Good Morning,
I am having a great deal of fun! Joe Drape, who writes for the NY TIMES, came to visit and did a wonderful article (Z in NY Times) about me for his paper. The photos are outstanding…if I say so myself. There is one showing my friends and I running in the paddock. (I’m in FRONT! Too cute!) WE are having a blast running in the snow and playing together each day!
Please enjoy the photos and the piece. JOE DID A GREAT JOB! He did an update on some of my recent ‘teasing’ activities. Also, as referenced in the article, I have had all of my proper vet checks…and I am a real ‘girly girl’…with all of my body parts in good-working order. In these photos, I think I look terrific…even though they say I’ve gained a bit of weight! Good thing I’ve got a nice, strong frame to carry it off so well!
Also, this is too cute! A travel agency has called the FARM and wanted to know if they could put me on ‘their tour list…as one of THINGS TO SEE WHILE IN KY’. I guess they think LOTS of people would like to come and see me! (I gotta’ love my fans. This is absolutely adorable and made my day!) I’m not sure how this could happen as the roads at the farm aren’t big enough to handle big tour buses…but I could not be more flattered!
Yesterday, Steve Haskin, his wife, Joan, and Lenny Shulman came to visit. I gather Steve and Joan were here on a business trip from their home base in New Jersey. It was great to see them! I’ve known Steve and Lenny (both write for THE BLOODHORSE Magazine) since I was just starting out on my racing career. They have been dear friends for years now! I am so fortunate to have so many dear FANS and FRIENDS!
Just a few days now until my CA FAMILY comes to visit. They will be so excited to see how well I’m doing with all of my new friends. I can’t wait!!!!!!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL!
Z
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
I forgot to mention that there is an article by Joe Drape in today’s NYT called “A Horse for the Ages should be Horse of the Year.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/16/sports/16drape.html
Linda B
Robbie just read your post and I understand your concern. The thing with a web cam is it has to be done by people who understand what is best for the ANIMAL and nothing else. It is under the control of those who protect the process.
I will still touch a horse someplace. Looking forward to the SPRING. LOVE YA ZEN
Barbara Wood
Marvelous follow-up article by Joe Drape. Thanks so much for posting. Now if I can just figure out how to get the free broadcast on NTRA…..I already have the jitters. If there is any justice in the world, Z, you will win! Love you always.
Mary McQuire
Hello again!
I have a couple of questions. First, how many other mares will eventually be part of “Z”‘s herd? Second, I know John says she is a mellow horse and not really an alpha personality. Yet in the photos she is leading the other mares. Is that because she is the fastest or is it something else? Just wondering. Thanks!
CAM
For anyone who is interested, there already exists a site where mare owners have their mares on webcam who are close to foaling and/or have foaled.
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It’s called MARESTARE
http://www.marestare.com/
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It hosts individual and farm cams and is usually set up in the rafters of a mare’s stall. Thousands of people have watched foals be born on Marestare.
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While this would certainley be an option for Zenyatta, I’m not sure that the Mosses would want their mare on public cam, particularly when she’s due to foal. Zenyatta would have no awareness of the camera.
AJ from CA
Great article by Joe Drape but too bad he or other sport writers are not able to vote otherwise Zeny would have won HOY hands down the past two years. I don’t know too much about the voters criteria but I think that they’re mostly from the east coast and partial to eastern horses but do they get a kickback from some eastern owners so they could get a higher stud fee otherwise I just can’t fathom why they have been so blindsighted to our Queen Z’s accomplishments? Anyway let’s hope them voters do the right thing this time and vote ZENYATTA HOY!!!!
livey
Agree Linda B. A webcam is not intrusive and your description of webcams being used on eagles mating, nesting, etc. is a perfect example, especially with eagles who are sensitive to their surroundings. I hope that this is something that LE will seriously consider, since it is apparent from description by ‘horsepeople’ that human contact should be limited during breeding, birthing and mothering cycle. I think all on her want the best for Z, and no one (including the non-horse posters) would want to jeopardize Z’s happiness or health.
Judith
We love you, baby girl! No matter what happens Monday night, you will always be our queen.
Stella
Hi Queen Z! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend and that you’re not getting too nervous about the awards ceremony Monday night. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you and have told my horses to keep their hooves crossed for you, too! And remember, no matter the outcome, you’re number one in all our hearts—and always will be.
By the way, the hundred extra pounds look fabulous on you! :)
Kisses and hugs to you, Z,
Stel
The Kennedys in San Diego
@Robbie Pfeufer Kahn — Thank you for the link to today’s Joe Drape piece.
The Kennedys in San Diego
@CAM Thank you for the full update on Azeri’s progeny. So sorry she was sold and standing in Japan.
Quarterhossgal
Thanks Judy Sims for the website to access the NYT article about Z. It was great!
Mary Washer…..I had a great Quarter Horse mare sired by The Redeemer( Quarter Horse people will know him), her barn name was Angel. Each year starting in December we would get offers( Angel’s love notes) from Breeder’s offering free breedings to their studs. They wanted to breed to a great mare with owners who would show the foals and thus help put their stallions on Leading Sires lists.
I understand that Storm Cat is no longer covering Race Mares because of low semen count but is able to go A1 with Quarter Horse mares.
His stud fee was about $150,00 and now Quarter mares can be bred for $15,000.
People with racing Quarters will probably take advantage of this.
I understand the reference that Z’ owners will pay a stud fee for her cover by a top stud but my guess is that the Moss family had a great many free offers too!
Carole
Joe Drape said it all in the headline of his piece –“A Horse for the Ages Should Be Horse of the Year.”
Mary McQuire
The NY Times article was just terrific! I live in Manhattan and we have not had enough Zenyatta coverage here. Now my NY friends (none of whom know anything about racehorses) now understand why I am a Zenyatta groupie!
Dona
Lady Love, I was never worried! Only a girly-girl could be as regal as you are. Have fun with everybody and tell them you’d like to reciprocate and visit them in California! YAHOO……….lol
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I just subscribed to Comcast sports channel package. Guess what this means, I will be watching the Eclipse Awards Monday night. I am so excited. Hope your day is going well and you are enjoying the visit with your family. Take care. Love, Linda
Wendy Bratten
Of course they all gathered around to see you getting your bath. You are the most magnificent horse I have ever seen!
Cheryl
Hey there girl – LOVE the picture of you leading your “posse” around. It reminds of the hall at high school right before the class bell! I have to admit I am getting so wound up about the Horse of the Year Award and I am near tears for the stress I am feeling! I cannot even imagine how your team is feeling if I am this effected! I just love you so much and every time I read an article that recounts your magnificent racing career the tears well up in my eyes. You are without a doubt the most wonderful race mare that has ever set foot on a track and your contribution to racing, your fans, countless charities, our imaginations and the magic of true love will always be on my mind. I think about you a lot little girl! Have a blast – like I said before – make sure he has good dapples.. and good feet.
janet
Good Luck on HOY! Sending prayers your way and hope I won’t be as disappointed as I was last year. Will shed alot of tears and face alot of anger if you don’t win. You were robbed last year for sure!
Ann M
Hope you win Horse of the Year and Champion Older Female Horse, but you are the Horse of a Lifetime- so you should get 3 awards. You are also Queen of Hearts and Miss America, just the sweetest and most beautiful horse ever, as well as being the greatest racehorse in the world!! We love you, sweet girl!!
Maryyette
Hi Sweetie! Did you know that Oaklawn is celebrating on Monday, by giving away Zenyatta Bobbleheads? The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, published in Little Rock, noted all the nominations for the different Eclipse awards, and your name was in bold! Arkansas, Hot Springs, and Oaklawn are rooting for you, beautiful Zen- we love you!!!! Good luck!!!
CAM
@ QUARTERHOSSGAL,
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Storm Cat is no longer standing to QHs. When he was offered, it was at a $20,000 stud fee, for prior frozen semen. His live cover fee for TB mares was $500,000 (yes, half a million) before his retirement.
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I’m sure some lesser stallions have offered free breedings for Zenyatta, but the stallions she’ll be cisiting have no need for such self promotions. They’ve already made it and get more applications for mares than they will accept.
CAM
@ CHERYL,
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LOL on the good feet comment….that counts A.P. Indy out! He’s had touchy front feet since his racing days and still often wears pads on front.
NancyJS
@maria
Thanks for sharing the two links to articles about
Z. They were delightful. Sounds like she is enjoying
her new career. Hope her offspring are talented and
she is prolific.
@lovey
I am not sure if the area on Z’s shoulder is not a
photographic issue. Does not look like an injury. For
those who have never had a horse turning them out
always creates surprises when they come in. Biting
and kicking and bucking are fun for horses and ways
for them to communicate. I am sure she and her band of
mares are being watched very closely when they are
our. My thoroughbred went out at night spooked and
ran into a tree branch and impaled himself. No severe
injury just some suturing. I was watching TVG today and
there was a sprinter who somehow removed half of his
hoof somehow in his stall. HORSES ARE VERY DELICATE
AND SILLY. !!!!!! But I love them especially Z.
NancyJS
@Mary McGuire
Z is the head/boss mare. She does not have alpha
characteristics but is the lead, which means she runs
the show. Probably in a gentle assertive manner. There
is always a lead mare in a band of horses and the stallions
bring up the rear. How she leads could be seen in a video. I think
they chose PQ as her first BBF because she is not
a competitive mare so would follow Z around. LE said
she was going to stay in a small group so she could be
watched closely. I think the current group is her
Band of Merry Mares.
Elena Erdman
Hi beautiful Z. I loved the articles on you. I heard on the horse racing radio today three people that said they voted for you. Go go, Zenyatta.
To Nancy McNaul. I believe Zenyatta’s name is Zenyatta and not Zenyatta Mondata. Zenyatta Mondata is the name of the song by Police. I have never seen the “Mondata” added to her name.
Elena Erdman
Excuse me I mispelled Mondata, it is Mondatta and it was the third ablum from Police.
NancyJS
@Robbie
I loath to agree with your comments about the
BCC, but I do. Mike commented that she became
confused on the track when she rounded the home
stretch turn, when the crowd roared. I think Mike
Had his hands full with these and other issues and dealt
them ad her Jockey very well.
Zenyatta is a very expensive thoroughbred race
horse coveted by her owners and all of her Barn
55 and LE attendants. I am sure Mr Farrish will
make the best decision on fan visiting. I would
quite distressed if she aborted a foal just to allow
fans to visit.
NancyJS
The Mosses will most likely pay to breed her due to stipulations in
breeding contracts and guarantees. Maybe those in the
breeding business can comment on specifics of these contracts.
They want a guaranteed foal.
Irene Caty
Hi Zenny,I wonder if The Moss’s gave a thought about Kitalpha for you to be bred to. He is 16.3 hands and a proven sire and just beautiful. He is suppose to be at stud here in the U.S for 2011. It shows that he is at War Horse Place in Lexington, Ky. I saw his picture and artical about him in the commemorative collectors issue in The Bloodhorse. I was impressed. I know that genes have to be taken into concideration when it comes to breeding. This horse has eyes much like yours. I love your eyes with so much expression in them. Have a great week-end sweet Zenyatta and have a loveingly time with your Z-Team company on Sunday. Lots of Love and Kisses to you dearest Zenyatta.