Photo taken by John Shirreffs
Hello Everyone!
It sounds like all of you are off to a busy 2011! Mine has started out wonderfully.
Dottie has been telling me about all of the questions you have. We will do our best to address as many of them as possible often in the Diary. We’ll start with these:
1) YES, Mario does know I’m playing in the MUD…and he is so happy for me. He knows I’ve wanted to roll in the mud for quite sometime. NOW I CAN REALLY GET PLAYFUL OUTSIDE! Very cute! Also, thanks for letting me know Mario has his own Facebook page now. I can’t wait to tell him! SURPRISE!
2) Steve is fine. He is working away at the barn and all is A-OK with him. Obviously, he misses me a whole bunch…as does Mario and the rest of Barn 55…but they are so happy for me. John does his best to keep them posted on my activities. All videos and photos are shared with them constantly!
3) John’s watch…is the IPOD Nano. It is a great tool and also a fun new ‘toy’ for John. Lucky guy, I can still be with him 24/7!
4) My future breeding plans. The Moss’ will announce them soon. Many different things will go into this decision. Everything will be finalized sometime in January. With the holiday, many people have been out of town. It is also fun for ME to ponder who my first date will be. Gotta’ love it!
5) Other breeding questions will be addressed when breeding season begins. The breeding sheds in KY do not open until mid-February. I probably will not be bred until late February. Believe me, I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED!
6) A Jockey question was asked…what does ‘throwing a cross mean’? Dottie has called my guy, MIKE SMITH, for this answer. Mike’s quotes will be used for this answer. They are touching base later today. FYI…Many have asked…and Mike is doing very well. Dottie and John saw him last night at dinner. He is planning a trip to come see me soon. Can’t wait!
7) Video of an interview…John did an interview with Susan Ashbrook of Equine Vip. She granted permission for Dottie to mention it in the Diary. You may find this interview by going to www.equinevip.com. It is the first interview that comes up. My JOHN will be standing there with Susan. (He says so many fabulous things about me and my heritage. He also notes how amazing the entire thoroughbred breed is and his love for the HORSE.) Very special! Please enjoy!
8) Rhonda pointed out that I was recognized as the #1 Female Race Horse of All Time…in a recent Sports Illustrated Article. You may find this piece by: 1) going to my web-page 2) clicking on the Facebook symbol in the right corner 3) that will take you directly to the page you need 4) scroll down the left hand column until you see the term LINKS 5) approximately 3 down is the story TOP FEMALE RACE HORSES OF ALL TIME. 6) Click on this title and YIPPEE…there I am with my owners! What an honor! There are some really amazing historical horses being honored in this piece….and they recognized me with the distinction of being #1! I can’t tell you how PROUD this makes me feel!
9) P.Q…many have asked about her breeding plans and things relating to her. From the beginning, I did ask permission to discuss her name in the Diary. Her owners were so gracious and said of course! Any other additional information, I will need to be polite and ask if I can discuss it. As she is not owned by my owners, we must respect her privacy at this time.
P.Q. and I are great friends…and we do get along beautifully. We have BONDED nicely!
Oh, I’m getting a phone call! Someone in my family is calling to TANGO with me! (Gotta’ get ready for my close-up!) Sending BIG HUGS!
With Love,
Z
JJV
CORRECTION: Street Cry has more than 41 foals. But I believe he only has 32 Broodmares. That’s why nicking him is a problem.
Barbara Wood
JJV–
Thank you so much for the info. on Equineline. For some reason, I had always thought that was a site for professionals. Also for the good explanation of dosage.
Suzanne G
I was just thinking that Blame was at 6,600 ft in the Classic when Zenyatta was at 5,599.5 ft. That’s about 1/2 foot on a 1.25 mile race–AT MOST! Seems like a miniscule percentage to determine Horse of the Year. Perhaps this was mentioned before but, just in case, here is a site for horse of the year voting…
http://www.horseraceinsider.com/Horse-Racing/2010-horse-of-the-year-fan-voting-blame-goldikova-zenyatta/
Hugs to you, beautiful girl. Thanks to all for keeping us in touch and letting us share.
Ensign
To all those who wrote their kind replies, I thank you. While I don’t agree with the posters who claim this site is ‘this’, and it’s supposed to be ‘this’ and it’s not this, I ask you…who made that decision?
This site IS moderated and as such what has been allowed to be posted has obviously been okay with the moderators up to this point.
It would be wonderful if the site could be for everyone, fans (which encompasses ALL of us), professionals, hobbiests, newbies and everyone in between but alas it seems not to be able to. Sorry if I find it odd that it’s fans (many professed new ones) that are trying to drive people AWAY from this site…
.
On another note…
@ JJV (who also seems bent on telling everyone what this site is for and what it’s not for. Sorry, I didn’t see any notices or directions on the door…)
You’re more than a tad wrong on Street Cry and the number of foals he’s sired. Street Cry has not sired 41 foals, hes sired 1099 foals (that’s one THOUSAND and ninety nine). There have already been 8 foals of RACING age (2 yrs old+) produced on the AP Indy/Machiavellian sons cross. Hope that clears atleast that much up, or is this another instance of ‘I’d rather not know’?
Sharon Call
@JJV: Really interesting about the Free 5-Cross Pedigree website. Sounds pretty cool to me. @Elena, thanks for the info on mustangs. Very useful and informative. @Ensign, thanks for the insight on the breeding process. All things are done for a reason and the reason is safety of mare and stallion. I hope you all continue to share your knowledge with everyone that cares to read it. I, for one, always welcome knowledge greater than my own – it’s how I learn new things.
Janet Cutting
HELLO TO ALL: @ LIZZIE — LIKE I HAVE SAID–I TOO AM A NON HORSE PERSON AND LIKE TO LEARN– DONT FEEL BAD FOR ASKING A QUESTION THAT MANY WOULD LKE TO KNOW ABOUT– I THINK ENSIGN ANSWERED AS PROFESSIONALLY AS POSSIBLE- ALSO FOR THOSE WHO DONT LIKE WHAT HE POSTS–DONT READ THEM WHEN YOU SEE HIS COMMENTS. ITS THAT SIMPLE. SMILES TO ALL, JANET C
Janet Cutting
@ ENSIGN– I again thank-you for attempting to inform us of the world of horses and breeding farms– life is what it is. I look forward to reading your answers to more inquires– Janet C/WI
The Kennedys in San Diego
The Sports Illustrated honor is much deserved and appreciated. However, we never like to limit Zenyatta to fillies and mares, but think in terms of the great Thoroughbred race horses in the past century. Clearly, she should be compared to Man O’War, Secretariat and Citation. In our opinion she is #1 of ALL Thoroughbreds.
Kathy
You are among the greats Zen… You and Ruffian are my fav race horses! congrats on being #1
Ensign
Thank you kindly Janet : )
I won’t play the pity train, but I don’t really think I deserved the backlash I got for answering a very honest question (NO hard feelings Lizzy! lol) as best I could. Such a range of posters here from those who are happy to ask AND to know, to others who run blindly from anything that doesn’t involve ‘talking’ horses and ‘baby daddys’.
.
Shame more of us can’t get along and enjoy ALL aspects of the sites and all posters.
Cheers
Kathy
I do believe you and Ruffian are related… by Bold Ruler i believe i am not sure though. :)
Ensign
@ Kathy,
If you would like to compare pedigrees of Zenyatta and Ruffian, here are links to each.
Zenyatta http://www.pedigreequery.com/zenyatta
Ruffian
http://www.pedigreequery.com/ruffian
.
In TB pedigree terms, they’ve VERY distantly related. Most TBs share some common ancestors, usually due to the sheer number of offspring many stallions sire.
Karey
Dottie and Zenyatta: I hope you will let us all know what you prefer for this website. Maybe it would seem more respectful to you as hosts if we established a separate blog site for uninvited topics such as offering our opinions for who Z’s baby daddy should be, and to share information such as breeding details. While I appreciate all information which is offered respectfully,
it seems especially important that we show respect for all that you’re bringing to us. Please let us know what would make you the most comfortable and honored. As
always, thank you SO VERY MUCH for treating us – fans of Zenyatta and all of Team Z – so generously.
Karey
Suzanne G, and Everyone: I just went to horseraceinsider.com as you suggested to see what’s up with voting for HOY and –
gasp – isn’t that Zenyatta’s photo posted
with Blame’s information? Very odd indeed!
Ensign
@ Kathy,
If you would like to compare pedigrees of Zenyatta and Ruffian, here are links to each.
Zenyatta http://www.pedigreequery.com/zenyatta
Ruffian
http://www.pedigreequery.com/ruffian
.
In TB pedigree terms, they’ve VERY distantly related. Most TBs share some common ancestors, usually due to the sheer number of offspring many stallions sire.
JJV
Hi Ensign: Thanks for your correction. However, if you’ll notice, I had already made the correction a few hours before you did. Listen friend, I have nothing against you and welcome your input. I simply think it’s a little rough on some people. I also apologized for offending you earlier (maybe you missed that too). Anyway, I’ve resigned myself to the fact that their are many people on this site with various degrees of knowledge about horses and horse racing. The one thing I know we all have in common is that we all LOVE Zenyatta. Earlier today, I thought we had returned to civility . . . hopefully that can continue.
Janet Cutting
OK, EVERYONE– LETS HAVE A BIG HUG!!! HUGS TO ALL OF YOU… GOODNIGHT AND HAPPY TRAILS….Janet C from WI.
deana dameron
Hello Z. I have not seen a video of you doing your new trick-rolling over-and playing with your new buddy PQ. I cannot wait to see it! I want all your fans to know that they can vote for HOTY at this link-Horse of the Year Voting Poll | 2010 Horse of the Year | Blame | Goldikova | Zenyatta
http://www.horseraceinsider.com/Horse-Ra…
Who do you think should win the 2010 Horse of the Year? Vote for either Blame, Goldikova, or Zenyatta as 2010 horse of the year. And there is a wonderful article on you, Queen Z that says it all-
Claire Novak: A vote for horse racing – ESPN
sports.espn.go.com Enjoy!
Sharon Call
Suzanne G. and Karey – I also just went to horseraceinsider.com and found the same thing, Z’s picture with Blame’s information. Bet somebondy’s really scrambling to get that corrected!
Kathy
I personally think that someday they should breed Zenyatta with Blame (Since he was the only one to beat her). just a suggestion… i heard he retired.
Jennifer Adelman
Dear Zenyatta, I have voted for you to be HOY everywhere! If you are not chosen I feel no credabilty with these people.
Anyway, I ordered your comemorative issue from Blood Horse and can’t wait to get it.
You and the family including Mario will be remembered as Man O War and his loyal groom.
Hugs!
Linda / NJ
Hey Folks: Have you all taken notice, we haven’t received a post from Zenyatta,today. I sincerely hope yesterday’s posts didn’t impact this wonderful idea of a website. Please going forward, let’s post positive comments and remarks only, please. Thank you.
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
To The Kennedy’s:
I am deeply grateful for your following comment–“The Sports Illustrated honor is much deserved and appreciated. However, we never like to limit Zenyatta to fillies and mares, but think in terms of the great Thoroughbred race horses in the past century. Clearly, she should be compared to Man O’War, Secretariat and Citation. In our opinion she is #1 of ALL Thoroughbreds.”
You expressed the thought I offered yesterday–that Zenyatta’s place in horse racing history should transcend her gender (to use a sociological term). Thank you for the simple elegance of your wording. Much preferred to my heated advocacy.
Best regards–Robbie
Max
I have a question for Dottie: Zenyatta is clearly getting more and more beautiful. What are her beauty secrets?
Linda / NJ
Hi Zenny: I just saw the cute pics of Sophie laughing. So cute! Did she tell you what she found so funny. Please share. Love, Linda
Astrid
Hey Zenny, hope you are all tucked in for bed, getting your beauty sleep – not that you could get any more beautiful! :) Your friend Sophie does look cute in the pic. LOL
You are such a sweet mare, classy, people loving, always assuming the best in everyone. We all can learn from you to treat each other with kindness and respect. Have a great day tomorrow with P.Q and lots of rolling and running free.
Suzanne G
Hi Karey,
You’re right about the Zenyatta photo that should be Blame’s on the horseraceinsider site. Let’s hope they didn’t get the voting mixed up–last time I looked it was 86% for Zenyatta!
Linda / NJ
Hi Again Zenny: I just voted for you for HOTY! So far you have 87 percent of the votes. I cannot wait for the announcement. Good Luck, girl.
Kathryn Cogswell
Jill Baffert posted January 2, (plus responses and some other people also sent well-written e`mails) on Jennie Rees’ “Horse Racing Blog.” They stirred several critical comments. Our notes seem much more thoughtful, funny and constructive. When one of you said that some of us may be projecting from our own discomfort onto ‘Z,’ it really scored with me: I am one of those, even though my own mare`s breeding went so well . .. just knowing about something does not always translate as intended — having that knowledge from years ago, I still keep hoping the gentler experiences will be Zenyatta`s. ~ On a different note, if reading the Daily Racing Form stats is as confusing to any of you as to me [to be able to compare ‘Z`s’ times w/ other horses] Laura Hillenbrand’s paperback SEABISCUIT gives a good explanation, using a few lines off his record, then showing his full record on the opposite page — not in the hardcover. ~ Anyway, thanks for the give & take, understanding & reflected courtesies Jill Baffert did not receive when she offered her opinion on Jennie`s Blog. Grateful you ALL are here, even when it`s a bit bumpy. Khc.
Elena Erdman
Hi Zenyatta and Dottie. You look so beautiful outside eating, what fun you must be having, it makes me smile. One thing I would like to know. If you are eating outside, do you get less dinner and breakfast? How does that work? Do you get warm oats? with molasses? Thank you for all the information and say hi to PQ, I am so glad you have bonded, I bet that is so much fun. Love you.