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
barbara
z, i really am enjoying your posts.
i am learning something new every day, thank you. lots of love!
Gloria Jeanne
Zen- I just LOVE YOU! Thank you Dottie for posting such an awesome picture of Zenny on the track at Hollywood. I loved to go watch her train- Thank you John for allowing me and others to visit and watch in the off track hours- It is a memory I will never forget!!!
This info is always so helpful and wonderful to hear.
I hope John and the Barn are doing great with the Santa Anita meet. I was there for opening day and I hope to get out there again in the next week or two.
Love and Hugs- Be Safe
Sarah Grace
Thanks for the explanation about the saddle cloth and the wraps used in training. I never knew that!
You should do some more posts about racing “behind the scenes”. I really enjoy reading them :)
Fran
Thanks for the update Z. Kate and I went to see Doozey today. Kate finally got to ride at a walk.trot under saddle. Doozey is still recovering from tying up but she is doing really well. I am so glad things are going so well. I look forward to your posts every day. Big hugs to you! And, thanks so much for explaining about your socks. I think the way you were standing made it look like you had bandages on one leg. Love you Z!
KD
Looking good big girl! So happy you are in the bluegrass of your forefathers! Much deserved….
ira
You’re looking good as ever.
Jena Hobert
Zenyatta it is wonderful that you and Dottie are teaching about the backside and horse care. I wonder how many you will inspire to become horsepeople? Many I hope! Every aspect of the horse world across the country is in trouble. The economy dropped so many people lost their horses. Even now you can find “Free Horse” in many newspapers and websites. Many are going to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. There are even “blackmarket” slaughterhouses in Florida. I am so glad that the Thoroughbred Association in Florida is trying to wipe them out. Finger Lakes racetrack in New York has a Thoroughberd adoption center. Thank you for teaching and answering questions. All of Team Z is truely remarkable. Hugz from me, Secsea Dance, Salawgi, Simon and Picasso.
Julia B
Love to you Z and Dottie !
Rita Boucher
Thankyou again. These updates are sometimes touching, sometimes informative, and always appreciated. Zen, you and your team are THE best. Many blessings to you all.
kristen
As always…. thank you for the great information. I learn more from you everyday!
Deanna
Hi Zen,
Despite your two white socks it looks like you have four black hooves, thanks to your ermine spots. Glad to see you enjoying the good life at Lane’s End!
Cheryl Denton
Zenyatta, blue is your color for sure! It’s the color of Kentucky. Thanks for all the great info. I know you have brought a lot of new fans to racing, and it’s great to read so many positive messages. Keep them coming–love you!! xxx
Nancy
@Katy Clawson
There are some great videos on YouTube about
handicapping. Just google horseracing handicapping
and they will come up. Enjoy!!!!!
Mary M. Meek
I appreciate how Dottie is helping to teach people about horse care through Zenyatta’s diary entries. I know I didn’t know a lot of this stuff when I was a kid and would have loved to have someone to explain in a kind way as is being done here. Dottie and Zenyatta and the rest of Team Zenyatta are great positive role models and ambassadors for the horse racing sport. Well done!
Dona
Love you big girl, didn’t know you had such big “bobby” socks. lol
Agree with everyone, you look Royal in blue! I bet Steve misses you just like everyone else. Hope you stay warm. burrr, it’s cold here. 27 last night. I stayed warm by snuggling with my cat Sammy. Did I tell you Sammy loves horses? Seems like a lot of cats like to watch horses on tv! I’m not sure he recognizes you but I always told him when you were on tv. :)
linda
How beautiful is this horse? And how exceptionally gracious her team.
Lynne
Zenny and Dottie. I read this diary faithfully every day. I am learning so much about thoroughbreds and the racing industry.
Love you Z.
S
Sweet dreams Z! And thanks for the new pics.
Robin
LOVE YOU DOTTIE AND ZENYATTA! I also love it that someone called your new home “Zentucky”. How appropriate!
Sunny Boyd
Good evening, dear Zenyatta,
wow, what shnazzy hoofers!! Too cute!!
I wonder if you miss the excitement of the tracks? In that video where you & P.Q. were grazing in the paddock, and you started noticing the camera on you & your buddy, you first glanced at her walking away, and then let out a snort and a small clicking sound. I researched the snort, and it said that the horse is irritated & extremely alert and if it feels threatened will investigate, which you did. Is all the attention making you uneasy? All by yourself? I enjoy seeing your videos but I wonder? As always, a great read!! You have restful night and sweet dreams
Trish & Mike in Colorado
Zenyatta, you are so beautiful and regal. We love to look and re-look at photographs of you, you are such a stunning creature.
Robyn Mullhausen
We appreciate you sharing all of your knowledge with us about racing and how you are cared for. I’m glad you are just enjoying being a horse right now. Liza G. Fly posted your song “Zenyatta” again on Facebook for those who may not have heard it. Never get tired of hearing that song about you. Love you Zenny. xoxoxo
Suzanne
I read today that several of the farms, including Lane’s End, are having open visiting hours from 10-2 on Jan. 8-14….does that mean if we go there, we will be able to visit with you, Z? 8~)
Sharon
as every day, great hugs of affection to you Zenyatta and gratitude to Dottie. Just love the updates!
Marian M.
I have witnessed morning workouts at several different race tracks but didn’t know that the color coordination assisted clockers. These posts are very informative, Zenyatta. Thank you.
Michelle
God bless you all for all the wonderful information you are passing along; it’s helpful and fun.
Pamela J Hebert
Thank you again Z & Dottie for another informative post. I’m glad Steve is shown today. You are absolutely the BEST. Much love-nite sweet girl.
myrna miller
Zenny, you and your connections are the best! I love reading your diary, it is one of the high points of my day. You and your connections are truly enchanting and magical, and so loving, generous and kind.
One of the high points of my year was spending time at barn 55 with you in november before you moved east. I brought you a bunch of carrots in a gift bag, and when i wasn’t looking you put your whole head in the bag and very quickly pulled out the whole bunch of carrots still wrapped in cellophane. I panicked for a moment but in a flash mario grabbed them from you and put them back in the bag. You can be a little devil too,zenyatta!
And congratulations on all your year end honors; the AP and Espn and especially sports illustrated naming you the #1 female race horse OF ALL TIME. What i don’t understand is the female athletes who got all upset at espn for being compared to a female horse.
Celeste
Thanks for another beautiful and informative diary message. This web-site is such a wonderful way to keep us in touch with our Queen Z. Thank you!
Jenna
I was just reading the article The Legend of Zenyatta. Which brings me to the comment I’d like send out into the void with hopes it comes true (if you’ve not read it, please do so):
My wish is for the Mosses to move Zenyatta to or near their home.