Good Morning,
Last year, on this very date, was my first full day living in Lexington, Kentucky….at Lane’s End Farm. Here is MY JOHN walking ME around in the area right by my new barn. He was helping ME in the acclimation process to my new world. We were both so cozy and warm in our wonderful winter jackets enjoying quality time together…just as we had done so many times during the prior 5 years.
MEMORIES….they are truly something to hold dear! A charming friend of Dottie’s who was a very talented artist, Joy, used to always comment to her that “MEMORIES ARE ONE’S BEST PAINTINGS”!
It has been a fabulous year….and I am blessed in so many ways.
One very special way, which I deeply treasure is ALL of YOU. I am still in awe of how many special and loving FRIENDS I have….from all over the world.
Just yesterday, MY JOHN received a FAN LETTER from a 10 year old American girl, Tessa Mc Dowell, who lives in Moscow, Russia. She loves horses and horse racing. To quote Tessa, “I especially love the beautiful mare you trained, ZENYATTA. She is one amazing horse; one of the greatest ever.”
Tessa wanted to know all about ME….what it was like to train ME… how I was as a race horse and how I am doing now. This is so special. I feel very touched for several reasons. As I mentioned earlier in this Diary posting…I AM BLESSED IN SO MANY WAYS.
Additionally, as today marks my one year anniversary living at the farm, I’d also like to thank LANE’S END and ALL of the wonderful people here who have worked so hard to make this transition to my new ‘MOM-TO-BE’ life so relaxing and enjoyable for ME. To Charles, Matt, Sarah, and Donna….a special HIGH HOOF to each of you for all that you do for ME each day!
I am truly one very fortunate HORSE!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(A special HELLO to Tessa in Moscow!)
Z
Nancy O.
We can’t believe our good fortune that you are still such a big part of our lives. We are so grateful to continue seeing you and reading your “journal”. I think about you every day…you are MY Horse of a lifetime and I treasure every tidbit of information about you. You have a fabulous set of connections and they are a wonderful example for all aspects of the horse world. They not only take good care of you and their other horse, but help with charities of all kinds. Cheers and Blessings to all!!!!
Carol
We love you Zenyatta! Wishing you and your TEAM and your Lane’s End family the happiest of the holiday season and a wonderful New Year which is going to be very special for you indeed! Can’t wait. Here’s wishing all of your fans the greatest holidays ever. Since I’m a resident of the U.S. Virgin Islands I also wish you all “warm” and cozy holidays.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Precious Z.–can it possibly have been a year? It seems like yesterday that I saw the video of you running free for the first time at LE. It’s as if you said, “May I really RUN…on my own?’ And the answer was … “YES!” What a sight you were. I’m so glad we have it preserved on video.
Thank you,Dottie, for welcoming us into Z’s family.
Thank you, LE staff for caring for OUR girl so well.
Thank you, Tessa McDowell, for taking the time to write to our John. Hope you can join us here on the diary.
Thank you, Kari Bussell, for posting that lovely video “The Elegance of Zenyatta”.
Lovely posts from everyone.
Roberta Smith
Hello Pretty Girl! I, too want to thank all the wonderful people at Land’s End for taking such great care of your for all of us that love you! I love you Zenyatta!
Barbara Wood (Texas)
A heartfelt thank you to all who have served or are serving in our armed forces. We owe our freedom to them all. The Arizona memorial is quietly convicting. When we were there a few years ago, we could still see the oil coming up from the ship.
I’ve mentioned this before, but anyone interested in the history of our country concerning various wars would enjoy the books by Jeff Shaara.(Revolution, Civil War, Mexican War, WWI, WWI, etc. Some are more than one volume. What makes them so good is that they are told from the viewpoint of the people fighting in them.
Kay
We are all sooo blessed by the memories you have given us!
Paula Higgins
Happy birthday Dawn! Yes, it is also Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I am very grateful to all the men and women who fought in WW II and in all wars fought for America (John in Vietnam). Zenny, hard to belive it has been one full year you have been in Kentucky. I know you have had a remarkably smooth transition thanks to the wonderful people at Lane’s End. I also know your California family misses you terribly. They will keep visiting you, not to worry. Keep warm big girl, it is getting cold down here.
LouAnn Cingel of Union, Missouri
Oh my, how time flies. And yes, one yr ago you left your home of Barn55 at Hollywood Park to the farm, Lane’s End in Kentucky. Seems just like yesterday though that you were on the track racing and filling the air with your electricity. We all have been so lucky to have in our lives for all the years and to still have you as a large part of our lives. Have to thank your owners, Mr. & Mrs. Moss, John & Dottie Shirreffs, and all those at Lane’s End for making it possible for you to continue to be in our lives. You definitely have so many people who love you and keep up with what is going on in your life.
It is so great that you are doing so well and that you are as happy as you are. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of you and smile. Thanks so much for the memories as they are one of the greatest things I have, and they could never be replaced! Love you so much! Sending my Love & Blessings
Diahann Perrin
Sending u lots of love from Australia Queen Z!
Kendra
Looks like the http://www.bloodhorse.com rankings currently have Zenyatta in first place for most intriguing Horse of 2011, Mike Smith as most intriguing person and Zenyatta’s being chosen Horse of the Year 2010 as the most interesting moment. Bloodhorse is making a pamphlet of all in the rankings with pictures, stories, etc. and that booklet is now for sale. Just an FYI.
Janis
Zenyatta, from what I can see from the live cam at the KHP, it is dry there today. Cigar, won’t you come out to play? Dottie thanks for the Diary updates, I know life must be pretty hectic right now. We really appreciate you.
Especially Horses / California
@sharon in seattle: Yes we are!
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@JAG – Happy to see Nehro in the news again. He is amazing. I have tried to see if there was any new information on the jockey Eibar Coa who was so seriously injured awhile back. This is about his young son, but it does say he is definitely improving. He is quite an inspiration, just as you are Ms. Zenyatta. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66481/eibar-coas-son-kieber-launches-career
Especially Horses / California
@Kari Bussell: I hadn’t seen that video, so beautiful and moving. Thank you for posting.
Trisha
I cannot believe a year has passed since you moved to your new home. I was so upset to think you were leaving your family and friends in CA. How they must miss you. You are a very lucky girl to have an extended family in KY to take care of you. Thanks to all who care for you and keep you safe. Dottie thank you for your patience with Zenyatta and learning how to talk Zenyatta. You are very special also. Ann this to you, I forgot to ask you at Zenyatta’s party if you have suceeded in getting Jerry to let “Z” live in your back yard yet? That is really where she belongs. Close to her home and family.
Hope the weather is not too bad in KY. The rain is beginning here in VA.
Love hugs and kisses to you Zenyatta and to all your family.
Laura
Time flys!!!! :) soon your baby will be born :D <3
Linda from Chicago
@ Kari Bussell – Thank you for the beautiful, beautiful, beautiful “Elegance of Zenyatta”- youtube from RuffianA101. Just a perfect way to celebrate Zenny’s one year anniversary at Lanes End. Happy Anniversary Z!!!!! I have to go back and watch it again and again . . .
JSmith
I can’t believe a whole year has gone by, how lucky you are Zenny to be so well taken care of at beautiful Lanes End. A huge thank you to all your connections who take such good care of us, your fans, too. How lucky we are to still be a part of your life, to be updated so often, educated, inspired to do good for other horses, to have found new friends, and most of all, to feel wanted in a business that hasn’t always done it’s best in that regard. What a magnificent impact you have had (and still do) on racing. On another horse note, if anyone still needs holiday gifts (especially for themselves) Trott (who retrain retired racehorses for a 2nd career) have a coffee table book of beautiful photo’s of Trott horses in training, as well as pix from Hollywood Park, including one of Z’s Mikey. All proceeds go to Trott horses. There is also a calendar. Go to http://www.trottusa.org for details & to order. I will post a link below where you can view some of the photo’s by CJ Wheeler. They are gorgeous.
Shannon from Cool
Hi Tessa,
Greetings from California.
Glad you are following Zenyatt’s life. She IS an amazing horse person.
JSmith
Here is link to Cj Wheeler facebook page, you don’t have to join fb. This link should take u directly to one of her photo’s and from there u should be able to click ‘next’ or ‘previous’ to view more of the photo’s she took for Trott, many of which will appear in the book for sale on Trott’s website. 12 of her photo’s will be on the calendar, they were voted on by Trott followers. Thanks for taking an interest in helping Trott retrain horses. https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=2083087356867&set=t.1235590372&type=1&theater
Terry Crow
@Judy Berube and Susan in TN-Good to be back. Even when you know, you never know. @Sue Noel–Thank you. @Barbara Wood-Jeff Shaara is the best. His father wrote Killer Angels, a book about Gettysburg. You can’t go wrong with any of these novels. Today’s joke. The way I heard it it was Irishmen, but feel free to use any types that you like-Six retired Irishmen were playing poker. Paddy Murphy lost $500 in one hand and died at the table. Out of respect, the others quit playing. Michael O’Leary, the host, said “Someone is going to have to tell Paddy’s wife. Lets cut the cards with the low man being designated to tell her.” After the deck was cut, Sean Gallagher was the winner/loser. He went over to Murphy’s house and knocked on the door. Murphy’s wife appeared. Gallagher said “Your husband just lost $500 in a poker gamer and is afraid to come home.” “Tell him to drop dead,” Murphy’s wife said. “I’ll go tell him,” said Gallagher. @Rosemary McCauley and Diana S, charter members of the Arizona/New Mexico chapter-You might be a redneck if you’ve ever shook hands with the Tidy Bowl Man. @Judy Berube, president of the New England chapter-You might be a redneck if you ever left moonshine for Santa. @Susan in TN and Kari Bussell-You might be a redneck if you ever made a Budweiser and deer smoothie. You might be a redneck if you’ve ever used ear wax as chapstick. You might be a redneck if you’ve ever had a family member entered in the livestock exhibit at the county fair.
JSmith
NOTE: if u go to link for CJ’s pix, it’s only the ones that say TROTT under them that will be in the book! Just the first few, others are from different photo shoots.
Kaylee
Hey Zenny! Hope you are having a GREAT time at Lane’s End. Love you always! Your my favorite racehorse, retired or not! Love ya! <3
Marilu V.
Dear Zenyatta: I remember how we all felt when you were leaving for Lanes End. I pictured how your John, Mario, the Moss’ and everyone who loves you felt when they had to say good bye leave you behind. It was a sad day for them and for all of us. But with Dottie’s help you are not so far away. You made an impact in my life when I needed it the most. That is why you are very special to me. Love and hugs, Marilu
Jan OConnor
Queen Z you really are a treasure. I love the pic of you and your John walking side by side. You both look deep in thought like the camera caught you in the middle of a deep discussion. Happy Anniversary dear one and you and wiggles be safe. Thank you dawn for the poem.
Ingrid Arnone. South Beach.
Yes, memories are wonderful, I have so many… The photo of you and your John is so touchy, My dear Zenyatta the same way you care about us your fans, we care about you, I can tell we all love you very much, look at this little girl Tessa, she is so adorable, she live so far away and she wants to know everything about you, this is the reason I love to read your diary every day. Love you always Ingrid.
Marilu V.
@ Hello Tessa! So happy to hear you are a Zenyatta fan. Hope you can visit the US one of these days. Regards, Marilu
@ Hi Jag :Thanks for the news and link on Nehro. Marilu
JEANINE MARONEY
WHAT A GREAT HORSE TRAINER JOHN SHERRIFS IS – THIS PICTURE SAYS IT ALL ZENYATTA HE THINKS THE WORLD OF YOU AND SO DO ALL YOUR FANS. I LONG TO ONE DAY JUST STAND WITHIN A FOOT OF YOU TO ADMIRE YOU CLOSELY. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND ALL AT LANES END FARM, THE SHERRIFS AND MR AND MRS MOSS.
KikiSim GA/VA
Tessa,
As Shannon said, glad you love Zenyboo too!
Zenyatta,
This past year was great… but so were YOU, and still are. Lights up my day to know you are so happy with your new home and job..
Keep us updated! Love ya big girl.
signofthetimes
Dear Zenny
Such a great photo of you and YOUR JOHN
On your first snowy day at LE. So glad that you
Have had a wonderful year and are IN FOAL, which
was the plan. So look forward to seeing you gallop
The paddock with your little one soon. XXXXOOO