Happy Friday!
We’re back today with the second installment of our video interview series. This time we’re featuring Donna Vowles, Assistant Broodmare Manager at Lane’s End. She spent some time with us talking about her responsibilities and experience at Lane’s End, including the night Zenyatta foaled.
Donna Vowles: Assistant Broodmare Manager
“I was born in Birmingham, England and spent the majority of my childhood between Birmingham and the neighboring countryside of Worcestershire. My obsession with horses developed around the age of six or seven when I hounded my Dad for riding lessons. From the very first time I got to muck a stall and groom a horse I was hooked for life!
My career began at a young age working and instructing at a riding school, before moving onto managing a Three-day Event yard. I started working with Thoroughbreds professionally in 2002 after a training season in Newmarket.
Kentucky became my home in January 2004 when I first joined the Lane’s End Team. My job title now is Assistant Broodmare Manager and a large part of that role consists of ensuring the health and happiness of all the broodmares and their foals here at Lane’s End, including Zenyatta and her colt.”
Have a great weekend!
-Team Z
Candi E. Carter
thanks lane ends for the update photos to our beloved zenyatta and baby z.They are both stunning, healthy gorgeous,Z12 grows fast Zenny is so affectionate mother,happy mother’s day Zenny!!!.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
Dear Karen G,
REALLY REALLY REALLY LOVE YOUR VIDEO OF LAVA MAN, SHAKING HIS HEAD;
YES YES YES, PLEASE KEEP ON CHEERING; AND I’LL HAVE ANOTHER.
SO GLAD YOU ARE ABLE TO SHARE THESE MOMENTS WITH US.
ARE ALL OF THE WORKS THAT PUBLIC???? with Trevor Denman announcing them???
Did I hear Mike Smith in the background of your video???
AGAIN THANKS SO MUCH !!!!!!
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Thank you! I get such joy out of the goings on at the tracks here. Nothing like it. No it is very rare that the tracks have workouts between races and we never heard why SA had I’ll Have Another workout that day – BUT I am so happy that they did! (Maybe because THE GUY Mark Verge at Santa Anita is great friends with Doug O’Neill and they are trying to get people back out to the track.) Wow, I got to see a Kentucky Derby winner up close and personal BEFORE he won!! What a treat and with THE MAN Lava Man! It did sound like Mike Smith but not! LOL!
Terry Crow GP
The last Kentucky Derby that I got close to was Swaps. Rex Ellsworth’s barn was near my mother’s.
Patricia/Far northern CA
Omigawsh, Terry, Swaps was my Invincible Horse… he had an incredible run of victories and successes there for a while. And I was SO mad that he went to stud in KENTUCKY and not his native California — what did I know!! I was just a kid… for years I had an unreasonable dislike of Nashua… I understood he was a great horse, but after The Match Race he remained “the enemy” for a long time. None of that now, of course; Nashua gave us the dam of Mr Prospector but not a lot of other notables; Swaps had Chateaugay, his full sister Primonetta; No Robbery, Affectionately, and appears in the back of pedigrees a lot… in retrospect neither was a great sire but wow did they ever give us some great racing. Swaps was my ideal racehorse for many years and is still in my top 5…
carol in utah
Hi….Nashua appears in the pedigree of both the sire and the dam of our great Z….might want to re-think …he was a great one
Terry Crow GP
Any friend of Swaps is a friend of mine. He went 1 and 1/16 miles in 1:39, eased up. Unfortunately for him, he had an injury in that match race BEFORE the race was run. Should have been scratched.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
DEAR KAREN G,
LOVE THE HOVEDAY POST AS WELL; CLUB OF THE NOBEL LOSER; VERY INTERESTING AND WELL DOCUMENTED. REALLY LOVE THIS ARTICLE.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
DEAR BRENDA S FROM ONTARIO
REALLY LOVE THE SIGN SAYING YOU POSTED; VERY VERY VERY CUTE AND WITH THE ADDITION OF DEPENDS MADE IT EVEN FUNNIER.
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Hi Zenny and EARnie,
You look marvelous! I love the color underneath that baby fuzz, just like mom and dad. Thank you Donna for the informational video, it so nice to meet you caretakers who work so hard at LE, but are the envy of all of us Zsters.
Love all the redneck jokes…..too funny, you’ve made my tiring day have a happy ending.
Running up north tomorrow to see my granddaughter in the state singing competition. I am nervous for her but she seems so calm it surprises me. Just hope she does her best and let the chips fall where they may.
Happy Mothers Day to all Zsters and LE employees and all the girls in the paddocks, especially you Zenny. Love Auntie Sue
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Good luck to your granddaughter, Sue, and I hope you all have a good time.
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Trina,
Thank you for the well wishes, and she did do well she got Honorable Mention which is great for 11 yrs old and her experience. Hugs
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Sue Fredrick:
Good for your Granddaughter. She must be very talented. Hugs, JB
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
That’s wonderful, Sue — what did she sing?
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
DEAR SUE,
WISH YOU A HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY AND HOPE YOUR GRANDDAUGHTER WINS THE SINGING CONTEST; HOW LOVELY TO HAVE IT ON MOTHER’S DAY. GREAT GIFT FOR MOM AND GRAND MOM.
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Dears:
Sign, Happy Mothers Day to you too, and she did win Honorable Mention (2nd). I told her she will always be a winner in my book. It was a great mom’s day.
Vicky, Two of the three songs were classical and I don’t even know the names, but the third was from Disneys Moulan and was just beautiful.
Judy B, yes I’m prejudiced but I think she is very talented, but time will tell.
Happy Mothers Day to you! Hugs Sue
Terry Crow GP
No Dead Skunk Song?
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Terry,
What a scathingly brilliant idea, I’ll have to send her that link so she can watch it and memorize that song. She probably would have won with that gem! Hugs
Irene Caty
Happy mothers Day Zenyatta! Love and kisses to both you and baby Z. I really miss hearing from you and wish there were more pictures of you and baby Z also video of the two of you together. I still think of you daily and miss you so much. Love you Zenny!
Marshall (NC broad)
@Lane’s End,
Thanks so much for the photo of Z and 12Z — wonderful! Also, thanks to Donna for the very nice video visit. I agree with Sue Frederick that all you LE caretakers are the envy of us Zsters! Thanks for the great job you all do!
@Zenyatta,
Your first Mother’s Day is almost here! Enjoy your special day with your dear 12Z.
All the Best to you both. Hugs and kisses on your soft noses!
To all: Happy Mother’s Day!
Goodnight and sweet dreams!
Marshall (NC broad)
@Sue Fredrick:
Sorry for adding the extra “e” in my previous post! I knew better!!
Cheers!
Marshall (NC broad)
Uh, that would be the extra “e” in your last name! Consider it gone!
Have a lovely weekend, Sue Fredrick!
Sue Fredrick Co-P WI Chapt.
Marshall,
Ha, Ha don’t worry about it, people do it all the time. I’ll answer to anything or as my hubby would say “any dinner bell”. Hugs
Marshall (NC broad)
Sue,
I’ll drink to that dinner bell!!
Hugs!
Terry Crow GP
You might be a redneck if your dinner bell is a smoke alarm.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Interview with Doug O’Neill and Mark Verge on the Tim Conway Jr. show in LA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmPKuqEK7GU&feature=digest_fri
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
LOVE TIM CONWAY; GREAT INTERVIEW;
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Interview on the Larry Elder show with Doug O’Neill.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPOY_VVh-no&feature=relmfu
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Sheese, it just goes on and on with PETA!
http://tv.yahoo.com/news/peta-files-complaints-alleging-further-luck-mistreatment-195219221.html
Terry Crow GP
PETA is the only reason I would hesitate to wear a skunk hat.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
PETA CAN BE VERY VICIOUS; AS WE SAW WITH THE ‘LUCK’ SERIES
A FRIEND OF MINE WORKED FOR A DRUG COMPANY AND THEY WERE
ALWAYS CREATING A LOT OF ISSUES FOR THEM.
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Well, I’m not buyin’ it. Except for the supposed “new allegations” at the top of the story, the rest of the piece is a repeat from one or more previous articles, that I read at the time the show was cancelled. This sounds like some fabricated game on PETA’s part, hoping gullible readers will believe this nonsense.
Terry Crow GP
@Vicki- Agree with you. @Eveline-Not if I can catch one.
Eveline / Maryland.
But the hat would have to be faux fur anyway!!
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
WOW WHAT AN ARTICLE
PETA IS COMMITTED TO DEFENDING ALL ANIMALS AND STOPPING
CRUEL TREATMENT AND WILL; NO MATTER WHAT IT COSTS FIND OUT THE “TRUE”
STORY.
VERY VERY VERY SAD; VERY GLAD THE SERIES WAS CANCELLED; I HOPE ALL OF THE RACE HORSES USED FOR THE PROGRAM HAVE FOUND GOOD SAFE HOMES.
Terry Crow GP
I don’t think any of us has an argument with PETA’S stated goals. Just their methods.
L♥VE - JAG aka Auntie Judy ♥ Southern, CA
I think Little Prince Z will be the “alpha” of his pack! He has quite the personaltiy! And attitude LOL
I found these videos of Uncle John Henry. I believe in my ♥ that John Henry watched over the foaling on the eve of his own birthday, March 9th. Z12 just might have inherited some of these tenacious traits! Too Cute!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llm8HgC5lrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyevJDwBaHg&feature=relmfu
HAPPY 1ST MOTHER’S DAY, ZENYATTA! I hope Lane’s End received the card I mailed :-)
All my love, Auntie Judy
xoxoxo
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Thank you JAG! I’m lovin’ it!!
Marty R / Colorado
JAG
Now I understand. I’m so glad you found these and shared them.
Thank you. Marty R
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear JAG:
Thanks for the links to JH. Hugs, JB
Maryp (New York)
JAG, Just loved the “saga of John Henry”. I had no knowlege of him so I thank you for introducing me to a “great” one.
Terry Crow GP
No one who ever saw him race can deny the greatness of John Henry.
Heidi K (Vallejo, Ca)
JAG…. Loved the “Saga of John Henry!” I always knew of him but, not his story. All I can say is Wow!!!
Max
JAG. He was a winner.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
REALLY LOVE JOHN HENRY AND HIS ARLINGTON MILLION RACES; THEY WERE THE BEST; SO INTERESTING HOW THE ‘OLDER STYLE’ TB COULD ROUTE AND MILE OR SPRINT; IT SEEMS JOHN HENRY RAN AT ALL DISTANCES AND WON;
TOO BAD JH COULD NOT HAVE PASSED ALONG HIS GENE’S
Marshall (NC broad)
JAG,
Thank you for the links to John Henry’s saga. What a brilliant horse! No wonder you love him so. He was indeed very special!
Love and Hugs!
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Thanks for the links, Judy. Although I’ve certainly heard you talk about John Henry here, I had never seen him run, or known his story. I especially liked the way Ron McAnnally talked about treating him, to counter the bad treatment he had had when young. Made me wonder what kind of progeny he might have produced, had he had the chance.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Correction–minutes to go before we see BLACK CAVIAR on TVG!
Trina Nagele in So Cal
Congratulations to the great mare from Down Under BLACK CAVIAR on her 21st win! High hoof!
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Congrats to the Aussie Queen!
L♥VE - JAG aka Auntie Judy ♥ Southern, CA
Yay!
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Welp, it looks like JAG, Trina and I are going to sleep in tomorrow!!! Let’s hear it for the fillies and mares! YAY! WOOWHOO! YOU GO GIRLS!!!!
Terry Crow GP
Glad about Black Caviar. Even though I didn’t see it, I feel that the blog was represented by three of our finest.
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Blush Blush! O’ Redneck Crapper Club Grand Poobah!!! You are wise beyond your ……. the finest GP there ever was. Even Ralph Kramdon has nothin’ on you!
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
DEAR KAREN,
COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT RALPH KRANDON; WHAT A HOOT HE
IS . THANKS FOR THE GREAT REMINDER.
Terry Crow GP
Karen-Thanks for the kind words, but as I stated before, crapper is not part of my title.
L♥VE - JAG aka Auntie Judy ♥ Southern, CA
VIDEO: Black Caviar wins her 21st race in Group 1 Goodwood at Morphettville
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/superracing/black-caviar-wins-her-21st-race-in-group-1-goodwood-at-morphettville/story-fn67r1j3-1226353181654
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
Can’t wait to see how she does at Ascot!
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Zenny have I told you lately that I l♥ve you??? Well, I do!! I l♥ve you more and more and more and more and more ……………………………………………………………………………………. and ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
XOOXXOXXO ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
Thank you Lane’s End for the great video today!! We love you for taking care of your horseys, and our l♥ve, Zenny and Star Prince!!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Karen G.:
Just watched your link of I’ll Have Another and Lava Man. Thought Lava Man might be challenging I’ll Have Another to a match race as he was leading the way and bobbing his head up and down. He’s too cute. Quite impressed with IHA. Hope he can win the Preakness. Love and Hugs, JB and Lola Mae
Karen Gogue / Oh B♥by Oh!
♥ L♥ve and hugs back at ya! And Lola Mae too! ♥
Celeste in TX
Thank you, Lane’s End, for another visit behind the scenes to introduce us to those who take such wonderful care of our sweet Zenyatta. It is so nice to be able to learn about the people who are there and who are charged with responsibility for giving the daily care to the mares and foals, and Zenyatta and Z12, of course! Thank you!!
Brenda S..Ontario, Canada
Good morning Zenny and Baby Z and a Happy Mother’s Day to our Mother of the Year. Young Z is growing so fast, he’s such a handsome boy.
Thanks to Lane’s End for the update and the video of Donna, I feel so proud to know that a fellow Brit is looking after Zenny and Z. We’re almost neighbors Donna, Manchester and Birmingham are not that far apart, at least not by North American standards.
I hope that Zenny, and all the other mares are getting treats tomorrow to celebrate Mother’s Day, pears and carrots for Zenny please and a peppermint for dessert.
T.Buck/Texas
he has grown into a beautiful colt…..I have been missing you ms Z muuah
Marty R / Colorado
Many thanks to Lane’s End and the Z Team for these interviews. It really is great to meet the people who have the daily care of Zenyatta and 12Z.
I know I’m assuming and presuming, but I can see 12Z in a couple years just glowing in good health from the inside and dappled on the outside from John Shirreffs great care and sleek and shiny like his mom was under Mario’s super care, as well. How WILL he run or how he WILL run are the unknowns. No matter what, he WILL be loved.
Happy Mother’s Day weekend, all. Marty R.
p.s. My tomato plant is installed in it’s container in the front of the house and is thriving. I have great hopes for a bumper crop this summer.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Marty, Tess and Z Fans:
Loved your posts and agree completely. Hugs, JB
Sally B. (cherish Z- Wi.)
Marty R. I agree totally. Z’s colt WILL be loved for sure!! Hopefully it Will be with John Sheriff as trainer, Mario too. Was there info indicating the Moss’s have already chosen who is to train? If not I sure hope they do want John. I wonder if as a yearling, he will be sent to Mayberry Farms in Ocala, where Z began her early training first.
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TOMORROW!!! Sally
Marty R / Colorado
Sally B.
I’ve never seen anything indicating who Mr. and Mrs. Moss will send him to for training. I do remember John Shirreffs saying it would be difficult seeing Zenny’s offspring with another trainer. (Not his exact words, but pretty close.)
I was only assuming and presuming….with fingers crossed, hoping. Marty R.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
THE TRAINING THEY PROBABLY HAVE CHOSEN IS HIS YEARLING TRAINERS.
JOHN SHERRIFF’S IS BEING POLITICALLY CORRECT TO NOT JUMP THE GUN
AND SAY HE IS TRAINING HIM; IT IS THE MOSSES DECISION AND SHOULD NOT BE DISCUSSED UNTIL THE OWNER’S DISCUSS AND DECIDE WHO WILL BE HIS
RACING TRAINER.
tess
Tall, dark and handsome-oh, la, la!
Did Bernardini have any part in Baby Z genetic makeup? Z-12’s a carbon copy of mom at that age. Same ears, color, barrel, temperment, beautiful neck. Z sure did stamp her baby.
Be interesting to see if some Tapit shows up next time.
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
DEAR TESS,
SEEMS LIKE STREET CRY, HER SIRE, IS VERY DOMINANT IN ZENNY’S GENES; AS YOU ARE CORRECT HER COLT LOOKS MUCH MORE LIKE HER/HER SIRE THAN HIS FATHER;
THE BERNARDINI TRAITS WILL COME OUT LATER; LIKE HIS INTELLIGENCE (WHICH BOTH HAVE); HIS COOL CALM NATURE (ONCE THE SQEALING PHASE IS OVER) AND THE GREAT COMFORMATION. PLUS MANY MORE;
12 ZENYATTA IS DEFINATELY HIS MOM AND HER SIRE’S SON.
Max
Sign. I agree. Right now 12Z looks very much like Z and his granny V.
Joyce Groth
Thanks Lanes End for the update. Happy Mother’s Day Zenyatta. What a beautiful prince you have! Love and happiness always.
AJ from CA
The article didn’t mention that the L.A. Zoo’s carousel which Ann and Jerry dedicated doesn’t play usual organ music but stuff like Tijuana Brass, The Carpenters, etc.
http://travel.yahoo.com/ideas/america-s-best-carousels-20120511.html
Vicki B. near Hollywood Park
From A&M Records catalog!
judy berube from Rhode Island
Thanks Lane’s End Team for all the updates and photos of our beloved Z and Little Z.
Happy Mother’s Day to everyone. Hugs, JB
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Z Fans:
For those of you who may have missed it or, like me, watch it over and over, here’s a wonderful video of the Little Guy and his Mom. Hugs, JB
http://www.wave3.com/story/18063402/zenyattas-first-foal-a-handful
Barbara Wood (Texas)
Judy, I’ve added it to my favorites, but it will probably expire sooner or later. I just can’t watch it enough! Thanks.
nancy in nj
thanks for the link, judy. i never tire of watching it!
Sally B. (cherish Z- Wi.)
Judy; Thank you!! I saved it by sending myself an e-mail of the video. I hope this works; then I will find out how to save it in a file? You can tell I am not computer savvy.ha hugs, Sally
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Sally B., Nancy in NJ and Barb W.:
You’re so welcome. Hugs, JB
Sally:
You can save it as a Favorite with Internet Explorer or Bookmark it with Mozilla Firefox. Don’t know what your using as a Browser. I have Mozilla so I Bookmarked it. Hugs, JB
signofthetimes; President Texas Chapter RNC
THANKS SO MUCH JUDY B, FOR REPOSTING THIS LOVELY CHERISHABLE VIDEO.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Dear Sign:
You’re so welcome. Hugs, JB
Nancy Marashio
Zenyatta’s own (through Dottie) comments spoiled us with significant details revealing Zenyatta’s individual personality and behaviors.
The Lane’s End videos tease us (with how intelligently Zenyatta behaves, for example) but would be even more satisfying with specific examples of how her personality is evidenced in her current day to day life.
The pictures of Zenyatta and Baby Z are wonderful. Thanks so much for keeping Zenny’s fans informed.
judy berube from Rhode Island
Congrats to Black Caviar on “21”. Hugs, JB
Barbara Wood (Texas)
@BRENDA S.– Love your riding story. I would have been right there with you! I did it once, on a trail ride through the Garden of the Gods, and as much as I love horses, I would pay money not to do it again!!!
Sally B. (cherish Z- Wi.)
Thankyou Lane’s End team Z for keeping us informed. I can tell Donna loves her position and I feel totally comfortable that Zenyatta and her colt, as well as other mares & foals, have the best of care. Has Zenyatta’s personality changed at all with the responsibilities now as a mom being 1st in her life? Does she ever appear stressed?
Sally B. (cherish Z- Wi.)
After the part two video the screen came up on other videos of Zenyatta. So I began to view today just the 1st two from the upper left. I needed for some reason to go back in time. Watching them, I began to cry again; to think I was ever so lucky to have followed, and love the greatest racing mare in my lifetime!! Z’s racing days are over. (more tears) The first one indicates TVG, but on this one is our Kari B. (more tears).
Life surely goes on and I feel fortunate that Lane’s End team Z is keeping us informed about Z and baby z. But, I do miss Zenyatta and Dottie. I hope we hear briefly once in a while from them.
Who is entering the Preakness? I know that Gemologist and Dullahan are not racing in it. Gemologist has an injured foot. I’ll have Another of course will be there.
Hugs to all, Sally B