Is there something you’ve always wondered about Zenyatta, Baby Z or Lane’s End?
For the next few weeks we will be collecting questions from Zenyatta’s amazing fans—questions about thoroughbred breeding and life on the farm.
Zenyatta will help us pick some of your questions to use in upcoming features on the the website. We’ll collaborate with the expert staff at Lane’s End to answer your questions.
To send in your question, please fill out the form below.
We look forward to hearing from you!
-Team Z
Edit: We have receieved so many great questions from all of you! Submissions are now closed for the time being. If you didn’t get a chance to ask your question, don’t worry, there will be more opportunities in the future.
Keta
Mike Smith on Facebook today June 1st
Hello all! Today was not too bad at the track, I wish I could have gotten a couple wins but I am looking forward to Saturday! After I left Hollywood Park I had a meeting with some friends in Pasadena. I want all of you to know that as hard as it is to imagine, this is me posting. I am trying my best to keep in touch with my fans and I promise you will see me more often. I am getting ready for the Belmont but I am also concentrating on the races ahead of me! Thank you for your support and please be patient with my computer skills! My friends even took a picture of me writing this for you all….thanks!
Keta Note: Yes, there is a photo of Mike at the computer
Linda Edwards in NJ
Hey Keta; Thanks for sharing. Really too cool.
Keta
Happy Birthday, John Shirreffs!
Trina & Kari’s birthday wishes in poetry & prose eloquently say to you what so many of us think & feel.
Enjoy and celebrate this special day!
Keta
judy berube from Rhode Island
Happy, Happy Dear John. Hugs, JB
Max
News of Mario.
http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120601/jockey-belmont-canadian-citizen-Gutierrez-120601/
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max:
Thank you for the great link about Mario G. Like him a lot. Hugs, JB
Max
Judy B. According to that article, Mario will go to Woodbine in Toronto after the Belmont. From what I have seen from photos and videos, it is nice there. Some of the horses routinely like to throw their riders and jump the fences, and they have outriders to catch them. That is where Tasty was based when she raced. I wonder how Tasty is doing and how her baby is doing with his step mom?
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max:
Yes, I think Woodbine is a good place. They work with Long Run Thoroughbred Retirement on behalf of former TB racers and I think there is a facility on site.
I wonder about Tasty too and how the little one is doing. Have you heard if she has been bred again? Hugs, JB
Max
Judy B. I have heard nothing about Tasty. I asked Kyle on the forum for an update on her, but nothing so far. Maybe LE will tell us as part of the question and answer session. As a baby, her foal was very handsome. I would like to see how he has grown.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Max:
I would like to see a photo of TT’s little guy too. I hope LE does give us an update on both of them. Hugs, JB
HeidiK (Vallejo, Ca)
Max, thank you for the link. Mario is such a humble guy and deserves all the greatness coming his way. Go Mario, Go!!
Max
Heidi. I was impressed by Mario’s Canadian mentor. He decided to stay in Canada rather than show up at Belmont so that he would not interfere with IHA and the team. This guy obviously has the best interests of Mario and IHA in mind. Nice people.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
Dear Max
Mario’s Canadian mentor also
Helped Mario in choosing the right
Friends. He almost got in with a bad
Crowd. A really great father figure for
Him.
Ann
Happy Birthday Mr. Shirreffs. The horse world is a better place because of you.
Have a fantastic day!!!!!
Bobbie --- Elkhorn WI
I agree!!
Keta
Americas Best Racing tweeted on Friday June 1
Talk about a cool neighbors!
Here’s Rapid Redux on the right and Gulch on the left at @Oldfriendsfarm http://pic.twitter.com/fWbdWdic
In another tweet ABR said Rapid Redux is settling in well.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Keta:
Thank you for all the great posts and links and especially for the photo of RR and Gulch at Old Friends. Hugs, JB
Max
Keta. It looks like RR and the Gulch are already talking and friendly. Very nice farm.
carol in utah
Wish I was standing on the road right between them…….
Keta
Judy, Max, & Carol
It was such a feel-good moment when I saw the photo.
Nice to have a happy ending to the RR story.
Hugs,
Keta
sharon in seattle
I”m ready to go back to Old Friends so I can stand between them!! Carol and Keta — shall we make it a party?! So happy for Gulch and RR to be at such a wonderful farm and may they have many, many visitors and LOTS of carrots to munch!
Marilu V
Dear Keta:
Thanks for the post. Cute picture of Rapid Redux and Gulch. Hope to visit one of these days. Marilu
Jan S. / Houston, TX
I am so very happy that Rapid Redux found a good home and a friend, Gulch. Can’t wait to go up to Old Friends & see this wonderful horse.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
Gulch is going to teach Rapid Redux how to
Be retired. Could not learn it from a more accomplished
Guy.
Delaney s
Happy happy happy birthday John Shirreffs and thank you for bringing us special special zenyatta to our hearts and to the racetrack.
Keta
Happy Mouth Bits Recalled Due to Safety Risk
By Erica Larson, News Editor
Updated: Friday, June 1, 2012 11:00 AM
Happy Mouth bit manufacturer English Riding Supply has recalled approximately 3,400 Happy Mouth Wire Mouth bits, according to an alert from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“The steel braided wire in the mouthpiece that connects the bit on either side of the horse’s cheeks can become frayed, rusted, or worn, which can cause the bit to break,” the alert read. “If this happens, the rider can lose control and fall from the horse.” English Riding Supply has received four reports of bits that have broken and resulted in rider falls.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=20111#ixzz1wYZ0dyjz
L♥VE Auntie Judy aka JAG / Southern CA
¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•. .•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•.
Wishing you the HAPPIEST of birthdays!!!
✿•*¨`*•. (¯`v´¯) (¯`v´¯) .•*¨`*•✿
. . . ✿•*¨`*•.¸(¯`v´¯)¸.•´*¨`*•✿ . . .
**……**… ….♥ •.¸.•´♥….**……**…
John – I hope the above birthday graphics appear as they should!
H♥PPY, H♥PPY BIRTHD♥Y! I wish you many many more! My brother and you are the same forever young age ;-)
I always look forward to seeing your horses race. I’m happy to go to the track when I can or watch the races on HRTV or TVG.
Z Dumpling Judy Gadwood aka JAG
Amanda Gilliland
What a Great Photo of Zenyatta 12! What a beautiful face!
I want to wish Mr. John Shirreffs a Happy Birthday and may your special day be surrounded by love & joy that you so deserve. You gave the world a perfected gift of Zenyatta that we will always cherish. I can never Thank You enough for
Zenyatta and what she means to me. Zenyatta will always be in my heart.
Sending love & hugs from Alabama to Mr. John, Zenyatta, Z-12 & all of Team Z
Amanda G
Susan Carothers (in TN)
Amanda! How are you? How’s everything down the road in Alabama? So glad to hear from you! <3
Marshall (NC broad)
Amanda Gilliland,
GREAT to hear from you! Hope you are well and that things are good for you and family!
Please do stay in touch! All the best, always!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Amanda:
Glad you back posting. Hugs, JB
judy berube from Rhode Island
OOPs. Glad you ARE back posting. Hugs, JB
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Happy Birthday John Shirreffs!! The many eloquent posts above and Trina’s amazing poem leave few original words, but I want you to know that it was listening to YOU on 60 Minutes that brought Zenyatta, Team Z, and all of these wonderful people into my life and heart. THANK YOU is totally inadequate, but . . . it’s all I’ve got! Have a wonderful day and a great year!
Sandy
Keta
New Website Dedicated to Affirmed Launched
Updated: Friday, June 1, 2012 10:39 AM
A new website dedicated to the memory of Affirmed, America’s last Triple Crown champion, has been launched by Affirmed Enterprises headed by Patrice Jacobs Wolfson. The website’s address is http://www.affirmedtriplecrown.com
The launch coincides with the attempt by I’ll Have Another to join the ranks of Triple Crown winners in the 2012 Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9. Affirmed was the 11th and most recent to accomplish the feat in 1978.
Affirmed, a two-time Horse of the Year, was bred and raced by Mr. and Mrs. Louis E. Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm.
This new site includes photos, videos, articles, and memorabilia covering the entire racing and stallion career of Affirmed as well as the human connections. It also features an on-line “Scrapbook” containing personal mementoes from Mrs. Wolfson.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70209/new-website-dedicated-to-affirmed-launched#ixzz1wYgZO6eD
Marilu V
Hello Keta!
Thanks for the link on Affirmed. Have a good weekend.
Marilu
Keta
Marilu,
You’re welcome! It is a great tribute site.
Hope you have a great weekend as well
Hugs, Keta
Diana Stuart - Happy Birthday, John!
Happy Birthday John! In my view you are one of the finest horsemen and trainers of all time, and definately someone others should try to emulate. Your patience and extreme care with every horse in your keep is so wonderful to watch. May you have many more champions and many more wonderful years in this business.
Respectfully, Diana Stuart (diastu in tempe)
L♥VE Auntie Judy aka JAG / Southern CA
Amen! Thanks for conveying how I feel, too!
JAG
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
I gotta go along with this!
Susan Carothers (in TN)
Diana- I hope you are feeling better!
Lisag In Texas
Happy Birthday, Zenyatta’s John
Marilu V
Happy Birthday John!
May you be continually blessed with good health and more champions in Barn 55!
Marilu
The Kennedys in San Diego
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOHN! How fortunate for all that the Great Zenyatta came to your barn.
Our very best,
Richard and Carole
carol in utah
Hi Zenny…so much going on…hope you and NotSoWeeZee are having a great day..
…
Happiest Birthday ever to your John…
…
Your friend Rapid Redux seems to be settling in at Old Friends….Gulch is giving him the scoop on the place….
….
if you stand between them….don’t which way to turn…
….
peppermint kisses all around ….
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Awww!
EL VINO
♞ This Day in Racing History:
June 1, 1945: John A. Shirreffs, consummate horseman, born in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Trainer of the the magnificent Zenyatta, 19-for-20, winner of the BC Ladies’ Classic ’08 and BC Classic ’09; Life is Sweet, winner of the ’09 Ladies Classic; Giacomo, winner of the 2005 Kentucky Derby; and Tiago, winner of the 2007 Santa Anita Derby. Other past major stakes winners include Manistique, Starrer, Hollywood Story, After Market, Tarlow, Stanley Park, Betrando, Borodislew, Radu Cool, David Copperfield, Hook and Ladder, Neko Bay, Proposed, A.P. Warrior, Zardana, Neireid, Harmonious, Makeup Artist, Private Chef, and Van Rouge (and he trained ME, too!).
L♥VE Auntie Judy aka JAG / Southern CA
AWWWWW!!!
Terry Crow GP
I did not know John was born in Fort Leavenworth. I have visited that place many times, usually on a historic fact finding mission. There should be a sign in front of the town advertising the fact that one of its native sons is one of the classiest guys in racing.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Leavenworth?? As in the prison?? Gads Terry, A HISTORIC FACT FINDING MISSION, HUH??? What? Oohh, a place of confinement especially for lawbreakers. Well, that explains it then – a REDNECK fact finding mission!!
Terry Crow GP
The prison is part of Fort Leavenworth, which is a part of the town of the same name. I went there once to visit the old graveyard, among other trips. The members of Custer’s force which died at the Little Big Horn are buried there, all except George himself, who is buried at West Point. Tom Custer, George’s brother, is a unique individual. He is one of the few men in history who was awarded two medals of honor and his grave is there. Guess that didn’t impress the Indians. In a way, it was a redneck fact finding mission. I wanted to make sure they were still dead. When the Lewis and Clark expedition was recreated a few years back, there was a stop there and I went to see the festivities.Yep. Lewis and Clark are still dead also.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
LOL! Leave it to the GP!
Marshall (NC broad)
AMEN to that, Terry!
Marshall (NC broad)
Oops, the AMEN is for the need for a sign at the front of the town announcing that it is John Shirreffs birthplace!
Terry Crow GP
Tom Custer and Lewis and Clark could use a few amens now and then.
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@John Shirreffs– the happiest of birthdays to you! May you have many more and hoping you can keep working with the horses until the end of your days. We so wish every trainer exhibited your love, care, and patience. May your number increase.
@Trina–not only is the poem lovely, it also taught us more info. that we didn’t know. Thank you!
@Amanda Gilliland–welcome back. You’ve been missed.
@Cynthia–thank you for posting dear Kari’s video.
Cynthia H./ 12th ♥
♥ Barbara!
Maureen
Happy Birthday, John! And I echo what everyone else here has said about you – you’re the BEST! Zenyatta couldn’t have had a better or more caring trainer – we all thank God for you every day. May you have many, many more years of training success, and of course, health & happiness as well – you certainly deserve all the best in this life!
L♥VE Auntie Judy aka JAG / Southern CA
Ditto, Maureen!!!
Darlene Daniels
Happy Birthday Mr. John Sherrifs!! You are such a blessing to all of us and the entire horse world. Thank you for all you have done and given to us all. God’s Blessings to you and Dottie forever.
@Trina. I have run out of adjective and adverbs to describe how awesomly amazing your poems are and they just keep getting better and better. Thank you dear friend again.
sue and tony
Happy Birthday, John. May you have a wonderful day and we hope God continues to bless you throughout your life. You are the true Zenmaster.
Keta
Opportunity to meet Zenyatta among items in CKRH fundraiser auction
Posted: Friday, June 01, 2012 12:45 PM
A halter worn by 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta and the opportunity to visit the mare will be among the items offered to the highest bidder at Night of the Stars, the annual fundraiser for Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH), on June 16 at the Keeneland Entertainment Center in Lexington.
Tickets for the event, which begins at 6 p.m. EDT, are $100 and include cocktails, dinner, and silent and live auctions.
A visit with Zenyatta, which was made possible by owners Jerry and Ann Moss and Lane’s End, is available for up to six people and will be scheduled on a mutually agreed-upon date. The package includes a halter worn by Zenyatta and a photo opportunity.
Also in the auction are halters worn by Horse of the Year honorees A.P. Indy, Rachel Alexandra, Saint Liam, and Tiznow; champions and classic winners Bernardini, Street Sense, and Thunder Gulch; Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Fusaichi Pegasus; Breeders’ Cup Classic and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Drosselmeyer; and Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) winner and prominent sire Street Cry (Ire).
Box seats at Churchill Downs and Keeneland Race Course, as well as a historic sixteenth pole marker from Keeneland, will also be auctioned off.
http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2012/06/01/opportunity-to-meet-zenyatta-among-items-in-ckrh-fundraiser-auction.aspx
carol in utah
In order to bid….would have to involve robbing a bank ….at least for me….hmmmmmmm
sharon in seattle
that would make two of us, Carol !! Just means that A LOT of $$$ is going to be raised and that’s a great thing!
Susan Carothers (in TN)
Keta- thank you for all the informative links and posts!
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Keta,
Wow, interesting, wish I could afford to bid on a visit. When we were at Zenyatta’s party at the BC last year a young girl was there with her mom who had bid and won a visit with Zen. Her mom won with a $6,000.00 bid. Way to rich for me, but it was fun to look at her pictures and dream.
SharonAtlanta
There isn’t much more I could say that hasn’t already been said to you, John. I wish the happiest birthday you’ve ever had and so many more to come. You deserve all good things that come your way. You exemplify all that a trainer should be. Can’t wait to see Ebby run.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Happy Happy Birthday John – may you have a beautiful YOU day!
♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ Our Z hearts are yours this and everyday!!
L♥VE Auntie Judy aka JAG / Southern CA
Canadian slaughterhouse firm no longer accepting Thoroughbreds
http://www.drf.com/news/canadian-slaughterhouse-firm-no-longer-accepting-thoroughbreds
Max
Good work by horse advocates. They got results.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Yes, I do applaud them for this!!
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Not good enough! All these operations need to be SHUT DOWN for good!!!!!
KAPUT … as in gone …. adios …. destroyed … doomed …
No animal should be faced with this kind of death!!!
Max
Karen. Totally agree with you. These horse advocates however have to be congratulated for getting as far as they have for TBs. No doubt they will keep going for others. It pays off to be relentless..
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Absolutely will not rest until they are all safe.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Yes, I agree.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear JAG and Z Fans:
Great news about TB’s no longer being accepted at Canadian slaughter plant. We have to keep at it until every breed of horse is safe from slaughter. Hugs, JB
Bobbie --- Elkhorn WI
Cigar is out in the pasture at the KHP.
Carole Klumb #42 / Eagle, WI
Congratulations to John on his BIRTHDAY!! and many, more. Thank you for the wonderful training of the QUEEN, your love and patience keeps your horses in training secure and happy.
What a sweet picture of 12z peeking out from under the fence, such a priceless picture of him. Hugs to Z. and 12z. XOXOXOXO
Susan Carothers (in TN)
Happy Birthday to John!! I hope you have a glorious day! You are very special to the horse racing community and US! God bless you on this day and always. <3
Susan Carothers (in TN)
This may have already been posted, but our fellow Z-ster Sarah Powell had a terrible loss earlier this week. Her beloved 21-year-old horse Buck died from a ruptured intestine. She is quite heartbroken, as you can imagine. I know she has a FB page or if anyone wanted to send her a message, you can email it to me and I will forward it to her: carothers.susan@yahoo.com
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
Dear Susan,
So sorry for her loss.
Will send you an e-mail to forward
To her. Horses are so much more
To humans than any other animal.
Their friendship and trust for us on the ground
And in the saddle is so amazing.
RIP BUCK