Good Morning,
I must say that I am STILL so excited about all of the kind comments you are writing about my friend, BERNARDINI, and MYSELF. They are really sweet!
This morning, Dottie mentioned that my FACEBOOK page has continued to get a great deal of activity. As of 7:00 A.M. CA TIME, I have 62,209 FRIENDS! This is fabulous! I know the number has gone up quite a bit since my last race. I truly want to THANK ALL OF YOU for CARING SO MUCH ABOUT ME!
On Thursday, DOTTIE and SOPHIE were at Santa Anita to watch some of my Barn 55 Friends SCHOOL. In racing, this means that a horse (usually getting close to a race) goes over to the paddock and spends some time there…kind of like a practice run. The objective is to familiarize the horse with the area…and some of the pre-race things that will be taking place! John, Mario and I used to do this all of the time before my races. I’d get to see the surroundings and CHECK IT ALL OUT…so on race day it was very familiar to me! The whole process takes approximately 30-45 minutes. I always enjoyed SCHOOLING!
Well, while they were by the paddock, they met Candace Chew (who works for Santa Anita) and Michael and Lisa Merrigan. In CA, they have allowed a few facilities to be developed where people can go and bet on the races. The traffic is sometimes so intense in CA that it is hard for people to drive 20-30 or more miles to actually go to the race track…so this is being done to help make it easier for people to ENJOY OUR SPORT.
Michael and Lisa own the OC GRILL AND SPORTS Facility. It is located at 2369 S. El Camino Real in San Clemente, CA. Interesting, John and Dottie saw it driving back from Carlsbad on Christmas Day when they stopped for gas…but it was closed for the holiday. Well, not only is this a fabulous thing for the fans who can’t drive all of those miles to go to the track…but…LISA and MICHAEL HAVE DECORATED IT WITH MY PHOTOS. Candace helped them with this project! I am so flattered! If you are in the San Clemente area, it might be fun for you to stop by and see ME…and also visit with Lisa and Michael!
Yesterday, John and Dottie were contacted by some people from Sweden. They know many people who are reading my DIARY each day….and wanted some of John’s photos for their news items. This is really special…SWEDEN!
I deeply hope I have IN SOME WAY made life a bit more FUN for my FANS! I know hearing all of this from people all over the world…has certainly made ME FEEL SPECIAL!
Enjoy your Saturday!
With Love,
Hugs to ALL~
Z
Teresa
Awesome Z :D I LOVE the pics ;)
Lise BC, Canada
WOW Sweden! but I am not surprized being the most popular horse of all!!! hugz
Linda Moss
Zenny and Team Z – we can never replay you for what you have done and continue to do for us! a Once in lifetime, if ever, experience. Love to all of you!!
Robert
Why not Big Brown ?
luvscritters
Absolutely you have made racing fun for your fans, and we are all enjoying reading about your new life/career as a Queen of Leisure.
Looking forward to hearing that you’ve had your first date next month. I’ll bet you’re looking forward to it too!
Katie Clawson
LOVE the pictures Z!! :D Have a great Saturday!! Love, Katie (future jockey)
Kim Noble
Well of course everyone all over the world loves you! How could they not? But please everyone, spend at least a little time today remembering Barbaro. It was 4 years ago today that we had to let him go.
Cathy Tyerman
Zenny,you and your wonderful team have become a bright star for the whole sport of queens and kings! I have not seen you in person,but have followed your career,and you have greatness and grace,that moves me to tears. Blessings on your breeding,pregnancy,and foaling the cutest,most anticipated spindly legged little darling that the world has ever waited for!
Rhonda Clements
Just brings a little joy to hear that things are going so well with you, we all need a distraction in these hard times and you are a wonderful one, we love and care about what happens to our sweet Zenny. Following her has gotten me through a really hard time in my life, losing my Mom. I will forever grateful for the diary posts
bailey
Sweden! that’s because you are an international SUPERSTAR! you could travel the whole world over and not find any horse as amazing as you are Z!
victoria
Your posts always help start the day off to a great start. thanks and don’t ever stop.
Linda Shull
International fame for a great horse!!!
Laura Hawkins
You are truely very special, Zenyatta. I am so glad that you won HOA as you are and have been a shining example of what an Ambassador to the horse racing industry is. You continue to devote much of your time to all of the people who are newly exposed as well as the ‘old hands’ of this Sport of Kings though you are now retired. I sincerely hope that the Land’s End Farm will continue the effort with the blog and even maybe a Zenyatta Day or even month when we the public can see you face to face once again. The Mosses and Shirreffs are truly one of a kind as well to have brought you along and developed your career with such skill. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Sandy, New Jersey
Thank you so much Zenny and Team Z for keeping all us fans in touch with our favorite girl through your diary postings. Zenny, you are truly The People’s Horse! Bernardini’s eyes are going to pop out of his head when you stroll into the breeding shed, my girl!
Timmy Todd M.A,
Of course they love you in Scandinavia….they have big women there…..Just like you silly Girl…Well, it was good to hear from back home….( barn 55), I know you are from Kentucky,,,but you’ll always be the Queen of the Ghetto,,,,, the Lightening Bolt of Hope…. You are the BIG MARE…
Love you ZENNY…..
Joyce Young
One of your fine attributes dear Queen Zenyatta is your wonderful personality. You are so good with those around you and a model of sweetness (with some spice added for a great flavor, I’m sure). Have you hears more about your intended Bernardini? I hope he has a matching disposition to go along with all those great blood lines, to make your heart race.
Agnelia
I’m from sweden :) Read your diary every day! <3
Andrea from Germany
I often tell my family about you and your progress in your retirement and your breeding plans. Before I saw you the first time on youtube I wasn`t so much a fan of horse racinng but I can tell you this has changed. The day after your races I used to get up in the middle of the night just to see if you`ve made it another time. There are 4 hours time difference between us. I still love horse racing but it isn`t the same now. Sending you a hug.
Shirley Nolan Al-mlaiti
WOW what a beautiful ZENYATTA WALL I would love to have that wall in my house , you would be great to wake up to everyday …You are the Queen , that is why so many people know you from all over the would , you yourself have done so much for the whole horse world no matter what breed of horse it is , your beauty , your grace your willingness to run with the wind and do what other horses have never been able to do ..be on top of the racing world from day one …your the BEST OF THE BEST and better than all the boys no matter what you do ..Motherhood will be no different , you will be the BEST ZENYATTA ON TOP OF THE WORLD ..God will Bless You no matter what you do …LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU, LOVE YOU
Astrid
Zenny, soon you’ll need a translator! Maybe P.Q can help you with that:) My family in Austria certainly knows about you! And the decoration at the OC Grill and Sports Facility is of course fabulous!
Thank you and your team for the great joy you brought to all of us!
(@Kim Noble -I thought of Barbaro today too. It is also Rachel’s bday…)
Dawn Conrad
Dearest, Zenny, it is a beautiful day in Colorado. I see that it is partly cloudy in Lexington, hope you are able to enjoy the sun a little bit in you paddock. My best to the gal pals! The amount of love coming your way is so touching. You bring so much to so many lives and as people learn more about you, the number of fans just keeps growing from near and far. The OC Grill decor is great! Watched the movie Secretariat again last night, I think Disney did a very good job on it. It brings back so many memories, I was 16 in 1973 and my two older brothers had just finished tours of duty in Vietnam and Thailand. I really enjoyed the extra segments, Heart of a Champion and the director’s interview with Penny Chenery. I love and admire Secretariat so much and of course Ms. Chenery too. She was then and still is a truly remarkable woman. She has done so much in her lifetime for the thoroughbred and horseracing. It is only a week away Miss Z until you receive your wonderful award from Penny. How exciting!! The angels smiled on both you and Secretariat. Your stories include great athletic feats, the love of thousands and the support of two wonderful teams of outstanding individuals to guide you along. Each person in your respective families played such an important role in the success of your lives. Team Z continues to be such an amazing group, always looking out for your best interests. It was great to watch them once more join together in utilizing each other’s expertise in making the decision of Bernardini. Fantastic! Thank you so much Zenny for continuing your diary. We so look forward to hearing from you and Dottie and all the individuals who post are great. So much information and positive thoughts shared. I can’t wait to hear more about the horses in Barn 55. Hope John’s year is outstanding. Love to you and all of Team Z. Hugs and peppermint kisses. XXXOOO
Gloria Jeanne
Happy Saturday! Can’t wait to go check out San Clemente and feel close to again! Maybe someone in Sweden can make chocolate Zenyatta’s … :-) love and hugs
Sarah Powell
So look forward to each diary post and it’s great that Dottie is able to throw in information. I’ve learned a lot about racing “lingo”. You shouldn’t be surprised that people in Sweden love you too – you truly are something extraordinary!! Have you notice now that every article about you refers to the “great mare Zenyatta”. Exactly!!
Shannon From Cool
Dear Zenyatta,
Naturally we have your photos everywhere. You make everyone feel so happy, that’s why. Especially in this barn/household. We have loads of your photos, posters and magazines that you are in.
You bring so much light and love to everyone.
Kristoffer Nielsen
Here, from Denmark!! Zenyatta you are the Queen all over the world.
Kathy Kimber
This is so neat we used to live in San Clemente, you have brought good things to racing Zenny and helping people to enjoy the sport is so special We live in Kansas City, MO now our race track closed but when it was open I went every weekend. My husband is the one who first noticed you I remember the first bet I ever placed on you, you know what I just kept the ticket even though you won it was just special, just like you and we knew fright from the beginning. Take care sweet lady. Happy valentines to you and B. Thank you Dottie for the wonderful updates. And for seeing all that potention in “B”
Lisa T
I am not a horseracing fan but fell in love with you Zenyatta after the CBS 60 Minutes special and watched your last race. You are truly a once in a lifetime horse! I also remember Barbaro and cried when he was injured and prayed daily he would recover. RIP Barbaro.
Carmela Bozulich
Really do enjoy the diary posts, to stay close to what’s going on with you. Will head down to San Clemente to check out the OC Grill…can’t get enough of our Lady Z!
Kay Morris
I will most definitely stop by the OC Grill and Sports Facility on my next journey through San Clemente. I never tire of seeing pictures of you Zenyatta. You are a national treasure! Tell Dottie thanks for the post, I read them religiously!
Linda Parker-Fedak
Love you Zenyatta Thanks for all of the thrills of your career! You are the most “human” horse I have ever seen…You know just how to make people happy, smile, and love you. Your personality is awesome and unique and I personally thank you for your ability to bring horse racing fans around the world together. Congratulations on Horse of the Year! Finally!!! I knew you would do it! Can’t wait to see the babies that you and your mate will produce! Stay safe and happy!