Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Zenyatta News

Gratitude

Flowers on Zenyatta's statue. Photo courtesy of Gloria Ubardelli.
Flowers on Zenyatta’s statue. Photo courtesy of Gloria Ubardelli.

Dear fans,

We are so touched by the flowers and notes left at Zenyatta’s statue during the Breeders’ Cup. The strength and compassion shown by this community never ceases to amaze us.

The 2014 Zenyatta.com Celebration was a huge success, and we can’t wait to share the final results. Auction winners have been notified, and we will be drawing our grand prize and bonus gift bag winners shortly. All winners will be notified tonight. Check your email!

Thank you all so much for taking part this year!

Team Z

Tiara left in honor of Z Princess. Photo: Gloria Ubardelli.
Tiara left in honor of Z Princess. Photo: Gloria Ubardelli.
Flowers sent from Texas. Photo: Cynthia Holt
Flowers sent from Texas. Photo: Cynthia Holt

Reader Interactions

337 Comments

  1. / Reply

    My Beautiful Z, COZ, ZI, V and Montey:

    Goodnight. Safe and sound always. Love You. Hugs, JB

    Z Princess, will always love you.

  3. / Reply

    November 9 Cherokee Devotional

    It is amazing how nice people are when we get to know them. Someone who seemed to be the most unlikeable turns out to be the very one we enjoy the most. Taking time to know others doesn’t always seem important. But wonderful friends and excellent opportunities for happiness pass us by when we do not consider them important enough to know. The Cherokee people have a tendency toward u de ho sa ti, which means they are inclined to be shy or bashful about pushing forward. Just a little effort in reaching out to draw someone to us can be one of our most rewarding experiences. Friendship is a two-way avenue and we each have a responsibility to go part way.

    This gives us great joy, for we now consider that we stand upright before you and can speak what we think.
    Sa-Go-Ye-Wat-Ha

  4. / Reply

    @All–Wanted to post this poignant column from Horse and Man today. It is sad, but at the same time, uplifting. This is in honor of our UK Dumplings. I wish all hospitals were so compassionate. I don’t know where Wigan is.

    http://horseandman.com/

    Did I miss something? Where is Max?
    Will be gone all afternoon but will try to catch up later.

    @sheena–Thank you for the lovely unforgettable poem. I saw the poppies at the Tower on the news the other night. That certainly brings it home. God bless you all.

    • / Reply

      Dear Barbara W.,
      Thank you for posting this link. It is poignant and very touching. So glad that loving farewells were said. Very sweet that her horse got to nuzzle a soft adieu. It did bring tears to my eyes, but a special warmth to my heart.
      Hugs and Love

  6. / Reply

    Dear Barbara.This is,indeed, a wonderful story.I had thought of posting it Friday but felt that you would all find it too sad at this time.To me it was extremely thoughtful of the hospital to allow this goodbye to take place.Wigan is in Greater Manchester North-West of England.Hugs Sheena

  7. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.Great devotional as always!I have been watching the ceremony at the cenotaph earlier today.There was grave concern of a terrorist attack and the crowd clapped as the Royal Party left something I’ve never heard before.My Father used to love watching the “old soldiers” marching past singing songs from that era.Not only was it the centenary of the first World War this year but also the 70th anniversary of D. -Day I am sure you will all be remembering your veterans on the IIth and we share those memories.
    Zoe had a very busy day yesterday I too loved the mini-horse!Joey’s prints have raised $800 for his charity!Wow!Did you see the horse sitting on the sofa lol!Bring your pets in out of the cold!Wlittle Cindy is doing so well with her cart and looked so beautiful in her coat.I missed her morning chat yesterday I know there is hope Judy has found a buyer for her Ohio home.Fubu was alright,his mouth was very sore and he got a few injections,it was his mum who was very tired and not well.Have a blessed Sabbath.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Holly,Nikko and Sugar.Sheena.

  8. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    We owe our freedoms that we hold so dear to the courageous men and women who fought for it. Yes, we will honor our veterans on the 11th. Steve is actually an active reservist. Thank you for your service, Steve! I’m so glad the ceremonies in the UK were uneventful and peaceful. Zoe was certainly busy yesterday. She looked exhausted. That’s wonderful that Joey’s prints have earned so much for his charity.Loved the pic of the horse on the sofa. He looked right at home there! Very sweet. Cindy is doing extremely well with her Freedom Wheels. Loved her beautiful little outfit. Fingers crossed that the Ohio home has a buyer. Glad to hear Fubu is alright. Hope Mom gets to feeling better soon. You have a blessed Sabbath, too. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy.

  9. / Reply

    “Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take, But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away.” From the moment she arrived Z Princess took our breath away time, nd time again. She got to spend her short life being the beloved daughter of one of the most amazing beings to ever grace planet earth. I must believe that she had many moments in her all to brief life, that took her breath away.
    I want to thank Team Z for always being the epitome of all that is Zenyatta- grace, class, and always kind and gentle to all, even if they are not kind or gentle in return.
    We all grieve in our own way. After much loss in my life the past several years, I’ve learned the hard way that for me, I must make myself face loss head on. Doing that video helped me face the pain, but for most of my life I was like many here stated and
    in the past I would have postponed looking at her photos too. For me, I must face it head on. Doing the Z Princess video helped me work through the grief,even if I’m still crying my eyes out every time I think about her. Many of you left beautiful comments after I shared the video tribute. On a previous post I shared that I did indeed see all your comments and they helped put a balm on our shared broken hearts. I was not comfortable (under the circumstances) thanking all of you individually. I mention it again, in case anyone missed my comment. The beautiful community here and how kind everyone (except trolls and people with issues) is what will heal and get us all through the grief. Hopefully in some small way, we all helped comfort Team Z…..
    I want to thank my dear friend who took a photo of the flowers my family sent and placed them at Zenyatta’s statue. Jane Wade, thank you for leading the way. You are a valued FB friend, and loyal fan for all that is Zenyatta.
    To my moma’s hero, I want to thank you again for your kind words of comfort you sent to me on youtube. This team is so amazing, they send words of comfort and support to a fan who did a video in the hopes of comforting them. Forever loved and in our prayers in times of joy and sorrow.

    • / Reply

      Dear Ashton,

      In a word, Z Princess was simply enchanting. She inspired awe just as her mama does. We all owe so much to Team Z. They have put up with all of us way longer than most would have in their shoes. Loss always hurts so much. It will take a long, long time to truly get over this one. Thank you for helping all of us with your wonderful tribute. I find comfort in viewing Z Princess and just remembering with thanksgiving for even a short time with her. We’re never ready to give up those we love. Even if Z Princess had been able to grow up and live 20-something years we still wouldn’t have been ready to lose her. The love this community has shown will help mend our hearts. The floral tributes were so beautiful. And the little tiara. Oh my…

    • / Reply

      Thanks for the beautiful video Ashton. I just now had a chance to view it. As you said, we all have to grieve in our own way, and sometimes life requires you to just “keep going” until you can find a moment to acknowledge the sadness.

    • / Reply

      Ashton, I know how beautiful your videos are and I hope to watch your Princess Z video one day. I just can’t right now. I wish that I was more like you and that I could face loss head on, but I’m afraid I’m not wired that way. The only way I know to deal with grief is to block it out and try to act like it’s not there. I know if I watch it I’ll just lose it. Thank you for the beautiful post, dear friend.

    • / Reply

      Dear Ashton, I must have missed your video. Please tell me where you posted it.
      We do all heal in our different ways and seeing a lovely video would surely help me, perhaps someone else too.
      hugs, Sally B

  10. / Reply

    Hi Everyone—I’m doing a test to see if I can get a link to post a photo of Barnaby on here. I am still down at my daughter’s in Irvine and she is trying to help me with my iPad–I am a techno idiot!! Have lots to post about the BC and the Princess,but will do that tomorrow when I get back home. Just hope this first try works–if not,we’ll try again.

    https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.387349874745791.1073741832.100004123456406&type=1&l=f632070e62

    Well,here goes. These were taken the weekend before the BC and we were just trying to get some photos to show. Sue was lunging him in some of them. There’s one that,s a close-up because,when he saw the camera,he had to come up to look at it!!

    Have to get my stuff in my bag and head for the airport—–tune in tomorrow!! Love and hugs to all—Sue

  12. / Reply

    Thousands of kitties were despatched to the trenches during the first World War to keep the rodent population down and act as detectors for mustard gas.Many became companions to the men there.How many died?No one knows.A fine battalion who never fired a gun.Sheena

  13. / Reply

    Dear Judy.This may be one of my last comments here.Kathy R told me it was one of my posts that caused a rumpus the other day and not Kathy’s devotionals.For this I am truly sorry and deeply upset.It is never my intention to offend anyone on this blog.I know I am not one of the PC brigade but we are all human and make mistakes.I will,of course, apologize to Kathy tomorrow and think what to do.i hope you’ve had a lovely day at the farm and that Dubai is a lot better.Goodnight God bless you LM PC HT Little Cap Hercules Frank Dubai Boo and all the Sweeties.I will email you Nissy,as usual,tomorrow it’s a good one.Love and hugs SheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      There’s absolutely nothing to apologize for. It doesn’t really matter if it was the Devotional or our communication back and forth in response to it that caused the rumpus. As you know I was ready to stop posting but then the loving comments from our true family here convinced me that going dark would be wrong. We have been here a long time. This is the first time we’ve ever had a bad response. Trolls love to pop up every once in a while and we would be wise to just keep on doing what we’re doing and ignore the trolls. We’ve already lost Max for a while. We can’t lose anyone else. I’m still here, and I want you to be here with me. Love and hugs, Kathy.

    • / Reply

      My Dear Sheena:

      Please do not leave the Blog. We love you and we need you here with us. This is a sad time for all of us; we need you and your wonderful posts more than ever. Love You, JB

    • / Reply

      Sheena, I must have missed something. All I know is you are a part of us Zsters and I would never want to see you leave the blog. Stay!!
      hugs, Sally B

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Please don’t allow the unkind trolls to run you off! You BELONG here with us! You are one of the kindest, most caring people on the blog so we must keep you here. I think we all need you. Please don’t stop posting!
      Reilly and Huey send lots of woofs, wags, wiggles and kisses!
      Hugs and Love

    • / Reply

      Please don’t leave, Sheena! I love the blogs from overseas. I learn about all the horses from abroad that race. I actually knew about some of the foreign horses that ran in the BC because of our friends from other parts of the world! And Max! Please hang in there! You are one of the main bloggers where we find out who will be racing soon or has won a maiden race. Living in Kansas I don’t get any info on the races from our local paper except for the Triple Crown. We take Sports Illustrated but evidently they have some sort of feud going with the horse racing community so are lucky to get a small mention. Please don’t leave us hanging out here!

  15. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.Thank you so much for your support. I just felt awful you took the blame for something I had said it was a comment about Marty.I fekt peeps didn’t care for my happy comments after the death of our PrinZess,as I’ve said before I grieve in a different way to all of you.Kathy R’s email really upset me.I’ve been thinking about it all day and was prepared to leave.I have always loved my chats with you about our furbabies and their antics.It’s been a sad day here remembering all our war dead.I am, once again,truly sorry for involving you in,what,was my mistake.See you tomorrow.Love and hugs.Sheena.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      No one can tell me that the two of us haven’t grieved every bit as much as everyone else here. Just because we made a light comment doesn’t mean we disrespected Z Princess, Team Z or anyone else here on the blog. See you tomorrow, just the same as always.Love and hugs, Kathy.

    • / Reply

      No need to leave, Sheena — you did nothing wrong, nor did Kathy. Somebody else got upset and vented a bit — but it was only a moment in the scheme of things here, and not any more important than that.

  16. / Reply

    Dear Sheena et al – only the familiar, loving chats that I have grown to look forward to have helped thru all the sadness and deaths that have happened for the past weeks of tears and loving memories – as one said, we are more than bloggers that just say we love Zenyatta. Even Dottie talked about football and basketball etc. Just keep doing what you have been doing and give me something to read each day. I love the info from England and Australia and all over the US and Canada and wonderful stories of the wonderful horses and dogs and cats you all love. I just got the news yesterday that one of my dear cats has congestive heart failure and I will have to make that terrible trip probably next week. More tears, but I had him to love for over l5 years so have to be satisfied with that. Loving animals is quite a challenge, but would not want to be a person that does not love them. Keep writing and keep in touch – all of you..

    • / Reply

      Dear Nancy S.,
      Thoughts and prayers for you and your beloved kitty cat. One of my dogs, Reilly, has a congestive heart condition, but he is doing fairly well on medications so far. Every day is a cherished gift. I do sympathize with you.
      Warm Hugs and Love

  17. / Reply

    Dear Sheena:

    Love and Hugs to you, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Dubai, Boo and all the Sweeties

  18. / Reply

    Dear Z, COZ, ZI, V and Montey:

    Goodnight. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB

    Z Princess, will always love you.

  19. / Reply

    Have a sweet silent night Zenyatta
    love n kisses to you and to your Coz, Zi and precious zprincess, forever
    Auntie Sally B

    Prayers for poor Dubai

  20. / Reply

    @sheena–please don’t leave. We all need each other. As I said the other day, we’ve weathered worse. We are all contributors. Those who don’t like it can either leave or simply skip our posts. Hugs to all.

    @Ashton–your videos are all superb, but this one carries with it a chunk of all our hearts. Love and blessings to you.

  21. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta Family

    Since Sheena has chosen to mention an off-blog, private e-mail I sent to her, which has now become a matter of discussion here, I feel it only fair in the Australian tradition of a fair go that my e-mail to Sheena is made public. I post it below.

    Dear Sheena:

    This is going to upset you, and I apologise in advance, but just feel it has to be said. And we Australians are supposed to be forthright.

    I was offended by your post back in early November. Had turned on my pad and the first thing that caught my eye was the comment “…and the massive poop in his litter box”. I couldn’t believe someone would put such a crude comment on the blog at such a sensitive time. I’m afraid I was too cowardly to join in with the three folk who did express their feelings (and incidentally none of them raised the issue of the Devotionals, which seems to have been taking all the running). I must have missed the story behind Mango, Marty, Zoe etc., and have only glanced at the posts, but did feel sorry that even though it’s said that all views can be expressed on the blog, that’s so often not the case. And I speak from personal experience. I was amazed that Kathy took it so personally, because as I’ve said on re-reading the three posts none of them raised the matter of the Devotionals. I think that the sensitivity on the blog at the moment is personified by the comments Max has made – a lot of people are suddenly coming to the reality of just how fragile life as a racehorse (or any horse, for that matter) can be. And sometimes the kindest thing to do when people are grieving is to just let them grieve, and come back to the world at their own time when they have the mental strength to do so.

    Best wishes, Kathy

  22. / Reply

    Simply the Best ! and Neatest horse l have ever seen and l have been closely following this game since 1967 …

  24. / Reply

    Sheena has made it very clear what my course of action must be: there is obviously no place for me on this blog. My priorities are my dog, and my little girl. KathyR

    • / Reply

      KathyR. I read your comments and they appear to have been made in the good faith tradition of Aussies everywhere. You were also right about me, a grieving wild thing gone to lick its wounds. Hoping to hear from you about your tiny horse and Aussie racing when peace breaks out again on the blog.

  25. / Reply

    Dear Kathy R.This has turned very nasty and it’s silly!!My priority is my health and well-being.If ANYONE finds those remarks offensive then I REPEAT I am very,very sorry.
    We all know,sadly,that life is very fragile and it’s stupid to quarrel over a careless remark.Kathy(california) enjoy talking about our furbabies!I am sorry if I made the Email public but I was extremely upset and surprised that it came from you.We are all sensitive at this sad time but life has to go on I’m afraid.Sheena

  26. / Reply

    November 10 Cherokee Devotional

    Autumn nights, especially those of the full moon, are as breathtaking as any sunlit morning. Not even noonday brightness can compare to this peace and solitude. At moonrise, there is a velvet hour of quiet when only the largest stars are visible. The bare limbs of the great tsu s ga (oak) etches shadows on the ground, a lacy pattern of leafless beauty with clearly defined lines. The dark cannot hide the graceful beauty of the night, the deep, silent slumber that commands everything on the move to do it quietly. It is rest to the spirit to be a part of the quiet world, which is a joy forever.

    My heart if filled with joy when I see you here, as the brooks fill with water when the snow melts in spring…
    Parra-Wa-Samen

  27. / Reply

    To Sheena,

    I tried to e-mail the Devotional to you at the e-mail address you gave me but it keeps getting kicked back to me. Sorry! Come back!

    Kathy

  28. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.As you can see the war of words continues between Kathy R and me.I have Never been involved in a quarrel on the blog before.There are just so many times I can apologize.When I saw Kathy had posted the email earlier I just blew my top I’m afraid.I calmed down then and I certainly don’t want to be held responsible for her leaving.we are all grown-up here and should behave as adults.My health has not been good since nursing my parents through their last illnesses and I could do without all this upset!I can’t believe anyone could find that comment “crude”gosh go on twitter that’s where you’ll find remarks to make your hair curl!again I apologize for any offense I may have caused with a casual remark.I am quite prepared to leave the blog for Kathy R to return.It’s in your hands!!!As Marty says it’s Monday I am not participating!Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Holly,Nikko and Sugar.
    my email is sheena.davies@mypostoffice.co.uk

  29. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    That’s where I e-mailed you, but for whatever reason I get the notice that the delivery has failed. I’m perplexed! As for me, I want you to stay here. If you go it doesn’t look like I’ll be able to get the Devotionals to you. The decision is your’s, but I’ll be happy if you’re still around. Marty cancelled Monday. What a smarty!

    Love and hugs from me, kisses from Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy.

Leave a Reply to Ann NC Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.