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

  3. / Reply

    Hi there Miss Zenyatta, Dottie, TT, Babies & Zensters:
    Another cold one in Montreal but less wind, so it actually feels milder. Thinking of you, Big Girl — not long now before it will be you + Baby X or Y!!!! And remembering this time last year, when you became our HOTY — I was so HAPPY that I started to CRY. Just picked this up off my FB Home page & as I don’t remember noticing it on the Saturday postings, here’s YOUR JOHN and YOUR SISTER, EBLOUISSANTE, together with her exercise rider, out training on Jan. 14th. TOO CUTE & gives one an idea of where Ebby is at re: making her first start if you listen & read between the lines @ near the end of the tape:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCGREpvAYps

    • / Reply

      Abigail – thanks for sharing this great video of Ebby going for her morning gallop. Can’t wait till her first race, whenever it will be. Love her ears, especially with the cotton in them and they’re very expressive too. As her exercise rider mentioned, she seems to be doing well on the main track – she seems to cover it with ease.

    • / Reply

      Dear Abigail from Montreal:
      Thank you so much for posting that training video of Eblouisantte. OMG, she is so beautiful; observant and calm. Then at one point, I thought she might sprout wings and lift off. She was flying. No mistaking those ears either. What a Doll. Love and Hugs, JB

  4. / Reply

    Dear Karen G:
    Wishing you the happiest birthday of all. Your kindness and caring along with great talent in making all those video, sending all those smartboxes; and just being a wonderful
    you. Love the video of “E”; she had such very thin long legs; I guess she is still a baby.
    Hope you are enjoying the races this weekend. Thanks so much for your great effort
    in creating and keeping Zenny’s Dumplings together.
    XXXXXXOOOOO

  5. / Reply

    Dearest Trina.
    What lovely poems you place on this site for us to read; a total of 3; you really out
    did your self; thanks so much for your sharing your creativity in creating all these
    wonderful; poems. Love them all and they just keep on getting better.
    XXXXXXOOOOO

  6. / Reply

    Dear Zenny,
    Hope you are having a great weekend with TT and all your Lanes End Friend’s.
    Eating for two; exercising and having fun playing. Love the awards Rapid Redux
    has been given; so glad he is getting a rest. That last race was a very big challenge for
    him with a foot not 100%. He did so great !!!!
    XXXXXOOOOO

  7. / Reply

    Good Morning Zenyatta. Hope you are enjoying your day. Just wanted to share with everyone that Super Saver’s first foal was born at 4:41 PM on 01/14/2012 at Winstar Farms. It is a filly by Yield to Faith. She weighed 120 pounds and is 42 inches tall. She is a cutie. Was able to watch the web cam they have in the foaling stall. Really great to watch. Can’t wait to see your foal Zenny. Have fun with TT. Love ya

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Jan, for the news of Super Saver’s first offspring! Congratulations to Super Saver, Yield to Faith, and all their connections!

  8. / Reply

    My sister-in-law, Beth Alexander, and I got to see you in the 2010 Apple Blossom. It was definitely a bucket list moment for both of us. I don’t think we will ever be that excited to see another horse race ever again. Everything pales next to you. We went to the 2011 Kentucky Derby BUT it didn’t compare to seeing you. We just love you.

    For anyone who has not been to Oaklawn Park, it is WONDERFUL. It is a great track and wonderful community. I was overwhelmed with how nice the people were. I definitely will go again if I ever get the chance.

    Love you forever Z!

    • / Reply

      Doreen – I was so saddened to read about the passing of wonderful Purim. I got to meet him a couple of years ago at Richland Hills Farm. I even posted a link to a video about him several weeks ago, where he is beautifully running across his paddock and Nathan Fox is talking about him and his future. He was absolutely the image of his father, Dynaformer, but very sweet. They were so great at the farm, taking me out to see the broodmares and foals after I had visited the stallions. I send my condolences to all of his connections and everyone at the farm on their tragic loss. RIP Purim.

  10. / Reply

    I have been hesitant to post the daily rednecks since it is so late in this diary entry. @signofthetimes-It ‘s tough being a teaser. However, here goes-@Rosemary McCauley, Denise in AZ and Diana S, charter members of the Arizona/New Mexico chapter-You might be a redneck if you’ve ever bought a used cap. @Marshall, president of North Carolina chapter-You might be a redneck if you don’t think baseball players spit and scratch too much. @Stephanie in San Diego and Vicki B, members of California chapter-You might be a redneck if you’ve ever been blacklisted from a bowling alley. @Judy Berube, president of New England chapter-You might be a redneck if your best friend is a raccoon. @Darlene Daniels, president of Indiana chapter-You might be a redneck if you’ve ever cooked Thanksgiving dinner in an easy-bake oven. @signofthetimes, president of Texas chapter-You might be a redneck if you’ve ever won a trophy with someone else’s name on it. @Debbie G, president of Kentucky chapter-You might be a redneck if the health inspector visits your mother’s restaurant and asks to see the body fluid clean up kit, and she points at the dog. @Brenda S, president and Abigail in Montreal, member of the Canadian chapter-You might be a Canadian redneck if you designed your Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit. @Sue Fredrick and Sally B, charter members of the Wisconsin chapter, presidency to be determined-You might be a redneck if you move to another state so you can buy beer on Sundays. @Susan in Tn and Kari Bussell-You might be a redneck if you have orange road cones in your living room. You might be a redneck if you don’t recognize several relatives when you are sober. You might be a redneck if a full moon reminds you of your mother-in-law pulling weeds. You might be a redneck if your daughter’s Barbie Dream House has a clothesline in the front yard. You might be a redneck if you know someone who dies during an apple bobbin’ contest.

  12. / Reply

    Dear Terry,
    Great jokes; love the apple bobbin’ one; glad you posted late to fill my early evening with laughter. Have a great time watching the Eclipse Awards tonight.

  13. / Reply

    RIP….I like the odds…just read a spider bite lead to laminitis…..if my mind is on track…recently won furturity at los alamosis….cant spell either

  16. / Reply

    Zenny, we hope you had a glorious weekend and enjoyed all the sporting events around the country. Hugs to you and TT.

  17. / Reply

    In tune with tonight’s Eclipse Awards, I have rewritten Debbie G’s old birthday poem from October, which I now offer to you in a new form in honor of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta (wins) and Blame (one of the losses, the other loss being Z’s in 2009.

    “Horse of the Year” –Wins and Losses, as Seen by Debbie G

    Born and raised in Lexington
    In the heart of Thoroughbred land,
    It comes naturally
    To Debbie G.
    To find thoroughbreds grand.
    In the spring of 2009,
    The stars in the East did align
    For a three-year-old filly
    So fine,
    And Rachel Alexandra by name,
    All the colts in the Preakness
    To beat—
    ’Twas a great feat
    Which brought Rachel fame
    And made Debbie feel giddily silly.
    With her win, this filly,
    Truly gifted,
    The racing scene
    Lifted
    From bleakness.
    Then one day Debbie confided
    To her dear stepdad Jim
    Her joy in Rachel’s run
    And in all the great filly had done.
    He to her replied,
    “Out west in the California sun,
    There’s another fabulous filly
    Who really can run…”
    Then in awe he repeated,
    “A filly who has nine times won
    And never once been defeated–
    She’s known as the Queen!”
    And that’s how Debbie G.
    First learned of Z.
    Soon came the Milady,
    And Debbie was glued
    To the TV
    To get her first view
    Of the great Z.
    One look
    Was all it took
    For Debbie on Z to be hooked–
    She would forevermore be
    A Z devotee!
    For 2009 Horse of the Year
    Some for Z would cheer,
    And some
    For Rachel Alexandra.
    It was Rachel in the end who that title won,
    But another chance for Z would come
    To get her due respect…
    (Permit me now please
    To skip ahead a spell
    To tell
    That tale in retrospect,
    In a manner indirect.)
    When in November 2010, Z, much admired,
    From racing retired,
    Our Debbie followed the new retiree
    On her Internet diary,
    And when summer again had come
    She
    By Dawn Conrad’s entry
    Was inspired
    To visit the farm of Claiborne,
    Where Dawn had had such fun.
    ’Twas early on a Sunday morn’
    When Debbie with her mom and Jim
    Arrived at the farm
    Of the famed
    Secretariat, Swale, and now Blame.
    Not a soul was about,
    So they tried to take stock,
    And meaning no harm
    Jim
    Headed in
    On the first door to knock,
    When who should step out
    But Seth Hancock!
    Imagine their shock!
    Jim, an ardent horse-racing fan,
    Had long idolized the man
    Who now shook his hand
    And who told him a guide
    Soon would come by
    If they a moment would bide.
    A little-tongue tied,
    Jim searched for some way to reply.
    What came to Jim’s mind
    After all that time
    Of being in awe
    Of the man he now saw?
    What could he find
    To say
    That day?
    Before Seth Hancock strode away,
    Jim blurted out
    In nearly a shout,
    “Your horse broke
    My daughter’s heart!”
    It gave Seth Hancock quite a start!
    Debbie’s heart was sinking—
    What had Jim been thinking!
    She felt the situation dire,
    For just a few months prior
    Hancock had lost to Z
    The award
    That had been his deep desire
    When Blame retired to stud:
    The coveted Horse of the Year.
    Debbie could hear her heart thud!
    Had they with those words their welcome outworn?
    Would Seth Hancock find Jim’s remark untoward
    And react with blazing scorn?
    She his reaction did fear,
    For she was remembering then
    How after Breeders’ Cup 2010,
    Seth Hancock in celebration
    Had made the declaration
    That Blame’s Breeders’ Cup Classic run
    Had just decided
    The 2010 Horse of the Year!
    He himself on Blame so prided
    Scant praise for Z passed his lips.
    Many felt he
    With his comments the prowess of Z
    Had derided…
    Then the night of the Eclipse
    He felt humiliation
    To hear
    What he had most feared—
    That Zenyatta had won the ‘race’
    For 2010 Horse of the Year!
    And that night
    He’d certainly lost the fight
    To hide his pain
    From public sight–
    It was all too plain
    To see
    There on his face.
    But on this sunny day
    In mid-July, he
    No longer did seethe,
    But did stay
    Gracious and calm–
    Perhaps the passage of time
    Had been a balm
    That helped him to cope?
    From Debbie’s party of three
    He politely took his leave
    And Debbie’s mind did relieve
    With the simple remark, quite kind,
    That it was his hope
    She might change her mind
    After meeting his horse….
    And she did, in a way,
    Of course,
    For when Debbie came
    Face to face
    With Blame,
    She truly felt sorry for him–
    He’d given his all to win,
    But who now spoke his name?
    Since those days
    The words of praise
    Are all for Z—
    In the end hers is the victory.
    Although the race
    That day Blame won,
    When all was said and done,
    Z had shown on that Churchill course
    That she was the better horse,
    As all at last could tell.
    Her perfect record fell,
    But not her fame!
    Though in that race
    She’d started so slow,
    Leaving herself too much to do,
    When at last
    She took up the chase,
    She came charging through,
    Surging so fast
    That with her closing burst
    She nearly took first!
    When she stormed from last to close
    And lose by just a nose,
    Her acclaim rose–
    She’d shown she truly was Queen
    Of the racing scene.
    And so on that visit to Claiborne,
    Not a year later,
    What did Debbie in the end do?
    Was her heart still torn
    In two
    By Z’s second place
    In her final race?
    Or did Debbie maybe choose
    Blame to stroke
    On the soft nose
    That had given him
    The win?
    I’d like to quote
    What Debbie once to us wrote:
    “No one likes a sore loser.”
    These days,
    That can cut both ways,
    I to myself propose…
    And Blame’s visitors say
    That he, for his part,
    Is a sweetheart,
    Who, like our Z,
    Does gratefully savor
    A peppermint candy,
    So maybe
    You’ll find it in your heart,
    Though that loss may still smart,
    To do Blame a small favor
    And keep a mint handy
    If him you will see.

  18. / Reply

    Hi Queen Z! Hope you had a pleasant weekend, but then your days are always pleasant are they not, as befitting your Queenly and mamma to be status, of course!
    @All: I have bee running around today so have not yet had time to read any detailed postings, except somewhere I in my rapid scanning I did see it was Karen Gogue’s b/day!! (sometime over weekend?) If I had known yesterday (my fault I am hopelessly behind) I would have given you a special birthday hug. Happy, happy birthday to our dear Karen!!!
    @Karen, JAG, JSmith: nice to see/talk to you yesterday, although with the latter it was a very quick bump. Although I did not purchase

  19. / Reply

    @Trina Nagele – Thank you for another amazing poem!
    @Terry Crow – I’m so sorry about your Bassett. They are such good, entertaining dogs. I’m glad you’ve got another dog now. I could never imagine my house without a four-legger in it.
    @Kari Bussell – Do you have My Old Kentucky Home on your voice mail now! LOL

  23. / Reply

    To My Z Family, Madame Mistletoe came in Third. I think she did very well. She has such heart. I just don’t like those claiming races. I thought all races were the same. I am learning, I liked it better when I thought all races were the same. Thank you family for your support. RUN MISTLETOE RUN !!!!!
    Zenyatta I love you sweet girl. Your talent is just out of this world. Watching your past races just makes me get chills. Oh Zenyatta when God created you he created such a VERY VERY SPECIAL GIRL. You must have WINGS. I really believe it. YOU FLY down a TRACK!!!! Many Hugs and Kisses, Shari XXXOOO
    @ Dawn Madame M did quite well. I don’t like claiming races. That worries me.

    • / Reply

      Shari, I thought Madame Mistletoe did great coming in third in her race. I know what you mean about claiming races. Many horses race in them each and everyday and are never claimed, but there is always a chance that a claim will end up changing the ownership of a horse. Sometimes that can be positive and sometimes, negative. For now, we can celebrate her success and be thankful that she remains with the Tim Ice. You have a great day at school tomorrow. It is back to work for me. Love and hugs.

  27. / Reply

    Zenny
    I am going to sneak this in while everyone is watching the awards tonight!
    Wow! What can I possibly say about our adorable Trina and her beautiful poems that have not already been said? All I know is this much – you, Trina, have been such pure joy to me, and brings into my life such love and happiness and am delighted beyond measure that you are my friend, and I am deeply touched by your poem for me on my day! BLUSH, BLUSH!! And the one for Reckless is priceless – it should be sent to the Marines for the new dedciation for Reckless, it belongs there. As Zenny would say, “Dear, Dear Dumpling Family” WOW! Thank you all! I am deeply touched. As you may or may not know, I am quite shy and closed mouth usually, but my mouth flew open with a gasp and am all smiles today! Yesterday I met up with dumplings JAG, Anne from Paramount (and Rod), crazy, wacky, lovable JSmith (Delia), Jane and James Wade (minus little adorable Madison, who had a tumble off her horse – she is OK though – a little sore, but stayed home), although none of them knew it was my birthday (shhh, the big 60, you know!) yet they made my day and made me feel as though they had. The day started out by meeting the connections of Rapid Redux – owner and trainer and getting a signed poster (signed by Penny too!) Such delightful people and in awe of being named in the same breath as Secretariat (and Z) – video to follow someday!) The connections took a photo of the RR earrings I had on and I got a photo taken with my hero Laffit Pincay! RR connections wished they had brought RR out here for this day – they said he would have loved SA. I wished they had too – SA missed a great opportunity not to have him here! Hooked up with John’s Frank Leal, a great guy and so funny! Saw John and Dottie several times – always fun to see Dottie and her too cute self! And all the beautiful people I always meet at the track! Drat, I did miss hooking up with Delia and the connections of Hansen though! Met archival photo icon Bill Mochon (if you want beautiful photos of horses and their connections, jockeys, he’s got them at great prices! 818 769 -7434) He took a photo of me with comic Tim Conway (I also got his autograph) Thank you Mr. Mochon for the beautiful photos of Jerry Lambert and Native Diver, now before the Hall of Fame, and thank you Charlotte Farmer for introducing me to the wonderful world behind the scenes of thoroughbred racing!. You gave me the courage to ‘open my mouth’ and go for it! The day topped off by a beautiful dinner with my girls, they wanted to know why I did not ask them to go with me to SA … duh! they never wanted to go before! But maybe one day now they will enjoy it as much as I love it. It is a world like no other – connecting with a horse, no matter how, brings you into a world where one can meet new people and enrich ones life, to dream, hope, love and find true happiness in all they give to us. Life without horses – I DON’T THINK SO!! And life without adorable Trina and Dumpling Zenny and all of you – I DEFINITELY DON’T THINK SO! Love you all! <3 <3 <3

    • / Reply

      How we love you too, Karen!!! You are truly a remarkable lady and special member of the our Dumpling family. I am very glad that you enjoyed such a remarkable day. Our lives are certainly blessed by the horses we love and the people who share that love with us!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Karen G:
      Sounds like you had a very fun Birthday meeting up with some of the other Dumplings. You’re so right; life would definitely not be as good without horses and Z’s Dumplings. Love and Hugs, JB

  29. / Reply

    As a former Marylander for several years, I’m happy for Havre De Grace for her win as older filly or mare.

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