Happy holidays from Zenyatta, Vixana, and all of Team Z!
Photo by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End FarmPhoto by Alys Emson/Lane’s End Farm
“On Christmas Day, Japan celebrates its favourite racehorses with the running of the Group One Arima Kinen, for which most of the field is decided by a pubic vote.”
Gold Ship, Orfevre, the ‘Spinner’ and His Madness – the lovable racetrack rogues of Japanese racing
Some of Japan’s best gallopers seem to have a screw loose – we assess four great horses’ madness with our exclusive ‘red ribbon ratings’
South China Morning Post PUBLISHED : Saturday, 24 December, 2016
While there seems to be a correlation between leading vote-getter in Japan’s biggest “all-star” race, the Arima Kinen, and Horse of the Year honours, in recent years those horses have been completely, certifiably and endearingly, mad.
What is it about these crazy Japanese racehorses? Or maybe crazy isn’t the right word, what about “quirky”, a word that seems to describe so much about the country’s colourful racing culture.
On Christmas Day, Japan celebrates its favourite racehorses with the running of the Group One Arima Kinen, for which most of the field is decided by a pubic vote. http://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/2057075/gold-ship-orfevre-spinner-and-his-madness-lovable-racetrack-rogues
To my dearest Zenyatta, Team Z, Lanes End, and all my Z family.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakah and blessings to all.
I am so thankful for this blog and all my friends here and for all Team Z and Lanes End share with us all. God bless you all.
I always walk outside and look up at the sky at midnight on Christmas Eve. The time is getting close but I wanted to wish happiness and cheer to all of you before I go out.
Zenyatta, my angel I love you forever. Have a Merry, Happy, Blessed Christmas/Hannakah everyone. Love Darlene
MERRY CHRISTMAS to Zenyatta and & her boys & all of their connections!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of the Z-bloggers both present & past!
Thank you to everyone for the gifts we have shared with each other, including this blog & the news & links you have posted.
My wish for everyone and all of earth’s creatures is that we all be blessed this season & in the coming year with love, happiness & health. May we all feel God’s loving care no matter what life brings us. God bless us, everyone.
p.s. Z – I hope you & the other horses enjoy your peppermints.
My memories are filled with special people and the things they said, beautiful Christmas trees, and the smells of delicious food: homemade sausage sizzling in the skillet and the rich fragrance of coffee boiling on the wood range. My grandmother told me that drinking coffee would turn my knees black. I didn’t worry about that because I suspected that by the time I climbed all the trees I wanted to my knees would be almost black anyway. I love the memory of Grandfather taking a bite of carrots, then widening his eyes and saying, “Now I can see so much better!” I knew he was pretending and the carrots still didn’t taste any better to me, but I loved the charade and the laughter it caused. I loved Grandmother’s hot biscuits and the love she baked in each one. But perhaps what I loved best was that Christmas was about the birth of a child-and I loved being a part of that child every day of my life.
He promised us he would return to the sky no more, that he would remain at the end of the earth and guide us the ghosts of our fathers.
-Kicking Bird, Kiowa
Thank you for sharing the Merry of Zenyatta!! She always lifts my heart, and I’ve needed it these past few days. My husband of 47 years had to have emergency colon surgery yesterday and we are spending our Christmas at the hospital, but the gift is that his operation went well and my family is with us, so we are truly blessed. To open this site and see these cute photos of Zenny having a good time is wonderful. Thank you for continuing to share her with us.
All the very best wishes to you and to your husband as he recovers. Glad to hear that things with well with the operation, and hope that his recovery will be smooth, quick and complete. Keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas and may the New year be bright and healthy!
Dear Celeste,
Will be keeping your husband and you and your family in my prayers. So glad the surgery went well and that your family is there with you both. Pray God’s many blessings for a healthy and wonderful 2017 for you and your whole family.
with love, Elizabeth
Yet another celebrated musician has died.George Michael the other half of Wham during the 80’s passed peacefully today at his Oxfordshire home aged 53yrs.He was very ill with pneumonia a few years ago but his death has come as a greak shock to his many fans.RIP.
Lest we forget the Christmas of 50yrs ago when Arkle ran his final race.Carrying 12st 7lbs he refused to give in to the searing pain in his hoof because of a cracked pedal bone.His courage was immense.He recovered and was believed to be returning to the racecourse but on October 8th 1968 his owner Anne Duchess of Westminster quietly announced his retirement.We were comforted he would live the rest of his life in the kindest of hands.Sadly it was not to be Arkle grew increasingly stiff infra-red lamps were installed in his box and he received regular cortisone injections.It was late may 1970 the duchess had been over and Arkle had been lying down a lot .A few days after she returned home his old friend and jockey Pat called.The mighty horse was having great difficulty moving. His vets returned once more to examine him and the Duchess was called .She made the last hardest decision in his life.When she went in to say her farewells he was lying down.On May 31st 1970 the great horse received his final injection and went to sleep forever.All steeplechasers since those heady days have been compared and found wanting.No horse has come near his rating of 212 except Flyingbolt another horse trained by Tom Dreaper but he was a completely different character,Arkle had the most amazing personality.A divine freak.I was privileged to be around to watch this phenomenan race and I thank him for my memories.Love Sheena The tumult and the shouting dies,
The captain and kings depart;
Now stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and contrite heart.
Thank you for the tribute to Arkle on the 50th anniversary of his final race. How very sad that he didn’t get to live out his days in comfort and relaxation. Love the Rudyard Kipling quote, too. Mr. Kipling was a favorite of my grandfather, the poems and especially The Jungle Book from which he used to read to me when I was small.
Dear Marshall.So many of the modern racegoers do not remember the incomparable Arkle.I was privileged to be around in his lifetime.I always feel sad he was denied a gentle old age.The Duchess adored him and loved riding him around the farm.He was unique.I hope you, Bailey and Smudge had a wonderful Christmas.Love and hugs.
We cannot lose what is truly ours and we cannot lose that which did not belong to us in the first place.
We must know that everything is balanced out with something, though just what may be difficult to detect at times. We have to believe that when one door closes, another one opens. As Emerson put it, “We cannot part with our friends. We cannot let our angels go. We do not see that they only go out that archangels may come in.” So as hard as it may be, we need to let our “angels” go so that something greater can come to us. With time and faith, we may grow enough to accept something even greater.
When they [the Sauk] imagine they have seen a ghost, the friends of the deceased immediately give a feast and hang up some clothing as an offering to pacify the troubled spirit of the deceased: they pray by singing over certain words before they lay down at night, they hum over a prayer also about sunrise in the morning.
Thomas Forsyth, 1827
Dear Kathy.A beautiful day at Kempton for the races.A couple of nasty falls and they are looking back at old King George’s.I hope you and Steve had a lovely Christmas with the pups.Very quiet here but nice Julie is at the hunt today not my cup of tea.I sent you some pics of Charlotte and George who attended church for the first time.Surprised Her Majesty stayed away.
We were all saddened to hear of George Michael’s death last night.Another troubled soul but a very private man.He hadn’t been very well these past 4/5 years.I was more a fan of 60’s music the 80’s seemed to pass me by.Charlotte,Tim Alan and Dean were busy mucking out yesterday but there was no sign of granddad Carl!Can just about see the statues of Kauto and Dessie.I had always hoped Kauto could parade for many years to come but Dessie had a decent owner.I shall say no more.
All our furbabies looked to have had a great Christmas Felix had a good time with auntie Jean and lots of treats.Mango had lots of cards and donations.We do not get much news on Boo now.Milo got a lift home from the Norff Pole.He sabed Christmas!The Christmas hurdle is on now.Different tactics from my tent or yours.Yanworth wins for JP Mcmanus!I sent Mother Theresa a Christmas card and got a personally signed reply on Saturday.2 mice from no10 have twitter accounts now Cornelius and Pesky.Now for the big race.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXOXO
Oh, I hope everyone is okay after those nasty falls. We had a lovely Christmas, thank you. I hope you enjoyed your time with your cousin. Thank you for the pics of Charlotte and George! That was a surprise that Her Majesty stayed away. Yes, the death of George Michael was a shock. When you’re young pretty much everyone who dies is much older than you but then the time comes where you’re older than so many who have passed. A very strange feeling! Good for Charlotte, Tim and Dean, mucking out stalls. Not what most of us associate with Christmas Day! Always so painful to look back on how so many horses are treated so badly. Thankfully Dessie’s owner was decent. Shameful about poor Kauto. Yes, the FB furbabies all had a good Christmas. Thank you Milo for saving it! That’s pretty cool that you heard back from Mother Theresa! Cornelius and Pesky sound cute! Enjoy all the races. Have a wonderful day. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO
A new star is born at Kempton.Thistlecrack the novice demolishes the field in the King George.A brilliant round of jumping.I remember his jockey Tom’s granddad Michael
winning the Grand National on Oxo.That ages me! http://www.facebook.com/racinguk/
Thanks for this info on the races today. Congrats to Thistle; as well as Min, Bellshill, Bapaume and Mr. Mullins. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT. Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties
My eyes have misted over reading both of these stories — simply beautiful and heartwarming! So glad Steady Eddie and Begum had such caring owners with the willingness to do whatever was needed to give these little foals a chance to adapt to or overcome their handicap. Beautiful stories for this holiday season, too.
Thank you so much for both of these uplifting articles!
Dear Judy,
Such kind and generous people who listened to their hearts. Thanks so much for posting these. Hope you have a wonderful day. With love, Elizabeth
An extremely sad day at Wincanton with the deaths of 3 horses Velator,Saint Ralph and Western Cape.Farcical scenes in Velator ‘s race where Hollow Blue Sky was the only runner left and being forced to jump the fence but he channelled his inner Moosie and refused.Ashamed of his jockey for whipping an obviously frightened horse.
RIP Velator, Saint Ralph and Western Cape. So sorry, sweet ones.
Apologies to Hollow Blue Sky for having to endure such stupidity and abuse from that unfeeling jockey. Wishing HBS better days ahead with more understanding and kindness.
Great news that Gary Stevens is recovering nicely from his hip surgery done last Wednesday. He is not only up and about, but at the track getting around quite nicely.
What do we look back on and count as the end of the year draws nearer-the hard things, the sorrows, the opportunities? Most likely the year brought a little bit of each to us. We may have experienced hurt-some deeper than we expected, some that still hurts-but if we tell ourselves that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, we will overcome it all.
As the New Year approaches, remember that although we may be no match for the troubles that we encounter, our angels are. It is our responsibility to speak for what is right, and then we let the ministering angels carry the ball. Their purpose is to help us, and our purpose is to give thanks and sing rather than cry.
Never let anybody be in a position to puzzle you in regard to what is right.
-Winnebago
Dear Kathy.Yes,I often wonder what 2017 will bring us but it will fine for you with President Fibbs in the White House.A much colder day here frosty overnight.Our big day at Chepstow with the Welsh Grand National.Mullins had a 4-timer and the mighty Douvan has extended his unbeaten record.Someone commented who has he beaten?Somebody always has to spoil things.Nicky looks to have another great horse in Altior a superb win at Kempton now favourite for the Arkle.Poor Sire got rid of Jamie blood running down Jamie’s face after a kick more worrying is blood in Sire’s mouth.They are examining him.Hope all is well he may have bitten his tongue.Bryn Terfel and Rebecca Evans singing “Land of my Fathers” at Chepstow.Paul Nicholls says Thistlecrack reminds him of Kauto.Now there’s a compliment.Not a word on RP about Wincanton yesterday.I was disgusted.These jockeys know they are being filmed.
Felix has arrived back at the station and forgotten her password Oops!She had a great time with Auntie Jean.Zoe is looking forward to her visits.Native River wins the Welsh National front running display under 11st 12lb another big race victory for Colin Tizzard.He is 12-1 for the Gold cup now.He is a true stayer and he is only 6.Big story about Kate is the many plasters she has worn on her fingers lately.Clumsy girl!I hope you have a good day.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXOXOLast day for C4 racing ITV on sunday.
Oh no…back to work today! I hope you will stay cozy today in you cold weather. Enjoy all the wonderful racing. Prayers for all who were injured! Quick recovery, Jamie and Sire! Forgotten passwords is a problem we all share in this day and age. Diane might post some of today’s Devotional in tonight’s Zoe post. I’ll look for that! Congratulations to Native River! I’ll have to look up the story on Kate’s plasters! I hope you have a good day, too. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO
Huge Congratulations to Native River for carrying 11st 12lbs to victory in the Welsh Grand National.A true professional and only 6.Such choices for Tizzard in the Gold Cup now.Bring it on. All roads now lead to the festival.
Still smiling over the great win in the La Brea yesterday by Constellation!! Got to meet her when she was in early training at Mayberry Farms in Florida back in 2014 (such a fun day with my sister, Debbie G, and Sue R from Florida). Sweetest horse ever, and she went on to a great start in the east under Steve A. Three wins, a second, and a third out of her first 5 races, and then last March she came in fourth as the odds-on favorite in a race at Aqueduct. She then dropped completely off the radar! After months and months, I started getting workout notices from Los Alamitos (??). Turns out she was transferred to Jerry Hollendorfer (and who knows what transpired in the meantime?), but she easily won a come-back race at Turf Paradise and then surprised a lot of peeps (not ME, of course) on opening day at Santa Anita. Wishing her and all of her connections (LNJ Foxwoods) a great 2017 campaign!
So exciting, especially since you met her. Congrats to Constellation.
I remember seeing a photo from her Mayberry days. She has little white specks on her, right, Sandy? Thus her name?
Yes, wishing her all the BEST!!!!
Yes Ann! She has the little white specks that someone cleverly likened to stars ? Marcy Leonard did a great cartoon today for her win that involves a telescope!
I hope your Christmas was full of love, good cheer, and many mouth-watering treats!
You girls look absolutely stunning in the Kentucky sunshine.
Here is wishing you both a wonderful new year ahead. May you both be blessed with health and happiness. And of course I’m sending prayers for the little one on the way! :)
The death has just been announced over here of actress/writer Carrie Fisher.Aged 60 she will always be remembered for her role as Princess Leia in Star wars.One of her last interviews was on our Graham Norton show just before Christmas.Yet another star who battled with addictions.I was never a fan of Star wars so I remember her parents Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher best.Married at one time to Paul Simon she leaves a daughter Billie.Now a real star in the Heavens RIP.
Lynne
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Zenyatta and Vixana and all the dedicated
staff that provide the TLC !!!
Bluegrass Girl
“On Christmas Day, Japan celebrates its favourite racehorses with the running of the Group One Arima Kinen, for which most of the field is decided by a pubic vote.”
Gold Ship, Orfevre, the ‘Spinner’ and His Madness – the lovable racetrack rogues of Japanese racing
Some of Japan’s best gallopers seem to have a screw loose – we assess four great horses’ madness with our exclusive ‘red ribbon ratings’
South China Morning Post PUBLISHED : Saturday, 24 December, 2016
While there seems to be a correlation between leading vote-getter in Japan’s biggest “all-star” race, the Arima Kinen, and Horse of the Year honours, in recent years those horses have been completely, certifiably and endearingly, mad.
What is it about these crazy Japanese racehorses? Or maybe crazy isn’t the right word, what about “quirky”, a word that seems to describe so much about the country’s colourful racing culture.
On Christmas Day, Japan celebrates its favourite racehorses with the running of the Group One Arima Kinen, for which most of the field is decided by a pubic vote.
http://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/2057075/gold-ship-orfevre-spinner-and-his-madness-lovable-racetrack-rogues
Darlene Daniels
To my dearest Zenyatta, Team Z, Lanes End, and all my Z family.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hannakah and blessings to all.
I am so thankful for this blog and all my friends here and for all Team Z and Lanes End share with us all. God bless you all.
I always walk outside and look up at the sky at midnight on Christmas Eve. The time is getting close but I wanted to wish happiness and cheer to all of you before I go out.
Zenyatta, my angel I love you forever. Have a Merry, Happy, Blessed Christmas/Hannakah everyone. Love Darlene
Donna Z
MERRY CHRISTMAS to Zenyatta and & her boys & all of their connections!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all of the Z-bloggers both present & past!
Thank you to everyone for the gifts we have shared with each other, including this blog & the news & links you have posted.
My wish for everyone and all of earth’s creatures is that we all be blessed this season & in the coming year with love, happiness & health. May we all feel God’s loving care no matter what life brings us. God bless us, everyone.
p.s. Z – I hope you & the other horses enjoy your peppermints.
Kathy
December 25 Cherokee Devotional
My memories are filled with special people and the things they said, beautiful Christmas trees, and the smells of delicious food: homemade sausage sizzling in the skillet and the rich fragrance of coffee boiling on the wood range. My grandmother told me that drinking coffee would turn my knees black. I didn’t worry about that because I suspected that by the time I climbed all the trees I wanted to my knees would be almost black anyway. I love the memory of Grandfather taking a bite of carrots, then widening his eyes and saying, “Now I can see so much better!” I knew he was pretending and the carrots still didn’t taste any better to me, but I loved the charade and the laughter it caused. I loved Grandmother’s hot biscuits and the love she baked in each one. But perhaps what I loved best was that Christmas was about the birth of a child-and I loved being a part of that child every day of my life.
He promised us he would return to the sky no more, that he would remain at the end of the earth and guide us the ghosts of our fathers.
-Kicking Bird, Kiowa
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Kathy:
Beautiful Devo; thank you. Love and Hugs, JB
Susan in Fl
Merry Christmas Zenyatta, Team Z, and Zenyatta’s many fans, friends and family! Peace & Happiness!
KJ Bailey
Blessed holidays to everyone, thanks to TeamZ for everything in 2016. Special thanks to Alys, you bring the events to life with your pictures.
Celeste_in_TX
Thank you for sharing the Merry of Zenyatta!! She always lifts my heart, and I’ve needed it these past few days. My husband of 47 years had to have emergency colon surgery yesterday and we are spending our Christmas at the hospital, but the gift is that his operation went well and my family is with us, so we are truly blessed. To open this site and see these cute photos of Zenny having a good time is wonderful. Thank you for continuing to share her with us.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Celeste,
All the very best wishes to you and to your husband as he recovers. Glad to hear that things with well with the operation, and hope that his recovery will be smooth, quick and complete. Keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Merry Christmas and may the New year be bright and healthy!
Hugs and Love
Elizabeth in NM
Dear Celeste,
Will be keeping your husband and you and your family in my prayers. So glad the surgery went well and that your family is there with you both. Pray God’s many blessings for a healthy and wonderful 2017 for you and your whole family.
with love, Elizabeth
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Celeste:
Wishing your husband a complete recovery. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Love and Hugs, JB
Elizabeth in NM
Merry Christmas everyone! with love, Elizabeth
sheena.davies(wales)
Yet another celebrated musician has died.George Michael the other half of Wham during the 80’s passed peacefully today at his Oxfordshire home aged 53yrs.He was very ill with pneumonia a few years ago but his death has come as a greak shock to his many fans.RIP.
Judy B from Rhode Island
RIP GM. Love an Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
Lest we forget the Christmas of 50yrs ago when Arkle ran his final race.Carrying 12st 7lbs he refused to give in to the searing pain in his hoof because of a cracked pedal bone.His courage was immense.He recovered and was believed to be returning to the racecourse but on October 8th 1968 his owner Anne Duchess of Westminster quietly announced his retirement.We were comforted he would live the rest of his life in the kindest of hands.Sadly it was not to be Arkle grew increasingly stiff infra-red lamps were installed in his box and he received regular cortisone injections.It was late may 1970 the duchess had been over and Arkle had been lying down a lot .A few days after she returned home his old friend and jockey Pat called.The mighty horse was having great difficulty moving. His vets returned once more to examine him and the Duchess was called .She made the last hardest decision in his life.When she went in to say her farewells he was lying down.On May 31st 1970 the great horse received his final injection and went to sleep forever.All steeplechasers since those heady days have been compared and found wanting.No horse has come near his rating of 212 except Flyingbolt another horse trained by Tom Dreaper but he was a completely different character,Arkle had the most amazing personality.A divine freak.I was privileged to be around to watch this phenomenan race and I thank him for my memories.Love Sheena The tumult and the shouting dies,
The captain and kings depart;
Now stands thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and contrite heart.
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Sheena,
Thank you for the tribute to Arkle on the 50th anniversary of his final race. How very sad that he didn’t get to live out his days in comfort and relaxation. Love the Rudyard Kipling quote, too. Mr. Kipling was a favorite of my grandfather, the poems and especially The Jungle Book from which he used to read to me when I was small.
Merry Christmas, my Welsh friend!
Hugs and Love
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Marshall.So many of the modern racegoers do not remember the incomparable Arkle.I was privileged to be around in his lifetime.I always feel sad he was denied a gentle old age.The Duchess adored him and loved riding him around the farm.He was unique.I hope you, Bailey and Smudge had a wonderful Christmas.Love and hugs.
Kathy
December 26 Cherokee Devotional
We cannot lose what is truly ours and we cannot lose that which did not belong to us in the first place.
We must know that everything is balanced out with something, though just what may be difficult to detect at times. We have to believe that when one door closes, another one opens. As Emerson put it, “We cannot part with our friends. We cannot let our angels go. We do not see that they only go out that archangels may come in.” So as hard as it may be, we need to let our “angels” go so that something greater can come to us. With time and faith, we may grow enough to accept something even greater.
When they [the Sauk] imagine they have seen a ghost, the friends of the deceased immediately give a feast and hang up some clothing as an offering to pacify the troubled spirit of the deceased: they pray by singing over certain words before they lay down at night, they hum over a prayer also about sunrise in the morning.
Thomas Forsyth, 1827
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Kathy.A beautiful day at Kempton for the races.A couple of nasty falls and they are looking back at old King George’s.I hope you and Steve had a lovely Christmas with the pups.Very quiet here but nice Julie is at the hunt today not my cup of tea.I sent you some pics of Charlotte and George who attended church for the first time.Surprised Her Majesty stayed away.
We were all saddened to hear of George Michael’s death last night.Another troubled soul but a very private man.He hadn’t been very well these past 4/5 years.I was more a fan of 60’s music the 80’s seemed to pass me by.Charlotte,Tim Alan and Dean were busy mucking out yesterday but there was no sign of granddad Carl!Can just about see the statues of Kauto and Dessie.I had always hoped Kauto could parade for many years to come but Dessie had a decent owner.I shall say no more.
All our furbabies looked to have had a great Christmas Felix had a good time with auntie Jean and lots of treats.Mango had lots of cards and donations.We do not get much news on Boo now.Milo got a lift home from the Norff Pole.He sabed Christmas!The Christmas hurdle is on now.Different tactics from my tent or yours.Yanworth wins for JP Mcmanus!I sent Mother Theresa a Christmas card and got a personally signed reply on Saturday.2 mice from no10 have twitter accounts now Cornelius and Pesky.Now for the big race.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXOXO
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
Oh, I hope everyone is okay after those nasty falls. We had a lovely Christmas, thank you. I hope you enjoyed your time with your cousin. Thank you for the pics of Charlotte and George! That was a surprise that Her Majesty stayed away. Yes, the death of George Michael was a shock. When you’re young pretty much everyone who dies is much older than you but then the time comes where you’re older than so many who have passed. A very strange feeling! Good for Charlotte, Tim and Dean, mucking out stalls. Not what most of us associate with Christmas Day! Always so painful to look back on how so many horses are treated so badly. Thankfully Dessie’s owner was decent. Shameful about poor Kauto. Yes, the FB furbabies all had a good Christmas. Thank you Milo for saving it! That’s pretty cool that you heard back from Mother Theresa! Cornelius and Pesky sound cute! Enjoy all the races. Have a wonderful day. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO
sheena.davies(wales)
A new star is born at Kempton.Thistlecrack the novice demolishes the field in the King George.A brilliant round of jumping.I remember his jockey Tom’s granddad Michael
winning the Grand National on Oxo.That ages me!
http://www.facebook.com/racinguk/
sheena.davies(wales)
A good day for Mullins as Min,Bellshill and Bapaume win.Bapaume beat Landofhopeandglory.Perfect weather for NH today.
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Thanks for this info on the races today. Congrats to Thistle; as well as Min, Bellshill, Bapaume and Mr. Mullins. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT. Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Z, COZ, ZI and DC:
Goodnight. Hope you all got lots of treats from Santa. Love You. Hugs, JB
Z Princess, Dubai, Baby Z, will always love you.
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Z Fans:
Two very uplifting stories of two very special horses. Enjoy! Love and Hugs, JB
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/steady-eddie-proves-not-always-money/
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/218604/blind-faith-story-of-begum-continues-to-inspire?source=rss
Marshall (NC Broad)
Dear Judy B.,
My eyes have misted over reading both of these stories — simply beautiful and heartwarming! So glad Steady Eddie and Begum had such caring owners with the willingness to do whatever was needed to give these little foals a chance to adapt to or overcome their handicap. Beautiful stories for this holiday season, too.
Thank you so much for both of these uplifting articles!
Lots of Hugs and Love
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Marshall:
You’re so welcome. So good to know it’s not always about money. Love and Hugs, JB
Donna Alsabrook
Thank you Judy. Makes a horse lover feel good to know that there are those who care more for the horse. Beautiful!
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Donna:
Indeed! Love and Hugs, JB
Elizabeth in NM
Dear Judy,
Such kind and generous people who listened to their hearts. Thanks so much for posting these. Hope you have a wonderful day. With love, Elizabeth
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Elizabeth:
Glad you enjoyed these uplifting stories. Have a great day too. Love and Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
An extremely sad day at Wincanton with the deaths of 3 horses Velator,Saint Ralph and Western Cape.Farcical scenes in Velator ‘s race where Hollow Blue Sky was the only runner left and being forced to jump the fence but he channelled his inner Moosie and refused.Ashamed of his jockey for whipping an obviously frightened horse.
Marshall (NC Broad)
RIP Velator, Saint Ralph and Western Cape. So sorry, sweet ones.
Apologies to Hollow Blue Sky for having to endure such stupidity and abuse from that unfeeling jockey. Wishing HBS better days ahead with more understanding and kindness.
Hugs and Love
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Heartbreaking; RIP Beauties. Hope that jockey is sanctioned. Love and Hugs, JB
Marshall (NC Broad)
Great news that Gary Stevens is recovering nicely from his hip surgery done last Wednesday. He is not only up and about, but at the track getting around quite nicely.
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/people/stevens-hip-replacement-surgery-body-will-tell-im-ready/
Power up, GS!!
Hugs and Love
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Marshall:
Thanks for this great update on Gary S. Healing prayers. Love and Hugs, JB
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Marshall.Gary will be back on a horse one day!Good to see him recovering so well.Hugs
Kathy
December 27 Cherokee Devotional
What do we look back on and count as the end of the year draws nearer-the hard things, the sorrows, the opportunities? Most likely the year brought a little bit of each to us. We may have experienced hurt-some deeper than we expected, some that still hurts-but if we tell ourselves that no weapon formed against us shall prosper, we will overcome it all.
As the New Year approaches, remember that although we may be no match for the troubles that we encounter, our angels are. It is our responsibility to speak for what is right, and then we let the ministering angels carry the ball. Their purpose is to help us, and our purpose is to give thanks and sing rather than cry.
Never let anybody be in a position to puzzle you in regard to what is right.
-Winnebago
sheena.davies(wales)
Dear Kathy.Yes,I often wonder what 2017 will bring us but it will fine for you with President Fibbs in the White House.A much colder day here frosty overnight.Our big day at Chepstow with the Welsh Grand National.Mullins had a 4-timer and the mighty Douvan has extended his unbeaten record.Someone commented who has he beaten?Somebody always has to spoil things.Nicky looks to have another great horse in Altior a superb win at Kempton now favourite for the Arkle.Poor Sire got rid of Jamie blood running down Jamie’s face after a kick more worrying is blood in Sire’s mouth.They are examining him.Hope all is well he may have bitten his tongue.Bryn Terfel and Rebecca Evans singing “Land of my Fathers” at Chepstow.Paul Nicholls says Thistlecrack reminds him of Kauto.Now there’s a compliment.Not a word on RP about Wincanton yesterday.I was disgusted.These jockeys know they are being filmed.
Felix has arrived back at the station and forgotten her password Oops!She had a great time with Auntie Jean.Zoe is looking forward to her visits.Native River wins the Welsh National front running display under 11st 12lb another big race victory for Colin Tizzard.He is 12-1 for the Gold cup now.He is a true stayer and he is only 6.Big story about Kate is the many plasters she has worn on her fingers lately.Clumsy girl!I hope you have a good day.Love and hugs to you,Kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXOXOLast day for C4 racing ITV on sunday.
Kathy
Dear Sheena,
Oh no…back to work today! I hope you will stay cozy today in you cold weather. Enjoy all the wonderful racing. Prayers for all who were injured! Quick recovery, Jamie and Sire! Forgotten passwords is a problem we all share in this day and age. Diane might post some of today’s Devotional in tonight’s Zoe post. I’ll look for that! Congratulations to Native River! I’ll have to look up the story on Kate’s plasters! I hope you have a good day, too. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO
sheena.davies(wales)
Huge Congratulations to Native River for carrying 11st 12lbs to victory in the Welsh Grand National.A true professional and only 6.Such choices for Tizzard in the Gold Cup now.Bring it on. All roads now lead to the festival.
Judy B from Rhode Island
Congrats Native River. Love and Hugs, JB
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Still smiling over the great win in the La Brea yesterday by Constellation!! Got to meet her when she was in early training at Mayberry Farms in Florida back in 2014 (such a fun day with my sister, Debbie G, and Sue R from Florida). Sweetest horse ever, and she went on to a great start in the east under Steve A. Three wins, a second, and a third out of her first 5 races, and then last March she came in fourth as the odds-on favorite in a race at Aqueduct. She then dropped completely off the radar! After months and months, I started getting workout notices from Los Alamitos (??). Turns out she was transferred to Jerry Hollendorfer (and who knows what transpired in the meantime?), but she easily won a come-back race at Turf Paradise and then surprised a lot of peeps (not ME, of course) on opening day at Santa Anita. Wishing her and all of her connections (LNJ Foxwoods) a great 2017 campaign!
Ann NC
So exciting, especially since you met her. Congrats to Constellation.
I remember seeing a photo from her Mayberry days. She has little white specks on her, right, Sandy? Thus her name?
Yes, wishing her all the BEST!!!!
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Ann and Sandy:
She’s a beautiful Chestnut girl; so happy for her. Love and Hugs, JB
Sandy (Northeast Ohio)
Yes Ann! She has the little white specks that someone cleverly likened to stars ? Marcy Leonard did a great cartoon today for her win that involves a telescope!
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Dearest Zenyatta and Vixana,
I hope your Christmas was full of love, good cheer, and many mouth-watering treats!
You girls look absolutely stunning in the Kentucky sunshine.
Here is wishing you both a wonderful new year ahead. May you both be blessed with health and happiness. And of course I’m sending prayers for the little one on the way! :)
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Love,
Stel
sheena.davies(wales)
The death has just been announced over here of actress/writer Carrie Fisher.Aged 60 she will always be remembered for her role as Princess Leia in Star wars.One of her last interviews was on our Graham Norton show just before Christmas.Yet another star who battled with addictions.I was never a fan of Star wars so I remember her parents Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher best.Married at one time to Paul Simon she leaves a daughter Billie.Now a real star in the Heavens RIP.
Judy B from Rhode Island
RIP Princess Leia. Love and Hugs, JB
Mary Margaret in Georgia
Another sad loss, RIP Richard Adams, “Watership Down”
Judy B from Rhode Island
RIP Mr. Adams. Love and Hugs, JB
Bluegrass Girl
Racing UK Dec 26
FULL REPLAY & REACTION: Mighty Thistlecrack leaves
Tom Scudamore in tears of joy,
via @Louchepunter >>> http://bit.ly/2ijWmPL
Ann NC
Thanks for sharing this race.
Congrats, Team Thistlecrack. Watching him jump left me in tears of joy. Spring loaded jumping bean! Neat horse.
Judy B from Rhode Island
Dear Sheena:
Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties