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
Mary
I love being able to read about you, and write to you everyday. I hope the updates keep on comin. And thank you for teaching us so much about race horses and the tack and gear you all wear. Its interesting, and its awesome to hear it from The Great Zenyatta herself:)
Thank you.
“Zenyatta I Love You”
Shortskinnylady
I have the same questions as @Richard, about anyone already working on Zenny’s life story, and when and how people will be able to visit at Lane’s End? I know they’ll let us know eventually, and I’m sure they are overwhelmed with requests already – Ticketmaster, anyone???? – but it would be nice to have some kind of date to be able to figure out travel plans to do so ahead of time. Obviously during breeding season isn’t probably the best time, and foaling is probably a busy time too, so I”m guessing sometime after April or May at the earliest, right?
Mary
Thank you for the photos and picture of your white socks:) Barn 55 /sweet memories- they miss you. What a special picture of you and Steve. Hugs and Prayers
Lisa
Glad you are doing well Z, we miss you here in Ca. Love the blue polos, that is my horses colors, I’m glad John had great taste.
Glad you are having a great start to your new life and that you are adjusting well. Take care girl!
Thank you for the posts, I look forward to them everyday.
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, had to take another look at your beautiful pictures, then back to work again. I miss you on the track, but glad you are happy and carefree now. Missing you so much. When will the visiting hours be this spring/summer? Love and Hugs, Lisa g
Alexandra Bowdoin
Dear Zenyatta,
I just read that Team Z is to receive a
Special Eclipse Award!! Please see the following: http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/
Congratulations to her connections!!!!
Khara Covington
I am hoping this question can get answered at some point. Z – Which horse organizations do you and your team recommend we support with our financial gifts? I want to give to a horse arganization that reflects your values. Since I am new to the horse world, I need some guidance on which groups are doing the kinds of things that really benefit horses in need. Thanks Z. I love you so much more than I can express in this post.
Debbie
love you Z!!! so happy you’re doing well! xo
Sandi
I was raised on a thoroughbred horse farm, and through osmosis, learned so much from my dad and others… these seemingly everyday thing to me, are noteworthy and informative to others… well done Lady Z handlers… it is good to see so many taking an interest in these gorgeous atheletes… thanks to the grace and strenght of Lady Z… thank you for your time and efforts…
Elaine
Zenyatta, you can’t take a bad picture, can you? You are gorgeous…both inside and out!
Jenna
Khara: Fantastic question!!!
Pattie from South Carolina
Congratulations Team Zenyatta on your award!! I love reading Zenyatta’s Diary, every morning before I go to work. It makes my day so much brighter :) Can’t wait to see a photo of The Queen rolling in the mud. My horses love to roll & get muddy, too.
ona
Forgot to tell you yesterday that I always wondered why your hind leg tape was blue! I liked the stripe effect the tape made on your wraps. Have a good one Big Girl!:)
Dani
Yay! Congratulations indeed on your special Eclipse Award. From the DRF —– “The Special Eclipse Award for Team Zenyatta cites the unfailing generosity of her connections – owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs; jockey Mike Smith, racing manager Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, exercise rider Steve Willard, groom Mario Espinoza, hotwalker Carmen Zamona, and assistant trainer Michelle Jensen – or making Zenyatta so accessible to the public during her encore year in 2010…..
No matter where Zenyatta went – to Oaklawn Park, Del Mar, Churchill Downs, or her base at Hollywood Park – there was a caravan of visitors marching to see her every day. Her popularity extended to “60 Minutes,” W Magazine, and Oprah Winfrey’s “O Power List,” which named Zenyatta as one of the 20 most influential women of the year. She finished second in the Associated Press’s Female Athlete of the Year balloting behind only Olympic gold medal winning skier Lindsey Vonn….Team Z you rock as always!!!
James
“Old Friends” and “New Vocations Race Horse Adoption” are wonderful for saving retired Thoroughbred Race Horses, for those of you who are interested in supporting a worthy cause. Make your gift in Zenyatta’s name :) She will be proud of you !!
Alexandra Bowdoin
For Khara and others who would like to give to horse rescue programs.
Trottusa.org, you can buy Zenyatta T shirts here and all proceeds go to the benefit.
Canter Horse Rescue, many States have a program and New England.
These are 2 very good organizations.
Margy
Thanks again for the very informative posts. I’m learning a lot about racing, and what it takes to keep a thoroughbred in top shape. It’s a lot of work.
Margy
Thanks again for the very informative post. It’s interesting to see what it takes to keep a thoroughbred in top shape, and it seems like a lot of work.
I look forward to reading Z’s diary every day. I know it’s a lot of work, too, but her fans love it. Thanks Dottie.
Dani
There is even a better article about the award on bloodhorse.com. Very exciting.
Mike Sekulic
ZENYATTA is the best model a photographer could ever ask for or expect!
Sharon Call
@Stephanie J Lambert. The old saying “white socks on a horse are bad luck” came about because socks on a horse often accompany white hooves. White hooves are a little softer and easier to chip and crack than black hooves like Z’s. I’ve had horses with white hooves and they do require a little more attention than black hooves. Another one of those interesting tidbits that goes along with horse care.
NorCalFan#1
The start of good things to come from the Eclipse Awards. Congratulations, Team Z! So well-deserved!
“The individuals who helped Zenyatta become one of the most recognizable sports stars of 2010 will be honored with a special Eclipse Award at the 40th annual ceremony Jan. 17.
“The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters announced the special award Wednesday.
“The special award honors extraordinary service, individual achievements or contributions to horse racing.”
nancy
Seeing those photos just make you think of those special times on the track and it was not so long ago, I guess we are still getting use to not seeing you still. The photos are great. I’m so glad that team Z is getting a Special Eclipse Award, I will be watching the Eclipse later this month, no matter what your still HOTY year in all are hearts and I know for sure you should get Champion older mare. And I agree with Mike Sekulic you are the best model ever, I love the photos I took of you. Happy day Z
Melanie Johnson
This is a fine shot of you and Mr. Willard. You really loved having him as your trainer, I can tell! He was blessed, too, I know. The royal blue is beautiful. Always wondered about significance of the different colors. I am hoping you will be HOY, because you are most deserving of it.
Kathryn Cogswell
‘Team Zenyatta Wins Special Eclipse Award’ BloodHorse.com. Tears? Oh, Yes . .. look at Jerry Moss. Everybody credited. Whoever ‘Staff’ is: nicely stated. Khc.
Elena Erdman
Good morning Sunshiny Z. Another informative day, thank you Dottie. You are such a warm and sweet writer for the Queen, I love it and the way you express things is so classy like all of you. It is sunny in Southern California, finally. Thank you for taking baby steps with us and letting us learn slowly all about Zenyatta and all about polo bandages and clocker’s corner and how things are done. By the way how can I find out what blanket is for what trainer? There are so many, is there a list of the trainer’s colors? Z, I love that color blue, it is the most elegant of colors, a gem color and you are a gem. Have a wonderful day.
Marilu Villanueva
Hello Zenyatta. Such wonderful pictures of you and Mario. He must miss you very much. I love the blue polo bandages and blue saddle. You and Steve look so classy in that photo. Congratulations to your team for getting the Special Eclipse Award. It is so well deserved. Praying for the HOTY results. MV
Susan
What’s so cool about these posts is that people are asking great questions and learning about horses. Thanks to Team Zenyatta for embracing new fans, supporting those that already were and promoting racing and horses everywhere by giving people access.
Zenyatta-what a gift you are
The Kennedys in San Diego
CONGRATULATIONS to Team Zenyatta on the Special Eclipse Award announced today in large part due to the way her connections embraced her popularity and shared her with the public. Now just hope the voters have done the right thing and honor the horse — Queen Zenyatta — with 2010 Horse of the Year.
Deana Dameron
Congrats to Team Z for the Eclipse Award! Thanks so much for all that you have done for Zenyatta and of course, her fans. We really appreciate you and all that you have done for the sport of horseracing and most importantly of all, the horse: Queen Z!!!