Diary Post #119
YEAH,YEAH, THE GANG’S ALL HERE!!! I am so happy all of my friends are here and back at the barn. Dr. Dawn Hunkin, who has known me since I first came to CA, just returned from her vacation. She had a great time relaxing and being with her 2 wonderful children and husband each day. Michelle, my terrific masseuse, returned this morning from her vacation. She and her husband, Ken, also spent time with family and friends…and just taking it easy. Carmen, Mario’s wife and my morning hotwalker, returned from having a bit of the flu. She is feeling so much better now. The barn is teasing Mario that he had to take care of Carmen…just like he takes care of ME! Very cute! John suggested a few things like Aloe Vera juice for her…just like I get…and it worked. She is feeling like herself once again. To this day,… Continue Reading
Diary Post #118
Hello All, I am having the most fun today….doing a bit of exercise and relaxing in the sunshine. It is a bit brisk and cool…but the sun is out and it is wonderful. Lots of things are happening this week at the barn and in my life. It is exciting. We are having the party for all of my friends at the barn…so I can THANK THEM for taking such great care of me for all of these years. Then on Sunday, I’m parading at Hollywood Park. I get to go to the paddock and visit with all the fans. This should be great fun! Then I’ll walk out through the tunnel to the front part of the race track. I’ll get to see everyone! I can’t wait. On the 6th, I leave for Kentucky. I am really getting excited about this trip as well. Steve and Mario will go… Continue Reading
Diary Post #117
Good Morning, It is beautiful, crisp and clear in Inglewood this morning. We had a touch of rain…but nothing much to speak of last night. Yesterday was amazing! I had over 100 visitors in the morning. Everyone was so kind. They came bringing all kinds of great goodies for me and the barn. There was an adorable carrot cake (heard it was tasty) wishing me good luck, lots of candy, homemade oatmeal cookies and more! Wow! My friends at the barn are eating up a storm! One man who visited was in Vietnam the same time as John. It was very sweet to see them speaking together. Lots of memories…for sure. The day before a woman and her daughter flew in to see me from Minnesota. I gather the daughter (in her early 30′s) is having a ‘very serious surgery’ next week…from what the Mother told John. The girl’s wish… Continue Reading
Diary Post #116
PARTY, PARTY! Good Morning everyone! Ann and Jerry want to have a BARN PARTY for all of the people at the Shirreffs’ Barn who have worked so hard to help ME BE ME during the past 4 1/2 years. We are in the planning stages now. Such fun! I’ve got some great ideas, but I need a bit of help in organizing it from my friends at the barn. Dottie is helping to do the invitations. John spoke with Debby, who does wonderful catering work, about the menus. I really need help with this as I am not too experienced with PEOPLE FOOD. If they left this part up to me…it would be sweet potatoes, carrots, apples and peppermints for all. I think Ann and Jerry want to have a much more expanded menu than this for all of my friends. So, Debby gave us sample menus. John asked the… Continue Reading
Diary Post #115
Hello Everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your friends and family. Ours at the barn was very nice. I also want to THANK YOU for the FAN MAIL. I am truly honored. I am getting so many letters that John brought the ones from the last few days home to Dottie in a big shopping bag. Plus, I am getting flowers, horse treats, candy for my friends at the barn, homemade cookies for the crew here and lots and lots of carrots and peppermints. It is truly amazing! Steve Andersen, who writes for the Daily Racing Form, was at the barn Tuesday and looked over that day’s mail and commented he saw letters from 11 different states, 1 from Canada and 1 from Nova Scotia. Just in one day’s delivery! Wow! I know John and Dottie are reading all of the letters and enjoying each and every… Continue Reading
Diary Post #114, Thanksgiving Post
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL OF YOU! It is early Thanksgiving morning as I’m writing this. It is exactly 4 Thanksgivings ago that I won my first race. So much to be thankful for…and so much to be grateful for along the way. I know so many people are planning a great dinner. Here, at the barn, we will be celebrating with our normal meals and then some fresh SWEET POTATOES! John buys them for us to munch on as a treat! (That part of the Thanksgiving Day Meal I will share with all of you.) He gives them to us nice and whole and then we get to munch on them. My friends at the barn and I just LOVE them! The track closes early on Thanksgiving morning….so we all have to get out and get a bit of exercise early. It is brisk and cool outside this morning, but… Continue Reading
Diary Post #113
A wonderful couple, Barbara and Reuven, brought this photo to the barn for John and Dottie. In the note, Barbara said she made this as a gift for Reuven last year for Christmas because he was “A SUPER FAN OF ZENYATTA SINCE HER VERY FIRST RACE!” She crocheted the scarf in John’s stable colors and then made the other pieces to go with it. I guess they have been following John’s horses for some time now. According to Barbara, “they were there when Giacomo broke his maiden and followed him all the way to the Kentucky Derby victory.” This is adorable. Then when they read that “Zenyatta was toying with Tiago in her works”…they came to my maiden race and have followed me since. Horseracing is such a special sport. I have been greatly blessed to meet so many wonderful people during the last few years. Just think…this Thanksgiving will… Continue Reading
Diary Post #112
Well, it has rained off and on here in Inglewood for the last 2 days. I did get to paint my Moneighs yesterday late in the morning. I had to stay in the barn as it was too wet and cold outside. Julio Sarno and her crew helped me. Hope you enjoy the photos. The paintings will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to help retrain horses from off the track. RERUN is the organization. I am so happy to be able to help! And, if I say so myself, I did a terrific job! I would imagine they would call my style…CONTEMPORARY / MODERN ART! Hope you enjoy the photos. John sent them in for you to see. Also, a woman from Washington made me a great cookie container….and some homemade cookies. They are delicious! (Direct quote from JOHN! ) Thanks so much for the yummy treats!… Continue Reading
Diary Post #111
Happy Saturday to everyone! It is absolutely pouring here at Hollywood Park this morning. I’m nice and cozy in my blankets and all cuddled up in my stall at this time. John had me do a bit of exercise yesterday…as he thought it would rain today. At 9 our time, it is supposed to be the heaviest…so I probably will not go out and graze until it stops. I was also supposed to PAINT some MONEIGHS this morning. Dottie set up the appointment for me. I’ve done this before and the paintings are sold for charity to help horses in need of a new home. These are fun to do and I get to play a bit. The materials used are all safe for me. Not sure if this is taking place due to the rain. We normally do this outside and that can’t happen today. When I do get… Continue Reading
Diary Post #110, Zenyatta Shares Her Thoughts On Her New Home
Dear Friends, Wow! I am so deeply, deeply touched with all of your kind comments in relation to my racing retirement. You are so kind! I can’t THANK YOU enough! I have loved racing and being at the barn. It has been a very special 4 1/2 years now that I have been with John, Mario, Steve, Carmen and the crew at the Shirreffs’ barn every single day. As all of you know…this along with Ann and Jerry Moss…is my family. The beauty of my going back to Kentucky and Lane’s End…is DAVID lives in Lexington. I’ve also known him since I was a yearling at the September Sale. From that moment when he signed the ticket to purchase me on behalf of the Moss’, I’ve had a blessed life. David is part of Team Zenyatta and is also family. I will be leaving John’s barn…but going to Lane’s End… Continue Reading
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