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
Doreen in CT
In memory and in honor of Cloud Man, Waltzing With Blue, Irrefutable, General Maximus, B Z Warrior, and Ghost Gunner who all broke down in the last two weeks (and for those that broke down and we weren’t aware of), I made a donation to Valley View Ranch so that other lives were able to be saved.
Jeanie
ALL Z’ISTERS
MARLENE JUST TOLD ME SHE HAS THE $3,000 AND WILL HEAD TO NEVADA TOMORROW. IT IS VERY WINDY HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TODAY SO SHE DOESN’T WANT TO DRIVE A TRAILER UP THERE RIGHT NOW. IF ANYONE WANTS TO DONATE MORE, SHE WILL USE IT TO TRY TO PULL OUT OTHER HORSES. RIGHT NOW SHE HAS ENOUGH FOR THE 4 PREGNANT MARES AND THE LITTLE 2-YEAR-OLD TB. THE FEEDLOT OWNER HAS A PAINT GELDING SHE WANTS TO INTEREST MARLENE IN AND WANTS $1,200 FOR IT. MARLENE IS UPSET ABOUT THIS AS SHE THINKS THE FEEDLOT OWNER IS TRYING TO BLACKMAIL HER BECAUSE SHE KNOWS MARLENE WANTS TO SAVE THE HORSE. MARLENE IS GOING TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH HER ON A REASONABLE AMOUNT. ANYONE WHO CAN CONTRIBUTE TODAY SHOULD KNOW THAT MARLENE WILL USE THE MONEY TO PULL OUT AS MANY HORSES AS SHE CAN. SHE ALSO HAS A PLACE TO SLEEP TONIGHT THAT SHE WILL NOT BE CHARGED FOR! YAY!
I THINK IT IS VERY INTERESTING THAT SHE FINDS HOMES FOR THESE HORSES WHERE THEY CAN ARE VALUED; ONE MAN’S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE? YOU ALL KNOW I AM IN A BAD PLACE ON THIS RIGHT NOW. THANK GOD OUR DEAR ZENYATTA WILL NEVER BE ENDANGERED.
MARLENE TOLD ME SOMETHING ELSE TOO: ON THE DAY THAT OBAMA SIGNED THE AG APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT LIFTED THE HORSE SLAUGHTER BAN, HE HAD JUST PARDONED THE THANKSGIVING TURKEY. NOW TELL ME, WHO IS THE TURKEY HERE?
J
Jeanie
SORRY, IT IS 3 PREGNANT MARES.
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
@ LINDA IN NJ
This is the cam I use
http://www.kyhometown.com/kyhorsepark/
If you left click on the image it will enlarge. I “caputre’ his image and I then share on my facebook :-) ~ that’s how I got the name “stalker’ of Cigar LOL
REMEMBER TO REFRESH EVERY MINUTE OR SO…
Judy G
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
@ ALL
I have a feeling Zenyatta (aka Dottie) hasn’t posted a diary today due to the bad weather! Check this out!
Winds Cause Some Damage at Santa Anita
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66425/winds-cause-some-damage-at-santa-anita
QUOTE: “A track security guard said via phone there were no injuries to people or horses, and that the damage was not severe.”
Especially Horses / California
@JAG I recognize that tree, lol.
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
That’s pretty creepy seeing the tree at Santa Anita with it’s roots showing – WOW. I heard the winds in Santa Ana but I was way to tired to get up to look. Glad no horses or humans were hurt.
Zenny – be safe. Dottie, hope you and yours are doing ok and that the ponies are ok too and not too scared.
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
oh,
I got my Zenyatta foal tag earings today and the bracelet – TOO COOL – still waiting on the Zenyatta Street Sign – can’t wait to see that.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
@Jeanie, thanks for the update. I’ll see if I can send her some more. It won’t be much, unfortunately–I have to save some funds to renew my TRF sponsorship. (I sponsor an old gelding named Native Ivory aka Nate. He is going to be 28 this coming year. He has a little hairless stub of a tail that reminds me of my Dobermans’ tails. It got caught in a starting gate. Fortunately, Nate has a buddy who shares his tail and whisks Nate’s flies for him.)
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
Dear Linda from Chicago – I am so appreciative. I went to thoroughbred pedigree and got his 5 generation lineage, but no picture. I did try to navigate it different ways, there must be something I’m not seeing. I found a picture of him on Backside 55, but am very curious as to how to pursue your avenue. If you see this post can you please let me know? He is so striking and would like to save the photo in my computer. Thanks for any help.
Trisha
sign petition to stop slaughter
shttps://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/fb/petition/petition/ban-horse-slaughter/GnNH1pS4
vote for Zenyatta
everyone vote for zenyatta as number one!!!
http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/25-most-intriguing/archive/2011/11/23/rank-the-25-most-intriguing-horses-of-2011.aspx
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Jeanie–what marvelous news! Thank you, Dumplings, for turning tragedy this week into rejoicing! I knew you (we) could do it. We can always count on some good news here. Please thank Marlene for us. I hope she gets a truckload!
@Laura J– would love to see a picture of Nate.
@Delrene–you’re talking about Cloud Man, right? If you go to http://www.pedigreequery.com and type in his name to search, there will be a tiny icon with a picture of a horse. That will get you there when you click.
@California Dumplings–I’ve been so busy that I haven’t seen the weather. Please stay safe! We need you, especially Team Z.
@JAG–thank you so much for thinking of me, although I wasn’t able to open the card.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@ Kari – What a great tribute from a fan very far away. I think that is just awesome. She deserves to be admired by the world and apparently she is….So uplifting, so positive, yes balance. (Ok-I confess I am going to name my new adoptive pussycat ) Zen. She is black & white (Oreo cookie/Jersey Cow type) but she is so balanced i.e. yin/yang – calm, sweet & playful so she will be Zen – or Zenny – Nothing like our queen but closest I can get right now. I have officially gone over to the “cat lady” side now.
Kathy Baldwin
HELLO TO ZENNY AND ALL! WAS JUST CHECKING OUT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES AND IT SAYS THAT
THE WIND DAMAGE WAS THE WORST AROUND THE
PASADENA AREA. ARCADIA, WHERE SANTA ANITA
IS LOCATED, DID GET SOME DAMAGE, BUT MOST
OF THE WORST DAMAGE WAS PASADENA. THERE IS
NO LIVE SIMULCAST WAGERING AT SANTA ANITA
TODAY, AS THE POWER WAS STILL OUT. DON’T
THINK HOLLYWOOD PARK HAD TO MUCH DAMAGE,
ALTHOUGH IT IS PRETTY CLOSE TO LAX AND THEY HAD POWER ISSUES, OFF AND ON, MUCH OF LAST NIGHT, WITH FLIGHT DELAYS.
WISHING EVERYONE SAFETY AND BLESSINGS,
KATHY from SoCal xoxo
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
@J.S.SMITH As I posted before being from Wisconsin I know SEN HERB KOHL has sold the Kohls stores and has nothing to do with them anymore. He is part owner of the Milwaukee Bucks (basketball team) but I don’t know how anyone could protest against them unless you don’t go to the games. I repeat he is up for re-election though and neither him or Obamma will get my vote. I’m sure you can write to him though.
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@Barbara Wood ( Texas) YES, !!!!!! Thank you so much. Handsome colt, and I put him in my favorites. I’m again so thankful I saw him in the paddock and at Del Mar. You sleuthes (is that a word)??? on the Zenyatta website are so amazing. That little icon is TEEEEENY!
Zenyatta , wow it is windy and crazy here. Be safe & warm with your girlfriend TT.
Barbara Grimaldi/NJ
TO THANK EVERYONE ON THESE PAGES WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING AND THEIR SUPPORT TO THE SLAUGHTER ISSUE WOULD MEAN I WOULD HAVE TO GIVE THE NAMES OF ABOUT 35 PEOPLE…amazing.
I DO HAVE TO POST ONE CORRECTION, THOUGH. JEANIE SAID EQUI-ARMY-NDO.COM has no place to have a conversation. Not so. Jeanie and others may be thinking of our FIRST website which didn’t allow that. I went ahead and built a second site that not only allows for conversation like this site does, but also allows you to select someone’s statement and respond to it directly down to 6 levels–all connected comments appear together. When you log onto the site, we have 8 or 9 pages of information, but right on page one, under our intro, we have the comments section. Sign in and type as short or as long a comment as you wish. The comment scroll is continuous. You will not be cut off.
So the OTHER site does give us a place for conversations like this, BUT–this page attracts thousands of readers. Equi-Army is only five months old and we’re still growing.
JEANIE–BRAVO TO YOU AND TO MARLENE DODGE for receiving all the money Marlene needs. Marlene is a first responder, a firefighter, a horse owner and rescuer–a true hero in my eyes. Thank you, Marlene.
BARB W: your comments are expressed with such kindness, clarity and compassion.
JSMITH: thank you for asking for patience as we momentarily deal with a serious situation on these special pages
TERESA E: yes, horsemen plead no money but can spend millions for a yearling. Backyard breeding and overpopulation of TBs and Quarterhorses amount to almost 125,000 horses slaughtered per year.
LAURAJ: Bravo, you are totally right on in all the points you covered.
ANGELA FROM ABILENE: you live this overpopulation situation every day and know what happens to those not wanted. Thank you for offering to help any Zster who wants to adopt a horse in Abilene by contacting you.
DIANA S: yes to all you said–right on
MARGARET: super ideas and glad to know that you, too, are a fan of RT Fitch
ABIGAIL FROM MONTREAL: thank you for the info on the slaughterhouses in Canada and for fighting for Canadian horses
Zenny’s site is a place of peace and tranquility 99% of the time, but sometimes a situation comes along that is so important that reaching a huge audience about it immediately–an audience that loves horses–is essential. I am gratified to see that so many people here are just as outraged as we are about this legislation and that they are doing something about it.
If some people are turned off by this reality and only want to see peace and tranquility and not reality here, I apologize for upsetting you temporarily. Reality has to intervene sometimes in everyone’s dreams.
DOTTIE–I appreciate this opportunity to ask for help and assistance on this site. Loving horses, as you know, means loving them from start to finish and seeing the full picture of their lives. Thank you again.
Abigail from Montreal
Dottie: I’m certain that you are facing the damages at Santa Anita and possibly a power failure @ home. Sending you good energies for your safe-keeping and for all of the thoroughbreds @ Santa Anita. Take care!
Love to all Zensters & to my Big Girl.
GREAT NEWS THAT MARLENE GOT ENOUGH DONATIONS TO SAVE THE PREGNANT MARES & THE YOUNG THOROUGHBRED. HOW WONDERFUL!!!!! I’D LIKE TO THINK THAT CLOUD MAN WAS WATCHING OVER HER…..
Lauren
Dear Zenny and Dottie: Thank you for providing us with so much wonderful information. There are some very lovely pictures of Cloud Man on Facebook. He was a beauty. I know that he and all the other wonderful horses that have left this world are galloping up in heaven and looking down on us all with a smile. God bless Zenyatta and her family.
Jeanie
Skipper,
I didn’t know. I will go explore the EquiArmy site more thoroughly. Sorry if I misrepresented!
The kudos go to Marlene and all of you. I am just the town cryer! I love you all!
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, I LOVE HORSES AND I ESPECIALLY LOVE ONE HORSE IN PARTICULAR –WINK WINK BLUSH BLUSH. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
Your humble J
D Stuart
@All: Any SoCal Dumplings who can find out if the barns at SA and HP are okay – or what – please post!
diastu in tempe with worry beads flailing
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
Louisiana Trainer Bourgeois Wins 2,000th Race
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66427/louisiana-trainer-bourgeois-wins-2000th-race
Linda M
All z’sters – this was posted an hour ago for SA: http://www.drf.com/news/santa-anita-hit-windstorm I have not seen anything on HP. For the most part, the winds have settled. A few gusts are coming thru in Orange County, which got the actual wind storm about 3 hours after it hit the Los Angeles area. I have not seen any reports that indicate horses were hurt, which is the main thing!
Jeanie
SA website says closed do to power outage; HP website has severe weather warning posted, but no evidence that today’s race card is cancelled, but must be. That’s what I can see on the websites. Haven’t called down here.
j
Carole #42 Wisconsin
I will be mailing out my check for little Cloud in the name of Cloud Man. Hope everything is going all right @ Valley View and @ Santa Anita. Love to you Z..and baby and kisses on your soft nose. XOXO
Linda in NJ
Oh my goodness, I hope everything is okay with Dottie and John and all of Team Z. Maybe the power has not been restored as of yet.
Paul
Zenyatta, as I’m writing this, it is December 1st. Time has really gone by fast and it isn’t going to go by any slower as I get older. Tons of things have happened in the horse world this past month. All the races-the Breeder’s Cup races no less, the yearling sales at various places such as Keeneland, and, Zenyatta, your party which I know was a roaring success, even though I was nowhere near it. I will try to watch Santa Anita racing on December 26th.
Kari Bussell/sending prayers & love from Tn.
@Barbara Wood- I posted a comment to Zenyatta’s FB wall …So you or anyone else can click onto my name and find me on FB..If you scroll down my wall to Nov.22 You will see where I posted several articles about this subject and what I said….
@All I belong to every group except Peta( I was a member briefly)..and I work tirelessly as do MOST WHO REGULARLY POST HERE …. Many were already aware of this subject and have ALREADY AND WILL CONNTINUE TO TAKE ACTION….the endless re-posting is not necessary…especially by those who have NEVER/EVER once taken the time to post here before….
as Barbara Grimaldi stated there is another site many of you and are aware has existed……I check it daily…though I am too busy taking action to leave comments…..My time is very limited these days…
to continually shove it down people’s throats serves no purpose what so ever….
again I plead with you…and note all the people who have not posted and told me they will not until the overall subject matter changes…No one wants to start a “issue” here where people take sides….but as I stated before I have received numerous emails from those who are upset….Also moments after I posted the video done by a teenage girl from Switzerland who posts here sometimes, someone gave it a thumps down….My point is ..there are some new people who are posting here at the moment who have a very unkind heart….and have a agenda to end HORSERACING…
Please stop encouraging them….I beg of you..
Kathy Baldwin
JUST A HEADS UP THAT HOLLYWOOD PARK IS UP
AND RACING. JUST GETTING READY TO HAVE THE
5TH RACE, POST TIME 2:34 SoCal TIME. :)
I THINK THE WORST WINDS WERE INLAND, AS I
POSTED A BIT AGO, CLOSER TO SANTA ANITA.
PEACE,
KATHY from SoCal xoxo
Stephanie (S in San Diego)
@Kari, well said and thank you for speaking for many of us. I love the time I have to do my small part to help and will always be grateful to this site for making me aware. Now 90% of my facebook page is rescue related LOL. New friends worry about me becuase I am taking to horses all the time. Hope today finds you feeling well, you are always in my prayers.
It was a difficult weekend, but we must move on and get back to who we are and why we come here. To encourage and enjoy each other and our common love of all things Z.
As for the winds around SA, my daughter lives up that way and this morning said it was pretty much over. At that time, there were only reports of branches and a few power lines down. Hope it stayed that way.
On a “looking Forward” note…While I attended most Saturdays and some Sundays at Del Mar, I never had the privilege of meeting any of you….hope that will change soon once SA opens. Unfortunatly, I work in and industry that consumes me in November and December, so Hollywood Park is very difficut to make. (I did make the Tribute last year and it was so special ).