Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #427

Mrs. Penny Chenery, her daughter, Kate, and Chris McCarron at the February 5, 2011 Vox Populi Celebration held at Santa Anita Park! Photo by John Shirreffs

HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY, MRS. CHENERY!

Good Morning,

What a lovely way to start the day…wishing Mrs. Penny Chenery ALL THE VERY BEST on her 90th BIRTHDAY! From my entire TEAM and all of BARN 55, we would like to send her the warmest wishes and a big HIGH HOOF on her special day!

I was very blessed to meet Mrs. Chenery when she came to Hollywood Park in October, 2010. She was there to present the Trophy for the Ladies’ Secret–G1. For this meet, Oak Tree was held at Hollywood Park. In this race, I was competing to remain undefeated and for my 19th victory in a row. It was quite a day! Mrs. Chenery wanted to come and see ME in the paddock and be there for the event. She commented to the press that “SHE WANTED TO SEE ME DANCE”! She later told them, “I WAS IN HER PRESENCE AND SHE WAS IN COMPLETE COMMAND”. (Blush, Blush)

When I WON…the fans went WILD! This victory now highlighted my career record at 19-0! I remember these moments…all of them…so vividly. During the Winners’ Circle ceremonies, Mrs. Chenery was absolutely lovely. She posed for countless photos and joined in many interviews with THE MOSS’ and MY JOHN. Her comments about ME, my racing career, and my impact on the sport were glowing!

Can you imagine how PROUD I felt! These gracious remarks about ME coming from the woman who bred, raised, and raced the CHAMPION, SECRETARIAT! What a complete honor!

During the next several months, Mrs. Chenery created the Vox Populi Award to honor the HORSE in our industry who did so much during the year to captivate the fans! She personally selected ME to be the first honoree. This season, a committee of professionals in our industry along with the fans voting determined the winner. Rapid Redux was honored and presented with this year’s AWARD!

For all of your years of total devotion and dedication to our SPORT, the Thoroughbred Industry, and the entire breed of THROUGHBRED HORSES, Mrs. Chenry, we truly want to THANK YOU, HONOR YOU, and WISH YOU GREAT JOY on your special DAY! From the bottom of our hearts and souls…WE ADORE YOU!

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

With Love,
Hugs to All~(Happy Weekend Everyone! Enjoy RACING!)
Z

Reader Interactions

497 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Mrs. Chenery won 5 TC races in consecutive years. That record will stand for many years. Happy Birthday and many years of health and happiness to her.

  2. / Reply

    I met Penny Chenery at a Secretariat fundraiser in Louisville several years ago when her great champion was inducted into the Ky Hall of Fame. She was the most gracious person I have ever met. I also met Secretariat’s exercise rider, Jim Gaffney, who is now deceased. When I met Secretariat at Claiborne when he was standing there, I was thrilled when his groom tore off a piece of his mane and gave it to me. I have it preserved with a picture of Secretariat and a signed program by Ron Turcotte. It looks fabulous alongside my Zenyatta halter that I won from Canter.

    Many, many more bithdays Penny! You are the greatest.

  4. / Reply

    My iconic photo, beautifully framed, of Big Red’s 31 length win in the Belmont–signed by Mrs. Chenery, Ron, and the photographer is the center piece of our family room! I can only hope I look as good as Penny does at 90!! Happy Birthday!

    • / Reply

      Hi Linda:
      I second that!! Mrs. Chenery looks wonderful at age 90. I can only pray I am as mobile as she is too. What a Blessing.

    • / Reply

      Normal birth stuff !!!!
      No impending doom.
      All the human mothers on this sight need to
      Recall all the pain with labor, delivery and postpartum
      For at least 6 weeks; she is only 6 days after
      Delivery and has to handle a fiesty colt running
      Around. At least human babies don’t do that.

      Being a first time equine mom is not an easy
      Thing.

      • / Reply

        OMG! So true! Stitches up the wazoo! Sorry to be indelicate! RA will be fine! These are not mustangs out on the high chaparral foaling, they are high bred, sensitive ladies! Delicate creatures, often overbred! All of these mares are worth more than we make in a lifetime and are under the best of care! So, let’s remember to breathe!

    • / Reply

      From Twitter: Steve Haskins
      Senior Correspondent for Blood-Horse; former National Correspondent for Daily Racing Form tweeted the following:
      From Stonestreet: Rachel and foal taken to clinic for pain management related to foaling; precautionary measure. Due back in a few days..

      There has been quite a back and forth on Twitter between horse journalists about the information flow. It has been quite interesting to read.
      Thank you “signofthetimes” for your calm sage advice.
      Right now, there seems to be nothing more to the story than what we know.

      Stonestreet Farm did post photos of the colt and Rachel with the colt outdoors.
      They were marked 4 hours ago by the system.
      Have a good weekend!
      I am sure that if any of us see more news on this, we will share.

  6. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Mrs. Chenery!! You are a remarkable woman and a great ambassador to the sport of horseracing! May you enjoy many more B-Days to come!

  9. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Mrs. Chenery and many more. Can’t wait until you have your baby Zenyatta. Good luck in the last few weeks and hopefully you have a safe and easy delivery.

  10. / Reply

    Zenny, you always make me smile. All I have to do is think of you.
    ….
    Oh, Mrs Chenery… Happy Birthday..
    I have mentioned here before, that my dear friend has a granddaughter of your Secretariat! ! ! She (Cousin Sara) raced too. She’s 9yrs, and since last year, now resides in Three Rivers, CA. She has the same color and face markings as Secretariat. 16.2 hands. She had a colt in 2011.

    Her dear sire ‘AWAD’ passed away last year at ‘Old Friends’ in Kentucky. He still holds the record for the fastest time in the ‘Arlington Mile’ race. We think she should be bred to Giacomo in 2013. The pedigree matches beautifully. Wouldn’t it be nice if the Mosses would consider leasing the mare for this. This would be fun, right Zenny!? …. I love you Zenny and ‘lil z.

  11. / Reply

    Hi Zenyatta. What a wonderful diary, as always. Happy 90th birthday to Ms. Chenery, thank you so much for all the memories. I watched Black Caviar win her 17 this a.m. on TVG and they all talked so much of you. You are so loved all around the world. Just heard that Rachel and baby are being taken to the hospital for pain management, should be back home in a few days. Does anyone know anything about this – this is so upsetting. Love you Zenyatta. You and Tasty stay toasty, eat well for two and enjoy each other, can’t wait to see babies. Love you, Angels.

    • / Reply

      Could be she is uncomfortable nursing the
      Foal, this can be a problem for new moms.
      All that labor and delivery down there, with
      Swelling and tenderness; humans have the
      Same problem when they nurse; she looks very
      Tired in her photos.

      • / Reply

        Signofthetimes, I thought R.A. looked tired or unhappy, too – in the photos, and wondered what it might mean. Hopefully it will ease for her.

        • She is a more delicate type of mare as well.
          So she will be more sensitive. Everything will
          Be fine for her, just getting everything healed
          A bit will make her more comfortable.

  12. / Reply

    A lovely and gracious lady. Happy day Mrs. Chenery = you are a treasure and your love for this sport has been greatly appreciated!

  13. / Reply

    Those of you on this site who have birthed
    Children know how physically painful the process
    Is and all the ripping and tearing; cutting and sewing
    That goes on in the birth area. Same for horses;
    And then to have to have the goal suckle in the
    Same area could be quite miserable. I am sure that
    Is what is going on with Rachel and they want to
    Make sure the foal is getting all his milk and Rachel
    Is comfortable nursing him and her birth area is healing
    And not causing her undue pain. A very kind and
    Caring set of owners. Being a first time mother
    Can be a difficult adjustment; especially when your
    Colt is described as fiesty; and you are in pain.

    Great job on Stonestreets part !!!!

    • / Reply

      I was thinking along the same lines as you. You can see in the picture that shows her foal nursing that she was not herself. When it was mentioned that the colt was fiesty, I immediately thought that perhaps her udders are causing her pain.

      Some mares may need to be sedated or twitched to allow the foal to nurse. Warm compresses can also be used to help lessen swelling and pain in her udders. The problem usually improves over a couple of days. Whatever the cause, Rachel will be getting around the clock care to insure that she’s managing well and the foal is too.
      Ditto – great job on Stonestreets part and well wishes to Rachel.

      • / Reply

        Yes, Doreen. rather than letting the colt struggle and not
        Get that so very important mothers’s milk and have
        Rachel stop nursing him because of her pain.

        They headed off a potential problem; for both
        And are helping her be more comfortable. It
        Is hard for horses to deliver in the same area of
        Their body that the foal nurses.

        At least as humans, we don’t have that issue.
        Colt is starting to look a lot like Curlin; maybe
        a great combination looks and Talent.

      • / Reply

        Thanks for the link to the article on RA and her colt. We pray everything goes well for Zenny …we know RA has a lot of fans but can you imagine the ZNation’s reaction to a similiar situation with our Queen. Nope…we don’t want to go there. We’re sending good thoughts to RA and her little one with hopes they are back “home” soon.

  14. / Reply

    Zenny, still crying to catch up and so glad I snuck a peek at todays post.
    Happiest of Birthdays to you, Mrs Chenery. You are the best example of “a girl and her horse(s)”. You are the epitome of what is right in the horseracing industry. Many more happy years to you.
    Lotsa love to all.

    • / Reply

      Karen as always you bring a smile to my face, just hearing from you. Your enthusiasm is definitely contagious!!!! Thank you for being such a special friend. Z love and hugs, Dawn

  18. / Reply

    Oh Zenny, I too am nervous and can not wait to be that foal’s dumpling Nanny-Granny! <3 <3 <3 <3 I love you more and more!

  19. / Reply

    Watched BC last night….RUN LIKE A GIRL
    but that takes on a whole new demension when you see MONI MAKER.
    Just blows everything away….thx for the link
    ….hope Rachel and baby curling are ok

  20. / Reply

    Happy Birthday to Ms. Chenery! My very first horse racing memory is of being called into the living room to watch the horses on TV and saying “I pick Secretariat!” really fast because I knew he always won (I was 3 years old). Even though I didn’t start following the sport until 1981, Secretariat does have the distinction of being my first favorite racehorse :)

    And Happy Birthday to Eblouissante! Such a sweet girl she is!

    Hooves crossed that all is well with Rachel and her colt!

  21. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Mrs Chenery.
    Get well Rachel and baby Curlin take good care of mom, your in my prayers.
    Sunday is January 29, and I have to say Love You Barbaro. Love You always and I know your running in heaven now. You and all the other horses I know are there Love you all.

    • / Reply

      Peggy……….I was wondering if anyone else was thinking of sweet Barbaro, too.

      I still think of him and watch alot of the YouTube tributes. I am SO hoping that Michael Matz has something really special in Union Rags for the Triple Crown this year, you?

      I have a little Barbaro “shrine” amongst my racing memorabilia and will NEVER take it down. He was one in a million and so sad we will never know just how great he really was going to be………what we SAW was amazing.

      SO glad to see that someone else was thinking of him…………((((hugs))))

    • / Reply

      Feel the same about Barbaro! And I hope Michael Matz has great success with Union Rags! My big problem is I like Hanson, too. If both make it to the Derby it should be quite a rematch.

    • / Reply

      Hi, Dear Sis!! I have definitely been thinking about Barbaro this month. I actually posted something several days ago. He was very special to me and it is wonderful to see your post. Once again, we are so alike, you and I!! It’s amazing! I love seeing Michael back with Union Rags also! Love and Hugs!!! ((((((( )))))))

  23. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Ebby!!! She had a work yesterday. John must know that a lady has to have her birthday off!

    Date: January 26, 2012
    Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
    Distance: Five Furlongs
    Time: 1.02:80 Handily
    Track Condition: Fast
    Surface: All Weather Track
    Rank: 30/34

  24. / Reply

    Dear Abigail, Sharon, Laura and Delrene:
    You’re so welcome. It is great to have another Equine Female lighting up the track and many hearts. Hugs, JB

Leave a Reply to Missy White Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.