Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Zenyatta News

Z-Family to Family; Please Join Our Fundraiser

Zenyatta and her family. Photo credits (from left): Karen Klein, Sergio De Sousa, LR Moss, John Shirreffs.

Greetings Fans, Friends, & Family,

We have been thinking of you, and hope you and yours are safe, healthy, and doing well under the circumstances of COVID-19. Never did we fathom that something like this could happen nor did we anticipate the impact to our shared Z-Community passion: Thoroughbreds and horse racing. 

What we are experiencing now goes beyond just our equines—it has touched every aspect of life at the track from the parking lot to our backside, and from the ticket gate to the winner’s circle. Many Thoroughbreds are retiring earlier than expected, and many people who would love to adopt a Thoroughbred are not able to do so right now. Additionally, caretakers, their families, and all that make the track experience possible are significantly impacted.

Central to Zenyatta’s heart has always been the gift of giving—giving back to Thoroughbreds that go on to second careers after the track, and helping take care of our own. It is in this spirit that our Z-Family is coming together to support our greater Thoroughbred Family and those that take care of them. One Family helping Many Families.

Today we are extremely excited to share that Zenyatta and her immediate family—Cozmic One, Ziconic, and Zellda—are collaborating with the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation to create a designated fund, Z-Family to Family. In the spirit of charity beginning at home, with your support and generous hearts, Z-Family to Family will be helping off-the-track Thoroughbreds and their caretakers—the backstretch workers and their families. 

Our Z-Family has already contributed, and we hope you will join us by spreading the word and donating if possible. 

Here is how you can elevate our cause and help us create a Z-Family to Family community movement:

  1. Please go to Zenyatta’s, Cozmic One’s, Ziconic’s, or Zellda’s Facebook pages where we have shared this blog post and “LIKE” the post.  We are also on Instagram as @teamzenyatta and @ziconic_official.
  2. On our Facebook and Instagram pages please feel free to “Tag” someone and share the post to your own Facebook and Instagram pages. We would love any additional comments as well—we read them all. 
  3. Please go to the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation Donation page by clicking below, or by clicking any of the Z-Family to Family mentions in our Blog. You will be taken to the donation information on the lower portion of their “Donation” page. Donations start at $1.
DONATE NOW

As a Z Community we have been able to enjoy some powerful and wonderful moments together over the years. Z-Family to Family hopes and dreams our fundraiser movement can surpass all we have done together in the past. The need has never been greater and with the power of YOU, we believe we accomplish greatness together!

Taking care of our equines and those that take care of them is near and dear to us. Thanks so much for your help.

Hugs & Blessings!

Some of Our Z-Family Photo Album

We want to share some memories and some of our life today. While we all began our careers as racing athletes, Zenyatta (Queen Mom) returned to her roots in Kentucky as a Broodmare and created all of us.

Zenny and Mario. Photo: Unknown.

Breeder’s Cup Classic Winner’s Circle 2009. Photo: Jacob De Golish / Getty Images.
Zenyatta and Mario parade for fans during Zenyatta Appreciation Day at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. Photo: AP Photo/Spencer Weiner

Cozmic One has also returned to Kentucky as an OTTB athlete with a 2nd career as a Hunter/Jumper.

Coz & Cheva at Santa Anita, December 2015. Photo: John Shirreffs Barn
Coz Breezing at Belmont, July 2015. Photo: Kyle Acebo
Coz and Isabela Competing in Kentucky. Photo: Shawn McMillen

Ziconic has stayed in California and is following his brother’s hoofprints and transitioning to his 2nd career as a Hunter/Jumper.

Ziconic, Mario, & Towel at Belmont. Photo: Frances J. Karon
Ziconic, Mario, and Zenyatta at Santa Anita. Photo: Unknown
Ziconic (Z-Z) and Sarah Pollock Training at Templeton Farms, CA. Photo: Chelsea Schmitz, Stories Told By Film

And little sister, Zellda, is just starting her racing career at Santa Anita.

Zellda with Carmen, Mario, and Frank at Santa Anita. Photo: John Shirreffs
Zellda Breezing at Santa Anita. Photo: Breeder’s Cup/Eclipse Sportswire
Zellda Breezing at Santa Anita. Photo: Breeder’s Cup/Eclipse Sportswire

Reader Interactions

81 Comments

  3. / Reply

    Oh my – where to even start! Bravo for supporting and directing us to these fund-raising efforts. Although the picture seems a little more encouraging with the return to racing in KY and the possible return at Santa Anita, SO many backstretch employees have been affected by the lack of revenue from racing. I’m sure Z’s family will step up big time.

    Second – OMG! What wonderful pictures! We may have seen some (but not all) of them before, but this is a great treat for a weekend that will be very, very different for many of us. THANK YOU so much for the updates and the photos. ❤️❤️❤️

      • / Reply

        Happy to help with a donation! Sending my love and blessings to all. I work for UK HealthCare in Lexington, Ky and can tell you that times are tough and we need to be kind and help each other. Love and peace to all!

  4. / Reply

    Happy to donate. Hope you round up bunches of money. Love to all of Team Zenyatta in these unusual times. Love the photo album. Look at that first picture of Zenyatta. So confident looking, and…she should be!

  5. / Reply

    Lovely pictures. will be glad to donate as soon as I finish here. Eagerly looking forward to the newest addition to the Z family who is tentatively scheduled to arrive around the middle of May. For the time being rather than call her Z20, I call her Zandy.

  6. / Reply

    I’ll definitely donate. Working at a hospital (although not on the front lines) has given me a clear picture of the issues we face and will be for some time. I love all the pictures of Z’s family, but especially the one of Zellda with her team at Santa Anita. Stay safe everyone, and let’s help the backstretch workers!

  8. / Reply

    Dear Team Z and Z Family:

    I’m writing a check to E J Gregson Foundation as I don’t belong to Paypal. Once again, Zenyatta, the Kids and Team Z rise up to help other horses and the people who care for them.

    Looking at that photo of Z and Mario, I don’t think there is or has ever been a more beautiful, magnificent mare ever, ever, ever! Love that photo of the four of them highlighting those EARS. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Dear Sandy,

      Another week with Hovis! Poor long-suffering soul that he is — REALLY? A man-bun?
      Oh the humiliation of it!!!!

      Thanks again for our weekly smiles and giggles!

      Hugs and Love

  10. / Reply

    What a wonderful idea!

    Thank you, Team Z, for making it so easy for us to help all those who care for our beloved thoroughbreds. Thanks, too, for the fantastic photos — love the portraits of the Four Z’s!

    Hope everyone stays safe & healthy.

  11. / Reply

    What an excellent way to help the retired TBs and their caregivers.
    Hoping for a successful fundraiser.

    Praying for Zenyatta’s healthy baby and easy and safe delivery.

    Love and hugs to Zenyatta and her babies.

  12. / Reply

    Dear Z, Team Z, and Z offspring,

    Thank you for all the wonderful things you do! These photos are great, and I just made a donation to the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation. These are tough times, and I am happy to help. Hope you get lots of contributors.

    Love the line-up photos — especially those ears! ❤️

    Hugs and Love

      • / Reply

        Marilyn,

        De Coronado is a full brother to Zenyatta. Unfortunately at this time, he is missing in Libya with other thoroughbreds who are caught up in conflict between militias and government. Fingers crossed that these innocents haven’t been lost to the cruelty of humans.

        Judy can explain this more clearly, but this is a brief description.

        Hugs and Love

      • / Reply

        Dear Marilyn:

        As our Marshall said, DC is a full brother to The Queen; Street Cry/Vertigineux. He was bred in an agreement with Coolmore and Darley and sent to Aidan O’brian. at Ballydole in Ireland for training. Things didn’t work out for him as a racer and he was sold to Libya in 2018 to stand at stud. As Marshall said, the horses there are in the middles of a brutal civil war. Sixty were stolen by the rebel faction. The government lead army has since regained the town they were taken from and are trying to locate them. Praying all of them and DC will be found safe and well.

        I hope you are all over your leg injury and are well. Missing our Sheena very much.

        Love and Hugs, JB

        • They said Sheena passed from “a virus”. Any chance it was the Corona virus??

        • Dear Marilyn:

          For a while now, I have believed that our beloved Sheena may have been one of the many people to be taken by this dreadful Covid 19. She told me in an email that she had been ill for a few weeks with a persistent virus. That was the week before Christmas. She passed away two days after Christmas. Heartbreaking.

          Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thank you for the info on De Coronado and on Sheena. I have believed for awhile that Sheena was a victim of Covid 19.

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy,

      Thanks for posting the replay of the TC Showdown! I enjoyed the whole afternoon on NBC. I almost missed the Showdown race though since it came up so quickly. During a commercial, I walked down to the mailbox to get the mail. When I got back, they were about to take off out of the gate! Glad I didn’t miss it. I was pleased with Secretariat winning, of course and with Citation placing. Disappointed that American Pharoah didn’t get up to 3rd though — that would have been my pick-3.

      I am happy they did this however. It really would have been empty today without the Derby, but this helped make it not so empty.

      I also watched the Trackside races on NBCSN. Nadal really was outstanding with his win!
      Looks like BB has another prodigy maybe?

      Hugs and Love

      • / Reply

        Dear Marshall:

        BB had a stellar day. Charlaton, another of his charges, won the first leg of the Arkansas Derby. Congrats to him, Nadal and Charlaton. Love and Hugs, JB

        • Dear Judy,

          Yes, Charlaton led the way, too! He is a lovely big chestnut son of Speightstown.

          Congrats to both of these handsome talented colts!

          Hugs and Love

    • / Reply

      Dear Judy:

      I love it, thank you…Today was a very sad day, we have to hope that next year
      everything will be normal. Keep safe, love and hugs Ingrid.

  18. / Reply

    I donated last night. I also just finished watching the Fantasy Derby and the Triple Crown Challenge. Secretariat won both races. Seattle Slew ( a big favorite of mine) came in second and third I think. I got a bit excited and I’m not sure my ears kept up right. Stay Safe! Hopefully we’ll have a Derby in September. One idea being floated is that it will be last instead of first. Hm. We shall see. It’s a bit early to start pacing, but I know all of you out there are eagerly awaiting the debut of Z-20 aka Zandy.

  19. / Reply

    Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL and DC:

    Hope you all have a wonderful day. Love and Hugs, JB❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  20. / Reply

    Love the pictures! Thank you very much. Great idea to raise money for those who care for the horses however, Lava Man advertised this worthy cause last week and I gave then. This foundation is a great one that does a lot of good work. Keep safe everyone. Lindal

  21. / Reply

    Thank you for the great picture and memories. This is an outstanding idea to help out those who care for the horses like their own. For me, I made my donation on April 18th after visiting Lava Man’s FB. I pray that everyone is staying safe. Lindal

  22. / Reply

    Does anyone know how to find the complete order of finish for the HHRN Fantasy Derby?

    I forgot to mention in my post how adorable to show A.P. watching the Triple Crown Challenge. Also much thanks for the super pictures of the Zenyatta family all together.

  23. / Reply

    Thank you for all the wonderful pictures of Z-Family. Love each of them.
    I recorded all the events of horseracing yesterday to watch when I returned home in the evening. I watched until 3:15 AM and was so wound up by it all that I couldn’t sleep and got up to read at 5:15 AM. Finally would back to bed and to sleep. It was great to see it all.
    So concerned about the effects of the pandemic on these wonderful horses and their caretakers as well as the owners, breeders and jockeys. Such a great cause to help the families that are suffering.
    Praying for a soon recovery for our entire country.

  26. / Reply

    Dear quarterhossgal:

    Replying to your post on the previous Blog page. During a virtual tour of Lane’s End on April 1st, Z’s birthday, the guide said Z is due the middle of May; so very soon now. The guide visited with her and gave her some treats. Z looked great with a beautiful, huge baby bump.

    Here’s a replay of the video.

    https://www.facebook.com/lanesendfarm/videos/virtual-tour-with-bill-farish-and-z-4120/2863486370407648/

    So good to hear from you. Hope all is well. Love and Hugs, JB

  27. / Reply

    Another fun virtual tour at Mill Ridge Farm today!
    Beautiful day out in the pastures with the yearlings first and then with the mares and foals.
    This is one of the best remedies for the COVID-19 blues!
    Thank you, Price, Headley and all those darling equines!

    Hugs and Love

  28. / Reply

    Marshall,
    I as always enjoyed the Mill Ridge video. Glad we got to see Pistol and Just Around Midnight’s Kitten’s Joy foal. He and Pistol both seem to really enjoy the attention. Will be fun to watch their careers.

    Hope all of you are doing well. I have had a bad case of the Blahs for the last few days. Reading all your posts are helping. It is so nice to know that I have friends from all over to talk with.

    Did have some excitement Saturday as I was doing my yoga class on Zoom. A mouse ran across my floor right in the middle and the moves I made were not exactly yoga. All of the class got a laugh as they watched my reactions. The cats finally got the little devil and left his body as a gift for me.

    • / Reply

      Dear Shirlee,

      Ha! Ha! Ha! Thanks for the laugh! I can visualize this — new position, Downward Kitty!
      Maybe an entry for America’s Funniest Home videos?
      Congrats to the kitties — mission accomplished! (RIP Mr/Ms Mouse)

      I am still giggling. ?

      Thank you for brightening the day!

      Hugs and Love

  29. / Reply

    Dear Z, COZ, ZI, ZEL and DC:

    Have a peaceful evening and Happy Dreams. Love and Hugs, JB

  30. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta,

    How are you doing dear girl? It won’t be long now before you welcome your baby — we are all eagerly awaiting the arrival! Hope you are feeling good, eating well and getting lots of rest. Sending you lots of good wishes and prayers for an easy delivery with no complications. Both of you be safe, be healthy and be happy!

    Lots of Hugs and Lots of Love

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