Happy Saturday Everyone!
Springtime is in the air and everything is getting so busy. It is a very exciting time in Lexington now as Keeneland opened yesterday for their race meet. I never ran at this race track, but my dear Barn 55 Friend, HARMONIOUS, won the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Race here last fall. It is a very special time and everyone LOVES to go RACING in this town!
Today, Kentucky Derby Preps are taking place in New York, Illinois, and California. My friend, MR. COMMONS, is running in the Santa Anita Derby this afternoon. His stall was just 3 down from mine when I was at Barn 55…so I’m wishing him all the best! HOOVES CROSSED…for sure!
We also have the update for our contest! Isabelle and Cheva, 2 of my very special friends, drew the names out of the bucket for us! As you can see in the photo above, they are in the barn office at Hollywood Park. Oh, there are lots of photos of ME all around. Now this is TOO CUTE! The bucket we used for this drawing is on the desk. All 64 of the cards from Wednesday’s winners were placed in this bucket, mixed up again and again…and the drawing began!
Here are the names of the 32 people who will move to the next stage:
1) Ingrid Esguerra……………..Miami, FL
2) Sharon Peck………………..Seattle, WA
3) William Uecker……………..Boerne, TX
4) Linda Henderson……………Seminole, TX
5) Karen Mitchell……………….Berkeley, CA
6) Sherry Drish…………………Kearneysville, WV
7) Linda Edwards………………Lawrenceville, NJ
8) Thomas Ronholm…………..Rochester, NY
9) Valerie Franklin…………….Davison, MI
10) Margaret Lewis…………….Sausalito, CA
11) Guido Sanchez…………….Ewing, NJ
12) Cathy Lassilo……………….Tacoma, WA
13) Heidi Kruckenbert………….Vallejo, CA
14) Lynn Meier…………………..Thousand Oaks, CA
15) Michelle Cross………………Decatur, AL
16) Pam Giles……………………Newman, GA
17) Helen Soloman……………..Van Nuys, CA
18) Willie Tomaino………………Newport, RI
19) Linda Stokes…………………Groton, VT
20) Chris Balmes………………..Lake Oswego, OR
21) Dawn Conrad……………….Cedaredge, CO
22) Georgia Harper…………….Bellevue, WA
23) Vicki Vinson…………………Apple Valley, CA
24) Sarah Powell………………..Clemson, SC
25) Tammi Fry…………………..Houston, TX
26) Brenda Sprunger…………..Ontario, Canada
27) Ann Ransone………………..Walkerton, VA
28) Louann Cingel………………Union, MO
29) Lydia Ward………………….Batavia, OH
30) Mary Kay Adams…………..Bloomfield, NJ
31) Patsy VandenBerg………..Santa Rosa, CA
32) Brenda Freeman…………..Mobile, AL
CONGRATULATIONS to these 32 people! The next step of the contest will go to the SWEET SIXTEEN! When we do the next drawing, these 32 cards will be placed into the bucket…and 16 will be selected!
We are moving right along! Cheva and Isabelle had a GREAT TIME helping us!
Thank you to everyone! Cheers to a wonderful day of RACING and a HIGH HOOF to the 32 contestants named above moving to the next level!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Shari Voltz
Good almost afternnon Zenyatta. My third period social studies class wants you for President. How cute is that :) We love you sweet girl. Stay dry. Hugs and Kisses from Shari and Homeroom 215 XXXOOO
Savvy
@Jan Doyle — You are a hoot. I could not have said it any better. Zenyatta had such a gentle spirit that I hope the tone of Zen’s Diary reflects that feeling. Thanks.
karen g
Martha – Just go to the top of this site and click on merchandise. The hats you are looking for go for $28. Exact hat you want is there.
karen g
Rose – Her great grandaddy Roberto. Exact image.
Lisa g
@vALERIA: I to am a Mo fan, I just love him. I do not think I have been this much in love with a colt since JO Tobin. I heard that he will more than likely be in the KY Derby.
Lisa g
@notafanofensign: Please do not start that up again. It is been so wonderful in the Beautiful World of Zenyatta lately. You say he is not a Z fan…are you? If you really, really are and love her like the rest of us….you would just ignore Ensign’s posts and anyone else you might disagree with. Please think about Our Queen…this is her world.
Gloria Jeanne
@ Martha they have hats and shirts on this site under merchandise. :-)
The Kennedys in San Diego
@ENSIGN — Thank you for asking. Our travel in Africa was magical as always — nothing like the African bush. We were gone for much of the past two months, first Africa and then 10 days of skiing in Colorado. As a result, we had a lot of catching up to do on Zenyatta when we returned. With the many posts and responses, we scanned for your (and a few others’) posts to do a fast check on the news/information. Happy to hear from you.
Lisa g
@Kathy: I love your dream…hope it comes true.
Molly
Zenyatta has become one of the most beloved thoroughbreds, not only because of all her wins, but because she had/has an incredible team. Let’s pull together. Zen needs all of our support right now.
Margaret
@signofthetimes
Please refrain from your attacks on others. Were you ever taught that if you don’t have anything nice to say to not say anything????
It’s my absolute frustration with your attack on Ensign that has brought this out. Ensign gave ME some valuable info on where the rumor on Mo started.
The unpleasantness started again BECAUSE OF YOU. We know you don’t like this poster. Tough beenie boppers. Just ignore him. After this I will endeavor to IGNORE YOU.
@Ensign
I missed seeing your posts. I for one learn valuable insights from you. Please don’t stop teaching us. I appreciate you.
Gloria Jeanne
http://www.zimbio.com/Zenyatta/articles/JmJyNaIYzMa/Zenyatta+Pictures+and+Videos
Go for a ride on Zenny– video
Gloria Jeanne
Yeah signofthetimes and notafanofensign could be one and the same??? Hhhmmm
Vicki B.
In Sunday’s L.A. Times funnies, the ‘Kids Reading Room’ page had a nice story about two kids and a horse named “Two Pennies”, by Daniel Maclaine. The regular site link doesn’t have all of it, but the ‘print’ page did: http://articles.latimes.com/print/2011/apr/10/entertainment/la-et-0410-story-20110410
Kathryn Cogswell
Having felt affection and appreciation for all your various views, and being away awhile, it is regrettable to return, finding that herding cats might be more easily accomplished than knitting unraveling attitudes which now seem to have clashed. Reading SECRETARIAT: THE MAKING OF A CHAMPION by William Nack, and though not far along in ‘Big Red`s’ early training, it is notable how frequently a clash turned into an understanding not previously appreciated, then into a regret for things said in haste, if not an outright apology. Many of us came together most closely during Zenyatta`s flight from a known and given reality to her new life in Kentucky, filled with wariness for those of us less knowledgeable about what to expect. Every stitch of information shared in those hours we weathered with her — regardless of source or accuracy — knit a community which continues to this minute. Not one of us would really want to learn that good fortune had abandoned another person here. ‘Play nice,’ is the essence of most sentiments we record under ‘Z`s’ name, and in the long run, won`t we prefer that we have given one another the benefit of the doubt to have her best interests at heart when we contribute? We don`t have to agree on points given or taken to agree to respect the writers` placing their thoughts here.
karen g
HERE! HERE! WELL SAID KATHRYN!!!
Sharon Call
@Ensign. Great to have you back! You have far more fans than detractors on this site. I’ve seen you handle this before and you can take care of yourself very well by asking really pertinent questions and by NOT slamming other people. There are others that would do well to follow this example.
DJ
Beautiful Kathryn…reminds me of St. Therese of Lisieux (the Greatest Saint of Modern Day times) who taught the little Way of Love and practiced “thought management”. For we are not responsible for our first thought, but we are accountable for our second. She wrote, “Everthing is a grace…Everything is the direct effect of our Father’s love, difficulties, contradictions, humiliations, all the soul’s miseries, her burdens, her needs, Everything, because through them, she learns humility, realizes her weakness. Everything is a grace, because Everything is God’s gift. Whatever be the character of life or its unexpected events – to the heart that loves, all is well.”
Snoprinz
Ensign,
Welcome back! A lot of people appreciate your insight and the information you have shared regarding horseracing, TBs and foaling.Keep on posting. I appreciate diversity of opinions on this website as long as it serves to educate as you have done.
Regina From NJ
DONNA: Please know that I share your sorrow in the loss of your filly, and I hope you find solace in knowing that while she was with you, she had a great life doing what she was born to do. Take care, and come back here, OK?
Regina From NJ
@Kathryn and DJ: Your posts always approach the perfection of a great symphony and always leave a profound message. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts. You are making me come back here so often to look for your posts, and I always take away something new to ponder! Much the same with Ensign as well. Have a lovely day – every day.
Trina Nagele
@Donna—My heart goes out to you on the tragic loss of your beautiful filly. Words fail me. I am glad you find some comfort here in Zenyatta’s presence and in the presence of the Z family. Zenyatta is sending you a big warm hug.
Kathryn Cogswell
Especially to Regina From NJ, and others` of recent encouragements: only after too many years of less than graceless knee-jerk choices, does it at last seem restful to seek the better route; if only for me. Aging — at least from this vantage — has its benefits, and while fully appreciating the energies of the youthful, becoming ‘of a certain age,’ it is wonderful to see in more than one direction, then choose — if not always perfectly or even wisely — at least with the hope it will be toward the greater good, if at all discernible . .. As DJ wrote, on that second thought, with thanks.
DJ
Thank you Regina :) It has been said that ‘A spiritual friend is willing to walk ten miles just to speak with another like-minded friend.’ I enjoy your comments as well, and was glad I ‘scrolled back’ to hear from you! God bless you today and always+
Paul
Hey, Zenyatta, congratulations to everyone who made it to the sweet 16 and I wish them luck. Also, good luck to your buddies running in the Keeneland races. I would love more than anything to be in Kentucky and see the Keeneland races as well as the Kentucky Derby or any other horserace. I have heard that they love to tailgate out there and it is just as good as tailgates for football games. It is something that I aspire to someday.