Good Morning,
Home Sweet Home! Oh, this is too cute! This morning, my dear John sent me a photo of my Hollywood Park HOME…BARN 55…STALL 85. I wanted to share it with you!
John said when I left for Kentucky that he would not use my stall or put another horse into it for quite some time. It is decorated with so many of my things. This is really the way it looked when I was there…except you would see ‘my adorable head’ poking out of the door. I was always so curious and wanted to be sure I knew everything going on in the barn all of the time! I never wanted to miss a THING!
Now, instead of me looking out the door, there is a painting hanging in the back of the stall of Mario with ME. It was done by a fan, Mrs. Kotulak! Mario and John have also hung up some of my favorite fan photos. My Christmas Stocking is there…my polo bandages, my feed tub and all of my other goodies! They even put a cute fresh bag of carrots by the stall every single day…just because! (OH…I do love my carrots!) This is so sweet!
What WONDERFUL MEMORIES! I have truly been one very FORTUNATE HORSE! BARN 55 REALLY LOVES ME A WHOLE BUNCH!
Cheers to a marvelous day! Here’s wishing you share a special memory with a treasured friend of yours today…like John did with me!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
PS…OH DEAR…my JETS!
They gave it a good, solid try…but coming from WAY OFF THE PACE at the 1/2…then having to finish strong and make up so many points to win…(LENGTHS IN MY SPORT)…is not an easy thing to do! I KNOW THIS FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!
It was a great game! GOOD LUCK to THE JETS in the future…and CONGRATULATIONS to THE PACKERS AND THE STEELERS! THEY ARE OFF to the SUPER BOWL!
Linda/Orange MA
Astrid I saw the the article on bloodhorse with Freddie and Hootie. Zenyatta’s track pony. Hootie has a facebook page. Hootie has only 181 friends. I wonder if Zenyatta misses him. Fred and Hootie were a pair.
Have a nice night Zen
Marian M.
Zenyatta, The love of your humans in the Shirreffs barn touches me deeply. It’s testament to your uniquely beautiful qualities and, also, to the appreciation of you, not only as a racehorse, but also as a being. that is held by your trainer and his staff. There may be very few horses of your stature in your sport but I cannot help wondering whether more racehorses would develop their abilities to the highest level possible if they, too, experienced the deeply felt and long-lived devotion that you enjoy.
I wonder how your stall will look on Valentine’s Day.
Paul Soto
Secretariat Award ? Zenyatta you deserve EVERYTHING coming your way !!! Wish I could be there to see the Z team receive it on your behalf. You are such a magnificent creature.
Sharon in Ohio
Yes, I had the same thought as Sandy,who posted…I think that Zenyatta’s stall should remain empty until her own baby fills it…as we know that your off-spring will be following in your tracks, and that is a sure bet!!Anyway thanks for the great pic and I was doing fine until I got read about the carrots and saw the bag in the pic..made me teary eyed.How very loving and sweet !!
What about a cam on you that the folks at Barn 55 can see you, and us your fans. I watch a farm that raises Gypsy Vanner’s the owner has a 24 hr. cam on the outside…and the inside when the colt’s are expected, in the stall…we get to watch the mother’s having their colts. Members are all over the world and there is a chat room too for us to talk anytime day or night. From England,Ireland,Canada and lots of other people here in the USA get to be friends from all states and other countries It is so much fun to watch the colts grow and go to their new homes. With great progress reports back from the colts new owners.xxoxoxoxo
Denise
So sweet, Zenny. It’s so hard to let go sometimes. Life happens, things change but we humans just get so emotional…like now (sniff sniff). If I was John, I’d keep your stall just like it is for awhile too. It makes it a bit easier. If you could wish on the stars for your friend, John…maybe you could wish for him another relationship like yours, so he could fill that stall again…and his heart.
Mary
Zenyatta, I’m sure your Barn 55 family sheds a tear every time they walk by your empty stall. Life must go on, but the memories are bitter sweet. Hugs and Prayers
Janet Cutting
Dottie and Zenny: Dottie, your John is a wonderful person and the two of you seem like you were just meant to be together. I know it’s probably hard to look at Z’s stall–but what is great is that the Moss’s have their own jet and seem to enjoy taking everyone with them when they visit Zenyatta– and also the tango with the phones(which I think is fab)So, its nice that there are times when you can be with her like this. I really wish that when Zenny has her baby that the Mr and Mrs M bring both back to California-why does she have to stay in Kentucky anyway-no offense, but I have read other comments that California has great farms. CAN ANYONE GIVE ME THEIR EXPERT ANSWER? Thanks , take care all, Janet C
Mary McQuire
Barn 55 Stall 85
I got to see you and your surroundings in person at Hollywood Park. It was the highlight of 2010 for me. I have lots of great pictures from my visit with you. I am sure your CA friends ache for you but anyone can see you love KY and just being a horse. Continued health and happiness. Thank you (Dottie) for the posts and especially for any and all pictures/videos.
JONEL
The suspense is killing me. When will they announce who your chosen boyfriend is going tobe? My vote is AP Indy – all the way. What a pehnomenal pairing that would be. Go Z go AP hey they could name the baby ZAP! Just kidding
Gloria
Awww, Big Mama, Z! I love that picture, but it makes me sad too. Thanks for the update. Keep ’em coming! XOXOX!!
Mary McQuire
I LOVE the idea that one of “Z”‘s foals would go into her stall and I love Kathryn’s idea about the stall going to the Smithsonian!
Selene McCarthy
I love the Smithosnian idea..Your stall from Barn 55 should be in there! love and carrots…
Astrid
@ Linda/Orange MA – I saw Hootie’s facebook page and he has at least 182 friends :)) I am just not signed up but do read them. Yes, Freddie and Hootie – what a pair! I too wonder if she misses them… Lucky Hootie to get to see her so often and what an important job!
Night, sweet Zenny! Hugs and kisses!
Wonder if Dottie, John, Mario kept a lock of Zenyatta’s mane… I always have one of my dogs and if I am lucky even a baby tooth:) Wished I could have a lock of Zenny’s hair but even with her winter coat their wouldn’t be enough locks for all her fans and she’d be bald LOL…and oh, she looks so beautiful in her winter coat!
Fern Gordon
I was so elated when your name was announced as Horse of the Year. Your mail box was so full I didn’t get a chance to congratulate you on Jan. 18. I read in the paper you are getting another award: the first recipient of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award presented by Penny Chenery. There is to be a ceremony at Santa Anita on Feb. 5th. How great is that! I wish you could be there in the flesh to receive this honor, but I know your Team will be delighted to stand in for you. No horse deserves this more than you.
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
What a great picture of your stall 85 in your barn 55, I wish you were still there and working as I know you loved doing…It is sad you are not there anymore as I looked so forward to seeing you race , it was such a highlite to me and when you raced it was the greatest feeling WOW what a rush..You are the greatest and forever you will be ZENYATTA….Racing Queen…LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU
Gloria Jeanne
I meet hottie too, he loves donuts and burritos’… Freddie rider said they got Hootie just for Zenyatta and that Hootie will eat anything. Last I spoke with Freddie right before Zen left for Kentucky they were going to find a nice home for him to retire to. I hope Hootie and Freddie are doing well. Love and Hugs.
L
@Janet Cutting,
Having the foal in Kentucky means it will be eligible for races with bonuses for Kentucky breds. Currently though other states have their own incentive racing Kentucky is still the best.
Being foaled in Kentucky will give her foal the most opportunities available.
Also shipping a mare and foal is incredibly dangerous, to the point that some farms will put a valuable foal onto a nurse mare if that foal’s equally valuable dam must travel any great distance to be bred. In such case the foal and his/her dam are permanently separated and the nurse mare becomes ‘Mom’.
Shari Voltz
Dear Sweet Zenyatta Thank you from me and my 5th grade homeroom. We received the presents today. I cried and my children jumped for joy. They are so touched to now have an ornament of you. They loved it as did I. I also talked to one of your family members tonight (Mrs. Moss) I wanted to thank her. She made my day. I think I floated with happiness all day long. I know the children talked about their gifts all day long. We just love you so very much. I showed the children your pictures and wait until you see their cards. (They are in the mail). You will love them. Sweet Zenny you are the BEST. Thank you again and I so do love you. Hugs and many kisses from Shari in Ohio XXOO
Sarah Jane Charles
Ms Zenny, I never missed a race! I pulled for you all the way! You are my favorite athelete. Can’t hardly wait for a little one to come to the track.
Karen Schmiede
Love you, Zen.
Tere Thomas
You are just the best and I so look forward to these diary entries! Thx and sending you so much love!
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.horseraceinsider.com/lines-in-the-sand/01232011-freddie-hootie-off-into-the-sunset/
Jennifer Adelman
Dear Zenyatta, Awwwww! Barn 55 has to be going through major adjustment without that beautiful girl!! And her friend Life is Sweet sleeping in. What a crew who has contributed so much to her success with her care. They groomed the best for all her wins!!!
Hugs!!
Judy Sims
Hi Zenny:
This post really made me cry. It is so dear that John has made your stall into a shrine but so sad that you are no longer physically there. I also can’t imagine any other horse occupying your space. Maybe one of your offspring some day. The easy, happy fact is that you endeared yourself to all in Barn 55 and the hard almost impossible part is the “letting go!” You are a national treasure.
Hugs & nose kisses.
Judy 8-)
Sally (B)
Hi No. 1 Z!! It is so cute to see where you were at Barn 55. You have wonderful memories there. I really understand that you have been “one lucky girl”. You will never be alone or forgotten. About the Jets, yes, another few minutes who knows what they could have done. Sorry for your loss; no one in the game was seriously injured; that is a blessing. I always prayed for you Z, I wanted you to win without any injury. Now you are retired having fun as a horse!! love you always
NancyJS
@livey
So great that you are concerned about the scrape
Z has on her hip. Remember in the post she said “I
am fine”. Pure unadulterated good honest horseplay.
Horses kick and bite when they play. Lanes End has
chosen the most docile mares to be BBF with Zenny
as she is definately the leader of her band of merry
mares.
Helen & Guido
It is disappointing about the Jets Z. They’ll get better next year and hopefully they’ll learn how to come from behind and beat everyone. Just like you! Tell John you want a ‘suite’ like this one Z. You deserve it. It’s very, very nice though. How attached John is to you. He’s a good person.
Kathryn Cogswell
Hi, Mary & Selene: John`s picture, on #65 up above, already looks like a Smithsonian exhibit, doesn`t it? Love it. Wonder if the Smithsonian allows cats? I know some places actually do; and quite exclusive ones, too. K.
M2 + Little Bit & Ready Lady (team from the Little Bit Ranch)
To Trish and Mike in Colorado – I just read you post and had to quickly scroll down to post this message to you. That is an awesome story about you all looking down from the plane when you all landed at LAX and pointed towards the track and said, “she’s there, SHE’S THERE!”. Pretty much says it all. That’s how we feel too. Of course, now we must go east to see her – that is – when it makes sense for Z! Have to be watchful of her health with the big event.
Rita Boucher
I love my Packers as much as I do you. Thanks for the fun update.