Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #418

ME….grazing at Oaklawn Park the day before my last Apple Blossom victory! Photo by John Shirreffs


Happy Friday, Everyone!

This is the beginning of a very busy and exciting weekend in sports!

Today, OAKLAWN PARK will open for its’ 108th SEASON of racing. This track offers a very competitive stakes program which will conclude in April with the “Racing Festival of the South”. The “Festival” runs from April 11-14th. This is the week when the Apple Blossom G1…one of my very favorite races…will take place. Also, the Arkansas Derby G1 will run at this time. For years, the horses running contentiously in these events have consistently performed at a high level in stakes programs throughout country.

I’d also like to wish their new announcer, Frank Mirahmadi, all the best. Frank has called races in California and worked in television for the last several years. Frank is replacing their long-time race caller and the voice of Oaklawn for decades, Terry Wallace. Mr. Wallace called over 20,000 Oaklawn races during his career including both of my APPLE BLOSSOM victories. ALL THE BEST to both of these men in their future endeavors!

Jennifer Hoyt is the Media Relations Manager at Oaklawn and I know her very well. She and her husband, Rolly, were assigned by The Breeders’ Cup to ME and BARN 55 to work with MY JOHN on media events during the entire month before the 2010 Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs. They did a wonderful job…and we couldn’t THANK THEM enough for all of their help and assistance.

On Saturday, we begin a 3 day weekend of great racing around the country. On top of this, the Pro Football Play-off games take place. This is TOO CUTE! There is a quarterback in Denver named TIM TEBOW. He is really getting people excited about football. From what I am hearing, even people who normally don’t follow the sport are tuning in to watch him play. HMMM…sounds familiar! I keep teasing TASTY that he has the same initials as she does…TT. HOOVES CROSSED for all of the teams to play their very best!

Sunday, the VOX POPULI award will be given to RAPID REDUX during a ceremony which will take place at Santa Anita. This year’s selection was done differently than when I received this award in 2011…..they had the fans vote and be a part of the selection process. Congratulations to Rapid Redux on being this year’s deserving winner of the VOX POPULI AWARD! He had a very exciting year!

Finally, on Monday night, the Eclipse Awards will take place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. The ceremony will begin at 8 Eastern Time / 5 Pacific …scheduled to last approximately 2 1/2 hours. If you are unable to attend, they will be broadcast live on HRTV. You may also view them on DRF.COM, RTN.TV, and HRTV.COM from the reports we are receiving. The horses nominated in ALL categories are very deserving of this honor…and it will be so exciting to see who wins this year’s HORSE OF THE YEAR! Hmmm….could it be a FILLY or MARE again?

Enjoy all of these great activites! Have a wonderful weekend…and on Monday…may we all take a moment to reflect upon the reason we are having this special holiday to observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

531 Comments

  1. / Reply

    @Trina Nagele – You’ve outdone yourself once again. Your poems for Margie, Karen and Sgt. Reckless are absolutely beautiful!
    @Margie – Happy Belated Birthday!
    @Karen Gogue – Happy Birthday!
    @Terry Crow – Your redneck jokes just keep getting funnier and funnier. That’s cool that you have a bassett hound. My best friend has one named Oliver and he is hilarious! He’s constantly getting into some kind of mischief, but you can’t get upset with him. One look in those big, droopy eyes and your heart just melts.

  2. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Karen – May you enjoy your special day in style.
    I think I read that Loro was scratched today on my Equibase notice. Hope he is ok.
    Should be a great day of racing today and tomorrow . A safe trip to all.
    Trina you are a treasure and so blessed with writing skills. Truly amazing.

    Zenyatta and Tasty, stay toasty !
    Hugs and kisses on your noses.
    Got my 25 Bloodhorse magazine and love all the pictures. I do believe my favorite is the snow on your muzzle!!!

  3. / Reply

    Dear J Smith ( So Cal) Hope I got that right. My name is spelled Delrene , it’s different…. and yes Southerna California German Shepherd Rescue ALWAYS is hoping for approved foster homes. They have a website and are in Orange County and San Diego Co. We always hope for foster homes as opposed to the kennel as try as we might, they don’t quite get the type of attention that they would get in a foster home situation. Thanks so much for your interest and yes, guard dogs are so happy to get Belly Rubs…… My Tessa looks formidable, but my cats are the “boss” of her. She is “dog selective” and chooses her friends, so we aren’t dog park material, but she has some super best girlfriends that she has known since she was 2 months old, and she has playmates. Truly a special presence in my life and we who are animal lovers wouldn’t have it any other way than life with 4 legged creatures, big and small.
    Thanks for your interest and it’s difficult to let them go, but they will tell you when they are ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge.

  4. / Reply

    HI Z family Happy Birthday to Karen G. May God Bless you always. I am off to make cookies for my dad. He is 87 and misses my mom’s baking. I make him brownies all the time. I hope Dawn is feeling better. Mistletoe runs in race 3 tomorrow. RUN MISTLETOE RUN !!!!!
    I love you Zenyatta. Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO

    • / Reply

      Shari, it is wonderful that you are having great times with your Dad. I posted about my Dad, who was such a Zenny Fan too. He and I were able to watch together Zenny win several races before he went on to be with our Lord. I loved reading your post today – it brought back so many memories for me. Thank you so much for that!
      Love and blessings to you and your Dad!

      • / Reply

        Elizabeth, what a beautiful memory of your father. I am so glad you were able to spend such happy times together watching Zenyatta. Thank you for sharing. Bless you!!

    • / Reply

      Hi, sweet Shari! My fur babies are taking very good care of me. They follow me everywhere and sleep with me whether I am on the couch or in bed. I definitely do not lack for warmth. So glad you had a good day with your Dad and the brownies sound yummy!! Love to you!

    • / Reply

      @shari Voltz in Ohio. I am so glad for you that you get to spend time with your Dad. I lost my Dad suddenly and unexpectadly in 1996. I know if he would have been around he would have been a great Zenyatta lover with me and all of us. He is the one who first introduced me to horses and taught me the love for them. This was a special bond between him and me and I will always love him for this. Treasure this time with your Dad. We never know how long our time with loved ones will last.

  5. / Reply

    Kari Bussell- You are amazing!! You fill our world with joy and hope and love. You are a treasure, just as our dear Zenyatta is.
    Thank you for all you share and do for all of the Z Dumplings.
    With my love and admiration, Mary

    • / Reply

      Mary Copelin- I don’t have words for such high praise, Thank you for such beautiful words to me. I am deeply touched and honored.

  6. / Reply

    @ Karen G Happy Birthday! Isn’t it more wonderful to have a birthday celebration in this awesome ZENNY FAMILY?! Wishing you many of God’s blessings.
    @ Dawn Hope and pray you are feeling well very soon! Love all of your posts and especially your love for ZENNY. Will be praying especially for you tonight, Dawn.

  8. / Reply

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Karen Gogue!!! I’ll try to do something more creative, but wanted to get something posted before it’s too late.
    Trina – wonderful poems as always! You are SO creative! :-)
    Sandy

  10. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Karen Gogue!
    Dawn – I hope you fell better soon!!
    RIP Raw Moon, a grand-daughter of A.P Indy, who suffered a fatal cardiovascular collapse after finishing 5th in the 9th race at Aqueduct today. Gone too soon – she was only three-years old. Jackie Davis, the jockey who was riding Fundsalo Jones, who fell over the stricken horse, was taken to the hospital where X-rays turned out to be negative; however, she will undergo a CT-scan tonight. Hopefully, the scan will be negative also. Her mount Fundsalo Jones (a daughter of Smarty Jones), was uninjured: http://www.drf.com/news/aqueduct-jackie-davis-bruises-collarbone-last-race-spill

  11. / Reply

    I didn’t make it to S.A. to root for the Vox Populi award for Rapid Redux but high hooves to him and his connections! Can someone give me the rundown for west coast time and channel of the Eclipse Awards? Thanks!

  13. / Reply

    Terry…LOL!!! The curb hits very close to home. I have a knack for catching them at most every turn and my family does not let me forget it.. Speed bump not needed :)))

    Karen..sorry this is a late Birthday Wish…but very heart felt. Hope this next year is the best ever.

    now going backwards to catch up on the last couple of days. Hope everyone had a great weekend. I have to catch up on the racing as well… Went up to to see my daughter and work on the wedding. Still have 6 months..but we were told we are behind. YIKES. So much more to it then 29 years ago.:)

    Sweet Dreams everyone. xoxo

    • / Reply

      Stephanie, please take it from someone who knows, DON’T stress about the wedding. It will all workout and be beautiful. Weddings take on a mind of their own and will be what they will be, but are always beautiful.

  14. / Reply

    Dear angel Zenyatta. Hope you had a wonderful, exciting and relaxing weekend like I did. Basketball, football, horseracing, lots of reading about thoroubreds, my husbands chili and last but not least the movie, Secretariat. I still cry everytime. Has anyone ever wondered what a match up between our Queen Z and Secretariat would have been. Our Queen is bigger than he was. We will never know but I truly love them both. Stay warm, stay well my angels Zenyatta and Tasty and all my Z dumplings friends on this site. Have a great week everyone.

  15. / Reply

    P.S. Zenny, if and when, they make a movie about you, it will have to be a week long mini-series. There is just to much awesomeness about you, Zenny to cover in a 2hr movie. Love you forever my angel.

    • / Reply

      Judy – Aren’t the babies just the cutest little ones ever!! One of the most beautiful sites I can imagine will be seeing Zenny peacefully grazing with her own foal by her side!!

      • / Reply

        Dear Dawn C.:
        The babies are just adorable. Can’t wait to see Z and her baby. (Don’t want to forget,TT and her baby). All of us are going to be such proud Aunties and Uncles. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Dear Vicki, Doreen and Max:
        So glad you enjoyed the photo of the new little guy. Max, thanks for for thinking of us. We’re managing pretty well. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Love Lanes End’s first foal; so amazing on a van ride and already turned out; he looks like a pro eating grass, too. Just so amazing they are so resilient yet so very very
      delicate.

  18. / Reply

    Dear Zenny, I hope you and Tasty T. have had a wonderful weekend! Hugs!!

    @Karen Gogue: Happy Birthday and all the Best Wishes for a great year!

  19. / Reply

    Karen G – To my amazing, talented, sweet, funny, wonderful, giving, gorgeous red-headed Z-Dumpling friend. There is not enough room here to utilize all of the superlatives that would truly describe you!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GIRLFRIEND!! Thank you for all of the special things you do!! I hope all of your dreams come true!! I can’t wait to give you a hug when we meet in person, but for now these will have to do! Love and Hugs. ((((((((( ))))))))))

  20. / Reply

    Hey Zenny, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and a happy holiday tomorrow.
    @Karen Happy Birthday and hope you have many many more.
    @Reneesgotzip a huge congratulations to you. Congrats also to City Zip & Distorted Humor’s No dress Cody. What a family. And a big Shout Out to Ocala Breeders Sales. Such a nice filly you sold. Wow I could have seen her I was there in April. Woo-Hoo. Congrats to everyone.
    Love You Zenny Counting the days, Oh my a filly or a Colt. Can’t wait. Love Ya.

  26. / Reply

    Is there anything more beautiful than seeing the little foal next to her Mother??? We will all look forward to that blessed day.
    Sad to read about the horse at Aqueduct. Gone too soon .

    Trina – you are an amazing woman and so talented beyond my words to describe.
    I had hoped to go to Santa Anita for the weekend of my birthday, but sadly my good friend Judy’s Mom passed away at 93 and her service will be this upcoming Saturday. She is my compadre and indulges me in my “horsey-loving” ways, and of course plan on supporting her in this difficult time.

    I will come up on another weekend when things settle down for her. Life is just so precious and we must live it every day. Trite but true.

    I watched lots of Zenyatta videos today, thanks to you Kari and enjoyed every one of them. Some are new to me. I never tire of your videos Zenyatta. You will always be the most special horse. I am so glad we saw you at some of your races. You are a lifeforce. Hope you and TT had a wonderful weekend. Time is passing so quickly it seems. Moms and babies will be in the news soon enough.

    • / Reply

      Delrene, So sorry to hear of the passing of your good friend’s mom. Prayers and best wishes to Judy at this time of sadness.

  27. / Reply

    Dear Debbie G., Z-friends,neighbors & family in the beautiful Great Commonwealth of Kentucky. For the very last time ( I pray!) I want to offer my Congratulations for beating my beloved Vols 3 times in a little over a month in football, men’s and women’s basketball.

  28. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Karen Gogue!
    – I hope you had a wonderful day and that All of Your Dreams come true this year…..Dreams do come true you know! May you know love , peace, laughter, health & Joy ! “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.”
    @Trina Nigale-…(speaking of angels)- You absolutely blow my mind with your poems. You keep my speechless. You are a blessing in every way. Thank you!!!

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