DEAR FRIENDS, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
FROM ALL OF MY DEAR PALS AT BARN 55, WHO HAVE DONE SO MUCH FOR ME OVER THE YEARS…
MY FRIENDS AT MAYBERRY TRAINING CENTER WHERE I LEARNED MY VERY FIRST LESSONS….
MY JOHN, DOTTIE, AND THE ‘ADORABLE SOPHIE SHIRREFFS’….WHO ARE SUCH SPECIAL AND TREASURED FRIENDS WHO’VE SHARED SO MANY AMAZING EXPERIENCES WITH ME DURIING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS,
MY LANE’S END PALS…WHO I ENJOY SPENDING MY DAYS WITH NOW…
AND MY BELOVED OWNERS WHO I CAN’T THANK ENOUGH FOR ALL THEY HAVE DONE FOR ME……
FROM OUR HOMES TO YOURS…..THANKSGIVING GREETINGS!
WE ALL WANT TO WISH EACH OF YOU A VERY HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING!
PLEASE BE SAFE AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF THIS VERY SPECIAL HOLIDAY!
WITH LOVE,
HUGS TO ALL~ (AND I SINCERELY MEAN THIS!)
Z
TOO CUTE! TASTY WANTED TO BE SURE WE ALSO SENT HER HOLIDAY WISHES TO YOU. I THINK SHE IS WHISPERING THEM IN SARAH’S EAR!
PHOTO CREDITS: Several people sent the above photos to Dottie. THANK YOU!
AJ from CA
@Cynthis H – thanks for the candle link…I just lit mine for Cloud Man and his connections.
stephanie (s in san diego)
read on facebook that Cloudman fractured his cannon and pastern, they will attempt to save him. Prayer warriors needed.
Lit my candle and will continue to pray for him and all of his connections.
Diane in CA
I want to say to Mr. & Mrs. Moss, Mr. & Mrs. Shirreffs and especially Mike Smith that I hope that the pain they must be feeling is short lived. My wish for them is that Cloud Man can be saved and if he can’t race again that he will have a bright and happy future as a sire. I also want to say to Mr. Baffert and Mr. Diodoro that I’m sorry for the loss their good horses.
signofthetimes
Cloudman report DRF
http://www.drf.com/news/hollywood-park-ultimate-eagle-wins-hollywood-derby-completes-connections-big-weekend
signofthetimes
Japan Cup results:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66368/buena-vista-earns-japan-cup-redemption
signofthetimes
To Honor and Serve to go for freshening and back in 2012:
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/handicapping?source=http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi%253Fid=25427%2526print=true%2526header=bh
JSmith CA
Heidi, I’m just like you, my heart gets broken again and I don’t want anything to do with the sport for years, Zenyatta brought me back this time. I think I’m done, again, now. This has been a dreadful week, with Irrefutable dying right in front of our very own Robyn yesterday. Something is terribly wrong, in what other sport do the athletes die on a weekly basis? Can u imagine if 6 NFL players died during games, in the same week, and more sustained life threatening injuries. It would be shut down and serious investigations would be underway. What investigations are being made into the death of this weeks horses? Any? Does anyone know if the tracks are required to investigate?
By the way, Trina & Kari, did u know (u probably do)that Joyful Victory is Zazu’s ‘sister’ in human terms, they are both sired by Tapit, there is a 3rd ‘sister’, Dancing In Her Dreams, that is also grey, they look very much alike, such cuties. Hansen is their baby (Tapit) ‘brother’. They are all on facebook, of course!
signofthetimes
@Darlene from Carlsbad
On HRTV this morning (Westrock); Bob Baffert said they took the saddle of Irrefutable and he took about 10 steps and collapsed.
BB said it was probably a “heart attack”. RIP Irrefutable; your last one was an effort from the heart.
kate wheeler
Zenny, racing can bring such exquisite highs and such heartwrenching lows. We all take comfort in you, your big heart and kind spirit, and your continued good health. This weekend has been kind of rough in racing. We mourn the loss of Irrefutable and Waltzing with Blue. And we are hoping with all hope and praying that Cloud Man pulls through. Zenny, just looking at you and Tasty, serene, content and obviously just loving life, brings some measure of relief from our sadness.
And with somewhat subdued joy under the circumstances, high, high hooves to Awesome Feather and To Honor and Serve, both on the comeback trail from prior injuries. May they remain and continue to race safe.
Elizabeth in New Mexico
Our prayers are with Cloudman tonight and with Jerry and Ann Moss and John and Dottie Shirreffs and Mike Smith. We pray that Cloudman will not suffer pain and be saved and be well again.
Peggy (N) South Georgia
I am praying so hard for you Cloud Man. Please Dear Lord bring him through this. Praying so hard you can just be a horse. Love You, Peggy
John, Dotty, Ann, Jerry your in my prayers.
If anyone hears anything please post.
Peggy (N) South Georgia
Mike your in my prayers.
Judy Sims in Florida
I just lit a candle for dear Cloud Man and pray he can recover. My heart goes out to the Moss’s, John & Dottie, Mike Smith and all at Barn 55. God Bless you all.
Trina Nagele in So Cal
@JSmith–Thank you for pointing out all the Tapit connections. I share your sadness at the injuries on the track these past days and your hesitation about going to the races again. I’m so sorry that Robyn was witness to Irrefutable’s passing. Words fail me.
There is one piece of good news related to the incidents on Saturday. Blood Horse reports that jockey Daniel Vergara’s injuries were not serious when Waltzing with Blue went down. http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66367/vergara-not-seriously-injured-after-spill?&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20111127
AJ from CA
I didn’t even know about Irrefutable and Waltzing with Blue! Is it just me or are there more horses than normal breaking down at the same track?
signofthetimes
One big issue with horse injuries is that they can not live with less than 4 legs; they are very delicate creatures and can not even be lying down for any lenght of time without perishing.
Humans can live without extremities and can rehabilitate/recover from injuries as we have only 2 weight bearing extremities.
Andrea
signofthetimes is right. Large grazing animals are simply not designed to survive on anything less than 4 sound legs. It is a terrible shame, and I wish there was something that could be done.
Abigail from Montreal
My prayers for John, Dottie, Barn 55 & the Mosses. God willing, Cloud Man will survive this injury. But this is going to be a long, hard night for the colt’s connections. My heart goes out to you.
Heidi (Vallejo.Calif)
Oh NO!!! I was trying to watch the Hollywood Derby but the feed kept cutting out. I was rooting for Cloud Man and Wilcox Inn… When the feed finally came back on, it was the finish line and I didn’t see either of my boy’s!! I didn’t know that they were hurt as well as Surrey Star!! 3 in one race?! What is going on at Hollywood Park? What a horrible week it has been for the horses and their connections!
Cloud Man, you are in my thoughts and prayers that you can somehow make it through this ordeal and come out looking like a brand new penny! Moss’, John, Dottie and Mike, you’re all in my thoughts and prayers too! Please, do keep us up to date!
Dawn Conrad / Colorado
@I was just checking in before calling it a night and heard about the tragic breakdown of Cloud Man. May God’s mercy shine upon Cloud Man, the vet’s who are working on him and his family that love him. I am praying so very hard for John, Dottie, Ann, Jerry and Mike and will lite a candle that his precious life is saved. I know they will do what is best for him.
saharagold
Dear Zenny (Dottie),
This is so hard. It’s such a roller-coaster – the agony and the ecstasy. I was SOOOO happy for the 3 wins of the 3 entries from your barn, Backside 55, on Thursday. But all these horses breaking down! Heart attacks! Euthanized! Career-ending enjuries! It’s too much. Now our sweet Cloud Man!! That’s really too much! How did you do it? Running for all those years with no injuries?
signofthetimes
Just watched the Hollywood Derby video; looked like Cloudman took a bad step and Mike pulled him up quickly. Your are in safe hands Cloudman and the best will be done for you.
signofthetimes
@Andrea
I wish it were not true also.
Jackie from California
Prayers and well wishes to the Mosses, John, Dottie, Mike and Cloud Man. It has been quite a horrific weekend full of tragedies. Prayers to all.
Hugs and Kisses Sweet Z
Delrene from Carlsbad - (California)
@ Cloud Man’s candle website. I feel so “stupid” If I open up the candle , is that clicking on it? I found it and clicked on his candle, have I completed the steps? Is that all I do? I want to hope and pray our healing thoughts and words will help him and his “family” through this horrible ordeal and he will come out of it. I haven’t the gumption to watch the video of the Hollywood Derby. Perhaps tomorrow when I feel stronger. I must say Kate Wheeler and Elizabeth in New Mexico…. Your words are so eloquent and much appreciated.
Yes, all read the horse and man blog today as Trina mentioned. Take comfort in small pleasures.
JAG / Zenny & John Henry Live In My Heart / So. CA
Baze Escapes Serious Injury at Golden Gate
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66375/baze-escapes-serious-injury-at-golden-gate
JAG / Zenny & John Henry Live In My Heart / So. CA
No Catching Ultimate Eagle in Hollywood Derby
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/66374/no-catching-ultimate-eagle-in-hollywood-derby
QUOTE: “Cloud Man, advancing from the mid-pack on the turn for home, was pulled up abruptly in apparent distress.”
“Cloud Man was removed from the course by van. The 3-year-old Thunder Gulch colt suffered pastern and cannon bone fractures to his left front leg. Surrey Star, who was virtually eased in the final quarter of a mile, was vanned off with discomfort in his right front leg.”
I visited CLOUD MAN at John’s barn at Santa Anita ~ I took a picture of him with his head sticking out of his stall.
Cloud Man ~ I hope and pray you pull through this ordeal. My thoughts are with John, the Mosses, and all the connections :-(
Judy G
Diana S
@Too many to be “just racing luck”! My opinion, probably not shared by all, but I’m suspecting the track is messed up. Poor Cloud Man. Waiting for news. Going to light candles now.
diasadstu in tempe
stephanie (s in san diego)
one last check in for the night…
Praying for Cloudman, Jerry, Ann, John, Dottie, Mike, all those in and around the barn and the medical team working to save his life.
Anyone with news…pleasa let us all know.
Leiana in Santa Barbara, CA
Holding out hope for Cloud Man. Saw him earlier this morning when I went to visit John’s barn with a friend.