Hello,
This is TOO CUTE! Yesterday at Hollywood Park, a few of the 2 year olds MY JOHN has in training breezed down the lane and galloped out nicely. To be honest, this one sure looks familiar to ME! I’d know those hind-quarters anywhere. (Although I must say, these days I am gaining a bit of weight! This comes with eating for 2 you know!) Blush, Blush!
This filly in the photo is my dear relative, Eblouissante! Here she is walking back to Barn 55 after her workout. Amy breezed her. “E” ( by Bernardini) went a very nice, relaxed 3/8ths with 2 other fillies….Minds Eyes (by Macho Uno) and Silent Poetry (by After Market). They each did a very ‘professional’ job for this stage of their training. The clockers got them in 38:80. John was quite pleased with the manner in which these fillies accomplished their lessons yesterday! YIPPEE!
There are so many details to be attended to at this stage of a horse’s career and development! Each of these 2 year olds has already spent time at a training center prior to coming to Barn 55…learning “the basics”. These lessons start with learning how to accept tack to responding to cues from the rider and how to successfully navigate the turns, the straight-away, and change leads.
Once at Barn 55, MY JOHN starts with each horse having a basic idea of what to do….to expanding upon these skills and introducing others that are required to be a race horse. Lots of gate work is necessary. They must also learn to change gears…when to slow down, be patient, handle other horses around them while running…and of course, how to pick up speed to finish strong.
As MY JOHN says, there are lots of BABY STEPS (no pun intended) to be achieved along the way to getting a horse ready for one’s first race…and hopefully the start of a long and successful career.
From all reports, ALL of the babies did a great job yesterday. I’m sending each of them a HIGH HOOF! Cheers to all…..and keep up the good work!
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
Alexandra Bowdoin
Hello Beautiful Zenyatta, E. is looking very good!! she looks calm and happy in this photo above. I have been watching Royal Ascot when I get home at night. Love
to watch racing from England. Ascot is a beautiful race course!! It was a Very Pleasant surprise to see Wes Welker there
being interviewed by Simon of TVG. He is part of my beloved New England Patriots footbal team!! He is part owner of the 2yr old filly Gypsy Robin. Also, our Bruins won the Stanley Cup last night!!!
Very exciting sports time right now!!
Karen Mitchell
Dear Z and Team, the more we learn about all that goes into TB racing, the more complex and interesting and challenging it becomes. Thank you for all the lessons and the wonderful information from “the horse’s mouth” (pun intended). Today’s was another great post; looking forward to many more. Love you more than I can say in words.
Kira
Yay! Do you know when Eblouissante is thinking of racing? I can’t wait to see her on the track! (:
Max
Zenyatta: Thanks for a very instructive post. E is looking good. She definitely has the great family ears.
PeggyOne
Barbara: please remember that the article you posted yesterday was merely someone’s opinion and not ‘fact’….about the use of lasix. Also I would like to point out that the United States and Canada are far ahead of Europe in many things, including medications that help horses, surgeries that restore them to health and feed programs that are second to none. Why in the world would we care at all what a country that races their horses 4 1/2 miles over huge fences (sometimes with a 6 foot drop on the landing side to trick them) carrying 160+ pounds to exhaustion at the end…thinks about whether we use lasix to help our horses who bleed. Because “they” say it, doesn’t make it so. Racing won’t go away, with or witout lasix, but if we can help our horses with a carefully monitored treatment, why in the world wouldn’t we use that? It’s not that our horses ‘stay’ less distance than theirs’….it’s that we are compassionate enough not to ask them to go those outrageous distances. We can determine who is the best horse in our own way, at a far less distance. American bloodlines are very prevelant in Europe, Australia and Japan. Horses by our stallions ‘stay’ as long as they write races, but we don’t feel the need to ask them to go that far here. I may be the only one, I’m thankful for that. Sorry for this long post. I’ve just read so many times lately that our horses don’t stay (not true!)or that we shouldn’t use lasix (when it helps so many) and it just grates on my one nerve!
PeggyOne
And …… one more thing! Lasix does not make a race horse!….It merely allows some horses to race to their potential.
Margot Grummon
I would like to add an AMEN to what was just written by PeggyOne
Pam Zacek,
Hello, girl, I love it when you say Your John, so cute, I hope you realize all the people, for you, Love him also, what a good trainer, takes his time, gets maxium potential, from the 2 year olds, and look at you girl, what a horse you are, the best of the best. So,I think Your John, is a execellent trainer, so I will say, good luck to the Baby step Horses in training, now, HIgh Hooves for them and you also, take care of your self, and eat good stuff, great blue grass must to the thing, huh>>????????? and those carrots, and the treats, you get , so offen Lucky girl you all, Stay healthy and happy,
dunie
They all aspire to your greatness, Zenny!
Ann Maree
Hi, Zen,
Enjoyed so much Your John’s videos recently, including the one yesterday and the day before with E and her stablemates. Eagerly awaiting the day when she will be ready to go to the track and see what she can do. She has to be pretty good with yours and Bernardini’s genes! Best wishes, sweet girl. Big Hugs! Your friend, Ann Maree
Barb France
Dear Z…I just love your posts. They always bring a BIG SMILE to me. I especially need your posts ’cause I have become so engrossed in the Casey Anthony trial, SO SAD. Your posts always uplift me!!! Nice to hear about all the babies learning and getting to know how to race. E looks good…can’t wait to see her race along with everyone else!! Keep up your grazing and glad to hear your doing well!!
Arlene
Hello Zenyatta and fans, I just looked in on the eaglets. Two of them were out on the branch (probably flew out!). The third was looking over at them. A baby ‘fly’ (instead of steps)!!! LOL Arlene
judy berube
To Alexandra Bowdoin:
Also Bruins Fans. They were great. (As New Englander’s,of course we’re Pat’s Fans too). Hugs, Judy and Russ
judy berube
To Jeanie Langford:
The “people’s champion” and the “people’s hope”. I like that, very nice. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
To Terry Crow:
You are hysterical. Laughing out loud. Hugs, J.B.
Leslie R.
Hi Zenny, thanks for the update on E and the other two fillies. I’m glad to hear they are doing well. It is sure going to be fun to see E race.
I hope you have a good night!
Love to all,
Leslie
zenyen
The problem with Lasix isn’t the what the drug itself addresses (bleeding) but that it can mask the use of drugs that are enhancing performance and masking pain symptoms.
As for compassion about distance … where is that compassion when the horse is used up and no longer winning? Where is that compassion when a broodmare who produced good foals is left to stave and rot on someone’s farm with an infected eye and broken feet? There is no ‘compassion about distance’ in American racing, its been bred out of the American Thoroughbred. Soft bones and precocious speed are what is being bred because owners/investors want a quick return on their money. Owners like Jerry and Ann Moss, who are willing to wait for a young horse to come into themselves are the exception, not the rule in American horse racing.
The drugs and the habit of surgically fixing genetic faults need to be removed from racing. Oats, hay, water, just like John Sheriffs used for Zenyatta is what horses should be running on and if they can’t run like that they should be being bred.
Sharon Call
@Terry Crow. I just read your entry on 272 about your old hound’s ashes buried in your yard. I had my last dog, Winston, cremated and scattered his ashes in a flower garden in my yard. If that makes me weird, then weird I am. When my cat, Enzo, dies, I’ll do the same thing. So I guess that makes me doubly weird.
@Judy Berube. Thanks for the tip on E’s training videos. I’m going to look for them now.
Speaking of E, she is really beautiful but you can tell she’s still so young. Her body parts don’t quite match up yet (i.e., big backside and ears) but that will happen soon and she will be truly awesome when it does. She couldn’t be in a better place than with John. He’ll take such good care of her.
@PeggyOne. I see your point about Lasix. However, there’s such a big picture here that I’m just learning about. It’s a lot to take in so I just read, read and read about all different points of view. There’s something to be said about not using Lasix which might mask a weakness in a horse and this weakness could be passed on to progeny. This is what is suggested by the South Africa study. There is current debate and meetings going on in this country and I’m eager to see the results of those. I’m pretty sure that if Lasix is banned from American use with race horses, it’s going to have a HUGE impact on not only the race tracks but the breeding industry as well. It’s going to be very interesting to see how this all shakes down.
Sheri
Thats so cool! Love you Zenny! :D
Linda Deutsch
Thanks as always, Dottie (Z) for these wonderful posts – and for Z being so supportive of the “babies.” John is indeed a wonderful and patient trainer – just look what he did with our Z. I know these babies will all be stars someday with such a caring and competent team. Hugs and nose kisses, Z. (and your baby).
judy berube
Dear Sharon Call:
You’re welcome. E really is beautiful and she does have more growing to do. She couldn’t be in better hands. Hugs, J.B.
Linda E Ohio
Zennie, Please tell John & Dottie thank you for keeping us updated on Eblouissante! The training videos are fantastic.
Every day I look forward to reading this diary & all the postings.
judy berube
To Zenyen:
Let’s hope that the Moss’ and John Shirreffs’ patience are emulated by more owners and trainers. That would be wonderful for the sport and the horses. Hugs,J.B.
Shannon From Cool
Good work kids. Love the videos on YouTube too. John has such a nice way about him.
Debbie
hi Z! Yes, “E” looks very similar to my favorite YOU! I love your blushes- TOO CUTE!!! and I LOVE YOU gorgeous mama xoxoxo
Jo
My John, if it’s a boy that’s a given for a name
Trina Nagele
Dearest Zenny, Did you know that your “unsolicitated” response to the Triple Crown was published by Jan Hovey on DRF? I saw it thanks to Amy who posted the link here. Sure made me smile! (And to fans: Don’t let the “merciful end” title worry you—no sensitivity alert is needed, except maybe for your funny bone!) http://www.drf.com/blogs/merciful-end
@TERRY CROW—Great work contacting Bill Dwyre about Noor! A HIGH HOOF to you!
@Janet Cutting—HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And many happy returns!
@Susan in TN—Loved your story of watching Z reruns with your daughter. I’m glad that you all, including Lou, are having fun again after that stressful stretch.
@Diana S—Hope to meet you when you come to SoCal in July.
@Little Silver Charm—You sure are one charming fellow! Thanks for the video.
Robyn Mullhausen
Well, Zenny, if anybody knows how to train the “babies”, it is YOUR JOHN. :) If your little Sis develops a backside like yours, she’ll be hard to beat.
Hope you are feeling well dear Zenny. kiss kiss kiss
Trina Nagele
@Zenyen–I think you left a “not” out. Didn’t you mean to say “…if they can’t run like that, they should NOT be being bred”?
Barbara Grimaldi
BIG THANKS to everyone who commented on the New York Times article I posted here yesterday. Seems that opinions vary…all I care about are the horses–their health and wellbeing. I also want to see horse abandonment and abuse stop–ah, if this were only a perfect world. Our Zenyatta and the Z Team are role models of the highest order in racing…and that’s just what the doctor ordered for USA racing. I don’t own horses, never have, haven’t ridden in years but still adore the horse. I’m a railbird who is so happy to watch the horses up close. Yet if I did own horses or a stable, based upon what I know now and my knowledge of medicine and humans, I would use the Z model–oats, water, grass, rubdowns, vitamins and minerals, carrots, apples and the occasional Guiness.
Again, thanks to all of you who commented. I learn more and more about racing every day thanks to our beloved Zenyatta and Team Z.