Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #422

The view from my paddock yesterday at 7:45 in the morning! Photo by Sarah Campion


Good Morning and Happy Friday to Everyone,

Photography is such an amazing thing! Today, I wanted to share with you some of the gorgeous views TASTY and I have each day from our paddock. We truly have such a beautiful environment…and we actually do take the time to appreciate how fortunate we are! Yesterday was a lovely morning, and our dear pal, Sarah, was kind enough to take some of these photos for US to share with ALL of YOU!

The sky is such an amazing shade of blue!

Along this line, I wanted to make ALL of YOU aware of a FILM FESTIVAL that is being sponsored by HRTV and SANTA ANITA. It might be something many of you, who are real film and photography enthusiasts, would like to participate in during the upcoming months.

To quote the HRTV/SANTA ANITA news release sent to Dottie, “Santa Anita Park and HRTV have announced plans for a first-ever non-fiction documentary competition entitled “A Day at the Races”, which will be open to film students and filmmakers wishing to make a five-minute or less Santa Anita based film. ”

Access to the grounds and credentials to shoot the footage one would like to use in their presentation is being offered as part of the package for the individuals who enter the contest.

Per their press release, “A Day at the Races” entries will be judged by a panel of racing and entertainment professionals and will offer a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $3,000. An additional $10,000 first prize will be awarded to the winner through an on-line poll.”

All details and specific deadlines for each phase of this competition are outlined in the official press release, which I’ve included at the end of this post.

This sounds so exciting! What a great opportunity for all of you creative fans who have a great sense of ‘film’ and a true love and appreciation for our sport. Just imagine the different dynamic approaches one could use in doing a DOCUMENTARY SHORT with “A Day at the Races” theme.

Why not…..GIVE IT A “SHOT”! (No pun intended!) HOOVES CROSSED to all of my friends who enter!

Have a wonderful weekend…enjoy the terrific racing around the country and all of the excitement happening in the world of SPORTS!

Here I am..taking in all of the beauty around ME!

With Love,
Hugs to All~(Please keep us posted on your FILM progress!)
Z

HRTV FILM FESTIVAL TO DEBUT AT SANTA ANITA,
OVER $25K IN PRIZE MONEY OFFERED FOR DOCUMENTARY
SHORTS WITH ‘A DAY AT THE RACES’ THEME


ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2012)—Santa Anita Park and HRTV have announced plans for a first-ever non-fiction documentary competition entitled “A Day at the Races,” which will be open to film students and filmmakers wishing to make a five-minute or less Santa-Anita based film.

“A Day at the Races” entries will be judged by a panel of racing and entertainment professionals and will offer a first prize of $10,000, a second prize of $5,000 and a third prize of $3,000. An additional $10,000 first prize will be awarded to the winner through an on-line poll.

Application entries, which must be made in-person, will be accepted beginning Jan. 20, with the first day of shooting scheduled for Feb. 9. Shooting will continue through March 25 and all film submissions will be due no later than March 28, with winners to be announced on Santa Anita’s closing day, April 22.

“We’re very excited to be partnering with Santa Anita to initiate this project,” said HRTV President Scott Daruty. “Dating back to its opening in 1934, Santa Anita has been synonymous with great film production.

“The movie Seabiscuit was filmed almost entirely at Santa Anita in 2003 and it was a huge hit. We’re now about to roll out HBO’s dramatic series LUCK (on Jan. 29). We think there’s going to be a great deal of interest in this first-ever film festival.” There is a general entry fee of $200 and students may enter for $50 with valid student identification by February 15. Those entering after that date may do so for $250 and $75 respectively.

“This project is going to enable us to reach a group of highly creative people who are anxious to help us tell our story,” said Santa Anita’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing Chris Quinn. “It’s exciting to think about aspiring film makers at a number of local colleges and universities, as well as a wide range of independent filmmakers, converging on Santa Anita to produce a short-subject film of this nature. It should be a lot of fun.”

Each entrant will be given two film festival credentials which will allow shooting access to all public area at Santa Anita. Additionally, each entrant will be given 10 Club House passes good for admission throughout Santa Anita’s winter/spring meeting.

Final submissions should be made to www.hrtv.com. All entries must be made in person at Santa Anita. Credentials must also be picked up and payment made in-person at Santa Anita

For more information and to submit finished projects, visit http://www.santaanitalive.com.

Reader Interactions

339 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Good Evening Zenyatta – I hope you and Tasty enjoyed your day in the paddock. Will you be or are you getting snow? Up here in New England, we’ll be getting our first real measurable snow since the end of October early tomorrow morning. We had around 5 feet of snow that had fallen by this time last year – it looks like we won’t be having that much hopefully this year. Hoping that it will be a nice winter for you down in Kentucky.
    Congratulations Quality Road, Munnings, and Temple City for siring your first foals. Here’s the link for Munnings: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/67066/first-reported-foal-for-munnings

  4. / Reply

    Beautiful pictures from your paddock – especially the one with you in it!!
    You and Tasty have a nice weekend taking it all in – soon you will both have your babies running around in it with you – how exciting that will be!!

  5. / Reply

    Hi Dear Zeny!

    What a gorgeous picture to share. I am happy you are enjoying all your new experiences after a dedicated, controlled and strict environment so you could become one of the greatest horses of all time. I admire what your family and love ones have done for you! The life of an athlete is not easy. I practised and sacrificed a lot to be a good tennis player and win tournaments so I can relate a little to what you had to do to become one of the greatest horses of all time! Zeny – it was worth it – look at all your accomplishments and the well deserved life you are enjoying now. Hugs to you and Tasty – Marilu

  6. / Reply

    High Hoof!!
    Zenny, YOUR MIKEY just won a race on CORNER OFFICE making his goal of 5,000 just 17 away… if my math is correct!! ;-P

  7. / Reply

    Hi there Zenny, Dottie, Tasty, Babies & Zen-sters:
    These are lovely shots but, like several previous Zensters, I must say the one of you surveying your domain @ Lane’s End is ….yup…..very Zen. And that baby bump is taking on a character all its own! I can’t believe that we’re so close to your due dates, Zenny & Tasty. VERY EXCITING! But I do agree with signofthetimes: Enjoy those Zen moments and that freedom, big girl, because once that Baby Z arrives, you’re going to be very busy 24-7!

    It’s another freezing day & evening here in Montreal. Daisy and I made it to the dog run this morning, but decided to hide out in the tiny second-hand bookstore in the afternoon. It’s often hard to get good literature — in English — in Montreal bookstores. I’m a devoted reader of British & Irish fiction and, believe it or not, I find the writers I’m looking for more often in second-hand bookstores than in the bookstores that stock new books. So it’s always fun to case the shelves, hunting for a narrative treasure and, as Daisy was an angel about waiting for me, I did in fact find 4 terrific books and @ great prices too. Of course, I order online when I’m desperate and use the library when I’m determined, but willing to wait. But nothing is quite like the adventure of a cozy little second-hand bookstore…..and I often find myself distracted, as I peruse the shelves, by the evidence they provide about the books people love to read.
    Mysteries are always the HUGEST section, followed by bestsellers of all varieties.

    Clearly, the reams of mystery readers are a worldwide, trans-culture phenomena!!!! I’m one of those “odd bodkins” who can’t read a mystery. No clue why that is — they’re my favourite genre to watch on screen. Ditto with biographies. But there I know what my problem is, more or less: I don’t want to hear the biographer’s “voice.” I find it irritating because it reminds me that it really is impossible to write a completely accurate biography of anyone’s life, even your own.

    Okay….caught in a ramble here!!!

    The film & photo contest sounds terrific. Anyone out there thinking of entering?

    Love and hugs to all and peppermint kisses to my sweet Zenyatta. I love you!

    • / Reply

      Abigail, I understand about not being much of a mystery reader…that is until I discovered Rita Mae Brown and her books that are mysteries about fox hunting or the mysteries that are co-written by her cat, Sneaky Pie Brown. They are fun and funny and a good mystery, too. If you run across one in your second hand book store, you might enjoy them. I am a devoted customer to stores we have around here called Half Price Books – all the books are second hand and quite the bargains. :)

      • / Reply

        Thanks for the recommendation, Celeste. I’ll jot it down. I did manage to read 3 murder mysteries this year by Benjamin Black, aka Irish writer John Banville. He’s only published 3-4 as Black and I would recommend them to you. But don’t start with THE LEMUR. It was my LEAST favourite!

  8. / Reply

    My adorable Zenyatta, I am so happy because you are happy, yes what a gorgeous views, love you Ingrid.

  9. / Reply

    @ Keta & Carol: And I just posted AFTER reading your posts (above) and I came up ahead of the two of you……DAHDAHDAHDAH (verbal attempt at murder-mystery soundtrack)….could the “spirit of Zen” be at play here?????

  12. / Reply

    I think it’s a terrific idea! I just wish it were open to other race tracks around the country – would love to enter myself, but living in Mass., there’s no chance I can film at Santa Anita. I know they’re trying to promote SA, but it would be interesting to see short films from all over the country,at both the bigger,well-known tracks and some smaller, lesser-known ones.

    And you do truly have a beautiful world around you, Zenny! You lucky girl, you!

    Love you, Sweet Zen!

  16. / Reply

    {{{{HUGS}}}} Queen Zenyatta and Baby B/Z – have a beautiful weekend. I will be at Santa Anita on Saturday. WOO HOO!
    XOXOXOXO

  17. / Reply

    good late afternoon zenny…..i just loved the picture of you at the fence last week…surveying your domain…making sure all is going according to the “Z plan”…there you are holding your head up..regally…and i could not get the image out of my mind….something kept poking at the back of my mind…then about 3am a couple of days later …IT CAME TO ME….I had seen a description of a horse in just such a pose…but where??? it was in the comments section at the end of mr haskins article about Sham ….someone had posted about how nice Sham was..a lot like your friend giacomo….this person who had worked at the horse park said that the true “royality” was “mickey” who would stand at the fence….head high…ears perked…and observe his domain….sounds familiar…..did a little research….mickey is NASHUA…..found him in your pedigree….on your mom’s side and on your dad’s side too….more kisses for your soft nose….some for tasty too…..have a restful, relaxing weekend

  18. / Reply

    HELLO FRIENDS OF OUR ZENYATTA, HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR WEEKEND. IT CALLS FOR A WINTRY MIX HERE, GOOD GRIEF, JUST LET IT SNOW SO THE HORSES CAN MAKE SNOW ANGELS. ICE REALLY SCARES ME.. COME ON SPRING AND THE FOALS..SHERRY

    • / Reply

      JAG- I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know your super horse, John Henry, through this article. Thanks for sharing it.

    • / Reply

      Quote: “John Henry was euthanized at 7:05PM on October 8th, 2007, surrounded by many who loved him.”
      THIS is just one of the reaons why John Henry lives in my heart… this was on my birthday; I kissed him goodbye at 4 p.m. and he was gone at 7 p.m. (exactly). Sorry, but the author is wrong about the time.

      There are other reasons why John Henry was so special to me. However, by him crossing Rainbow Bridge on my birthday, he gave me a gift for eternity…. Perhaps now you can understand WHY it would mean so much to me if Zenyatta delivered her foal on HIS birthday – March 9th!

      THIS PART IS TRUE!
      Quote: “Apparently John Henry trusted McAnally as much as he could trust a human. And the trainer knew how to work with such a horse, to take that powerful rage and properly shapeshift it into the relief of running fast, far and leaving the competition in the dust.”
      A MUTUAL LOVE AND RESPECT BETWEEN TRAINER AND ATHLETE :-)

        • Easier to understand your heartfelt wish now that I know why the date is so meaningful to you. So, I’ll just do that hoping and crossed hoofs with you! :)

    • / Reply

      WOW! Thanks for the link about the extraordinary John Henry, JAG!! Loved reading about The Legend! What a horse and what a personality! Brilliant!

    • / Reply

      So happy you posted the link. My dad, John, and I also shared an undying love of this absolutely amazing horse. Thanks again.

  20. / Reply

    Dear Jan in Houston: Forgive my ignorance, but was is SHRP? I’m assuming a racetrack, but not familiar with initials.

    Love the pictures today Zenyatta. Goodness, time is flying by. We auntie’s and uncle’s are so excited, but we are patient. Nature will bring you your baby when ready. In the meantime, enjoy your time with TT.

    A happy weekend to all, I wish I could go to Santa Anita this weekend. Hopefully next. Have fun and safe racing around the country.

    • / Reply

      Abigail and all, here is a link to another story about Black Caviar, which aired on a segment of Australia’s ABC1 “Australia Story”, which prior to this, had not done a segment about a racehorse. At the time of this piece, it was just prior to her attempt to break Phar Lap’s record of 14 straight wins. Love the interviews with two of BC’s owners, two wonderful ladies who are obviously delighted with their good fortune to be one of the owners of such a great champion. When the link opens, click on “Paint the Town Black (Watch full program”. http://www.abc.net.au/austory/specials/painttownblack/default.htm

      • / Reply

        Until I saw this segment, I did not realize that Black Caviar had a couple of setbacks, and one was quite serious which it was uncertain she would make it back. Make it back she did, and she has been unstoppable ever since. A recent news piece said she may make a stop at the World Cup, and then later she is being pointed to the Ascot in the UK in June. I think they want to stretch her out just a little to just under a mile. It is very daring I think to risk her perfect streak, but at the same time, like Zenyatta in the two Classics, she has earned the right to carry her talent as far as she can go. It will be thrilling to see how her career unfolds in 2012. Wish her all the best and safe trips!

    • / Reply

      WOW! thanks for sharing – very nice!! Then I watched the 17.5 minute version of Zenyatta’s 2009 Classic win – one commentator said “it’s not about the figures, it’s about her emotional impact on us all” WELL SAID!!! I watched twice! CHILLS! There’s an adorable moment in that video when the camera shows Dottie and Ann cheering Zenyatta as she came down the home stretch.

      • / Reply

        I also watched the 09 BC win over and over again. Why is it I have watched my only childs wedding video over and over again with only a little moisture, but I can watch Zenyatta over and over again, and let the river of tears (for joy) flow? It is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

    • / Reply

      Thanks so much for posting this. Another great opportunity to feel as though I was right there with her! I can’t get over how shiny her coat looked. Great to see Mike and John and Mario and Dottie.
      Sandy

  24. / Reply

    Very nice photos and appreciate them being shared. And you sure are looking good Zenyatta. Doesn’t appear that you are in the snow as of yet, in a way kind of a good thing I would think. I don’t particularly care for snow.
    Sure hope that lots of people enter the contest that you mentioned and that we get to see some of the material that is entered, everyone has so much to offer.
    You take care my dear lady and keep on shining and sparkling as you are brighter than any star up above. My Love & Blessings to you Zenyatta!

  25. / Reply

    It’s a treat to hear from you almost every day, Z. You look gorgeous with your baby growing by leaps and bounds.

    Love you always, dearest Zenyatta.

  26. / Reply

    What a great opportunity for those who like making video shorts! Too bad I’m so awful at that. I’l never forget the time I used my brothers’ video cam to cover Z’s 19th win at SA from her dancing in the paddock to her exciting win on the track only to find out that I forgot to turn the “on” button and of course nothing was on the playback.

  28. / Reply

    Just checked the charts at Santa Anita
    Mike Smith won the 4th race on horse named Corner Office.
    So he has to only win 16 to reach the 5000 mark.

    Last win was on Mr. Bossy Pants & now Corner Office–must be something about workplace names that works for Mike.
    Tomorrow he should be on Amazobie–as Z says: Hooves crossed.,

  30. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta – thank you so much for sharing the wonderful photos from Sarah today. Of course my favorite is the one with you in it, beautiful Queen. The weather looks beautiful where you are as it was here today in TX for me. We took the dog to the park and enjoyed the sunshine while we could because it is supposed to get colder again soon. I am so grateful to have this wonderful site and your beautiful Dottie to transcribe for us all the goings on in Zenyattaland. The film projects at Santa Anita sounds like such a great contest and I’m sure there will be many wonderful entries. I would love to see that track some day – it is on my bucket list of race courses to visit – lol! Once more, thank you for the lovely diary! Have a wonderful evening and thanks to all for all the great comments and links to other stories. It takes a lot of time to read through here but I love it!

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