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Zenyatta. Photo Kyle Acebo.
Zenyatta. Photo by Kyle Acebo.

Happy Friday!

A big stack of Zenyatta Stickers are in the mail and on their way to you! We’d like to thank all of the fans who continue to support Zenyatta and this site by visiting, taking part in the discussion, and shopping with us.

We’d love to see how you are using your stickers. Send photos of Celebration Stickers and Zenyatta Stickers in action to fans@zenyatta.com. We’ll feature our favorites in a blog post.

A note on holiday orders from the Zenyatta Shop:
Orders must by placed by December 18 in order to qualify for holiday delivery. Orders placed after this date will ship after January 1st.

Here are a few new photos of Zenyatta and 13Z to finish off the week.

Enjoy!
-Team Z

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Photos by Kyle Acebo.

Reader Interactions

2,291 Comments

  1. / Reply

    I cannot say enough about these photos….I love them all. And, Team Z…thanks for offering the mug again. I just ordered one. You are always appreciative of us but we are grateful to you.

  2. / Reply

    Dear Max Laura has had loads of sympathetic messages on her twitter Kauto has told her not to worry ,he’ll look after her!have no idea about the whereabouts of Steve they were such a great team. Istabraq gets a good life at JP’s farm am sure he’d have won in 2001 if it hadn’t been for the foot and mouth. Yes I heard about Sir Des Champ Sam won up in Kelso today, was a horrible night for the euros in Hong Kong Sky Lantern trailed in last of all and the Fugue 2nd again, sometimes horses travel well, sadly others don’t. hugs Sheena Hope it’s not too cold with you mild over here.

    • / Reply

      Sheena. You are so right. Hong Kong is a long trip for horses to travel, with lots of tiring time zones for the jockeys. Richard Hannon says that the gray filly Sky Lantern will stay in trainng. Glad to hear this. Sorry about Moonlight Cloud and The Fugue. Very sorry about Jwala.
      Now that Hannon will be second to his son he could devote some of his considerable talents to figuring out what is going on with the Moose. I think that the BHA should give the Moosester another chance. Moose mentioned that he has recently had obedience training, but did not mention if he had passed the class. Nigel may need to keep the horse psychologist Gary on permanent retainer.
      I saw Kauto’s remarks. No wonder he’s King Kauto.

    • / Reply

      Yes indeed. If only Moose could follow the example of Zenyatta on the track. She always gave her best effort., and it was breathtaking to see.

  4. / Reply

    Hi all, I volunteered to do an extra time at the horse santuary Fri. night. It was about 13 degrees. I had four layers on before my jacket, ultra-max under my jeans and heat packs in my mitten-like gloves. I was so positive when I came, greeting all the horses and beginning to soak all the beet pulp with hot water, for Sir and Frito. While this was soaking and it was dusk, I went out and broke off frozen horse apples from the concrete paddock part so I could pick it up. Our Dusk to dawn light is out to this area from the stalls so it really gets dark! I prepared & fed all their food some just grain and two along with beet pulp and I figured all was going well. While they were feeding, I went to turn the spigot on to fill up the water trough. OH KNOW! The spitgot was frozen shut. Trough had to be filled! I saw lights on back at the Cedar Valley Center and from last year knew that if I could get access to the log house 100 ft. from the barn I could get water. Told the horses “I’ll be back” and got in my car and drove there. Lucky for me there was a cleaning person who gave me a key. (I looked like heck to walk in there!)
    It was kind of creepy entering the lower of this old fieldstone basement in the dark and groping alone but I found the light switches. Okay then, I’ll drag out this long black hose. Not so easy. It was all tangled! I really asked God to give me patience to stay calm, and it really worked. I dragged it down toward the barn but it only reached the fence. So, I brought down from the upper barn storage room a donated muk bucket that I could put the hose in at the fence. Ran back up to the log house & turned the water on, then ran back down the barn stairs to check on the fill. When almost full, I ran back up the stairs and over to the log house to turn the water off.
    I could not afford to have the bucket run over and then freeze in areas the horses may go. I bailed out the muk bucket of water with a 2 gallon bucket and walked to fill the trough because the hose never reached all the way to the trough.
    I think you get the picture! hah I was able to clean the stalls afterwards but unable to groom them as it was almost three hours out there and even with heat packs, I could not feel my thumbs and questionable about my toes! Spring, summer and fall has been so great out there with the horse that one forgets the harsh winter.
    All was good and I think Sir was more confused about me coming and going than anything.
    It is a good feeling that when you left them, they had all they really needed.
    I say “It’s for the love of the horses”, because if it was not, I would be crazy to go through what I did. hah
    Have a wonderful evening, hugs, Sally B

    • / Reply

      Sally, this sounds like love above and beyond the call of …. You are right, you would be crazy to go through what you did, if it were not necessary. And do carry a charged-up phone at all times, so no emergency will do you in. Sleep well.

    • / Reply

      I so enjoy your sharing your adventures, but I am worried about this last entry. You really should have some help in the dark and no water! I am cold and tired just thinking about it all. Do be careful. I hope you carry a phone to call for help? I am not sure the horses know how much work they are making you do, but I appreciate it for them. Wish I could help, but would just fall down and cause more trouble – ha. Get warm.

  7. / Reply

    Dear Max Am glad to hear about Sky Lantern. She had a very difficult journey over to Hong Kong and not the time to recover I think MC is retiring now.Moose must be always at the bottom of his obedience class on the naughty step!! Kauto is just the best! Countdown to the king George. Dreadful news from Australia England lost the 2nd test by over 200runs,know you don’t understand but had to tell somebody!!! Hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. Sorry about this cricket setback for England. Even I can get the concept of losing by 200 runs. The only thing to do is keep going. On to the next test.
      Think that the worst that the BHA can do is to send Moosester for more remedial training. He can run and jump very well when he wants to do it. Moose is far too young for retirement. His stablemates are performing well. Baby Run is still going strong at 13. Splash of Ginge did very well too for Nigel. Moosie, show us what you can do, other than posing in your glamorous hood.

  9. / Reply

    Dear Mama Z, COZ, Prince 2 and Baby Z:

    Goodnight. Sweet Dreams. Love all of you so much. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Hooray for him! I had seen a little blip somewhere that he’d been retired but not the details that he already has a new job to go to. Wonderful!!

    • / Reply

      His trainer, Peter Miller, was a guest on the horse racing radio show that I listen to on Saturday mornings. Mr. Miller explained that they had planned to bring him back next year but he just didn’t seem to have it any more. A mutual decision was reached that, since he was a gelding, he would be retired to the exalted position of stable pony. Maybe he will meet Lava Man on the track some day in his new capacity.

      • / Reply

        Dear TC GP:

        That’s what I was thinking too. Some very talented stable ponies there. Maybe they’ll give the youngsters some good racing advice. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy B.,
      Thanks for this update on Comma to the Top.
      So good to know that he has a new job and will be well cared-for by people that he knows. Hugs

  12. / Reply

    December 9 Cherokee Devotional

    Winter doesn’t always come gradually. Sometimes it jumps on us with both feet, armed with ice and frigid winds that make the livestock hunt for cover and people shiver by the fire. We think how long and cold and mean and dangerous it is, and feel that winter will last forever. But it doesn’t.
    A time of adjustment comes with any change-whether that is a change of season or a change of life. Our grandmother used to say that our blood was too thin when winter began, but it would adjust and then it would warm us. We never knew if that was true, but we certainly hoped it was! Whatever comes, we adjust and go on. And one day, before long, the weather will change and we will be more comfortable. It’s good to remember that at the beginning of winter and at other times of change.

    All the savages who are not converted believe that the soul is immortal; but they maintain that when it is separated from the body it goes to a beautiful and fertile land, where the climate is neither cold nor hot, but agreeably temperate.
    -Nicolas Perrot, 1718

  13. / Reply

    Dear Kathy Yes spring is on it’s way,even if we don’t think so at the moment. Have heard some parts of the US are having dreadful winter storms.Hope all the Z’sters are safe and warm.Ray looks lovely in his winter coat and enjoyed his birthday visit to Santa Paws!! Joey’s friend Alyse looked so beautiful in her bridal gown.Hugs to you, Kisses for the puppy pack.

  14. / Reply

    Hi Sheena,

    I’m sick of the cold. In 6 months we’ll be complaining about the heat. We’re so fickle! Where I am it’s usually very mild. We shiver when the temps dip into the 30s or 40s. We’re basically a bunch of marshmallows. lol

    Ray’s pic with Santa is so cute. Alyse’s gown is beautiful. I’ve often thought that owning a bridal shop would be really fun. Boo is sporting a very nice looking little shirt. It’s all about the clothes today, isn’t it?

    Happy Monday to you. Hugs from me, kisses from The Pack. Kathy

  15. / Reply

    Racing Victoria are investigating BC3 thoroughbreds owners of Belle Couture and little Jimmy.The chairman Bill VLahos was reportedly assaulted on his property last night.Seems to me too much money involved,as usual. hugs Sheena

  16. / Reply

    I don’t do facebook or twitter. I just love horseracing and horses in general. I used to ask for a pony every Christmas but was consistently disappointed. I didn’t understand that my big Catholic family couldn’t do it even if they wanted to. I hated Christmas every year because I wanted that horse so bad. I enjoy the holidays now because I spend the time with my mom and sisters. Dad died in 1987 and when he was sick he had me bet Ferdinand in the Derby. He was so excited!! I realized early on that I would not have horses in my life and turned to my love of large breed dogs. So I have lived enjoying some of the greatest equine athletes on tv, Churchill, and Keeneland. I went to see Zenyatta on a very cold day at the Breeder’s Cup. I am very short so I just got a glimpse of her as she bounced into the paddock. I race out to my seat and told the lady next to me ” we are about to witness greatness”. I have still not recovered from her narrow defeat. I just took off and ran about a mile to where I had parked. But she thought she had won because the crowd loved her so much. I watched her entire career and in my heart I knew we had still witnessed greatness. God bless all of the Lane’s End crew for taking care of her and her foals. And for all of you lucky people who interact with these magnificent animals be thankful everyday. You have been blessed! Merry Christmas

    • / Reply

      Beverly
      Thank you for sharing your story. That was a lovely post.
      How many of us wished for the pony that Santa never brought? I did.
      And, that first wish carried into a lifetime of love for horses.
      Merry Christmas to you & yours!
      BGG

        • Beverly and BGG, I lived on a farm so had the horses (or rather my grandfather’s team of mules) but always wanted a gun and holster, just like Dale Evans. Always got those dratted dolls and tea sets.

          Just noticed that my beloved Muchie has 8,007 likes on his facebook page. Of course, that is nothing compared to the Queen of Racing but nice for him and his team. Hope they make 10,000 by the end of the year.

          No other horse will ever reach the heights of our Queen and her boys!

    • / Reply

      Dear Beverly:

      Really love your post. I agree; Z thought she won the race. The best race, I think, of her career and the most exciting ever. Love and Hugs, JB

        • Dear Beverly,
          Yes indeed, she just ran short of real estate by less than a stride. As Judy B. said, it was her best race ever!
          I loved your post and can also relate. I always wanted a horse, but never had one (lots of Breyers and china equine figurines). Mama said that there wasn’t a safe area to ride a horse, so I enjoyed my best friend’s horse and one of their mules. We did have fun, though.
          Hope you will post often! Hugs

    • / Reply

      Dear Beverly,

      Thanks for sharing your story. I am also a “horseless” person who has loved them all my life. Somehow, in some unexplainable way Zenyatta made up for it
      Have a very Merry Christmas.
      Maryp

    • / Reply

      Beverly, I sure loved your story. I believe we were at the same Breeders Cup! At one time my fingers got so cold, I sought out the one bathroom that had a hot hand dryer rather than the paper machines. I will never forget that day either and will always know in my heart that the way Zenyatta ran, she was the winner of that race.
      I remember when Z came into the paddock and Ann was appealing to everyone with her finger over her mouth as to not excite Zenyatta anymore. Do you?
      hugs, Sally B

      • / Reply

        Yes I do remember it like it was yesterday. She was very excited. The crowd was goin nuts for her. I was so pumped to see her in person and I’m sure everybody there was too. All of that positive energy in one place for one magnificent rare mare!!! It doesn’t get any better than that.

    • / Reply

      I loved your story Beverly. I know it’s water under the bridge, but really, as a child, someone should have at least explained to you that, “We would have loved to get you a horse, but sorry, honey, we can not possibly afford that — but we know you want it very badly, and how disappointed you are.” Just some acknowledgement, so you were not left hanging every year.

      Zenny’s last race was hard to see at the time, indeed. I was glad she thought she had “won”, she tried so hard and came so close.

  17. / Reply

    Boat Trip Rallies To Win Hollywood Turf Express; Extremely Rare Triple
    Hollywoodracetrack Published on Dec 8, 2013
    A return to Betfair Hollywood Park proved the tonic for Boat Trip, a last-to-first winner of the $99,998 Hollywood Turf Express Sunday.
    Some five weeks removed from a 12th place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint,
    the 4-year-old son of Harlan’s Holiday took full advantage of a three-pronged pace duel to win for the fourth time in five starts over the local grass.
    Given the fact No Silent, Chips All In and Unbridled’s Note were involved in a battle that lasted the entire six furlongs, it was fitting they finished in a triple dead heat for second.
    It was only the third triple dead heat in Hollywood Park’s 75-year history. The other two were for first.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4SkGrB_1yQ

  18. / Reply

    Jay Privman ‏Daily Racing Form tweet on Monday Dec. 9 2013
    Congratulations to Joe Torre, co-owner of Game On Dude, on election to Baseball Hall of Fame. #goodguy
    Breaking News ‏tweet Retired managers Joe Torre, Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox elected to Baseball Hall of Fame – @AP

    • / Reply

      Joe Torre has a special place in baseball history. He was rather slow, having been a catcher for part of his career. He has the distinction of having been thrown out at every base in a game. Think about that for awhile.

      • / Reply

        Dear and BGG and TC GP:

        Congrats to JT. He was my favorite Yankees’ manager. Admire and respect him. Good guy. Hugs, JB

        • He was also a third baseman part time so some of the pressure on his legs could be relieved. Was on the Braves at the same timer that his brother Frank was. He was out here as a color man on Angel radio for awhile after he retired. Believe he is one of the owners of Game on Dude.

  19. / Reply

    @Barbara Wood-Nice finish to the season for the Baylor football team. Since Oklahoma State was kind enough to lose to Oklahoma, looks like it may be the Fiesta Bowl for the Bears?

  22. / Reply

    @Terry Crow–yes, Fiesta Bowl! We would love to go, but it’s a long drive, and who knows about this insane weather we’re having? It would be our luck to get stuck in a NM snowstorm. The airfare is also high because of the holidays and because of the last-minute notice, so we’ll be watching from our own 5-yard line. Thanks for the comments. Yes, it was rather nice of OU to beat OSU for us.
    BTW, it is still freezing here (literally). I heard today that the wind chill at the Cowboys’ game tonight will be around zero. Those people who go are nuts!

    • / Reply

      I agree about the nutty people who go to the games in inclement weather, I have not heard. Has it been announced who the Bears will be playing in the Fiesta Bowl? One thing about these bad weather games. The Super Bowl will be played at the Meadowlands this year. The Meadowlands is an open air stadium and the regular fans will be exposed to the weather while the corporate big wigs will be inside. It would be nice, but I doubt it will happen, if the real fans just didn’t show up this year. The award of the site of the Super Bowl has always been a political decision, but has never been held under these circumstances.

  23. / Reply

    Drowne waits on X-ray news (Update from Hong Kong)
    Racing UK Monday 9 December 2013
    Steve Drowne is to have further X-rays on Tuesday to gauge when he might be able to fly home from Hong Kong after being injured in a fall at Sha Tin on Sunday.
    He punctured a lung and broke a collarbone when his mount Jwala suffered a fatal fall in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint.
    The Robert Cowell-trained Nunthorpe winner appeared to be squeezed between horses close home and crashed to the ground. Drowne was stretchered from the track but was conscious before being taken to hospital, where he remains.
    His weighing-room colleague Rab Havlin was able to contact Drowne on Monday and give an update on the jockey’s condition
    http://www.racinguk.com/news/article/24328/drowne-waits-on-x-ray-news

    • / Reply

      Dear BGG:

      Yet again we are reminded of how dangerous riding can be. Praying for Steve D. Love and Hugs, JB

  25. / Reply

    Dear Max I thought the move by Laura was responsible for the loss of Supersteve, her previous landlord Philip Walker owned the other half share,maybe annoyed she moved on. I emailed the BHA about Moose God knows if I’ll hear from them but I put a good word in for our favourite boy.If only all his twitter followers did the same hugs. Sheena

  26. / Reply

    Dear Max I thought the move by Laura was responsible for the loss of Supersteve, her previous landlord Philip Walker owned the other half share,maybe annoyed she moved on. I emailed the BHA about Moose God knows if I’ll hear from them but I put a good word in for our favourite boy.If only all his twitter followers did the same hugs. Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheen. Bravo for supporting the Moosester. There are many who do not understand true moose power and denigrate our hero for his Hamlet like approach to racing. I love him. Please post the email address of the BHA and I for one will gladly lend my support to the Moose cause. His growing number of twitter fans will too. Moose may be a little quiet these days because he’s lawyering up for the inquiry?

      • / Reply

        Dear Max and Sheena:

        I’ll send an e-mail too if you will provide the address Sheena. Would like to see Moose get another chance at it. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Well, I hope it isn’t goodnight sweet prince for Moose, or there will be something rotten in the state of Great Britain..

    • / Reply

      Sheena. Don’t worry about these things. The computers obviously blew it, not you.
      The news of The Fly’s win was a thrill. Winning twice is incredible given the superb quality of Irish racehorses. We cannot forget for example that Z’s daddy is Irish. I heard that Patrick Mullins recently wrote a letter to The Racing Post complaining that The Fly is not getting the recognition that he deserves. 17 grade 1 wins is a world record and was hard to come by. The Fly is so talented and a biter too, a great combination. 193 wins in a season by Mullins is just as incredible. If Moose gets suspended, he should head to Ireland and talk to Mullins.

    • / Reply

      Barb,
      No I too have been waiting to hear something, I left a message on LE’s FB site but haven’t heard anything, even put a message on Code’s FB site……nothing!! I pray all went well. hugs

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