Zenyatta

Queen of Racing

Z's Diary

Diary Post #342

MY TEAM visits ME! Photos by Dottie and John Shirreffs

Good Morning,

My JOHN got a chance to download some of his photos last night…so I wanted to share a few of them with you. It has been so exciting seeing everyone. As usual, we always have a great time together.

Here I am whispering ‘sweet thoughts’ into My John’s ear. At this moment, I really gave a great deal of thought to playing the ‘hat game’ with him as well. It was rather windy at this particular time…so I decided to just ‘kiss’ him on the cheek. I have done this so many times in the past. It brought back so many special memories to ME and I know to him!

What a wonderful day we all shared!

Jerry, do you have a treat for ME in your pocket! (Of course you do!)

Here we are...enjoying the beautiful Kentucky breeze! Even MY MANE is tossing about in the wind! Too cute!

This weekend seems to be packed with a great deal of stakes action at several different racing venues. I am particularly interested in the KENT which is on the turf at Delaware Park and the Pennsylvania Derby on the main track at Parx. Both races are for 3 year olds going 1 1/8. It is great to see how horses continue to develop and mature at this stage. I am especially interested in the Parx race as Bernie sired one of the main contenders, TO HONOR AND SERVE.

I must say, I do keep track of ‘his’ horses and how they are performing at the race track. His babies sold very well in the various yearling sales to date and his horses are running very competitively all over the world! This is such GREAT NEWS!

I’m proud of you, BERNIE!

On the West Coast, Fairplex is concluding their meet…and then back to Santa Anita for their Autumn Meet of Racing. Opening day is September 30th. This marks the beginning of a great time of racing on the West Coast as one terrific race meet follows another from this point forward for the next 11 plus months.

I hope you enjoy all of the FUN! Good Luck to all of the horses competing this weekend!

With Love,
Hugs to All~
Z

Reader Interactions

417 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Hi Judy
    From what Marlene Dodge tells me, the money to sponsor each horse is what the Nevada feedlot needs to get to hold the horses there and keep them off the truck to the slaughter house in Canada. I can ask her if there is any way to stretch that out a few days so those of us who get paid monthly can help more. I know this coming at the end of the month is a challenge. I will ask and get back to everyone. Marlene is a saint. Do you know that if she only raises the amount to rescue the horses, she drives up there from Central California and uses her own money to finance the round-trip, staying overnight if necessary and the paperwork fees to get those horses out of that feedlot. I’m going to go with her one time to help and see what this is all about. If anyone else lives in Central or Northern California or near Reno, you might offer to help as well. But I will get back to you with any new info I can get from her on the possibility of an extension of the Sept. 28 deadline. Thanks so much for asking and caring.

    J

  2. / Reply

    My dear Zenyatta, I know you are full of joy because your team went to visit you, the photos are great like always, thank you to them, for all the information that they always give us, love you Ingrid.

  3. / Reply

    Judy, Barbara and others,
    I have just sent Marlene a message asking if there could be an extension of the Sept. 28 deadline to early October for those of us who have a monthly income at the beginning of each month. I will post as soon as I find that out. However, I also believe there is an option to use a credit card so one could use the credit card for now and then pay oneself back after the first of next month. Just a thought…
    I am going to try to figure out where these horses are coming from and see if I can try to put pressure through the news media or state legislation to make it illegal to transport horses outside California for slaughter. I am very serious about this and I will update everyone on this as I move forward. If any of you Californians out there would like to help me — particularly if you know someone who has juice — please let me know and we can work together.
    j

  6. / Reply

    Thank you Dottie for posting three great pictures, you all look so happy to be together again. Zenny, I’m sure you properly introduced Tasty T to your family and included her in the get together. It would have been fun to see you play your game with YOUR JOHN and watch his hat blow away in the wind, how did you manage to resist?
    @ Terry C – Another good one but I like the blonde one better. Enjoy your visit with your daughter.
    @ Terri Z – Vic and I (as Canadians) would have preferred Inglorious to go for the Triple Crown at home. The Alabama just was not her race so we got a Triple Crown jockey instead of the horse.

  7. / Reply

    @Judy B
    Great you go the link to the Foaling Project. It is such a wonderful idea.
    Foals are so precious and full of themselves.

  8. / Reply

    Hi sweet Z, you look wonderful. I see TT watching you with your loving family from a respectful distance. It looks so lovely at LE and I’m so glad you are there, safe and sound, well cared for and loved by so many. No wonder your family chose this farm for you. Enjoy your weekend, Zenny Girl.
    Dottie: I have no idea how you are able to do all the things you do and then keep this diary up, but I’m so grateful you do! And thanks to John for getting pictures downloaded.
    Z’ers – have a great weekend!

  9. / Reply

    @Trina Nagel
    I am not as talented at Laura J with computers, but if you click on the photo you can drag and drop to blank page. If you keep it small it looks really good if printed. If it is made larger, like Laura J said, resolution is not good.

  10. / Reply

    @Judy B
    I love the story about Lure as a foal. The Queen Eliz came to Claibourn Farms and was looking over the horses/foals. Lure came up to her like “what about me”. Claiborne really love that horse.

  12. / Reply

    I love seeing the photos….you can tell you love them as much as they love you. It is always so sweet to see photos of you and your Team!!! You can tell you surely remember them…even the hat game. Thank you and Dottie for sharing with us. Hugs to you Z….. the pictures are making me smile.

  14. / Reply

    @Dawn Conrad- I also am reading The Eighty Dollar Champion! It’s amazing that some people have the ability to see beyond the outside appearance of a horse & judge it for the potential of what it may become….I think our Dottie has this ability.
    @Trina Nagele-Thank you for the link to Snowman! The photo of him jumping over another horse definitely caught my eye. He must have had so much confidence in his rider & enormous ability to accomplish so much in the competitive world of show jumping.
    @Dottie-thank you for such wonderful photos! Everyone looks so happy & Zenyatta so content. You bring a smile to everyone here!

  15. / Reply

    Dear Zenyatta. I love, love, love the pictures and of course you! It is so wonderful to have Team Z together again. I can see how you would you would be thinking about having some fun with John’s hat, Zenny. It was so temptingly close. From the smile he has had in previous photos when you used to play your game, I know he would have enjoyed every moment if you did grab it. Speaking of smiles, your family was certainly wearing some bright ones, seeing you again. I am sure everyone’s heart was singing. It brings a tear to my eye. I am looking forward to the upcoming racing also, Zenyatta. I am happy that a major network is becoming so much more involved in providing coverage. You are so blessed to have love surrounding you, sunshine upon your back, a soft breeze blowing your mane free, TT beside you and your beautiful baby safe and warm. Sweet dreams. Hugs and kisses. XXXOOO

    @Rahy – I was so saddened to receive notice from Three Chimneys that they had loss Rahy. Their sentiments were beautiful to read, so I wanted to share. If you go to the website indicated, the pictures of Rahy are breathtaking.

    As many of you have heard by now, yesterday was a sad day for all of us here at Three Chimneys. Rahy, who had stood his entire career at Three Chimneys and then lived here in his retirement, passed away yesterday. At 26-years-old, he had lived a good life, and in his retirement, the team here at the farm made sure he was as pampered as a horse can be, getting loads of affection, the best veterinary care in the world, and a bountiful supply of his favorite treats (peppermints).

    Ironically, just earlier this month, while photographer Matt Goins was out here taking photos of our active stallions, a few of the grooms asked to get a few photos with their old charge, Rahy. Matt, forever sentimental and a complete animal lover, was all for it and had been thinking the same thing. Attached are a few of the last images taken of Rahy, shown getting some love from stallion grooms Veronica and Brent. Little did we know that just days later, we would loose Rahy to the infirmities of old age.

    I have attached a few photos from that last photo shoot with Rahy. They really show his true personality. You can also see a collection of photos of Rahy through the years by going to the Three Chimneys homepage ( http://www.threechimneys.com ).

    It’s funny, when it comes to losing an animal, the accomplishments become somewhat trivial in a way. It matters not what awards they won and accolades they earned. What matters is what they were like – their personality, quirks and mindset. Rahy was this unique little package that melded that toughness that made him a top-class athlete with a softer, sweeter side that made him lovable. He could be stubborn, but he wasn’t mean about it – almost like he was saying, “I appreciate your input, but we are going to do things my way.” Brian, who rides the stallions each morning and rode Rahy for nearly two decades, said he was the toughest of all of the stallions to gallop, pulling Brian out of the saddle even into the horse’s 20s.

    Needless to say, Rahy will be missed by all of us here, but he had the best of everything his entire life and was never wanting for anything. What more could anyone ask for?

    @Reading Fun – Here is another book I really enjoyed. My Racing Heart: The Passionate World of Thoroughbreds and the Track by Nan Mooney. The lure, the glory, the heartbeat of the track. When Nan Mooney was seven years olf, she sat in her grandmother May-May’s living room to watch her first horse race and so began a turbulent romance between a woman and a sport. Part memoir, part journey into the compelling world of Thoroughbred horse racing, My Racing Heart gallops hedlong into the wild culture and fabulous creatures that rise up around a racetrack. Non Mooney looks at the horses, jockeys, and trainers; the gambling and corruption; and racing’ age-old history and forever offbeat society. From the dusty backstretch at a small-town track to the stands at magnificent Churchill Downs, Nan Mooney captures the risks and the glory, the excitement and the passion, for horse lovers, sports fans, and anyone who has craved a place to run wild.

  16. / Reply

    So good to see pictures of Zenny with the people she loves the most. I hope she understands why she has been separated from them and her cheering fans. I wish she could have stayed in Calif. Maybe after she has her foal and all is well she will return to Ca.to all her adoring fans who miss her so much.

  17. / Reply

    Zenny, what beautiful pictures of you with your family..I bet they couldn’t wait to see you and visit with you..they sure love you and so does all of Zenyatta.com. Kisses on your soft nose. XOXOXO

  18. / Reply

    Hi Zenny, thanks to your John for sharing the wonderful photos with us! You all look so happy! I’m glad you had this time together. Being with family is very important.
    Have a nice weekend and enjoy the great racing!
    Love to all,
    Leslie

  19. / Reply

    Oh, the pic’s of Rahy on the Three Chim Farm website were great; what a beautiful guy he was. Thanks @Dawn for sending the link.
    Glad so many of you checked out ‘The foal Project’ site. Isn’t it just great? I have no doubt that the foaling events of Z and RA will be captured in still photos and video. The images may not be released for a while but someday…..
    Take care everybody. Have a great weekend.

  20. / Reply

    Dearest Sweet “Z” and little “z”, Just checked in! How precious is this?! All of our favorites in a row! :) Thank you for the smiles…DJ

  21. / Reply

    Hi Zenny, These are photos I’ve been waiting for! You and your precious CA team…together again and jsut loving life. You have a smile on that sweet face of yours and the Mosses seem absolutely thrilled to be with you again.
    Great pic of your Dottie an dJohn, too. TT seems to be quite a good friend…I am so happy you are enjoying your new life at LE.

  22. / Reply

    Zenny, all of these pictures are fabulous. It’s good to see your CA folks with you again. It’s so apparent from the pictures love flows both ways, from YOU to them and them to YOU. Give your pal TT a nuzzle for us, too.

  27. / Reply

    @eveline–thank you so much for the update on Banned. Will be praying.
    @Jeanie–that is pretty much what Marlene told me earlier. I’m not sure they can extend the date. I was feeling the same end-of-the-month pinch, so I put mine on PayPal by credit card, which will come in after the first of the month.
    I am so sorry that I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t kept up here as I should. I hate to miss important things and then feel out of the loop. SHould be better next week. I feel we are all extended family.
    @All who were interested in Denise from AZ’s pictures–she has more pictures on her Flickr page. Adorable.Beautiful mom and precious baby.

  28. / Reply

    Hi there Zenny, Dottie & Zen-sters:
    To start, I must say that I LOVE the “karma” on this post -photos + comments. You can tell that everyone is feelin’ gooood!
    Love the photos! Thank you so much, John & Dottie for sharing these warm and loving “family photos.” Zenny looks like she’s in heaven. It’s amazing how expressive you are Zenny. I can tell in one nano-second that you’re just exploding with warmth, happiness and love.
    I hope all “racing people” keep learning from you & your team, so that one day soon each and every thoroughbred will know this kind of love, respect & security.
    AND TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE SAME BREATH AS ABIGAIL ADAMS……..WOW!
    Frankel @ BC 2012 — Wouldn’t that be exciting? I hope it happens but would be SHOCKED if he were entered in the CLASSIC, unless it’s the turf classic, because he seems to be a miler up until now.
    @Dawn: I also LOVED “My Racing Heart”!!!!!
    What is everyone’s FAVOURITE horse book? (Including the stories you loved as children….)

  29. / Reply

    Dear Abigail from Montreal:
    I have so many favorites. Here’s a few. Black Beauty, National Velvet, Dreamer, The Black Stallion. Hugs, J.B.

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