Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #457

Here WE are! All of today’s photos…Courtesy of Mathea Kelley and Team Zenyatta

Dear Beloved Friends,

Wouldn’t you know those EARS anywhere? I love looking at THEM and every single part of MY adorable colt! This entire experience is very precious to ME and to my entire TEAM!

On this day, I wanted to share a few more of my favorite photos with YOU. After all, I think this fortunate foal is blessed to have the most GODPARENTS of anyone in history. I truly can’t THANK YOU enough for the way you have embraced both of US….ME for so many years….and now my ‘Dumpling’.

Many of you have asked about HIS NAME. At this time, my colt does not have an official name. Per the standard practice in our industry, he is referred to as “12 Zenyatta”. His halter tag reads this way indicating year born…and Mom’s name. I know Ann and Jerry so well and can only imagine how many countless hours they will spend discussing this to make sure he has the perfect name. I trust their judgment completely!

The most fun he and I’ve shared so far is when he ‘takes off’ to run in the paddock. Just like in MY RACING CAREER, I give him a head start (on purpose)…and then I catch him in a FLASH! This is one FUN GAME we play…and I’m loving every single stride.


I must say, having been a MOM now for a few days, I’m already applying some of the basics of MOM 101. (A HIGH HOOF to my Lane’s End pals for tutoring ME with some special GREAT MOM TIPS.) I’m really doing very well at ‘my new career’ and am rather proud of myself. (Blush, Blush)

My baby is by my side every moment….and I am loving it! We walk together, eat together, cuddle together, and learn together. I’m getting a daily education on all of the right things to do for him…and I’m hoping in return he is learning to be ONE FINE COLT from ME!


In life, things go FULL CIRCLE. I have gone from being a foal…to now having one of my very own to care for each day. In between these 2 stages of life, I have been incredibly blessed to achieve countless amazing accomplishments, a great deal of success in my profession, and to meet and share MY LIFE with some of the finest people one could ever hope to call her FRIENDS!

I do feel at this time, it is extremely important for ME to take some time off from my daily DIARY writing and allow myself the opportunity to BOND EVEN MORE to MY NEW FOAL and FOCUS on being his MOM. (I think in human terms, this is called a child-rearing leave!)

From the bottom of MY HEART, I want to THANK YOU for the joy, support, and love you have brought to ME over these past years. As I’m putting my “writing hooves on the shelf for a bit,” I also want to thank the countless people who have submitted photos (Sarah, you have been so kind) and written so many treasured responses in relation to the Diary entries.

Dottie and I wrote the very first Diary entry on November 1, 2010. We have cherished every single moment of sharing all of these experiences and memories with you….OUR DEAR and TREASURED FRIENDS!

Again, THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! I will think of you often during my time off…and I hope you will do the same of ME….especially when you see the letter “Z” or hear any of my favorite sayings as ….”Too cute…Blush, Blush…It’s ME…Wink, Wink, BARN 55, High Hoof and I’m a MOM.”

WHAT A RIDE WE’VE ALL SHARED!

Until next time…

With Love,
Hugs to All~ (I so mean this from the bottom of MY HEART!)
Z

I’d respectfully like to add a SPECIAL NOTE OF THANKS and a HUGE GROUP HUG to all of the people who have done so much to orchestrate and guide my racing career…and now my life as a broodmare. It is such a large and loving group which would include but not be limited to: all of my dear pals at BARN 55, LANE’S END, MY ANN and JERRY, MY JOHN, MY MIKIE, MARIO, FRANK, CHEVA, MICHELLE, DAWN, STEVE, and so many others!

Then, of course, I’d like to send a very special HIGH HOOF and one very BIG HUG to my writing partner, DOTTIE!

Reader Interactions

1,307 Comments

  2. Dear Z’sters, Dumplings and Z Fans:

    It was so wonderful getting to know you and being a part of Z’s life with you. For those of you I have e-mail addresses for, I will continue to keep in touch. For the rest of you, whom it has been my happiness to know, so long for now. Love and Hugs, JB

  3. PACE…PACE…PACE…for Tasty…
    3 added to lanes end foals list for yesterday…no Tasty yet
    …
    @Ann Maree…Alys had a filly by Rock Hard Ten…got this from Breeders Cup Nominations website…does not give a date…but someone here previously said she foaled Jan 22
    …
    Zenny ..its funny you called all of us “godparents”…my only other goddaughter had a boy …and she also had him on march 8th…what are the chances?
    …
    Will facebook still be updated?
    …
    Many thanks to the Mosses and all of Team Z both in California and at lanes end for letting all of us share this with them…esp Dottie..there are no words to express what it has meant to me
    …
    I have not read all of today’s posts yet but I will
    AS ALWAYS KISSES FOR YOUR SOFT NOSE….LOTS FOR BABY Z….TONS GOR TASTY AND…SOME FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS OF LANES END AND BARN 55

  4. Hopefully we will still be able to see those wonderful photos of you and your adorable baby. You are such a beautiful mom/son team. Wishing you the best in your new motherhood!

  5. I never thought this day would come. It feels like I have lost something that was so dear to me. I really never commented on the diary site but I read each post, some with alot of love and so I felt connected. Zenyatta may you always be loved, cared for and always know what you did for us. How will we follow you every move. Will we keep calling the boy, 12 Zenyatta, who will be your next date, how you are doing and the thoughts keep flowing. Dottie you made each and everyone feel like Zenyatta was a part of each and everyone’s life. Thanks!! Well I am so sad and can hardly stand to think that our “ride” is over but life is such. I love you dear Zenyatta and wish I could be in your life forever.

  6. Dearest Zenny and Dottie – All that I can really do is “ditto” all of the above. I too am sad. The daily posting made me smile. I read the other day that someone said that it made her “heart” smile. PLEASE don’t take the website down. We will want to go back and retread them. God bless all of you for your loving concern for “our” beautiful Queen and her handsome Prince. You have all been TOO CUTE! Hugs and many High Hooves!! We hope to get some postings in the not too distant future.

  7. wow…………….. i too am having withdrawal symptoms. there is such a lack of news on the thoroughbred industry. so hard to keep up with all the horses, not just the ones currently running. i totally understand the need for you, dottie, to get away from the deadlines. i imagine you have lots of others over your head. as many of us have expressed, hope and pray there are occasional updates. seems once a horse quits racing, they fall off the edge of the earth. especially mares. maybe lane’s end can delegate part of their web site to the mares? so,,,,,,,,,,,, thank you, thank you, thank you, team Z for all your efforts these past months. gonna go sulk in a corner now,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

  8. God bless and keep you all—-Z team, and now “Zenyatta 12” too. Thank you for shared the wonderful Zenyatta with us all, a treasure for sure.

  9. To Zenyatta, her baby and all her connections. Congratulations on a job beautifully done. Here’s to the start of a long line of successful racers. However, this is somewhat bittersweet as its the end of another line as there will be NO more full brothers to Barbaro as his MOM LaVille Rouge is booked to visit (who else) Bernardini which is also somewhat ironic as he’s the guy that won the Preakness when Barbaro was injured. Anyway, maybe you can still ask Dottie to put a post on Facebook when Tasty foals. Best Wishes and Good Luck to her. Here’s hoping the two of you and your foals can once again spend some pasture time together.

  10. I read your diary everyday but, I’ve never posted anything b/c I simply got joy out of reading your posts and the camaraderie among all who posted. Now, here I am in tears! I am going to miss your daily updates!!! Please don’t keep your “writing hoofs” on the shelf for too long!
    Sending you all the love in the world Queen Z and her Prince! xoxo

    • That is a good question. I will have to return to this last page to copy down all of the email addresses and links to web sites.

  12. Thank you, Zenny, for sharing your life with us. All good things must come to an end, however, when it happens, it always seems too soon. It has been a heck of a ride, ups and downs, but always hope and positive attitude prevailed.
    Enjoy your new job as a Mom! I know you will be a champion Mom as you have been a champion at everything. Our little ones grow up so quickly.
    I understand needing time but you will be greatly missed. I’ll also miss updates on TT as I’ve grown to love her, too.
    It just won’t be the same without looking forward to your diary entries. Thank you for the opportunity to learn more about TB’s, racing, and everything involved in the race industry.
    Until we meet again, take care of yourself and your precious son. I will love you forever and you will always have a special place in my heart.

  13. We can’t THANK YOU enough, Zenyatta, Dottie, John, M/M Moss, Mario, Steve, everyone at Barn 55 and Lane’s End, for letting us share in some of the most special times of your life. We owe you all a debt of gratitude! We’ll keep our EARS and eyes open for any and all news about you, your adorable baby, and your family! I’m very happy to know we’ll have your life-size portrait on the West Coast, at least through Breeders’ Cup–can’t wait to make that pilgrimage! Love you, Zenyatta!!! You two take care!!

  14. Zenyatta, you and your HANDSOME fellow make this year extra special.
    What a beautiful thing!!!!!!

    Hugs and kisses sent your way!!!!!!

  15. Zenyatta, each Diary Entry was such a special gift. I can’t really express in words how much you have meant to me and how much I appreciated each and every time that you spoke to me through Dottie’s writing. I will miss this special, quiet place but understand. Stay healthy and happy. Bless you and your Prince and all your little ones to come.

  16. Sorry…one more thing…THANK YOU to all of Z’s connections for always doing the right thing by her and keeping us (her fans) as part of your extended family. Dottie, you’ve given so much of yourself here on this site and you will be surely be missed!

  17. oh my gosh – the separation anxiety has set in already!

    But what an enormous privilege to have been a part of this diary and, I’m hoping, it will show up again in some form. In the meantime, it’s with HEARTFELT GRATITUDE that I say thank you to Dottie, especially, and everyone connected to Zenyatta. Dottie must be swamped with all the work she has to do, which until now has been to share the “voice” of Zenyatta with the 1000s of us who think the world of her. Bless you, Dottie!

    And in equal parts, THANK YOU to all the “posters” from who I have learned to much and become VERY FOND of reading and meeting. There are so many special people connected with this diary and I will miss hearing from all of you.

    hugs to all from a snowy, windy, cold and yes, sunny Seattle – all in one day!

  18. Thank you so much to Dottie (and all of Team Z) for the wonderful diary updates and photos. I’ve loved getting my nearly-daily Zenyatta fix!
    I look forward to whatever new notices and updates may come over time.

    As always, big hugs and kisses on the nose for all (including Zen & baby, Team Z and all the “Dumplings”)!
    Be blessed, be well and be happy.
    Much Love,
    Ellen

  19. Someone from Lanes End can still take pictures via Twitter.com. At least we can still see pictures of them both on there. Maybe we should all go to LE FB page and ask them too. Real Nicely. maybe Sarah, Matt, Charles, can send us a ‘tweet’ once a week or like I said, upload the pictures to their or Zenyatta’s FB page.

  20. Dumpling Zenny, and your little dumpling, star prince, little love licks, I love you more and more and more and more and more and more ………….. just heartbroken ♥♥

  21. One mother to another…. I do understand the need to be mother first and writer second. Just want to say “thanks for the memories” and “God Bless”. I will be looking for any news on the two of you in the other racing news venues. Will some one please keep everyone up on Tansy’s progress toward motherhood also, please.

  22. Oh my! I don’t know where to start.Must thank you Ms.Z for being such a great friend and allowing us to ride along on such a tremendous trip. It has been such a joy to visit with you daily and be a part of your transition to motherhood-which you are fabulously handling.Your baby boy is so precious and with your human family so far away in Ca.I am so happy that you have him with you to love always.I know you are loved and treated so well by all the team at Lanes End but everyone needs their own to hold near.Thank you Dottie for putting Z’s thought to pen,Thank you John for the great pics and thank you so much Mr. & Mrs. Moss for the memories you have given us.You have really made the life of a thoroughbred more real for us.I will feel a loss in not being able to check in on Z but I know all need a break.Please drop a pic or note from time to time and please let us know when Tasty foals as she has become part of our lives as well. I wish all the best to Team Z but mostly to Z and her baby because she is the REASON!

  23. Zenny, You will be in my heart forever!
    You are the GIFT I will cherish forever!
    I wish you and The Prince Of Zen MORE than the BEST life has to offer!
    YOU deserve no less!

    Hmmm….
    PRINCE OF ZEN——pretty nice name!

  25. I understand but it sure feels like someone turned the lights off in the world with no Z updates. Makes me very sad.

  26. TO ALL ZENYATTA’S FANS, I REALLY LOVE YOU GUYS YOU ARE A VERY UNIQUEE PERSONS, I going to miss you very much, to Dottie thank you so much for everything you are great person, big hug Ingrid.

  27. Long time reader — first time poster. Just wanted to thank Ann and Jerry for allowing all the FOZ (Friends of Zenyatta) to be part of her life, and props to Dottie for all her work here with the updates. Best wishes to everyone (human and equine) at Lanes End and Barn 55. All the best to Z and little Z12. Here’s hoping we see him in the Classics in 2015. Please send us an occasional update! Good luck all you Zsters.

  28. Thank you, Dottie, for your selfless daily labor of love, keeping Queen Z’s fans apprised of so many things. We will miss you – a lot!

    Maybe someone can give us updates occassionally?

    Love
    Donna

  29. I know it takes a lot to update this diary every day and since the baby is here maybe you could write once a month with new pictures so we can see the progress that Baby Z is doing. Again thank you so much Dottie for all you have done to keep us up with the amazing Z. The Mosses have been very gracious in even allowing us the luxuary of being aunts and uncles and sincerely want to thank them. Until then a huge thank you.

  30. we will miss you sweetie and ty for being a part of my life and I do thank whoever wrote the lovely birthday poem..enjoy your little one they don’t stay little for long they grow up fasr… I have enjpyed each and evry one of your posts just keep us posted on his progress and that of Tasy and her foal…still will be checking daily