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Shop Updates

New prints available at the Zenyatta Shop
New prints available at the Zenyatta Shop

We’re adding new prints to the Zenyatta Shop this morning. A sunset portrait of 13Z and photo of Cozmic One in a misty wash stall are available here in the 8″ x 10″ and 11″ x 14″ sizes.

This week, the first 20 customers to spend $30 or more at the Zenyatta Shop will also receive the small print “Zenyatta & Colt, April 2, 2013” free of charge.

Promotional print
Zenyatta and 13Z print promotion.

Happy shopping!
-Team Z

Reader Interactions

1,816 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Congratulations to Wise Dan! I love that horse, and not just because he moved me into fourth place in the handicapping competition. He’s just a joy to watch.

    @Anne – How cool that you saw Mikey yesterday! I’m sure Diana had a lot to say to him. I guess you girlz didn’t get too crazy since Diana never called me for bail money!

      • / Reply

        TC. Knowing how you admire Native Diver, this is a big compliment. I really hope that we see Dan race well again next year. Same for brother. Sister is doing well too, 1st and a 3rd so far.

      • / Reply

        Max-You are correct about my admiration for Native Diver. Like many horses, you had to see him. The stats on paper do not tell the story. I would have loved to see Native Diver and Doctor Fager go against each other. Those two, along with Swaps, were the fastest over a distance of ground I ever saw. I certainly hope Wise Dan stays sound and races next year. Racing need stars like him who are not going to be retired early because of breeding.

    • / Reply

      Thanks for posting this, I missed it the first time. The owner and the trainer have a good idea what to do with this horse. If Dan wins out, he definitely should be horse of the year again. The three year olds don’t compare and Game on Dude’s campaign has been carefully orchestrated by Baffert. He has not faced the best competition.

    • / Reply

      Thanks Max. I really enjoyed reading that. I hope you saw the Barbara Livingston photo of Dan smiling as he came across the finish line. It is on her twitter.

  3. / Reply

    Did you all see Orb on TV? NBCSports showed him going into his stall at Saratoga. He looks magnificent. Fair Hill seems to be the magic place.

  4. / Reply

    @Kathy R-Missed your comment about cricket on the other page. I feel much the same way about soccer. I watch it on TV and two guys are kicking the ball back and forth to each other and the crowd is going crazy, To me, this game is sleep inducing.

  5. / Reply

    TheRacesSA ‏tweet
    Miracles of Life makes an impressive return at #Morphettville trials,
    beating home Australia Day and Eclair Big Bang

    Welcome back, Barbie!! Well done! BGG

    • / Reply

      Dear BGG, That’s a beautiful picture of Ebby from a not so usual angle. There’s not a lot of extra room in there for a big girl ( trying to imagine a rider on her back, legs over her sides). Thank you for sharing another wonderful Barbara Livingston photo.

    • / Reply

      Touching photo of the Elegante Eblouissante being reassured in the gate. Thank you for posting it, BGG.

  7. / Reply

    The Thoroughbred ‏tweet
    Good to see Brigantin back in action after injury.
    2nd in 1550m trial today at Cranbourne for trainer Pat Carey @TeamValor

      • / Reply

        The only consolation is that she did not suffer long. Sometimes it does feel as if we just can’t bear more of the breakdowns and deaths. I almost gave up after Barbaro, but here came Zenyatta and sparked my love of racing again.

  9. / Reply

    Today is our dear departed Number One Dumpling Kari Bussell’s birthday. Here is a link to one of Kari’s video tributes to Zenyatta, which incorporates also a poetic homage to Zenyatta written by Priscilla Clark.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6z_AW7Cr58
    I encourage others to post their favorite videos done by Kari (Animals Rock4Love).

    A Birthday Poem for Kari Bussell,
    Video-Creator-in-Chief for Queen Z
    (August 12, 2011)

    Your stirring creations
    Are most fitting celebrations
    Of Zenyatta’s magnificent feats
    Throughout this great nation,
    So by acclamation
    Let this be Kari Bussell Day!
    In Kentucky,
    Zenyatta too
    Fondly remembers you
    And hopes your day will be ducky.
    She sends you her heartfelt thanks
    For being so enterprising
    As to burnish her name
    And spread her fame
    As she was to the top rising
    In Thoroughbred ranks.
    ’Cross the miles hear her now neigh—
    That’s Zenny’s own way to say,
    “Have a most happy birthday!”

    Kari, we wish you a happy celestial birthday, and we will love you forever. Continued condolences to your family, especially your hubby, your daughter Ashton, and your grandson Boston. Love in Dumplinghood, Trina

    • / Reply

      What a beautiful shot (horse included). Thanks KathyR. Ummmm . . . . why is this horse in the water??

      • / Reply

        Dear Sandy: He’s in the sea – very common for horses either in Melbourne or Sydney to be taken to the beach and exercised in the water a lot of the trainers mix up “real” swimming exercise in the sea with the usual water walker technique. Peter Moody took Nelly to the beach often. Not sure exactly where Weir has his stables, but it could be at Mornington. Cheers, KathyR.

        • Thanks KathyR – I thought it looked like a very BIG body of water :-) Cool that the horses get to go to the beach. After I asked the question yesterday, I came across the link about the “old times” at Del Mar that also included horses being walked to the ocean for a dip (see later on this page). Never had any idea that horses did this.

    • / Reply

      Champions Series ‏tweet
      Coolmore have purchased share of Royal Ascot winner No Nay Never &
      he will carry Michael Tabor’s silks in this Sun’s Prix Morny at Deauville

      Joseph Smyth ‏tweet
      Cracking buy Michael Tabor – No Nay Never looks top class –
      lines up in the Darley Prix Morny at Deauville on Sunday via @SportingLife

      • / Reply

        Sandy. Did some pasting on the previous page. Link to Wise Dan smiling. That horse is amazing. Heard that he came out of the race with big appetite and was walking around as if nothing had happened. Very proud however. Word is that he will go to Woodbine. Watch out Euros.

        • Got it – thanks Max! Also great news that his peeps are keeping him on the turf for the BC (“what does he have to prove?” is right on!). Wish Woodbine was just a hair closer – wonder if Brenda might go?

        • Woodbine has what is probably the best turf course in Northern America. The Breeders Cup was held there once. Expect the winning streak to continue.

  14. / Reply

    Here are two talking dog jokes. Two dogs are at obedience school and one says to the other “I don’t know why we have to be here. We are not learning anything we’ll use in the real world.” Two dogs, a hound and a dalmatian are at a kennel which uses wi-fi, The dalmatian says to the hound “I’m east to contact. Just use your computer and type http://www.dalmatian dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot dot

  15. / Reply

    Missed the racing on Sat. It actually rained her and of course the electricity went out for the next five hours. Am I weird? Got such a charge out of seeing Z and baby drink! Will always remember DEAR KARI. Love and prayers to her family. Great poem.

    • / Reply

      Wow Abigail! Just WOW! I had read Stephanie’s story, but you have presented it so well along with additional information, photos, and videos. Thank you!
      Warning to others – get your Kleenex ready BEFORE you read this – after is too late!

      • / Reply

        Beautiful story and Hedger sure looks smitten with Stephanie. So happy for a feel good story! Thank you.

    • / Reply

      Dear Abigail:

      What an absolutely heartwarming story. Stephanie and Mr. O are two very special people. What a beautiful boy Hedger is too. Thank you so much for putting this story together and sharing it here. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Sandy, Heidi K, Judy B. & Terry: Thank you for the sweetness & the ongoing support. THE VAULT “happens” because of people like you and I remain in your debt. (Terry: That comment about the goat struck me as hilarious. I just couldn’t stop laughing! ‘Don’t really know why — but when I read it, I could almost hear you saying it. TOO CUTE as OUR DOTTIE would say.)

    • / Reply

      Dear Abigail,
      This is just such a wonderful story! Brought tears to my eyes, in a good way!
      So happy to learn of Carl O’Callaghan and his Kinsale King! Love Ruben and Hedger!
      What a great ending: Stephanie and Hedger — together, Yay!
      Thank you so much for giving us this lovely account of the bright, happy side of racing.
      Hugs!!

    • / Reply

      Sally Blank, Marshall & DebraZ: Thank you SO MUCH for these beautiful comments! It means so much to me to hear from VAULT readers because you’re the reason I carry on. I actually heard from Carl via FB who was very touched that anyone would take the time to tell his story. And Steve Haskin has written to say that he loved it, too, and how great that Carl’s story gets told because he’s “one of the nicest people I know.” Very satisfying I must say to make a man as good as Carl and a woman as caring as Stephanie happy! (So far, the article has had 600 + readers worldwide. YEAH!)

    • / Reply

      Moonlight Cloud is a wonderful race mare. However, as previously pointed out by Max, Wise Dan handled her easily in last year’s Breeders Cup.

      • / Reply

        TC. Wise Dan did it so well at Santa Anita that I completely forgot her name was Moonlight Cloud and called her Midnight. I think that she’s US owned by the same guy who owns Lucarno and other Big Ds, George Strawbridge.

  18. / Reply

    As Concerns Over Drugs Mount, the Jockey Club Says It Will Pay for Testing
    By JOE DRAPE The New York TImes Published: August 11, 2013
    SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Jockey Club, horse racing’s most influential group, will pay up to $500,000 for out-of-competition drug testing over the next two years, and its chairman warned horsemen, regulators and racetracks that doping and cheating would decimate the sport’s bottom line unless complete national reform began immediately.
    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/sports/as-concerns-over-drugs-mount-the-jockey-club-says-it-will-pay-for-testing.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&seid=auto&smid=tw-nytsports

    • / Reply

      Teresa Genaro ‏@BklynBckstretch tweeted excerpts
      “New York racing authorities have already enacted a series of rules — among the
      most aggressive in the nation…
      ” — to restrict the use of legal drugs on horses and require trainers to disclose what treatments their horses have received…
      “The rate of fatalities in 2013 is the lowest in five years — 1.1 per 1,000 starts — and
      well below the national average…”

  19. / Reply

    RIP – Debits and Credits, crossed the finished line first@Ellis and took a wrong step fractured his leg. Second career win in his very short career, first win was 07/14/13. Another one taken too early.

  20. / Reply

    Jay Privman ‏ Daily Racing Forum
    Acorn winner MIDNIGHT LUCKY done for year with bone bruising, Baffert reports.
    “She got jammed up, wasn’t moving right,” he said. #DelMar

    • / Reply

      Loved taking my horses to the near by creek. It was sand based and my one mare, once the water got to her belly, would want to roll in the water. Never rode on the beach though. What fun for both, horse and rider and the cold saltwater is so good on their joints.

    • / Reply

      I spent one summer during the 60s at Del Mar. Got to know a lot of people there. Remember the scene in the morning with the horses quite well. One of the best summers, maybe the best, of my life. Thanks for posting this article. Great trip down memory lane. Maybe that is one of my problems. The memories are so much better than the reality.

      • / Reply

        TC, you are fortunate to have experienced racing during incredible times.
        Thank goodness those great sights were captured for all to enjoy.
        Heidi, each summer we inducted new riders onto the the ” swim team “. Great fun!
        Thanks a bunch, Sandy.

    • / Reply

      Thank you so much for posting this, Sandy. Living just minutes from the Del Mar track, we have seen the many photos hung at the track of this period as well descriptions in bios and other books. Unfortunate for all that it ended.

  23. / Reply

    Dear Max I noted your comment that Frankel’s races became rather predictable.As all racing fans we never know the outcome of a race I was as nervous and excited on champions day at Ascot as I was at his unforgettable run in the 2000 guineas .Anything can happen in a race even to the greatest of horses.hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. You are right. Cirrus des Aigles gave Frankel a real run for that victory, and Frankel worked to win it. There was talk of a yielding turf. I wonder how Frankel would have liked running through water laced turf, in a torrential downpour, at night with crashing thunder and lightning bolts hurtling, as Dan had to do in the Firecracker? It is a pity that Frankel retired so early. Racing was his raison d’être. I agree with TC. Horses often come into their own at later ages. Dan has only reached his current pinnacle since age 5. His owner says that Dan is so smart that he will always find a way to win. Looks that way. Uncle Johnny hardly ever needs to show him the whip. Dan just gets it done in real adversity without a pacemaker.

    • / Reply

      Dear Janet:

      Thank you so much for posting this beautiful photo of TCI. What a gorgeous face. Wishing him a full recovery. Love and Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thank you Janet for the photo of TCI. He looks good. If you have ever driven past WinStar, which goes on forever, you know he is in horse paradise. Went to school right around the corner from WinStar and did not appreciate the beautiful settings in the area. Now I dream of Bluegrass Kentucky.

  25. / Reply

    Dear Max I too believe Frankel could have gone on but Sir Henry’s health I like to think played a big part in his retirement and of course there were his stallion fees to consider God willing Wise Dan will have more years as a gelding to race.Enjoy him as much as I enjoyed Frankel’s all too short career. Am not sure if the marois was a mile in distance but Moonlight Cloud’s time was 1min 33sec!! Maybe she didn’t care for the boys chasing her!!hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. No question that she ran well and after having raced so recently, within the last two weeks?. Her time was actually 1:33.39 over a straight mile with other horses carrying more weight. Dan ran his mile on a track with turns conceding weight to the others and finished in 1:34. They don’t allow geldings in the Prix Marois or the Arc.

  27. / Reply

    It was suggested that I post this to this “new” blog. Dont know why, but here is the most recent notice.

    SACRAMENTO, CA – Kirk E. Breed, who began a long and distinguished career in public service in 1963 as a volunteer Peace Corps worker in Chile and concluded his career serving as executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, died Wednesday at the age of 73 following a brave battle against cancer.
    Mr. Breed was fully committed to his responsibilities as he continued directing CHRB operations throughout his illness with the assistance of Jacqueline Wagner, the assistant executive director who will oversee the daily CHRB operations until an executive director is named.
    Family, friends and colleagues gathered at a Sacramento hospital in his final hours. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, and their daughter, Cloe; three children from a previous marriage, Ashley Neumann, Shayna Guigliano, and Monte Breed; three grandchildren, Wyatt and Halle Neumann and Piper Guigliano; and three sisters, Anna Osban, Gloria Headerlin, and Amelia Baugh.
    Mr. Breed grew up on the family farm in Choctaw, Oklahoma, and played football in college, contributing to a strong work ethic and an equally strong physique. His homespun ways stood out in the hardboiled world of politics and endeared him to those who appreciated plain speaking and simple truths.
    He showed unshakable determination when it came to getting things done, especially when it involved improving a situation that conflicted with his moral compass. This was particularly evident in his efforts to improve the health and safety of racehorses in California. He economized CHRB operations by eliminating unnecessary expenditures and used the savings to fund a Racing Safety Program of his own design that focused on reducing equine fatalities in racing, establishing track safety standards, and developing strategies to reduce injuries in racing and training.
    “No one was more dedicated to assuring the welfare of the horse, the well-being of the participants, and the integrity of the sport than Kirk,” said CHRB Chairman David Israel.
    Mr. Breed was a Master Mason in Tehame Lodge #3, Sacramento, and a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason and Past Master of Rose Croix, Sacramento Scottish Rite Bodies.
    Despite his cowboy image, he loved classical music and opera.
    Mr. Breed’s experience with horses dated back to the late 1950s when he helped his father train and race quarter horses while he was attending Oklahoma State University on a football scholarship.
    Upon graduating with a degree in zoology, he volunteered for the Peace Corps and spent five years in Chile working in community development, reforestation, designing parks, and land reform. This led to a brief position with the State Department in Washington D.C., and then two years as director of the Peace Corps in Colombia – the youngest person to have ever been appointed director in that region. After returning home in 1972, he worked six years as director of planning and development with the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.
    During his time in Oklahoma, Mr. Breed was a founding member of the Oklahoma Horse Council and wrote the legislation that became law as the Oklahoma Trails Act.
    Mr. Breed was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the general manager of the California Exposition and State Fair (Cal Expo) in 1979. Under his leadership, the California State Fair grew into one of the premier agricultural fairs in the country. In addition to directing fair operations, he served as director of racing during the summer fair meet, and in this capacity was a hands-on manager that included everything from negotiating and supervising the harness contract to directing the annual State Fair race meet to driving the tractor during the winter training program.
    Mr. Breed left Cal Expo after six years, but before he left he directed the installation of one of the first satellite wagering facilities to open in Northern California in the fall of 1985. He returned to State government in 1988 as senior consultant to the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee. He analyzed all legislation pertaining to horse racing and gaming. He drafted legislation, including major bills pertaining to safety standards at racetracks and satellite wagering. He also served two four-year terms on the Cal Expo Board of Directors
    He began his own lobbying and consulting firm in 1990 with clients in the fields of horse racing, agriculture, transportation, entertainment, and mental health. Mr. Breed’s principal client was the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association, the men and women who breed, own, and train quarter horses.
    Given his strong background in horses and government, Mr. Breed was selected by the racing commissioners from a long list of candidates to be executive director effective February 26. 2008.
    “I have owned at least one horse my entire life and have made a respectable living working for the horse and horsemen,” he said at the time of his selection. “I became interested in the job when I saw a real commitment by the Board toward meaningful change to benefit the horse-racing industry.”
    A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on September 7 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1300 N Street, in Sacramento. Flowers can be sent to the church. Donations can be made to the Scottish Rite Children’s Language Center, 6151 H Street, Sacramento, CA 95819.

    #

    • / Reply

      Lynn,
      Thanks for sharing the wonderful life story of one of the “good guys” in racing. Condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.

      I suggested that you move over here because it’s been a very confusing couple of weeks with two active posts (when will we learn NOT to start posting on one from the shop that doesn’t even show up on Z’s home page?). Anyhow, as you can see from the number of comments, most people have landed here recently and are more likely to see this post.

      • / Reply

        Dear Sandy,
        As to “when will we learn?”, maybe we need an instruction booklet. Personally, I always click on “Blog” and post on the topmost entry, and I also try to follow the “newer” arrow at the bottom of the Blog page. That’s why I (and I assume others) posted here. Am I wrong?

        • Yes, I think we are all enticed by the “newer” arrow, but if you go to Zenyatta.com (and don’t click on BLOG), the previous post is what you see which adds to the confusion. Some peeps have suggested that comments about new merchandise from the Shop (as opposed to news about Z and the boys) be directed toward the merchandise, but obviously not everyone sees it that way. I just wanted more people to see Lynn’s post (which was originally only on the earlier one).

  28. / Reply

    Dear Max Yes Moonlight Cloud only raced on Aug 4th. A tough mare! I didn’t know she is by Invincible Spirit and has the mighty Northern Dancer in her family Sadly unlike Goldikova she doesn’t seem comfortable on US tracks.Am sure you recall she nearly caught Black Caviar at Royal Ascot last year hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      Sheena. I’m very impressed by that short turnaround. She’s a throwback to the way that horses like Citation used to race. She’s also in the care of Freddie Head. If she’s a late developer, she may just be getting going. Head thinks that she might be better than Goldikova. I recall that near run thing with Black Caviar. I must say that I wanted Nelly to win for Australia and for Saloon.

      • / Reply

        Love to see a horse perform in this manner. Kudos to Moonlight Cloud. Better than Goldikova? I don’t know about that. Hate to say it, but I was rooting for Black Caviar and was relieved when the long trip didn’t result in a loss.

  29. / Reply

    Dear Kathy R Whoo-hoo England have won the series!!!!Broad took 11 wickets ! must be a lot of glum faces down under. Have heard”little Bruce” may be visiting you next year Better hide the croc!!!hugs Sheena

    • / Reply

      When I was working for the Medicare administration, before my last aborted effort in that regard, the employees had a saying that I thought was funny, even though technically I was not an employee of the insurance company. There is an insurance company named Prudential whose theme in its commercials was “own a piece of the rock” as the Rock of Gibralter was on its logo. In this company, the employees used to say “own a piece of the crock.” Strange how I find some things funny. It was triggered by Sheena’s croc reference.

    • / Reply

      Dear Max:

      Along with the photo of Frankel that you linked, there is a stunning one (No. 7) of Kauto Star on the cover of Horse & Hound. So beautiful. Thank you. Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Found the picture Judy – thanks! (One has to scroll through a bit to find the picture of Frankel, and there seem to be a lot of repeats, but it’s a great photo album that Kauto Star has provided – now I get where the “neigh”!! originated :-). There’s a campaign afoot to get Hovis on the cover of Horse & Hound. The editor said she would put the idea in the “suggestion pot” (doesn’t sound promising).

      • / Reply

        JudyB. Kauto is a very good looking horse. He has a full, long tail which is rather amazing. Reminds me of Whirlaway.

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