Happy Friday!
Our second Zenyatta.com Celebration happened over Breeders’ Cup weekend last fall. Through the sales of our 2014 Celebration Sticker and an auction of Zenyatta memorabilia, we raised money for Thoroughbred Rehab Center, Inc. The final donation totaled $20,000, and we have all of you to thank for your support and generosity!
Five fans won our grand prize, An Invitation to Meet Zenyatta, in a random drawing. Each winner was able to travel to Lane’s End Farm with a friend of choice to meet Zenyatta and receive a tour of the farm. These photos by Alys Emson document their visits.
One of the winners was unable to travel to the farm for her visit. We wish her well, and Zenyatta looks forward to meeting her in the future!
View the complete set of photos from these visits in our Zenyatta.com Celebration Photo Gallery.
Enjoy!
Team Z
Mary
Zenyatta is such a love…… fun seeing these sweet photos of her!
Renee Wilson
I want to meet Zenyatta! My ALL-TIME favorite horse.
Patti
Love all these pictures! Congratulations to all the winners!! Zenyatta looks pretty and interested in all her visitors; giving them all her attention. And her visitors look so, so, so happy to see her, as we all would, but each of them looked so happy to be with Zenyatta. Wonderful pictures.
Leslie R.
What lovely pictures! Zenyatta looks very happy to meet her visitors. Congrats to all the winners!
Hugs to all,
Leslie
Sharyn
She is as beautiful as ever!! Lucky winners, great pictures and congratulations to them all!!
Michelle
I really don’t understand why more of us can’t see her.
Beth
I AGREE 100%! SHE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR TOURS SO THAT ALL OF HER ADORING FANS COULD AT LEAST SEE HER UP CLOSE AND TAKE A FEW PICTURES.
Ingrid Arnone
Yes, I agree with you.
Margaret
Michelle it has nothing to do with you as a person. Let me explain. And please pardon me if I stumble over myself.
Lane’s End is a public boarding farm. You have to be in the biz to board your mare there. Many owners are still VERY old school, they pay attention to the studs their breeding to but put much less emphasis on the mares. I know that isn’t fair but it is what it is.
Then and I don’t feel well enough versed so I’ll give you what I what I understood. Back when Zenyatta lost that first pregnancy I downloaded a number of vet books. I wanted to try to understand. What I did get is this–during the first 60 days of a pregnancy mares are very delicate. Many things can upset a mare during this time. For instance my gelding got to close to a mare that had just been bred the day before. I got hollered at (rightfully so–but in my own defense I was unaware of the breeding). The mare could’ve reabsorbed her pregnancy. Immunity wise mares are equally sensitive.
So how does this affect Zenyatta? The Moss’s are committed to allowing Z to focus on motherhood. Her paddock mates were mostly all bred back so this spring they’ll be having foals while Z is “open” (meaning no foal). LE’s has to consider all the horses on the property. Anyone could potentially bring in viruses or other bacteria on the bottom of their shoes (and have NO idea they’re doing so). Some of those could potentially cause a mare to abort her pregnancy.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
ABSOLUTELY NONE OF THIS PERSONALLY AT ANYONE. I’m trying to politely state the little I learned and pass it on. Please none of this personal to anyone. I realize how very easy it is to misunderstand and think I’m saying here that I truly not.
Someday when Z retires I hope she’s moved to KHP or Old Friends or someplace equally as committed to her care. If she’s moved to OF or KHP the ability of her fans to see her becomes that much better.
shirleeinindy
Margaret,
Well said. We have to also remember that the Mosses are very generously letting us share in the life of their magnificent mare. We all would love to see her in person but that would cause undue hardship on the farm and her too.
SallyB.(AuntiecherishesZandheryoung)
Margaret, You have written a great explanation that is not offensive.
Sally B
Michelle
Margaret, I understand all of that and appreciate the reply. However, many many people have been to see her. Celebrities, Jockeys, photographers, writers, HRTV and TVG Crew etc.
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
They’re friends of the Mosses and/or people in the industry. And they only come a few at a time.
Rosemary McCauley
Margaret. I agree your post was well said. People tend to forget that Lanes End is not a petting zoo. It is a professionally run facility and importantly so with regards to the broodmares as you pointed out. John and the Mosses made Zenyatta available while she was in training in ways that almost no one does for horses in training. I am forever grateful that we have this much involvement in the Queen’s retirement.
Margaret Cofer
I am just pea-green with envy. I will need to settle for the “Queen’s Dance” and hug it in lieu of the real deal.
DmamaKlock
SWEET pictures of the happy winners. Thanks for posting
Alexandra Bowdoin
They are so Lucky to have met her!! I hope to meet Z someday….will cry for sure!! Thanks for posting the pics!! HUGS
Amy B
Lucky folks! Looks like Zenyatta gives free cuddles too.
sheena.davies(wales)
Congratulations to the very lucky winners!!!Zenyatta looks so happy to meet her fans!Great photos!Love and hugs.SheenaX
Karen
Beautiful girl Zenyatta, greats some very happy fans. Thank you for posting these and congratulations to the winners!
Karen
oops greets, lol
patricia peery
So good to see THE QUEEN OF HORSE RACING
Congrats to all the winners
ZENYATTA looks great
Sue Fredrick Happy as a lark
Wow!! Congrats to all the winners, you are so fortunate. She looks like she’s enjoying meeting new people and all the attention…..and of course TREATS. Some day I hope that will be my mug staring back at all of you, LOL, I sure hope it’s in the cards. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures, just can’t get enough of seeing our Zen. hugs
Michelle
Congratulations to the winners!
AmyK
Is Z guessing how many peppermints are left in the blue bag or just asking for another?
Great pics of all the lucky winners with the beautiful Z. Someday for the rest of us!
Cherie D. Arnold
I would like to see her better groomed- especially when guests arrive to see her- she just seems to need that little bit of extra attention- she’s such a bright and intelligent horse- God truly created a master piece with Zenyatta!! She seems to thrive on attention and keeping her mind occupied-
Lynn Martin
Any idea when we will hear when a breeding takes place? I heard she will go back to War Front.
Margaret
We probably won’t be told till AFTER the 60 day mark. Then it’ll be the start of the COUNTDOWN for 2016 for sure!
What typically happens is this. At some point soon she’ll be bred. About 345 days later she’ll deliver a foal and about a month after that she’ll be bred for 2017. Unless her body rejects a pregnancy (typically something wrong with the foal or the mares condition wouldn’t allow the pregnancy to settle)she’ll repeat this cycle for the next three foals. AFTER the third foal she’ll see her next break cause the breed back date will be so late in the spring.
So what happens if she misses a year? Nothing. She’ll pick up the following spring, just likes she’s doing right now.
sharon in seattle
lovely to look at — so gracious!
Kalar Walters
LUCKY! LUCKY! :D ♥
Judy Berube From Rhode Island
Dear Team Z, Lane’s End and Alys:
Thank you, thank you for these wonderful photos of Z with her lucky fans. Hope the fan who couldn’t make the trip will be able to do so in the future.
What a lovely memory for all of you who could make it to visit with Z. What an absolutely beautiful lady our Queen is. She is gorgeous physically and just so kind, serene and beautiful in her personality. These photos speak a thousand words. Love and Hugs, JB
Judy Berube From Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Goodnight. Thanks for sending me all the Blogs. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Boo and all the Sweeties
Judy Berube From Rhode Island
Dear Z, COZ, ZI, V and Montey:
Goodnight. Stay comfy and cozy. Love You. Hugs, JB
Z Princess, Dubai, will always love you.
marypny
Zenyatta is just beautiful and she loves visiting with those lucky winners. Love is all around them. Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
Nancy
I’d love for Lane’s End to do a Zenyatta Day like Stonestreet does a Meet Rachel Day for ALL fans to have a chance at seeing their heroine. I’ve never seen Zenyatta but have seen Rachel twice, which I just loved. Not even me getting cancer last summer (I am now fine) would persuade Lane’s End to give me a glance of sweet Zenyatta. How about it, Mr. & Mrs. Moss? Can you give the general public a chance at seeing her?
LauraJ (Cincinnati, OH)
I’ve been to a Rachel day, too. That said, there is a big difference in their situations. Stonestreet Farm is private. All the mares there and all the facilities belong to Jess Jaclkson’s heirs, primarily his wife Barbara Banke. Everyone who works at Stonestreet is her employee. She incurs all the risk, and she’s the one paying her people to sort emails, set up displays, escort visitors, drive the vans, etc.
Lane’s End, on the other hand, boards horses belonging to many people. Zenyatta may be a superstar, but she’s one boarder of many. The owners of her paddock mates are paying the same day rate as the Mosses, and they have a right to expect the same level of service. Hosting a Zenyatta Day at Lane’s End would take personnel away from their regular duties and possibly interfere with care of their other boarders. Lane’s End doesn’t even have tours of the stallion complex during breeding season, unlike some other farms.
So while I’d love to see LE host a Zenyatta day, I understand why they don’t.
marypny
Dear Laura,
You described the differences between Lane’s End and Stonestreet excellently. So many of us would not know theses things. We learn so much here in Zenyatta nation.
Who knows, perhaps some day in the future there will be a Zenyatta Day somewhere (?).
Thank you.
Jackie from Maryland
The Queen sure does love her admiring public….as much as they love her! Big hugs to the always beautiful Zenyatta <3 <3
Perky Green
We are always thankful for new photos and updates. you folks do a marvelous job. It seems like we just can’t get enough of the 1st Family of Racing.
Liz Daughtrey
Would love to give her a hug!!!
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Judy.So great to see Zenyatta welcoming her visitors!She looks wonderful.I am glad you enjoyed the blogs Summer looked gorgeous today!!Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT Cap Hercules Frank Boo and all the Sweeties.Love and hugs SheenaX
Judy Berube From Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Yes, Z really enjoys her fans. Summer is just adorable. Love and Hugs, JB
Deanna
She looks great!!! I’m curious on who’s she’s going to bred to next? Can wait on who the next lucky stud will be
lauraj_cincinnati
She is going back to War Front.