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!
Pattie from Pickens, SC
Good Morning Queen Zenyatta & Team Z. Has anyone fed their horses Watermelon ?? My 2 horses love it. It makes them drool!! They also like oranges, which has lots of Vitamin C. Take it easy & stay warm…Here comes more winter weather :(
Patricia
Amanda…where did you read John will be training Zen’s half-sis Ebloissant? That would be wonderful!!!
Here is an idea…a cocktail/recipe book with all of our “Zen-tails,” & “Zen-cipes!” Maybe we could send them somehow to Dottie & she could post one weekly just for fun!
Kathryn-thanks for the post on the Zenyattan! and DJ for the idea of the Zentini!! Well, we do have cause to celebrate, Zen HOTY, for one, & many more reasons to come!!!
Have a great day everyone!
Barbara Wood
Catherine Uher–praying with you and for you. We need you with us!
NancyP
Hello Beautiful Girl,
Thank you for sharing stall 85 in Barn 55. It is testament to how much your former team misses you and holds you close in their hearts for all time. It is unfortunate that every horse does not have such fine people looking out for their best interest with such devotion and love. Hopefully some other owners, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, and jockeys get Ah Hah moments and take better care of their horses. I’m enormously grateful for your everyone on your teams.
Hugs and Kisses.
NancyP
Jennifer
Hi Zenyatta,
Thanks for sharing your picture. I can only imagine what it’s like for your crew to have to walk by your empty stall after you inhabited it for so long. I’m sure you and your huge presence is missed (all 17 hands of you!).
What really tugs at my heart is how much Mario and Carmen are probably missing you. I could tell by watching the video of you and Mario at LE how tight the bond is…one that come can only come with spending a lot of time together. Hugs go to all of your team. Not in your stall, but definitely in our thoughts!!
Congrats on HOY!!! Well deserved!!
Jenn
Ontario, Canada
(be glad you are in KY and not up here! Brrrr!)
Rita
Zenyatta we all miss you. thanks for your daily blogs we can stay close. Love you Z and lots of hugs. Your family are exceptional as are you.
Nancy/Ca.
Awww! Felt a pang in my heart reading what Team Z has done to your stall big girl,especially the fresh carrots! That’s so sweet! Can’t imagine how much you all must miss her! This SoCal fan who went to most of your races and got to feed you a carrot misses you too,it helps to see you doing so well back there in that weird white stuff! LOL
Leslie R.
@Mike Sekulic – your tribute to Zenyatta at bloodhorse.com is fabulous! I enjoyed it a lot, especially all the great pictures! Thank you!
Leslie R.
Suzanne G
@Mike Sekulic–Wonderful pictures and note to Rachel–also perfect. Thanks very much.
Cathy Polansly
Hi Zenny, what a great picture of your stall at Barn 55. You are deeply missed here in CA. Love you, and of course lots and lots of BIG HUGS.
Kathryn Cogswell
There is a dear story from all the good ones about Don Robinson, who foaled and started Zenyatta on his Winter Quarter Farm: he left home to do some stretching early as a young man, and accompanied Tex Sutton horse shuttles cross country, before they flew the horses. He said he loved just being with them, and taking care of them. Robbie, where IS that article? Maybe in his section of ‘Z`s Commemorative Issue? Yes, ‘ . .. he went away to highschool in Virginia, then took a job with Tex Sutton, who at that time was transporting horses by train, not airplane. Robinson accompanied horses from Lexington to California on the rails, and loved taking care of the animals. “I ended up at Santa Anita and Del Mar, working for Buddy Hirsch and Charlie Whittingham,” Robinson said. “It was just phenomenal; that`s when you could swim the horses down at Del Mar.”‘ [Zenyatta Commemorative Issue, The BloodHorse]. Those of you long in California must have wonderful tales of those times. My parents told a romantic story of their early days at a glamorous gambling establishment in San Diego, I think, owned by Nina & Henry Porter. Daddy was past losing, and they were sitting on the steps, trying to figure a way to get home, back to Tucson, when Henry Porter came out. “You`re no gambler, Bill,” Mr. Porter told him. ‘You go back in and play with the house `til you get your money back, and then quit.” They did. Gentlemen gamblers and the ladies they loved; Californians, your are blessed. Lucky horses, Mr. Robinson.
KEN PORTER
thanks for the memories, as a youg boy I rember our trips to the track in del mar , santa anita, althogh dad was in the buisness he treated all fare.
Kathryn Cogswell
Lenny Shulman wrote the above-referenced “Old School,” article on Mr. Robinson, in ‘Z`s’ Commemorative Issue.
Janet Cutting
@ L– thank-you for your reply to my question — I have an understanding of the situation. Its great to read comments from those experienced with horses. Thanks,very much–Janet C
NancyJS
Dear Zenny
What a beautiful statue!!!!! The Dancing queen. Love the Mosses standard
poodles!!!! Did they ever come to the track? And of course
sweet Sophie Sherriffs. Does Nina do statues of mother
and foals. These have been some of the most beautiful
touching horse statues I have seen. Can’t wait to hear about
Your first date. I know your CA family will be there to talk with
you. Just like Lamaze class!!!! You look sooo beautiful
all plump and healthy. Gosh I did not realize you
were so lean racing. Good Luck dear Z with your
first date. Here is to a first catch!!!!!!
Cate
I am so happy to see her running and playing in Kentucky. She is isnsuch great hands and loved so much. She has acres of green to run in…I can’t wait to see her in the Spring with all the flowers and bunny rabbits ! Miss you !
Snoprinz
Wish that Stall 85 at Barn 55 will forever be a Zenyatta shrine unless it becomes the home of one of your foals. Thanks for sharing this picture. they sure miss you in CA. luv you and take care in KY.
Anita in CA
Guess they really really love you and miss you at Barn 55! I miss you too!
Sunny Boyd
@Kathryn Cogswell,
thanks lady.
and @ Mike Sekulic
great pics of Zenyatta!!! :)
arlene
Zenyatta, How I miss your Presence on the track , your dance i also miss , there is not another quite like you…………. How proud i am to be able to say that I lived in the time of Zenyatta….. I hoping that mario comes to visit you lots, I know there is a huge connection between you both, how awesome is that !!!
Elaine
We all miss you in California. How we wish you were still in your stall!
BTW: GREAT choice for your first date!
Margie
Z, have you met this young stud Bernardini before? He better be worthy of you and give you a magnificent baby. It was just announced two hours ago that he is to be your baby’s daddy. I hope someone has had “the talk” with you so you know what to expect! Speak up if you don’t like this fella, okay? I love you, always, Horse of my Heart.
Kim
I’ve just read that you and Bernardini will be mated. I hope it will be a natural process and that you’ll get to meet him before, knowing though that it may not be so. Enjoy the snow!
Melissa
Bet everyone misses you greatly at barn 55. So sad to see your stall empty but know you are well taken care of in your new home.
Theresa Buck
maybe they are keeping yoor palace ready just in case well for ugh someone special in the near future lmao have a great day Z
Christine Coleman
Hi Zenny. Thanks for sharing this photo. Believe me when I tell you that I had lost a thoroughbred (off track, injury retirement) two years ago. I could not even enter his stall. It sometimes hurts me to put another horse in his stall today, and I love all of them. It was so obvious that you were more than a client’s horse to John.
Love you Zenny…
Sadie
You are one spoiled girl Zenny <3 Love you!
Sadie
You are one spoiled girl Zenny! Love you
ps i got the breyer of you, my favorite one im my collection :) i gave you a nice home with feed and soft bedding :) <3 <3
Liz
This Stall will never be the same without you in it.. But since John doesnt want to fill it for a long time,maybe oneday Your Stall will be filled by your Baby..
dan
Dear Dottie/Zenny, Any chance that the picute in stall 85 of you and Mario could be reproduced and sold in the merchandise section? I’m sure many of the copies would be sold. Perhaps the proceeds could go to one of your favorite horse related charities.
Regards,
Dan
Kari Bussell
Zenyatta and Dottie,
Please thank Mr. Shirreffs for sharing that picture. I know I speak for many when I say how much it warms my heart to see how much he very clearly loves and misses her.
Dottie, thank you for being the pillar of strength so many of us women recognize you to be for all of Barn 55. My thoughts and prayers remain with all of you during this still very new period of adjustment.
Zenyatta- I love you with every fiber of my being and I always will!
One of my favorite posts ever. I love that you shared a little piece of your inner soul.very touched thank you!