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

  1. Oh, I may never have the chance to say this: HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY COMING UP LITTLE REAGAN! What a wonderful, magical world you have been born into! Enjoy it with Zenny, and little love licks, the star Prince! ♥♥

  2. Love those EARS! The pictures are adorable! Enjoy your visit when your John, Dottie and whoever else from your family comes to visit!
    We have so appreciated this diary that Dottie has provided us with! Although we will miss reading your updates from you, I am sure we will stay in contact by your Facebook page and be updated with pictures!
    Have a wonderful day Zenyatta and baby Z! xoxoxo

  3. Dear Z.

    I really consider myself one of you biggest fans, I’m in love with you.

    BUT, I think it’s beyond stupid that your taking time off from your diary. IMO. Sorry, but it’s true, I mean its your FANS that has got you this far… and now your just gonna leave them?

    • You didn’t just say that!

      Dottie has given us everything she has for over a year. Most mares upon retirement wonder off into oblivion and we are lucky if we ever hear there name again.

      I don’t know if the Moss’s had anything to do with this decision. They may want Z to have some much needed privacy right now.

      There are other tremendous issues with “outsiders” coming into the farm to take photos. Stuff that puts the farm at risk. Like viruses and other diseases that you wouldn’t even begin to dream of. All of that put the farm and the horses at risk.

      I can understand being disappointed but that kind of knee jerk response is really over the top and TOTALLY uncalled for.

      Team Z I am sorry that this person has chosen to bash you like this. While I too am disappointed I have to respect your decision. I hope that as time permits you will update us on occasion.

      • Sorry , I didn’t mean it in as harmful way as I typed it. So I am very sorry for making it sound like that.

        I’m just very sad and disapointed.
        Zenyatta isn’t like “most mares” though… gotta remember that. I’m just gonna miss hearing updates about her. I respect the decision too, I’m just very upset about it.

        • it’s sort of a cliche now, but anger is a part of the grieving process. Tears, anger, gratitude, negotiating (“maybe once a week???”) — hard to let go, in any phase of life.

      • It’s ok, Samantha, I figured out you were just upset, before you even said so. And I think no harm was done. Team Z may want more privacy, Margaret, or it may just be that they have other things they need to take care of, besides “us” here, and dropping the daily posts will free up some time. I can understand that, and still be sad that it’s true.

  4. And I’ll miss the adorable dear Sophie Shirreffs too!

  5. Beautiful Z, thank you so much for sharing and I don’t blame you for taking a break to be with your little one. He needs your full attention, my sweet. Your life is a gift to all of us who love you and those memories will always be in our hearts. If I’m fortunate enough to be an old lady sitting on the back porch in a rocking chair looking at the beauty of nature, I will remember that I saw this beautiful mare by the name of ZENYATTA who was the most incredible horse that I ever saw in my life. I went to Breeders’ Cup just to see you race – it didn’t matter if you won – it was just seeing you. I welcomed you to Kentucky in 19 degree weather at Keeneland that cold December night and I would do it over again just for a glimpse of your greatness.

    To DOTTIE and TEAM ZENYATTA,

    THANK YOU for sharing your dream mare with us – for being so patient with our obsession for this beautiful girl and for embracing it. You brought that injection to horse racing that it has needed for a long while.

    I’ll continue to read Blood-Horse, Daily Racing Form, and Thoroughbred Times to catch any news as well as this website, Twitter, and Facebook. I’ll always be a racing fan forever, but it has been just a little more special the last few years with the ‘DUMPLINGS’. I’ll be watching those BARN 55 horses – they’re the best!

    Much love to you always!
    Sandra

    PS – Remember, if you need a babysitter, I’m just down the road! xoxox

  6. Sorry to hear this is the end of your diary. Loved reading it everyday. Thanks for keeping everyone informed. Best wishes for the rest of your life Zenyatta. Hope you have many more foals as nice as your first.

  7. I’m going to miss seeing your diaries everyday Z. That’s the first thing I always check when I turn on my computer. :) I hope you enjoy your time off and I can’t wait to hear about what your baby’s name ends up being, he is one handsome little guy. Also, I hope you keep us up to date on Tasty. Love you Z!!

  8. When I read today’s post, my heart just sank. I’m in shock and denial. I want to believe that this is just temporary, but it’s just so sudden. I’m just wondering if there’s more to this. I hope not. This diary is the highlight of my day and I can’t imagine my life without it. Not only have I been able to keep up with Zenyatta and everything going on with her, but I love reading everyone’s post. I’ve learned so much, but more importantly, I’ve made some wonderful friends. Dottie, there are not enough words to thank you for everything you’ve done for all of us. I thank you from the bottom of my broken heart. Zenyatta, I know you’ll take good care of your adorable little Prince. Be sure to give Tasty lots of pointers on being a mom. To all my fellow Z’sters, hopefully the diary will be back soon and we’ll get to chat again. Hugs, Debbie

    • Debby G. – Shock and denial, yes — it feels so abrupt, but I have no idea if there is any more to the story, than what Dottie has already said — I can accept that. I am sure I will be going through some Withdrawal pain, at missing being here — always having this place to look forward to, no matter what happens at work, or whether my car broke down, or what. I always knew I could come here, and find some good “community”, and “talk” to people about our common interest, and learn new things. It was a highlight of my day, for months now. Feeling like I was part of something. My other friends are almost uniformly not much interested in horses/Zenyatta, so I avoid boring them to tears about it. It may be “over”, but I will return here at least for awhile, to see if other people do, too. To see if we have any “community” left, and where.

      • I came back today to answer some posts that I may have missed and to copy down email addresses and web sites. I don’t know if I will ever be back. Too painful.

        • Terry, hopefully Ann & Jerry’s “News” will make it more likely that you’ll want to come back here, and we can all continue to talk, sometimes. I will probably check in every day, and see who’s available, who “wants to play”.

  9. Thank you for the fabulous, fabulous photos! This is what we’ve all been waiting for and so dearly treasure. He’s racing already Zenny! It looks like his coat is lightening up quite a bit like his Daddy Benardini.

    Love to all of the Zenyatta Team! They are the best of the best.

  10. My fellow Zfriends and fans…..who I have learned are all over the world and the United States ……
    THANK YOU ALL…for being such AMAZING people with words of love and support not only for Zen but for each other. Zenyatta brought us all together and she will keep us all together. I will help anyway I can with my website, facebook, email. or whatever.

    PLEASE keep in touch EVERYONE…I have always said you can never have too many friends but I didn’t think I would EVER be blessed enough in my lifetime to have 100,000 of them!

    MUCH love to you all…I hope to hear from some, many, most, ALL of you.

    whirlaway68@gmail.com
    http://www.HorseRacingMania.com/forums
    Shannon Jurpik (on Facebook)

    Hope we cram out 100,000 butts into the infield at the Breeder’s Cup…..Zenyatta did big things…let’s show her and Team Z that WE can do big things too. The 2012 ZENYATTA INFIELD! Woooooohoooo!
    :-)

    DOTTIE YOU ARE A GODSEND!! HOOF HOOF HOORAY!

    • Dear Shannon in Seattle:

      Best wishes to you and your husband. Hope he’s home soon. Will save your e-mail address. Love and Hugs, JB

    • Shannon………thanks for posting your email address. I have also bookmarked your web site. All of this is SOOOOOO sad and now that I am reading more and more of the posts I am wondering, too, if there isn’t “more” to this “abrupt” end to the diary than initially thought.

      At any rate, I have enjoyed getting to “know” you and if you see email from CarolinaJude@aol.com in your email (or if it happens to go to SPAM) if will be from me!

      TO ALL:

      I am going to come back here in the morning just to see if there is anything here. Hope you all will too. Great to have shared these past two years with everyone and our mutual love for our most beloved Zennie.

    • I hate to say it but I doubt that Breeder’s Cup crowds will be much more than a typical Saturday afternoon in the old days. When I say that to people, most just laugh. But an average crowd was 45,000-55,000. I know I shouldn’t dwell on the old days, but things were a lot better for me then.

      • Terry,
        We CAN make it so again. Just imagine the sense of love, pride, friendship and Z Family we would all have to be there together. Maybe it wouldn’t be a crowd of over 100k BUT the ZSters would certainly boost the numbers and make it a treasured event filled with a glorious couiple days of making and meeting new friends as well as seeing old ones. I have to say our annual HorseRacingMania gathering every year is more exciting than almost Christmas and we have struck up some lifelong friendsships and had the most amazing time…some of the best times we have had after the days of racing are over….the cheers of Guiness to salute the mighty mare’s victory….the tears of sadness to cheers her gallant effort in a hairs breadth defeat. EVERYTHING. In fact…several of our group is on that reptitive video you see all the time after she won….LOL…My friend said she is going to start charging royalties because they use it so much. I guess my point is that despite our sadness we now collectively have the opportunity to move forward and grow…to live…to laugh…to love anew and even better! When one door closes usually another bigger and better door opens and we Zster’s are a pretty amazing group…I have NO DOUBT that not only could mwe make it an amazinf experience BUT we might land ourselves in one big media slot for just being there TOGETHER and just BEING “US”…the Zsters we have all grown to love!
        :-)

  12. Thanks for the memories and great photos of the Queen Z and baby son.

  13. Nothing last forever and I knew this wouldn’t either. But I totally understand Dottie/Zenny. You have many responsibilities, a life and a job that require your attention and presence. I want you to know, that like everyone else here, I very much appreciate all you have done to keep us posted on her new life and her baby boy. It has been a gift, as Ann would say. Many thanks to you, John, Ann, Jerry, Sarah, David, all of Barn 55 and Lane’s End. None of you will be forgotten and I wish you every success with your racing. Zenyatta will always be in my heart and that will never change.

  14. Hey baby girl and little baby boy. Wow baby girl I’m somewhat speechless to hear about you stopping your diary. Some many of us have followed you for so long and now when such a wonderful time in your life has occurred, the communication will stop. While I read your diary earlier today, I have thought long and hard as to what I need to say. First of all your daily post has been an uplifting experience for me and so many of your devoted fans. Talking with you has taken away some troubling times for many of us. Seeing a daily picture and hearing from you has filled a void in many people. Just now when a new chapter has opened in your life, we the fans can no longer be a part of that. I have to wonder if there is more to your post than what we are reading. I hope and pray that all is well in the Zenyatta world. I’m now somewhat afraid to open Bloodhorse or NTRA in the future and read something negative in your life. I suppose with all great and positive things that there lies an ending. But to get hit with this all of a sudden is really hard on your devoted fans. Baby Girl you are the best and will always be the best. Again, I hope that you, baby and your human family are all well. You take good care of that future Triple Crown winner and until next time, I love you and your baby.

    • Dallas, I like what you wrote. I think it’s true, as you said, “Just now when a new chapter has opened in your life, we the fans can no longer be a part of that.” That’s how it feels.

  15. I don’t suppose you’d consider naming the colt “Mondatta”, would you? (Fans of “The Police” oughtta get that reference no problem).

  16. The photos are wonderful but the news is sad that the Diary will take a break and our Zenyatta and baby news will be sparse. However, a big High Hoof to you and Dottie for allowing us into your life for so long. I am thrilled to see you with your son. You were the perfect race horse and now you are the perfect mom.

    Thank you, Dottie, for being so good to us and writing the Diary for so long and with such regularity. I hope there will be some kind of notice to us when the Mosses do find the perfect name for this beautiful colt. Love always to him and his most wonderful mom, the great Zenyatta.

  18. I too have tears in my eyes and it is very hard. Especially since I am a new member and I was really looking forward to writing with you all and getting to know you. I do not have and do not want a facebook page so I guess I will be out of the loop with that.

    Blessings to all
    Raylene

    P.S. Thank you to everyone involved with The Queen Z and the Diary.

    • Raylene, remember that Abigail has said her Blog (The Vault) is available, and Shannon J. in Seattle also has her site (HorseRacingMania) both linked above. They have both encouraged us to stay in touch there. Several others have posted their personal email addresses, to be contacted. So you don’t have to disappear, or be out of the loop, if you don’t want to.

  19. What beautiful pictures – thank you for sharing them with us – and thank you, Dottie, for sharing Zenyatta’s life with us. I look forward to the diary entries every day. I realize you have much to do – but would you consider possibly writing an entry once a week? That way we can still follow Zenyatta and her baby – and also – how will we learn about Tasty’s foal? Please think about it – we will all be suffering from withdrawals!!! Love all of you for taking such good care of these horses.

  20. Zenny, I have this dream in my heart … tell me if it would come true! I dream that your Jerry and your Ann would have a FARM of their own one day, to have your David and your Sarah manage it, and have YOU and all YOUR babies to be there too …. to bring you home again – where you truly do belong, with them, the closer you are to their heart and love … it must be heartbreaking to leave you there just to be a horse, and just to be a broodmare at that. … they love you so. Ahhh, I know, dream on …. but one truly never knows my friends ….. Oh, if it would come true for YOU our darling dumpling, Queen Zenyatta! Sometimes things really do have to change in life to make it all right … again … One can dream, can’t one? sweetheart of my (our) heart! ♥

    • Hmmm! Sounds like you’ve given this some thought. Sounds like a good possibility? And here I am, one that likes to know facts and not spread falsehoods, but What if….????
      What if…Ann realized that she couldn’t live without Zenny and her little one(s) being close by?
      What if…it’s not so convenient or healthy to fly that far, so much?
      What if…Jerry decided to resign from the board of the California NTRA [or whatever :), can’t remember, brainstorming here] to persue another venture? **as Karen stated above** Dottie is their business manager **wink wink**
      Maybe a “Mossville” website with all their horses on it and all their personal bios just a click away…???
      Sounds like… we need to try to be patient and see what good/great things could be in the future.
      No I’m not so sad. There is always hope :)
      I’m just saying……

      • KIm-Jerry Moss resigned from the CHRB, which stands for California Horse Racing Board. He was the only voice of reason on that not so august body.

  21. Zen, I am teary-eyed looking at these pictures. Thank you for so generously sharing pictures of you and your handsome foal. A big thanks to all who have guided and cared for you all these years.

  23. Hi Zenyatta, Baby Z, Dottie and everyone, Just loved your pictures today of you and baby Z – wow, he sure is handsome and those ears, toooooooo cute!! We will miss your diaries, but respect your privacy. We know you need to have some mommy time and will be waiting for your next diary, whenever that will be. Thank you so much. Will you be doing a Zenyatta Day at this year’s Breeder’s Cup? Will Zenyatta’s life like statue be on display at Santa Anita for the Breeder’s Cup? We will surely miss your diary and cannot wait for it to return. Love you, Angels.

  24. I’m back again. I’ve read the DRF article and it was confusing. In one place “hiatus” was used and in another, paraphrasing “ending the blog”. “…have not yet decided how to get news and info out to the public”.
    Dottie, you have always acknowledged the fans in whatever you did or said and how important they are to Zenyatta and the racing industry. That’s why it’s so confusing to me that this would be ended so abruptly. We all know it’s not about Z and the foal. While we love to imagine that it’s Z writing the diaries, we all know it’s you or someone helping you, perhaps Sarah. I don’t think anyone would have a problem with your not having time to take care of this everyday. I honestly don’t know how you’ve done it this long. I also feel pretty sure that everyone would understand how much time this would take for someone helping you. The part that’s so stunningly painful is how abruptly it has been ended. All of us have no idea if there will ever be another diary or even if the web site will be left up. None of us have any idea how we will ever hear anything about Zenyatta and her baby again and we are bereft! I’ve heard several people voice the thought that there’s something else behind the cessation of the daily diary and perhaps there is. It’s probably none of our business. What I’m trying to say and, probably not so well, is that please don’t abandon the fans that have followed Zenyatta and all of her “family” for so long. We love all of you at Barn 55 and LE and the Mosses and John and Dottie and Mike Smith – all of you. It’s almost like saying “good bye, you’re too much trouble now ” or words to that effect. Perhaps this is not the case, but we don’t really have much to go on.
    I guess I should apologize for what I’m saying here but I’m confused, heart-broken and even a little angry. You have always made Zenyatta so accessible to her fans and now she’s not. It’s just that simple.

    • Sharon, my feelings exactly!!! I don’t understand at all. It’s especially hard because just a few days ago we were up all hours waiting for baby, getting more fans for Z’s facebook, so exciting and now, a few days later, the door is slammed shut. Unbelievable and heart breaking!!!!!! Didn’t see this coming at all.

  25. I too am in tears, although I didn’t add comments often I read your diary virtually evey day and now I hate to miss watching this adorable little colt grow up. It would be so nice to see this continue and if not every day perhaps once a week. Please reconsider!

  26. God bless you Zenyatta and baby! Thank you so much for allowing us into your world. Will miss you terribly but understand you need your time. Will love you all and think of you until the end of time! XOXOXO

  27. OK, I have been reading these posts for almost 2 hours and I just can’t seem to stop myself!!! If I sign off, I’m afraid I’ll come back tomorrow and everything will be gone. Really, Sharon, get a grip : ) Time to walk the dog, poor thing, before the rain starts again.

    • oops, too late. Now we’re having snowy ice pellets – quite lovely really, oh well, off we go

      • I HEAR you Sharon…I live in AUBURN and we got 3 inches of snow!! I think MOther Nature was sick the day the memos went out….It’s HIGH TIME she get rolling and bring us SRPINGTIME already.

  28. I posted earlier but have done a lot of thinking since then. I have to agree with some, could something else be wrong. Talk about a roller coaster ride! From the highest highs to the lowest lows so suddenly. Like a door slammed in our faces. Confusing! Did we do something wrong? Maybe we overwhelmed everyone? I understand this diary is a lot of work and probably tiring, but we have loved it here and for it to be over and NOW just after the birth, so sudden and so final, is mind boggling and feels like punishment or something. I don’t mean to be negative and I do appreciate all that has been done for us fans, this is just shocking to me. We love you Z and baby Z

  30. Lisag——I too have met the great Tiznow, he is a tremendous horse. I saw him at WinStar, & the information they gave about him was fascinating. He was quite the show off too.

    • Lil, you to are such a lucky girl. I just fell in love with him. It is funny, I watch the races (TV) and then a horse will stand out…just like Uncle MO, he does not have the beauty of Tiznow, but he looked like a cute, little boy..when he ran it looked like he was surprised that he was running. LOL He stole my heart..Tiznow, I am thinking is this real, can he possibly be that beautiful. Yes, he is I will always have a crush on him..you and Barbara Woods are such lucky girls.