Good Morning,
You are all being so sweet about everything pertaining to ME! I am so touched. In yesterday’s photo, Joan, and several others of you, worried I had on bandages while in the paddock. You are so kind. I am fine and doing great!
Here is a picture taken while I was at Barn 55 showing how much WHITE I actually do have on my hind legs. In racing, they refer to white on the legs like this as ‘socks’.
Many of you may not have realized this…as I wore ‘white hind running bandages’ in all of my races. They were trimmed with 3 blue…’Shirreffs’ stable color’…tapes. The tapes help keep the bandages in place…and I think adds a bit of a design to them as well.
The purpose of these hind running bandages is to provide a bit of protection as John didn’t want ME to brush my ankles behind while running. This adds a precaution in preventing this from happening.
You may also have noticed from earlier photos of me that in the morning, I would wear BLUE POLO bandages on my legs. This is done for the same reason. Just a precaution to keep ME from brushing my ankles behind while training.
Many trainers use these types of bandages and for the same reason. The color of the tape and the polos usually ties into the barn’s stable colors. John’s stable color is ROYAL BLUE…so our tapes and polos are in a royal blue color.
The same is true of the saddle towel that a horse wears in the morning while training. Each trainer has a personally designed saddle towel which his/her horses wear each day while on the track. This is done so the ‘clockers’ at the race track have an additional baseline in identifying the individual horses for workout purposes. John’s saddle towel is royal blue with white lines. You may have seen it on me in photos.
Thus, when Shirreffs’ horses go to the track each day, they wear this saddle towel. They usually have on blue polo bandages as well. All of this is done to help the clockers be able to accurately monitor each horse. This way they can report the works and activity properly for the fans to use when handicapping. During the morning training hours, so many horses are on the track, training, breezing, galloping….that these tools are very helpful in making the horse identification process easier for them.
Have a great day!
With Love,
Hugs to all~
Z
Theresa
Another very informative and appreciated update! Thank you Zenyatta (and Dottie!).
Jo-An Holleman
Love! Love! Love! you and When Can We See You In Person??????
Lise BC, Canada
I so appreciate you explaining everything in detail!! :)
Darlene
I love watching “The Queen Dances” and Liza G Fly’s song. You are the greatest. When is the HOY voting? and how does the voting take place. Who determines the winner in each class. Please have Dottie give us the information on this Zenny. Hope you are enjoying the warmer weather.
Joyce
Queen Z you look lovely in royal blue!!Very fitting indeed!!! A royal color for a royal lady!! Stay warm. Hugs and kisses.
Lanie Johnson
Great picture of course!! Steve too!! Thanks for all of the info…everyone I talk to is talking about you! They are wanting to know if all is ok and I direct them here of course!! Mike’s back on his FB page…taking a few days off! I think he races Friday though…I’ll have to check my virtual stable and make sure!
You sound great and that is all that matters!! We are just all getting anxious for Spring to come and news of visits to be made public. I know that I just want you to be happy!! I am so glad daily that I learn you are doing so very well!!
We had a lot of sunshine here in Owensboro today and you had plenty in Lex! Makes the day go by much quicker!!
I love you and all those who keep us informed!! Thanks so much Dottie!! You’re the best!!
Have a great night sweet girl…my only dream in life now(and I’m OLD) is to see you!! Peace and love Zen..here under the moon over KY.xoxoxoxoxox
Linda in NC
Dear Queen Z – and Dottie!
Thank you for sharing yet another insight concerning your own story as well as so much helpful information about the work of trainers, what the clockers look for,etc. I have only posted once before, but I am most certainly reading every post and looking forward to the day that I might be able to see you in Kentucky. As a previous poster said several weeks ago – and I am paraphrasing – your blog is the “happiest site on the internet.” Your life story and the devotion and care offered by all of your connections – and their great, ongoing generosity in keeping us up to date after your retirement – are truly a joy.
A thousand thanks….Linda
Donna Powell
Still miss you beautiful girl. Glad to hear you are happy and doing so well. Let us all know when you will be “receiving visitors”…
Monika Smith
I appreciate all the details you keep giving to all of us. I am learning things I was not aware of by following this diary. Keep up the good work. I can’t wait to see who you choose to breed with.
Nancy/Ca.
Oh man that picture of you on the track made me miss seeing you race Zenyatta! :)
Selene McCarthy
Love the royal blue on you, Z! Thank you and Dottie for so much good information! It is so much fun to read these posts everyday!
loving you,
Selene
Helen & Guido
You look majestic in any color Z! And especially with that beautiful white star on your forehead. Fitting for a Queen!!!!
Julie DuVall
As always, you are providing an excellent education to all your fans who are new to racing; a Zenyatta Q & A book would be a great idea (hint, hint). There are plenty of books for beginning handicappers but not much for those who simply love the horses and the sport. I have been a racing fan for over 25 years and I still learn things all the time!
Sandy Adams
Can not wait to visit Kentucky this summer and hopefully meet you!
Katie Clawson
Can you explain handicapping please? I can never understand it. THANKS :D
Gail Human
Hi, Zenyatta! You still look so beautiful. I am hoping to attend the Kentucky Derby this May. Would it be possible to visit you at some point while in Kentucky? I love you!!
Debi
Zennie, I just love how you teach the few of us out here that are really novices at racing! BTW you took some very nice pictures on todays blog ~~~ xoxoxo
Nancy
Dear Zenny
Love the photos of you dressed to train!!! So glad
Steve did not retire. I must admit I would love
to gallop you. I dream of it sometimes and just love
all of the emotion Mike showed when you worked and
You are a really awesome special greatest female race
horse of all time. Hope you enjoyed your romp and roll
in the paddock today with PQ. I am so glad your are very
private about her personal business. I don’t think her
business is our business. She is very beautiful. Of course
not as beautiful and regal as you are. Have a warm and cozy
night. XXXXXOOOO
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta thank you for explaining this all to us. I am learning so much. I think you need to write a book. I would also like to see Mike Smith write a book about his time with you. All of us would buy these and keep them forever. I have my Zenyatta magizine from Blood Horse. This will be on my coffee table in my living room. I have a Secretariat book and Barbaro book on the table. When I was 11 I fell in love with Secretariat. But not like you. I have two of your pictures framed like you are one of my family. You are so special and I think a real gift from God. Just a true angel. I also want to say that I love Lisa G Fly’s song and play it on my way to work. I have played it in my classroom and the kids love it. I dance around with them. This morning I played the song and wondered if you saw the beautiful sunrise. Well my sweet girl it is 9:00 pm and I need to get ready for school tomorrow. I love you. Hugs and kisses from Shari in Ohio
Mary Stanford
Hi Z……Now I can go relax and watch TV….have read my post from Z. I am hooked on you like so many of your fans. I also keep up with Mike Smith on his Facebook page….the best jockey ever and the best horse ever….you two were so great together …but also great apart…Mike is a great jockey…but also such a kind person and fun to follow like you…and us fans still enjoy you and Mike very much!! I think it is exciting seeing all about you on here in your new environment and almost more than when you were racing. Now that was exciting but it is like we can see and know even more about you now. This is great!! Hugs to you Z!
Janice
Good to hear your doing so well ,love the info look foward to reading more. Miss ya here in Ca.
Terry
Z & Dottie, You’re THE BEST!! Thank You:)
Vicki
Zenyatta you are doing a great job at explaining so many of the details about training, racing and farm life. I’m sure this will help inform a lot of the new fans that have ventured into our favorite sport while following your brillant career. I’ve been a fan for a long time, but still learn things from you. Like the other day about the brow band, if it did not fit a horse usually would shake his head a lot, never knew about that. You see you can teach everyone something!
Danielle Ruysschaert
I hope that someday, all horses that have raced can face a more certain and pampered future. I spent most of the morning on websites of rescued OTTB and it is just so sad.
I would love to see Z somehow bringing attention to this and helping some of these horses out of a grim future at best. That’s my hope.
Love to you, Z
Danielle
Jess
HAY ZENNY, THANKS FOR EDUCATING US FANS ABOUT THE WONDERFUL WORLD IN WHICH YOU LIVE IN. LOVE YOUR FAN JESS.
Retrospectiv
For those interested, re: the Eclipse Awards:
.
“The Eclipse champions are determined through voting by NTWA members, Daily Racing Form employees, NTRA-member designates and Equibase personnel, who vote for the top three in each category. Winners are based solely on first-place votes, with second- and third-place votes used to determine finalists. The exception is the Horse of the Year race. In a rule change this year, voters chose just one horse.”
Cheryl
Royal Blue is YOUR COLOR – as befits the Queen! I know what you mean about accidently brushing your legs with a hoof! My mare stepped on herself accidently one time and got a nasty little cut. My farrier is also very smart about doing her shoes so that she does not overstep or that means step on her front heels with her back toes – not good for performance! I just love the way your site brings everything about horses to us fans. It is so incredibly interesting! I so wish my life direction had put me working with horses. I know that my horses are a gift from God indeed. I sure do miss seeing you on tv and watch your videos over and over. That thrill you give to people is so tangible and real – it is hard to explain but it is a presence you give to the people around you that is both exhilarating and peaceful at the same time. You are so priceless Zenyatta, I love you! I had an moment the other day when your colt won the Triple Crown – you know when you kind of go into a future bit of space and have a little memory bite from it? Anyway, I firmly believe that if it is to happen in my lifetime it will be your offspring that does it! Stay Warm and Dry little lady! You look absolutely fabulous in your winter coat!
Kim
Thanks for all of the information, Zenyatta (and Dottie!). I love reading the diary. Can’t wait until next week, when I can wear my new ZENYATTA t-shirt to work! :-)
deana dameron
Z/Dottie-thanks again for all the information. I so enjoy finding out the reasons behind the questions. I have learned so much about horseracing from you. Hope you enjoyed your day, Z. How’s your buddy PQ doing? When will you be able to go out with some more of your new friends? I sure would like to see a video of you currently at Lane’s End. I really miss seeing you!
Jenna
Thank you so much, Dottie, for such an informative e-mail….and such cute photos of Zenyatta. She just takes my breath away. So happy to see you diary updates each day. As I do my work, I check in occasionally to see if an update has come in.
Thanks so so much. I hope Z is doing well….I hope you don’t get the snow that the Northeast might get this weekend. But then, it’s another opportunity for Z to make snow angels.
Have a wonderful peaceful evening, Dottie and Z. Big kiss.
Nighty night.