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
ENSIGN
@ NDFILLY & KHARA,
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Zenyatta has been ‘in practice’ of sorts already at LE for her day in the breeding shed. She’s been regularly ‘teased’ by their farm teaser Capone who’s job it is to get the mares off the track used to seeing male horses up close and to guage their receptiveness to him. This is done with either the mares in their stalls, or along a fence line sometimes.
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Before Zenyatta goes to Darley to be bred, she must be ‘jumped’ first. All maiden mares must be jumped by a teaser 1st before being bred so they’ve had the expereince and they know how she’ll react. Teaser wears a leather apron over his barrell and parts so no accidental copulation occurs. This ‘dry run’ is her introduction to breeding.
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When she gets vanned over to Darley, she will not meet Bernardini before hand. She’ll be washed behind and prepped, tail bandaged, etc. She may be teased by another teaser there to make sure she’s being receptive.
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She will be restrained. Probably a twitch or lip chain, a front leg hobble and padded boots on her hind feet in case she still tries to kick. Her dry run at home will help them guage how much restraint they may need in the actual breeding shed. Restraint is about protection for their extremely valuable stallion and for the mare.
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Z and B will not be introduced face to face. He’ll come in, be washed and be led to her rear end. Some stallions will take a moment to sniff and nibble a mare, others walk right up and mount immediately. For some, they just see far too many mare rear ends to have much interest in any ‘foreplay’. Where many stallions will be breeding 3 different mares a day there’s no time for dry runs and ‘teaser meetings’ with the actual stallion.
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When he’s done, he’ll be led back to his barn, Z will be loaded back up on the van and head back to Lane’s End, safe and sound.
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It will be about 16 days after breeding her that they’ll be able to check and see if she’s pregnant or not. If she is, fantastic. If she’s not….they go back and repeat.
Happy Harriet
@Valeria –
You said it EXACTLY RIGHT, so much so that just for a moment I thought “I must be related to that girl!” I purposely stayed away from all thing horses due to the profound, gut wrenching heartache of losses. And then the Spirit of Zenyatta swept through Hollywood Park, and Southern California and I caught the wave, gentle at first, then embarrassingly and overwhelmingly “all in” until one day I texted to a friend: “I think I’ve fallen in love with a HORSE!” But like Valeria, I even stayed away from the track fearing Zenny would get hurt or worse, and on race days I’d plead with everyone “don’t tell me what happened” and late at night I’d watch on DVR! Then wake everyone up with the thrill of another win. I wish I could wash away from my mind the picture of Zenny’s face splattered and dirtied in her last race. So wrong, that picture! However, Valeria, you’ve written a description of LIFE ITSELF. Isn’t the Experience with the Horse a metaphor for Life? First there’s unexpected and shocking loss leading to avoidance, then swearing off involvement, then the magnet of love and joy that pulls til again we’re hooked and happy! Zenyatta has become my bookends – the days start and end with a taste of sweetness via the Diary or Videos and somehow the “filling” in the sandwich of life – the things that happen in between the little sips of Zenyatta – it’s doable and sometimes even lovely. There’s much to be learned about healing and forgiveness and joy and Zenyatta is the Perfect Teacher, along with her Perfect Team.
LauraJ
Poor Capone. I feel a little sorry for him. He has a very nice place to live and lots of job security, but it must be a frustrating life.
Theresa Buck
YOU KNOW THEY HAVE A QUEEN IN ENGLAND….BUT WE HAVE THE BEST QUEEN RIGHT HERE IN THE USA
Lisa g
Ms Zenyatta, Good morning, Beautiful. I will tell my friends and family about the OC Cafe. Sweden..wow, what will be next for you? Beginning with David when he first saw you, everything the entire Z Team has done RIGHT, everything, so I am 100% with you on your choice for the lucky stallion, Bernardini. You and Z have a perfect record for everything. I read there is no hurry for your First Date, and actually I am relieved, but then again, cannot wait to see your baby. I love you, Girl. Have so much fun today. Tell all the Z Team, CA & KY, thanks for everything. I love this Beautiful World in here…and I really, really love YOU…..Lisa g
Annika
Hi Zenny, I am a BIG fan of you from The Netherlands!! I followed almost every race. I have never seen you real, but I love you so much. You’re the most beatiful creature on earth. You are amazing and I truly think you are The Worlds Greatest!!! Thanks beautyy, and thankyou team Zenyatta!! You guys are amazing.. XX Annika
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: Wow, girl, you are world famous. How impressive is this with fans writing to you from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria … I hope this summer I am able to visit the OC Grill. The pictures are great! What a wonderful tribute to you!! And it looks like a fun place to hangout, too. In remembrance of Barbaro, he will always live on in our hearts.
Also, like all of your fans, Zenyatta, I want you to know how much we appreciate this site. We appreciate Dottie’s time and her talent with bringing us your news every day. Through Dottie, we feel close to you! Both of you are “Shinning Stars.”
@ Kari Bussell- our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Celeste
Valeria and Dani – beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
D Skladany
Dear Zenny,
Congrats on your future mating with Bernadini, what a handsome couple you are! Yesterday evening I watched the Tribute to John Henry on HRTV. In one video replay, he came off the van and stopped to stare and observe where he was and what was going on. So alert. I recognized that look–“look of eagles”! You do that. You both share heart and determination. That is what great champions have. Well, the sun is trying to peek out on our snow here in Pennsylvania. Hope you get some sunshine dear one.
ENSIGN
LOL LauraJ!
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Most farms allow their teaser stallion to breed a few nurse mares or other outside mares a season (if they’re a quality teaser).
Keeps their hopes up and keeps them good at their job ;-)
cheryl
thanks again to dottie for all the helpful info. we are in for more snow zenny. hail to the queen!we are so lucky to have you in our lives.thanks to team z for taking such good care of you. cheryl from ohio
Jane in Seattle
Hello Beautiful!
Hope you’re out racing around your paddock and having fun with your friends! I was too sad yesterday to write to you, because of Barbaro. Till you came along, after a lifetime of loving TB racing, I had sworn off it “forever” after he died. But I, along with so many others, couldn’t resist YOU.
I have a question about speed figures. A while back there was a comment about a FaceBook post by Ann Maree about some fractions of yours in the 2010 BCC – were they ever copied here? I missed the post if they were…
And I was wondering, I don’t remember seeing numbers like this in the paper DRF at the track, but online, at twinspires for instance, they have enumbers for individual horses for what I think represent their relative early, closing, and overall speeds. If that’s true, do you know what your numbers were, and how they figured those numbers? I didn’t find that till after you retired.
A wonderful Sunday to all, and XX00XX to YOU!
audreyc
How fun – very cool. I must say, though, reading comments on various posts, that I am already feeling sympathy for Z – B’s foal. This baby, who has not even been conceived yet, is already bearing a tremendous weight. The brilliance and athleticism, genes, heart, as well as timing, team, and a host of other factors come together perfectly to bring about an icon, such as Zenyatta, and the other great ones- just once in a very great while. To expect that any future foal of Zenyatta’s can live up to, or even exceed her, is unrealistic, and rather unfair. The “once in a lifetime” horse comes “once” in a lifetime…..which is exactly why Z, along with Man ‘0 War, Secretariat, Seabiscuit, Phar Lap, etc. are so special.
Carolyn Caswell-Brown
What a powerful, and healing, diary read this has been. Valeria, you said it all. Barbaro, the promise of his limitless future, his kind family & the updates & sharing they did during his all to brief racing career & brave fight for life. I try not to remember, but I cannot forget. Gretchen Jackson made a statement, this is not an exact quote, “When you give your heart to a horse, that loss is part of the risk you take, but the reward of the love is worth taking that risk”. I was moved to tears by her honesty and obvious love for Barbaro, as well as her husbands & trainer Michael Matz. All of our “racing angels” were with you on the track, for that we give thanks. There are no language barriers with a smile. Thanks for sending out so many smiles to our hearts & lives. Peace & Love
Shanda Hooton
You have certainly made everyday a brighter day for me! It is the highlight of my days when I hear from you and your team! Thanks! Lots of love: )
ENSIGN
Nicely put Audreyc.
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Several were speaking of Barbaro earlier. Look at how his brothers have fared in comparison to him. Not bad, but no where near the talent that he displayed.
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While Zenyatta’s future offspring may have some success at the track, the chance of displaying anywhere near the talent of the dam are miniscule at best.
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Look at the produce record of Lady’s Secret. Horse of the Year in 1986 and daughter of Secretariat, Hall of Fame member. She produced 12 foals, by the likes of Alydar, Mr. Prospector, Danzig and Seattle Slew. None showed anywhere near the talent of either their dam or sire. None are household names today or when they were racing.
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Breeding a truly great horse really is like catching lightening in a bottle.
The Kennedys in San Diego
@audreyc and ENSIGN — could not agree more. While Zenyatta’s foals will be special and very welcomed, if it were easy or predictable, there would be no such thing as a “once in a lifetime horse.” Even great stallions with hundreds of offspring have rarely produced one of the same ability. Man O’War/War Admiral may come closest.
The Kennedys in San Diego
@ENSIGN — Love your straightforward description of the actual breeding shed experience. Exactly as we have heard it described at various horse farms and read in books. However, you do have a way with words.
Linda B
Hi Zen,
Just noticed you have several new spokespersons the KENNEDYS in San Diego ENSIGN from who knows where and other sheep that follow the line of conversation. I would rather hear from the people directly involved with you ZENYATTA but who am I just a non educated horse person who reads and learns from reliable sites. GO TEAM Z.
Dawn Conrad
Valeria Cannon, Dani, Happy Harriet, and Carolyn Caswell-Brown: Your posts were absolutely wonderful. My eyes were swimming with tears as I read them. So many of us who now love Zenyatta are kindred spirits. Celebrating and mourning those spirited, beautiful, gallant, giving, wonderful horses that have touched and held our hearts captive in the past. We share memories we will never forget. What a special bond!
Kari Bussell – My thoughts, prayers and admiration are with you. Your own example of courage is beautiful to me. Keep on fighting, I’m sure Zenny’s spirit will be with you.
Catherine Uher – So glad to read your post. I was asking about you on #68.
Kathryn Cogswell
LINDA B. Here is bottom-line point at issue for me: Whether one-horse gig or industrial-strength, breeding on the % basis, where 6-8% race ‘successfully’ at Gr.1 [even then, perhaps injured or finally broken-down to claimers], leaves remainder both unworthy, then unwanted. Where Mr. Robinson sends perhaps 12-15 to September sale, others send more. Eventually teen-age broodmares, not the flavor-of-the-month, can`t be given away. ‘How things are’ — must it be proscriptive for how they must be? Race tracks say there aren`t enough horses — good horses — but those ‘unworthy?’ Who stands responsible for their breeding misses? Marylou Whitney stands responsible for homebreds, from their birth [and she has delivered foals, still in evening jewels, when it got busy at the barns]. To her they are living heirs of family, not chattal [movable property] — a fundamental, early-on, life-long choice.
Kathryn Cogswell
A good article came out recently on valuing broodmares .. can not find; searching.
Dani
For those of you wanting to donate to a good charity, you should read the blog, ‘Beyond the Blinkers’ which tells the wonderful story of a horse named Quest. You will also learn about Double L Equine Rescue and Sanctuary. And here is the thing, for $1.00 and a Valentine’s Day card you can make the difference in the life of a horse. One dollar. “We are asking the folks who can to send a Valentine card to the horses here at the stable and include a single dollar bill inside,” says Shannon Hahn….”each dollar helps us to keep up our work here.” If everyone who posted thus far in Zenny’s diary, that would be in the range of $200.00. Think of what a difference that would make in their work and in their horses’ lives. Just one dollar and a pretty Valentines card to brighten up the barn. Please consider.
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http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/beyond-the-blinkers/archive/2011/01/25/friends-with-cows-the-story-of-quest.aspx
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@Barbara Wood – I am the same Dani that posts over on BH.com. I saw your post in the ‘Blinkers’ blog – and thought what a small world!. Very nice post by the way. I’m sure we’ll be running into one another over there again soon. And of course, always here in the Diary. :)
Joyce
Thank you @Valeria for your wonderful memories of horses loved and some so unfortunately lost. I watched the same great group you mentioned and remember seeing (on TV mostly of course) the same spirit and felt the same wonder at the intense feelings they brought. Tears came down copiously as I was reading your sweet words of love and sometimes loss. I, also, saw the greatness in Barbaro and mourned his loss, while cheering on his courageeous battle. I always had a soft spot for the ladies, though, and one of my greatest sorrows was the sad fate of the great Ruffian. While on a race course holiday, I saw her in person win the third race in the triple crown at Belmont, a week or so after the Belmont Stakes was run. But at the track all that week the TV’s were not focusing on the boys, every one had tape after tape about Ruffian, and she was everywhere on the fan’s lips. I fell in love again that day. Later, I worried about the match race becaues I knew she would give her all, perhaps more than she was able to sustain on that day. But sweet ladies such as our Queen Zenyatta bring more love to smooth away the hurt. Last night I watched a son of another great mare, Sorena’s Song, win a graded race (I well remember her Triple Crown races). I thought of the future and seeing the babies of our Queen and the joy that will bring.
Linda B
Zen,
It seems to me that the sport you have come to grace is trying to change the direction it was starting to go. I (please do not laugh) look at races AFTER they are run and I know all the horses and Jockeys are safe. This came out of a very horrible experience I had as a child watching a horse’s fatal injured while racing. That aside I think Zenyatta has brought to the sport a regealness above and beyond her strength, beauty and athletic abilities.I think every sport has a dark side but racing to me is trying to again bring back the true meaning of the sport. Zenyatta has attracted many who had lost interest. To this end I hope there will be more owners, trainers and caretakers as there on TEAM Z. Perhaps my veiw is very “child like” but I feel there are many who feel the same.It is not in the fine details of the how but in the beauty of the why when it come to ZENYATTA.
Hilltophorsewoman No Cal
@ Little Bit Ranch: Thank you. I wish you had been there too. (Barn 55)!
For the person trying to get into nursing school, don’t give up! My dream was to become an RN because I love taking care of people AND so I could afford to have horses again. My dreams have come true and then some.
For Kari, You are in my prayers. what a miracle that Zenyatta is here with you to give you strength. The healing power of a horse is amazing. In my darkest times, it has been my horses that have gotten me out of bed.
livey
@Ensign
Again, thank you for your very enlightened post. I always look forward to your knowledgeable insight to anything horse. ;) ;)
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Happy Sunday to all. :)
Kathryn Cogswell
‘bloodstock in the bluegrass;’ by Frank Mitchell, “The Percepion of Value,” JANUARY 12, 2011. http://fmitchell07.wordpress/2011/01/12the-perception-of-value/ By this standard, ‘Z` would have been ignored.
Katie ZIberna
You and your secret admirer are going to produce champions!!!!
Robbie Pfeufer Kahn
TO KATHRYN: Ever since I watched TVG (signed up for it just to see Zenyatta) I became aware of how much racing goes on seemingly every day all over the world. Rarely did I see Grade 1 races (I don’t watch TVG anymore–too distressing) because the horses looked on the verge of discarding and the jockeys were no Mike Smith.
Your post gave me some perspective on racehorse breeding, selling and racing. As others have mentioned all day as you did explicitly, even Grade 1 horses such as the magnificent Barbaro or valiant Eight Belles don’t survive racing.
I hope that Zenyatta’s “fabulous” health and the great care Team Z have provided her and John Shireffs insightful training will set an example for others involved in the industry (such a strange word to me–industry).
This image of yours about Marylou Whitney: “and she has delivered foals, still in evening jewels” is lovely! I could just see her dressed as she was at the Eclipse Awards (younger to be sure) delivering a foal.
Thank you for the brood mare article reference.
TO AUDREYC: I share your concern about Z-Bs foal. However, I’m sure that the Mosses will raise him/her according to who s/he is, rather than according to the fantastic expectations placed on the foal. Maybe s/he will get to live in the Mosses backyard the way Ann Moss hoped Zenyatta might.
Best to both of you–Robbie