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. Thank you for everything you’ve shared with us, Zenyatta.
    Thank you to the entire Team.
    Please let us know where to find pictures, and updates.
    Lanes end website?
    Bloodhorse site?
    Where will you post pictures????
    Stay safe and well until we see you again xoxoxoxoxox
    Hugs and Prayers

    • There will be no posting of pictures; only things
      That are released to the racing news at long intervals.

      • I kind of doubt that’s the case. Dottie said in an interview just last week there will be lots of things for the fans and I take her at her word. The diary is taking a break but I’m betting we still get news and pictures here. Team Z are not the kind of people who just turn things off…not when so much time has been spent to update this site, adding merchandise and encouraging support of Zenny’s industry.

        • I hope you are right, suew/Va. That would be ok with me, because then we would still have some “community” here.

        • I hope you are right too. I didn’t see this coming. Grateful for the diary, but so disappointed it is ending so soon after the little foal was born.

  2. Awww, i will miss the daily updates! MAybe a monthly update could happen? We have to know who Daddy #2 is gonna be, and we have to see pics of Z baby as he is growing. He is gonna be one spoiled little guy with whatever he does in life.
    Thank You Z and Dottie! YOu have both been amazing and we as fans do so much appreciate you sharing your lives with us.
    Hope to hear from you soon!
    M

      • Signofthetimes, you sound so depressed, your posts so short, almost like it was an effort. We will be okay, she will be back…Her maternity leave (Dottie’s rest time) will be over soon, and maybe she won’t post everyday…but once or twice a week once she gets back…this is my hope.

  3. Oh Zenny!!! The pictures are SOOOO beautiful, but I am just in shock! Not only will we miss YOU but also ALL of the friends we have gotten to know on this site (I have visions of this page becoming just enormous with posts until you come back – hope it doesn’t crash completely!). Like everyone else has said, I’m hoping for at least an occasional picture or update (on Tasty too!). I’m sure little 12Z will grow up very quickly, and we don’t want to miss any of it.

    I know you need a break to become a Mom so please don’t think I’m a total dim wit. I don’t even know how to BEGIN to thank YOUR Dottie, Ann and Jerry Moss, YOUR John and all of Team Z at Barn 55 and all of your Lane’s End family for the wonderful care that they have given you, for all that they have done to keep us connected, and for all they have taught us (especially us “horse newbies”). Enormous thanks also to EVERYONE who has shared their knowledge, understanding, and compassion on this site. I will miss you all.

    Love from your Ohio friend, Sandy

    @Abigail from Montreal – High hoof for having your question chosen to be answered on Talkin Horses today!!! I didn’t recognize any of the other names, but it was great that they chose one of yours!

  4. Such lovely photos. He is the handsomest little guy in the world. I will miss you . I will go thru withdrawals from my daily Zenyatta frenzy. Have a wonderful time being a mommy!!!Give your baby a kiss for me. I love you…. You have gotten me thru a lot in my life and have gotten so used to reading and hearing about you everyday. I will always think of you….. I hope to come and visit you in Kentucky one of these days. Have a great day my queen!!!!

  5. I’ve been thinking…with a new website, new merchandise and facebook and tweets growing…this is indeed just a bit of a break and probably needed by both our Dottie and Zenny. This diary has become so special to so many…it’s not going away, just taking a nap for a while.

  6. We just love you Zenyatta and we are so excited for you YOur baby is absolutely gorgeous ,just like her MAMA. We look forward to see pictures every day and enjoy seeing the pride and love in you..You are the greatest …We have your pictures hanging up in our office and it makes that room just that more beautiful….WE LOVE YOU

      • Let’s not dwell on gloom. This site will continue to offer neat things…the Mosses and Shirreffs want fans to continue to support horseracing and this is one of the best places to do it.

  7. `Ms Zenyatta, I had to read it again to make sure I read it correctly, and sadly I did. I know how fortunate I am that I have been able to be a part of your life, this Diary since the beginning, all the thru to the birth of your son…because of this…you are a part of my life… mt life will not be the same and I cannot stop crying. I miss you. Gotta go.

  8. Dearest Zenyatta, (and Dottie!!) Thank you for sharing your amazing adventures through the different stages of your life with all of us…I just finished looking through your diary archives from before I joined your page around June of ’11. I enjoyed seeing a picture of your mom and noticed how strong the resemblance she and your new little prince share. TOO CUTE!!! I hope he stays with the Moss Family so we may get to read HIS journals one day! Please send a HIGH HOOF and a nuzzle to Tasty, as I can’t wait to see her foul. Also, I would like to wish you an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY, from one APRIL FOOL to another!! Happy Trails!

  9. Dear Zenny,
    Thanks so much for sharing all these lovely
    Photos and the last almost two years with us.
    This broodmare thing is serious business and it
    Is so very important for everything to go right for
    You and your baby. I am sad that your diary will
    End for awhile, but recognize that it is now time
    For you to only worry about you and your foal and
    Not the emotional well-being of your fans that may
    Not understand everything that goes into being a
    Great broodmare. Thanks so much to everyone connected
    To Zenyatta for making this experience an awesome
    One and a special one for us; something we would never
    Have been a part of. Thanks to Lanes End for extending
    A welcome to us in this very risky time of breeding such
    A high profile mare. Love always. XXXXOOO

  11. These photos are just wonderful, Big Girl.

    I guess I knew you would need a “Diary hiatus” at some point…..
    Writing for THE VAULT has taught me that this kind of creativity needs to be periodically replenished, that’s for sure. It must have taken “beyond the call of duty” devotion to keep it up & running without any time off since November 2010. I want you to know that I have appreciated coming here, reading about Zenny and the sport, and forming friendships with other Zen-sters. I have been a racing fan for well over 40 years and the relationship between Team Z and the fans has been unprecedented.

    To my Zen-ster friends: Please write to me anytime at THE VAULT (leave a comment) and I’ll forward you my personal email. I DON’T WANT TO LOSE TOUCH WITH YOU DURING ZEN-DOTTIE’S “MATERNITY LEAVE” !!!!!

    It’s strange how things happen over space and time, though. I was just thinking the other day that now that Baby Z has arrived, you are really TOTALLY in another LIFE STAGE, ZENNY. And, to a large extent, this stage is a lot less thrilling than a racing career — by which I mean it might be very tough to keep the Diary up on a DAILY BASIS between births. Broodmares are just being…..well……broodmares. They graze and mosey about their field and horse play and sleep. That’s really about it. And I just think that writing daily as Zenny continues in this new career might be the ultimate challenge!

    I enjoyed TALKIN’ HORSES although I did think it was going to be longer. And Esther Marr actually asked the question I sent (although it didn’t entirely get answered)! It was interesting to listen to Mike, Charles & Donna and I did find it interesting to hear that your favourite thing is ROUTINE, Zenny, making Ann Moss’ observation about the great transition you have gone through from Barn 55 to LE even more important in terms of understanding you better. My Daisy is like this — change in her usual routine is not welcomed, although she does adjust.

    Too, they didn’t seem closed to fan visits …. that likelihood got a “maybe” …. and a MAJOR concern is the numbers of other broodmares & colts at LE and their “security.” LE is, of course, a business and takes its role seriously. Fan visits are easier for Stonestreet to pull off because they’re so much more modest in size & etc.

    Anyway, I’m babbling……..I just find it hard to say goodbye (for now).

    Love & hugs to all

    • Abigail,
      Can’t wait to get in touch…if I remember right didnt’ your Vault write about UptownCharlyBrown?? I think that is how I stumbled upon it awhile back and I had forgotten about it until I saw your post and an earlier one mentioning. I can’t wait to get caught up. I hope and pray that between your site The Vault and my site HorseRacingMania we can rise up and keep this wonderful Zenyatta cyber-family close together. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

    • I too do not want this “community” of Zennyland to just end. But I know it’s hard to keep something going, when the reason or focus for getting together, fades or changes in some way. Without new posts, people won’t come here so much, and there won’t be as easy, sometimes real-time, fairly quick interactions — that’s what has kept it going — knowing when I came here, that other familiar people would have commented already, or there would be new people to meet, daily, and common topics to discuss, all related to Z.

  12. Huh.

    This seems abrupt for how meticulous this diary has always been. I hope everything is alright with Zenyatta and also with her ‘ghost writer’ Dottie.

    Thank you, to Dottie, LE and the Moss’s for allowing us this past year and best of wishes to Zenyatta and her connections in the future!

    • I agree. I hope everything is alright. It seems a very poorly chosen time to so abruptly end the diary posts just when one of the most famous horses in the country if not the world has given birth to her first foal, and such a gorgeous one at that. It seems very final and leaves me wondering what’s happened. I understand this time of year is EXTREMELY busy for all in the industry, but I would have expected a mention in the previous few posts. Something along the line of ‘I so wanted to make sure I was able to share my TOO CUTE colt with all of my wonderful fans before my maternity leave begins!’ Or any sort of mention before it. I hope everything is alright. Very very sad and hope we can at least get periodic updates. I believe the Queen is an ambassador for her breed and has brought positive attention to the racing industry, clearing out the sour taste in more than one persons mouth. These posts will be sadly missed by all. Best of luck to everyone involved with the Queen, everyone here, and of course the Queen herself and her charming Prince.

      – C

  13. Dear Team Zenyatta & Dottie: Thanks for the ride, so far :-) It´s been an amazing opportunity to watch and follow up close, how a fantastic racehorse copes with retirement and the new life of being a broodmare. I hope we´ll all be able to still get some occasional updates here, on your precious colt as he grows into a finetuned racehorse… and TASTY!! Let´s not forget Tasty, for she´s been a great part of the ride too :-) We want to hear news from and her coming foal as well :-)
    Bye for now – enjoy your handsome son – and please return soon :-)

  14. Thank you for the wonderful pictures. I will miss hearing from you and the goings-on with junior. Thanks to all of Team Zenyatta for sharing the best race horse ever, in my opinion. I hope we hear from you again soon! Best of luck to Zenyatta and little Z. Love you to death, Big Mama, Z! XOXO!

  15. A well deserved “writing rest” for you while you spend time as a mom with your little prince. I confess to being a little sad.
    Dottie, you have always gone above and beyond being Zenyatta’s “voice” in these diaries and nobody could do it better. We are the most thankful of people and I know I speak for just about “all of us” that we will miss each other’s commentary too. So, until next time, I know any news of Zenny and son, videos, photos and info will be available on this site and on facebook, etc.

  16. My gosh – I wasn’t expecting to not hear from you from now on, Zenyatta! Not even once a week maybe? I’ve been looking forward to watching you and your baby together as he grows… I do hope we get some sort of updates. Thank you Dottie for keeping us informed about our darling Zenyatta all these months and thanks to Jerry and Ann for sharing her with us. Stay healthy and happy, Zenyatta, and know that we all love you very much.

  17. Thank you so much for sharing pictures of your foal with us. I am sad to hear that you are taking a break from your diary, but I understand how important it is to concentrate on your baby. Please don’t stay away too long. A photo every once in a while of your growing Prince would be greatly appreciated. I think of you often….especially when I hear the song “Everything She Does Is Magic”. They played that at your “first” retirement and it will always be your song for me! LOVE YOU, Z!!!

  18. I have tears in my eyes and yet you have brought us full circle — what more could we ask. Well, we could but that would be a little greedy. I have learned so much from you and Dottie and have felt the love this site sends out. These past couple of years will always be some of my most precious memories as I get older. It’s been said before by so many and more eloquently but thank you SO much for sharing yourself so generously with so many devoted fans. Everyone touched by Team Z will never be the same and better for it. Love you and your little guy — he is just TOO cute and yes he has your ears. Be safe and be happy.

    Mary

  19. Oh no! I guess it’s time for a break. I will miss hearing from you everyday during the week. Please keep pictures coming so we can see how the little one is growing.

  20. Dearest Z, and Team Z–I am in total shock. Did we see this coming? It will be so hard to say goodbye to all the friends we have made here.
    We of course are SO appreciateive of what we’ve been given here. There will never be another experience like it, I’m sure.
    Before I say “goodbye”, I have a couple of messages from yesterday’s diary
    @Lil–yes, the situation in Missouri is dire. Please join our Equi-Army FB page or our website at http://www.equi-army-ndo.com for updates and how to help.
    @lisag in TX–have you met Tiznow? Other than our Z., he’s the most impressive horse I’ve ever seen.
    I do hope we can get a report on dear Tasty and her foal. We will ALL love you always, dear Z and Baby Z.

    • @Barbara Wood, no I have not been priveledge to meet Tiznow in person, but have followed him. It was love at first sight, he is magnificent. I wanted him to ‘date’ Our Queen, and was told since she is a Big Girl, he was far a Big boy for her, it could be dangerous…can you imagine their kids?? Whoa! I will always have a crush on him. Have you met him in Person? If so, you are such a lucky girl. Tiznow…perfection.

    • No, Barbara, we did not see this coming, at least I sure didn’t. I kind of thought it might slow down a bit, not be posted every day, maybe just semi-regular pictures updates, so we can see how he is growing, and how Z is doing. I mean, I know I have been neglecting certain other, practical, areas of my life, while I have been coming here, more intensely, leading up to March 8. But goodbye, cold turkey, is a strange shock, yeah.

      I was looking forward to the Redneck Club eventually starting up activities (Terry’s posts) again. Those two gals in Wisconsin (forgive my forgetting names at the moment) haven’t had their mud-wrestling match, yet. And I thought Kari’s daughter still had not yet posted all that her mom had asked her to — but perhaps I’ve got that wrong, I know she wrote some words to specific people. I just thought she wasn’t done. I thought we were all not done, yet.

      • If we get another forum, the redneck club could resume its meetings.Right now, even Criswell doesn’t have the answer.

  21. Dear Momma Z and “12 Zenyatta,”
    I have followed your journey from your first Breeder’s Cup win until now. I had the pleasure of meeting you and your team at Barn 55 in November 2010! You loved the carrots I brought for you :-) I will treasure every single one of those memories as well as the photo of me with you and Steve. I will dearly miss your frequent diaries – thanks so much Dottie – but hope you will update us on your beautiful son’s progress and name. Again, thanks to all your family at Barn 55 and Lane’s End for taking such good care of you in your amazing racing career and now as a great Mom.
    Blessings and love,
    Nancy

  22. Thank you for sharing these pictures with us . Oh what a beautiful baby!!!!!!and of course Gorgeous Zenyatta , a perfect mom . While my heart thumped when I read we were saying farewell for a while, I realize that you all have to be exhausted and as in every family after a new baby is born, you all need some rest and time to reflect, and yes, “breathe”. I will allow myself just to feel a bit selfish for a moment and then I will bask in the wonderful memories you have given us to keep within us.Thank you SO much for letting me and all of us be a part of this wonderful journey. It has been so heart warming and fun . I wish everyone in and on the team and ,our big extended family,(all of us)many happy moments and good health. As you move through the next chapters of this beautiful story I will keep you all in my heart ’til we meet again.
    love you all

  23. Dearest Zenyatta,

    Your posting today makes the tears flow. I certainly appreciate all the hard work you and Dottie have devoted to your diary. I can also understand all these godparents who love you and The Prince so much are a distraction as you and your little one bond and share special times. You have so much to teach him about how to be a colt. Since you outraced so many of them, you have excellent knowledge and skill (Blush, Blush).

    Zenyatta and Dottie, I do want you to know I will miss the postings, photos, and all that has allowed us to be a part of Zenyatta’s life. Know you are loved and treasured. Whenever you two decide to return to the diary, we will rejoice with high hoofs all around!!!!!!!!!

    Take care, and thank you for the treasured memories.

  24. Beautiful pic. of you and your precious colt! You both look so healthy and happy! What pure joy! A heartfelt thanks for letting us be part of your life and sharing so many special moments! Thank you so much, Dottie for this uplifiting diary – it sure made my day! Thank you Team Z for the ride! Thank you, Sarah, and everyone for their pictures of the Queen. I will miss your notes but I certainly understand! Wishing you and your baby the best as well as Team Z, everyone at Lane’s End and all the Z dumplings! Take care Zenny, always will love you and your colt! Hugs!
    P.S. Best wishes for Tasty as well!

  25. Oh, Zenny, more tears! Tears of joy from looking at these absolutely wonderful pictures of you and your gorgeous colt, and selfish tears that I won’t be getting my Z-fix every day. You have become as great a MOM as you were a race horse. Enjoy every moment you have with your little guy as he will be growing up so fast! Hopefully soon you’ll be reunited with Tasty and her little one. What fun the four of you will have! :D

    Dottie, from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for sharing Zenyatta’s journey with us. Your daily sacrifice these past 16+ months has meant THE WORLD to all of Zenyatta’s fans who found their way here to her diary. Enjoy your well-deserved break while Zenny is on “maternity leave”. A High Hoof to you !!!

  26. Hello Beautiful Girl and Wee Prince aka 12Zenyatta,

    It is a bitter sweet day. I understand why the Diary must end. It is a lot of work for Dottie and Ann. Everyone involved in your life, as well as that adorable foal’s life now, has been very, very, very gracious to all of us who love you and your Prince so deeply. I just finished listening to Talkin Horses with the LE Team and it was very good. I love the new pictures of you and the Wee Prince. I’m an amateur artist so I’m going to print them out and pick one to draw/paint. Hopefully we will be able to purchase photos of both of you on B-H or Pictopia. I especially like the picture where he is laying down, all folded up with a blissful look on his beautiful face while he sleeps — Too Cute! Another is where he is standing underneath you – precious! It would be great to have pictures of him at various stages of development. It would be great if from time to time the Blood-Horse featured pictures of you and the little guy.

    I will follow LE to see when Tasty foals. Hopefully it will be very soon, so the two of you and the babies can share the same paddock. I hope she does as well as you did when birthing her foal.

    Take care of yourself and that sweet boy. I’ll pray that Archangel Michael watches over both of you and all the equines all over the world.

    A special Thank You and Prayer for Dottie and John, Ann and Jerry, and all your team members past and present.

    Hugs and Kisses forever,

    Nancy

  27. Thanks so much Zen and Dottie for the diary and keeping us up to date with all things Zen Just know these were greatly enjoyed and as such will be greatly missed But I am understanding I think Just hoping here and there you will think about us and give us a few updated posts along the way Thanks again

  28. Dear Zenny – thank you for sharing the photos of the little one with all of us. I am sad that you won’t be writing for a while, but I know that you are busy with your new boy. I hope to hear more updates on you and your family in the months ahead. Thank you Dottie for being Zenny’s voice. We will miss you so much! Take care and be well!!

    • Thanks so much, Abigail! Will check-in with you at The Vault soon. I do hope that we Z’sters can continue to “touch base” with each other periodically.
      Take care and look forward to your article in memory of Kari. Hugs!

  30. Zenyatta — you continue to be such a wonder, such an amazing creature of poise, elegance and triumph. Your baby is gorgeous. You could not have more love, admiration and good will aimed your way. But, Zennie, you set the tone.

    This unique experience, the phenomenon seemingly to have started with Barbaro, of being able to join as community, to “converse” with the world members of these special equines, has made a difference in the industry and in the lives of horse fans, women, and those passionate about animals and their majesty.

    Thank you for all you have done, and hopefully will continue to do.

    Please return soon . . . YOU make a difference!