Good Morning, Everyone!
I truly love to stand in my paddock and GREET all of my Lane’s End Pals as they are busy driving around the farm and working. I must say that is one of the greatest parts of where TASTY and I have our paddock…we are right in the middle of everything. It is absolutely fabulous!
Chris Balmes asked yesterday in the Diary Responses if TASTY and I will continue to be together once we have our foals. The answer is YES. The normal plan is to keep ‘foaling mares’ who are due at the same time together. Once their babies are born…they are able stay together as their foals are approximately the same age. Obviously, MOTHER NATURE plays a part in all of this…but that is the plan at this time.
My FARM FAMILY is so forward thinking. I believe this is one of the reasons they wanted TASTY and I together from the beginning. Not only do WE get along fabulously and our personalities blend together extremely well…but our paths in life are very similar. We are both ‘maiden’ or first time mares having our first foals. We were bred and conceived on exactly the same day…which I personally think is TOO CUTE. Thus, our babies are due at exactly the same time. All of this establishes a wonderful pattern which should allow US to remain friends for quite some time. LUCKY US!
On another note, when I wrote the entry for yesterday’s Diary, I did not know about the passing of INDIAN CHARLIE. ALL BLESSINGS to him! What a wonderful racehorse and stallion! HE will be deeply missed.
I imagine all of this is truly a reminder that LIFE is so very precious. It is important to treasure and appreciate each moment as it is happening…and the FRIENDS you are sharing these special times with each day!
To ALL OF YOU, who are so special and have shared so much with ME each day….here’s wishing YOU a peaceful and wonderful weekend!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
signofthetimes
@Kari B
Thanks for posting the link about AP Indy speical. Can hardly wait to see it. You can see his grey facial hairs on the preview of his halter with name.
WOW!!!! whoever thought a crypt orchid could be so productive in the breeding shed to create his own “royal line”. I guess they did not geld him because of his pedigree. He did have surgery as the the issue was bothering his racing (pain).
signofthetimes
@Sandy from Ohio
HAPPY HAPPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!!
Love the poem Trina N.
signofthetimes
It will be really great to see if Rapid Redux gets chosen for the Vox Populi; There is a great Inside Information on Secretariat and in that segment; one of the marketers talks to Penny about a Secretariat bobble head; he reminds her that the $2 wagers, a very important part of the business and the really want a bobble head; she said Oh yes, lets go forward and they made a whimsical bobble head of Secretariat; it is very very very cute;
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Was there a Zenyatta bobble head??? I have heard there was.
Julie DuVall
Zenny, your box of goodies is ready to go! I hope it reaches you in time for Christmas. Tell YOUR JOHN that a package is on its way to Barn 55 as well!
The wind is blowing here in So Cal again … I hope all is well in Arcadia!
signofthetimes
Kari B
Love the link to LE Stallions; also the video of Courageous Cat and the mile; really love Liberian Freighter; Anyone form CA know what has happened to him; really love that name.
Sue MacGray
And to you Zenyatta and to Tasty, also. (and all of your wonderful connections) I’ve been having a difficult time checking up on you lately, what with the Christmas rush upon us.
Take care of your little one, and please keep us posted (as you have so well) about all the developments at Lane’s End….
Cynthia H./Santa Anita Girl
To all Southern Cqlifornia Dumplings attending the races today—have a super time! Best of luck to BLINGO and HIGH GREELEY! Root them home for all of us! (cough cough cough)
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
So many wonderful posts and information on this site in addition to what we get from Zenny(Dottie)!
@Kari Bussell thank you so much for the link to A P INDY on LE’s site and the preview video. I am just SICK the tribute will be on HRTV and not TVG because, of course, I get the latter. Will they put it on You Tube?? He is to me what John Henry is to JAG, I just adore him and admire what he has produced!When I visited him at LE I put a lipstick kiss on his nose and his groom just laughed, he told me when INDY goes he’ll have to retire he loves him so much. He is just so sweet!
I’ve said it before he has a Facebook page with only 400+ fans, and I feel more people should friend him. Maybe after this tribute people will take notice of what a great stallion he is. On his Facebook you can look at pics of all his wonderful sons, daughters, and grandkids and I get updates all the time about them. REALLY NEAT!!
@SIGN OF THE TIMES I got my Z bobblehead on EBAY but they were giving them out at some of her races. Bet they still have some on EBAY. They’re so cute.
@SANDY in Ohio Happy Birthday and many more!
@TRINA you are so amazing and so kind to take time to write poems for everyone. HUGS.
Cynthia H./Santa Anita Girl
@Kari B: YOu ALWAYS make me feel better! 12th Heart.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
@Trina Nagele in So Cal
Wow! You really pay attention, and I am so honored to have a Trina poem! Actually the birthday has come and gone (alas, I am sometimes “the turkey” which my friends find hysterically funny when it happens) but this was truly a very special surprise.
My tree is now up (pre-lit really helps) and Zenyatta is so far the ONLY ornament. The person in charge of “heavy work” got it together and has brought the ornaments down for leisurely hanging up. Thanks for the info about the newsletter – I can now officially “give up” trying to make it work.
@Karen Gogue
Thank you for the Birthday wishes. I always seem to wait too long to post something, and then everyone is on to the next post. Did you ever see my “cat vs Christmas tree” story back on 394? Hope your kitties have calmed down some, and your tree is intact :-)
@Kari B
Dayton TN isn’t completely unknown to us northerners. My parents (after much moving around) wound up in Chattanooga because my sister and her family lived in northern Georgia. When I visited, I always had to add “Ohio” when I said I was from Cleveland (people would look at me like I wasn’t talking “right” for someone from Cleveland TN), and you are right up the road from there. I actually know somebody who lives in Soddy Daisy (now THERE is a name for you!).
@signofthetimes and Sue Fredrick (another northerner!) – many thanks for the Birthday wishes.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@Sandy in Ohio–HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
@Trina–thank you for another sweet poem!
@Cynthia H.–get-well hugs!
The Kennedys in San Diego
@signofthetimes — Great series of articles on training and tying-up. Thank you. You are one of this site’s most informative researchers and librarians.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
ALL: Kimberly Potter sent me this link, and I wanted to share it with you. It gave me goosebumps! Wish I had been there! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRc3Ev05QiM&feature=share
carol in utah
CIGAR SIGHTING….he’s got his coat on… must be chilly….zenny i hope both you and tt are keeping warm and staying snug.. have a great weekend…. we know that all will be well because our wonderful Queen Z is overseeing it all…
Jenna
Love you pretty, girl!
And thank you for everything, Dottie, the ‘other’ pretty girl.
Merry Christmas! and Happy Holidays!
signofthetimes
@Sandy
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio and went to
Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve;
Go Bucks !!!!!
Now a Cowboy Redneck !!!!
signofthetimes
Have been thinking about this for a while.
Zenny will be nominated to the Racing Hall of
Fame.
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I sure hope at that time John Sherriffs is
Also nominated as a Hall of Fame trainer, his modesty,
great talent as a trainer and horseman ( the best
combination) should be recognized. How can we
as fans make this happen.
signofthetimes
@The Kennedy’s
I am thinking about both of you and your future
Breeding farm. Also really love your links and
Ability to keep us up close with all of the talent
In CA.
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
@signofthetimes
I went to CWRU too (3 times!). The first time it was just WRU (before the merger). What a small world!
@Ann Maree
The first time I ever tried to post anything I got that “being moderated” reply and there were certainly no links in the post (I thought maybe I was being “checked out” or something – ha, ha). As someone else noted, it never gets “moderated” and never appears. It was a while before I tried again. I think it’s just a hiccup in the system.
signofthetimes
@Sue Fredrick
William Farrish owner of Lanes End was the brain
Child who created AP Indy. He owned has Dam and
Bred her to Slew and thn sold him for over 2 million
And then kept him to breed and create an empire. I am so
Amazed at how all of these long time breeders, owner,
Trainer create these wonderful horses.
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Just like Zenny was created by Eric Kronfeld. He had
A wonderful broodmare in “V” and chose a first year
Champion sire, Street Cry to create Zenny.
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Hats off to these wondeful talented men who have
Brought us such joy and fun!!!!!
Liahna Atrmstrong
Dear Z,
I followed your racing career zealously from the beginning with great reverence. I flew down from Seattle where I live to San Diego to watch you race in the Clement Hirsch in 2010, and I got to meet John Shirreffs on that trip, though a remarkable set of circumstances. I stood at the paddock and you came within two feet of me. You danced for my camera and gave me memories to last a lifetime. I’m writing now because I want very much at some point in the future to get to see you in the flesh. I know that Lane’s End has very strict policies about visitors, and particularly in the case of mares who are in foal or eligible to be mated. I’m hoping one of your handlers or website managers can let me know if it will be possible at some time in the future to visit you? I’m a lifelong racing fan, and have followed many great horses. Never, though, did I experience the uplift and the sheer bliss of seeing a horse with your combination of gifts–gifts you demonstrated every single time you raced. One of my most heartfelt beliefs is that you did not lose the 2010 Breeders Cup–you came in second by a hair. Your run from last to almost first in the final stretch was one of the most riveting performances by a racehorse ever. You will always be the winner of that race in my eyes, and you will always be the horse that did more for horseracing’s stature with the people than any thoroughbred since Seabiscuit.
Please know, as I suspect you already do, that there are thousands of people out there like me who adore you and will always esteem your contributions to the great sport of horseracing. I hope that I may sometime in the future get to see you again. With much love, Liah
signofthetimes
@Sandy
Very small world. Developed an interest in horses as a child at summer
Camp, but unable due to family finances (blue collar saltire)
Continue. Took up snow skiing until finished PhD and then
started riding hunter jumpers for about 8 years. Last
rode a $150,000 Argentinean warmblood jumper baby only
6. He was such a talent and really liked me and was very
Happy when I rode him. I got so very spoiled. He was quite the
Man, Vincenzo was his name, Vinney for short. So very different
From the TB that I so love, though.
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Don’t know how the jockeys keep riding after riding
such talented champions like Zenny. Guess always
Looking for the next great one to take them to the moon.
signofthetimes
@Sandy
I had two awaiting moderation the other day
And they were both posted within 15 minutes.
There maybe a live/computer moderator now. In the past,
I am not sure their was.
Louise Castello
Beautiful Zenyatta! Thank you for sharing your life with us all. THANK YOU AGAIN TO MIKE SMITH for having his charity of the day on the 13th be Heart of Tucson! A wonderful thing! I’ve been so worried about the great Dyna King they are helping. I HOPE EVERYONE keeps this son of Dynaformer in their prayers and does any little thing they can. I love you Zenyatta and all your people.
Carmela B
Lady Z–reading your posts always makes my day! Thank you for sharing yourself with us…hoping & praying you & Tasty have healthy foals with easy deliveries!
Dale Parrent
My Zenyatta Christmas Tree Ornament arrived today. It is great. It is now hanging proudly on my Christmas Tree,for all my friends and family to see. Thanks.
zenyattaloveramy!
awwww! thanks zeny! you have a great weekend too!! FROM YOUR BIGGEST FAN AMY.
sharon in seattle
@Liahna Armstrong – you’re in Seattle too – yay!! We should get together and compare memoribilia — and memories!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
WOW! Thank you, Barbara Wood and Kimberly Potter, for that link! The video of the horses being rescued from the island in the Netherlands was FANTASTICALLY BEAUTIFUL—the music by Vangelis was stirring too and matched the scenes perfectly. Next to that video was a lovely video of Icelandic stallions that I also enjoyed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XepkKGg8JLQ&feature=related
@Sandy in NE Ohio—I’m sorry the birthday poem turned out to be belated—next year I’ll know it’s in November, not December. I’m glad you enjoyed it in any event.
@Celeste in TX—I know your birthday is this week (the week before Christmas), but I don’t know the date.
Sue Fredrick - Wisconsin
@SIGNOFTHETIMES yes, thank you I did know Will Farish bred Indy and then sold him to a Japanese businessman who named him, I would still like to know what A P stands for. Mr. Farish then bought an interest back and stood him at LE. You sound like you like him too, so go to his Facebook and marvel at all the wonderful horses he has produced.
@BARBARA WOOD thank you so much for that video link, it really was moving. God Bless those women who cared so much they figured a way to save those beautiful creatures.