Good Morning,
It is the final day of November, 2011. It seems like the last 30 days have been extremely busy and filled with a variety of events. The month started with all of the Breeders’ Cup activities, races, and MY PARTY. (YIPPEE!) It ultimately wound down with an abundance of great racing around the country. Rapid Redux reached #20! Hollywood Park’s Autumn Festival, the competitive 2 year old stakes at Churchill on their closing weekend, and Aqueduct hosting races as the Cigar Mile, Remsen, Gazelle, and Demoiselle all added to the excitement. Many current and future stars performed with such style. Congratulations to all of the victors and their connections!
Additionally, the November HORSE SALES have been very active at Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland, and now Tattersalls in Newmarket. The quality of stock auctioned at these venues has been excellent…and the prices paid for these horses reflected such. People truly love our sport and want to be involved!
In reality, so much action constantly takes place in ‘the horse world’! There is always something new to learn, to study, and to enjoy! I truly believe this is what makes it all so enjoyable and intriguing to people! There is never a dull moment and the pace at which our sport functions definitely keeps you ‘on your toes’.
Santa Anita, ‘The Great Race Place’, as it is often called, opens the day after Christmas. Currently, their staff is extremely busy completing a number of maintenance projects. In the infield, they are installing a brand new high-tech video board. This BIG BOARD will measure 53′ by 29′ offering the best resolution available in technology today. New state-of-the art boards are also being placed in the paddock area to enhance the entire racing experience for the ‘on-track’ fans. In this photo, they are dismantling and removing the ‘old infield board’. All of this is actually a very specific and detailed process…but the workers are making great progress.
When completed…it should be amazing! HMMM! Perhaps they’ll show some videos of ME on it next season! Now that would be TOO CUTE!
Happy November 30th!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Kris
@Marlene Dodge-Thanks for the update, but if you still need $775, does that mean that some of the horses in the truckload with Little Cloud will not live? How in the world can we get that amount over night? I am praying for a miracle. God bless you and keep you safe.
Jeanie
Dear Great One and All Z’isters,
I HAVE VERY IMPORTANT NEWS TO SHARE:
I got a call back from the staff of one of my U.S. Senators here in California: Barbara Boxer. I was told that Sen. Boxer is the author of a bill now pending in the U.S. House of Representatives to permanetly ban horse slaughter in the United States of America. WOW. This bill is S11-76. I am going to get a copy of the bill and a personalized letter from Sen. Boxer explaining her bill and how it interacts w/ this Agricultural Appropriations Bill that we are all so upset about. I told her person that I am part of a LARGE GROUP of people who are very concerned about this issue and that WE want a seat at the table to discuss the language in this bill. Specifically, I told her rep. that it was not enough to ban horse slaughter permanently in the United States; the bill also must ban the transport of horses (interstate, intrastate, internationally, whatever) for purposes of slaughter and assess hefty penalties for this activity.) Those of you who live in California can join with me in letting Sen. Boxer know we support this bill. Those of you who live in other states should start hounding your U.S. Senators to sign on as co-sponsors of this bill (means they have to vote for it) so we can assure passage. Every U.S. Senator representing a horse racing state state should be the first ones on this, but ultimately, every U.S. Senator should pile on this bill. You know, I was never a big Barbara Boxer fan, but she is fast becoming a real favorite of mine! I AM FEELING SO MUCH BETTER. THIS MEANS EVERY HORSE CAN BE SAFE. BUT I THINK NEXT STOP IS TO HAVE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION ABOUT HORSE CONTRACEPTION. MAYBE IF WE HAVE FEWER HORSES, THOSE WE DO HAVE WILL BE LESS ENDANGERED FROM NEGLECT, ABUSE AND AN UNHAPPY AND UNWANTED LIFE.
J
Jeanie
I MADE A MISTAKE: Sen. Boxer’s Bill is now pending in the U.S. Senate. Sorry. j
Alene
Hi Zenny. You ALWAYS put a smile :-) on my face and a tear in my eye!!!!! Lots of Big hugs and kisses, Alene
signofthetimes
@Lisa in TN
What a lovely story. Children respond so differently than we adults think they will; so simply and so very true. Lovely dog poem/goes for horses too.
Andrea
This is such a devastatingly emotional issue. It is horrible that some people try to wring every last penny of value out of their horses. I am not a vegan, I love a juicy steak, but by God, horses are different. I have heard all the arguments about humane slaughter. But, unless you can change the nature of the equine, a being with a tremendous flight response, you cannot humanely slaughter them. Has anyone on this site heard of Temple Grandin? She is working to change the slaughter practices for the cattle industry. She understands the nature of a steer. Slaughter will not go away, I wish we could stop it, but, I doubt that we can. I wish we could get through to the rancher, the bored teen, the owner who cant scrape together a euthanasia fee. Gee, He cut your cattle for 17 years. Golly, honey, she rode you @ the rail at horse shows for some ribbons and trophies, gave you smiles and thrills! Hey, lady! He carried you on his back through trails and now you cant send him to a gentle end, even though you wear Manolos!!! I know, I am rambling, however, it is a catharsis. These are innocent creatures of God, they deserve so much better…
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: You mentioned that the Santa Anita staff is extremely busy completing a number of maintenance projects like the brand new high-tech video board.
I am wondering if you would please ask YOUR John and Dottie if they think it might be fun to have sound equipment on the track so in addition to listening to the announcer, we the spectators could hear the horses’ hooves intermittently at different points on the track during the race. Just an idea!
Yvonne and Maurice
Hi Zenyatta. So much happening today. We are already thinking about our plans to go to your Party at Santa Anita next year and attend the Breeders Cup. We are very concerned about horse slaughter and will definitely write our representatives once again. Nice to know about the KHP webcam. I hope I can access it – will try later. Zenyatta, please stay comfy, eat well for two, have loads of fun with Tasty and all of your friends. Love you, Angel.
Suzanne Metzinger
Looking forward to a blessed December. Thinking of you Z and your team. Stay warm
Shari VoltzOhio
Dear Zenyatta I hope you and Tasty are getting used to the cold. Please take care. I know LE will take good care of all of you. I am upset tonight about what I have read about the Horse Slaughter Bill. It makes me so mad. I will sign a petition or do whatever is needed. I hope my Z family lets me know. I love you sweet girl. Sweet dreams. Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO
@ Lisa in Tn loved your story. Children are pure and have beautiful souls.
# Trina let me know about any petitions :)
Shari VoltzOhio
@ Barbara let me know what to do. Thanks
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Gosh, Nov. sure has been a busy month indeed especially in the horseracing. So hard to believe that this yr is just about over, a full yr without you racing Zenyatta. It just isn’t the same without you gracing the tracks, you always brought so much excitement and there truly was electricity in the air when you were around. You brought so much to everyone while you were actively racing. But now even though you are retired and getting ready to be a momma, you still bring so much to everyone’s life. You seem to continue to be extremely active in so many things and that is great. Hope that you and Tasty are enjoying yourselves daily outside in the paddock. I imagine the weather there is getting a bit colder now and there will be snow on the ground before you know it. Thinking of you and wishing you the best Zenyatta. Sending lots of Love & Blessings to you!
Pamela Hill
aaarrrggghhh!! this horse slaughter business is gonna get me politically involved, and i have NEVER been. all the awful descriptions of it here don’t begin to cover the horror our horses go thru in this terrible way to die. hope we can all step up to the plate and get this job done. stop the slaughter and transport anywhere!!
Abigail from Montreal
Good evening sweet Zenny, baby ZeeBee, Dottie & Zen-sters:
Wow! What a reversal of policy re: horse slaughter. I can’t quite believe it. Even FB has gone berserk with so many posts from thoroughly outraged people. I live in one of 2 Canadian provinces (Quebec) where there is still one horse slaughter operation — the other one we managed to get closed down through the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition (CHDC). There are another 2 operating in Alberta. The Quebec plant gets horses from Toronto that come in from the USA and are sold by the pound at OLEX (Ontario Livestock Exchange). I will write off to the people at the CHDC about the American legislation & Sen. Boxer’s pending bill, so that they’re aware of what’s going on. That way, CHDC can also contact American lobby groups and others concerned about this regressive action. Here’s the CHDC website: lots of very useful information!
http://www.defendhorsescanada.org/
Peppermint kisses to the Queen & serious hugs to all!
Abigail from Montreal
And here’s a really sour note: PETA supports domestic horse slaughter……
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1130/Lifting-horse-slaughter-ban-Why-PETA-says-it-s-a-good-idea
Margaret
Z fans I don’t mean to spam the blog but for the next month I hope you’ll forgive me for posting these links to the WH. Support the horses. Let’s get this done. Let Washington know we are sick and tired of there games.
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/not-spend-5-million-dollars-fund-usda-inspections-horse-slaughter-houses-usa-americans-dont-eat/dBc9nRvZ
Margaret
And now for the second link
https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/ban-horse-slaughter/GnNH1pS4
Diana S
@Marlene Dodge: You are a saint! And a first responder too? I’m sending a case of Monster to you! My donation went last night.
“Little Cloud” is such an appropriate name for the expected foal: It honors the mustangs and that wonderful one named “Cloud”, and honors “Cloud Man” from the tamed side of the equine family tree. This little baby will be born with so many angels about that he might fly first before even standing up! There might be 50,000 people standing in line to adopt – how about a lottery for charity – yours?
diastu in tempe (and more to come when I swallow the nails I’m chewing on!)
Margaret
@Pamela Hill.
Good to hear that this affects you so. I remember two years ago the first time I saw a picture of Cloud. His picture just jumped out at me, he grabbed my heart and won’t give it back. So I think I know how you feel.
Feel free to go have a looksee at thecloudfoundation.org. You will find lots of links there leading you to a ton of info. Places where you can sign online petitions. But know that you are NEVER obligated to sign something that you don’t feel good about. No pressure.
All are welcome. We want you to stop by, visit and leave feeling renewed, refreshed by what you are reading. Straight from the Horse’s Mouth (RT Fitch) is also a WONDERFUL site.
Not all is good. Some of it is horrendous. But that’s why RT and others do what they do. To help us learn, so we will join the fight.
Oh and all are welcome to join in a vigil on Dec 15th. This is the 40th anniversary of the Wild Horse and Burro Act to protect the wild ones. Not that BLM does this. But we will honor what Wild Horse Annie started. Wherever you are from 5/5:30-7/7:30ish please light a candle for the wild ones.
Kim S in Tampa FL
Zenny, what a beautiful but chilly day in Tampa FL today. But very sad after going to the horse farm and then seeing this about horse slaughter. But quite a few of us already knew about the slaughter bill, check out equi-army-ndo.com and thecloudfoundation.org. The latter is named after a Wild Mustang Stallion that Ginger Kathrens has been following and protecting since he was born.
The sad part about the farm is the new addition Grace. She fought valiantly but went down Monday with kidney failure and was humanely put down today, after everything within human powers, was tried.
Hopefully Cloud Man, among others, was there to greet her at the Rainbow Bridge.
A local news station came out to tell Grace’s story so hopefully her last 2 weeks were her happiest and some good will come out of her fight.
Good luck Marlene, let us know what else we can do. Jeanie, if Marlene can’t be in contact, you be her voice :)
Special thoughts, prayers and hugs to everyone. Let’s kick this horse slaughter bill to the moon!
Lotsa love to all.
Margaret
@DOTTIE
Is it possible for the next month that the links to the WH petition site for banning horse slaughter and money for USDA inspections (the links I posted)–could we somehow post them at the top of each page for the next month. That way if someone feels its appropriate to sign the petition they have the link.
But let me be clear–I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO FEEL PRESSURED to sign this if they don’t feel this way.
Thanks!
signofthetimes
@Shari Voltz
So well said, what a wonderful job you have to
mold and develop children and enjoy and create
With their openness.
Margaret
I posted my links and then went back to reading bottom up. I can’t begin to tell one and all thank you, thank you for speaking up for the horses. For being as disgusted as I am at what Washington is allowing to happen. It really warms my heart to know so many other people feel the same as I.
Margaret Murphy & Tara Murphy
Wow so many posts. Zenyatta is so loved by all who watched her race. I dream of the day I can see another horse like her. But alas that day will never come around. She is right up there with Secretariate. He had bigger muscles. Love you Z.
Irene Caty
Zenny you are just too cute with all your information with what is going on in horseracing world. Thanks for all of this. I think of you always and wonder how everything is going for you on a daily basis. I know that your connections are keeping in close contact with you and am glad of that. Think of you daily and wish you and your foal the best. You are so sweet Zenyatta and I love you always.
Georgia
Just had a thought. If your baby is born in March, and is a girl, then you have baby pink with a birthstone of aquamarine! Moss colors. Cute!
Tracy in NH
There is a picture of Cloud Man on the Backside 55 Facebook page. I was able to save it to my desktop. He was so handsome.
I’ll be writing to my Senators too. I’m pretty sure both are against horse slaughter but perhaps they can join forces with Sen. Boxer if they haven’t already.
Kimberly
NITEY NITE ZZZZZ….
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Hey Everyone! What a FAMILY of committed, loving people Z Fans you all are! ZENNY, YOU, bring us all together.
Marlene, you are awesome! I was worried this morning when I read you would ‘sleep in your truck’ if you had to. TOO
COLD for that! Please let us all know you are warm and cozy tonight!
Sending Prayers for Little Cloud!
Thanks to everyone for all of the HORSE SAVING efforts. Am contacting the links you posted.
Everyone, if you haven’t voted for Zenny on Bloodhorse’s website for ‘Favorite Moments in Horseracing 2011’, again here is the link (please go and vote asap):
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/25-most-intriguing/archive/2011/11/23/what-are-your-favorite-moments-in-horse-racing-from-2011.aspx
Love and GOD’s MANY Blessings to You All. ZENNY, what YOU have done to bring everyone together is just beyond words!
Thank you and love to Dottie – as always!
Paula Higgins
I emailed my senators and representatives regarding the horse slaughter bill before it was voted on and it did no good. I cannot believe this despicable piece of legislation was passed by both Republicans and Democrats. It is horrifying that Americans in this day and age would allow this. I don’t care what the Canadians and Japanese do. That’s their problem. But this is our problem and we have to continue to fight it. For those Canadians on this site, please keep fighting it in your country. I hope the states outlaw it. It can be outlawed state to state, if not federally. So contact your state representatives as well.