Happy Wednesday to all!
We had so much fun yesterday at our photo shoot. Ann wanted some great photos of me….of all my different angles etc…as she is hoping to paint me one day. She is a terrific artist…and that would be so much fun and quite an honor!
Barbara Livingston has come out to CA and is spending a couple days at the barn with me. Ann also thought it would be FUN if my ‘extended 4 legged Moss/Shirreffs family’ came to see me for a couple ‘family’ photos.
I know Sophie Shirreffs very well. Dottie and John have her come out and visit me all of the time. As a matter of fact, she helped with my photo shoot for W MAGAZINE. I have not met Violet Rose or Stella Rose Moss before this. They are sisters who just turned one year old about a month ago. Violet Rose…always wears purplish tones…and Stella pink. We had so much fun together. We did some FAMILY PHOTOS.
I do not have the ones taken professionally yet (I’ll share some of those when we get them)…but for now, I’m able to share a few of the candid ones John took with you.
My 4 legged family members are too cute! We had a great afternoon visiting…cuddling…and just being family and friends.
As I have said so many times before, I am one LUCKY GIRL!
Hugs to all~
With love,
Z
Stephanie R
Can’t hardly stand to see her retire, but we all know she deserves it so much! Curlin is at Lane’s End….he is the one I’d pick for you Queen Z! Enjoy your lazy golden days….although in your heart you will probably always be running with the wind flowing through your mane! Thanks so much to Team Zenyatta who made all of this possible. You are very special people with a deep love of what horses and racing should be!
Lynne Narez
Queen Z….Wishing you many long, wonderful, happy and health years. You are loved so much by so many. Thank you for inspiring the human race on so many levels….you are so much more than a talented race horse. You will be a terrific Mama, enjoy your babies….you deserve the best! God Bless Zenyatta always!
Lynne Narez
Queen Z….Wishing you many wonderful, happy and healthy years. You are loved so much by so many. Thank you for inspiring the human race on so many levels….you are so much more than a talented race horse. You will be a terrific Mama, enjoy your babies….you deserve the best! God Bless Zenyatta always!
Carolyn
Sad to see you retire. Wish they would leave you in CA. CA needs a boost to their breeding industry. I’m bummed.
Beth Blair
Happy Retirement, big girl. You will be missed…loved to watch you run. Thanks again to you and your team.
Leslie Simis
Oh Zennie…how we shall all miss your Goirgeous self. I have enjoyed every moment that you have graced our lives with. Really enjoyed seeing your 4 legged friends in this diary post. I am a professional Dog Handler & Photographer and I couldn’t help but notice the 2 Standard Poodles , which happens to be what I show & breed !!It is such a small world. I wish I could come & see you before you leave…I only live 40 minutes away, but I don’t know how to go about it. At least I have gotten the chance to see you in person, and save those memories on film. ( They are on your FB page ) Godspeed to you Zen…we will all miss you so much ! Love you …Leslie
Kathleen Marsh
Zenyatta, I am so excited about your retirement. I can’t wait to see your babies. And tell all your team that they are WONDERFUL—how they love you and all they have given to us fans restores our belief in racing. Racing should be about these wonderful and glorious horses and you are the Queen of them all.
Astrid
Thank you for taking the time to write this diary. I just love reading it.
Zenyatta, you are so beautiful, amazing and just beyonhd adorable. Not surprised Mike Smith said you are his everyhting.
Love the pic. with your 4 legged friends! I so wished you could have met my dog too. She is a retired working dog and adores horses and like you she is a big girl and tough:).
I will miss you so but glad you are retiring before you get hurt. Thank you to you and your team for the most incredible time!! Wishing you lots of happiness, running in the sunshine and becoming a mom! You go Zenyatta!
Margaret
Oh Z I knew this was coming esp when you said that you were having your shoes changed. I will so miss your dancing and unbelievable stretch drives but as hard as this is–it is the right choice. And you get to retire UNHURT! I wish you all the happiness you possibly can have in your next career. I wish team Z all the very best.
Timmi
Thanks for keeping us updated. Love the posts! I am so happy you retired sound and can now enjoy life and those that are special to you. We could probably all learn a lesson from how you live life – just enjoy every moment…
Jan C.
Thanks for the legend, memories and the visions that we all got to see! You are one special lady. Now on to your next chapter of your life. I am sure it will be just as wonderful and blessed. Enjoy my dear, you have earned it!
CeeSee
Why can’t she stay in CA where everyone knows her, including her team. Is she going off on her own? She’s going to get depress if Mario and John are not with her. This is very sad, I had wished she would have been like Seabiscuit, stayed with his owners.
harry gram
You have done so much for the sport. Without you, it is easy to be one of skeptics of racing. Look at today’s article on Life At Ten. Very disappointing but an issue that no one wants to address. There is not much to root for now that you are retired, but you have earned it! Thanks for the memories. You will go down as one of best!
lanie Johnson
OMGOSH!!!! Just read that you will be coming to KY!!!! My heart skipped a beat for sure! Please tell us that we will be able to visit you in Versailles.I use to live in Lawrenceburg..not far…still have family there. I think our hearts will be broken if we fans can’t come and pay tribute to you…thrill of a lifetime lady!!
lanie Johnson
To those of you from CA…I promise that we will love and take care of her..we know the value of a great horse…thank you for sharing her with us!
Lori Koellner
ZENYATTA AND Z-TEAM, I would like to say Thank You for sharing ZENYATTA with us and what an amazing job you have done for her and her fans. ZENYATTA will be missed. I feel we have been blessed with such a special GIRL. I hope we can visit ZENYATTA in kentucky. Maybe if ZENYATTA has a little girl she can be named MONDATTA! God Bless and Best Wishes. I LOVE YOU ZENYATTA!! Love Lori XOXO…
Donna
PS
I just called Lanes End to see if you could have visitors but they were not sure.
I made them promise to take really good care of you as some of these farms just leave their horses out in a field all day.
I hope they keep their promise.
God Bless Z
Audrey
Dearest Zenyatta – You, and team Z, have given so very much, and touched so many people, on so many levels. Wishing you a smooth transition to this new chapter of your life, and may you be content. Please keep the diary posts coming. There is only one word that kept reverberating in my mind, when I learned of this news – it is just so very, very “poignant.”
Gloria Jeanne
They had a Mandotta- she didn’t do so well at racing- per Ann Moss. ;)
Quarterhossgal
Zen…just found out you are retiring for sure! I knew Team Zenyatta would do what was best for you. Horse racing won’t be the same without you. Like all of your fans I hope to be able to visit you in Kentucky. Who is the lucky stud? Take a look at Bernardini and Smart Strike It will be near impossible to outproduce yourself but if any mare can do it you will. Enjoy the green pastures and cool streams and know that you are a once in a lifetime horse. We miss you Queen Z.
Kourtland Perry
Zenyatta i will miss you dearly..you are the true horse.Your withers are perfect..your body structure is amazing,your backend is strong,you have heart and charisma,and most of all in my eyes when you are seen you are the epitomy of the thoroughbred.When you see Zenyatta she is massive and her eye has a look of a champion,and she knew it,she knew where the wire was every time and for the last horrah she ran her heart out.I want tp personally thank the mosses,John,and everyone connected with her for my ove of horse racing will NEVER die from your beautiful mare.Shes stopped traffic,talked about worldwide,and she is a household name now,because of your graciousnes and generosity to the sport,we were blessed to be the part of the best horse of the modern era,and her name is ZENYATTA :)
Nancy
WOW…………W Magazine. Can not wait to get my copy to see the most amazing horse on the planet. Cheers!
Donna
PPS
I am really sad that I never got to see you in person.
Hopefully one day I will.
Best Wishes Z
Roberta
You are indeed one lucky girl. My horse Teddy wants so much to make friends with a dog, but none of the dogs at our barn want to even though he approaches them very gently.
I hope your retirement to Lanes End is a happy one, full of friendly mares sharing your paddock (although you will be the Alpha for sure) and beautiful babies. You have given us all so much, and life “as a horse” should be great. Thank you to you and to your human family for everything.
Karen Henry
I am so very sad at hearing Zenyatta is retiring, but I must say that I am so very privileged to have witnessed such an unbelievable Class Act and phenomenon named Zenyatta. I am also so very relieved that my greatest prayer has been answered…she has remained healthy and sound through grueling races, which is a glowing testament to her loving, compassionate, patient owners, trainer, and staff who took their time to develop this diamond in the rough. It is a sure thing that you will not see another horse like her for a long, long, long, long time I will miss her and the countless videos and stories about her. I hope that we will continue to be updated on her new life. It is amazing how much love there is for her. I have never met her, but I can honestly say that I love her as much as I love anyone in my family. Queen Zenyatta will reign forever in my heart and in the hearts of millions worldwide. God speed to you Zenyatta and to everyone on your Fantastic Team! You are the most beautiful, statuesque athlete in the world.
Bridget
Thanks again, Z! It would be great to see you someday in Kentucky if your owners will let people visit you! God Bless you!
Jeff
Horse Of The Year, Horse Of The Decade, HORSE OF A LIFETIME!!!
Thank You ZENYATTA
Debbie
Oh sweet Zenyatta, what a bittersweet day for us all. Although you love to run, no one wants you to get hurt. But no one wants to see you go either-we just want to see you and be with you. Perhaps a swing around the country for some photo ops and a gentle jog around the track? At the very least the folks in Kentucky need to keep your fans in mind and have visitation days scheduled. Keep dancing Zen, you will always have our hearts.
Mary
Zenyatta,
Please don’t go. What will we do without you. I was never able to see you race, in person. I need to see you run. I’m selfish as a fan and want more of you next year. But I pray for whatever is best for you. Be happy all your life, and thank you for the ride. You are the Horse of the Year – once again, for those who would know how to vote, if we could.
MLV
I too would love to come down to visit you Zenyatta. I drove down for the Lady’s Secret in October but I would love to meet you up close and in person. I used to own a distant cousin of yours, she was also a great big girl over 17 hands and granddaughter of Hoist the Flag. Her owner died tragically and she came to live with me when nobody else wanted her and they were going to put her down. We had to let her go to heaven in 2009 because she had several strokes. She brought us a lot of happiness and was a lot like you and pawed and pawed and pawed the ground. I miss her terribly.
Please let me know if I can come visit before you leave for Kentucky. I’ve visited the stallions in Kentucky but they never allow you to visit the mares.
Please? Just let me know. Thanks for all the wonderful memories and have a wonderful retirement!!!