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. OK, from what I get from the Fan Letter is that Dottie is lost from us..it is permanent, however, Ann & Jerry have not left us lost and wondering around confused. They have taken care of us that Zenyatta’s World will remain open, and they will post pictures and information we crave.

    Terry Crow, Sweetie, I hope you sign on and read this. We will always be together, you are stuck with all of us.

    Gotta get ready for work, will check in again then.

    I love you all so, thank you for the comfort and love that flows through Zenyatta’s World.

    Lisag

  2. Ann & Jerry Moss, thank you, thank you, and thank you. It was a good morning when I rushed to my computer at 5:00 this morning and saw the post from Vicki B., Thank you Vicki. I am so grateful to you, I know you do not have to do this, but do so as you have so much love in your hearts. I cannot thank you enough, I am so looking forward to see the new format you have planned for us, and we The Zenyatta.com Family will always be together. I love you…Lisag

    • Yes, I did the same. I am so glad that we still have hoped, to see her and know about her, for how long? I do not know. I only hope. Ingrid.

    • I was going through what I thought were the last posts and replying to them when I finally got here. Could have saved myself a lot of tears.

  3. Thrilled to hear that we will still get updates and photos of Zenyatta, but am hurt that Dottie did not say “goodbye” to us. I suppose she did not want to depart from being Zenyatta’s voice, but I feel like I have lost a friend and am not sure why. Dottie, I loved each and everyone of your posts and want you to know how much I appreciated everything you did for us. I guess I took you for granted and for that I am sorry. I can see where “Zenyatta” would have a difficult time writing about near future events that will occur. Dottie we love you soooo much and will miss you terribly. Perhaps, “Zenyatta” or Dottie can send us a “letter” a few times a year. But if this really is the End, then I wish you all the happiness and goodness that you deserve. Take care.

  6. Thank you for taking the time you have sharing all the information and education of the horse world with everyone. I only learned about this website a few months ago and have checked it out often. But what you have taken the time to share has only helping the industry. People often wonder what the life of a retired race horse is about and what really happens to them. Once again Z and team have found a way to connect and bring people into racing. I hope this is not a forever goodbye. Z touched hearts and we just want to know she is doing ok.
    Thank you
    I find myself crying as I say goodbye.

  7. Ms Zenyatta, Thank you for the beautifful pictures you shared with us on this post. Could it be that Your Prince is looking directly into the camera? Like Perfect Mom like Perfect Son. I am looking forward to the new format you are arranging for us, Too Sweet, you are so busy and still make time for us. Will The Prince be helping you out?
    I love you, I cannot wait for more pics and information on Your Beautiful Daily Lives…Lisag

  8. You shouldn’t let the power of this blog’s fan base dissipate because the blog is ending (or whatever). Your voices have done great things for horses. Why not do a new blog including other horses, photos, thorny issues, wit, etc. KEEP THIS GROUP TOGETHER.

  9. Wow. I feel like the earth has been pulled out from under me. I knew this time was coming, but I thought we’d have a little more time. This feels like just after my mom died. I didn’t know how much I counted on her just being there until she was gone.

  10. Thanks to Dottie for all of your hard work and dedication in creating this wonderful diary.
    And much thanks to the Mosses in making this all possible.
    And now, due to Zenyatta and her fan base, Hollywood Park is going to be saved.
    She did for racing in California what Smarty Jones has done for racing in Pennsylvania.
    Oh my goodness, her friend’s name, from John Sherriffs barn and living at Lane’s End says it all: Life Is Sweet–lol.
    XOXOXO
    Incidentally, you may want to connect with a horse racing fan group called ThoroFan; their website is called ThoroFan.

    • ?? If you know something about Hollywood Park, PULEESE SHARE!

        • Terry,
          I just posted a reply to Karen’s post. It seems that Betfair has bought into Hollywood Park and will have naming rights: Betfair Hollywood Park. TVG is part of Betfair. I think the article said this would run for 5 years. They are planning upgrades. I found this article on my Earthlink sports link under Horseracing News.

      • Karen,
        I found news that Betfair has bought naming rights to Hollywood Park (Betfair Hollywood Park) and will be upgrading it. Contract to be for 5 years, I think. It is maybe a merger? Not sure exactly. This was on Earthlink home page sports link to Horseracing News. I am sure it must be in other newsletters, also.

        TVG is part of Betfair, also.

  11. Good morning everyone. Oh Dottie…we will miss hearing from Zenny through you so much. THANK YOU for what you did for all of us. We knew it couldn’t continue forever, but we RELISHED the time that it did.

  12. Congrats Zenyatta – well done!
    Your idea with the diary is wonderful. I hope you’ll never get tired to inform us about the progress of your beautiful little son. The photos are just great.

    All the best
    Gilberta from Switzerland

  13. I too like others took a day to absorb the news. I’ve commented on this site since its inception. And even though I took a break posting (for health reasons), I always read and enjoyed the diary and fan post.

    I’m gonna do some reflecting, so please do not slam me – I’ll forever be grateful to Z’s owners for opening up their lives (and business) to us. It’s not lost on me the time involved doing this, but I also think as organic as is was for us to follow Z’s career path, so too was it for her owners to share her. We (her fans) were their affirmation–what they felt in her presence and races was felt by others– a horse of a lifetime. And this is what befuddles me a bit. I’m certain that they knew that this time would come, but feel a little disappointed that they didn’t give us a little bit of a heads up. Yes, they are not obligated to do so, but it would have been appreciated by many. Why? Because it would have allowed all during the last week to transition…. questions could have been answered, goodbyes to Z and friends not rushed. I feel the “break” is permanent. Why, because (IMHO) they feel fans may have issues with Z’s life as a broodmare…….foaling every year, and her babies being taken away in 3-6 months. How would Dottie talk for Z now that the transition has been made? Maybe they feel it would be a little disingenuous. I’m personally not saying her life from this day forward will be horrible. In fact I think she will be quite happy. She’ll have the love of her other horse lady friends and the folks at Lanes End who know doubt have fallen head over heel in love with her. I KNOW she will be OK and have a wonderful life and will be taken care of like a Queen. I’d like to think something unexpected transpired that resulted in the abruptness of their announcement. We’ll probably never know, but I hope it’s because of the reasons I mentioned above and nothing serious with the people that surround Z. In closing, I hope that they continue to release photos of Z and her foal(s). She is more than a racehorse. She has become a Stateswomen for all horses–they have heart and soul and should be celebrated and cared for like Z. That has been her gift to us.

    ~When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life you have a hundred reasons to smile. :)))))

    Love to all.

  14. Momma Z, baby z;

    Thank you for sharing with us your life and the photos of ‘baby Z’.
    It brings tears to me every time i see photos/and read your daily diary. Thank you.

    You are soooooooooooooooooo beautiful!!

    Any name yet?

    Julie in Bonsall, CA

  15. I tried a million times to write the same thoughts you have Lizzie and couldn’t have said it better. We will be slammed by others that are thinking being a broodmare is so wonderful. How many horses are born each year? How many ever make it to the big picture? Perhaps that is why some of the unfortunate horses are vanned off to slaughter house lots. What is wrong with people? 30,000 horses are born a year. Yet on this very same blog we received pleas to help save unfortunate horses that were going to be slaughtered. I am sorry to say it was a wonderful diary and I even became hopeful that this could make a difference but sorry MONEY talks and we were all left to wonder how we can follow her. By the way we never hear any more about Uncle Mo. He is busy with his new stallion career I suppose. Smarty Jones is being shuttled to Hungary for his stallion career. Oh well, enough of my bummed out reality picture.

    • Smarty is only in Uruguay during the South American breeding season. He will still be in Pennsylvania in the spring. Uruguay is a first-world country, BTW. He will be well treated there.

      • The usual informative comments from LauraJ. Since I have started reading and responding to the posts, I have the definite feeling that not all are aware of the letter from the Mosses posted in the news section. It should be read by all who post here.

  16. Dear sweet Zenyatta your baby is the most important thing in your life now. I am new to your blog and to the world of horseracing. The other great horses were gone before I became aware of them. But you, you are in my time. I work at Santa Anita and could not enjoy the thrill of watching you race live. I watched on the TV and the big screen. Did see you as you passed by my work station at the 2010 BC. You were breathtaking. Your kind demeaner is as powerful as your talent. In the videos I can see the love that is within you by the manner you care for your son. Your eyes are so kind; they are the window to your soul. I truly love your sweet boy. Go sweet momma and care for him. The world can wait.

    • Very interesting. Linda, what part of SA do you work in and do you know our Cynthia H? I have to agree with you on one thing, though. Other than Zenyatta, there do not appear to be any recent horses I would describe as great.

  17. We’ll all miss your diary entries and of course the photos of you and your beautiful foal, but certainly understand your need for taking maternity leave. I do hope that maybe someone will post pictures somewhere so we can watch your baby grow up? Please??? And of course I hope that this is not a permanent goodbye!
    Wishing you all the best. Enjoy each moment of being a Mom and thank you so very much for all that you have shared with us and all that you always give. Love to you and all your team.

  18. My Dearest Z and ALL,

    I came back today one more time to read and enjoy the pictures. I do love you big girl and your baby, well just WOW. I’d like to thank Dottie, again, for helping you put your thoughts down on paper (if you will). Even a small fraction of what you gave to us would have been extraordinary, but this has been a truly wonderful journey and I, for ONE, will never forget it and truly appreciate it. I would never have had these glimpses into this portion of your world were it not for your owners generosity. I would encourage anyone who has questioned the reason or timing of this hiatus, to take a step back and realize the insult that lays at the feet of some very generous, giving, people. We were owed nothing, but were given a wonderful blessing over and over again. Do not sour what we were given in any way by speculating or worse grumbling about “notice time”. We had a truly wonderful “free pass” inside a world most of us, if not all of us, would never have seen. Be grateful!!!!!

    This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! 2015 will be here before you know it! We have 3 glorious years to dream about a Derby match-up between Zennie’s Baby Boy and Rachel’s Baby Boy :) :)….

    I’m grateful Zenyatta has Mr. and Mrs. Moss as her owners and very grateful to have learned so much about John Shireffs as a Trainer. Can’t find the “write” words to tell you Dottie, how talented you are. Because of all of you, I’ve; remembered all my favorite Herb Alpert songs :)….relived meeting the Carpenters at an A&M sponsored party (years ago)…..made a small investment in some Guinness (for my cherished OTTB Robin)…..did a lot of reading about what a “race manager does” …. and am now very impressed at what it means to be a “good” bloodstock agent.

    I want very much to someday see you big girl at Lane’s End. I will work toward that goal. I may be old and gray when I get there, but you will know me…..I’ll be the one with tears streaming down my face. I know you are that special.

    Love you all,

    Roseann

  19. LIFE WITHOUT ZENYATTA, SAY IT AIN’T SO!!

    MAJOR THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT PROVIDED SUCH WONDERFUL COVERAGE OF THIS GREAT LADY ZENYATTA AND HER LOOKALIKE FOAL BABY ZENYATTA..

    GOD BLESS YOU’ALL!!

  21. GADS! I HAD THE MOST AWFUL DREAM! ……………….. PHEWWW!

  22. Terry Crow: Rednecks don’t go away, they just get better. It appears that we will all still be able to connect as before. I am so glad because yesterday I felt as though I was being separated from my family. The site may change a bit, but we will all be the same. Yippee!!!

  23. GOOD MORNNNING ZENNYLAND!!!! WAKEY WAKEY!!!

      • I couldn’t sleep last night – I cried for at least an hour maybe more as I hugged my Zenyatta Plushie…. Usually she just sleeps at my head, but last night I needed just a little bit more.

        It will be ok – we must rejoyce that they allowed us to stay in touch with Zenyatta until she had her foal. We are very lucky fans – I know of none other who have given so much to the Fans!!!!

        • I was sad too…I have quite a few Big Pics of our Z in almost every room.
          I will never forget her!!

  24. Thank you, Zenyatta for sharing the changes in your life & this most important time!
    I am very grateful for all the Diary Posts–yours and all the Zensters!
    You know that prayers are with you & your colt for all good things!

  25. Dottie, thank you so much for writing Zenyatta’s Diary. You are a special lady and I’m grateful for you supplying news and stories of interest between the time of Zenyatta’s retirement and the birth of her first son.

    I’m not really concerned right now with the name of this little boy. I’m convinced that Mr. and Mrs. Moss will come up with a name for him over the next couple of years (I think I read that a horse doesn’t need to have an official name before his or her first start at age two.) Therefore I am not suggesting a name, as I think the Mosses give excellent names to their horses and will no doubt find a great one for this little guy over time. At this time, he just needs to have the love of his excellent mother (I KNEW she would be a great mom.)

    Namaste, peace, and love to you and your John and your David, Mr. and Mrs. Moss, and all the people at the barn at Hollywood Park who love Zenyatta.

    Mary M. Meek

  26. When I come back from lunch, it will not seem real to not have Post #458. You are missed, Dottie and I am thankful for all you have done for us and am thankful that Ann & Jerry Moss will keep this website ALIVE. It will not seem right when I get back and #458 is not there..Lisag

    We all know Horseracing..we know what happens when a stallion and mare retire. I have been told that it is not much unlike wildlife for the mare and foal, as it is in the horseracing world of the baby going to ‘school’. I do not think this is why Dottie quit. My fear is that she or John might be ill, I hope that it is not true and that she just needs to consentrate on managing…She will be missed, that is for sure…Lisag

      • Terry Crow & Signofthetimes, I wrote this as I saw a post and with one of my ten thumbs lost it, and there are so many posts…I cannot keep up. Someone thught that maybe Dottie thought that maybe ‘We could not handle the truth’. The truth that the Queen of Racing is a broodmare, and we would not be able to handle the time when The Prince and The Queen are separated so He can attend ‘school’. I just disagreed that that was why Dottie resigned as The Voice. I to think it is for business reasons, she is a Manager. I wish she would resign to everyone except Ann & Jerry, so she would have time to be THE VOICE….Lisag

    • Lisa-
      I think it was a business decision. Too much time
      On the past and not of the future which is what
      Racing focuses on. Zenny is now in the background
      Producing and Team Z and the Mosses have to move
      Forward.

      As Dottie told John when Zenny first went to KY,
      Now go find us another Champion.

  28. Many thanks go out to Dottie for all her wonderful updates on Queen Z. Yes she is owned by Jerry and Ann but loved by so many or should I say adored by so many who have followed her through her racing career and now into mother hood. She is one horse who will not be forgotten and we will all wait for the day her beautiful son goes into training. Thank-you also Lanes End for all you have done for the racing world by letting us all into your lovely pastures with pictures of Queen Z and Tasty. May God Bless all the Z team in CA and at Lanes End. May you enjoy all your spring, summer,fall and winter days Queen Z and know you will be in our prayers. We will look at your prints on our walls and the goggles Mike wore while riding you and remember how special you are. Best Wishes Z.

  29. OMG I can’t see through my tears.I thought I would be OK but I’m having a really hard time without my daily fix from this beautiful website. How can we see the little prince grow, how will we learn his name?! I’m having a terrible time with this.

  30. Please update when possible. Especially regarding Tasty Temptation’s foal and who Zenyatta will be bred to next time and special milestones and events. Thank you!