Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts: Mike Cline, Part 1

Q:

What is it like to have Zenyatta at Lane’s End? How is she different than other horses at the farm?

Cassandra Gregory

Manitou Springs, CO

 

A:I started hearing rumblings that the Mosses were sending Zenyatta to Lane’s End shortly before the Breeders’ Cup 2010, and we had some staff meetings here at the farm about it. I’d been told that she had a huge following, and obviously i had admired her through the years in racing, but I don’t think anything that I knew about her then would have prepared me for where we are now, a couple years later, my experience with her, and what she means to so many people.

Zenyatta, 2009. Photo by Ann Moss

I remember she flew in on a plane to Bluegrass Field and was vanned over to Keenland on December 5th. I guess I should have gotten an idea about how it was going to be that day, because there were about four or five hundred people standing out in the freezing cold and rain and snow to watch her arrival. She didn’t disappoint; John Shirreffs came in with her and walked her around the walking ring at Keenland, and she was admired and photographed by everyone that was there. Everyone was genuinely enthralled by how magnificent she looked.

Again, I should have thought then, should have prepared myself… You always want to say that when we get her here, we’ve got to treat her just like every other mare. That works pretty well when you’re doing repro work on her, you have the blacksmith here trimming her, or you’re vaccinating her—you do treat her like every other mare. We have lots of nice mares here, and over the years we’ve had champions and terrific mares, but I must say that we’ve never had a thoroughbred stallion or mare that has the following of Zenyatta. Everybody told me that, but I had to learn it for myself.

Just being around her every day and being able to drive by her paddock, and listen to all the people that call in here and ask questions about her and follow her on the website… she’s definitely a rock star, no doubt about that.

The Mosses have been kind enough to let us do so many charitable things with her, be it selling halters or auctioning off visits, raising money for all kinds of different things. The last of which was some storm relief work that she did. It was their idea to have her here and to share with the horse community, and we have to sort out how we balance that. I know everybody doesn’t get what they want, but we try to be fair about it, understanding that she comes first. There are times of the year where you can come see her, and there are times of the year where you can’t come see her.

We see her every day and she never ceases to amaze us with the stuff she does, and she’s just different from other horses in a lot of different ways. Her feel for humans is totally different. We have lots of kind, quiet mares, but she’s thoughtful. I don’t think there’s any chance she’d ever bite anybody or kick anybody, and I think it was like that on the racetrack as well, from what I’ve heard.

Certainly, she keeps us on our toes here. We feel privileged to be some small part of her development, and we look forward to seeing her live out a long healthy life here and produce, hopefully, somebody that can keep up with her.

Note about visiting Zenyatta:
We understand the desire of many to visit Zenyatta at Lane’s End Farm. Currently, visits with Zenyatta are not available to the public. If the policy changes, the fans will be the first to know.

Our Expert

Michael H. Cline

Farm Manager, Lane’s End

Michael H Cline is the Manager of Mr. and Mrs. William S. Farish’s Lane’s End Farm near Versailles, Kentucky. He has held that position for 33 years and he played a key role in the design and development of the farm from the time Mr. Farish first purchased the land in the late 1970’s.

Mike is a local having graduated from Woodford County High School and attended the University of Kentucky. He is the proud father to two sons, John and Chad and one grandson, Charlie.

Mike’s family has been involved in the Thoroughbred industry beginning with his father John Cline, who managed Haven Hill Farm for Herb Stevens and his brother, Pete is the Manager of Shawnee Farm in Kentucky. Prior to his employment at Lane’s End, Mike was Manager at Big Sink Farm in Versailles.

Reader Interactions

879 Comments

  2. / Reply

    Mr. Commons comes flying at the end for John Shirreffs to lose by a nose to Obviously–they both may have set track records at Del Mar. High hoof!

    • / Reply

      Trina, I was cheering Mr. Commons on with everything I had. He is so beautiful and it is always wonderful to see him doing well for John. Love it!!!

  3. / Reply

    @Shari and Ashton…..checked out the Landaluce Educe Stables fb site…one of my all time favorite fillies…such a sad story…love the commitment of this group…thanks for the heads up…put Volcat into my stable

    • / Reply

      I’m on ” Cloud Nine ” w/ this win by Dullahan. Love me some big ole chestnut!
      Congrats to you Dale Romans for stickin w/ this handsome guy!
      Sending him a big ole kiss on his nose,Dullahan,mawh.

      Happy Birthday, Sheri.
      Happy Anniversary, Barbara to you and your husband.
      Have a wonderful day!!!!

      MAX, Thirsty had an impressive workout yesterday AM. Said he was the best looking one out there….yeah.

      Two canoes,no mirrors needed now,sign and Max….haha.

      • / Reply

        Ann. I am sticking with Stay Thirsty. His granddaddies are AP Indy and Storm Bird. Those genes, not to mention Bernie’s own, have to come out again this year.

        As to the canoes, I am sad to see Thirsty’s colors go. All the more reason for Thirsty to take the Woodward.

        • Dear Max:

          I’m with you on Stay Thirsty. I will have a problem on deciding my Fantasy Exacta Box if Mucho Macho Man and To Honor and Serve go in the Woodward. Maybe I’ll pass this week and go to the casino and bet a Trifecta. Ha,ha. Hugs, JB

  5. / Reply

    Three-year-old Dullahan powers past Game on Dude and Chantal to win the Pacific Classic in record time. High hoof to him. Richard’s Kid hits some traffic and comes in third.

    • / Reply

      Wow, Dullahan finally proved himself on dirt.
      And to get by GOD, amazing.

      Thanks for the update everyone !!!

        • I would not even consider Del Mar’s surface to be polytrack. It literally has soap chips on it. A quirky, horse for course track if there ever was one.

        • Interesting comment TC. I remember hearing Zenny hated to run on
          the Del Mar track.

        • sign-When I heard that Zenny was going to risk her unbeaten streak in a race at Del Mar I was beside myself. I thought for sure that it was all over. She proved how great she way by winning there. One of her closest finishes.

    • / Reply

      YEA Dullahan!!!!! I’ve been rooting for him since the Bluegrass Stakes. DirecTV was a good choice Trina!! How cool to actually SEE some of the races :-)

  6. / Reply

    Finally!!! I’ve loved Dullahan since the TC races. So wonderful that he put it all together today! Also great interview with Mr. Cline. I emailed him when Zenyatta was first at Lane’s End and he sent me a very nice email back. Hopefully, we’ll be hearing about times (some day) to visit Zenyatta.

  7. / Reply

    Roxanne O, five-year-old mare, will be running for the Mosses and John Shirreffs with Z’s David Flores up in the final race today at Del Mar, race 11 at 6:18 PDT, Maiden Special Weight, purse $70,000. Good luck, Roxanne O!

    • / Reply

      Oh my goodness, Roxanne O steps on something on the track before the race, David Flores jumps off, picks the object up, gives it to the track vet, and Roxanne O gets scratched from the race. So sorry.

  8. / Reply

    What a great run by Dullahan. I was hoping the filly Amani would have done better. I think it is cute that she has a white bunny as her buddy. Kudos to A.P. Indy’s daughter Love and Pride on her win today in the Personal Ensign. It’s Tricky did a great recovery from her stumble at the start and hoping she is okay.

  10. / Reply

    Lots more pictures to come and a new writing piece. Sammi has inspired me to write. Thank you Sammi. :-)

  11. / Reply

    signofthetimes,
    You may already know that you have a namesake racing
    Sign was a winner at Saratoga. Here is some info

    At Saratoga on Aug. 26 Race 2 Maiden Special Weight
    For Two Year Old Fillies
    Winner Sign rided by Rosie Napravnik
    Sign, bay filly, by Pulpit out of Cross, foaled Feb 22 2010 in Kentucky
    Breeder: Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider
    Thought you might like to add her to your virtual stable–I did.
    Hugs, Keta

    • / Reply

      Thanks Keta and Max,
      I need to get going on my virtual stable.
      She sounds very special. And from Claiborne,
      And Pulpits daughter, one of AP’s first foals

      I am still trying to get on the Saratoga web site
      For re-play of the race. Missed HRTV this weekend.
      In Galveston at the beach.

      • / Reply

        Sign. I saw Sign run live. It was beautiful to see. I hope that you can see the video of that race. This horse has real talent and I hope that she develops into a great racer. Claiborne like the Mosses and Prince Khalid Abdullah give great names to their horses. Sign’s father is Pulpit and her mother is Cross, therefore Sign.

        • Dear Max:

          Wow, how lucky to be at Saratoga and see a beautiful two year old filly win the way she did. Really clever name her connections came up with. Was this your first time at Saratoga? Did you feel the history of the place? Hugs,JB

  12. / Reply

    Dear Peggy N.:

    Left you a post on Page 5 of Z’s Blog “Making New Friends”. In case you don’t see it, Gabbiano is entered in Race 4 on 8/31/12 at Monmouth Park. Go Gabby. Hugs, JB

  13. / Reply

    Dear GirlSaratoga:

    Have a wonderful trip to Florida. Look forward to hearing from you when you get back. Hugs, JB

  14. / Reply

    A Birthday Poem for Shari Voltz
    August 27, 2012
    (Revised from 2011)

    Fifth-grade teacher Shari Voltz
    Energizes every lad and lass
    In her homeroom class
    As if with lightning bolts:
    She features
    Splendid equine creatures
    From the great Zenyatta
    To amazing colts.
    She plans her lessons with a lotta
    Special creativity,
    As all can see!
    For her students there’s so much in store
    In sessions galore
    Laced with both old and new racing lore
    That classes are never a bore—
    And “horses for courses”
    Doesn’t just mean
    What it did before!
    Along with racing thrills,
    Shari imbues her students with skills
    That will last and last
    And makes their studies a blast!
    Shari was in the local paper
    For making learning a fun-filled caper.
    Her students all love her—
    They’ll tell you, there’s no teacher above her!
    In 2011 they cheered so
    For that cute Uncle Mo.
    They thought he
    For Z
    Would be a good mate.
    They wanted him to be
    Her next date
    Since for the first go-round
    He was too late.
    One day they found—
    Holey-moley!
    What a surprise!
    Embroidered caps for all had arrived
    From Mo’s owner, Mike Repole!
    In the next year,
    Dr. Hansen, an equally generous giver,
    Had Fed Ex deliver
    Little plush Hansens to all!
    Now as summer turns to fall,
    Their beloved Hansen, I fear,
    Needs to mend
    And most likely will retire
    To be a handsome sire,
    But always Shari’s class will for racers cheer.
    You hear
    “Go, Brown Almighty, go!”
    Whenever that two-year-old Big Brown son does run,
    And they root for the filly Madame Mistletoe—
    Those two are in the Tim Ice Racing Stable
    And give Shari’s class many a thrill!
    Shari these horses with great skill
    Will blend
    As often as she’s able
    Into her lesson plans
    Beside Stay Thirsty, Bernardini’s son,
    For whom her class stay loyal fans.
    May this filly and these colts
    Continue to excite the class of Mrs. Voltz!
    Shari will celebrate
    Today’s special date
    With her students, who her venerate,
    And then with hubby, friends and kin,
    And, last but not least, Maximus T,
    Her sweet min pin,
    Miesha, her darling Dobie,
    And Oskar, her docile Bengal kitty.
    ’Twould be a pity
    If we Zsters didn’t join in,
    So hoof, hoof, hoofray
    For dear Shari on her birthday!

    Happy birthday, Shari, and many, many happy returns!

  15. / Reply

    A 46th Anniversary Poem for Barbara Wood
    August 27, 2012

    Yes, sirree!
    It’s again the anniversary
    Of when Barbara
    In front of friends and family stood
    To make her marriage vows
    To Mr. Alan Wood.
    How many years has it been, you ask?
    It’s been forty-six—
    They’re a couple that really clicks!
    That elicits from us a chorus of WOW’s,
    As they in our congratulations bask!
    We wish all that is good
    To both Alan and Barbara Wood!

    Happy 46th anniversary, Barbara!

    • / Reply

      Happy 46th Anniversary, Barbara. It got me hearing music in my head, “76 Trombones”, but instead,
      “Forty-six trombones led the big parade, With a hundred and ten cornets right behind,” and later, “There were copper bottom tympani in horse platoons, Thundering, thundering all along the way.”
      — I hope you had a good one, and that you know what song I mean, or it will make no sense.

    • / Reply

      Barbara, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to you and Alan!!!!! 46 remarkable years, how wonderful is that!!! I wish you many more, with much love. Blessings to you both!!

      Hugs,
      Dawn

    • / Reply

      Barbara,
      Happy Anniversary! You’ve got to be two happy RN’s to stay together that long these days. Hope you have many more and are able to sell your home and resettle. Blessings to you both! Hugs Sue

  17. / Reply

    Happy Birthday Shari Voltz. Hugs, JB

    Another Gem Trina. All of your poems are so perfect for each person. Hugs, JB

  18. / Reply

    Dear Z Fans:

    Just watched It’s Tricky in the Personal Ensign again. She really took a bad stumble; don’t know how she recovered to get back up on her feet. What a feisty girl. She kept trying to the end. Just lover her. Reminded me so much of Afleet Alex when he went down to his kness in the 2005 Preakness. He righted himself somehow and unbelievably went on to win.

    Hope It’s Tricky came out of the race OK. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Personal Ensign herself was an all-time great, retired undefeated. If you like happy endings, check out her final tace in the BC.

        • Good to hear from the Kennedys, a truly class act. Couldn’t agree with you more. We are all Zenyatta fans here, but you have to hand it to this runner. In my mind, this race ranks second to Z’s BCC win. On a sadder note, Randy Romero was also the rider on Go For Wand and has had health issues.

      • / Reply

        It’s Tricky has a temperament similiar to that of Personal Ensign — let’s just say they were/are nobody’s pet. Love them both.

        • A very gutty performance to be able to run down a Kentucky Derby winner. Without question one of the most exciting BC races of all time. THis was a case where nobody made a mistake and the determining factor was the winner’s will to win.

        • Thank you, Judy, for posting the 1988 BC Distaff. It doesn’t get more exciting than that — well, except for Zenyatta’s 2009 and 2010 BC Classic races.

        • Dear TC and The Kennedy’s:

          Oh Yes, PE was determined and and brilliant. Zenyatta’s races are just phenomenal. Horse For The Ages kind of races. Hugs, JB

        • I think that is the race Personal Ensign broke her leg in. The stretch duel
          between her and Winning Colors.

    • / Reply

      What about the jockey, who stayed on It’s Tricky, that is raw talent in the riding
      arena !!!!

      • / Reply

        Dear Sign:

        The 1988 BC Distaff was Personal Ensign’s last race. I think she had the injury when she was a two year old, which makes her record even more amazing. Coming back with screws in her leg at three years old and retiring undefeated, WOW.

        Yes, kudos to Eddie Castro for staying on It’s Tricky and kudos to IT for finishing third after that scary stumble. Hugs, JB

        • You are correct, Judy. A lot of pressure was on this horse because it had been announced well in advance that this was to be her last race.

  19. / Reply

    Barbara,
    Happy Anniversary to you and your Alan. God’s blessings for many, many more wonderful years together.

  20. / Reply

    Shari,
    Happy Birthday! Know this year will be a memorable one for all of your students also. Many blessings to you and your new students!

  21. / Reply

    @Shari Voltz–Happy Birthday, and hope you have a fun-filled day with many, many more birthdays to come!

    @Trina–you are such a marvel, in both poetry-generating and thoughtfulness. You have the gift of giving, and it IS a gift.

    @Judy Berube and Elizabeth in NM–thanks for the good wishes. We’re just hoping to survive the move. LOL.

  22. / Reply

    Happy Birthday to Shari V – best wishes for a great year in the classroom and in your life!

    Happy Anniversary to Barbara and Alan Wood – you can celebrate BIG after you “survive” the move (and you WILL survive – lots of us really looking forward to meeting you at the BC!!)

    Trina – more !!!!s :-)

  23. / Reply

    Happy Birthday, Shari — the best ever we hope.

    Happy Anniversay, Barbara and Alan Wood!

    Trina, more inspired creations! You are a marvel as well as adorable.

  25. / Reply

    Dawn Conrad; I had a spare moment and read your comment to Ask the Expert, Mike Klein. Your thoughts and words were expressed so eloquently that I still have tears in my eyes thinking of our LOVE forever for Zenyatta.
    Glad your back. hugs, Sally

    • / Reply

      Oh yes,

      She was in a stretch duel and broke, but kept on running on it that is why it broke in so many places.

  28. / Reply

    Here are today’s redneck jokes. @Sally B and Sue F, co-presidents of Wisconsin chapter-Yo might be a Wisconsin redneck if down south to you means Chicago. You might be a Wisconsin redneck if its traditional for the bride and groom to go bar hopping between the ceremony and the reception. For the regular rednecks-You might be a redneck if you have been run out of your own yard by roosters. You might be a redneck if you only visit a civilized town once a month. You might be a redneck if you have more tattoos than teeth. You might be a redneck if you have a fly strip hanging over the kitchen table. You might belong to a redneck HMO if your primary care physician is wearing pants that you gave to Goodwill.

  29. / Reply

    I hope the day will come when I will be able to visit Zenyatta before too much longer. I am getting “long in the tooth” as the saying goes and I would love the priviledge of meeting her in the flesh. She brings out emotions in me that I did not know existed.
    I love her, all her connections and will adore her babies, always.
    Thank you Lanes End.
    Love hugs and kisses

    • / Reply

      Trish – VA.

      I don’t think anyone will be visiting her without participating in her charitable work
      until she is about 30 years old.

  30. / Reply

    Travers Canoe Update. And, yes there are 2 jockey statues.
    Steve Byk‏ tweet
    A new shade of [Godolphin] blue coming for one set of the canoes
    and then the multi color combo for Magic City

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