Good Morning,
I’m hearing from MY TEAM that ‘working the sale’ requires a great deal of effort, hard work, concentration, and energy! They get up very early each morning and leave for the sales grounds. By that time, David and his crew have already gone over ALL of the horses to be offered that day and come up with the ‘short list’ which Dottie, John and The Moss’ review. All aspects of the individuals are evaluated: conformation, size, pedigree, walk, and other physical qualities! Monitoring the horse’s overall temperament is also a part of this process.
Each horse on this list is inspected. If they make this ‘cut’, the veterinarian then examines the horse and his / her xrays in the repository. The VET also scopes the horse’s throat to be sure “all parts are working well’ for good breathing to take place. A good throat is essential for a race horse!
Once a horse passes all of these steps, the decision is made as to the fair market value of the horse. As many of you may know, at an auction people can get caught up in the bidding. MY TEAM tries to be very careful not to do this. They thoroughly appraise each horse before the bidding begins and really try to stay within those limits while bidding.
If all goes well and the hammer falls while a particular HIP they are bidding on is in the ring, they sign the ticket and he or she is now a part of the racing stable!
Attending a sale as this one, is really a fun process…but truthfully a great deal of hard work. Every moment of every day while there is totally consumed with the SALE. It is all about planning for the future and getting the RIGHT HORSE for the program!
As you can see, BABY REAGAN is resting up for all of the company and activity this week. I think she wants to stay up a bit late on Monday night to see my relative, HIP # 147 sell! I do too!
By the way, HRTV is carrying the first few sessions live on their programming schedule. Otherwise, the internet is the best way to follow the events.
HMMM! This baby thing is rather interesting to ME! Reagan was born on March 7th, 2011. That is about the time MY BABY is due in 2012! I just didn’t realize human babies are so small! They told ME my baby will weigh about 125 pounds or so when he/she is born.) This becoming a MOM is really a fascinating process! I’m learning!
Enjoy the week, the racing, and the sales! Dottie is attending them this week and also spending time visiting with ME! When she returns home, we will update you on all of the action. She also promises that MY JOHN will take some terrific photos of ME to share with all of you!
With Love,
Hugs to All~(To my dear fan who made the Z BLANKET as a thank you….THANK YOU! It is absolutely priceless!)
Z
Susan from Fl
So Cute…Have a wonderful Day! Peace & Happiness to u Z!
Bonnie J. Lucas
I enjoy reading about Zenyatta and her
daily events. Thank you Dottie for taking time to share Zenyatta with us.
evy
Interesting facts re: the Keenland Sale. Thank you for the information, Dottie. Your baby will be as beautiful as you are, Zenyatta.
Especially Horses
Oh my, so cute.
Especially Horses
Z, we can’t wait to hear what lucky yearlings join “The Team”. We saw some very high priced yearlings go through the sales ring yesterday. Tonight one of the highlights will be watching Hip 147! Thanks for keeping us posted on the goings-on at the Keenland Sale. Very addicting to watch. Can’t wait to tune in again tonight.
Especially Horses
@Peggy (N) and other Keeneland Sale watchers: In yesterday’s post you mentioned that a lot of the bidders never get in view of the sales ring camera because they are standing way in the back or in an area where they can watch the yearlings being walked. I think Z should tell Dottie to make a cameo appearance sometime tonight. All of us watching the sales would get a big kick out of spotting “the voice”.
Cynthia H.
Thank you, Dottie, for providing such a great explanation as to what goes on behind-the-scenes at one of these sales events. It is a fascinating part of the sport with which most of us are unfamiliar, and will never have the opportunity to experience. Many of us Z-sters enjoyed watching the proceedings last night and wondering which, if any, of the beautiful offerings might be joining “our” stable!
We are lookng forward to the wonderful photographs which we are sure will be coming our way following your visit to The Queen, courtesy of her dear John’s camera! May you and all of Team Z have a wonderful week in “horse heaven.” Best of luck, and we hope that you find something special amongst all of these sublime creatures. I want one of those cuddly Z blankies, too (Sophie Shirreffs might ditto that!).
Sue Fredrick
Hi Zen, what a cute pic and love the way you remarked on how small she is compared to your baby when born. You really have changed your whole focus now.
@ The sales are really exciting with some beautiful babies being sold…..but I just loved the beautiful colt by A P Indy he’s gorgeous and agree with the owner there won’t be many more available because of Indy’s retirement. How lucky they are!! I hope Coolmore keeps Bernie’s baby here so we can keep track of him once he starts racing. Hoping the Mosses get what they want too.
Luv you Z kisses on your nose
Pam Zacek,
wow, I knew all the sales have so much to consider, and thats a good information for that, I think that cute baby, will, be nice to see the two of you, together, when you little one is born. that would be so cute, anyway, have a great day, hope they find some nice fast horses to train,and win again, just like you did, and can t wait for the next post, for all that, and you, also, getting with it, time is coming fast,for you, 6 months to go, latly, seems like you just got the baby bump,enjoy today, and keep eating that wonderful grass, Kisses Zen,
Kristi Catalani
I just love you Zenyatta! Thank you for the information on how the sale works. It’s so interesting to learn the process! Take care sweet girl.
Adele
Thank you Dottie for all of your hard work in posting Queen Zenyatta’s activities.
Zenyatta I hope your pregnancy is going well.
"Charlie" from Delran, NJ
I can see that baby Reagan is surely loved to be gifted with such a lovely blanket. I often think of how wonderful the world would be if ALL children were loved & raised with insight, humor, & warmth. We would have little violence, greed, corruption, & arrogance. If human parents all over the world behaved with the loving protection of animal mothers humans would be a much better species. Of course there are children born in war, in poverty, in discriminatory cultures. But this too is the work of the human species and our species can change it. My hope is that all humans who decide to have children take many hints from our non-human but seemingly more humane relatives.
Sorry for being so serious, but after teaching for many years I’ve seen what love and the lack of it can do.
jeanne from vista
125 pounds!!! OUCH!!!!
Lorri
Momma Z (and Dottie), thanks for the informative info on the process of selecting horses and the bidding for the sale! I hope that your connections are successful! Can’t wait to see the pics of you Momma Z and your beautiful baby bump! xoxo
darlene
thanks for all the info and for all the great posts Excited for the new photos coming from John
Ann Maree
Hi, Z! Love the background on the Keeneland sale. Can’t wait to see what HIP 147 goes for and who buys.
–
Please ask YOUR JOHN to include some new VIDEOS OF YOU!!! We miss you so much, but watching you as you grow, lierally, into motherhood, helps a great deal to make up for not being able to see you “in person”!
–
Big hugs, sweet girl!!
Melissa
Hey zenyatta I officially moved to Kentucky and I would love to visit you some time I am in grad school out here so I think you would make my adjustment here a whole lot better I am about 1500 miles and I am home sick and I remember watching you ride in California it really made my day. Love you lots zenny. xoxo.
Melissa
Fran
Hi Z! I love the picture! Watched the sale last night and saw hip 87 sell for $1,400,000. Wow! That is a lot of money and a little scary too. Ho do you take care of a horse that expensive? Would be frightening! Have a wonderful day! xxoo
Stella Bagwell in South Texas
Dearest Zenyatta,
The horse sales, on all levels are exciting. After all they offer up the future of racing! You must be very excited to watch HIP 147–I certainly am!
I hope your week goes great and that you get to do lots of visiting with all your family and friends while they’re in Kentucky for the sale.
Kisses and hugs,
Stel
PS This mother thing is going to come very natural to you! And I so hope the baby has your lovely ears and dark hair! :)
Katie Clawson
You are TOO CUTE Z! Any kind of Thoroughbred sale is fascinating to me :) I may even go into the breeding business after I am a jockey!
You are going to be an absolute WONDERFUL mother and you’re baby is going to be BEAUTIFUL!
Have a great day and have fun with you’re TEAM!
Lisa
Can’t wait for the pictures!!!
These horses are insured. Boy ie would be grand if hip # 147 could join your barn:)
Sunny Boyd
Good morning Zetty,
so your people think you’ll be dropping the little bundle in early March. I bet you’ll be sooo glad to have it done? :) Getting around for a highly pregnant mare can’t be easy. In the meanwhile keep eating all the good stuff, and drink plenty of water, and keep excercising, all those leg stretches and fancy moves you’re famous for.
chuckle in the am:
I come from a real tough neighborhood. I put my hand in some cement and I felt another hand. Rodney Dangerfield
Have a great day :) :) :)
Shannon From Cool
Ahhhh, the TB sales. I loved working at them when I was a lass. So exciting, so thrilling to see the big horses go for huge prices.
Allen
Have a great day Z. Can’t wait for John’s pictures.
Gloria
Well, Big Mama Z! I am VERY interested to see how Hip #147 sells tonight. I’ll be watching the sale from So. Cal. online. So grateful they offer it on HRTV and at Keeneland.com. I love have the catalog pages right there to refer to while the horses are in the ring. I got all wrapped up in it last night and I’m only watching for entertainment purposes! I see Bernardini had a couple that sold for good prices. You know we fans can’t WAIT to see pictures of you with Team Z. I love that stuff. Good luck to the Mosses at the sale. I’ll always root for them!!
Kathy B.
When I was home earlier this year I went to Ocala for their exhibition races and walked around the stable area of the OBS center during a preview day before their sale….it was interesting watching the prospective buyers look at the horses as they were led around the areas between the barns. I met some fellow Z fans also wandering around who said they’d spotted Bob Baffert earlier in the day. It was a wonderful experience and I would love to attend an actual auction!
Thanks for all this great information!
Cheryl Heath
Great post today…..love you. Hugs.
Terry Crow
9/11 for me will always be s strange day. I woke up that morning, did some work on my computer, did the usual grooming exercises and left for the appointments that I had on that day. I did not turn on the television. I went out to my car. I did not turn on the radio as I had some tapes that I made with my favorite music and listened to them as I was driving. I had several appointments that day, but all were uneventful and strictly business. I got home about 4:00 pacific time,rendered my decisions and prepared my bill to be sent along with my FedEx package of completed work. It was too late by that time to go to the UPS store, so about 7:30 I turned on the TV for the first time. To say that I was surprised is an understatement. I must have been only one of a handful of people who had heard absolutely nothing of the attacks until that time. @Judy Berube, Brenda S, Anne from Paramount and signofthetimes-Glad you enjoyed the jokes. @Debbie G-The Derby result that year was litigated in the courts for years. I”m not sure what the rules are in Kentucky, but in most states today bute can be administered legally. In Man O’War’s day, horses ran on drugs all the time and they were not illegal. However, once a horse started running on drugs the stewards had to be notified if the horse was not on them that day so that there could be notification to all. Interesting in that it was considered just as important that people knew the horse was NOT on drugs as well as when it WAS. @Vicki B and Lil in KY-You are both in. A few redneck jokes for today–You might be a redneck if you have ever used lard in bed. You might be a redneck if you’ve ever used a toilet seat as a picture frame.
J Smith
Beautiful baby blankets. I mentioned once before, if we have any knitting posters, it would be a lovely idea to knit baby blankets and donate in Z’s name, like a giant baby shower. A simple knit stitch and basic crochet stitch is really easy to learn (trust me, if I can crochet a blanket anyone can). I did come across a charity that takes donations for newborns (nationwide) and gives them to babies/mothers at hospitals, when the mothers don’t have anything. I’m guessing the red cross could use baby blankets too, for world wide use.
I sure wish a % of the $ being spent on the horses at Keeneland could be directed to TB retirement. I read that only 3% of TB’s born in any given year win a graded stakes! I don’t know if that is true, have not checked.
@”Charlie” – agree!
Kendra
Wishing your team Good Luck in finding just the right horses. Of course, there will never be another Zenyatta.
Love Ya, Z.