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Breeders’ Cup Celebration Details

Photo courtesy of AP/Mark J Terrill

Second Annual Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta After-Party Celebration to
Offer More Excitement for Fans

Tickets for After-Party In Honor of Popular Racing Star Selling Quickly

ARCADIA, Calif. (October 25, 2012) – Team Zenyatta announced this week that race-goers staying for the second annual Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta After-Party Celebration on Championship Friday, Nov. 2, would be treated to more racing celebrity appearances, special live entertainment and the opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind items during a live auction honoring “The Queen.” The After-Party Celebration will be at Santa Anita Park’s Frontrunner Lounge following the day’s race card.

This official Breeders’ Cup event quickly has come to be a popular and electric gathering and this year will offer appearances by Zenyatta’s trainer, John Shirreffs, racing manager and voice of the Zenyatta Diary, Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs, and jockey Mike Smith. Additionally, a cavalcade of past and present popular jockeys will be attending the After-Party on behalf of the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF), including John Velazquez, Ramon Dominquez, Joe Talamo and Javier Castellano, as well as Hall of Fame great Laffit Pincay.

“My jockey friends and I are looking forward to the After-Party, where we will highlight the critical work of the PDJF, toast the Breeders’ Cup and hang out with Zenyatta’s fans,” Smith said. “The After-Party is sure to be one of the most fun events of Breeders’ Cup weekend.”

In addition to the PDJF, the Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta After-Party Celebration also will benefit CANTER as well as other equine, children, and racing-related charities.

Zenyatta fans in attendance will also be treated to live entertainment by Liza G. and her “Zenyatta” song, and a silent auction with Zenyatta memorabilia and artwork will take place throughout the evening. A live auction will feature several premium items including a special artist proof of the “Zenyatta, Horse of our Lifetime” bronze by Nina Kaiser, the sculptor of the life-sized Zenyatta statue recently unveiled at Santa Anita, a canvas from acclaimed equine artist Jaime Corum featuring Zenyatta entitled “Breeders’ Cup Gold,” an original halter from Zenyatta’s foal, and a trip to see Zenyatta at Lane’s End Farm in Versailles, KY.

The After-Party Celebration will be from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 2, allowing race-goers a relaxing environment to toast the day’s winners and gather to celebrate the past and present of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at the Frontrunner Lounge. Amenities include a California buffet, a cash bar featuring Z-cocktails, and race replays from Friday’s Breeders’ Cup program. Tickets are $50 for admission only, or $95 for admission combined with the buffet. A limited number of tickets are still available for sale at Zenyatta Shop.

As an added benefit for “The Queen’s” most loyal fans, reserved seating for the Breeders’ Cup Championship races in the specially designated Zenyatta Section is also available for $150 on Friday and $250 on Saturday. See Zenyatta Shop for sales and details.

About Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred racing’s year-end Championships.  The Breeders’ Cup also administers the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup Web site, BreedersCup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Reader Interactions

590 Comments

  1. / Reply

    My cousin was one of the contest winners. She can’t remember exactly what she wrote and didn’t save it before she sent her entry in, so I hope the party will feature the winning contest entries somehow. I am tagging along with her for the Breeders Cup and we are going to the Zenyatta Party. I hope I’ll be able to see all of the winning contest entries there.

  2. / Reply

    Dear Judy Berube

    Oh, just checking back here this morning. Judy sure didn’t want to hear that about Invigorate. Looking at a picture of him right now on my desk. Don’t know why I wentin there last night. But just did. I was looking for him to be on the list of horses.
    Last time I was there I asked about him. He was in another field but that was before 2010. I didn’t get to see him that year, but I did a previous time.
    Its’ tear time this morning. He seemed such a gentle soul. God bless him. Thank you for finding that. I sent a message to them asking about him. He was a beauty. Know we’ll see him again.
    Even in bad news Thank you again so much. This life is so fragile isn’t it. LOL, Peggy

    • / Reply

      Dear Peggy N.:

      Life is very fragile and fleeting. But you have the memory of seeing Invigorate when he was sound and well. We have those wonderful memories to look back on. I do believe in heaven where we reunite with those we love including our beloved animals. Sorry to have been the one to tell you of his passing. Love and Hugs, JB

      • / Reply

        Dear Judy

        I got a reply form Michael. He told me that Invigorate was his favorite horse. He owned and raced him. He told me they just found him in his paddock. He had been fine earlier he said but when they came back later they found him passed away. He said he thought about him every day. Oh gosh this is hard to write.
        You know that article was from 2010 I believe and that was the year I had my Cancer Surgeries. Its been a whirlwind since. I wonder if God just didn’t let me hear about that then. He was one of the first horses I fell in love with there. He was in the paddock with Riva and Pops and some other horse. I don’t know just last night I went into Oldfriends site and was looking for him. I panicked and thats when I came over here and asked if anyone knew anything.
        I told Michael in an email back to him just then about you and what a Godsend you are. That you sent me and article that let me know about Invigorate.. If you could see a picture of him you would know why he was so loved. I told Michael about one of my visits and that Riva was trying to keep Invigorate from gettin any of the treats that we brought. He would try to chase him off when he tried to get treats (shame on Riva.) Secretariat’s Grandson. Both were Geldings.
        I do believe so in heaven and I believe we will see them again.
        LoL, Peggy

        • Dear Peggy N.:

          So glad you were able to let Mr. Blowen know about your love for Invigorate. It seems he loved him as much as you did. Maybe God did not want to burden you with any more than you were already dealing with in 2010 and hopefully Invigorate did not experience prolonged pain when he passed.

          Invigorate was a Chestnut just like Papa Charlie. Always loved Chestnuts. I will try to find a photo of him. Love and Hugs, JB

  3. / Reply

    Good morning all:
    I’vebeen checking the weather, and the weather for the races looks good (at least it did last night). So hope that it holds for the horses’ sakes AND the humans. It is cold here in TX today.

  4. / Reply

    Praying for all those in the path of Hurricane Sandy. Hope this thing fizzles out and becomes a nothing. Also hoping and praying it does not effect the transport of any horses or humans to CA for next weekend.

    @Barbara Wood. It is cold and dreary here in Indiana today too. Cant wait for some nice California weather and to meet you and all the other dumplings next weekend. Cant beleive we are only a week away.

    • / Reply

      Darlene–can’t wait to meet you, either. Getting excited here, except for the getting up at 3 a.m. or so! Our plane leaves very early.
      Am hoping the powers that be who have horses in NY will get them out of harm’s way and to SA earlier rather than later, and that no others along the coast will be put in jeopardy.

  5. / Reply

    dear darlene hope all you Z’sters have a blast at the BC and Zenyatta party will be with you all in spirit were’nt the pics of Z and the mosses gorgeous Z grows more beautiful each time we see her and her little prince too am sure you’ll get good weather in calif it’ a really lovely day over in wales cold but very sunny change after all the rain we’ve had recently enjoy yourself at the BC hugs sheenaX

    • / Reply

      Keta, Thanks for sharing these great pictures. How far he has come because, first of all, Dr. Laura and Mr. Zayat would not give up on him. So glad she was able to visit Paynter.

  7. / Reply

    I have been listening to tvg and reading on web….result total confusion….
    Lots of talk that BCLC is “tougher” race than BCC
    But…..RD and connections taking hits for running BCLC not BBC..
    But…..RD can get HOY only by winning BCC….not BCLC…their opinion
    Why would HOY depend on winning the “softer” race?
    None this makes sense…that’s if you even accept their basic premises
    which I think are suspect …what do you all think?

    • / Reply

      To be blunt, welcome to the sexist view in horse racing in America.

      If Royal Delta wins the BCC she will have beaten males, on dirt at a mile and a quarter.

      Though the talent in the BCLC is considered stronger, it is still a race for fillies and mares at a mile and an eighth and is a race Royal Delta won last year.

      Its like how the Kentucky Oaks will never have the same gravitas as the Kentucky Derby, even if the fillies running in it are more brilliant than the colts.

      Males + Dirt + 10 furlongs. = HOY

      And to those who will hold up 2009 and Zenyatta losing HOY to RA though Zenyatta ran 10 furlongs against the boys, remember that in 2009 the BCC was held on Santa Anita’s artificial surface and Zenyatta’s detractors always used “she’s a synthetic specialist” to decry her. RA beat the boys on dirt in the Preakness and Woodward, just not at 10 furlongs.

    • / Reply

      Dear Carol,
      Classic distance for recognition is a mile and a
      Quarter, also must be on the dirt, BCC also against the boys.

      Zenny did not get HOY in 2009 because
      The voters thought her schedule was “softer”
      Than Rachels. Zenny only beat the boys once
      And RA did 2 times on dirt as classic distsnces.

      Very subjective, needless to say.

  8. / Reply

    Keta, Thanks so much for the info and photos of Paynter. He looks so good.

    For those who are fans and wondering, Take Charge Indy is running tomorrow in the Fayette Stakes at Keenland.

    • / Reply

      Dear Ann,
      So glad Take Charge Indy is back and WOW the Dubai World Cup, that would be something. Don’t think AP has a son that has won that one yet !!!

  10. / Reply

    Still watching tvg….Christina and frank m and crew went to LE….pictures and videos with Z and Z12….now I just have to figure out how to get to them..she posted them on her twitter…help KETA…

      • / Reply

        Louise,
        Had to do Christina’s photos in a series of posts.
        Learned yesteday that if there are too many links in one post
        it will get caught in the spam filter.
        Then it has to wait for a human to review and approve the post.
        So, to avoid that happening, I posted the Tweets individually.
        Hugs,
        Keta

  11. / Reply

    SIGN IS RACING
    Sign is entered on October 28, 2012 at CHURCHILL DOWNS.
    Pocahontas S. – Grade: 2 Race: 8 – 4:05 PM
    Purse: $ 150,000. For Fillies, Two Years Old. One Mile.
    PP 6 Jockey Rosie Napravnik Wg t118 Trainer Albert M. Stall, Jr.

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta:

      Thank you so much for sharing this great photos of Z and 12Z. Z is looking so beautiful with her baby bump. Hugs, JB

  20. / Reply

    Okay carol in utah, sue and tony, and Louise
    Someone owes me a glass of wine when we meet :)
    Some photos are not as great as the ones we are used to seeing from Alys.
    But, as was said: we can’t get enough of the Queen & her Prince.
    Hugs,
    Keta

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta:

      Thank you so much for these two videos. Z and The Prince look absolutely wonderful. Lucky girl is Christina to get that close to them both. Hugs, JB

    • / Reply

      Thank you again Keta! If we ever meet, I’ll be more than happy to get you as much wine as you want! These are all just wonderful!

    • / Reply

      Dear Keta,

      They are trying to teach 12 Z to be lead with a lead rope, he does not seem
      to want to follow the leader, too cute. He is all over the place. TOO CUTE !!!

      Lanes End you are so so so very patient with these babies. 12 Z is more interested
      in the camera than learning his lesson like mom said he should.

      TOOO CUTE !!

  23. / Reply

    Jay Privman‏ DRF tweet
    Alpha, rest of McLaughlin’s horses travel Sat. in advance of predicted storm.
    “We’re lucky our flight is tomorrow,” McLaughlin said. #bc12

    Jim Carr‏ tweet on Hurricane Sandy
    East Coast braces for monster ‘Frankenstorm’: The pre-Halloween hybrid weather monster

  24. / Reply

    Keta, You are a marvel. Thank you for finding and very patiently posting these pictures and videos. I don’t think Zenyatta can take a bad picture and I chuckled when in 12Z’s video, he put his head up and there were his distinguished ears. Thanks again.

  27. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    Thought you would like this comment, it is by Graham Motion, a UK trainer, who came to the US a number of years ago. He is training Animal Kingdom, the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner on the up and down hills of the steeplechase course at Fairhill. Only
    and english man would think of that great idea !!! He is a very modest, talented, kind trainer.

    “”I thought it was great, just what I hoped they would do,” Motion said. “I wanted him to do something within himself, which I think he did. I think it was perfect. When we work him at Fair Hill, he’s been going up and down a pretty stiff uphill on the steeplechase course there, and I think he’d done enough of that. He just needed a maintainance work.”

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/73873/animal-kingdom-has-workmanlike-drill#ixzz2AT0EIX3N

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