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Breeders’ Cup Ticket Giveaway!

courtesy of AP Photo / Jae C. Hong

Happy Friday!

We have a special opportunity for Zenyatta’s fans today: we’re giving away 40 pairs of Breeders’ Cup race tickets! To enter, use the form below to tell us why you love Zenyatta.

The contest will be open for entries until 9 pm PDT, Monday October 15. Forty winners will be chosen to receive a pair of tickets to the Breeders’ Cup, Friday and Saturday November 2–3, in the Zenyatta section.

For more information about the Breeders’ Cup schedule and events, visit www.breederscup.com.

We can’t wait to hear from you!
-Team Z

Edit: Thank you to all who entered the contest! Winners will be notified soon.

Reader Interactions

1,009 Comments

  1. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,
    Found a detailed explaination of what happend to Kauto in his fall, he missed a fence,
    which was a timing issue and ran head on into the fence. It is important to know the details of the fall so one knows whether is a physical injury or has a psychological compontent. When horses take a “fall” or are struck down like Jackson Bend, our horse on the the track while training, psyche issues can come up. Maybe it will take too long to get him right to bring him back. Sure hope not. He was not physically injured badly, but when a horse misses a jump that he has never missed before
    the horse may recoginize that his timing is off.

    The how and why of an injury are important, not just they fell or are injured. Please keep us posted of his next race.

    “Nicholls described the horse, who has won the Gold Cup twice, as having taken “a pretty awful fall” while undertaking what amounts to a practice session over fences at his Ditcheat base. Ruby Walsh, Kauto Star’s regular jockey, was riding at the time and said on Thursday that the horse had sailed through a similar session before contesting each of the last five Gold Cups. “But unfortunately he missed one of the last fences we were going to jump and he fell quite heavily.” In this context “missed” can be understood as “hit”.

    “He’s done it a few times on the track but never at home,” Walsh added. “He’s probably been round that school a thousand times. If I knew why he’d done it you’d prevent them all falling. It’s part of racing. It’s not great timing but it happened.””

        • Dear Ann,

          Where is Bubba !!!!
          Guess TC is gone for good, never to be seen again.

        • Maybe Ann ???
          Not much high hope from his rescuers, though !!!!

        • Dear Vicki B,

          Go an e-mail from Trina and Diana that said TC was no where to be found and
          that he was probably not going to show up at the BC 10/14/12.

          Guess he changed his mind !!!

        • I know! It’s the Casanova attitude that has everyone on high alert!

      • / Reply

        I think I saw some goldens? Beautiful dogs!!! I had 2,what great dogs. The Golden around the block steals my seashells from my porch!

  3. / Reply

    dear sign thanks for your detailed account of kautos fall his long summer holiday seems to aided his recovery he certainlly looked magnificent in paul’s seasonal review of course his age is against him now but I hope he can race in the king george just once more!!loved the freddy head video goldie was such a fantastic mare hope all will go well with her foaling in january I read about the arc suspensions in thursdays racingpost I quite accept that the whip needs to be used in racing but sometimes they can go to far I hate to see a horse hurt after all they are doing their best I saw the race with frankie and rewilding at royal ascot last year the prince of wales stakes he beat so you think I thought if nobody says anything about this I was fuming he was suspended for a while and rewilding died at ascot in the july he broke down in the king george and queen elizabeth such a shame ! camelot is much better and home at coolmore hopes to be back next year now I’m looking forward to frankel next week we are all hoping for drier weather to see him at best hugs sheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Yes, the use of any aids in an inappropriate manner should be regulated.
      Sooo sorry about Rewilding and I am sure the UK fans, owners, jockeys and
      trainers were up in arms about that. Sure hope Kauto comes back and
      he is not insecure about his jump timing. I am sure that his trainer will know if
      it is the same Kauto. It is harder to bring an older horse back, but hope they
      can with him. He is very special and gorgeous. Can’t wait to see Frankel, it is going to
      be a wonderful race. Did you say Camelot had a previous colic surgery before this
      one? Sure hope he gets a needed rest and does come back in 2013.

      Just watched a 2 year old race today, and young colt who won was really acting
      silly, weaving back and forth, etc. and the whip had to be used to get him focused and at attention. One commentator interpreted it as leg weary and one of our hall of fame jockey said it was “acting silly”. It is sooo very important to know the horse, horse racing etcc… before assuming actions of a horse in the race are related to an aid.

      • / Reply

        Sign. Kauto ran once in the Gold Cup after his fall at Ditcheat. He was only pulled up in that race because Ruby Walsh thought that the horse was laboring. He thought that Kauto had not yet had the time to recover physically from the fall and should not continue in the race. There was no indication that Kauto had been traumatized by his fall. He’s a pretty tough guy. Sheena is right that his long vac in the field with Denman and others has probably done him a lot of good. Kauto is as lively as ever from what can be determined from his feisty appearance at owner’s day.

        • One never know about the psyche of horses,
          just like Jackson Bend ran last in the race after his accident and
          he checked out physically OK.

          Kauto only had some soreness not any major injury, the jury is
          still out he has not fully returned !! Missing a jump is a timing issue and
          he never did that before, hopefully he is on the mend.

        • Sign. Kauto has fallen from time to time in races like all jumpers unfortunately do. The issue last spring was that he had never before fallen so hard in practice so close to a race. The reference to timing was actually the time between the fall and the next race. There was just not enough time for Kauto to recover before the Gold Cup. This was a topic of considerable discussion leading up to the race. They decided to let him have a go at the race because come race day it looked like he was okay to race. He was pulled up by Ruby because the jockey felt that Kauto was having problems getting over the jumps and they did not want to exaggerate his injuries. As Sheena said, the main concern now is whether his age will prevent a return to the chase this season as it is very hard on horses as they age to keep up the pace, as we know. From his recent general demeanor and his trainer’s initial assessment at owner’s day, Kauto has lost none of his mental fire, but Paul Nicholls and his owner will pronounce definitively on his future in a few weeks. The King George is run on Boxing Day so that it is coming up on the race calendar. Kauto is an amazing horse and he still just might do it.

        • Dear Max,

          When a horse missed a jump and crashes into it, the horse is said
          to have a timing issue. The horse did not time his jump correctly and missed the jump and crashed into it. Riding terminology.

        • Sorry Max,

          The veterinarian cleared him of any physical issues when he
          was pulled up. He was having difficulty stretching over the jump
          and was falling behind. He was not “laboring” and out of shape.
          When a horse falls there is a reason, they just don’t fall for no reason,
          it can be them or it can be the jockey. You as a non rider may accept
          that horses fall, but as a rider it is a serious issue, not accepted by horsemen or taken as a fact or in jest. Their is always a cause, which will be determined by his owner, trainer and jockey.

      • / Reply

        Sheena and Sign: It was an excellent run from All Too Hard – was as the back of the field and then just motored up beautifully. Suspect he was helped by the use of a barrier blanket – he’s been a bit slow to jump, and given that Nelly always used one, am surprised it took them so long to use it. But he certainly gave the Pierro connnections a bit of a shock!

        • Dear Kathy R,

          Is the barrier blanket the one they put over the horses hind end when they are in the gate so their hind end does not rub on the gate and they think that a “large predatory cat like a tiger” is going to get them??

    • / Reply

      WOW, wow,wow…nice race Dayatthespa!
      She was leading the way,saying…follow me girls,we will hit the spa after this race!!
      Happy for Chad Brown! pretty baby,she is!
      Beautiful run for her,wow!

      • / Reply

        Dear Ann,

        She ran a great race. Chad Brown is hot right now and a really nice guy and trainer. HRTV did an interview with him, he initially trained Standardbred and then went somewhere before ending up in Bobby Frankel’s barn. I really like him, he is a very talented trainer that know a whole lot about horse.

  6. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,
    Riding Jethro could be like riding in a steeplechase if one let it. He loved the big fences so often had to be directed to the more appropriate size fences. He often challenged himself so he would not be bored by taking a long jump from 2-3 feet in front of the
    jump. He also challenged me because I had to hand on and go with the flow. He
    sooo loved to jump and go fast, a true TB, just like Kauto, of course not as good.
    Amazing Kauto is 12 years old and still jumping.

    • / Reply

      Sign: the Guineas was a good race – All Too Hard did beautifully! Wached it live over here. And yes, the barrier blanket is that one draped across the rump – maybe it’s something from the dam’s side, since Nelly always needed one.

  8. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,
    Found some quotes from the jockey that said Kauto was fine physically and checked out well by the vet, thank goodness he did not get injured during the race.
    LOVE THOSE JUMPS !!!!

    Jockey’s quote about Kauto Star’s last jump event; “he was dropping back and had
    difficulty stretching over the water, he checked out fine physically by the vet after he was pulled up “.

    Sounds like his trainer/jockey are very sensible folks.
    _______________________________________________________________
    “”Ruby said that he jumped the first two or three really well and he was happy with him,” Clive Smith, Kauto Star’s owner, said, “but when he got to the water he had to stretch a bit, and he was dropping back straight away.

    “It was very sad that we didn’t see a real contest, but I was really pleased that Kauto was all right. I’ll go home tonight and look back on a fantastic career. People keep asking me which was his most memorable race but they’ve all been memorable, he’s won so many Grade Ones.”

    With the connections of Synchronised celebrating their success in the Gold Cup just a few yards away, Smith and Paul Nicholls, Kauto Star’s trainer, were careful not to distract attention from the new champion with an immediate announcement that the 12-year-old had been retired.

    Smith made it clear, though, that one of the sport’s most outstanding and consistent performers is unlikely to return to the track.

    “There’s not much point in saying he’s retired now, he’s not seriously injured at all, it’s more like a tweak playing golf,” Smith said.

    “I’d be 90% sure [that he will be retired], I’ll take advice, but someone would have to work very hard to persuade me that you’ll see him out again, because I wouldn’t want to see a Best Mate situation or a Dawn Run [both Gold Cup winners who were later killed while racing], I don’t want anything like that.

    “He’s given me so much pleasure, he’s been a wonderful horse and a great champion. It’s sad that we probably won’t see him on a track again, but he’s in one piece and that’s the main thing.”

    Walsh was in no doubt that he had made the correct decision, and also seemed to accept that the best horse he is ever likely to ride will not race again.

    “I drifted further back and further back,” Walsh said, “and I was struggling bad going to the fourth-last the first time round. AP [McCoy, riding the eventual winner Synchronised] said to me, if I was you, I’d pull him up, and he was right.

    “There would have been a hell of an outburst if I turned him over at the third-last and he broke his neck when he had no chance. It wasn’t happening, that’s horse racing. These things happen.

    “I thought it was [his last race] at Punchestown [last May] when I pulled him up, but it wasn’t. I’ll leave that decision to Clive Smith and Paul Nicholls. He’s been a wonderful horse, the horse of a lifetime, and he owes nobody anything.”

    Nicholls himself certainly ruled out another run in the Gold Cup when interviewed after Friday’s race and Smith said later that he will discuss the situation with the trainer next week, but that his “immediate feeling is that it might be enough”.

    If so, Kauto Star will retire as the winner of 23 of his 40 starts over hurdles and fences, and 19 of his 30 starts over the bigger obstacles, and having banked £2,375,883 in win-and-place prize money for his owner, a record for a National Hunt horse.

    Kauto Star’s major successes included two Gold Cups and a record five successes in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, while he also won the Betfair Chase at Haydock four times.

    In his most successful season of all in 2006-07, he was unbeaten in six starts and also demonstrated his versatility by winning the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown over the minimum trip of two miles as well as the Gold Cup at Cheltenham over 3¼. “

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      It is sooo very wonderful that Kauto Star’s jockey, trainer and owner are
      listening to what he is saying, giving him time in the fields (even though
      the he and Denman did not like the rain pouring down on them) and giving
      him a chance to clear his head and decide on whether he wants to jump.

      I adopted a retired racing greyhound, she would race with some of the other
      greyhounds on Sunday, but one sunday she got into a big pile up, rolled out of
      it like she was taught. She never ran again, decided that she didn’t like it and did
      not want to do it anymore. Animals speak to us nonverbally and that is what Kauto
      is doing.

      Really hope you keep us up to date on his return or retirement for this wonderful
      champion. Wonder who will get to retrain him to be a team chaser??? What a wonderful opportunity. Maybe you, Sheena.

      • / Reply

        Sign. Interesting article about Kauto especially the reference to respect for Synchronised’s win in the Gold Cup. Poor horse died shortly thereafter in a terrible fall in the Grand National. Very sad day.

  9. / Reply

    Dear Z fans,
    Here is a copy of the CA weekly.
    Lava Man lead the post parade with ears pricked for the race named after him,
    he wore a pink saddle cloth, with pink ribbons in his mane and tail to support
    breast cancer awareness and a bobble head of doug o’ neill was given away.

    The bobblehead does not look like him however. LAVA MAN LOOKED GREAT IN PINK.

    http://www.ctbaforum.com/weekly/caweekly.pdf

  10. / Reply

    Dear Janet Newman,

    Just went to the Whistle jacket equine photography site and found the photo
    of Kauto Star, what high withers this guy has, would hate to bounce off of them,
    OHCH !!!

    Thanks so much for the tip about this site, beautiful photo.

    HOPE YOU ENJOY SHEENA !!!

    http://www.whistlejacket.com/Gallery.htm

  11. / Reply

    Dear Sheena,

    Found this article on Paul Nicholls website about Kauto, who is back at his training
    yard. They are all waiting to see if he will start in the King George, but are definately
    going to make the right decison as they don’t want him to have a bad fall.

    This is a lovely web page with lots of information on Jump racing.

    http://www.racingpost.com/horses/trainer_home.sd?trainer_id=5767#topTrainerTabs=trainer_stories&bottomTrainerTabs=trainer_big_race_wins

  12. / Reply

    Dear all, today is our dear Debbie G’s birthday! I have again reworked her poem, and here is the latest version, just in time to celebrate her birthday.

    A Birthday Poem for Debbie G
    (October 14, 2012– revised)

    Born and raised in Lexington,
    In the heart of Thoroughbred land,
    It comes most naturally
    To our dear Debbie G.
    To find the Thoroughbred grand.
    In the spring of 2009,
    The stars in the East did align
    For a three-year-old filly, so fine,
    Rachel Alexandra by name,
    All the colts in the Preakness
    To beat—
    ’Twas a great feat
    Which brought Rachel well-deserved fame
    And made Debbie feel giddily silly.
    With her win,
    This lovely filly,
    Truly gifted,
    From bleakness
    The racing scene
    Lifted.
    Soon Debbie did confide
    To her dear stepdad Jim
    Her joy in Rachel’s run
    And in all the great filly had done.
    He to her replied,
    “Out west in the California sun,
    There’s another fabulous filly
    Who really can run…”
    Then in awe he repeated,
    “A filly who has nine times won
    And never once been defeated–
    She’s known as the Queen!”
    And that’s how Debbie G.
    First learned of the great Z.
    Next came the Milady,
    And Debbie herself did glue
    To the TV
    To get her first view
    Of Z.
    One look
    Was all it took,
    And Debbie was on Z hooked–
    She would forevermore be
    A Z devotee!
    For 2009 Horse of the Year
    Some for Z would cheer,
    And some
    For Rachel A.
    It was Rachel in the end who that year won,
    But another day
    For Z would come
    To get her due,
    And I’m glad to say,
    For 2010 they her did name
    Horse of the Year,
    Above the vaunted Blame.
    When, in November 2010, Z,
    So highly admired,
    Finally from racing retired,
    Debbie followed the beloved retiree
    On her engaging Diary,
    And when summer again had come,
    Debbie by Dawn’s entry was inspired
    To visit Claiborne,
    Where Dawn had had such fun.
    ’Twas early on a Sunday morn’
    When Debbie with her mom and Jim
    Arrived at that breeding farm
    Which is cloaked in the fame
    Of the great Secretariat, Swale,
    And now Blame.
    Not a soul was about,
    So they paused to take stock.
    Jim looked all around him
    And then, meaning no harm,
    Headed right in
    On the first door to knock,
    When who should step out
    Them in person to hail
    But Seth Hancock!
    Oh my, just imagine their shock!
    Jim, an ardent horse-racing fan,
    Had long idolized the man
    Who now shook his hand
    And who told him a guide
    Soon would come by
    If they a moment would bide.
    Jim, a little-tongue tied,
    Searched for some way to reply.
    What came to Jim’s mind
    After all that time
    Of being in awe
    Of the man he now saw?
    What could he find
    To say
    That very day?
    Before Seth Hancock strode away,
    Jim blurted out,
    In nearly a shout,
    “Your horse broke
    My daughter’s heart!”
    That gave Seth Hancock quite a start!
    Debbie’s heart was sinking—
    What had Jim been thinking!
    She felt the situation dire,
    For just a few months prior
    Hancock had lost to Z
    The award
    That had been his most fervent hope
    And deepest desire
    As Blame retired to stud:
    The Eclipse Horse of the Year.
    Debbie could hear her heart thud!
    Had they with those words their welcome outworn?
    Would Seth Hancock find Jim’s remark untoward
    And react with blazing scorn?
    She his reaction did fear,
    For she was remembering then
    How after Breeders’ Cup 2010,
    Seth Hancock in celebration
    Had made the declaration
    That Blame’s Breeders’ Cup Classic run
    Had the contest decided
    For Horse of the Year!
    He had himself on Blame so prided,
    Scant praise for Z passed his lips.
    Many felt he
    The prowess of Z
    Had in fact derided.
    Then the night of the Eclipse
    He felt humiliation
    To hear
    What he most did fear—
    That Zenyatta had won
    The ‘race’
    For 2010 Horse of the Year!
    That night
    He certainly lost the fight
    To hide his pain
    From public sight–
    It was all too plain
    To see there on his face,
    Try
    Though he might.
    But now on this sunny day
    In mid-July,
    He no longer did seethe,
    But did stay
    Gracious and calm–
    Perhaps the passage of time
    Had been a balm
    That helped him to cope.
    Before politely taking his leave
    From Debbie’s party of three,
    He Debbie’s mind did relieve
    With a simple remark, quite kind,
    That it was his hope
    She might change her mind
    After meeting his horse….
    And she did, in a way,
    Of course,
    For when Debbie came
    Face to face
    With Blame,
    She truly felt sorry for him–
    He’d given his all to win,
    But who now spoke his name?
    Since those days
    The words of praise
    Are all for Z—
    In the end hers is the victory.
    Although the race
    That day Blame won,
    When all was said and done,
    Z had shown on that Churchill course
    That she was the better horse,
    As all at last could tell.
    Her perfect record fell,
    But not her fame!
    Though in that race
    She’d started so slow,
    Leaving herself much too much to do,
    When at last
    She took up the chase,
    She came charging through,
    Surging so fast
    That with her closing burst
    She very nearly took first!
    When she stormed from last to close
    And lose by just a nose,
    Her acclaim rose–
    Her final race made her
    For sure the Queen
    Of the racing scene.
    And so on that visit to Claiborne,
    Not a year later,
    What did Debbie in the end do?
    Was her heart still torn
    In two
    By Z’s second place
    In her final race?
    Or did Debbie maybe choose
    Blame to stroke
    On the soft nose
    Which had given him
    That win?
    I’d like to quote
    What Debbie once to us wrote:
    “No one likes a sore loser.”
    That can cut both ways
    I these days
    To myself propose…
    And Blame’s visitors say
    That he, for his part,
    Is a sweetheart,
    Who, like our Z,
    Will gratefully savor
    Peppermint candy.
    Perhaps, dearest Debbie,
    You found it in your heart,
    Though that loss still may smart,
    To do Blame a small favor
    And kept a mint for him handy
    When him you did see.

    Happy birthday, Debbie, and many, many happy returns!

    • / Reply

      Happy Wonderufl Birthday Debbie G.

      I hope you have a wonderful day. I cant wait to meet you at BC. We are going to have a blast.

      Trina: Fabulous poem!!

    • / Reply

      Dear Debbie G,

      One of our wonderful KY Zenyatta family, sooo very lucky to live in the
      home of TB breeding and racing. Hope you have a wonderful day today.

      Wonderful, super, superb poem, dear Trina.

    • / Reply

      Happy Birthday Debbie!! A trip to the BC seems like a brilliant way to start your year – look forward to finally meeting you!
      Sandy

    • / Reply

      Bless you Trina N for the best of the best poem you have written for dear Debbie G.
      I agree, my BFF went to Clairborne and saw Blame there retired to stud. Awwww, he was a sweetheart! We gave him carrots and peppermints. Yes, we blame Blame for technically ending Z’s straight wins and we know who really won in our hearts.
      When you see Blame though standing so calm, he is a TB that did what was asked of him that day, and he did his best. I felt sorry for him too.

      HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOWN IN KENTUCKY, DEBBIE G., LUCKY YOU!!!!!!

      hugs to you both, Sally B.

    • / Reply

      Dear Trina,
      Thanks for another great poem!

      Dear Debbie G.,
      HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Best wishes for many, many more!
      Cheers!

    • / Reply

      Thanks, Sign.
      Hope things work out for him. everyone deserves a second chance.
      He sounds like he is in a better place.

      • / Reply

        Dear Eveline,

        Like minds, sooo love Bill Mott’s horses and sooo hope Royal Delta
        can defend and win her title again this year. It is going to be a
        tough Ladies Classic.

        Did you like the photo of her talking to her pony, she was really giving
        him a hard time.

  16. / Reply

    JACKSON BEND RETIRED AFTER RESTING AFTER TRUMATIC EVENT, LOST HIS SPARK FOR THE TRACK

    HORSES ARE VERY SENSITIVE AND FALLS, HITS ETC….. TAKE A LOT OUT OF THEM
    PSYCHOLOGICALLY, WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL ISSUES.

    GOOD LUCK TO JACKSON BEND IN HIS BREEDING CAREER, LOOKING FORWARD TO HIS “BABIES”

    “Last time out, Jackson Bend finished seventh in the Sept. 1 Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course after surviving an Aug. 18 training accident when a bolting horse ran into him on the Oklahoma training track at the upstate New York oval.

    “Racing has so many ups and downs, it’s just the business we’re in,” Zito said. “For him to be run into that morning, it’s really sad. There’s no way he wouldn’t have been 1-2-3 in the Forego. I know how well those other horses ran, but he was training like he would have been right there.”

    After the Forego, Jackson Bend was sent to Jacks or Better Farm in Reddick, Fla.

    “At this point what he needed first, after getting clobbered up there at the Saratoga training track, was an extended period of time off,” Brei explained. “Then we assessed where we were; he’s coming six, he isn’t gelded, and we just said he’s been such a good horse that we’re not even going to try to bring him back. Bob LaPenta, my partner, agreed with me that he’s been way too good a horse for us, and we know the incident in Saratoga took a toll on him.”

    Brei said Jackson Bend did not sustain serious physical damage following the incident, but that his customary brightness and agressive attitude toward training had diminished.

    “We know that took a toll on him, but we didn’t find any fractures or anything of that nature,” he said. “The big thing I didn’t like was just his attitude and I knew that needed a lot more than a 30 day rest. He just wasn’t coming back. I told Bob, ‘At this point, if we let him the rest of the way down, then we might as well leave him out there for six months, and after six months you have no idea whether he’s going to come back to a grade I status horse, which he has been all along. Right now, I think it’s better for the horse that we retire him.”

    Jackson Bend, who has been at the Jacks or Better training facility, will leave next week for Journeyman in Ocala.
    “With all the starts he’s had in him, he’s in excellent shape in comparison to most,” Brei remarked. “How many horses of that caliber do you find with that many starts today? Not many, usually they self-destruct before they get that many starts. We want to get him a good book of mares and get him off to a good start; that’s what we’re trying to accomplish with the low stud fee and we’re willing to do that to get him established.””

    Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/73470/jackson-bend-retired-to-stand-at-journeyman#ixzz29HFzsasx

    • / Reply

      I rode a wonderful 6 year old Argentinian Warmblood, Vinny, who was a jumper.
      He was sooooo light on his feet and bouncy in all of his gates. It was very fun.

      Did not jump his as he had a very very very powerful hind end and I probably
      would have flew off, plus he liked to jump big.

        • Dear Ann,

          Oh yes, it is sooo much fun to jump.
          It was very special to ride this wonderful horse,
          his owner purchased him in Argentina and brought
          him back to the US. He was going to be her stallion, but
          got too crazy and unridable so she banked sperm and gelded
          him.

          How are your crow hoppers, it must be
          pretty chilly and they are “a crow hoppin across
          the paddock ????.

        • Sign,
          Hoppers are loving the chill in the air. They had a round of fall shots and checks on teeth/floating and some extractions…ouch! So, things were low key, but a fresh round of hopping will be in order…hold on to your hats!

          Are you packed and ready for the BC?I am so excited for you!

        • Dear Ann,

          Soo glad your hoppers are going to start hopping after recovering from the horsey dentist. Now they have short teeth and no “cavities”. Jethro has one of those huge back molars pulled and it took quite a while to heal and was
          somewhat painful.

          Almost packed, and getting excited.

          One thing I forgot to mentioned when I talked about Vinney, was the first day I jumped Jethro he jumped so big I flew off and did not even know what happend just landed on the ground and looked around and there he was standing. I said to my trainer, what happend, I flew off the back end because I was not used to his power.

          Those equines sure teach us alot, just like we do them. Such great companions, yours sound TOO CUTE. Best of luck to those bovines, too.

        • Great story, Sign.
          Thanks for sharing the ride!
          I flew off the front end one time and landed on my feet??!!! Got much applause for that move….lucky! Even my horse was puzzled.

          Thanks for the BOVINE support. It has been fun.

      • / Reply

        Sign; the daughter and mother I volunteer with; Grace, the daughter jumps!
        I can not imagine such an experience sailing over an object on a large beautiful horse. It can be dangerous and I give both the rider and the horse my biggest praise.

        • Dear Sally B,

          It sure is something when you find yourself on the ground and wonder
          what happend as it happens sooo fast. One time Jethro and I were jumping a coup, which is a pyramid, shaped jump with a point at the top for the first time. He got pissed at me, I think I did not balance right or something and
          he just jumped up on all 4 legs and dumped me on the ground. He was
          pretty picky about my position and balance because that affected whether he was going to be able to jump well and if it wasn’t perfect I got dumped.

          After I learned what he wanted we were in sync and I stayed on more.

  19. / Reply

    Dear Z fans,

    Video of Eric Lamaze on a gorgeous, huge stallion Rio Grande in a Grand Prix
    Derby. Watch the horse refuse a bending line and get cropped (whipped) on the
    hindend (MOVE FORWARD !!!) to get through a triple and then trot and huge jump, with a huge leap.

    Wonderful horse and ride by the rider.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31tuxWztj4s

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    dear sign thanks for all your interest in our beloved kauto am sure he would want me to send you ahigh hoof!! he is very fortunate to have excellent connections paul ,ruby and his owner clive smith we all want him to have a long and happy retirement would hate to see something happen to him on the track!!we see lots of falls during the jumps season am sure they will make the right decision soon will keep you posted thanks for the photo gallery did’nt he look majestic it was galileo who had a operation for colic back in 2008 sadlers wells sired galileo and montjeu(camelot’s sire) camelot is back home now in coolmore and hopes to be back in 2013 so hooves crossed for him! am going to watch the video you posted of kauto in the king george now thanks hugs sheenaXX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      Glad that it was Galileo that had surgery and not Camelot when he was even younger.
      Soo very happy Camelot will hopefully run next year. Adian O Brian is so good about
      brining his horses to the BC maybe we will get to see this talented boy.

      You much really enjoy the jump racing in person, the racing courses in the UK
      are sooo very beautiful and the training courses as well.

    • / Reply

      Thanks for asking Sheena.
      The girls are still in pasture,a few tweeks being done and they travel to their show on the 20th. They show in the am and we are very excited for these bovines and their girls!
      The NC State Fair provides new things each and every year. Even the American Idol winner,Scotty will sing. He has a very low voice!
      I will keep you posted on the Moose and Goose duo and their trip the fair!
      Have a nice week!!

      • / Reply

        Dear Ann,

        Have a great bovine show, and an American Idol crooner.
        Does he sing Loudon Wainright????

        • LOL,sign.
          I will have to see if Scotty will add the skunk song into his country line-up!
          With his deep, and dreamy voice,even he could make all of us love skunks.
          Scotty may make the bovines giddy!

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,

      He is such a wonderful talented boy and sooo very much loved watching
      him win the King George. He has had a wonderful career and wonderful
      trainer, owner and jockey who really care about him. Amazing that he
      could do 18 hurdles over that course a very tough competitor
      and such a very brave and talented TB. Amazing he is doing this work at 12
      years old. So glad that you have talked to us about him.

      • / Reply

        Dear Sheena,

        Love that beautiful white blaze, he covers the course so effortlessly
        and he is very gorgeous and majestic.

  24. / Reply

    I would say love (and i say this for all of us) is when you almost cry when rewatching the BCC 2009 100 times over and over again and when (this is me not sure bout anyone else) you have memorized the BCC and can recite it when watching it. I think everyone loves zenny very much and i really do wish all of us could be together at the BCC.
    Just for all of us who love the Queen here is the BCC:

    Going in. Last on Awesome Gem. Awesome gems in their all set for the 5 million dollar Breeders cup classic! Heel sent on their way in the breeders’ cup classic to the roar of the santa anita crowd. Regal Ransom bounced away quickly. Zenyattar is dead last zenyattar is dead last early. Its Regal Ransom going on and Gio Ponti Einstein is right there Colonel John in the white colors Summer bird has the red cap in the Van Gar Two. Rip Van Winkle is on the outside and Twice over racing right behind them their tightly grouped and not in a big hurry out on the lead. Then its awesome gem gio pontis back towards last being followed then by Richards kid then comes mine that bird and Zenyatta is dead last zenyatta last got to be giving them a 10 eleventh lengths start. They go to the 3 quarter pole now in the classic and its regal ransom just setting a sensible pace. not in a big hurry out here Rip Van winkle now goes up second and colonel john scrapes the paint in third Einsteins right there to girolomo white cap far side. Heres kent desourmoux on summer bird their sixth at the rail just five off the leader. Then it comes twice over awesome gem and gio pontis giving them 7 lengths start. Then its Richards kid now heres zenyatta zenyatta is still a good 10 11 off the leaders and then its 4 back to mine that bird a ½ mile to go now in the classic and still the leader is regal ransom a length and a half. Rip van winkle being sent along after him then colonel john on the far side girolomo Einstein is right there summer bird at the rail twice over is next then awesome gem gio pontis behind that then Richards kid and now heres zenyatta and lets see zenyatta has a lot a lot of ground to make up zenyatta if she wins this she’ll be a super horse shes starting to pick them off though zenyatta gonna hook to the outside meanwhile its colonel john summer bird in the red cap but now zenyattas come to the outside zenyatta coming flying down the grandstand side gio ponti on the inside summer bird is right there THIS IS UNBELIVEABLE! Zenyatta what a performance one we’ll never forget!
    ENJOY EVERYONE!!!

  25. / Reply

    Dear Keta,
    Left you a post on page 4 of last New.

    Lava Man looked great in pink !!!

  26. / Reply

    dear sign the photo galleries were beautiful saw an irish jumper beef or salmon(he’s etired now) had’nt seen him for ages he used to run a lot against the triple gold cup winner best mate and there was a lot of pics of frankel there is;nt a very good weather forecast for the end of the week wet and windythere’s no plan b if he cant race at ascotmaybe that would be a good excuse for keeping him in training next year!!!!hugs sheenaX

    • / Reply

      Dear Sheena,
      Glad you enjoyed the photo gallery and oh yes, maybe the weather will
      continue to be wet and rainy so Frankel has to wait for his last race.
      Don’t think they would run him on heavy turf???? So keep on raining as
      Ascot !!!

  27. / Reply

    BC Week, great op. to meet jockeys and trainers at the Trott Legends event. Tues Oct 30, 5.30pm. Click on Invite, if you check the comments, you will find another link to pix of the last Legends held in March. The last one was so much fun, attendee’s demanded an encore! Proceeds go to retrain OTTB’s for a second career. Would appreciate those on FB sharing, it’s all for the horses. Thanks You.
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151167917234651&set=a.257803419650.135906.257687284650&type=1&theater

  28. / Reply

    Debbie G – I hope you’ve been having a wonderful Birthday today! Trina wrote such a nice poem in your honor, I hope you’ve seen it above!

  30. / Reply

    I can’t thank you enough for my beautiful poem, Trina! Your poems are always so moving and there’s nothing sweeter than having one written in your honor. I’ll cherish it always.
    I also want to thank Barbara, Sheena, Vicki, Darlene, EvelIne, Sign, Ann, Marty, Sandy and Sally for your birthday wishes. If I left anyone off please forgive me! It’s been a great birthday and my gift to myself was the best of all. A trip to California and the Breeders Cup! I can’t wait to meet everyone. LIke Darlene said, we’ll have a blast!

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