Good Morning,
I hope all of you had a relaxing and pleasant weekend. My days have been absolutely fabulous. On Saturday, I had some SURPRISE visitors stop by and visit ME! My dear owners were able to spend the entire afternoon with ME. It was so much fun. The weather here has been so comfortable…surprisingly warm for early December! We will get some photos for you…’of our Saturday visit’… soon.
Racing has been moving right along! It is a ‘new era’ at Gulfstream Park as it opened on December 3rd instead of their normal starting date a month later. This is a new philosophy for this racetrack and we are wishing them well! Hollywood Park, Aqueduct, The Fairgrounds and several other venues offered very competitive racing as well. Between racing and getting ready for the holidays, we are all very, very busy!
As for Santa Anita and the wind damage, things are improving but as of this morning, several surrounding areas STILL do not have power. As of late last night, the power at MY JOHN and Dottie’s house was not yet restored. All of the local restaurants and businesses have been through some rough times. Hopefully things will get ‘back into a normal routine’ soon.
The webpage…ARCADIA’S BEST….will give you the current information on all of this. Per their sources, at one point the winds were close to 100 miles per hour. This site presents a 4 minute tour of the LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARBORETUM and their damage resulting from the storm. This area is directly across the street from Santa Anita….thus, we are extremely fortunate no people or horses were hurt. MY JOHN and DOTTIE live in the area directly behind the Arboretum…so this gives you an idea of how intense this wind storm actually was at their house.
Without power in Arcadia, they have spent time in Carlsbad with family during the last few days. MY JOHN is TOO CUTE and commutes to Hollywood Park etc. from Carlsbad during this time for work and to be with his horses. Last night, they went to a local restaurant in the Del Mar area, and a lovely woman was asking them about ME! (This is so sweet!) They had a lovely visit and Dottie updated her on how I’m doing. She also asked when my PLUSHIE was coming out! (Such a sweet fan!) Dottie told her in a few weeks…but to be sure and check on the web-site and visit the ZENYATTA SHOP often as new things are coming out all the time. How adorable is this! PEOPLE ASKING ABOUT ME!
Warm wishes from ME to YOU…my DEAR FANS!
With love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
dmamaklock
Everymorning I see your picture on my wall BUT love these “live” updates. Glad everyone is safe……. power out can take a while to be restored. Here in Florida we were without for over 2 weeks and it was like camping. Cooking on the front porch over the barbie. Hugs to you Queen Z
Janis
For those of you that plan to visit Lexington, KY soon, I give a High Hoof to the Thoroughbred Training Center.
Psst… want to learn about Kentucky’s number one industry? Then, come and take a “behind the scenes” tour of Lexington’s best kept secret, The Thoroughbred Center. The Thoroughbred Center is nestled among the most lavish horse farms in Lexington, home to hundreds of Thoroughbred racehorses. We offer up close and personal guided tours of our beautifully landscaped 240 acre working facility. Experience a typical day in the life of a racehorse by being able to view them trackside, in their paddocks or in a historic barn. Schedule a morning tour and you will have a chance to see experienced exercise riders conditioning the horses on one of our two training tracks. Learn the secrets for keeping these magnificent animals trained for racing. We hope you will consider The Thoroughbred Center as part of your future itinerary.
Guided Tours:
•April 1 – October 31
Monday – Saturday 9 am
• November 1 – March 31
Monday – Friday: 9 am
tony and sue
Zenny, how wonderful that the Mosses had a chance to visit with you over the weekend.
We know they must miss you terribly but thank heavens they have the means to see you often. We jope your John and Dottie have their power restored soon. Those winds have been awful…we remain thankful
no one was injured, including the horses.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Dawn Conrad–thank you and I hope YOU have special birthday plans. I’m so glad we know each other.
@Jeanie–tears of joy. Indescribable and thanks to all for doing this hard work. Most of all, Marlene. Amazing doesn’t even describe her.
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
My dear Zenyatta, I am so glad you spend time with your owners; they love you very much, I hope when you are ready to retire from mother hood, they send you to a good and nice place for the rest of your days, maybe to a place that all us your fans we can go to see you all year round. To, Dottie and John, I pray that your power be restored soon. Love you all, Ingrid.
Randy
To DOTTIE and JOHN: A friend at work also lives in Arcadia and she said that today (Monday, December 5) is their fifth day without power. She said it’s been restored to the streets all around their house but not to their particular part of the neighborhood. Hopefully the crews are working hard in your area and everything will be back to normal soon.
JAG ~ aka Aunt Judy / So. CA
Interesting read…
Claiming Crown doesn’t provide nearly enough bang for the bucks:
http://www.nola.com/horseracing/index.ssf/2011/12/claiming_crown_doesnt_provide.html
Quote: “…John Henry, who in 1978 finished no better than third in three claiming races at the Fair Grounds. ..”
Kari Bussell/sending prayers & love from Tn.
Dear Dottie,
Thank you so much for taking the time out of your very busy schedule (not to mention the inconvenience of having no power) to give us updates. I am so glad you, Mr. Shirreffs & Sophie are riding it out with family. I hope the damage to your property can all be repaired. I appreciate ALL that YOU do and will be forever grateful to YOU!
My Beautiful Queen,
You hold my heart in your hooves. People will be talking about you centuries from now…In case you didn’t know it precious one,…YOU are a Legend and most loved.
Every time I hear your name-ZENYATTA- or think of you I feel nothing but JOY!…
I hope you & Tasty are enjoying the warmer weather we are having in our neck of the woods.
JAG ~ Zenny's Aunt Judy / So. CA
Year to remember for the foreign raiders
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/frankel-so-you-think-black-caviar-transcend-year-to-remember-for-the-foreign-raiders-december-5/957880/latest/
Kari Bussell/sending prayers & love from Tn.
Five years ago today Zenyatta said goodbye to her racing career and her fans.
My Queen this is in honor of YOU!
by The LA Times
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqUswS5MuFE
Sharyn ~ Vermont
So glad to hear things are improving in Arcadia and that all the horses at Santa Anita were safe.
It certainly is not fun to be without power – being from Vermont we have had times when the power was out for a week and it being in the middle of the winter is never fun!! Sure hope “your John and Dottie” have it back on soon!!
How special to have a visit from your owners – they truly are special people!
Have a wonderful day and enjoy these warm temperatures while we still have them….
WILD HORSES
Get use to it Big Z, people will always be asking about you now and forever. So happy the Moss’ came for another visit. Hope to see some pictures soon. I LOVE the pictures with you and Ann, I can see a special bond. Next summer I’m coming to LE to see the stallions and I figure if I cry and have a breakdown they’ll let me see you (ha-ha). Seriously though, I hope at some point to see you in person, I never got to see you race since I live in Florida. I would just love to kiss your nose and feed you some meltaway mints!!!!!
Take care big beautiful one. I LOVE YOU!!
Lori
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
So good to hear from you Zenny and know all the loved ones in Arcadia are safe and sound…..human and animal. Wonderful that your parents came to visit its great that they check up on you and I bet they brought you Christmas goodies. I sure hope you and Indy got the treat bag I left when I visit LE after the BC, it was very busy that day as it was fan appreciation and stallion viewing.
@Dawn Conrad have a wonderful birthday hope you can share it with someone special.
@Judy Berube and hubby so glad to hear from you periodically just so we know things are still okay.
@Tiffany Vaughn continued prayers for your sister.
@Sally B well you have my prayers, happy for your niece and baby.
@Congrats to my Packers on 12-0 Cheeseheads Rule!!
Luv you Z and kisses on your nose
Kari Bussell/sending prayers & love from Tn.
Above should read**and her fans showed up in large numbers to attend her Appreciation Day Party!**
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
So happy to hear updates about you and your family and extended family. Quite a storm. It’s too funny, I was thinking we were out for breakfast at Claire’s in Solana Beach and thinking wouldn’t it be fun if we ever ran into your John and Dottie? It’s a great place for breakfast and lunch – right on Cedros right by the racetrack. Alas, I wasn’t the lucky person to run into them, but perhaps living in Carlsbad, there is a chance it might happen. We got nothing more than a bit of breeze. Hope things improve as that is quite the commute in my mind to do on a daily basis. Thanks to all for keeping us updated. So glad you got to visit with your human Mom and Dad. We all love you so much.
sharon in seattle
Yay to all generous Z fans, to Marlene, Jeanie, EquiArmy and to the queen of all our hearts, Dottie/Zenyatta whose diary has brought us together and made Marlene’s rescue effort possible – and to all of Team Z!!!
suew/Va
Oh, Zenny, you got to see your beloved owners this weekend! Did you arrange Ann’s hair again…you really have a knack for it or so we’ve been told. :-)
I hope your John and Dottie get their power back soon. What a major inconvenience to say the least. But…we are all thankful no one was injured and all the horses are safe.
Karen
I love you, beautiful Zenyatta.
Abigail from Montreal
Hi there Zenyatta, Dottie, Baby-on-Board & my Zenster Dumplings:
Well, I wasn’t surprised to learn that ARCADIA is only slowly getting back on its feet…..after all, I’m a Canuck & these power wipe-outs can be a pretty regular winter event here in Montreal. About 11 years ago, we had what is only referred to as “THE ICE STORM” but it tore up trees & left most of Quebec without power for about 12 days straight! Fortunately, I was part of an enclave that had power. Ergo, I ended up with 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 teenagers and 4 adults all crammed into my five and a half room apartment!!!!! It turned out to be unforgettable — and a little scary — as we camped out on sofa & floor and attempted regular outings to “forage” for food!!!! So I can relate to what Dottie & John and many on this site are and have experienced in terms of the wrath of Mother Nature.
@DAWN: Happy Birthday, sweetie. We are fellow December babies! How cool is that? Did you know that the Sagitarrian woman is reputed to be the female Don Juan of astrology? So there have gotta be stories that neither you nor me are telling, right?!!!!
@Zenny, Tasty & ALL: Tomorrow it will be 1 year since our Zenny arrived in Kentucky. Here’s a trip down Memory Lane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y6z0l811fI&feature=related
Erin
In case anyone is interested, there are some recent pictures of Eblouissante breezing on her facebook page. She is simply stunning with a black shiney coat and beautiful features. John even put cotton in her ears like “you know who”.
Rosanne Glynn
Hope you’re back in your house soon. That is awful to have to leave your home. Glad Zenny and all the horse are ok! Love and miss you Zen!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Roberta Smith
Hello Pretty Girl! I am so sorry to hear about the winds in CA and suffering that the area has endured. We, here in CT, got hit by Tropical Storm Irene, which let thousands without power for 1 week or more and then one month later on Halloween, our first snow storm which brought heavy, wet snow and once again, thousands were without power for over 1 week. Mother Nature can be good and then at times fierce. So happy your family is safe! I love you Zenyatta! Can’t wait for your plushie to come out!
Carole #42 Wisconsin
Z..glad that you had a nice visit with your owners..my z. poster is framed and turned out great..BEAUTIFUL QUEEN..looking forward to your pictures and your plush
@Dawn Conrad have a great birthday. Z. kisses on your soft nose. Love to you and baby. XOXO
Especially Horses / California
@Dawn Conrad: Happy Birthday Dawn. I’m glad you feel young at 55…me too! I’m older by a month. Make a birthday wish by rubbing your little Z bronze. LOL. Blessings to you on your special day!
Rosemary McCauley - Southern California
Happy Birthday Dawn Conrad!
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
@ Dear Dawn C – Many Happy Returns from Vic, Susan and Me. We had a very special year, getting to meet you at Lane’s End and I’m hoping to see you again at Santa Anita. Glad to hear that your Mom is doing well, say Hi from us.
@ Diana S – The local TV weather man reported snow in Arizona so I’m hoping that you are not snowed in.
@ Abigail – I think we’ve been lucky so far on the weather front and I’m sure your hooves are crossed that Quebec doesn’t get another ICE STORM, it was really the worst time. I loved your Black Caviar aka Nelly story, thank you.
Cynthia H./Where Zenyatta Danced
Dearest Zenyatta,
There will always be far more smiles connected to the memory of your name, than there ever were tears. The three-year reign of your career was the stuff of which dreams are made for a devout racing fan, and illuminated my life with joy. For this, and for your amazing connections who made it all possible, I will be forever grateful.
However, there was one day which was especially poignant, and that was December 5, 2010—your Fan Appreciation Day at Hollywood Park. The weeks leading to the big event were filled with a mixture of excited anticipation and angst-ridden dread at the thought that our lives would continue, but without your glowing presence. The night of December 4th was especially wrenching. From the time I began following your career, Zenyatta, I always said a little prayer for you as soon as my head hit the pillow, happy in the knowledge that you were tucked all cozy in your stall, only a 45-minute drive away. I loved knowing that we shared the same nights, and somehow felt that, as long as you were close-by, all would be well in my world. On the night of your final rest in Stall 85 at your beloved Barn 55 South, I realized that we would no longer be sharing the same time and place, and I grieved as if facing the loss of a most irreplaceable friend. Tears on my pillow.
I remember your Appreciation Day as a kaleidoscope of faces, moments, and emotions so inter-mixed and of such intensity that I still have not and may never be able to translate these feelings and images into a cohesive memory. What I do have, is a copy of a message which I sent to a very dear friend:
“Our precious Zenyatta has now gone from California, sent away with many tears and cheers and a wonderful day in her honor. The saddest moment for me was when I watched her walking away down the hometstretch, her figure becoming progressively smaller and smaller, until she disappeared into the distance. Then, as if on cue, the skies opened and a gentle rain began to fall. It had held off all day, but as Zenyatta vanished from view, our entire world darkened. We shall not see her like again.”
Jeanie
LauraJ
Little Cloud a dust cloud????? Cough, choke…LOL. I think in my mind I was thinking a gray roan, not red. Oh well, whatever s/he is, I’m sure we’ll all love him/her. That is funny!
Max
Zenyatta. Great news that you had a visit from your owners. Looking forward to the photos. I hope that everything will be back to normal soon for Dottie and John.
@Sign and Abigail. You might get a little laugh out of this video of US jumping champion, Breezie Madden, and her horse, Authentic. He has a mind of his own. He is a great jumper and he proves it. Breezie was okay. There was a horse at Churchill Downs a few years ago who was bumped coming out of the gate. He jumped the rail sideways. It was very impressive jumping work for a race horse. He probably saved his rider from injury.
http://wn.com/Beezie_Madden_and_Authentic
Peg
Love you Z girl. Hope your little peanut is okay. Also hope your wonderful owners get some electricity soon.