NEWS ALERT! HEAVY WINDS HIT THE ARCADIA AREA LAST NIGHT! MY JOHN WILL TRY AND GET SOME PHOTOS FOR YOU SOON!
Hello Everyone,
So, so sorry to be posting you this late in the day. MY JOHN and DOTTIE (Sophie too) live in Arcadia, California…right by Santa Anita. Last night, that area had a HUGE wind storm. The winds were the hardest and traveling the fastest any of them can remember. The power is completely out in ALL of Arcadia, the phone / internet lines are not working, and trees are down everywhere. Schools are closed, businesses are also closed…and people are traveling about very carefully due to all of the trees and power lines that are down and blocking the roads.
On Huntington Drive, right by the racetrack, there are cars covered with fallen trees. None of the street signals anywhere in town are working. As for Dottie and MY JOHN, 2 large trees from their neighbors yard fell…and are now in their yard. Thus, the fence is destroyed in 2 places as well. Patio furniture moved around the yard and 2 chairs went into the pool from one of the decks. It is truly amazing to see how these winds could literally MOVE this heavy furniture and force all of these trees to fall.
Dottie went over to Santa Anita late this morning and some of the huge trees by the one escalator are completely down. Smaller trees in the plant are also on the ground. It seems like the backside held up fairly well. At this time, 2:15 CA TIME in the afternoon, all reports on the horses are great. They came through it all like CHAMPS! So, there is much to be very, very thankful for!
From all reports, there is to be more of these high winds later today and tomorrow morning. By noon Friday, the intensity in them is to be rather small….much more like a normal breeze that would happen now and then.
Let’s hope our weather reports are accurate and everyone continues to be SAFE throughout this windstorm.
We will keep you posted. Here’s hoping the power, telephone, and internet services are restored as soon as possible to the ARCADIA AREA.
MY, MY…something ‘FUN” is always happening.
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Sharon Call, Atlanta, GA
@JAG. How do you refresh the view for Cigar? I looked all over the page and couldn’t find a place to refresh it. It always looks like identically the same seen of the paddock and either a sunrise or sunset. Thanks in advance!
signofthetimes
Dear Barbara Wood,
Wish you a very happy Birthday and a wonderful holiday.
So glad that you have a new passion after all that hiking.
Have a wonderful day.
@ Trina
You outdid yourself again with your poem for Barbara Wood.
Thanks so much.
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny,
So glad your “family” is safe in CA althought the clean up is no fun.
Glad to hear your “lil sis” worked today. Can’t wait to see her debute, but patience in a virtue. Hope you had a great day in the paddock with TT, grazing and keeping that little foal warm. So excited that DOTTIE felt baby Z/B move. Your Bernie is sure a doll and so very smart, just like you. XXXXOOOO
Marty R / Colorado
@ Sharon Call- You need to refresh your computer to watch Cigar. On mine it is the F5 key or on the top line of the screen there is a square with an arrow pointing upward and an arrow pointing downward that I click on. Hope that helps
Marty R / Colorado
I certainly hope the winds have subsided in Ca., but I’m sure the cleanup is a big chore. Also hope the power has been restored.
@ Barbara Wood- Happy birthday.
@ Trina Nagle- I don’t always comment, but I do admire your poems and the thought you put into them to really make them personal to the honoree. Truly remarkable!
Am also wondering how Marlene Dodge is faring on her journey to bring the horses to safety.
Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable weekend.
signofthetimes
The Best of TB Times 2011
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/11/29/best-of-2011.aspx
JAG ~ Zenny & John Henry in My Heart / So. CA
@ Sharon Call
At this hour Cigar is in his paddock 1:46 p.m. PT
signofthetimes
Hanesfield retired; Winner of JCG 2010 over Blame
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66449/grade-i-winner-haynesfield-retired
Emily
Thank the Lord that no one or any animals were hurt at Santa Anita. Hope the wind subsides and power is restored ASAP. Dottie, John and all those affected by the high winds and damage, take care and be safe.
signofthetimes
To All:
IT MAY NOT BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THOSE WHO ARE GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY OF ENJOY THIS SITE AND ALL THAT HAS TO DO WITH ZENYATTA; TO MAKE IT A POLITICALLY ACTIVE SITE; THAT IS NOT ITS PURPOSE.
The websites for those who are interested in a more politically active focus are referred to http://www.equi-army-ndo.com. Full information is available on equine advocacy issues on that site. It has been wonderfully developed by Barbara Grimaldi and her crew, so please puruse her well updated site.
PLEASE DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE TO THIS STATEMENT.
Doreen in CT
@Janis (from post #387) – thank you for your support and understanding. I have and always will love horses.
@LindaJ in Cincinnati OH – Nate is a very handsome boy indeed. Having a female trainer and jockey for the time he was a Mountaineer before retiring makes me even prouder of him. Go Girl Power!!! It’s only my opinion, but I think woman seem to connect more with the horses – it must be those nurturing hormones that we have:)
@Trina Nagele in So Cal – you’re welcome and thank you for relaying all of our messages. I too responded to Marlene’s e-mail confirming my donation. I wanted to make sure that it was for all the horses that recently died. I let her know that even though they couldn’t be saved because of the extent of their injuries, other horses would be in their honor/memory.
@Barbara Wood – have a very Happy Birthday. You are such a tireless worker on behalf of horses.
Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced
Many thousands of people in the Arcadia area still do not have power, and may not for days, Edison is telling its customers. The stores which are open, are running on generators. Many traffic signals are still non-operative, and numerous streets are blocked due to fallen trees and debris. To get from point A to point B requires the mental acumen of a five-star general and the patience of Mother Theresa. Just in case people may be worried where Dottie is…..
Allie in Texas
Cigar is in plain view in his paddock. 4:20pm Central Time.
Gloria Jeanne - The O.C.
The Cigar Cam is pretty cool – everytim I have looked before I never saw anything. This time I actually see him in his blue “coat” pretty cool… Thanks for the link.
Janis
Goodnight Zenyatta, Tasty, Cigar, Funny Cide, Da Hoss and all of the other thoroughbreds in Lexington, KY. The sun is setting and it’s time to sleep.
sharon in seattle
thanks everyone for your tips and encouragement!! I think I just saw him or anyway it looked like a blue blanket – except it was pretty dark (3:10 PDT here). I’ll keep trying for a daytime sighting – can’t wait to visit him in person – hopefully next May — and my other fav, Funny Cide
Carole #42 Wisconsin
So glad to hear that everyone is safe in Arcadia..hope everything calms down..good night Z. and baby..kisses on your soft nose. XOXO
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I hope all is well with you. I bet YOUR John and Dottie are very busy clearing and cleaning things up after the terrible wind storms from the other night. I hope they have power now.
@The Kennedys in San Diego: Ebby worked at 3 furlongs in 38:60. I guess that is good timing. I sure hope things go well and I can come out for her debut.
@Signofthetime: I don’t remember reading that Dottie felt little Z/B move. Now this is really, really good news! I wonder what Zenny thought the first time she felt her baby move. How sweet!
@Barbara Wood: Happy Birthday!!
@Trina Nagele: You are so talented. I don’t know how you do it. Another wonderful poem.
Karen Gogue
It is not fun! Ex-daughter-in-law and my grankids live up near Dottie and John…they had to come down to Long Beach and stay with me and their Dad, still no electric service and no school….Dottie and John, hope it is not disturbing stables at SA too much and hope you get service restored soon. Even down here in LBC Internet was off, just now got it back on. Thankfully no horses or humans hurt!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Doreen in CT, Linda in NJ, Marty R., and signofthetimes–thank you all for my birthday wishes. Linda, hope your hip is doing well.
I’m not really expecting a new post today since it’s the weekend, and even in normal times, we don’t hear anything new until Monday. I am sure everyone is cleaning up (Doreen knows about that!) and trying to get power back on, etc.
I heard from Karen Gogue that her computer went down, so I’m sure that[‘s the case with many. We’ll pray that they regain full power soon.
Janis
@Sharon in Seattle — Yes, you must visit the Hall of Champions show. When they bring each horse into the the arena, their racing career is being read aloud… and the horses KNOW IT. These thoroughbreds walk tall and proud. When I was there, each champion got a standing ovation and lots of tears were flowing in the grandstands. Afterwards, the horses return to their stalls, where you can spend time with them.
Sally B. (Wi)
@ all: Has anyone ever heard of Chris Evert? Oh, not the champion tennis player but Chris Evert, the 3yo champion filly back in 1974. The flyer created by Taylor Made Sales, which I have said I picked up the day before Keeneland Sales began while seeing Blind Luck, had some interesting info. I will type some of this flyer within quotes. The heading, “A Tale of Two Fillies”. “Blind Luck…her name suggests a stroke of good fortune, a mere coincidence, a random act of the chips falling in just the right way, at just the right time. But those who have seen this remarkable filly–and witnessed her meteoric rise to success–know better than that.”
“Racing is in her blood. And the golden strands of DNA trace back to another remarkable filly who captured the hearts of racing fans years ago…CHRIS EVERT
“Flipping back through the pages of the stud book, the evidence is crystal clear…”Breeding out of mares that are line-bred to great mares has not only produced a lot of top runners, but has also had a breed-shaping influence”, says pedigree expert, Alan Porter, who cites the example of successful line-breeding to LA Troienne, as well as the outstanding European producer, Aster, and one of the greatest mares of modern times in Australia, Eight Carat.”
“Further evidence points to the great producer, Weekend Surprise, the dam of A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, who is line-breed to Somethingroyal.”
“Blind Luck is line-bred to CHRIS EVERT. And the storybook success of these two fillies is proof that sucess does indeed breed success.”
The flyer continues with all of Evert’s accomplishments as well as of Blind Luck’s; both winning the Eclipse Award as Champion 3 yr old. Also stated is Evert’s remarkable influence through her daughters as an ancestress of at least 30 stakes winners in five different countries etc.
“As for BLIND LUCK, she seems to have taken Chris Evert’s career and made a worthy template of her own. She won four times at two, capturing two Grade One races.”
It states that Blind Luck surpassed her famous ancestress at age of four, putting together back-to-back victories in the La Troienne Stakes, Vanity Handicap, where she defeated 2011 HOTY candidate, HAVRE DE GRACE.
“but it’s not only soundness, consistency and brillance that Chris Evert and Blind Luck have in common…to that list we can add another virtue, versatility. Both Chris Evert and Blind Luck showed grade one quality from 7 furlongs to a mile and a quarter, and both captured stakes at six different race tracks, on both coasts.”
“This November, one lucky person will have the opportunity to carry Blind Luck home. And from there, they will share the chance to fulfill her destiny as the next great broodmare, as she continues following in the hoof prints left by her famous forebear, Chris Evert.”
Excellent written promotion I thought. I am so so glad one of the owners recognized all she is and brought her home. Can anyone explain line-breeding more in depth? One has to have a stallion, which does affect results for sure in the born foal.
Anyhow, on the otherside of this flyer it stated in LARGE PRINT, which I think is awesome, “LUCK BE A LADY, MONDAY NIGHT!”
BLIND LUCK
Hope I did not bore you. My fingers are getting sore!! ha
All have a great week-end
mary bobolis
Glad everyone is okay. How frightening to have a wind storm roll through. All geared up and energized about E starting. Huge strides like her sister covering alot of ground. Am dying to know about her mindset and her desire to run and win. So exciting to see E and Mike E..He teases us at his facebook page when he works her. Needless to say, we’re dying to know when the first start is but knowing John as very patient and conservative, he may not know now himself.
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
Hey Big Mama so you felt the little one kick, huh, gee I remember my kids kicking and that was hard enough, can’t imagine a foal……ouch! Well at least we know it is alive and yes…..kicking.
I didn’t get to express my relief that all are well in California hope that still holds true I heard they had a tough nite.
@Tiffany Vaughn and Krystal my prayers go out to you for a complete recovery. I will also light a candle.
@Barbara Wood Happy, happy and a very happy birthday to you, I hope you got to do something special on your big day.
@DMCQ I just loved your inspirational video it’s amazing how these hit home at sad times in our lives. I have saved that website for further reference.
@Kari Bussel your video of the bell ringing pony made me chuckle……too cute. Made me feel especially good to see those lovely people were from Wisconsin!
@Trina you’ve done it again, I hope your keeping copies of all these lovely poems.
Luv you Z kisses on your nose
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Sharon in Seattle–you will LOVE KHP. Janis is so right! They know they are the champs. Also don’t miss the other things. One problem is that sometimes activities go on at the same time, so we had to choose.
@Sally B–you never bore us. Great info. on Chris Evert.
@Sue Fredrick–thank you. Got lots of nice presents today, but going out to luch tomorrow (more people available then).
@DMCQ–didn’t get a chance to visit the link yet. Going there now.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@DMCQ__beautiful photography, beautiful music, beautiful truth! Thank you! Added to “favorites”.
Linda in NJ
@Barbara Wood: Thank you so much for remembering that I had hip surgery! I am 5 weeks out and I am coming along fine. I start back to work on Monday. I have a long commute. Sure hope all goes well.
Thanks again!
signofthetimes
@Sally B
Love the flyer; Glad you clarified, thought Chris Evert was the tennis player, Dah!!! Dah!!! Blind Luck is a very fine filly, so glad Dr. Mark bought her and is going to take wonderful care of the filly he so expressed love for when she won the Eclipse Award 2010.
signofthetimes
@Barbara Wood
Thanks for the Cali update
signofthetimes
@Linda in NJ
Am also thinking of coming to SA for “E’s” debut, the stands will be full; ala Zenny; goodthing she is a horse so she won’t be nervous like us humans; or maybe she will be. JS will definatly have her well prepared in all areas.