Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #438

Happy February 15th! Photo by Sarah Campion

Good Morning,

I do hope all of you had a wonderful day yesterday enjoying special moments, visits, and hugs with dear friends and loved ones. We certainly enjoyed our day here at Lane’s End. Everything was lovely!

As many of you may know, MY TEAM absolutely adores all kinds of SPORTS. MY JOHN and Dottie are avid sports fans and have many teams in various sports they follow. In the many lessons we learn in life, “sports” can often be a great teacher!

For one N.Y. KNICKS Basketball player, yesterday was truly a very special day! JEREMY LIN clinched the WIN last night for the KNICKS with his final shot….a 3 pointer…in the last few seconds of the game.

Jeremy’s story is a fabulous one. He is Harvard-educated, is passionate about Basketball, and has exhibited a work ethic in his sport that illustrates a high level of perseverance. HE NEVER GAVE UP! (I so admire this quality in individuals. I practiced this when I was an athlete.) He kept practicing his craft and working…trying to earn his place on the TEAM.

Recently, a few Knick players were not available to play for various reasons and Jeremy got his chance…and has he made the most of it. Last night, for the 6th game in a row, Jeremy scored over 20 points. Charting which Pro-basketball players scored the most points in their first 5 games played since the ABA-NBA merger….Lin is now #1 with 136. Shaq is #2. What an honor!

The KNICKS have now won 6 games in a row…and all of the sports world is talking about “LIN-SANITY”! His post-game interviews are gracious and filled with thanks to his coaches, team, and the opportunity he has been given. As the sportscasters commented repeatedly on MIKE AND MIKE IN THE MORNING today..”He is so very humble”!

All of this happening in the last several days really makes one think…there are many talented individuals in this world…and if given the opportunity, they will do remarkable things. THE IMPORTANT THING TO ALWAYS REMEMBER IS…KEEP TRYING, DO NOT GIVE UP, AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR DREAMS!

Cheers to Jeremy Lin…for being a wonderful and joyful reminder of this!

With Love,
Hugs to All~ (Have a great day!)
Z

Reader Interactions

386 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Zenny Dear,

    SUCCESS! Anthony Catanoso announced yesterday that the Atlantic City Steel Pier has CANCELLED its plan to revive the high-diving horse act! This is thanks to you and all your caring fans who joined the outcry on Monday.

    HSUS President Wayne Pacelle declared that “This is a merciful end to a colossally stupid idea. We are pleased so many citizens spoke up and urged that this spectacle never get off the ground. Horse diving has the potential to frighten and injure and kill horses, and it rightly belongs in Atlantic City’s history books.”

    A big hug and a high hoof to every one of the MANY Zenyatta fans who signed and recirculated the petition and sent emails! You ensured this happy outcome!

    Dear Dottie, A HUGE high hoof to you for allowing Zenny’s fans to post off topic on equine welfare. The Power of Z!

    Enrico Equus

  2. / Reply

    Today is a very special day for me. It would have been my Rum Car’s 40th birthday. Until he was diagnosed with cancer I was sure he would have no problem making it to this day. But on that dark day in November, the one year anniversary of my mother’s death, everything came to a screeching halt when the vet called with the horrible news that Rum Car had a tumor in his bladder. We knew it was the beginning of the end and the only thing we were concerned about at that time was keeping our promise to him that he would not suffer and making sure he was comfortable. The every other day visits to the barn became every day visits. Even during bad snowstorms I found my way to the barn and Rum Car. I only had to set one foot inside the barn and he knew it was me and started calling for me.
    We had 15 and a half wonderful years with him. He was everything and more that I dreamed of in a horse. He was demanding, skittish, freaky, loving, caring and my best friend. If things didn’t go his way he made sure I knew about it. If I dared to stand and talk with someone before I gave him his food, he would start stamping his feet and if I did not jump then the stamping turned to kicking his stall with his hind hooves. Then I jumped. Friends told me I was crazy to let this horse walk all over me. To me, it was an honor just to be his caretaker.
    One of my fondest memories was the day my sister Patsy and I left for a two week trip to Europe. When I went to the barn for one final goodbye, he was sitting in the shavings, looking just like a baby horse with his legs underneath him. I almost never saw him like that. He was not one for laying down except maybe in the middle of the night when I seldom saw him. I quietly went into his stall and knelt down by his side. I put my arms around his neck and gave him a bunch of kisses. I stayed there with him for a few minutes dreading the fact that I would not see him for two weeks.
    Of course when we got back he was pissed and faked an injury to get back at us. After a few hundred dollars worth of x-rays we were 99.9% certain it was a fake and the vet agreed. After a couple of days of hobbling around he made a miraculous recovery.
    At 4:15 this morning I awoke to a giant silhouette of a horse on my curtains. Of course it was Rum Car reminding me today is his day.

    • / Reply

      Dear Myrna:

      Lovely story and wonderful example of just how strong our bonding with our animal friends can be. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Myrna, what a beautiful story and what a remarkable love you shared with your Rum Car. Our lives are forever changed by the wonderful animals we share our days with and they live on in our hearts forever and ever!!!

    • / Reply

      Myrna,
      Thanks for sharing such a wonderful touching story of all the quirks, crazy, wild things that horses do to endear us to them. That faking an injury is TOO CUTE; one of my
      friends had that happen to her at the barn I used to ride at. All of their wonderful, goofy, crazy behavior endears us to them even more to those of us who are horsewomen
      and very endeared to our horses through experience of direct contact.

      Sometimes with racing, owners buy and don’t know anything about how to care for their horse, even how to pet them. The trainers and teams from the backside have to teach them these skills. The presence of a horse is so very soothing and calming and powerful.

    • / Reply

      Myrna….Thank you for sharing your touching story or Rum Car. You made me smile and cry. What a specials relationship the two of you shared. xoxo

    • / Reply

      Thanks for sharing your history with your special boy, Rum Car.
      Three years to the day that my cat, Lovey, was euthanized I received a call from the vet. It was his second office and they called to see how he was doing. They called three years later at the exact time he passed on.
      My poor baby had renal failure, was in distress and was crying. I told him not to worry, as soon he would be going to sleep and he would no longer be in pain. I also said that he can visit me at any time. He immediately relaxed and stopped crying.
      That night, as I was lying down, I heard him vocalize and jump on the couch by my feet. There was an indentation on the sofa where his spirit was.

    • / Reply

      Thank you everyone for all those sweet comments. His birthday is always a difficult day for me because if it weren’t for that dreaded cancer I really think he would still be with us. And he would have smashed the record for oldest living Thoroughbred which I think is around 35. He had always been a very healthy boy and was even featured in a clinic on how terrific and great an older horse can be with proper care. In the clinic everyone got to examine him and most were especially interested in his legs which were totally clean. At the time of the clinic he was 31 and until his age was revealed everyone thought he was about 10.

      He was always the barn favorite and even though the youngers girls working there were not allowed to handle him he was the sweetest horse that walked the planet. The barn owner only allowed experienced people to handle him because as old as he was, he was still a Thoroughbred and there were many times when he must have gotten confused and mistaked a paddock gate for a starting gate and burst out as if his life, or in his mind the race, depended on it. He also didn’t want to just walk, he jigged and he was quite big and muscular so quite a handful. There was a young horse on the property and they loved to race each other in the 10 acre pasture. They looked indentical and the only way you could tell them apart when they were racing was that Rum Car could run circles around his 6 year old buddy and was always way in the lead.

      I know he enjoyed his life and loved his retirement too. I get such pleasure out of seeing photos of Zenyatta in her pasture and just enjoying herself and being withTasty. I could watch Rum Car for hours in the pasture just being free and having fun with his friends.

      Thanks again everyone for making a difficult day much easier.

  3. / Reply

    Hooray….hooray…hooray!!!!

    Zenny your diary and its posts yesterday and the day before have saved lives…equine and human…Diving horses…what kind of human would think that is entertainment!

    Hi Hoof to Dottie/Zenny for providing a forum of concern …WAHOO!!!!

  4. / Reply

    Good morning Zenny. I have to say I loved yesterdays pic of Sophie kissing you, she is
    A-dorable. Hope you have a wonderful day!!!!

  5. / Reply

    Glad your team won and good news about the horse act in Atlantic City. People need to think about what they are doing.

  7. / Reply

    Ms Zenyatta, what are you thinking about? Where is Tasty? i certainly hope you are feeling okay. I know you like to stare out beyond your fortress, but at this time of your pregnancy, I need to know that you are okay and you are just doing your thang. I love you, and have a wonderful day, you and Tasty…Love, Hugs, Kisses…Lisag

    • / Reply

      Looks like she is contemplating the future in today’s post.
      It is a good idea to move them to a foaling barn so they do know something
      new is going to happen. Horses depend on the environment and when it changes
      things around them change.

  8. / Reply

    Zenny, great story about Jeremy Lin, he must have a lot of heart like you. I’m also estatic about the reversal the owner made on horse diving, maybe he should do it himself!! The power of people standing together, WOW. Now if we could just reverse this slaughter legislation and pass laws to protect our wild mustangs and burros, we’d be closer to a perfect world (well horse-wise anyway).
    Myrna Vandenberg I enjoyed reading your post what a character Rum Car must have been…….so endearing!
    Terry Crow looking forward to more of your crazyness today. LOL
    Kisses on your nose Zenny and Tasty Auntie Sue

    • / Reply

      High hoof, Sue! Yes, we need to stand together to keep horse slaughter from resuming in the US and to stop transport of US horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter there. We must also stand together to protect our wild horses and burros. For their sake, join in the American Wild Horse Preservation Campaign at http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/index.html

  9. / Reply

    Dearest Zenyatta,
    Why is it that I never have a dry eye when I read your daily sentiments? Because you are representative of the very best in life…..an inspiration of hope and joy. Now take care and give my best to Dotti, Sophie and John.
    High Hooves!

  10. / Reply

    I used to be a huge Knicks fan back in the Bill Russell, Sam Jones, John Havlechek (I know I butchered the spelling there) era so it’s nice to see this young man doing so well. Jeremy is from the Bay Area, where I live, and everyone is talking about him. I love his attitude and determination.

  11. / Reply

    Hi Sweet Cheeks!
    Uncle John Henry says: March 9th!! He is getting so very excited to become an Uncle :-D

    Tummy Rubs! Peppermint Kisses! {{HUGS}} to YOU and your BFFF, Tasty. XOXOXO

    • / Reply

      Whoops!! I wasn’t finished typing – I hate when I do that LOL
      How I got BFFF when I meant BFF!

      I hope you both have a wonderful day…. we’re ALL pacing and waiting for the BIG day, Zenny! I’m hoping PINK: “Princess” :-)

      Love always and forever,
      Judy G

  13. / Reply

    What inspiration this post has given me today. It reminds me that I am not alone in this journey to realize my dreams, not matter how long and hard it has been. It also reminds us all that there is no “I” in teamwork and that we must all work together to make things happen. I am so grateful that we have “squashed” the horse diving show. What a terrible tragedy this would of been. The biggest lesson that I have learned from Z and John over time is not to “rush” things, to savor every moment, to train every day and do your best and when it is time and you are ready-you will achieve greatness. Z did this for us and we can do it for ourselves…it only takes time.

    Note from me: On VD Day Zenyatta gained 49 “LIKES”. We need to average 116.7 “Likes” per day on her FB page to reach our goal of 100,000 by the end of Feb. She is due 3-09 but could be anytime. Please reach out to all friends, family, and others that have not yet experienced the love and inspiration from Z to make this happen. Please repost and thanks so much-I am sure that Z and Team Z would be pleased with our efforts!!!

  15. / Reply

    I love you so much, Big Mare! You always have something uplifting to say. Thanks for being such a role model for everyone.

    Kim

  18. / Reply

    Happy Birthday, Seattle Slew! Today is the birthday of the GREAT Slew, who will be the great grandpa of your soon to be “bebe”! Love and Kisses from a fan of yours in the Caribbean, Glorimar

    • / Reply

      Victoria’s new friend Away Ahead, renamed Suki which is much better than Bear for such a pretty girl, has the great Seattle Slew on her dam’s side. Vic is so thrilled to be riding her, such good genes. She has Mr. Prospector on her sire’s side.

    • / Reply

      Glorimar, thank you for sharing birthday wishes for the amazing Seattle Slew. He was one of the very greats. It was during the 1970’s that I first fell in love with horseracing. Those glorious Triple Crown years and he was a star!! I was privileged to meet both Jean Cruguet and Billy Turner a couple of years ago at Churchill Downs, it wa amazing!

      Kari, thank you for the great link!

      • / Reply

        I honor him every year. I had the priviledge of being with him in his paddock at Three Chimney’s in one of my visits to Kentucky. Awesome! Magnificent creature with the eagle eyes (they were like no other I have before in any horse). Zenny’s baby will have Slew’s blood! WOW, too much!

    • / Reply

      Happy Happy Birthday to Seattle Slew;
      Dear Zenny,
      Your foal will have such a wonderful pedigree to give it such wonderful talent.
      Love your post today, so very meaningful to everyones life. Work hard and
      you shall reap the rewards it brings. Hope you and Tasty had a great relaxing day
      in your huge new paddock with a wonderful view. Lanes End is such a wonderful
      place for you to be with all of your friends there. And thanks to Sarah and Matt
      for the photos videos and everything that you bring to us that keeps us in touch
      with OUR QUEEN.

  19. / Reply

    Reiterating all the thankful words that plans for the Atlantic City diving horse have been canceled — the result of people banding together and making a difference.

  20. / Reply

    hi Z! Happy Wednesday to YOU and Tasty;) Yesterday guess what I did, I watched YOU and the coverage of YOU in the 2009 BC! It was a wonderful 2 hours;) Love YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo

  21. / Reply

    Thought for the day!
    Bob Baffert tweeted:
    It takes 90% horse to get to Kentucky Derby.
    It takes 90% luck to win it.

    Like Dottie & John & the Team, I follow many sports.
    Linsanity has overtaken NYC & everwhere.
    Toronto had its 2nd sellout of the year last night.
    What a finish to the game!
    Have a great Wed.!

  22. / Reply

    Remembering Seattle Slew.
    On this day in 1974 SEATTLE SLEW was born,
    he is 1 of 6 TRIPLE CROWN winners by Claiborne Farm stallions

    • / Reply

      Keta thank you for posting this remembrance of the great Slew he doesn’t get the press many of the other greats do, and not many know that he was undefeated going into the derby. What a truly great horse he was and without him we wouldn’t have the great A P INDY who has produced many great horses including our beloved BERNIE and he will be Zennys foal’s great granddad. Kudos to the great Seattle Slew I hope you’re running the grassy fields with Secretariat and the other greats.

      • / Reply

        Thanks for the reminder about Slew’s birthday. Ever since I “re-discovered” the sport, I’ve loved this horse. For many reasons, but one in particular is the comparison of Zen’s 2010 Classic to Slew’s great race in his 4-yr old season in the Jockey Club Gold Cup of 1978. It was a thrilling event, and it was originally set up as a second match up between Slew and Affirmed, the two back-to-back TC winners, a second time. Also in the race was Exceller, who had his best year in 1978, and a “rabbit”, Life’s Hope, entered by Affirmed’s trainer. The complexion of the race changed when Affirmed’s saddle slipped and effectively took him out of the race, allowing a far-back Exceller to take advantage of Slew’s tiring early pace with Affirmed. Here’s the Wikipedia write-up about Slew, go to the 1978 section to read about this race: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Slew.

        I’ll post the race in a second “reply” below.

        I wrote the following after Z’s near win in the 2010 Classic: “Most — make that all — watching the race felt she had no chance to recover, that she was staring disaster in the face. In spite of all the bad-trip issues, she got it together, gathered herself up, and in heart-stopping fashion, she was Seattle Slew running down Exceller in the 1978 JCGC. One could hear Karen Taylor: ‘I cried not because he lost, but because he tried so hard!’ At that moment, Zenyatta won hearts and minds because she tried so hard, and came so close! Blame won the race, but Zenyatta won the debate!”

        • Here’s the heart-stopping race between Seattle Slew and Exceller in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Watch as a tiring Slew battles back and keeps battling right down to the wire: http://youtu.be/zZFr6N2lNY4
          The JCGC was run at 1 1/2 miles at the time.

        • Thanks so much, Ann Maree for that recap of racing history.
          As time goes by, these get forgotten.
          Slew was a great competitor.
          Has anyone else noticed the ears? And the great intelligence?
          Remind me of Z’s

        • Ann Maree, wonderful post!! Thank you for the link to Slew’s Jockey Club race. What an amazing, heart stopping run. Talk about grit and valor, he had it in spades!!

        • Dear Trina and Lisag:
          You’re so welcome. You should see the wall just above and next to my computer; filled with photos and the poster of Z. So true, I would like to have photos of all my favorites on display. Hugs, JB

        • Dear Keta:

          I thought the very same thing about Slew’s ears resembling Z’s. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Oh thank you Judy again you come thru with a really great link. What a beauty he was don’t you think our Bernie has a bit of his look?

      • / Reply

        Thanks, Judy, for the wonder photo of Slew! This is what I love about this sport. So many wonderful horses and each horse a story to tell!!! I never tire of reading about each special horse I encounter….even the lesser known ones often have wonderful and heart-warming — yes, sometimes, heartbreaking, too — stories. When I got re-acquainted with the sport, I felt like a little kid with the “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” when I was a youngster….hours and hours of wonderful reading, exciting at every page-turn! One of my favorites of all time is the story of Round Table, his daddy, Princequillo, and his granddaddy, Prince Rose; and the intrigue woven in with the run-up to the Second World War. It also includes a brush with royalty, as King George VI bred Round Table’s dam, Knight’s Daughter; Hollywood movie mogul Louis B. Mayer, a sea voyage with Cosquilla and her foal, Princequillo who upon exiting the ship were in terrible condition. Then Princequillo wound up with the storied and legendary Claiborne Farm in kind of a round-about way. Of course Round Table is a story unto himself! I can’t write as well as our Abigail, but my love and affection for these wonderful creatures borders on obsession!!!

  23. / Reply

    Good Morning Z,
    Looking out on our second snowfall, only several inches, of the winter here in ND. Amazing. There is just enough to make everything look fresh, sparkly & new without making snow removal an issue.
    I too am glad the diving horse will remain a thing of the past. I don’t have any specifics on the number of performances involving diving horses, but it was not limited to Atlantic City. They had the most famous. I have never seen this in person but I do recall my parents talking about this with amazement. The same type of experience associated with a circus performance. The knowledge & progress of the present has now made events & practices that many of the elderly may hold fond memories of not only obsolete, but reckless & harmful. I can remember the sheer joy as a small child riding on the lap of my RESPONSIBLE DAD while getting to “drive” his convertible with the top down. There was a metal dashboard & forget carseats, seat belts had not yet been invented! Many of us share these long ago experiences. The past is the past. Life was certainly different. To condemn the past with the information of the present & future that we now have access to is a bit, well, jaded. There are MANY out there who would like to see an end put to horse racing, selective breeding, & other facets of this industry that could be viewed as cruelty to animals. I continue to have hope for improvements in all these areas based on intelligent, compassionate people guiding this sport aided by the use of modern technology & equipment. I would like to think that if a NEW BOLTON CENTER existed in the time of Black Gold his owner & trainer would have sent him there. Then again, they may still have run him like they did or shipped him off to be slaughtered in Japan.
    Click – Click – Click. I’m back in Kansas now. There’s no place like home.
    Peace & Love to All Creatures & Humans

    • / Reply

      Carolyn: Somehow, when behind the wheel, you took a left turn and lo and behold Black Gold appears. Nicknamed “The Indian Horse”, the story of his road to a Derby victory is a favorite of mine. Alas he also has one of the saddest endings too.

      “Black Gold was retired to stud, but was not fertile. At the age of six, he was returned to the racetrack. He started four more times without a win. On January 18, 1928, at the age of seven, he started in the Salome Purse at the New Orleans Fair Grounds. In the stretch, he broke down and finished the race on three legs. He was euthanized at the track.

      He was buried in the infield of the Fair Grounds close to the sixteenth pole, next to his mother’s (U-See-It) old rival, Pan Zareta. The Thoroughbred Record wrote that Black Gold was “…as game a horse as ever stood on plates, and answered the bugler’s call.”

    • / Reply

      Dear Carolyn C. Brown and Especially Horses:

      Had never read up on Black Gold. Wonderful courageous horse. Carolyn, hopefully necessary changes will be made by the industry that will put the horse first. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Carolyn, I think it is very important to all who love racing and the beautiful thoroughbred, that the safety and well being of the horse be put first. Both while racing and after they leave the track. Recent changes leave me hopeful that this path will be followed and we will not continue to witness the tragic loss of horses like Black Gold . I know that there are alot of talented, decent, hardworking and caring individuals who work in the industry and are doing their best to make this happen. Bless them all!

    • / Reply

      Times do change and we do learn from the past. Besides helping to “drive” the car as a child, I can remember when there were ads for cigarettes everywhere and even the doctors would smoke – in the hospitals. We have come a long way and the progress we have made in many areas does tend to give us a jaded view sometimes. Your point was well said.

  24. / Reply

    Thanks to all who contributed to the effort to stop horse diving in AC….and to you Lady Z…as others have noted, this forum is SO MUCH MORE than just a place for your fans to lavish our love on you…real work gets done here, imagine that!!

    Still counting down to March 1…my 22 year old boy’s birthday…and a PINK flag waving over your stall!! (filly that is!) 370 days is the typical maximum time…which would put your maxiimum at April 6 I believe…but I’m hoping “she” comes right on time!
    XXOO

  25. / Reply

    Good Morning Zenny…and Tasty too…
    Loved today’s post…keep trying….possibilities open up…
    …
    Absolutely wonderful news about the “horse diving” being stopped ..
    ….
    I check lanes end “foals born” list each morning…looking for your first group of friends..
    no mention yet of Pirate Queen or Alys, but Sea Gull foaled a colt by Candy Ride 1/23..
    …
    Hope you and bff have and calm relaxing day…
    Many kisses for your soft nose…rubs for your belly too…lots for tasty too

  27. / Reply

    Happy Birthday to Seattle Slew as well. Thank God the Diving Horse Project has been killed. Thanks to all the protests, it goes to show that horse fans can have a say!! Hope all Z fans had a great Valentine’s Day, especially John and Dottie, Barn 55 and the Barn at Santa Anita too.

        • The John Henry Arlington Million has been my wish for YEARS!! I just don’t get it why they don’t do a thing about it – after all, he got two wins and one second! He earned it – the hard way! He put the THE First Million Dollar Race on the map!
          Don’t get me started – I’ll get off the soap box now……….. ;-P

      • / Reply

        Dear Terry C. and JAG:

        Maybe we could e-mail Arlington Race Track and urge them to change the name of the Arlington Million to the John Henry Arlington Million. What do you think? Maybe with enough requests, they will do it. Hugs, JB

        • Yes, I think that’s a start – email the “powers that be” at the Arlington track, but I need to look up the info – I will share on a future diary! Thanks for your support!! :-)
          Judy G

  29. / Reply

    Dearest Zenyatta,

    Never give up! You are the perfect example of that motto, dear Z, and You continue to inspire us all!

    Lovely pic of you enjoying the paddock. Soon you’ll have thick green grass beneath your hooves and Baby Z at your side! Can hardly wait!

    Hope You and Tasty have a great day with lots of hugs and treats!
    Stel

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