Zenyatta

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Zenyatta News

Zenyatta Featured in Art Photography Book and NYC Gallery Exhibition

Zenyatta graces the cover of
Zenyatta graces the cover of “American Thoroughbred” by Neil Latham

“American Thoroughbred” coffee table book now on sale
Chelsea exhibition open through the end of July

Zenyatta now has a place of honor among the most photographic race horses of the era. Her fine art portrait shot in black-and-white on film is a featured highlight of a prestigious gallery exhibition in Manhattan and an art photography book titled “American Thoroughbred.” Fine art photographer Neil Latham photographed America’s greatest race horses, but says Zenyatta was the one horse that best captured the essence of the thoroughbred.

“It’s all about the eyes with Zenyatta,” says Latham. “Her eyes reveal her soul; she’s such a deep creature. We made a very special connection that day of the photo shoot.”

Zenyatta’s portrait is one of just 26 images selected for the exclusive gallery show. It was selected from among 6,000 frames shot during the three-year project that sent the photographer with a massive studio set-up from Saratoga to Kentucky to Southern California in his quest to portray the intrinsic nature of the breed.

Legendary horse farms opened their gates to allow Latham to photograph their multi-million-dollar horses, including Stonestreet Farm, Lane’s End, Coolmore, Gainsway, Spendthrift Farm, Ramsey Farm and Adena Springs. Latham also shot at race courses, and put himself in harm’s way in enclosures with stampeding horses. He photographed thoroughbred super stars such as A.P. Indy, Curlin, Tapit, Rachel Alexandra, Ghostzapper and Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah.

Art Photography Book
Zenyatta is a highlight of the large coffee table book consisting of 182 pages with 80 duotones featuring the mastery of light and shadow you expect from painstaking Ansel Adams-style photography, development and printmaking. The images are a mix of intriguing studio isolation shots of gleaming muscles after breezing, noble portraits, and wild, unbridled shots of stampeding horses kicking up dust giving the images a magical effect.

“As an artist, I’m intrigued by the juxtaposition of strength and power with beauty and fragility,” says Latham. “I wanted to illustrate determination and character through taut muscles and coursing veins after a fast-paced run, and capture the wild spirit of a charging herd.”

This limited edition book, “American Thoroughbred” by Neil Latham, was published by Twin Palms, and is casebound and slipcased for quality presentation. It retails for $95 and is available from the publisher at https://twinpalms.com/books-artists/american-thoroughbred/ or from Amazon (ISBN: 978-1-936611-12-6). It can also be purchased at the Steven Kasher Gallery in New York through the end of July.

NYC Gallery Exhibition
Zenyatta’s beauty is a highlight of a current gallery exhibition in Manhattan at the Steven Kasher Gallery through the end of July. The show features 26 large-scale, black-and-white photographs illustrating Latham’s unique perspective and technique.

Each limited edition art photograph is hand-printed with massive custom-made enlargers and equipment, developed in large pans of chemicals, and hand-corrected in the way of artisans from the earliest days of photography. Every individual print is a masterpiece, and is available in limited numbers in a few sizes ranging up to 50 x 60 inches for maximum impact. They are finished on archival paper with museum framing and artist signature.

“Neil Latham: American Thoroughbred” featuring Zenyatta’s portrait among her equine peers, will be on view through July 30, 2016 at the Steven Kasher Gallery, 515 W. 26th St., New York, NY. Gallery hours through July 8 are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Summer hours begin July 11, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show closes July 30. For more information about the exhibition, see www.stevenkasher.com/artists/neil-latham.

American Thoroughbred has developed quite a following on Instagram, see @neil_american_thoroughbred. The photographer’s website is www.neillatham.com.

Reader Interactions

128 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Traveller Update—

    She continues to get stronger and stronger. You can just SEE her thinking to herself, “if you’d just let me out in the field, I could run and run!” Boss Mare Sue has been very worried,as she HAS lost some weight, and her “output” is not solid “apples” yet, but she went down to the clinic this afternoon to pick up some meds that should help.

    We were nt able to finish putting Barnaby’s bedding down into his stall until THIS AM !!

    When the nice hay guy came to move the two tons of hay from stall to stall, there were several bales and lots of loose hay that WE had to move ourselves, as the bales were broken,the baling twine having been chewed through (and nested IN) by a pack rat infestation. There was about a quarter TON of it!! Therefore, for the last several days, we have been loading, and hauling, 10 to 15 bags a day of the old hay. Whew !! Then we deodorized the walls and dirt floor with straight vinegar sray and, this AM, put in 5 bales of horse bedding. He ,once again, has a “horsey Temperpedic!” When I first led him in there, he snorted and looked around and went outside, however, when we were ready to leave and I led him in, he caught a whiff of the horsey salt crystals that Boss Mare Sue had put into his feeder and went right over. He stayed for awhile before he left. I think that he now knows that it is for him and will spend more time there. We are leaving the door open, so that he can come and go and be in front of her stall, if that is what he wants.

    Have to shut down my desk and count out, so-o-o will continue this tomorrow !!

    All our love and thanks to all who are following this latest “saga” and sending such great messages !!

    • / Reply

      I am happy to hear she is doing well in her recovery. After colic surgery you will be watching her output all the time – it is what we do – just trying to make sure those insides are working as they should. Thanks for the update.

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      Power Up, Traveler. You sure have a great Team on your side.
      Thanks for the updates, Sue. Hope a nice, hot soak in the tub has been on your to do list.
      Love to all.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sue:

      So glad to hear that Traveler is getting better every day. Sounds like a really comfy bed Barnarby has; beautiful boy. Please keep us posted on Traveler. Love and Hugs, JB

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      So glad you were finally able to get the bedding down for Barnaby. I bet it will look too comfy to pass up after sleeping on the floor outside of Traveller’s stall. Hang in there!

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      Dear Sue Noel,

      Glad to hear Traveller is improving and will continue to send healing thoughts and prayers for her smooth recovery. Sounds as though you and Boss Mare have been working really hard! Love that Barnaby has his “horsey Temperpedic” installed (“in stalled”, get it?)! ?

      Take care, all of you!

      Hugs and Love

  2. / Reply

    Goodnight lovely Zenyatta
    love you with kisses and all your colts,
    Z princess and my dear Sir
    Auntie Sally B

  4. / Reply

    Awesome! Dottie always said it best with her quote, “Whenever Zenyatta crossed the finish line she carried all that is good about the sport with her!” Glad to know that Z will be further immortalized and appreciated by not only those who know her through her exploits on the track, but also will be appreciated for her extraordinary beauty and all that she represents on and off the track. Another description of Z that has always stuck in my mind is she is “otherworldly”.

    Priscilla Clark’s words say it best: “Zenyatta brought to us a beauty that was a tonic for the soul. She allowed us to believe in the impossible, and it was the light of her being as much as the thrill of her races that got us dancing. Zenyatta was transformative.”*

    *Part of a tribute beautifully read by Jerry Moss at Zenyatta’s Horse of the Year Award ceremony.

  5. / Reply

    All I want for Christmas is this book! I have already told the people i live with that is the only thing I want for Christmas! If that doesn’t happen I will buy it myself. :)

    What a beautiful picture of our lovely Zenyatta ♥

  7. / Reply

    Bonjour Zenyatta,

    Wow, Zenyatta! This is fantastic.

    Congratulations!

    No baby yet?

    Lots of love to you!

    Lise from Maine

  9. / Reply

    June 28 Cherokee Devotional

    Can we see the wind? Can we see the scent of pines? Can we see thought or what changes a tree’s colors? We only see evidence. All the invisible that charms and sweetens life is just as real as what we can see. It makes us wonder why we question our own place in the plan of life.

    Spirits are all about us-in a gust of wind, or a light wind whirling around our door, that is a family spirit of our loved ones, wanting to know that we are safe…
    -Grant Towendolly, Wintu

  10. / Reply

    Thank you to Team Z for sharing the news about this lovely new book and the wonderful photo exhibit. Like Crystal said above – this goes on my Christmas wish list. Thanks!

  11. / Reply

    I am going out on a limb here, but I think Zenyatta is in foal. Believe they would have said something by now if the mating didn’t take. But not being a horse expert, don’t know much about it.

  12. / Reply

    Zenny the super model!
    You are gorgeous on the book cover. Stunning.
    Thanks Team Z for sharing and congrats. The gallery show will be one of the best ever, considering the subjects. Enjoy.
    Love to all.

  13. / Reply

    Not a more worthy candidate than our Zenny to be found on the planet. I am so glad her fame is still spreading in her post-racing career. Thank you so much, Team Z, for sharing.

    @Sue Noel–did not know of your latest saga. So thankful Traveler is better. All good wishes, hugs, and prayers for you.

  14. / Reply

    Dear Kathy.”What can be seen lasts only a short time,what cannot be seen lasts forever”Politics seems to have taken over our lives at the moment Call me Dave is in Brussels today.There is talk Europe was to become a “superstate” and we have escaped just in time.Hitler’s vision wasn’t it?If the Scots prefer being European to being part of the UK they have my blessing to go.Most of Jezza’s team have gone and I didn’t even know half of them.England were humiliated last night in the Euros by Iceland and their coach has resigned Felix is thinking of trying for the job and running for PM.England has a population of 53 million and Iceland only just over 300,000 says it all!.Hovis ‘s news is he going to Your Horse is Alive again this year and Karen is not in foal she is an aged mare!I had thought it was going to be a bit more special to be honest but am happy for him.We are meant to be getting some great news from the Dyfi tonight big Bob is 5 weeks old today.It’s been a cold wet morning in Wales but they were having a mid morning break when I looked in.A very sad story from Houston yesterday about a mother who shot dead her 2 daughters and then was killed herself by police all on her husband’s birthday.They had just got back together.How do guns get into the hands of the mentally ill??
    It was a great first day at Wimbledon some excellent matches and Federer was certainly stretched but the story of the day was Marcus Willis who had to play many matches to qualify he is ranked 772 in the world but in 3 sets.Have a great day.Love and hugs to you,kisses for Angel Holly,Nikko and Sugar.SheenaXOXOMango had storms in her part of the world but Judy is enjoying herself bike-riding.

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      Politics on both sides of the pond are in a precarious situation at the moment. Feels a lot like a roller coaster ride! I shudder to think what November will bring in the US. Congrats to Hovis, but I agree with you in thinking it was going to be something more special. Looking forward to the great news from the Dyfi! Gosh, hadn’t heard about the horrible story out of Houston. How awful. Enjoy Wimbledon! Have a wonderful day. Love and hugs from me, kisses from Angel Holly, Nikko and Sugar. Kathy XOXO

  15. / Reply

    Yesterday was the 30th anniversary since the day we lost the majestic mare Dawn Run.The only horse to win both the Gold cup/Champion hurdle.She died while competing in the French Champion Hurdle.Willie’s father Paddy Mullins hadn’t wanted her to run but you did’nt query Charmian Hill’s decisions .Dawn Run was unceremoniously carted off to the abattoir.Says much about the way France treats it’s horses doesn’t it?Sleep tight my Angel.RIP Sheena

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      Dear Sheena:

      RIP beautiful Dawn Run. Goodnight. Love and Hugs, JB, LM, PC, HT, Cap, Herc, Frank, Bentley and all the Sweeties

  16. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    Yes, I saw that they had thunder and lightning along with their rain the other day. Poor pups, they must’ve been terrified! XOXO

  17. / Reply

    Such a beautiful picture. Yes, the soul shines in her eyes, and I love it, but it’s when Zenyatta and Ann are pictured together that I see so many dynamics of how she loves and responds to Ann’s love. But… There’s no bad pic of the Queen.

  18. / Reply

    Traveller drink enough amount of clean water, simply change straw in stall more often, eat only clean green light hay, put bag of good hay near door of stall like racehorses do, hear vets, lightly ask them what to do what not to do, Traveller i hear that you want to run, do all quietly and not quickly, if corridor of stable is enough wide you can to walk circles in corridor with two folks from your team at left and at right of your nose like powerfull racehorses do before race, Traveller do all quietly and not quickly, dont make much tensions in injured parts of body, care of your health, Barnaby care of Traveller if something call your team by neigh, i worry ,, ,, ,, ,,

  19. / Reply

    beautyfull Zenny lil smile, when Pharoah was on course in time between heavy races he painted mo___neighs by his soft nose and then invited visitors to gallery to enjoy of his arts, summer shirts with portraits of Smokey pony and his good buddy Pharoah were goodyes too :-) :-)

  21. / Reply

    Coz quietly and not quickly recover health and legs, fans tell that you look on lovely mares :-) , see google ” Orb horse in wiki ” , Coz say to Zi in 32C hot on dry hard course very glidely to increase and to decrease speed, always remember about his thin legs, to drink water only after two hours after quick breeze when he will be not hot and lower tired, to walk half of hour before and after quick breeze, Zi 4f in 32C hot on dry hard course 112th horse from 128 horses well not very spend of health, Coz and Zi sleep in deep soft straw, slowly drink enough amount of clean water, eat green light hay apples, lil lower amount of oats some days after quick breeze, pears sweet potato carrot juice, walk on air with Mario, have bath, care of neck back legs hooves health, say hello to Tug and stable mates, may be hazel bushes are near to eat leaves :-) :-)

  22. / Reply

    beautyfull Zenny do all quietly and not quickly, walk on air with Vixana, have bath, eat apples, care of health, say to Vixana too, beautyfull Zenny Zi Coz and mates stay comfy and cozy, have bath, eat apples, care of health kiss your soft noses, lil 16z, lil 14z filly Dubai im remembering you

  23. / Reply

    Dear Z Fans:

    This explanation from the book, The Look of Eagles, by John Taintor Foote fits Z’s beautiful cover photo to a “T” I think. Love and Hugs, JB

    “About the head of a truly great horse there is an air of freedom unconquerable. The eyes seem to look on heights beyond our gaze. It is the look of a spirit that can soar. …It is the birthright of eagles.”

    The phrase, the look of eagles, has come to represent the proud, lofty spirit of the best Thoroughbreds in modern horse-racing.

  24. / Reply

    Such a beautiful picture of her eyes! So very happy for this recognition of what an amazing gift she is to all. Bless you, Zenny. Much love.

  26. / Reply

    ah zenyatta…. I LOVE reading about your new cover for that book – and the comments of the photographer – relaying in words what we always have felt about you…. what a deep soul you are – there is something magical about you – and it does radiate from your depths – stay well beautiful girl – stay happy and healthy – you have been a gift from the beginning – a joy – I am always so happy when other people realize it – I will always say it and I will always believe it…. you are the best I have ever seen – the best – and in every way – love you always and forever!

  27. / Reply

    Congratulations Zenyatta and Team Z. What an honor and so deserving for our beautiful Zenyatta. I love you Zenyatta and now everyone that sees those pictures will love you also. God Bless Zenyatta and team Z. Thank you for sharing this with us her loving fans. Big Kisses to you Zenyatta. XOXO always.

  28. / Reply

    Off subject but, Steve Haskins hit it out of the park again on Bloodhorse.com. Wonderful words about our Zenyatta included in his article.

  29. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta, Team Z, and Lane’s End,

    Big Congratulations to all! This is a wonderful honor and simply gorgeous photo of Z on the cover of this beautiful book! Would love to see the show at the Gallery! Loved the quote by Mr. Latham about Zenyatta’s eyes — she is truly remarkable.

    Thank you again, Team Z, for sharing this miraculous mare with us!

    Hugs and Love

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