Zenyatta

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Zenyatta News

Looking Ahead For 2014

Zenyatta greets a fan. Photo by Alys Emson.
Z greets a fan. Photo by Alys Emson.
Happy New Year Zenyatta Fans!

We hope everyone had a joyous holiday season filled with friends and family. As you may have noticed, Team Z took some time off to celebrate and to make plans for the coming year. We’ve been dreaming up blog features, new Zenyatta products, and eagerly anticipating the birth of Zenyatta’s third foal.

In the meantime, Zenyatta and 13Z have been greeting the winners of our Zenyatta.com Celebration drawing with enthusiasm. We’ll share Alys’ photos from these visits in a future blog post.

Before the holidays we asked you to show us how you’re using your Celebration Stickers. A few of our favorite submissions are below. Thanks Susan, Mary Ellen, Pam, and Cathleen for your photos!

We always welcome feedback from the fans. Send photos of your Zenyatta products in use or suggestions for the future to fans@zenyatta.com. We can’t reply to every email, but we do read everything!

We approach the new year with a sense of gratitude for this loving community. We’re excited to see what this year will bring, and we hope you are too!

-Team Z

Celebration Stickers in action!
Celebration Stickers in action!

P.S. Check out this article about Coz in the LA Times!

Reader Interactions

633 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Dear Kathy A beautiful post.Sometimes I think Ray “sees” more than we do!lovely weather with both him and Joey ,am sure they are glad to see the sun again.As for Boo and Buddy think I’ve said it all they are just TOO cute for words. Hope all goes well at the doctors.Hugs to you,Kisses for the Puppy Pack.Sheena

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      It went well at the doctor’s. It wasn’t as bad as Steve imagined it might be. We should have the results in about a week.

      Hugs, Kathy.

  3. / Reply

    RIP St Nick…..recovering from laminitis…..colic got him…I just hats this…really thought he would win his battle..

      • / Reply

        RIP St. Nick. Just after he was progressing from the laminitis, the stupid colic strikes him again. The year of the horse is not starting out very well.

    • / Reply

      Very sad news. St. Nick put up such a brave fight. I hope somebody somewhere is doing research on risk factors for colic AND approaches for preventing it. I can hardly believe that TWO horses that I have actually seen race (Dullahan being the other) have been stricken down by this dreadful condition.

      • / Reply

        Dear Sandy:

        So sad. Colic is really very scary; worry about the horses all the time. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Oh No!
      I am so sad to hear this. He was fighting so valiantly and was doing everything right in order to heal. What a tragic outcome — colic takes another brave heart.
      RIP St. Nicholas Abbey; we will not forget you, beautiful boy.

  5. / Reply

    Have just been on Coolmore facebook, he was recovering so well now and then this colic had to happen,sometimes life is just too cruel!!Bless you, Darling boy, you are at peace now.Heartbroken.Love SheenaX

  9. / Reply

    No no no! Laminitis and colic seem to be the dreaded one-two punch that claims so many innocent victims. Makes the recovery of Paynter seem all the more miraculous. At least Nick is pain free now and has a whole stable of friends to run and play with across the Rainbow Bridge. RIP sweet boy.

    • / Reply

      So sorry to hear about St. Nick. At least we know his owners fought for him, spared no expense in his treatment and made the best decision for him in the end. RIP!

    • / Reply

      Paynter is indeed a miracle horse. He is tougher than nails, perhaps the Tiznow line supplied that incredible strength to fight and win against all odds. Live long and well, Paynter. Oxbow and Paynter, love both of those guys.

  10. / Reply

    Such sad news about St. Nick Abbey, Reminds me of the injury to Barbaro. I was praying that he had rounded the corner. Colic and laminitis the two most difficult challenges for our horses. SNA fought such a good fight so very sorry he lost the battle. He was so special.

  11. / Reply

    A special salute to Coolmore who gave St. Nicholas Abbey every chance for recovery
    and let him go when the battle was clearly over.
    Channel 4 Racing ‏tweet
    St Nicholas Abbey was found to have “a severe strangulating colon torsion that was unviable and he had to be euthanized on humane grounds.”
    RIP St. Nicholas Abbey. You will be remembered for your bravery both on and off
    the course.

  13. / Reply

    Happy new year Zsters ♥
    i hope eevery1 had a good christmas :)

    @sheena, trina, & Sue FL CPRC – thx so much for ur emails. sorry i havent responded yet.
    ive been sick since xmas. but i just wanted to let u know i got them & appriciate u sending me stuff ♥

    @all whose bdays i may have missed – happy belated bday & i hope it was a blessed day for u ♥

    may SNA rip over the rainbow brigde.

    todays inspiration:

    Under God’s Umbrella

    God’s umbrella has kept me from getting soaked. It has given me peace, hope, and even joy in the midst of the hardest times I’ve ever faced. Several years ago God allowed a storm to brew in my life that I never expected. It began as a drop, became a drizzle, and finally the heavens opened, and I found myself in an outright downpour.
    After my storm began, I spent a lot of time trying to make sense of things. How could a loving God let this happen? Why wasn’t He taking care of me? I still don’t have the answers to all of those questions, but I no longer wonder if God loves me. I can see His hand even in times of difficult . I can sense Him grieving with me when I’m sad. Most of all, I have His umbrella over me, and His presence with me. There’s a verse that says “His banner over me is love.” I have my own version of that verse now: ìHis umbrella over me is love!
    I’ve also come to believe we don’t have to wait for blue skies in order for God to use the rain that’s fallen in our lives. That can start right here, right now. So wherever you are and whatever your storm may be, know that you are not alone. God is with you, and He is whispering messages about the rain to your heart that will change your world forever if you only dare to believe them. I’m praying for you as I write these words, and I’ll still be praying for you as you read them.

    -Excerpt by Holley Gerth

    may god bless u all
    hugs/prayers, vamp

  18. / Reply

    Dear Max I was so sad to hear the news as Nick was improving now.I couldn’t stop the tears I think I will remember him more for his courage in fighting his injuries and setbacks even more than his great racing career.As you can see I still make mistakes in posting links so I’d prefer you to carry on posting Hovis if you don’t mind.
    Did you see about Moose being made a mascot for a hotel in Royal Wootton Basset? His fame is spreading far and wide.Hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. I completely sympathize. I feel heartsick about this loss of so fine a horse. He distinguished himself both on and off the track. He had an incredible temperament and he battled on bravely for many months. And we cannot forget that he is a son of Montjeu and could have made a valuable contribution in continuing that important Northern Dancer sire line. Great loss all around. This year has not started off so well for horse lovers.
      As far as the Moose is concerned, I hope that his fame spreads far and wide in the UK, Europe and the ROTW. That punishment inflicted on our hero was too severe. Let the Moose run!

  19. / Reply

    Dear Max I get newsletters from Coolmore Ireland and they sent me one later in the afternoon about St Nick. As you know, Montjeu was a great sire of Derby winners ,it’s a blow to Coolmore to have lost father and son.It must be hard on the vets who treated him too, I know from programmes I watch how they hate to lose a patient. We need horses like Moose and Hovis to cheer us! Hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena, Let us hope that St. Nick like Barbaro and Ferdinand left a legacy of hope and healing for those who come after him. The treatment of laminitis improved with what was learned with Barbaro and Old Friends came about because of Ferdinand’s sacrifice. No better tribute could be paid to him other than others live because he lived.

    • / Reply

      Sheena. Agree. Montjeu was a horse with issues and if he had been human he would have been an eccentric genius according to his jockey. No one told that horse what to do. He won the Arc, not an easy feat. In addition to Nick, he is the father of Hurricane Fly. The Fly also does not take orders. Still coltish at 10, The Fly will bItes anyone who crosses his path. Even Mullins is not immune. Love that horse. Stay well, Fly.

  20. / Reply

    Dear Janet

    Thanks a million times over for the video of Orfevre. He’s gorgeous. Sure been wanting to see a video of him. Have sure missed him. Haven’t been in here for a few days and went to my email and Judy allerted me.
    How did you find this. So glad you did.
    So upset about Nick, but this put a smile on my face. I sure needed to see this.
    Thanks again so much.

    Not sure what he was thinking about all the snow, though. I bet he was dreaming about some green grass.

    • / Reply

      Peggy I found it on the thoroughbred champions forum. They have many topics and I found this under Breeding, then I went to The Rise of Sunday Silence and went to page 7 where I found the video.
      Hope this helps and I hope they post on Orfevre whenever there is something new, I think someone posted that they heard he has a full book of mares already.

      http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/forum/

  21. / Reply

    This year has sure started off hard to take. Our beautiful Nick. I heard about it about lunch time today. I think about the song can’t remember who sings about it but its about all the recording artists that have left us. They talk about all the artists that have gone to heaven. Talks about what a great band they have to have there.
    I have to think about that but in terms of horses. I know the good lord sure has a heck of some stables up there. I know we will see them again one day. Didn’t the good lord say when he returned it would be on a white horse. I have to remember that.
    Love you St Nick, Will see you again.

  24. / Reply

    Dear Z Family:

    Just heard the sad news that St. Nick has lost his battle; a very brave one too. He fought for a long time. RIP beautiful boy. What a horrible two weeks it has been for losses of our beloved TBs. Love and Hugs, JB

  26. / Reply

    I don’t know if this was posted before, but I think it applies to all the animals that we loved and those that loved us back.

    I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep.
    I could see that you were crying, You found it hard to sleep.
    I whined to you softly as you brushed away a tear,
    “It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.”

    I was close to you at breakfast, I watched you pour the tea,
    You were thinking of the many times, your hands reached down to me.
    I was with you at the shops today, Your arms were getting sore.
    I longed to take your parcels, I wish I could do more.

    I was with you at my grave today, You tend it with such care.
    I want to re-assure you, that I’m not lying there.
    I walked with you towards the house, as you fumbled for your key.
    I gently put my paw on you, I smiled and said ” it’s me.”

    You looked so very tired, and sank into a chair.
    I tried so hard to let you know, that I was standing there.
    It’s possible for me, to be so near you everyday.
    To say to you with certainty, “I never went away.”
    You sat there very quietly, then smiled, I think you knew…
    In the stillness of that evening, I was very close to you.

    The day is over… I smile and watch you yawning
    and say “good-night, God bless, I’ll see you in the morning.”
    And when the time is right for you to cross the brief divide,
    I’ll rush across to greet you and we’ll stand, side by side.
    I have so many things to show you, there is so much for you to see.

    Be patient, live your journey out…then come home to be with me.

    Author ~ Sammie Klaehn

    • / Reply

      Dear Pati,

      Just wonderful and so true. Love the last sentence.
      When I think about heaven also I think about God saying that the Lamb would lie down with the Lion there. What a wonderful place it must be.

    • / Reply

      Dear Patti and Peggy:

      Crying; but such beautiful thoughts of seeing them all again. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        I don’t know. I move in Saturday. I’ll be starting classes a bit late, but they know I’m coming. I’m nervous for my first day but I’m looking forward to being a Kentuckian. :-)

    • / Reply

      Thanks Pati – could hardly see by the end of it. I’m sure that we can all easily imagine the “horse version.”

      • / Reply

        I’m excited to show all of you my pictures from Saratoga and my various other field trips from Caz. I’ll miss my friends and the Caz ponies up there, but I’m looking forward to moving and finding a job in Kentucky. Maybe take part in the Flying Start program. I’m excited with my prospects.

  28. / Reply

    Today is the birthday of that darling redhead, Karen Gogue. Here is a slightly revised version of the poem I wrote for her two years ago. Note: As I understand it, the second syllable of her last name is pronounced like “gwee.” (Did I get it right this time, Karen?)

    A Birthday Poem for Karen Gogue
    January 15, 2014

    Our dear Karen Gogue
    Is not just a Z Dumpling (with a capital D)—
    In fact, she’s Z Dumpling #1
    Since she’s the one
    As you may have heard
    Who thought it’d be fun
    To use that word
    For fans of the Queen.
    Enter then too
    Diana S, known as Diastu,
    And the rest, as they say, is history,
    For on the racing scene
    A Dumpling tag has become
    The “must have” accessory!
    You will also recall
    How Karen kindly a cake
    And birthday cards did take
    On behalf of us all
    When she on Barn 55 did call
    To celebrate John Shirreff’s special date.
    And then about that day
    To us she did relate
    That to her own dismay,
    And not with intention at all,
    She her fingers had stuck in the cake,
    For heaven’s sake!
    (But a good time was had by all!)
    Karen is as sweet
    As anyone could be!
    We need no dramatic soliloquy
    To see
    Inside the soul of Karen Gogue:
    A nicer person
    You’ll never meet!
    You she’ll treat
    Like her own family.
    For her sons
    She’ll do anything to see
    Them never glum,
    And for every daughter
    Equally,
    Like a loving mother oughta,
    She’ll fill any special need
    And thank God every day
    For that opportunity.
    I have to say
    That in my eyes
    Karen Gogue
    Is an angel in disguise!
    By the way,
    Dear Z,
    That is what Karen often says of you,
    And for both of you it’s true!

    Happy birthday, Karen, and many happy returns!

    • / Reply

      Happy Birthday Karen!! I join Terry in saying that we miss you here. Can’t even remember your last “talk” with Zenny, and now we’ve got two boys who would love to hear from you. Thank you for everything you have done to make my BC trips so memorable, and very best wishes for a happy, HEALTHY year! ♥♥♥

      Trina – great to see you here and thanks for the reprise of your awesome, hit-the-nail-on-the-head poem.

      • / Reply

        Dear Karen:

        Wishing you a very Happy, Happy Birthday. Always enjoy your wonderful videos. Thank you. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      ♥ HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAREN, GF!!! ♥
      Karen does wonderful videos to share with us racing fans! She and I “troll” the track (and sometimes the backside when it’s acceptable to the tainers) and capture moments that some peeps never get to see, or feel what it’s like.
      If you are on FB be sure to look for her and friend her :-) She is quite the social butterfly on there, too ;-)
      I have to share a brief story about Karen. She and I had our picture taken together at Holywood Park back in 2010 “before” we even knew each other. We had made Zenny posters.
      Karen and I have had some belly laughs, and shed tears together – of joy and sorrow – the past few years. I cherish her friendship! She is a TRUE friend and I thank her for her loyal friendship through the good times and the bad times.
      XO Love ya ♥ Judy (aka Ethel – she’s Lucy) LOL

    • / Reply

      Hi Karen:
      Happy belated birthday. I am so sorry I missed your day. I hope it was a special as you are and I wish you many, many more. Thank you for capturing all the wonderful memories and sharing them with us through your videos.

      Wishing you all the very best always.

      Love and Hugs,

      – Linda

  30. / Reply

    RP Bloodstock tweet Wed. Jan. 15 2014 FRANKEL’s FIRST FOAL
    The wait is over! The first foal by undefeated world champion Frankel arrived at Coolmore on Saturday night.
    Champions Series ‏tweets The foal has been described as a ‘handsome bay colt’ and was born at 20:30 on Saturday, and has a ‘white blaze’. A future Series star?
    Juddmonte Farms General Manager Philip Mitchell said: “Frankel’s first foal is everything we could have hoped for
    Francis Keogh ‏tweet Coolmore Stud report that Frankel’s first foal, a bay colt born to mare Chrysanthemum, is ‘handsome with a good head and great presence’

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