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
Andrea
God Bless Gracie!
Karen Gogue
Zenny
Forgive my spelling! I am trying to watch the awards and type at the same time! LOL! See what ‘this’ world of racing does to one!? LOL!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Hoof ray, Havre De Grace, HOTY!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Terry Crow:
Laughing out loud (again). Where do you find them? So funny.Hugs, JB
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Congrats to Havre de Grace for Horse of the Year 2011!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Vicki B.:
Thanks for the news on Havre De Grace’s HOY for 2012. She’s in some great company. So happy for her and her connections. Hugs, JB
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Signofthetimes:
Thanks for the link on Tapizar. He is very handsome. Hugs, JB
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
Congratulations to Havre de Grace and all of her connections on the HOY award. The females have a record of three in a row!!!!! How amazing these beautiful racing mares are. Havre de Grace, Rachel Alexandra and our most beloved of all, wonderful Queen Zenyatta!! They have taken our hearts on the wings of love!
AJ from CA
Congrats to HDG for HOY! That was very classy of Mr. Porter to include his thanks to Jerry Hollendorfer and Blind Luck for their rivalry. Go Girl Power!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Amen!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z and TT:
Goodnight and Sweet Baby Dreams. Love you lots, Judy and Russ
signofthetimes
YIPEE !!!! YIPEE !!!! YIPEE !!!!
Girl Power; another female HOY;
Congratulations to HDG and all of her connections !!!!
Looking forward to 2012 and her campaign.
signofthetimes
So glad all of Rapid Redux’s connections were their to accept
his Special Award;
Enjoy your winter rest; may be a spring start???
or retirement at Old Friends ????
Thanks for a great, exciting 2012
Stephanie in San Diego
Karen G….so glad you had such a special day!! I so hope to meet up with all or some of you dumplings one day. Know I have been at Del Mar and at Santa Anita a couple time when other were there, but never know how to meet up with out feeling like a party crasher:))
Congrats to ALL the winners. Yea HDG…girl power…The ladies of racing are making it clear…they can do whatever the boys can do :).
Hope next year to see Stay Thirsty being honored for older male….I have such a soft spot for him. Might be that he lived in Mo’s shadow or might be who his Daddy is….or maybe it’s just that he is a pleasure to watch and cheer for.
Zenny…..I believe that we will see one of your babies representing you and family, in the next few year :)) You will be my (our) HOTY every year. You are the true Queen. xoxo
Sweet Dreams everyone xoxo
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Believe me, Stephanie, you will be welcomed by ALL Dumplings with open arms! We are all eager to meet you! Do you have your Dumpling tag already? It’s not necessary, of course, but does help. Also, if you want to exchange cell phone numbers for meeting up at the track, you can e-mail me. trinambn@yahoo.com
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Stephanie in SD:
Like you, one of my favorites is Stay Thirsty (though I love all Bernie Babies). Also, Mucho Macho Man and Shack. Hope they all do well this year. Hugs, JB
Barbara Grimaldi/Skip & Juliet/NJ
Thanks, Judy. It’s nice to know that someone else cares about Shackleford besides me! He should be paired with Rachel–the two most mismanaged thoroughbred champions ever…
signofthetimes
Havre de Grace; Crowned Horse of the Year 2011
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67010/havre-de-grace-crowned-horse-of-the-year
Kari Bussell/Tn.
Mr. Shirreffs has just uploaded Ebby’s work out today….with Mikey.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPJEBo8Lqeo&lc
signofthetimes
So glad Animal Kingdom won Champion 3 year old male;
Touche !!!!!
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67003/animal-kingdom-awarded-for-classic-success
Good Luck in the Dubai World Cup to him !!!!
Stephanie in San Diego
Laura J. (Jan 13th diary) .THANK YOU. I checked into donating through work. While I currently donate to the Lupus Foundations (because my daughter has it), I can add to my deduction and split it with ANY non profit. and be matched.
Erin
So pleased HDG won not just for her fans but more importantly for Larry Jones. To this day , he still has a bumper sticker of Eight Belles on his car. They are so fortunate to have found each other. Word has it her first race in 2012 may be against the boys again! Truely a match made in heaven similar to say someone with the initials “J” and “Z”.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Well said!
Marshall (in NC)
Congratulations to Havre de Grace and all her connections for the big win of HOTY!
Also, kudos to all the Eclipse winners, too — especially to Rapid Redux and Co.
You are all a very fine group!
Delrene in Carlsbad, Ca
@ Karen – Your description of your birthday was perfect. Sounds like you described a perfect way to spend your day. You give me great confidence to get out there and do the same. Just give them (Barn 55) a call and set up a date and time…. Mine is upcoming too, but I’m a few more years than you!!! 60 is the new 40….. Thanks for all your videos and postings.
Doreen in Ct. – I’m crazy about On Fire Baby too. I thought she did great. Wasn’t she running against all the boys? such a beauty.
Something is wrong with my computer I think, today, It is very slow.
May you all have sweet dreams and a great day on Tuesday.
M. Kern
I love you Queen Z. Have fun outside if weather permit and say Hi to Tasty. Congratulations to all Eclipse award winners!
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
Congratulations to all the Eclipse Award winners, so happy to see HDG get HOY. Isn’t it great Zenny that the ladies got HOy three years in a row. Go Girls!!! Hugs and kisses to you and Tasty, enjoy your day.
Darlene Daniels
Good morning Zenny, I’m so happy for all the Eclipse Award winners, especially Havre de Grace. But no one will ever thrill me the way you do dear Zenyatta, my Horse of a Lifetime forever. I quess I’m just not meant to get to watch the Eclipse awards. I had to work last year and again last night too. Maybe I will be lucky enough to catch a full replay. Have a wonderful day Zenyatta and Tasty. Love to all.
Linda Edwards in NJ
Hi Zenny: I still do not have my computer so I am sending you a short note from the office. Congratulations to all Eclipse award winners! Zenny, we sure were all excited and thrilled when you won HOY last year. Congratulations to Rapid Redux on the Vox Populi award and the special Eclipse. I am so happy for him!
Zenny, keep up posted on Ebby! Will have to make a trip to CA to see her race.
LauraJ (Cincinnati OH)
Girl Power! Congrats to Havre de Grace and her connections on being named HotY. I was glad to see that Bill Mott got the Eclipse for Trainer. He seems to take good care of his horses, and of course his horses won both the Ladies’ Classic and the Classic. I’m sorry that Caleb’s Posse got left out. He is betwixt and between categories: not a classic horse, but not a pure sprinter either. Thrilled that Rapid Redux was recognized for his achievement.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
It was very close—a quote from the LA TIMES article Delrene linked to below: “The closest vote was for 3-year-old male, where Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom had 114 first-place votes and Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner Caleb’s Posse had 111 votes.”
Sunny Boyd
@ Kari Bussell
don’t Ebby ‘s ears remind you just totally of you know who :) ? Too cute. And the way she stops and takes it all in, very much like her famous sister. Hope she does real well. Thanx for posting the video.
Abigail from Montreal
@ KARI: Thank you sweets for the heads-up on the new Ebby video! I subscribe to John’s channel but usually forget to check it as consistently as I should. Love the chat between Mikey & the other rider!!!
Delrene in Carlsbad, Ca
Good Morning Zenyatta and Tasty Temptation and all Z/sters.
Here is a very nice article from the LA TIMES about HDG and Zenyatta and Rachel are mentioned and a wonderful statement from “Your John”
Love you,….http://www.latimes.com/sports/custom/sportsconnection/la-sp-eclipse-awards-20120117,0,6698525.column
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Delrene:
Thanks for the link to the article on HDG and HOY. Loved John’s comments. Hugs, JB
Delrene in Carlsbad, Ca
And thanks Kari for the morning workout video with EBBY & MIKE. So fun to watch and listen to them chatting. It sure is indicating that time is coming close to her debut.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
URGENT: 250 PMU mares and babies need homes by Jan 25 or will go to slaughter. http://horseandman.com/
Trina Nagele in So Cal
The last date to adopt a BEAUTIFUL FOAL is Jan. 21—some are REGISTERED QUARTER HORSES! Go to the link above for Horse and Man and then check out ANIMALI, the non-profit group that is organizing the rescue. Quote from Horse and Man:
THE ANIMALI WEBSITE IS TOUGH TO NAVIGATE.
Unfortunely, the Animali Website doesn’t allow me to link to any of their pages. So, just be clever. Go to the site and mine down to the type of horse you want via the tabs. Or, if you need help, just call or email them:
Call or e-mail them:
The Animali Farm
3401 Tepusquet Rd
Santa Maria, CA 93454
(805) 938-0174
Jennifer Johns and Cheryl Forbes
animali@aol.com
Paul
Zenyatta, unfortunately, I missed the Oaklawn races or, for that matter, any racing this past weekend. That’s partly because of my work schedule. Also, unfortunately, I missed the eclipse awards on Monday night as well. I caught a snippet in a newspaper saying that Havre de Grace won horse of the year, though. Congratulations to her as well as all of the other people and horses who won awards. Also, Zenyatta, I hope your teams have won in the NFL playoffs. Congratulations to all of the award winners this past weekend.