ponti is without a doubt TOO CUTE!! Thanks for the information on travelling Dottie/Zenny!
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
It sure can and that at two of his offspring ran in the Breeder’s Cup this year… way to go!!!
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ ALL
STREET CRY filly ~ WALLSTREETER just won her race at HP ~ High Hoof!!! :-)
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
Pssst for Zenny’s beautiful ears ONLY: March 9th, Sweetie… March 9th ;-)
JAG Adores Zenny & John Henry / So. CA
@ Sue Fredrick – Wisconsin
Yes, I read about your Close Encounter with A.P. Indy ~ how cool is that!! I hope you get some pictures from your special day! We sure have some wonderful memories of “the” moment! :-)
Judy G
Thehorses
There is a vaccine against EIA and inapparent carriers have been shown to be harmless and unable to spread the disease. Killing innocent carriers is a monstrous evil deed. The Chinese developed a vaccine in 1983 and totally eradicated the disease from their country. Some info is available on http://donnacsmith.hubpages.com/hub/Equine-Infectious-Anemia-Controversy . Inapparent carriers who test positive do not pass the disease on and it is estimated that 85% to 90% of horses who test positive are in that category. Horses can be quarantined 200 yards from other horses. Us horses hate people whose solution to everything is kill kill and kill some more. Why don’t you people kill each other when there is a danger of disease being spread from person to person?