Happy Friday!
Mario Espinoza, who was Zenyatta’s groom throughout her racing career, was recently featured in TVG’s “Good for Racing” segment. It’s a must-see for Zenyatta fans!
We’re so grateful for Mario and the role he played in Zenyatta’s life before retirement.
Enjoy!
Team Z
♥Auntie Judy aka JAG So. California
♥ Team Z
I think it’s wonderful you shared these! I’ve seen them and was quite touched by his interview.
No better groom to interview than Mario!! You can clearly see he misses the Queen of Racing…
XO Auntie Judy ♥
P.S. It was 2 years ago today I had my visit with Zenny at Lane’s End with her then un-named colt, Ziconic, by her side :-) Surreal. I look at my pictures and video often!!!! Thank you for the honor, and pleasure.
JMG
I like the little snipit at the end of Mario and Ziconic. Thank you for sharing this video.
Max
Wonderful video of a great person and a unique racing mare. Liked the bit on Ziconic too.
No other horse can inspire the kind of excitement that Zenyatta could. Her BCC races were superb. We talk about other horses on this site to keep up with racing, but none come close to the Queen. She is one of a kind.
sheena.davies(wales)
The greatest jockey Ryan Moore gets his 9th Ascot winner with Aloft!Hugs Sheena.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Congrats RM. Love and Hugs, JB
Bluegrass Girl
Ryan Moore won his 9th Ascot race today. Tomorrow could be 10
Racing Post @RacingPost · on Friday June 19 2015
Lester Piggott: “Ryan Moore is a brilliant jockey, anyone can see that.
To win nine races during any week is a fantastic achievement.”
Max
Greatest title surely belongs to the Tin Man? Fred Archer won 12 races at Ascot in 1878. A tragic figure, he died at 29 from a self inflicted gunshot wound. It is said that his ghost still rides a pale grey horse over the Newmarket hills.
Kathy
Oh, thank you SO MUCH, TeamZ. What a beautiful video…Mario loves her SO! And we love Mario for taking such good care of the Queen. As Mario says, we would like to see another Zenyatta, but what are the chances? In my eyes she is pure perfection.
vicki
Have really enjoyed the races from Royal Ascot this week. I love any opportunity to see Queen Elizabeth. I have always considered her one of the most admirable women in the world. Her devotion to duty is unsurpassable. We won’t see her like again. I must admit though that I have a terrible time understanding a word the lady announcer says. I must have slow ear! The horses are so beautiful. Hope they bring CC on home. Probably won’t without having one race.
Have a doctors appt. Monday. Keep me in your prayers. Having some issues with my blood work, losing weight and generally feeling not quite right. Having a difficult time with my blueberry picking. Overabundance after all that rain. Love to Zenny, Coz and Zic. All be safe and well.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Vicki:
Wishing you well. Will keep you in my prayers. Love and Hugs, JB
Bluegrass Girl
Vicki
Thoughts & prayers are with you
Hugs, BGG
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Vicki,
Hope all goes okay with your appointment on Monday, and they can get you feeling better soon. Positive thoughts and prayers for your well-being.
Hugs and Love
Barbara Wood
So good to see Mario again. There will never be another Zenny. Safe trips to all racing this weekend.
Thank you, Team Z. Hugs to all.
@Judy B.–so gratifying to hear the good reports from LM. She is a great girl.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Barb:
Thank you. Lo’s doing really well. Love and Hugs, JB
Gloriajeanneoccali
Tears! I love this. I miss her so much! I don’t think I can ever watch that Breeders Cup race with Blame and not cry. Even in defeat she is amazing. And Mario is pretty cool too, he’s a very nice guy!
Thanks for sharing this! Hugs and tears of joy…
The Kennedys in San Diego
Mario is a wonderful man, so kind and caring of all the horses for whom he is responsible. But he and Zenyatta had a truly special relationship. Mario was always so generous sharing in sharing Zenyatta stories with us on our many trips to the backside of Hollywood Park. We shared many of those stories in the early days of this website. One of our favorites was Mario’s description of Happy Hour. The daily HH took place at 3 PM. Zenyatta knew when 3 PM rolled around. If Mario was not there at precisely 3 PM with her Guinness Stout, Zenyatta would call to him and thrash around in her stall until he came. John would tell Mario, “Your horse is going crazy, get her Guinness!”
Max
Nice story. Thanks for telling us. I am always happy to hear your stories of Zenyatta at Hollywood Park. Never gets old.
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Kennedys:
Too cute. Thank you for sharing. Would love to hear any stories that you have of Z, Mario and their days together at Hollywood. Love and Hugs, JB
Ann NC
Thanks for sharing. Zenny’s Happy Hour- set your watch by it. So cute!
patricia jones
always enjoy zen not my favorites with tvg
Kathy Baldwin
Awesome, just love Mario and Zenny together! :) Saw this on TVG, but am so happy to be able to see it again. Thanks for posting this video, Team Z, and for always having been the very best team in horse racing. It is appreciated! Sending all good and super positive thoughts your way and to all in the Zenyatta Nation!
HAPPY SUMMER!
Peace & Love,
Kathy from SoCal xoxoxoxo
p.s. Vicki, Don’t worry, cause the good Lord’s got your back! Sending healing prayers your way. ;)
Faithful Zenyatta Supporter
To The Kennedys, lovely post and so feel the same way. Really miss those early days on this site. Yep, she can bring on the tears after all this time…thankful tears.
Kathy Baldwin
Oh, and thank you The Kennedy’s in San Diego for your wonderful memories of Mario,
Zenny and Hollywood Park! I was so, so upset when my favorite race track was closed and blown up! Loved that place! I know Zenny was happy there. :) I believe that track was a historical landmark, as was Bay Meadows. Have not been up to L.A. since the last race day at HP! ;(
Blessings,
Kathy from SoCal (San Diego)
Judy Berube from Rhode Island
Dear Team Z:
Thank you for sharing this very insightful video of Mario. He is a good, caring man and loves Z so much. He must be absolutely thrilled to be ZI’s groom as well. Wonderful person. Love and Hugs, JB
Bluegrass Girl
What a terrific video profile of Mario!
Especially nice that he was chosen to be first in series!
Have a great weekend–one very special race on Saturday
Ohio Derby with a great card.
Bluegrass Girl
WinStar Farm tweet on Friday June 19 2015 PHOTO
Paynter’s first foals are the supermodels of the foal world!
#firstfoalfriday #poweruppaynter
https://twitter.com/WinStarFarm/status/611916732819746816/photo/1
Bluegrass Girl
There is so much hope and promise
in the final shot on this video
BGG
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Vicki.Thank you so much for enjoying RA and your views on our dear Queen Elizabeth.No,we will never see her like not only in the UK but world wide.The Monarchy means a lot to me and I’d never want it any other way.Good luck at the doctors and I hope you feel better soon.God bless and take care.Hugs Sheena.
Janie in L.A.
Nice to see Mario – my screensaver at work is a picture of Zenyatta and Mario from her retirement “party” at Hollywood Park in December 2010 and my sister and I are in the background watching them. Four and a half years ago – wow. She loved Mario – you could tell!
And on another Southern California note, I’m so glad American Pharoah is back home at Santa Anita!
Allen
Wonderful video. Mario loves the Queen. Zenny was so lucky to have Mario during her racing career. Does anyone know is Mario taking care of Coz or Ziconic. As always thanks team Z for all the updates.
Dee in the Hudson Valley
Thank you so much, Team Z, for sharing this with us. I can never watch that footage from the Breeder’s Cup without tears! One more stride… And so touching to see the bond between Zenny and Mr. Espinoza. She was (is!) a very lucky girl to have such a wonderful team of humans loving her and caring for her.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Team Z .A lovely video of Mario talking about his”girl”.I didn’t know much about her carers until I joined the blog..It is so obvious they adored each other.Love and hugs SheenaX
sharon in seattle
what a delightful Happy Hour story!! The Queen of racing gets her Guiness and the Queen of England gets her tea!! I wonder who’s in charge of Happy Hour at Lane’s End? smile, smile!
Ingrid Arnone
Dear Mario,
you ROCK….!!!!
We love youuuuuuuuu!!!!!!
Mary Jane McKittrick
Every time I see Mario and Zenyatta together, I get emotional. The love bond between those two was always so apparent. In the 6 years since she won the Breeder’s Cup Classic, no other female racehorse has ever come close. She is still the one and only female to have that distinction! Amazing. Thank you Team Z for sharing this loving tribute to a time we all cherished.
sue and tony
Team Z, thank you for putting this video on the blog. Mario and Zenny were such a wonderful team and the love between them so evident. Just watching Mario describing her toward the end of this piece shows the depth of his emotion for her.
He truly is good for racing and now he has the opportunity to work with Zi. How lucky Zi is to know the kindness of this special man.
suew/Va
Mario is a class act and truly knows the mind of each horse he cares for…he especially understood the Queen. Theirs was a relationship built on trust, love an devotion. It is fitting for him to be remembered in this thoughtful piece. The love he still has for her shines through beautifully.
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Max.Ryan Moore is the greatest of the modern era.Now he has Fred Archer’s 12 in his sights.A sad tale there very depressed after his wife’s death and battling with his weight he committed suicide.He was very tall for a flat jockey.We have had a wonderful week of racing at Ascot.I read Marengo was 38yrs when he passed and his skeleton is in a museum in Chelsea.As you know they wanted Copenhagen too but the Duke refused.Copenhagen does have a gravestone placed years after his death.We don’t care much for the mighty emperor in the UK.
Brown Panther should be back next season.His scans showed no serious issues.Rain is forecast for tomorrow.Her Majesty will need an umbrella!The Palace of Westminster is crumbling.Badly needs repairs.If our MP’s don’t move out it will take 32yrs to complete and cost billions.Sheena.
Max
Fred Archer is quoted as saying that the best horse whom he ever rode was the chestnut, Bend Or. Bend Or is also famous for his spots, spots which he appears to have passed to Man o’ War. MOW in turn passed these spots down the line, where they appear from time to time in his descendants, one of whom is Ziconic. Ziconic has some beautiful Bend Or spots on his red coat. It’s a small world after all.
Margaret
I LOVED that Mario and Carmen got to go be with Z the day she was turned loose in her paddock. What joy on her face when she realized she was no longer attached with the lead! And then she went over to greet Mario. Look Mario!, I’m free! I can play and just be a horse now!
I hope for Mario and Carmen that it was also a joy for them. It was a privilege to see them on video being allowed to interact with Z.
Marty R / Colorado
Mario is truly a fitting first subject for this series. He took care of the Queen and their mutual love and admiration always shone through. I loved reading the Kennedy’s retelling of Mario’s story of Happy Hour. I hope Ziconic can sense what a lucky boy he is to have Mario care for him, too. Thank you Team Z for posting this video here. It will definitely be viewed time and again.