Zenyatta

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Zenyatta News

Snow Day at Lane’s End

Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End

Happy Wednesday!

Alys took these great photos of Zenyatta playing in her paddock. We think she looks especially beautiful set against the snowy Lane’s End landscape.

Team Z and the staff at Lane’s End are getting ready for the arrival of this year’s foals. Accordingly, we’d like to invite the next round of questions for our “Ask The Experts” column. Questions related to the foaling process will be considered first, but all questions are welcome.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Edit: We have receieved so many great questions from all of you! Submissions are now closed for the time being. If you didn’t get a chance to ask your question, don’t worry, there will be more opportunities in the future.

Some of you have recently asked about the Zenyatta Shop. Our apologies, the Shop is closed at this time. If you have any outstanding orders or inquiries, please contact us by emailing info@zenyatta.com.

-Team Z

Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane's End
Photo courtesy of Alys Emson/Lane’s End


z242

Reader Interactions

1,885 Comments

  1. / Reply

    I just looked at these fantastic photos for the thousandth time, and here is my innocent presumption. The mare frolicking with Zenyatta, looks like she has her bag starting to develope and drop. Does that mean they have already been moved to the foaling barns?. Time to start pacing everyone.

    Thank you Lanes End, Team Z, Mr. and Mrs. Moss and all of Zenyatta’s connections for sharing so much with us. I love it all so much and all you and these people on this blog. And I especially love Zenyatta, my angel forever.

    • / Reply

      Based on what we were told last year, mares are placed with other mares that are expected to foal at about the same time. That’s why Zenyatta was placed with Tasty and later separated from her–they were due at the same time, but Tasty was a couple of weeks late. The aim is to have foals together who are about the same age and size. Zenyatta’s companion is probably due on or near the same day as Zenny.

      That is just the other mare’s belly, not her bag.

      I don’t think these girls are due any time before next month at the earliest.

      • / Reply

        Thank you Laura,

        Was not really sure what I was seeing there, but hopeful I quess.Thought maybe I saw a swelling and a tit too. They will foal when it is time. Patience is the name of the game, said Job in a round about way. Thank you Laura.

  2. / Reply

    Karen, What a great video, I loved the photo(s) of Ms. Bossy Pants at the end. Watching the races from Santa Anita is so hard for me now, I want to be there so much I could cry. I was dreaming that Vic could perhaps do her four week work placement in sunny California and then I would be able to spend some more time with the SoCal Dumplings. Unfortunately the college doesn’t allow work placements outside of Canada so we’ll have to stay in Ontario. We would have had to camp out in the van but it would have been worth every minute of it – this from a Grandmother whose idea of camping is at least a motel with no fridge in the room!!
    Thanks for the SA race videos, you do a better job than my racing channel on TV.

    • / Reply

      Hi Brenda ♥
      Karen does a great job filming and adding additional tid-bits! I wish all the Dumplings lived closer to our SoCal tracks. We girls know how to have fun LOL We have the friendliest (and best) jockey colony!!! They love their fans!!

      Auntie JAG

      • / Reply

        Keta. It is a great idea to review the top contenders for the KD. And BT gets some well deserved publicity too. I like his Facebook.

      • / Reply

        JudyB. If you go to his website, you can sign up for his newsletter. You get an email soon after signed – Sincerely, Bullet Train. Very neat.

        • Dear Max:

          Signed up for BT’s newsletter and then clicked on video of him running in his paddock. Did you see it? Just great. Hugs, JB

        • JudyB. Yes. The video is very good. He seems to love his new home. Bullet Train is a very interesting horse. Glad to see that he is getting some recognition. His fee is incredible. He ran on turf but the North American ancesters in his pedigree includes great dirt racers. He might be a lively guy if he inherited some of the Danzig disposition.

  4. / Reply

    Zenny smile, is curlin all like boy horse in circle of racemares, or it is other way of this? i neigh with you zenny don’t you remember, was street cry carrying you gallop in paddock in the snow, when you were lil filly? dark bay beautyfull zenny with white back legs

  7. / Reply

    .For Anne & our Gary Stevens fans- legend Bill Dwyre writes about legend Gary Stevens. Great Read, Keta

    Way past his prime, jockey Gary Stevens can still ride like a winner
    Bill Dwyre Los Angeles Times February 12, 2013
    It was late in the day Saturday at Santa Anita, when grandpa Gary Stevens decided to show the young’uns a thing or two about horse racing.
    The starting gate was almost full for the ninth race, the $150,000 Grade II featured San Marcos Stakes. Eleven other riders were in place, waiting. Most of them were young enough to be Stevens’ sons. Stevens was aboard the race’s third choice, Slim Shadey, a 5-year-old gelding with three victories in 23 starts. Slim Shadey is a nice horse but not to be mistaken for Secretariat.
    Exactly 20 years ago, Stevens had won this same race. But that was in his prime, a prime that accounted for more than 5,000 wins, more than $220 million in purses — of which 10% was his — and a career that had included three Kentucky Derby victories, three Belmonts, two Preaknesses and eight Breeders’ Cup titles.
    http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-74382651/

    • / Reply

      Great article about Anne from Paramount’s honey (the feeling IS mutual, isn’t it, Anne?).
      Thanks, Keta!

  9. / Reply

    PHAR LAP Three_Chimneys Farm tweet with Facebook Photo
    Any horse person will love this…
    Champion Phar Lap shows his beautiful temperament, standing patiently with Cappy,
    trainer Harry Telford’s son, perched on his back in his racing colors.
    Caption under Photo
    One of the most famous racehorses or all time clearly did his bit of child care too!
    Phar Lap shows his beautiful temperament, standing patiently with ‘Cappy’ Telford,
    trainer Harry Telford’s son, perched on his back in his racing colours.
    This picture was donated by the Telford family to the Museum Victoria, AUS.
    https://www.facebook.com/ThreeChimneys/posts/504603929577746

    • / Reply

      i pulled up and watched his last race..the one in mexico….its on youtube…had hurt foot or leg ….bandage unraveling and still blew them away…..he was an absolute wonder

      • / Reply

        Phar Lap is STILL the champion horse to the majority of Australians – horse racing fans or not. He raced during the Depression, and was just wonderful. The relationship between Phar Lap and his strapper, Tommy Woodcock is one of the truly great horse/man stories. And there are still a lot of folk Downunder who hate the idea of sending a horse to race in the US because they believe with a passion that you folk poisoned Phar Lap! (The common thought from experts who have studied the case is that it was an accidental overdose of arsenic, given by Tommy, because it was believed to be helpful to the horse at that time). His heart is in Canberra, his skeleton in New Zealand (where he was foaled) and his hide in Melbourne.

        • KathyR. This horse was one of the best racers of the last century. He was big and gentle like Zenyatta. His nicknames were “Bobby”, “Wonder Horse” and “Big Red.” He was one of the grand old chestnuts like Man ‘o War and Secretariat. That he died so young, at 5, and in such tragic and horrific circumstances is a terrible thing. He was indeed an Australian icon, a horse to be remembered and admired as one of the greatest of all time.

        • Dear Kathy, Phar Lap’s way-too-early demise was a tragedy. I am just now learning from you that it was probably due to an unintentional overdose by Tommy, and not, as I had thought, an intentional poisoning by some malicious outsider. Poor Phar Lap, and poor Tommy, either way. My condolences, even after all these years, to the Australian nation.

        • Dear Max: So true. The Kiwis still think of him as “theirs” which is fine since he was born there. The Victorian Racing folk did a huge restoration project on his hide for the centenary of the Melbourne Cup. I’ve never seen the “mock-up” Phar Lap, but have seen his heart since it’s here in Canberra. And it’s HUGE. Poor old Tommy Woodcock never forgave himself for the loss of his great mate, which was truly sad, as he was one of life’s great gentlemen.

        • Kathy R
          Tuesdays tend to be busy days for me.
          So, I usually don’t post early in the day & then it is read, post, run.
          So, I didn’t have time to do a personal salute to this amazing horse.
          Still remembered & still appreciated & still loved after all this time.
          Hugs, Keta

        • Dear Kathy R.:

          Saw a movie made about him and I really cried. The movie did imply that he was poisoned, but I have since read that it was, as you say, an unintentional overdose that he was given. So tragic. Such a talented and beautiful boy. Hugs, JB

  10. / Reply

    WHAT IS A “HAND”? WHERE ARE THE WITHERS?
    KY Tbred Assoc tweets
    Since we just saw a question about it we’ll explain a “hand”:
    A hand is 4in and horses are measure in hands to the withers. 16hh=5’4″ high

    If you don’t know where the withers are on a horse,
    it’s the point where a horse’s neck meets its back. It’s where you place the saddle.

      • / Reply

        Sandy,

        I never knew the exact measurement of a hand, either. Just knew that 17ish, like Zenyatta and Ebby was tall. Not even sure I knew it ended at the withers, although, I did know where they were.

    • / Reply

      I didn’t see the question before or, I would have given some perspective on it. Good find, Keta. Another tid bit: if you’re actually using your hands to measure, you turn your hand to the side and upright position with your hand out. Kind of like your saying Stop with your hand but, turn it sideways. Then, you measure by placing your hand on top of the other until you get to the top of the withers. It’s so much easier with a tape measure though. LOL

      • / Reply

        Heidi
        Another Twitter find. KY Throughbred Assoc. posted this as 2 tweets.
        I combined them. Thought it was good info to share. Glad Z-sters agree
        Hugs, Keta

  12. / Reply

    Congrats to RA and her lovely baby daughter….a BIG girl….15lbs heavier than Taco…i hope they are both OK….i remember last year Rachel had to go to the hospital after delivery because of some issues…
    so….PACE…PACE…PACE… for Z and V
    kisses for all soft noses

  14. / Reply

    dear max thanks for your post about silviniaco conti wonder if he could win a gold cup?? also glad to hear about sir henry have been searching for news on him he will miss frankel this year as will we all kauto is making his dressage debut at newbury on march 2nd before racing starts be great to see him dont know what he was eating mints i expect rachel certainly had a whopper!! hugs sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. I looked at Kauto’s tweets again. These polos must be mints. I guess that they taste better when cold from a fridge? Now Kauto is talking about setting up a modeling agency with Denman. Looking forward to his dressage debut. Apparently he’s turned out to be very good at dressage.

  15. / Reply

    Rachel’s filly is adorable. Love the dish on her head and the lil star burst. She’s a big girl too, 140lbs, that is Big!! Can’t wait to see more pics. Like everyone else, I hope Rachel had an easier time with this one than with Taco. I was soo worried when she had to visit the equine hospital after foaling him. Congrats Rachel and Storkstreet!

  16. / Reply

    Black Caviar/Lightning Stakes field:

    Satin Shoes (Clarry Connors), First Command (Anthony Cummings), Shamexpress (Danny O’Brien), Go the Knuckle (from Adelaide), Spirit Sent, and the Moody three Moment of Change, Golder Archer and Black Caviar.

  17. / Reply

    There is a lovely picture of Rachel and her little big girl on Bloodhorse.com. The look on Rachel’s face is so sweet. For such a lioness on the race track she has become a wonderful mother.

    Thanks to Stonestreet for info and pictures.

  19. / Reply

    Had to send my congratulations to Stonestreet, Rachael and Bernie on their lovely big girl. She is adorable, especially the pic of her sleeping in the stall. I’d love to plant my big lips on that sweet little nose of hers. Rachael looks lovely, hope she’s feeling good too.

    Sheena, hope you guys batten down the hatches for Nemo, you don’t usually get much snow over there do you? Pray it’s not as bad as expected.

    Hugs and kisses on noses to all

  20. / Reply

    Black Caviar story coming up (with explanation). I’ve had to retype this piece from Neil Evans “The Inside Rail” column in Sportsman newspaper of 12 February 2013, because they don’t have a method for me to paste and copy to you all. It’s headed “Black looming large. Will our champion ever face a full field before her farewell”. And it’s an interesting perspective. So here it is:

    “I really hope Black Caviar lines up in bigger fields, around the bends and over more ground in what might be her farewell preparation. It’s purely me pondering a new dimension on the likely final career chapter. But then again, when you have little or nothing to prove and a cherished unbeaten record to protect you can do what you like. The racing side of things hardly matters, it’s simply one more show for the general fixated public! But let’s face it, this Saturday’s Lightning Stakes down the Flemington straight – once the five-furlong charge of horses spread right across the track – is already looking little more than a wafer-thin exhibition race. Satin Shoes and Shamexpress will line up alongside the great mare, but highly-rated international winner Ortensia and last year’s Blue Diamond heroine Samaready will both be saved for later. No doubt a couple of Moody stablemates, including Golden Archer, will be there, but even though 14 nominated we may be looking at a field of five or six, not even a third-place dividend. Regardless of who’s racing, that’s a bit embarrassing. Not that anyone will really care. Most just want to see her back, and it’s been some wait since that heart-in-mouth victory at Royal Ascot last June. Yet, the biggest field Black Caviar has ever lined up in all her Australian victories was 12 down the Flemington straight on debut. In fact, she has only been part of a 10 or 11 horse race four times. And seven of her domestic victories have been down the trouble free Flemington straight in fields as small as seven. So her average field size in Australia is 8.47, of which half those were anywhere from 50 to 250/1! Walk in the park stuff. But I suppose it’s all about the winning numbers – unbeaten first, second and third up, and either on good or dead ground. Never raced on slow or heavy here, and never jumped from a ‘carpark’ barrier. Probably never will! Still, with all the black marks and widespread investigations in and around racing, her return will be like a fresh Hawaiian breeze blowing across the industry.”

    Sorry for the length of that piece, but as I said, think it’s a rather interesting point of view. Sportsman, incidentally, is Australia’s oldest racing newspaper. Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      Kathy R
      Good read! He is right in pointing out this is a positive after all the negatives about racing & fixing. Love Hawaiian breezes. Makes me yearn for Waikiki.
      Hugs, Keta

  21. / Reply

    Dear Trina: Thanks for that link – I had no trouble in using your link – just the “issue” with the one Judy provided – not that the picture of the little bloke and his fish wasn’t cute – just didn’t look like anything that RA would produce! Hugs, KathyR.

    • / Reply

      Those bruised feet can be a real problem – we’ve had a few with the issue over here. The worst was one that landed on a golf ball that was on the track – some twit had used the track (in Newcastle, NSW) for practice and neglected to collect the balls. The horse concerned was out for months. Not that I’m wishing that on the gorgeous Eblouissante.

      • / Reply

        Dear Trina:

        Oh no! So sorry to hear about E’s bruised foot. Horses are just so fragile sometimes. Hope she heals well and soon. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Trina
      I truly hope that Ebby isn’t one of those star-crossed horses.
      She seems to have one incident after another.
      Zenyatta was fortunate. She manage to stay sound.
      That contributed to her amazing winning record.
      Hugs, Keta

    • / Reply

      Trina – thanks for the news on Eblouissante. Did she bruise it during her last race or some time after that? The bruise will grow out and we all know John will give her the best of care and she will come back good as new.

  26. / Reply

    Karen Gogue, thank you so much for posting the Mr. Bossy Pants video. You did a great job. That’s so thoughtful of you to make that for our very own Miss Bossy Pants, Diana. He’s a real beauty too, just like Diana.

    Congratulations to Rachel! Holy moly, 140 pounds! Poor Rachel. He sure is a cutie pie, though.

  27. / Reply

    Huge Congratulations to Rachel, Bernie, and Stonestreet Farm.
    So Glad your here, Baby Rachel/Bernie. Your such a beauty. Can’t wait to see you in the pasture with your mom.

  28. / Reply

    Thank you to all who posted pic’s and info regarding Rachel’s new little lady! She is simply GORGEOUS! The first thing I thought of was her nickname should be
    “pork chop”! She has such a sweet looking face like her mom. Congrat to Stonestreet and all those connected to Rachel and her bundle of joy!

    Blind Luck also gave birth to a filly, I believe last week? Her filly has a beautiful crescent moon not sure who the daddy is?

    So far it’s the year of the filly, hears hoping our Zenny has a filly too, how sweet would that be.

    We finally were able to get out today, although very scarey driving with all the snow mounds everywhere! A lot of surrounding towns still not plowed and they can’t even go down the street, their frustration level is so high! Unfortunately, more snow tmro night into Thursday, and then possibly another storm Sunday! (Wish I was at Santa Anita watching the races with you SoCal gals!) Those pic’s and video made me so green with jealousy!

    Living under a pile of Snow!
    GirlSaratoga

  29. / Reply

    First out of the gate: CONGRATS to Rachel Alexandra and her filly!!! High hoof to all!
    Belated happy birthday to you Marshall!
    Judy Berube and Max, good to hear from you both once again. Max, loved your “peace broke out.” Would that was true everywhere.
    Keta and Trina, yes that was a great column on Gary “My Honey” Stevens. Trina, whatever do you mean, of course it is mutual. LOL. Go, Gary Go!
    Karen, nice video on Mr. Bossy Pants. :-)
    Uh-oh, sorry to hear about Ebby.

    Zenyatta, hope you are feeling well. We’re all waiting.

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