Hello,
Happy Thursday!
On Monday, I mentioned there are a number of different jobs at the race track. With these various occupations, one sees so many different personalities.
Rafael Mendoza is a gentleman who wears a few different HATS at the track! (No pun intended!) He tries to make work FUN! Rafael is an exercise rider for another barn. This means he has a job like STEVE did with ME. Each morning, he gets on horses for the trainer who employs him. Depending upon where the horses are in their training programs, he is aboard them for their required exercise each day.
What Rafael loves to do…is also have FUN while he works. For all of the different holidays and ‘special occasions’, he has a different festive hat he wears over his safety helmet. John happened to get this photo of him a few days after the 4th of July. From what I’ve heard, and seen while I was in California training, Rafael has very creative taste in HATS.
All riders (exercise riders and jockeys) must wear a safety helmet and a safety vest every time they get on a horse. This is mandatory in the quest to protect each person as much as possible.
The ‘other hat’ that Rafael wears is that of a VALET for a JOCKEY. Since exercising horses only takes place in the morning, many of these riders have a second job in the afternoon. Rafael works in the Jockey’s Room as a valet for different riders.
The job of valet is to take care of the jockey he is working for and his equipment. He is to keep all of his tack in good condition, make sure the rider has the proper silks in his cubicle for the horses he is riding that day, and then go out before each race and help the trainer saddle the horse. When the valet leaves the Jock’s Room to go to the paddock, he is carrying the jockey’s saddle and the pad that will be used on the horse…which holds any additional weight if needed.
For instance, when I ran carrying 129 pounds, Mike and his equipment accounted for the majority of this weight. The rest of it was added in the form of small lead weights which tuck inside the pad.
Weight is a big thing! That is why you see the jockeys weigh out after each race. The weighing process is done in the Jockeys’ Room before each race and then after at the scales in front of the grandstand. Everything is always monitored very closely.
The jobs of an exercise rider and a valet are extremely important in racing. It is great to see people like Rafael truly enjoying their work!
Have you ever thought about how many HATS you wear each day?
With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z
judy berube
Dear Diana S.:
Great idea. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Diana S.:
Thank you for the link on the article by Mr. Bizantz. His idea is an excellent one. Hugs, J.B.
The Kennedys in San Diego
More on the Clement Hirsch.
http://www.drf.com/news/del-mar-switch-aims-stay-close-clement-hirsch-stakes
Linda/Maryland
Love you Zenny
Sue Fredrick
Hi big mama Z, luv the cute exercise rider and the adorable hat, what fun. It’s always nice to have someone like him around for laughs while your working. I have been busy doing my due diligence writing to my senators about this slaughter business. I cannot fathom the idea of someone eating a horse, it’s like eating your dog or cat. Hope we can pressure the powers that be to do SOMETHING.
@Margaret, you have every right to spout off above people smoking around barns and manure piles….its dangerous. At the risk of being banned from this website I admit I am a smoker but never smoked around my or anyone elses barn when I had one of my “nicky” fits. I’m just saying don’t condemn all of us for what a couple of idiots did.
@Trina, thanks for the info on posting links when I find one I like I’m going to try it.
Luv you Z and kisses on your nose
Barbara Wood
@Joan–God bless Mary Johnson. I’ll visit the site. 111–my goodness! We topped out at 108. My battery bit the dust Monday. When will it ever end?
Signofthetimes
@Judy B Diana S
Oh yes and maybe those Hispanic mares. Lot and lots
Of love. Quarantine,too for Smarty.
Signofthetimes
@The Kennedys
Thanks for the update on Clement Hirsch.
@Judy B
Thanks for the link on BL latest at Saratoga
Love the one of Shakelford and the steeplechase
Horse jumping over another horse and rider
In its path. One advantage to having a horse
That likes to jump. Hold the mane and hang
On and you will be fine.
Terry Crow
@Brooke-Good to see you posting. Come back again soon.
judy berube
Dear Sharon Call:
Just e-mailed all my Reps and asked them to co-sponsor SB1187 so that it can come out of Committee and be voted on to save our horses. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
She takes the most excellent photos. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Signofthetimes:
Did you read Brenda S’s post about Bernardini being in Austrailia. Did you know that he left Kentucky? I’m in total shock. I had no idea. Hugs, J.B.
margie
Zenny and Z’ers, I’m a hit and run tonight, just stopping long enough to tell Zenny I love her and that I’ve started my campaign for no slaughter – first stop was 60 minutes. Will be organzizing my “hit list” this weekend for a barage of hits next week. Yes, brick by brick, day by day, horse by horse. Blessings to All who care…Sweet dreams.
judy berube
Dear JAG:
It’s official. Breeder’s Cup 2012 at SA. I gonna do my darnedest to make the trip, God willing. Hugs, J.B.
Gary Moulton
@Baby Results – 08-04-11 YAAHOOOO, YEAH, WOW, WINNER WINNERWINNER A TURKEY, A HAT TRICK, JUST HIT A THREE OUTER.!!!
.
@SARATOGA – We hit three in a row today and not only that I had 1st & 2nd in two of the races and I got them on SALE. “Satin Sheeks” was the only horse off the board and he was in 3rd in the stretch and then faded to 5th. “Baby been bery bery good to me!” If anybody has been tagging along, you are welcome. Even a broken clock is right twice a day, but today we beat the clock by one. I believe it’s a reward for the rousing sermon yesterday. Dollar Pick 3 paid $433.00 – $8.00 = $425.00
.
@DEL MAR – Race 4 should have read Race 3 but I could not edit, but it doesn’t matter because “Bursquel” was scratched so the race is void anyway. We will have to wait for another race of this type to see if what Zenny told me to look for holds any weight. That edit feature is not all that important for regular posts but if someone is betting real money on my picks, I don’t want to get the information wrong. They might have waited for the 4th race to bet and they would have missed the 3rd race. The other two finished 3rd & 5th. VOID BET
.
.
@Canford Cliffs – Hope you enjoy your retirement. Thanks for the memories. You gave it all to show to world how good ‘Frankel” really is. Goldie coming back to win reinforces your heart. It’s up to Black now, according to Black’s trainer ‘Peter Moody’, quote, “She is the fastest horse on the planet up to a mile”. I hope he hasn’t written a check that he can’t cash with that comment. I hope he gets a chance to prove it against ‘Frankel’.
.
@CONGRATS – The SHEPPARD’s flock took the Jumping Double and to Brian, man you can ride a jump horse. Wish you guy’s success in the Turf Writers.
.
@Rafael – Nice Hat – Where are the sparklers? LOL
.
@ZENYATTA – I plan on donating any money I’m up at the end of the summer to any charity you want in your name. I will still give $100 at the end no matter what happens the rest of the way, because I might give it all back to them, LOL. Now that we are playing with house money we are going to change the rules and raise the stakes.
.
– $97.80 starting the day +$368.20 going into tomorrow.
judy berube
Dear Margie:
Blessings to you too. Hugs, J.B.
judy berube
Dear Gary M:
I called it a day early. Good, good, good for you. Hugs, J.B.
DMCQ
I didn’t see #312 up so this morning I posted to #311. So, I copied it here.
Dear beautiful, inspirational Zenyatta,
Thank you a kazillion times for being YOU with Your winning nature and being so talented. We can see just how exceptional Mr. and Mrs. Moss are as owners, and their careful attention to who would be bringing You along and teaching You about horse racing. Your fans really love Your connections, like John and Dottie and Your Barn 55 Z Team as a part of who You are. We can really appreciate the LE Z team that cares for You now and makes sure You are safe and healthy and content. It all makes each of us notice, with a will to make a difference, when we find heart breaking circumstances that happen to other horses. Thank You,Zenyatta,sweet soul, for whispering to me to follow my heart when I had to vote for Ferdinand, the gentle champion who was betrayed. I needed to try to bring up his calendar votes after I knew you would win with the most votes ever! I love the picture for this post (#311, but also #312)! They are wonderful! I also enjoyed the link of You, your calm self, getting measured. It reached out and made me calm too. I have been coming in to scan and learn for a couple of days, but I wanted to think about posting. I love our Z Dumpling family and that You have made a safe haven for people to have discussion on many topics, including some that are too dark to have civil conversations about in some places. You inspire us to do what we can, with what we have, when we can…Sometimes we may be able to do some very good things together and sometimes, we might have to do what we see to do, one thing, one deed, one life at a time. I have been exploring and researching and signing some petitions and doing deeds as an individual. I lit candles. I tried to learn how to post a picture of my new and official Zenyatta cap and my wonderful official Z Dumpling name tag. So far, it doesn’t post, but I will keep experimenting. I made a few notes as I visited and scanned the comments made.
@all: Sometimes love manifests itself as fun and sometimes in gathering for more serious actions.
@Kate Wheeler: for the tribute you sent to signofthetimes, I went searching for it because someone sent it to me when I had to give Bell, my black lab, my dog of a lifetime, that gift of peace and rest. I am so glad you had it and posted it, because it really was a comfort to me and I wanted signofthetimes to see it.
@Joan:I was going to tell you that Z’s Dumplings often act and don’t come back to tell you. But, I think now you see that is so very true!
@Sunny Boyd: that was a lovely poem in #310.
@judyberube and Kari Bussell: While I was lurking, I found your links and thank you for sharing them.
@Trina Nagele: Thank you for the names of the Z Dumplings in the photos! I will need to go back and study those and see if I can get names and faces straight.
@DJ: Even when I’m just lurking, I’m especially looking for the morning and evening prayers/mediations…Until then…
@Shari Voltz: I think it is evident to all of us that you are a wonderful,creative teacher and very appreciated here and by your students. There are bullies out there in every profession and walk of life who are unhappy and try to feel better by belittling someone else. I found that sometimes, you can respond, “Thank you for your comment, I’ll certainly consider it.” (Then you give it due weight, understanding that it doesn’t have any validity to improving your teaching and let it go.) As a student with an intellectual disability told my supervisor one day, “Don’t let him rent space in your head!”
@all: According to news on another site the DOJ told the judge in the Wyoming case against the BLM that BLM was settling and would come up with another plan for Wyoming. However, BLM is still (at the other public management areas, the Triple B Round UP)gathering all the mustangs and running them for miles with a helicopter in the heat. The intent is to geld all the stallions and return 177 of the gelded stallions and some of the @30 mares to the management areas to ensure that the mustangs are appropriately managed. Yesterday, I read that BLM has appointed a new Director for Horse and Burro Management, Joan Guilfoyle.
@Z Dumplings, thanks for all your good deeds, your support of friends, and your clarifications and new found information. Count me in to help if I can. Big salutes to all who entered into the recent discussions. I’m trying to find the RIP Deputy Broad page as suggested.
@JAG: I’m sending a card.
@Margaret: Thanks for posting. It is amazing how many smokers light up even in restrooms with No Smoking signs, at gas stations, and so I think it is a wise posting.
@EK: Always appreciate your solid information. Thanks!
@ Terry, Gary, J Smith, judy berube, diana s,Barbara Grimaldi, Barbara Wood, S Call, Kari B., Brenda S, and so many not named: you can’t imagine how I appreciated your comments…I laughed, read some again and again, cried, got frustrated, decided if we had to pitch in and bail Gary out, I couldn’t act too rashly :)
@ all: Sorry, all that got stored up while I was lurking. I’ll take some lessons on brevity. Love you Zenyatta and Little Z
Barbara Grimaldi
A good night to all, and when we start the day tomorrow, perhaps this site will give us some more targets for our campaign. I’m hitting every one listed here on Zenny’s page as well as those state agencies in this list I’m posting…I, too, think it’s a good idea that we meet on the other site to discuss our campaign…Team Z knows we’re of good heart but maybe a work site is not what they had in mind…
http://www.gambling-law-us.com/Useful-Sites/State-Gambling-Agencies.htm
Kim S
Happy Thursday Zenny! Looks like
we have a or a few movements going on. Hopefully we can get some great things done in your name, silently, of course :)
All Z’sters and Z Dumplings. LauraJ posted this “@Anyone who wants to do something that will make a difference right now, these four horses need to be bailed out of a Nevada feed lot.
http://www.valleyviewranchequinerescue.webs.com/
Valley View does one or two rescues a month, so if you can’t help now, help will be needed in the future.”
I know we can pull this off for Deputy Broad/No Day Off (Deputy Broad’s No Day Off). Please give what you can.
Great posts everyone, I’m getting overwhelmed by the goodness I see coming from everyone here.
@Gary Moulton–preach on, rant on, whatever you feel you need to do. You have support!
A great big hug to you Zenny for bringing so many people together. The Z Movement is happening.
Lotsa love to all
Cynthia H.
Thank you for this fun and entertaining post, dearest Zenyatta. I love the photo of Rafael Mendoza and totally agree: there is no place like the racetrack for diverse personalities, and it is a goldmine of stories, as well! I have worked at Santa Anita for nearly six years, and no two days have ever been the same. There is nothing which I do not love about it. A single click of the turnstile—and one enters into an explosion of life.
Linda
Danny Bird is a miserable example of a hollow man – no heart and no soul – the only thing Deputy Board did wrong was to cross paths with such a preditor – I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of monster this man is – his greed – I hope he doesn’t have charge of any other horses or they may be doomed as well – He and his type need to be banished from horse racing and that would be the beginning of the end of American Horse Slaughter. RIP Deputy Board . . . Long live your spirit – It sould have never ended this way
Delrene
Zenyatta – Thanks for today’s picture – and lesson – via your scribe, the wonderful Dottie. Seeing Zazu and Switch will be a tough call. I love them both.
Good luck to all horses and riders on this big weekend of racing. Thank you for this great website to share information and tactics to help save as many as possible and links to help us donate to the cause.
Take care all.
Cynthia H.
Congratulations to Green Cat (Mr./Mrs. Moss) on his impressive win at Santa Rosa today!
Brenda S
Dear Judy B – When I phoned Darley to make an appointment to visit they told me that we were welcome to visit but we wouldn’t see Bernie. He was going to be in quarantine from the end of breeding season until July 15th when he would be going to Australia.
Dear Diana S – I like your idea about BC 2012. I’ve already talked to my friend whose daughter lives in San Diego and suggested we should pay her a visit and hit the track for the BC at the same time. She thought it sounded like a plan. I’m going over the border tomorrow and hoping to find Dumpling Tags at the post office, I’ve been so envious this week reading about all the tags that have arrived so I’m hoping for a great day tomorrow.
Barbara Wood
@All–Just made my donation to Valley View. The need is desperate. I couldn’t look at those sweet faces and turn aside. Money is tight this month, but please join me if you can.
Love and hugs to all, especially Z and Baby Z.
Linda in NJ
Hi Zenny: I hope you enjoyed your day. How are you and your baby doing? You are really coming along. March and April are going to roll around before we know it. Time goes by so fast. Anyway Zenny, Rafael sure does look like a fun person. Yes, it is very important to enjoy your job, but it is also very important that others enjoy working with you, too. In this day and age, you never know when you might be asked to wear additional hats on the job. I never thought about who is responsible for getting the Jockey’s gear all in order. It has always appeared to me that each Jockey has several mounts during a race day. Different silks, and saddles for different horses—seems like a lot to keep track of as well as organize. Anyway take care Zenny, and remember—we love you!!!!!!
Sunny Boyd
@DMCQ
Thanks.
@Kari Bussell, I left a message for you in the previous post.
Good evening St. Zenyatta,
hope you & your buddies are staying cool. It cooled some off here, but it’s awful humid.
Bummer summer, flowers are all going to h…
Can’t wait for fall & winter, ab fab all time best.
Sleep tight and sweet dreams
Sunny Boyd
Cool hat :)
Marshall (girl's name)
Greetings, “Z”! Love Raphael’s wonderful hat and his zest for his work! We should all be so lucky as to love what we do! I so enjoy your behind-the-scenes information and insight! Love you!
I received my Zenyatta bronze today! It is more beautiful than I imagined! I got #73 in honor of Secretariat’s 1973 Triple Crown! I love both of you so much!!
Hugs!