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Lane’s End Video Interviews: Part 3

Happy Friday!

We hope everyone is gearing up for the Preakness and some beautiful weather this weekend.

The third part of our Lane’s End interview series introduces you to Charles Campbell. He has been the Broomare Manager for four years, and he was with Zenyatta the night she foaled.

Charles Campbell, Broodmare Manager:

“I’m originally from a small hamlet in England, and I was brought up on a farm where my parents trained and produced racehorses. I was riding an jumping fences before I could walk and have always had a love for horses from this young age.

After graduating from university I decided to travel the world working with horses. I started in South Africa and made it to America. As soon as I arrived at Lanes End I fell in love with the farm and horses here. I worked with the yearlings and then did a season with the stallions before moving to the mares. I find working with the mares and foals the most rewarding aspect of all as it encompasses my interest for science and passion for horses.

As the Broodmare Manager my days are kept busy with reproductive work and insuring all the mares and foals are happy and healthy, including Zenyatta and Baby Z.”

Here are a couple photos that were taken yesterday at the farm.

Enjoy!
-Team Z

Photo Courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End

Photo Courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End

Reader Interactions

1,329 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Facebook Users
    Mike Smith Facebook page is back.
    Listed as Mike Smith Hall of Fame Jockey
    It looks good
    Hugs, Keta

    • / Reply

      Dynaformer may be gone, but his progeny will always remind us of what a great horse that he was. Never forgotten, Big D. Keep protecting your paddock. You will always bring a smile to my face.

      • / Reply

        Dynaformer was a real character !!!!!

        and so very affectionate the last two weeks of his life;

        I love at his memorial when the Three Chimney’s folks were thinking
        all of this affection was just a ploy to get bitten or kicked; and it was
        him really realizing how much he loved the people who cared for
        him and after all those years of being the “tough” guy, mellowed
        and knew he was in his last few days/weeks of life.

  6. / Reply

    Momma Z,
    Have so missed checking your website, except in a few snatches the past month and a half. Wonderful interviews from Lanes End.
    Thank you to everyone there who take such amazingly kind and ‘thorough’ care of You and Your Prince.
    Love seeing your big colt growing so fast! He looks so like You, Zenny!
    Love Your website here… like coming home.

    Love and Blessings to everyone.
    PS Congratulations, Dottie, for your great award… you deserve it so much!

  7. / Reply

    THIS IS A LOVELY PARAGRAPH ABOUT THE ABILITIES OF IHA AS DESCRIBED BY HIS JOCKEY MARIO GUTIERREZ; FROM AN ARTICLE IN BLOODHORSE.

    “At first I thought he was joking,” Gutierrez said. “I was surprised the way the horse moved. I knew right away he was a good horse. I told my agent afterward they weren’t going to use me on a horse this good. He was different from any other horse I’ve ever ridden. He was so professional the way he moved. It was like being in an expensive sports car with a lot of gears. He’d go faster every time you asked him. You have no idea how much he loves racing. He never hesitates. He loves to fight and catch horses. It’s an amazing feeling to be on top of him. I’m positive he knows exactly where the wire is. He’s capable of doing amazing things and has the biggest heart ever.

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/70007/super-marios-amazing-journey-continues#ixzz1vqma4XZd

    • / Reply

      I wonder if LM thought when he was brought back to the barn from “retirement” that he was going to be able to race again? if so, no wonder he gets revved up during the post parade. Maybe he thinks IHA is HIS pony!!! : )

      • / Reply

        Sharon in Seattle – Funny – I bet he does thinks IHA is his pony.

      • / Reply

        Very cute Sharon; article in bloodhorse by Steve Haskin said they retired
        him to a pasture on a small farm and absolutely hated it; I really wonder
        what he got into or how many ‘hissy’ fits he threw to get back to the
        “barn” with Doug O’Neill and his team ????

      • / Reply

        Louise, that’s lovely news that you have a new puppy. I’m so happy for you that you had the courage to fall in love again with another fur angel .

    • / Reply

      Sign. Great post. This is an incredible story. This horse was purchased for $850 on his way to slaughter and has trained to reach Olympic standards. He has also escaped death by fire. Now he is off to compete in London. It is just amazing. What a beautiful story of an inspiring horse and a dedicated rider.

      • / Reply

        Dear Max,

        Can’t wait for the Olympic Eventing this summer; I think we will have to
        root for Canada in the Grand Prix Jumping, Mc Lain Ward and Sapphire
        are out; along with Shutterfly and Merdith Micheals-Berbaum, wonder
        if she will ride that crazy, finicky Checkmate. He is very talented, but
        very difficult to ride.

        I watched her on him, not sure if it was recent, and she had to abort the
        the Grand Prix, he kept knocking down the polls, guess he was having a bad
        “jump” day.

        • Sign. I did more reading on Neville. The US team for London will not be named until July 2. If Neville makes the team, destiny might just step in again and fulfill the dream that appears to surround this horse. We usually only have one lucky horse shoe to carry. Neville’s got 4. Go Neville!

        • Dear Max,

          Love the comment about his owner/rider describing his personality;
          like a bouncer in a night club going to throw you out of the club.

          Great thing is that Neville is a TB; most rider’s have gotten away from
          riding TB as they are somewhat unpredictable and go with Warmbloods,
          who are know for more consistency. However, that statement made
          you can’t beat a TB for heart, courage, stamina and drive.

          It seems the ones that are difficult are the ones that become special;
          Neville, Jamaica (found on feed lot in belgium, and an olympic driving horse), even Lava Man. LM has a very strong personality with all sorts
          of antics, that means that he needs to be stimulated, interacted with and challenged, which can be wearing for trainer/owner, but OH so very
          rewarding.

    • / Reply

      let’s hope somebody with some influence (royal family of equestrians, for example) will take note and wield said influence against horse slaughter. Maybe the BBC has a feature of their sleeves – I think I’ll contact them and find out !!! : )

    • / Reply

      That doesn’t make me feel good about what a “nice guy” he is. I’d be interested to hear what those knowledgeable about horses and racing, think.

      • / Reply

        This article about O’Neil doesn’t make me feel good about him either. Sounds like Berna Dette (sp?) (the horse mentioned in the article who ran at Los Alamitos) could have had a bowed tendon that wasn’t treated properly or maybe not at all. But only my opinion. She could have had one of many other ailments and some of them don’t involve legs, but other parts of their body. The article said she was well bred – she should have had a chance at being a broodmare. When I was involved in racing, I never heard the term “milkshake”. I read the description of the contents, but what is it supposed to accomplish in terms of performance enhancement?

  12. / Reply

    @JAG: Thanks, Judy, for the great links!

    @Terry C. GP: Once again you have brought loud guffaws to us! That is to say, you make us “bust out” laughing! That’s no BS, but watch where you step! Thanks a million! Cheers!

    Goodnight Zenny, Lil Z and all Z people!

  13. / Reply

    Z’sters…It’s nothing short of AMAZING how Zenny’s FB friends keep growing.
    She’s now at 108,000! Inredible for a “retired” racehorse. She’s the gift that just keeps on giving. To all who are traveling this holiday weekend, be safe and keep smiling.

  14. / Reply

    Zenyatta and Z team, dumplings and Z’sters and Team Z at Lane’s End

    I am wishing you a most enjoyable Memorial Day week-end!! Family and friends are the icing on the cake. I’ll be displaying a few small flags on my lawn in remembrance of those who have died for our freedom, who served and are serving for our great U.S.A.
    I know Zenyatta and 12Z will brighten your week-end; I do wish I could join them, celebrate with Z!!

    Sending love and kisses to their soft noses,
    Auntie Sally

  15. / Reply

    O’Neill Suspended 45 Days in TCO2 Violation
    http://www.bloodhorse.com

    The headline is misleading…. ‘The unnamed officer, in his recommendation to stay 135 days of the 180-day suspension, found that O’Neill was NOT GUILTY of giving the horse an illegal ‘milkshake.’ He found that milkshaking — an illicit concoction of baking soda bicarbonate and/or other alkaline substances that is fed to a horse shortly before it competes — was not the cause of the TCO2 overage. …O’Neill was penalized under a CHRB rule than holds the trainer to be the absolute insurer of the condition of the horse……In his finding, the hearing officer….. Further determined THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY INTENTIONAL ACTS BY O’NEILL in connection with the incident.”

    • / Reply

      Basicly….he did nothing wrong…but blood level up…no one knows why…could be a natural occurring thing….so he is guilty…seems to me that is a tad unfair..but then we will never know whole story…

      • / Reply

        Karma! I believe in karma! He has a lot of peeps on his side – I side with the poor horses and the people who had horses under his care and who have shared their horror stories…. But, there are those peeps who kind of walk through life wearing blinkers (wink wink) Whatever!!!

        Auntie Judy is so happy Zenny was in Barn 55!!! XOXO

        • Karma for sure.
          More CO2…are those horses breathing polluted air? NO…Lava is passing the cigs around, again. Shame on you Lava Man.

    • / Reply

      I’m sorry ♥ BURNA DETTE ♥! Rest in peace! There are some of us who will NEVER FORGET……………

  16. / Reply

    Hi Ann thank you for the compliment. The children love Zenyatta. I have shown the children this Blog so they can see what a Great mother Zenyatta is. The children really really love Baby Z : )
    Terry I agree with you about Hansen. Hansen is running on June 9, in the Woody Stephens Stakes ( I hope I have the right name). We also love Hansen.
    I hope my Z Family has a really good weekend. May God Bless our Wonderful Country and all the men and women who died for our freedom. I also pray for our active military. Love, Shari : )

    • / Reply

      Barbara Wood. I agree. If it were possible, it would be Zenyatta and Lava Man news 24/7. We could also throw in some news on Tasty for those of us who like rogue horses. All of these horses are retired but they are as fascinating as those who are still racing. Z can command an audience just by eating a peppermint. Pretty incredible.

    • / Reply

      couldn’t find phone numbers so I emailed both the BBC and NBC. if I hear anything I’ll post it !!!

  20. / Reply

    For those who asked “why” the negative news is brought up now – read this article!
    California Horse Racing Board penalizes trainer Doug O’Neill
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-doug-oneill-20120525,0,2118846.story

    “…There was also speculation that the board members, fully aware of the hit they would take in the racing community, chose to act because doing nothing and appearing to shovel it under the rug would have created more negative speculation. By releasing the ruling now, with the wording of the report favorable to him in part, O’Neill could be characterized not as a cheater, but as a victim of technicalities.”

    Yes! Blinkers off! Thank you!!!

      • / Reply

        I agree – WHAT IS WRONG WITH THOSE PEOPLE!! Explain please! Sheese!
        How does all this absolve anything??? Questions question!!

    • / Reply

      “victim of technicalities.”…….OK, with having all that BS under the rug for two years, the house needs a good airing.

      So, to clear the air,can we have those technicalities explained? Not so hard, is it?
      Hope they are listed in the full report. That would speak volumes. As in tech#1: blah,tech#2 blah,etc….

      I read it “victim of technicalities” as “devil is in the details”.

      So the cloud stays. Will take a hurricane to get rid of this humidity. I Totally Totally Prep …for hurricanes.

      • / Reply

        AMEN Ann!!! Makes peeps wonder what events would have taken place had this great horse IHA didn’t win 2 legs of the Triple Crown (possibly a 3rd). The story would have stayed under the rug longer? :-(

        Expressing MY feelings makes ME the “bad guy”? Whatever…

        Auntie Judy Loves Zenyatta and Her John (Shirreffs) :-)

  22. / Reply

    Must read!
    Bill Pressey is a Thoroughbred physiologist.
    He has a Blog titled ThoroEdge
    Bill has written very positively about Doug O’Neill’s training methods.
    He also explains about levels in horse blood
    Bill Pressey blog,ThoroEdge
    Derby Champion Trainer:A Tale of Milkshakes & 2 Minute Licks
    http://thoroedge.wordpress.com/
    Bill Pressey at ThoroEdge, on training that led to I’ll Have Another’s wins
    http://thoroedge.wordpress.com/2012/05/19/ill-have-another-2-minute-lick-please/
    Well Worth reading! Special thanks to Abigail who shared these!

    • / Reply

      To get to the first article, you will have to scroll down the Blog
      The date of it is May 14-
      Worth the read!!

    • / Reply

      GREAT ARTICLE ON IAH CONDITIONING; HOPE DALE ROMAN’S IS TOO LATE

      NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE LACTIC ACID ISSUE UNTIL BB MENTIONED IT
      WITH BODEMEISTER AFTER THE DERBY; MAKES SENSE TO TRAIN FOR LONG
      DISTANCES AND JUST BELOW MAX HEART RATE SO LESS LACTIC ACID AND THEN
      HORSE CAN RUN A SUSTAINED LACTIC ACID LEVELS RATHER THAN HAVING THEM GO UP AND DOWN.

      LACTIC ACID IS A PHYSIOLOGIC ‘POISON’ THAT BUILDS UP IN THE BLOOD WHEN
      THE RAPIDLY WORKING MUSCLES RUN OUT OF OXYGEN TO USE AND HAVE TO
      USE ANOTHER METABOLIC PATHWAY FOR ENERGY. IF TOO HIGH IT CAN CAUSE FATIGUE; ALTHOUGH BB SAID BODE DID NOT HAVE LACTIC ACID IN THE KY DERBY; HE WAS GETTING ‘WEAK AT THE KNEE’ TOWARD THE WIRE, WHICH SHOWS
      IT MAY HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP IN HIS BLOOD.

      LACTIC ACID ALSO CAN BUILD UP IN HUMAN ATHLETES AS WELL, CAUSES MUSCLE SORENESS; FATIGUE ETC…..

      • / Reply

        THAT IS WHY ALL GREAT HORSES HAVE CHIROPRACTORS AND MASSAGE
        THERAPISTS TO HELP THEM RELIEVE STRESS ON THEIR MUSCLES AND
        RELIEVE SORENESS AND STIFFNESS.

        • Sign,
          Like Doug O’Neill who has a chiropractor, physical therapist, & I think an accupuncturist on his team
          Go Team O’Neill
          Keta

        • WOW Keta, that is impressive.

          I know Zenny had a massage therapist.

          One thing IHA has is a Team that is working together for this effort;
          owner/trainer/staff/jockey/rider.

          How much better can you get an owner renting a house for everyone
          to stay together in; bringing other horses to the tracks IHA is going to ride
          at for Mario to run; and lastly paying the bill to have IHA and LAVA MAN
          to travel and work each track for the weeks between this race.

          This tight team performance is what it takes and it is what made
          Zenny, who she was on the track and who she is today.

    • / Reply

      Thanks Keta, they both were worth the effort — very interesting, and educational.

  23. / Reply

    I believe and hope for the best in IHA.
    He is a wonderful horse and I sure hope he wins the Triple Crown.
    As far as all of the news about the trainer it’s like they say “Once the bell is rung you can’t unring it”.
    It’s going to be rung over and over for a few weeks. Nothing to be done except let the darn thing dig itself out.
    News members and fans should get behind IHA and enjoy this stunning moment in history. I may mute my TV when I watch the race. I only want to enjoy the race. I want to enjoy IHA when he crosses the finish line.
    Zenny I still love you best. I love baby Z too.
    Happy Memorial Day to all.
    Thanks to all of the troops active and non active. I don’t even want to think about what the world would be like without all of you. Hats off to all of you.
    Last words on Hansen the White Flash. Go H Go we love you too.

  25. / Reply

    Three Chimneys Farm‏ tweeted
    Want to take I’ll Have Another for a spin?
    Click below to hop up into the saddle at Pimlico for one of the…
    http://fb.me/14P23IA34
    Keta note: This video is not as smooth as some we have seen. There are many hesitations
    I’ll Have Another’s dark-tipped ears are so cute!!

    • / Reply

      Keta. A big thank you. This is a great video. IHA has nice ears for sure, and he is an interesting color, a very bright chestnut. For Lava fans, the Man himself appears at the end of the gallop wearing his signature red nose band.

    • / Reply

      GREAT VIDEO KETA; I WONDER IF IHA IS BILINGUAL ????
      HE IS SCARY FAST AND THAT WAS ONLY A GALLOP;
      CAN YOU IMAGINE 2-3 TIMES FASTER IN A RACE !!!!

  26. / Reply

    After reading all the articles on O’Neill, I’m a bit baffled. If it’s proven that he had nothing to do with this and that anything could cause a high Co2 level, well then, why are they suspending and fining him? There has to be more to it then, what we have read or heard. CHRB should do more and over turn thier ruling. It’s only tarnishing this man and new and old fans won’t go to the depths that most of us do to find the truth.
    With that said: Go IHA!!!!

    Zenny I love you and your Prince.

    • / Reply

      It seems to be a case of ” We agree you aren’t guilty but just to make sure no one else thinks they can get away with it, we’ll punish you, just to intimidate other trainers.”
      I think, personally, that it does set an example of the fact that O’Neill has a potential TC winner, but it doesn’t put him above the rules, so neither are the rest of the trainers. I don’t agree that punishment is necessary if the source of the unusually high levels is unknown, and many agree that it could have come from anywhere, but at the same time, I understand why it is being done. Sometimes mistakes are made, and we must all be accountable for them when things go well and not so well.

    • / Reply

      I think it’s a “letter of the law” thing. The violation occurred. The horse had elevated TCO2, accidental or not. Since O’Neill is the trainer of record, he gets the violation even if it was an accident, employee screwup, or whatever. Sometimes violations are just bad luck–the horse gets a dose of something for a legitimate medical reason. The trainer waits several days and assumes the drug has left the horse’s system. Sometimes it has, but sometimes it hasn’t. Someone posted a link on anther thread about a violation incurred by Todd Pletcher, in which he gave a sick filly an antibiotic and (IIRC) a local anesthetic or something connected with it that showed up on a blood test as a banned drug. He had only given her that antibiotic because she wasn’t responding to the usual ones. It is hard to separate mistakes from genuine cheating, sometimes.

      • / Reply

        THANKS SO MUCH LAURA J FOR PUTTING THESE DRUG ISSUES INTO
        PERSPECTIVE. HAPPENS TO ALL TRAINERS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREER
        AS YOU SAID MISTAKE OR WHATEVER.

        DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE ‘BAD’ TRAINERS !!!!

        HORSES NEED MEDICATION FOR SOMETHINGS JUST LIKE HUMANS

        • signofthetimes and LauraJ-It is good to see a scholarly discussion on this. O’Neill is guilty because a trainer is responsible for everything that happens on his watch, even if he had no direct involvement in it. Training has become much less personal. I just don’t see how a trainer like Pletcher can have so many horses under his auspices and really know what is going on with them. If I had a good horse, Pletcher would be the last guy I would consider to train him or her.

        • Great point, TC a good doctor is only as good as his staff and providers;
          he is responsible for everything that goes on with his patients;

          just like horse trainers.

      • / Reply

        Well, if you want to make real. Go read the studies on this tCO2 testing. Read how it was designed, the built in parameters,who the advisors were (trainers) ,lasix issues,feed issues,where the moderately trained horse reads(30 or below).

        There has been given a lot of rope…just don’t hang yourself.

  28. / Reply

    Here’s wishing all of our Zster family a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend. And a salute to those who served our country. What’s going on at the farm Big Mama!

  29. / Reply

    Have a very good holiday weekend Zenny…..give NotSoWeeZee a peppermint kiss from me…..sure would like to see how Tasty …littleTT…and his stepmom are doing…
    kisses for all soft noses everywhere….everyone have a happy…and safe…holiday…

  30. / Reply

    Hi Z Family,
    I did not get accepted into Cazenovia College. Oh well, I still have senior year to apply ad try again.

    Prince Z is so big and handsome. He’s a fire cracker of a horse and that will serve him well on the track.

    I jumped yesterday and the jump height was raised, so I am progressing along pretty well..

    • / Reply

      Oh No – you worked so hard too!
      WooWhoo on your jump height – you go girl!

      • / Reply

        Thank you, I was worried when the bar was raised (literally and figuratively) but I cleared it with no problems and the trainer was happy.

        It’s alright with the Caz thing. I still have senior year to try again, I am staying optimistic and am focusing now on my pending BC trip and am getting my catalogs and pp charts ready. I want to be as prepared as possible when I place my first ever bet without someone doing it for me! I’m excited to turn 17, good things happen at that age, more importantly, my eligibility to on-track bet. ;-)

        • All of your “fans” here on the blog are sorry to hear this. However, we are all certain that you will come out on top after your senior year. You don’t need luck, because you have the talent.

        • Thank you so much for the unending support. I am very lucky to have such amazing “fans” and Z family.

    • / Reply

      Keep up those riding lessons, El Vino may be yours when he retires.

      • / Reply

        Oh that would be the most wonderful thing ever! I would love to have a piece of Team Z, no matter how direct or indirect, and he just looks like such a good boy. He has so much potential to other things.

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