Good Morning Everyone,
I hope all of you are well and enjoying the MARCH MADNESS FUN…both in College Basketball and OUR CONTEST. The 64 teams are playing the first round right now just like we will do in our first round. We will start with 64 LUCKY CARDS to be selected from all of them that are submitted. From those 64, the next draw will be to select 32 from that group of 64. This is just like after the first round of 64 teams play in the real March Madness, it will then go to 32 teams for the next part of the tournament. So much fun!
I’m giving you some time to think about what you’d like to write. Please get your cards ready. I’ll be posting the address to mail them to next week.
On a very sweet note, I wanted to share this photo with you of MY DEAR OWNER. John took it yesterday morning at Barn 55 when he came out to visit some of his horses and spend the morning with all of my Barn 55 friends. It is so special! As you can see, JOHN still has my stall there…JUST FOR ME! So many of my cherished photos and keepsakes are there. It is all so very touching!
In looking at this picture, I wonder what MY DEAR JERRY is thinking? I’m sure he misses seeing my face peaking out of the stall and hanging out with me on the grass while I was grazing. Yet, on the other hand, I know he is so pleased that I am happy, healthy, and enjoying every moment of my new life at Lane’s End. I have truly been blessed to have the BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.
HMMMM! Upon reflection, I wonder what HE would write on his postcard if he was doing one for our contest? I BET I KNOW. He’d tell everyone THAT HE IS SO VERY PROUD OF ME AND THAT HE LOVES ME A WHOLE BUNCH!!
LUCKY ME!
Enjoy your DAY!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Holly Zemba
Zenyatta you are so special I loved seeing your stall at Barn 55. And with your dear owner visiting it. I hope all is well with you.
Jo-An
How could he not love you everybody doesYou are The Queen!!!!!!!
Deneen
Wonderful photo of Jerry reflecting on his beloved Zenyatta — what a tender moment!! Jerry IS so VERY proud of you Z and loves you VERY much!!!!!!! You have touched everyone’s heart in such a way that is indescribable. I cannot thank you enough, Jerry and Ann, for sharing your beautiful girl with all of us fans!! John and Dottie — my deepest thanks for all that you do to keep us connected!! It is a lot of hard work but please know that we are very appreciative of everything!! Bless you all — you truly are gifts from God!!! Love the postcard contest idea!! You guys think of everything — how awesome!! Can’t wait to send mine in!!
OraJean Stevenson
Dear Queen-Z & Team-Z,
Zenny is so loved…and her “Team” is #1 in the World-of-Racing!! What a lucky and blessed relationship. Thanks, Dottie, for taking us along for the RIDE!! Now, who’s the lucky one?!?
Hugs to you all. Fondly, OraJean
Anita in CA
I’m sure Jerry, like each one of us, has very special warm joyful memories of you, Zenny. Of your many race victories and of more personal intimate moments with you. When I want to feel happy and joyful, I think of you or look at your pictures, and the memories I have of you come flooding back. I especially have been remembering lately, the first time I saw you, when you burst onto the Santa Anita track for the Santa Margarita. I felt an electricity that just about set me back on my heels. And also, the day I met you, touched you and looked in your eyes. Your beauty just filled me with joy. Much love to you sweet girl.
J Smith
That’s precious. I bet John could rent out your stall by the half hour for people to go lay in the hay and reflect. The Zenyatta Reflection Room. Soooo relaxing, imagine, spending a quiet half hour in there during your lunch break, how calming it would be.
Trina Nagele
Dear Zenny, Thanks for sharing this heartwarming picture of your dear Jerry. I’m sure he is missing you, as is your whole California team, and your fans worldwide. We fans are so lucky that your team continues to share you with us. You bring us joy.
J Smith
TRF does address the NYT article on their website http://www.trfinc.org However, after reading the article and seeing the pix, it’s pretty disturbing. There really should be a limit on breeding all animals. There shouldn’t be a need for slaughterhouses, or pounds that have to kill thousands of cats and dogs every year. It’s heartbreaking.
J Smith
Congratulations! Over 70,000 people love you a whole bunch. You are over 70,200 people on Facebook. WOW. I don’t even have 70 friends on fb.
Kathy Kimber
Dear Zeny,
The Super Moon is coming tonight it is special, just like you and and Baby Z
I’m so excited about the contest. You guys are always thinking of ways to make us feel special and its something we can all do together. I’m wishing everyone luck. Love the picture of your dear Jerry, He is deep in thought and I know being in your stall makes him happy because its being just a little closer to you.
Kathy Kimber
The slaughter is awful I wish it could be stopped. My Dad was a Blacksmith in WW1. He was in France and unfortunately at times the only thing they had to eat was horse meat. He told us he just couldn’t do it. He was hungry lots he loved horses so much he said they were so beautiful and their souls were in there eyes. After WW1 many areas in the country had holding posts where the military held horses and they were ordered destroyed. It was very upsetting to everyone. I don’t know the answer to it but I wish I did. Over breeding should be stopped. You Zeny have helped to make us aware of the tragedy.
Mary
Dearest Zenyatta
Hello beautiful girl. I can only imagine what Jerry was thinking looking around in your stall, as I don’t know him except thru you…I would say he is very proud of you and how lucky he is to have enjoyed every part of your life together, I would say he misses you with all his heart and that horse racing has never been as thrilling to him as it was when you ran and owned the track and the audiance time and time again…and I can say that only because thats how I feel. Seeing you on the race track every time took my breath away, being on the rail at the finish line watching you pick it up from behind every time and win!!! It doesn’t get better than being a BIG FAN OF ZENYATTAS!!!
I LOVE YOU!!!
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, the photo is absolutely heartwarming…I do not think I would be strong enough to do that. I know he is proud of you and misses you so. Love, Lisa g
dan
Dear Dottie & Zenny,
Still wondering if there are any plans to sell prints of the painting hanging in Zenny’s old stall of “the queen” and Mario?
Evy
I love you “a whole bunch”, too, Zenyatta. So happy you are in my life.
LauraJ
For those who are following the TRF story:
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/trf-no-easy-solutions/
It’s interesting. Read the comments too. Joe Drape weighs in, as does TRF’s veterinarian. It’s a murky situation. (Comments were up to 81 when I clicked, so be advised it’s a slog.)
Cheryl
Oh Zenny – my heart just went right out to Jerry when I saw this. How can your influence on all of their lives be measured in words? How can anyone that has been with you so intimately ever begin to describe their feelings. I am sure it is just not possible for any of them. Your owners and team should always be proud of the benefits they have brought to the people and horses in racing. You are directly responsbile for a whole new awareness and caring realizations toward horses. If anything you are The Ambassador for the horse world – somehow you have helped us all transcend the breach between horses and humans and I can just thank you so much for that. I have always thought that horses were just like people…except nicer and more honest unfortunately. Just my opinion. I love to see the posts from other who “get it”. YOu have made it possible.
Shari Voltz
Zenyatta good morning from Ohio. I hope you are getting some sunshine today. I love the picture. I am so proud of you and you have a large following at East Liverpool Middle School. WE ALL love YOU ! My students and I are going to start the writing about you on Monday. This is such good practice for them. You inspire us all. Thank you sweet mama. Well I am off to run errands, walk my dogs and later go to church. I hope you have a relaxing day with the girls. I love you sweet one. Hugs and Kisses from Shari XXXOOO
@Dawn I will light a candle for you in church with a prayer for good news from your DR. YOU are always in my daily prayers. Love Shari :)
LauraJ
@Signofthetimes, I agree that breeders need to take some responsibility, but so do the owners. Horses often go through a succession of owners, and many times the “owner” is a stable, not a single person. It is hard to keep track of a particular horse, especially if it is not racing or if it is out of the country. Only the horse’s current owner has legal say in its management, so even if a breeder or former owner manages to track it down and wants to do right by the horse, s/he doesn’t have any power to do so. S/he can try to purchase or claim the horse, but if the current owner is unwilling to sell, the horse and the previous owner are SOL.
—
I think what is needed is a retirement fund that follows the horse no matter who owns it, and which does not depend solely on contributions by breeders/owners. Unfortunately, until the racing industry has a central authority that can institute such a program and devise a way to keep it funded, I don’t see it happening.
Linda
I cannot imagine the emptiness that special stall must hold with the one and only Zenyatta not in it. The Mosses had several wonderful years of enjoying you each day. I would imagine the hole left in their hearts with you in Kentucky is mighty hard to overcome. I look at the plain wooden walls and mere hay on the floor and think there you stood day in and day out when you were not running and prancing and dancing and grazing and connecting with those lucky enough to visit you up close and personal.
We all have a void in our schedules now but know you deserved open places to run and play and enjoy the company of your new found friends and caregivers at Lanes End. Just know we have not forgotten you, that you must always remember about your devoted fans.
Janis
Zenyatta you bring not only happiness but goodness to our lives. Kay, your information about the neglected thoroughbreds was heart breaking. At the Eclipse Awards Zen’s owner mentioned one of the better retirement farms. How can we help these horses? Seems like we have a lot of caring people reading Zenyatta’s Diary. I know this group, with Zenyatta’s help, could make a BIG difference.
Molly
Zenyatta, you are an angel. You have stirred people to help your retired thoroughbred friends in need. Just a heads up to all that Tranquility Farms now has a gift shop on Ebay. One way to help support these horses in need. Thank you Zeny for opening our hearts to help these beautiful animals. They certainly need our love and care.
Jan Doyle
I can’t stop the tears today for seeing the picture of your dear sweet Mr. Moss. I know how much we all miss seeing you race, but are also glad you retired safe. Hope you enjoy your Saturday relaxing with the girs. Hugs to all
Ron
How could John and all your fans NOT MISS the incredible “Dancing Queen”?
Annie
Dottie, why couldn’t there be a group called “Zenyatta’s Angels” that helps retired thoroughbreds. Just a thought. Thanks for the great pictures of Zen. Do you have any pictures of John training Zeny? Would love to see those pics or videos.
J Smith
MATCHING RED CROSS DONATIONS – http://www.livingsocial.com is matching all $5. donations to the Red Cross for Japan. So, you donate $5. The Red Cross gets $10. to help the earthquake relief effort. $5. that’s less than the price of parking for a sporting event. I heard on the news that there are far less donations for Japan than there were for Haiti and Katrina.
Ann Maree
Hi, Z-girl,
I’m thinking that a postcard won’t have enough room to write all that I would like to say. A gift I would like from Ann,Jerry, John and Dottie, Mario, Carman and Frank, would be to have each of them write not just a postcard, but use a litte more space than that to share with us their personal thoughts about what their time with you means to each of them.
Is there a chance of a book or movie or tv-biopic soon? My heart just aches for the story of Zen to be told on the big screen and for a book to chronicle your amazing journey. The front cover of the book could be the BCC2009 and the back cover a picture of you and your foal!!
Hugs,Zenny. Your friend, Ann Maree
Sunny Boyd
Good Morning Zenyatta,
I hope this late morning finds you out and about strutting your stuff. Soaking in some sun and letting the wind give you a bad hair day. :) :)
@LauraJ
I read both articles and must say some of it reads as the usual org. in-house crap.
During my volunteering in a rescue org I found few board people were actually interested in the animals, some’s sole mission was to have their egos validated, others were bored hausfraus needing to have their egos validated, others had out of control lives needing to have their egos validated, etc, in other words it’s all about them disguised as ‘making the world a better place’, the animals just kinda happen to get in the way.
Horses lifespans & their expensive upkeep makes their rescuing a toughie. For the average person anyway, it’s impossible. May be humane euthanasia is the answer, when I started in rescue, I thought people talking the big’E’ were taking the easy way out, but really they were hard-nosed realists. Bottom-line it’s the animals that suffer a long drawn-out miserable existence, there are actually worse things than a humane death. Starving to death isn’t one of them. I can’t imagine being held somewhere, not being free, and having to endure the indignities of starvation, unclean environments, may be even physical abuse.
I think sby here mentioned the owners/breeders taking the financial responsibility for the surplus foals produced might be a good start. Just like paying child-support in a way.
Well, Zenyatta, I hope your people never fall on hard times, and that they always make horse-friendly decisions. :) :) :)
audreyc
re: comment regarding embryo transfer.
I am so glad that thoroughbreds do not do this, and also require live cover. Now that Zenyatta has been bred, let her have this life-giving experience, and have a baby foal by her side. She has earned it. I wish the thoroughbreds would also not be permitted to ship semen to other breeds. This is a big part of the problem of too many horses, thus slaughter. The American Quarter Horse Association is the epitome of this overbreeding, and they approve of, and back, slaughter. I think it is a terrible thing to inseminate a race mare, have her experience hormonal changes – go through an embryo flush, experience her body’s reactions to that – and then back on the race track. Cruel. Zenyatta’s racing career is now a wondrous “moment in time,” but one to be relished forever. I am happy that she retired sound both in body AND mind, and that she is content. Besides, hypothetically, if embryo transfers were permitted, and the Mosses did this, Zenyatta would never be the horse she is. She would be another horse, over-manipulated by humans, for their own selfish purposes. She would never display the personality and affection for people she does. Instead, like the majority of horses used & abused,she would be shut down. My heart does go out to Jerry, for I am sure he, along with the rest of team Z, would love to be able to go back in time. However, Zenyatta’s welfare was always put first, and they all can feel great joy and peace with that.
Annie
Sunny, thank you for enlightening me about retired horses. Guess I was being terribly naive. My sentiments were real, though.